[0:00] Commissioner Jose Madi who beat
everybody else. Uh roll call, Madam
[0:03] Clerk. [laughter]
>> Commissioner Ray,
[0:04] » yes.
>> Commissioner,
[0:07] » yes.
>> Commissioner Yano,
[0:09] » yes.
>> Commissioner Ruiz,
[0:11] » yes.
>> Commissioner Martine,
[0:13] » yes.
>> President Veneova,
[0:15] » yes.
>> It passes.
[0:17] » All right, let's see who uh who wins
this race. Item D, a resolution of the
[0:21] city commission of the city of
Sweetwater finding need for purchase of
[0:25] additional vehicles for the police
department authorizing expenditure of no
[0:29] more than $320,000
for said purchase appropriating funds
[0:35] from the Department of Justice forfeite
account 164.521-569964.117
[0:44] providing for further authority and
providing for an effective date. Mayor
[0:48] Diaz,
>> as you all know, this is uh some of the
[0:52] great uh
proceeds that we get when we have
[0:57] officers that detached to certain type
of entities and we are able to get some
[1:03] funds and they've done some really good
work lately and they've actually come
[1:07] through with I think it's uh or a
million dollars if I'm not mistaken and
[1:12] you could add to that uh chief or deputy
chief, whoever you want, but the bottom
[1:17] line is that we're taking this out of
forfeite. This money does not come from
[1:23] the abalor side of things. And I want to
be real clear, this is a great work
[1:27] that's done from our law enforcement
side and we're able to buy and update
[1:32] our fleet as we stated we would from the
beginning. Do you have anything else to
[1:37] add there? Go ahead.
>> Um, nope. Uh, greetings all. Noel Gil,
[1:41] Deputy Chief of Police for the Sweet
City of Sweetwater Police Department,
[1:44] 500 Southwest 109 Avenue. Um, just here
if you need me to answer any of the
[1:50] questions.
>> Move. Second.
[1:53] » Commissioner,
>> is this for a firet truck?
[1:56] » Wow.
>> Uh, no sir. It is actually for eight
[1:58] cars. I know it's very similar cost to
that of a of a Oshkosh firet truck, but
[2:03] uh No.
>> Thank Thank you.
[2:04] » It is for eight cars. Commissioner R.
>> I'm seeing here it says uh unmarked
[2:10] vehicles for detectives and
administrative units that are aging.
[2:14] There's these are not going to none of
them are marked units, right?
[2:17] » No. So these aren't going to be marked
units. So um you know um with with your
[2:21] support uh we actually have uh updated a
lot of our patrol vehicles, the marked
[2:28] units, and we're slowly working on them
to get them that much better. Uh but on
[2:32] the unmarked side, uh we're really
hurting and uh I currently have uh two
[2:38] detectives that currently do not have
assigned cars. So they're kind of hot
[2:42] racking cars and uh I've got um about
three vehicles that are are greater than
[2:49] uh 2018.
So, the issue with that is as as you
[2:53] well know, uh cars that are typically
out of warranty uh cost you yearly
[2:59] anywhere between uh 3,000 to about 6,800
bucks depending dollars depending on on
[3:06] issues that the cars develop, right? So,
what you want to try and do is not have
[3:10] an aging fleet uh that will cost you
more than that of a new fleet.
[3:16] » Okay.
>> Fourth. Any other comments by
[3:18] commissioners?
Okay.
[3:22] » Uh, all in favor say I.
>> I.
[3:25] » Any opposed? Item passes unanimously.
Thank you, Chiefs.
[3:29] » And again, on behalf of the chief of
police and everyone else, we thank you
[3:32] for your support.
>> Thank you. Uh, Mr. Mr. Mayor, um
[3:37] if you could instruct the finance
director to let us know individually how
[3:43] much we have in say seizure foreer,
federal seizure for treasury and lef
[3:49] funds.
>> I really appreciate that.
[3:52] » Um because I know uh the police
department is very frugal.
[3:57] » They don't like to overspend, but I know
that we're we could use about 10 more
[4:02] cars. I'm sure you have that on your
strategic plan. You and I have spoken
[4:05] about that. Um, so yeah, if you can give
me that information, I really appreciate
[4:09] it.
>> As needed, as the chief explained
[4:12] before, as needed, we're using uh the
monies that we're getting and properly
[4:17] switching out as needed.
>> Yeah,
[4:19] » we still have some cars that uh we're
dealing with and uh once we get to that
[4:23] point, you'll I'll bring them back up
and and uh we'll get it done. Great. Uh
[4:28] as far as uh all the other strategic
sides, it uh trust me before we spend
[4:33] one money out of our coffers, we we will
deal with that.
