Are we uh Madam Clerk, is everything all set online? Okay. Okay. Great. All right, everyone. Good evening. We are going to call to order our regular commission meeting for today, Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. I show 6:06 p.m.
Uh so let's go ahead and get started. Uh Madame Clerk, could you please call the role for us? >> Mayor Gro >> here. >> Vice Mayor Ansler >> here. Commissioner Gonzalez. Commissioner Huntington >> here. >> Commissioner Sam. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Mayor, you have a quorum. >> Thank you very much, Madam Cler. Could
we do the pledge of allegiance, please? All right, everybody. Um, so let's move on to our additions, deletions, and withdrawals. Um, I do have one very quickly. I spoke with Paul earlier today. Uh we did have under discussion of new business the uh six-month
financial report, but in our telephone call um I think he said he was going to be on Zoom at some point if there were any questions, but uh he said the six-month financial report will actually be available for us next month. So he asked if we could move the discussion of the new business uh discussion item, sixmonth financial report over to the
June item. So that would be uh that would be the only item that I have for additions, deletions, and withdrawals. Uh are there any others? Okay. >> Um so I have a couple of them. So the
first one I'm going to move from consent agenda. Do you hear me there? Um I'm going to move all of the items out except for
uh let me see A B C D except for E. So, I'm moving A I'm moving B, C, and D out. And then I am um
I was going to request and I don't know if this is a procedural question uh mayor, but >> Okay, go ahead. >> So, we had um last month uh we move forward with having today um the log cabin lighting discussion and a
presentation from the vendor. Yes, >> I actually made a motion that was contingent of this presentation with the intent of participation from residents on it. So, I think it would be um
advisable to have uh a section for right after the presentation and the comments regarding this presentation, a space for us to have a discussion to see if there's next steps. So I would make the motion to include that in the agenda
that after presentations and the comments from residents if there's any we have an opportunity to discuss oursel what those next steps are. >> Um I think and John you can correct me on this. I think that would be something that we would put on new business. Is
that correct? You can if that's your uh decision or you can take it out of order and have a discussion right after the presentation. That's your discretion. Um it certainly
can be added as new business. >> So just so I Okay. Thanks, John. Um so um just so I understand, you want to do it before public comment or you want to do it after public comment? >> No. No. So, so the point was we're going to have a presentation from the vendor and the idea in the motion made was to
approve it contingent of that to have feedback. And so the idea is that after that presentations there will be public comment, >> right? >> And we'll be able to listen to whoever has something to say about that and after that we have a discussion moment on what was presented to see next steps.
>> Okay. So yeah, I just wanted to make sure I I knew where this was going to kind of live on the agenda. So it would basically be in between seven and eight. Correct. >> Go ahead, John. You want to say something? >> Once the vice mayor is finished, I I wanted to um make a statement.
>> Okay. Finished with the the additions, deletions, withdrawal or is it just on that point? >> Do with with this point specifically or no? >> No, it's the >> Oh, okay. Okay. So, >> okay. >> I guess I'm I'm expecting your feedback as to if that's okay to move forward and
have that space. So, you said between six and seven. Yes. >> Um, >> yes. >> Seven and eight, I guess. Yeah. >> Okay. So, between seven and eight. Okay. >> Um, okay. Uh, any others? >> Mayor, just to um, for the record, the
staff has distributed a, um, updated version. Um, it's actually the correct version of the proposed ordinance regarding the, um, uh, exterior painting issue. Right. >> Title of the ordinance has not changed. There's just some minor um u additions
and deletions in section 16-13. Obviously, this will be come back before you on second reading if there's any issues or concerns. >> Okay. So then for purposes of first read of the ordinance, the the item that we have in front of us is the the corrected version of that. Correct. >> That is correct.
>> Okay. Okay. All righty. I think I've got everything here. Uh, do I have a motion, a second to approve the agenda as it's been amended? >> I make a motion to approve the agenda as it's >> I'll second. >> Okay. All in favor?
>> I >> I Okay. So, agenda amended. All right. So, having finished that, let's uh move on to our first presentation of the night. Our first presentation is to swear in some of our
new advisory board members. Um I have so I know we've kind of typically in the past we've done this uh after it's been approved and we kind of do it at the uh village hall or we just do it um whenever we are uh able. Uh but there was a a recommendation that we uh invite
our new advisory board members to come to a meeting um and uh take their oath uh with the commission here in the log cabin. So that's what we've asked for. Um we have a few of our new advisory board members here this evening. I have the uh oath of office for those folks.
And if you're comfortable with it, uh I'd like to call you up one by one to the podium because each is different. Um and if uh you wouldn't mind coming to the podium and um and taking your oath with the commission. Sound good? Okay. You don't have to. You can certainly turn us down if you like, but I have
them here. Um so our first oath of office um is for our parks and parkway board, and it's Ilana Alberon. Yes. Oh, no, no. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't hear you. You're good right there. Okay. So, um I'm just going to
read the oath of office to you and just ask that you raise your right hand and uh and repeat after me. Okay. >> I say your name. I, Elanar, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> that I will support, protect, and defend >> that I will support, protect, and defend
>> Constitution and government of the United States >> the Constitution and government of the United States >> and of the State of Florida >> and of the State of Florida. >> And that I am duly qualified to hold office >> and that I am duly qualified to hold office >> under the Constitution >> under the Constitution >> of the State and the charter of Village
of Biscane Park. >> of the state and the charter of Biscane Park. and that I will well and faithfully perform >> and that I will well and faithfully perform >> the duties of a village of Biscane Park parks and parksway advisory board member. >> The duties of the board of Biscane Parks
>> and Recreation. >> That works of of upon which >> upon which >> I am now about to enter. >> I am now about to enter. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Congratulations.
All right. Our next uh oath of office appointment is for Tammy McDonald. Tammy, this is for the Park Biscane Park Sustainability and Resil Resilience Advisory Board. That's a mouthful. I know. We'll work through it. Okay. Um I state your name. >> I Tammy Leurch McDonald.
>> Raise your right hand for me, please. Thank you very much. Do solemnly swear or affirm >> Do solemnly swear or affirm >> that I will support, protect, and defend >> that I will support, protect, and defend >> Constitution and government of the United States >> the Constitution and Government of the United States
>> and of the State of Florida >> and of the State of Florida >> and that I am duly qualified >> and that I am duly qualified >> to hold office under >> to hold office under >> the Constitution of the State >> the Constitution of the State >> and the Charter of Village of Biscane Park
>> and the charter a village of Biscane Park >> and that I will well and faithfully perform >> and I will well and faithfully perform >> the duties of >> the duties of >> a village of Biscane Park sustainability and resilience advisory board member >> the village of Biscane Park
sustainability and advisory board >> go and upon which of of upon which >> of upon which >> I am now about to enter >> I am now about to enter. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Thank you very much. Congratulations. Thank you very much, Tammy.
Congratulations. All right. And our final oath of office is for the village village Biscan Park Village foundation board member for Alessandra Calderin. Yeah. All >> right, Allesandre, could you raise your right hand for me, please?
>> I state your name. I, Alexandra Calderin, >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> do solemnly swear or affirm >> that I will support, protect, and defend >> that I will support, protect, and defend >> Constitution and government of the United States >> the Constitution and government of the United States
>> and of the State of Florida >> and of the State of Florida >> and that I am duly qualified to hold office >> and that I am duly qualified to hold office >> under the Constitution of the State >> under the Constitution of the State >> and the charter of the village of Biscane Park >> and the charter of the village of Biscane Park
>> and that I will well and faithfully perform >> and that I will well and faithfully perform >> the duties of >> the duties of >> a village of Biscane Park Village foundation board member >> village of Biscane Park Village foundation board member. >> Nailed it. Of upon which
>> of upon which >> I am now about to enter. >> I am now about to enter. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. Thank you, Alisandra. Congratulations. All right. Well, those are our new advisory board members. Thank you again very much for volunteering your time and
efforts to help our village and help our boards. They should think so. Um, all right. So, our our we have a couple more of these this evening. We've got three more uh presentations. Uh our first one is uh for the log cabin lighting group from Ori Chisel
and we have him here with us. >> Uh good evening. My name is Matt Plock uh architect with Chisum Architects uh 782 Lun Road U 650. I we submitted a uh
a presentation so you all could look at to give you a little background. Um we uh we were awarded a miscellaneous contract about two years ago and as part of that one of our first projects that we were awarded, we were actually
awarded several projects. One of them um was dealt with the log cabin and as you know and which is on your agenda, we're we're uh replacing the roof at the law cabin which is on the agenda. We're also repaving the the parking area and
improving the ADA access and as part of that there was actually a lighting component that was with that and initially that was I guess removed from the scope of work I think for budgeting purposes. So about I would say a few months a few months ago um the city
manager reached back out to us to go ahead and prepare a proposal for um the site lighting package and that package was based on a prior uh consultant's work where they had studied several different options for the parking area
lighting. Um and there were I think there were three um one of them which is the one that um we're moving forward with was a pole lighting package. Um there was another package that was a a bothered package and then I want to say the other package may have been a hybrid
of the two of those. And um the reason that the pole lighting package was selected was that it um it provided more light with less with the less with less um fixtures.