[4:36] » Great. Great. Thank you. Um item E. Uh
this is a $10,000 donation. This is a
[4:43] budgeted item to the Community of
Performing Arts Foundation, uh which is
[4:50] Literaria that we have for the
Nicaraguan community. We've had for many
[4:53] years. Um, so I'm seeking authorization
approval by my colleagues unanimous uh
[4:59] consent to approve the $10,000 donation
to the community of performing arts
[5:03] foundation. By the way, this is all made
possible by commissioner Yano who many
[5:09] years ago not only created the mechanism
uh but started u donating to this
[5:15] foundation. I want to make it abundantly
clear this would not be possible without
[5:19] commissioner.
Looking for motion by Commissioner Rail
[5:24] Deay. Second by
>> Second.
[5:26] » Second by Commissioner Yananiel. Uh we
don't need to have a roll call. All in
[5:31] favor say I.
>> I.
[5:33] » Any opposed?
>> Okay. Item passes. And I know the mayor
[5:38] is wholeheartedly supporting this item.
Um the uh item F. I don't know if the
[5:46] mayor is going to support this item.
It's very difficult. It's the uh United
[5:50] States Marine Corps ball donation. I
know you're you're not very promilitary,
[5:54] sir, or anything like that. Our mayor is
being honored by the United States
[5:58] Marine Corps, the 250th anniversary of
the Marine Corps um here in Miami. Uh
[6:05] the Marine Corps has decided to have uh
our mayor be uh the guest speaker and
[6:11] the guest of honor. Uh it would only be
right if the city of Sweetwater had
[6:16] tables. This is something that the
United States Marine Corps uh has people
[6:21] purchase tables. I think it would be
fitting if the city of Sweetwater had uh
[6:26] two tables. So, I'm authorizing approval
by uh the commission to donate up to
[6:32] $10,000
uh to the United States Marine Corps
[6:35] Ball. Seeking approval by the
commission.
[6:38] » Move.
>> Motion by Commissioner Yano, second by
[6:41] Commissioner Yimio. All in favor say I.
>> I.
[6:45] » Item passes. Mr. Mayor, congratulations.
I think that is
[6:50] » you've had a lot of honors in your life.
I think that's up there.
[6:55] » I think that's up there,
>> especially in the 250th birthday of the
[6:58] Marine Corps.
>> And it's actually Southcom that came
[7:02] personally. This is a South K ball and
they came personally to bring uh the
[7:07] invitation to meet with the colonel and
it uh it's a twoar colonel that I mean
[7:12] two star general major general that
actually invited and and uh brought us
[7:16] in. So it's a great honor not only to to
myself but to the city and uh we should
[7:23] have a good time there and you're going
to see what a Marine Corps ball is all
[7:25] about.
>> I'll be taking an Uber in case anybody's
[7:28] wondering. [laughter]
>> All right. Um thank you Mr. Mayor. When
[7:32] is that?
>> Through the chair.
[7:34] » 22.
>> Commissioner Vil, you have the floor.
[7:36] » Um, can I add an item as well to to
donate uh $5,000 to the Miami Diaper
[7:42] Bank? I know they've been on top of me
for a while asking for that donation. I
[7:45] just want to make sure that happened.
You guys putting these items just
[7:48] reminded me about that. So, you
>> you can add the item if there's no
[7:52] commissioner that um chooses to not have
that item. A commissioner can say, "I
[7:59] don't want to have that item." And then
it's four-day ruled. But if no
[8:01] commissioner has any issues, you can put
that item. We um
[8:08] point of order, Mr. Attorney, we can add
this item as a pocket item at the end of
[8:12] the agenda.
>> Yes, you can because remember that this
[8:15] is this is a general the regular study
commission meeting where additions are
[8:20] permitted. Um and simply because the we
have passed the additions and uh
[8:27] deletions portion of the agenda does not
mean that it cannot be uh added later on
[8:32] as a pocket item as has been done and
two other matters.
[8:36] » Okay. I know we've never donated to the
Miami Diaper Bank. Uh
[8:40] » I believe we have actually.
>> Yeah, we have every year. Every year we
[8:42] do.
>> We donate to the Miami D. Okay. Well, do
[8:46] we have a motion to add the $5,000
donation
[8:50] » to the Miami Diaper Bank?
>> Motion to add.
[8:54] » Uh moved by Commissioner Alder, second
by
[8:56] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Vio. All in favor
[8:59] say I.
>> I.
[9:00] » Any opposed? Item passes.
And it looks like that's all she wrote.
[9:10] » Let me see if I'm missing anything.
>> That's the
[9:20] Motion to approve the $5,000
expenditure.
[9:24] » Motion by Commissioner Ran Aldere,
second by Commissioner Vio. All in favor
[9:27] say I.
>> Any opposed?
[9:29] » Item now added and approved.
>> Thank you. Uh, Mr. Attorney.
[9:34] » All right.
>> Thank you everyone.
[9:35] » Uh, reports. Mayor's report.
>> As we know, we had the trunk or treat.
[9:42] It went very well. Uh we will adjust for
next year seeing that uh we had a lot of
[9:48] uh young witches and goblins and
princesses and kings and everything
[9:54] there. It was uh great. We even had
Caesar uh and everything. So, it it went
[10:00] uh very well and we had a very good time
and you know, law enforcement did an
[10:06] incredible job making sure uh that
everybody was safe and I think that's
[10:12] one of the reasons why so many people
came uh and enjoyed it with us and I
[10:18] appreciate every one of you for showing
up and also participating and helping in
[10:23] every way. Something that uh makes us
proud in our community. uh we are moving
[10:29] forward
on many aspects of different uh things
[10:34] that have been brought to us uh by each
one of you differently. I am looking at
[10:41] every one of them as was stated in the
budget when we sat down and discussed
[10:46] the budget. Uh one of the things that
was brought up to us was the uh flag uh
[10:53] to try to you know the flags to be put
on the houses. Uh I have already reached
[10:59] out to Home Depot. They have told me
they are supportive. Uh we have a Home
[11:04] Depot now the Sweetwater Home Depot
which is uh very very very proud of
[11:10] them. They have also spent a lot of
money there making sure that the houses
[11:15] are doing good. and daddy-do list. So
with that said and done, we have also uh
[11:22] looked at different aspects of
beautifification. I am looking at
[11:26] different projects. We are looking at
different uh methods of that
[11:31] beautifification. Treecape
uh is important. We are dealing I know
[11:37] that Scott and and I have sat along with
Stephanie Baha and making sure that
[11:46] we're trying to get a a comprehensive
plan of the city and what the city
[11:55] should look like in years to come. So
every part of the monies that we get
[11:59] from grants and the monies that we put,
we already saw the street signs the way
[12:04] they are and they look extremely nice.
Everybody likes it. It brings our city
[12:09] up. We are looking at all types of
situations. Parking in the city is an
[12:14] issue and we're trying to figure out
areas where we could create some more
[12:19] parking and being able to do so um and
deal with a parking situation. We have a
[12:26] problem with people parking on top of
the curbs and and parking where they
[12:32] shouldn't be parking illegally. So,
we're looking at some areas we're going
[12:35] to try to increase and have some
parking, some areas of swell areas
[12:39] without losing the beautifification of
the city. Uh we are looking at the area
[12:44] of uh 2nd Street uh southwest between
and 115th Avenue and Third Street and
[12:51] taking those the 115th Avenue upward and
trying to create some more parking
[12:57] there. Um we have a lot of issues with
people that uh are in certain buildings
[13:03] and so on that leave their cars in other
areas and then they go to the buildings.
[13:08] I thank you guys for backing up the
uh making sure that we're able to put
[13:14] the the street signs that we needed to
the no parking sites and the parks and
[13:19] so on because we do know need those
spaces for people that come to attend
[13:23] our parks and not overnight parking
which is something you guys had from
[13:26] before. uh law enforcement, the chief
and the chiefs in the department has
[13:32] gotten um really strict on this because
a lot of people have been complaining
[13:38] about this that they can't even go to
the park because there's cars are left
[13:42] there all the time from people that live
in other areas. So, that's just stuff
[13:46] that uh we're going through as our as we
continue to grow in our city and and
[13:53] we're trying to address every matter of
it. Um, I think that's pretty much it.