And um the reason that the Ballard package I think was not selected although we didn't have much bearing on that package and I'll get into it in a in a minute was that it would would require many a lot of Ballards and the placement of the Ballards was going to
make it difficult to get the necessary foot candle ratings that we that you need to get in order to meet to meet the code requirements. So, if we go to the, as you can see on this slide here is just an aerial showing, you know, the project area, which I'm pretty far away
and my eyesight's not what it used to be, but within that red box is the is the log cabin and the parking area site. You go to the next slide. So, so and this is just a a blowup of a graphic blowup of the area of uh the proposed
area and and what we're, you know, being tasked to do. I think the next slide probably will. So on this on this slide here is uh a graphic of the parking area. And as we stated, we're in the
process now um we've we've uh completed the drawings for the paving and the ADA access to the log cabin building. And now this component here would be an infill component that would provide
lighting. So at night you would have sufficient lighting and also uh what we're proposing is a a concrete sidewalk that would allow safer pedestrian uh passage. So when you parked your car instead of having to walk out onto the
street and in uh on into the building, you could walk into that central landscaped area and then take the sidewalk. Uh the sidewalk would guide you into the building. You could either enter from the side or you could enter head on through the through the stairs that are there. And then the proposal,
now this proposal may change slightly once we get into the actual design of it, but the proposal is calling out to add four light poles um in basically the four corners, two on the I guess I want to say two on the north and two on the
south um in order to provide the lighting there. uh the prior consultant did do a preliminary foot uh phototric study. We of course will do our own phototric study once we we go through the design process and select uh the an
appropriate light pole. If we go to the next slide, I think that's a good blow up to kind of give you an idea idea there. So there the these and this is something that we'll we'll work out with staff of course and and and with and with the village. But
the idea is we'll what we want to do is try to select um a pole that's not too tall but tall enough to get us the foot candles that we need. Um we're at this point we're looking at more of a more traditional uh pole. Um hopefully that
we'll be able to get the lumens that we need to do it as an LED. Um and then in the bottom is just some uh were some renderings that the prior consultant had provided uh as part of their presentation a few which may have been back in 2022 I want to say to kind of
give an idea. We're not we're not including any uh landscaping to the to this area. It's basically just light poles and um and uh new sidewalks to to to provide uh safe uh passage into the
building and and lighting at at night. Um I don't know if we I don't know if there's one more slide or if that was the last slide. And then yeah, this was just to just to give an idea of what our next scope of work is. So, um we're we're familiar with the site, but we do need to uh with
our engineers, we do need to verify the electrical. Um the hope is that we'll be able to tie into the service that's already in the building here. If not, then we'll, you know, we'll make appropriate accommodation for the correct service. um do a put a design package together,
present that um to staff, uh get their sign off, put the put the contract, put the documents together, uh put a permit, bidded and and then go to construction. The intent um is to do this work um or
hopefully I you know hopefully it'll work out that way would be at the same time that the paving project for the new the restripe and rework the the paving of the parking area and the new uh ADA access would happen. um because of the
pending roof work um that is probably going to happen after the roof is completed because when they remove the remove this existing roof there's a potential that they could damage the paved area and we kind of want to avoid that. So the idea is they come in, the
roof gets repaired, then the paving the paving people come in and do their work and at the same time we can we can uh run the conduits and necessary power for the for the lights. So if there's any questions, I'm I'm free.
>> Great. Matt, thank you very much for the the presentation and the time. I'll just ask the the commission if they have questions for you at this time. >> Okay, your mic. process will take the deal. >> You always asked the hard you asked the
hard questions. I um I think you know assuming we you know we select a fixture that's staff is okay with um I don't think we would need probably more than 30 you know 30 days to get through our to get through our phase and then the
permitting portion of it I think will go relatively fast. We have a pretty good relationship with the building department um work they work handinand glove with them on the roofing project. So the idea would be that by the time the roof is done this work should be this work should just be the permit
should be waiting and then that work can happen you know hopefully right after uh right after the roofers the roofers leave. >> Now you probably don't know about what the roof is do you have any idea how long the roofing part's going to take. I think what I'm trying to find out is it going to be in we're having commission meeting or we're going to have to have
it somewhere else. >> Oh, uh that's a good question. I think the the roofing if it gets approved today I suppose I would think um the permits are already ready for the roof. So, it's really a getting the the roofer signed up and making sure all their
paperwork is in order. But I would say um I would give I would give 60 days to do the roof just uh only because um part of this roof is a remove you know when you look up you see you what you see is
a roof but it's the it's not the roof that's actually >> right >> protecting us. So the roof on top has to be removed. We don't quite know what the extent of the damage is to that roof. So, we don't know how much of that uh will have to be replaced. We have a kind of a a decent idea of what has to happen
there, but not a certain idea. So, when that gets removed, the roofers will have a better idea of how much time they'll take it, but it's in their their best interest to get that roof on as quickly as possible. So, I would say, you know, within 60 days, they should have the they should have the roof on and be at a
point where they're not coming in with heavy trucks and removing material and debris and dumpsters and all that. And then and then at that point we you would probably have an opportunity to be able to come in and do the do the paving. But there's definitely going to be some
coordination that's going to need to happen and to see if the do we can maintain uh operation of the building for for your for your meetings. >> Okay. Thank you. I have some is is it possible to have it
shown the slide when you have the the entire plan or how is it going to look like? I don't know what uh slide that >> I think that's like the third slide probably. >> Okay. >> Um so I you know I was trying to put together a timeline as you can imagine.
I think you know I saw feedback from this at some point um in 2022 or 2021 maybe I don't know >> right >> so you know this project goes while back um this commission was not there at the time with the conversation started I
know there was a workshop where there you go and so it there was a workshop that kind of led uh opportunities for people to come forward and speak and sort of post their their comments and their thoughts and I was trying to piece it all out together. I know you have
several projects on your hands. So, the one we have in front of us for approval just refers to the lightning. Is that correct? >> It's correct. um what what we've completed and what I the two projects that we've completed as for this for
this location is the roof and the repaving of the parking of the parking area and inclusive in that we were at we were improving the parking aisle from the handicap parking to into the building. we were replacing the sidewalk. So, it would be uh it's not
really a ramp, it's a route. So, it's a much more subtle uh solution to it, which is working out really well. And then what this is really the last component of of the of the puzzle in that we would now be adding the lighting and hopefully we would, budget
permitting, we'd be able to add those sidewalks in front of the parking that would allow >> this one we have here, right? >> I'm sorry, >> is the one we're showing right now. we're showing on the TV. Yes. Yes. >> Okay. So, basically what we see in front of us, it's how it's going to look like.
>> Yes. >> Part of that has already started. We're just looking into the lightning portion of it. >> Um, and again, trying to piece this out together. Maybe the commission can help me out. I don't remember at what point this was decided option one or two.
Again, I was reading the letter that was included in the package for last month. this this presentation was in one of them. So my first question was was it mean option one and how many others have there been was that selection done? So
if you can help me sort of address that >> and well I wasn't part privy to the to that initial workshop. So um but my review of the file and I what I can do is share that that presentation with you which I can I I can do that after the when I get back to the office.