[14:00] It's uh we're going to be more detailed
in the future. I will be bringing each
[14:05] one of you in so you can see where we
which direction we want to go. I think
[14:10] you'll be happy uh as far as doing but
one of the things we need to do one is
[14:15] the parking, two is those amount of
spaces that we could try to grow and
[14:21] also the way the future prevails with
what will come. There's three to four
[14:27] new buildings besides the area that we
dealt with on Wednesday. Uh and there's
[14:33] more more still to come that are just
programming as we speak. So it's a lot
[14:38] of uh development and one of the things
that's created is that now with the
[14:43] development of certain buildings, it
also creates sound problems, other
[14:48] issues. So, we're going to work through
it, but you know, the actual growth
[14:55] comes with its own pains, and that's
going to be one of them because these
[15:00] buildings are 30 stories high. And uh
some of you that have been here for a
[15:04] while know that you've been through this
already before. So, with that, I just
[15:10] wanted to give you uh and for the
citizens to hear uh where we're at, but
[15:14] we're addressing every single uh facet
that we can.
[15:19] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner's
report. Any commissioner wishes to
[15:22] report anything? Commissioner Yananiel?
>> Yes. I just want to um [clears throat]
[15:28] happies and giving to all the residents
because we don't got to have a meeting
[15:31] until December.
>> True.
[15:32] » And uh enjoy with your friends and
family and please be safe.
[15:37] Thank you.
>> Um, I do have something and I completely
[15:42] forgot about it. Uh, I also need to add
an additional item.
[15:49] Um, this is something that,
uh, the mayor and I had been speaking
[15:56] about in the commissioners,
um, I believe it's the commissioner's
[16:01] special events budget. Uh there's
$30,000 for special events. Is that
[16:07] accurate?
[16:10] » You don't remember? I believe there is.
Um for the month of November, December,
[16:18] I know that the mayor has a Christmas
party at Hakanosa for the elderly. Is
[16:24] that accurate?
>> Yes. And that includes only the member
[16:28] all elderly uh for all of our elderly
buildings or only
[16:32] » we've kept it in the past to the elderly
from the elderly buildings
[16:36] » right
>> and uh because that way we could provide
[16:38] transportation
uh and so on.
[16:42] » So what I'd like to do is I'd like to
take uh some funding from the $30,000
[16:48] commission commissioner special events
budget. give your office uh $5,000 for
[16:55] that event. That way we can have not
only uh loos and Sweetwater Towers um
[17:01] and other buildings, but also the
participants in
[17:06] » Vossa.
>> Um but I think adding the $5,000 to your
[17:11] budget will assist you and your staff
not only with transportation, but
[17:15] bolster the event. Um
you're going to be hosting that event
[17:20] anyway. I just want to be able to give
you additional funding unless any
[17:24] commissioner has uh any qualms with
that. I'd like to add an additional
[17:29] $5,000 from the commissioner special
events budget towards
[17:34] um that event at Horge Makanosa Senior
Center for the holiday party. Is that
[17:40] sufficient language? So, if I could have
a motion from uh my colleagues to add
[17:47] those $5,000 expenditures to the agenda.
>> Move.
[17:50] » Motion by Commissioner C. Ruiz, second
by Commissioner Real.
[17:55] All in favor say I.
>> I. And now I need approval to add the
[17:59] $5,000 expenditure uh of those $5,000 in
mayor's purview for that special event.
[18:05] Do we have a motion?
>> Second.
[18:07] » Motion by Commissioner Ian Bil. Second
by Commissioner Ran Alder. All in favor
[18:10] say I. Any opposed?
>> Item passes. So, I wanted to give you uh
[18:15] those uh that funding. I'm sure you can
coordinate with Commissioner Yanu
[18:19] because she knows that better than
anybody.
[18:21] » I've uh we've already had uh the two
years or basically three with this one.
[18:28] Uh that we've actually dealt with it. We
could add uh more to give them more of
[18:34] an entertainment and so on so they could
really enjoy it. Great. Uh some people,
[18:39] as [snorts] we know, we do do an event
that is done very well at the elderly
[18:43] center for them. And by the way, I
didn't mention
[18:45] » the Halloween party at the center, but
that that was that was a lot of fun.
[18:50] » Yeah, I wasn't there.
>> This time we had this mad dog running
[18:52] around
chasing people down. It was very
[18:56] interesting.
>> So,
[18:58] um Saul again with his things. So, uh,
we will have the the one at the elderly,
[19:05] uh, party, but that's only the members
of that go there. And, um, we'll we'll
[19:11] try to, uh, spark it up a little bit.
And if you know some elderly people that
[19:15] do not belong in and do not come from
those building and we need to know ahead
[19:21] of time
>> because so we could get a head count
[19:24] » and do what we can to help.