>> Thank you. But I I think I I want to say there were two or three. I know two for sure maybe. And I thought there were three, but the it may have been there may have been some other discussions about some other improvements into the into the you know into this main park area that may have been included in
that. But I know the two solutions, one was the pole solution and another one was a Ballard solution. And I think based on that presentation, the reason the Ballard solution wasn't didn't move forward with it is because it couldn't it couldn't meet code or at least I shouldn't say you couldn't get it to
meet code. We could probably get it to meet code, but it was going to be a lot more ballards and it was in a different a different situation. So I think what what came of it was that the pole solution was probably going to be the best the best solution for it which in
our experience we do a lot of parks um >> and and and I'm sorry to interrupt just want to be clear on this so the the design originally had several parts again lighting one of them my question is did we go through the approval
process of deciding on option one to move forward with the ADA look of it the sidewalk part of it already. And I know you said that has already been in progress. I'm just trying to >> make sense of why are we splitting this pieces and we got an approval now for
>> that part. I I would have to I would have to get with staff on that because that was right before we got in we got involved in it. I know the project kind of got broken up into parts because of the budget, >> but whether or not that that decision to go with option one >> Yes. >> went through it, I I don't know.
>> Got it. Okay. Thank you. So that uh was one of them. Um I guess the other one is about sort of and if you can again tell us a bit of the story. I know there were evaluations as to how this lights may affect neighbors you know so that
everybody is in a way understanding and you know uh the purpose of the meeting today was to allow that space you know to explain. Can you talk a little bit about the impact to wildlife to um neighbors around the area related to light? I uh what what when we do the
phototric study what we will what we will look we will be looking at is we have the the code requirement is which is a one foot you have to have a minimum of one foot candle um and then they have a thing it's kind of called I think they call it light burn which is you don't want to have like one foot candle and 10
foot candles where it's really bright and then it's not as bright and then you you what you want to be able to do is and it's and you can do this with the through the selection of the lamp and how the lamp is configured with its
lenses to minimize the overspill of light onto neighboring properties. The benefit here is that the lights because there's a there's a right of way on either side. It's pretty likely that
we're going to be able to keep that one foot candle um on at at least only on half of the rideway and the parking and with more light on the sidewalk where the people will be walking so they have clear light to get into their into their
uh into their vehicles. So that would be and that would be something we could work with staff on to make sure that the at least the foot candle calculations work so that we're not spilling light across the street um or or onto the
neighbors and that we don't go with too bright a light and that we we keep it um to the to the code minimum if that's if if that's what the what the commission wants us to do. I took some of the comments I was able to find from back then doing a bit of uh
asking neighbors and going back into some of the videos. You again I don't have the whole story but some of them were supportive of providing the ADA access. Keep it simple. Eliminate uh pavers. Again some of them are not specific to lightning. um move all the
walkways as far away from the existing oak tree as possible. that is sort of in our logo and and I want to kind of uh you know highlight I know again I'm mixing projects here but this were some that came together with the design as a whole
>> um refocus the project on lightning only which is the most critical in terms of needs right for ADX since we already have the ramps and the railing um and select light design to complement the historic design do you feel some of them are being um sort of checked with with
this design? >> Yes, I I do. I think um I what I would say is um with regards to the sidewalk that is um in front of the parking spaces. I would recommend it only because like I said, even though it's
not necessarily an ADA issue, it is kind of a safety issue where it's better to have the people walking not walking behind the cars and in the in the roadway to have them walking on the sidewalk, outside the cars. So I would say that that may may have not been an issue that may have been discussed in in
the prior workshops, but I think the solution here is pretty straightforward. It's pretty simple. I think we're, you know, based on the trees, we're avoiding the we're we're avoiding the oak tree and uh creating a nice uh safe uh walkway into the into the building and
and and some light too, which I I think probably probably needed, especially in the in the winter. is probably when you need it more when it gets dark at, you know, five o'clock. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Those are my questions for now. Thanks. >> Thanks. I just have one question for
you. If we do have a a brief discussion item on this coming up in just a little bit, if you wouldn't mind hanging out with us. Do you have to take off? >> Yeah, no, no, no worries. >> One very quick question for you. You mentioned this phototric study. Uh, and you mentioned a couple of steps that this still needs to go through. You put together the design package, goes to contract, get get the permits ready,
then go to bid. So, there's still a couple of things that need to be done. that phototric study, that's going to be part of that design. >> Yes. >> package, correct? >> Yes. >> That's something that we're going to get an opportunity to see. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Um All right. So, if if there are no other questions right now from the commission, Matt, if you wouldn't mind
just first of all, thank you for the time and for the presentation. If you wouldn't mind just sitting tight. >> The only comment that I have uh first off, I'm glad No, not about you. I'm glad that we're doing this. Uh my question is I didn't realize how timeconsuming this whole thing is going to take that inform the residents of you
know how commission meetings and how meetings are going to be run where it's going to be. I didn't think it was going to affect us here but >> about the roofing project. >> It looks like it's going to affect 60 days. So we have to figure out you know where we're going to hold the meetings and to inform the residents of what is going on. But I'm glad we're finally
doing this but there's always kinks in everything we do. But so >> um Okay. So, let's uh revisit that in just a moment. Let's move on to our next presentation, which is our insurance benefits presentation. I think we had someone on Zoom. Yes.
Oh, we got to we're we're taking the presentation down. We're getting there. Moren, are you with us? >> Yes. Yes, I'm I'm here. >> There we go. Do we have a presentation that we're pulling up for you, Moren? >> Yes.
>> Okay, got it. >> Are you able to see it? >> Uh, yeah, I've got one right in my hand. I'm all set. It's not It's not popped up yet, but I'm You guys can Can you see it? All right, >> we can see it. Yes. >> Okay, perfect. Um, good evening. Nice to
see you all. Um, what I'd like to do is just start by doing a little summary. The presentation is really um the majority of it is just statistics and calculations that um are are are supportive of the summary. And if you would like for me to go through each of
those um uh spreadsheets, I'd be happy to do that. Um, so the the uh slide number two, if you're looking at that, >> we are. >> Okay, here we go. Um, so Florida Blue
came in with a 12.93% renewal increase for our June 1, 2026 uh renewal with no benefit design changes. So, we'd be keeping everything the same. Um, we did bid out the plan. We do this every year. Uh, AMID came in
at 38% over current. Uh, NHP, which is a United Healthc Care, came in 23.6% over current. And Sigma and Etna declined to quote. Um, Etna uh looked at some medical information, some prescription drug usage, so they declined to quote.
And then Sigma does not write business in this the small group market. Um, so we're recommending to renew with Florida Blue with a 12.93% increase with the no plan changes. Um, we are considering offering a PO plan alongside
the HMO which would have no impact to the employer cost because we would take the uh current contribution dollar amount that is attributed to the HMO and apply that to the PO. So there'd be no cost impact if you decided that you
wanted to offer a PO alongside the HMO. Um the payroll deductions would be quite a bit higher, but it would be an option if the employees wanted it. Um the other option we're looking at is rather than have a $15,000 death benefit for the
life insurance, it would increase to onetime salary for the employees. The death benefit would be one time salary. Um the impact the total employer cost impact if we change to the one-time salary would be 37,700
or 14.65% increase over current. And if you left it alone and just kept it at the $15,000 death benefit, the increase to the employer or village would be 33,37 or 12.84%. So, what we could do here is we could go
on and look at the backup to that. Um, or we could go to the last slide and I can just show you the bottom line of what that looks like. We could go through each all of this is just kind of a backup of the of the summary. Would you like me to go through each slide?
>> Uh, if if you could just very briefly, Marine. >> Sure. So, this slide shows that we have 23 employees enrolled. the employee only, excuse me, we have 21 enrolled, we have one E+ spouse, we have one E+ child
and no families. So the first uh column is showing Blue Cross and Blue Shield current. The total cost, the total bill cost is 273,000. The renewal is coming in at 308,000. That's a 35,375
increase or 12.93%. Excuse me. I just needed water. Sorry, I have a little tickle. AMED came in at 379,000 or 105,000 over current or 38.71% increase.
Excuse me. Sorry about that. And then the UHC came in, excuse me, at 338,64,000 over current or 23.61%. 61%. And then the next slide is um really our
current contribution strategy. This is a little trickier uh to explain. So we have our monthly this is our monthly cost which is runs the employee employee spouse employee children and family. The second column,
excuse me, I'm so sorry, is the employer contribution. And up on the right hand corner shows how much the village contributes to each tier. And then we have this is 2025 payroll deductions. And then the total
employer cost is 255,000. Does anybody have any questions on that slide? I just wanted to understand employer employee annual cost. Sure. So I have 21 at 231 and then one and one. What does those mean?