>> Sure. So to the chair,
[19:28] » commission,
>> I just want something. I just want to be
[19:30] clear. It would be this event that u
commission and vanova is is talking
[19:36] about is going to be including both
building right and subra tower
[19:42] » and most
>> those are the ones
[19:43] » and the elderly center
>> and the elderly center everybody
[19:46] » most of them do live in one of the the
buildings right
[19:49] » okay but they'll know and the elderly
center the information will get across
[19:54] » and they would uh come to
[clears throat] no everybody um it's
[19:59] well attended last year was very well
attended.
[20:01] » Yes.
>> Okay. So, we'll do it and uh
[20:05] » give them a little fun.
>> That's all I want.
[20:07] » Sounds great.
>> All right, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for
[20:09] that. Uh, city attorney's report. Do you
have anything to report, sir?
[20:16] » I did. City clerk report attached. I
apologize. City attorney report.
[20:21] » Yes. Uh, so this has been a fairly
eventful month. Um I u worked for quite
[20:27] a while to draft the letter to the
attorney general's uh or seeking
[20:31] attorney general opinion on the open
carrier firearms. That letter was
[20:36] finalized and went out very early this
month. Um the letter itself was
[20:42] approximately I believe 11 or 12 pages
long plus all the attachments. the and I
[20:47] spent a great deal of time to ensure
that it was as perfect as possible in
[20:52] order for it to um to look good on the
front page of the Herald if necessary.
[20:57] Um there is a case that we have filed uh
uh seeking the foreclosure of real
[21:02] estate on the grounds of uh code
enforcement leans. The case was filed in
[21:07] 2023.
Uh it was one of three cases that I
[21:12] filed within a month of each other. That
case is still grinding out because the
[21:18] between um
uh Martin Garcia, myself uh and the
[21:23] mayor, we have wanted to give this
individual an opportunity to correct his
[21:29] errors. Um and they're essentially
I'm not an engineer, but they seem to be
[21:34] correctable. Um we've met with his
lawyer. We've done everything possible.
[21:39] Martine has met with them on multiple
occasions and they seem to be either,
[21:45] you know, unable to finish the process
or confused as to what they need to do
[21:50] or simply just stalling. I'm not sure
which one it is at this point.
[21:54] Regardless, I've moved for summary
judgement in that case, which is to
[21:58] bring the case to a conclusion without a
trial. Um, that motion itself took quite
[22:04] a bit of time and it's over 100 pages
long actually. Um, so that was filed
[22:09] earlier this week. Um, I hope actually
it was filed last week. Um, I hope to
[22:15] have it set for hearing sometime in
January or February. And that should
[22:18] bring that case to a conclusion unless
he's able to wrap up his issues before
[22:22] then.
>> What is the address of that location?
[22:24] » Um, hold on.
>> Is it a residential or commercial?
[22:28] » It is uh forplex. Four or sixplex.
>> Commercial.
[22:32] » Yeah. So, it's commercial.
>> What's the address?
[22:34] » Uh, just a moment. Fifth Street didn't
>> on Sixth Street actually.
[22:39] » Sixth Street.
>> I think I know that. Okay.
[22:42] » It is
>> I don't need to know that. Well, unless
[22:44] anybody want
>> Go ahead.
[22:46] » Okay. 107.
>> Another one on Fifth Street, too.
[22:48] » 10710
Southwest 6th Street.
[22:53] » So
again, it's one of those cases where we
[22:58] felt sorry for the individual. So we
gave him time and time and time, but
[23:01] according to Martin, they just haven't
done anything. So, I just dropped the
[23:04] hammer at this point. File the motion
for summary judgement and I'm going to
[23:08] get it set for hearing. And I don't see
at this stage I don't see any defense on
[23:13] their part. Of course, I haven't they
haven't responded to it yet. So, that's
[23:17] still open. Finally, um there was a uh a
claim filed uh in the Florida Commission
[23:24] of Human Rights by Yamaling Game. that
matter has been closed
[23:28] and the uh Florida Commission on Human
Rights has stated that there is no
[23:33] probable cause to proceed with any
further investigation on her part on her
[23:38] claim.
>> I know who it is.
[23:40] » No, I'll explain to you afterwards
offline if you want to.
[23:43] » Okay. Anything else, Mr. Attorney?
>> No, sir.
[23:46] » Thank you for your report. Police report
is attached. Building and zoning report
[23:51] is attached. Code compliance report is
attached. Public works report is
[23:56] attached. Finance report is
[24:03] attached.
>> Attached.
[24:04] » Yeah.
>> Community and elderly services
[24:08] attached. Parks and recreation report
attached. Unfinished business. New
[24:13] business. Good of the order.
>> Ajournment. All in favor say I.
[24:18] » I. Have a good night, folks.