>> Okay. So those costs on the underneath employer health cost >> I'm sorry is your question >> I was trying to understand. So on the right where you have your green columns and says employee and all cost current.
>> Yep. So, if you look at the employer, the monthly and the employer, you'll take the the total the employer cost, which is $917, and you multiply that by 21, and that's the total um annual amount that's paid
for employee only. And then the 1,12,258 multiplied by 1 is 12,150. So that's just the total adding up the total amount of the employer cost. >> So we have 23 employees under the um the
coverage. >> That's correct. >> Okay. And and what what do you mean by employee health cost? What's that portion? The 18,000. >> That's the that's the portion that the employee pays of the total build premium. >> Okay.
And so this is the current um this is the current picture or the proposed picture. >> This is 2025. >> Okay. >> So we can go to page five and I'll show you what the difference is. So now we
can just go down to the yellow box. You'll see 2026 the highlighted will be 288,523 and the employee cost will be $255,000 or four at $486 or $33,000 increase. If
you look at the employee part portion, the reason why that looks so high, it would not be it would be 12.93%. But because the if you look at the PO we just we enrolled an employee and employee spouse just to show what the
cost would be. I don't think anybody's going to enroll as employee spouse because the cost if you look under the pink column is going to be $674 every uh paycheck. Um but the village manager thought it
would be a good idea to offer another option. A PO is a little different than a HMO where there's a national network and and and the Florida Blue Ho is a statewide network. So you have a a vast much larger network under the PO, the
national um PO. >> Marine and one more question. So on the So the HMO is where most of our employees are enrolled right now, right? And so they're >> all of your employees are enrolled in HMO right now. We don't have a PO.
>> Okay. And that would be um the the monthly cost is 835 or 356. >> So for the employee only what the employee will pay is the pink column.
>> So employee only is zero. So they pay nothing because the employer pays 100%. Employee spouse will pay 42855. E children 366. And then you'll see the PO which we don't offer right now. We're applying the exact same employer
contribution towards the PO as we do the HMO. So if we offer the PO it's there's no cost impact. The question is is employee going to you know enroll paying 123 per paycheck to have the national network. But if we didn't put if we
didn't hypothetically enroll those employees in the PO where the cost is much higher out of pocket payroll deduction, your payroll deductions would just go up 12.93%. >> Thank you. >> Sure.
Any other questions on that spreadsheet? >> I don't think so. Moren, go ahead. >> Okay, great. Um, so on to slide six. So this is just our current benefit designs. So the Florida Blue HMO
benefits versus the what the Blue Cross Blue Options PO would look like. I don't know if you want me to go through all the benefits. Would you want me to do that? >> I don't know that you need to go through line by line, Mor. >> Okay. >> No, I was going to ask it might come later if you just gave us a summary. So
are we keeping the same benefits when an increase in the rate plus providing a PO plan or are any of the benefits changing as well as increasing in terms of cost? >> So we're making no benefit design changes to the HMO. The only difference
would be if we decided to add the PO alongside the HMO. But the the cost increase and I know that 12.93 sounds very high, but in the small group market, um I was delighted because the rates in the small group market is
skyrocketing. So it it's it's high and it's uncomfortable, but it's a actually a pretty good increase. Yeah. Um, and any questions on the benefits at
all? >> I don't think so, Mor. >> Okay, terrific. We'll go on to So, this is the change that we're looking at. Rather than have the basic life at 15,000 for a death benefit, it would go to one-time salary. Um although the rate
stays the same, you'll see the volume goes up substantially. um that would increase the life insurance to the employer because this is 100% paid by village of $4,659. So rather than paying 1,780,
the cost would be $4,659. >> Any question? Any questions on that? >> I don't think so. Go ahead. >> Okay. And then this is comparing our current 2025 uh total employer cost which is 257,266.
That's our plan year 2025 2026. If we stay with the 15,000 the total is 290,34 a 33,000 37 increase 12.84% increase to the village. And then if we go to the
one-time salary versus the 15,000, you're looking at $294,963 or 37,6996 over current or 14.65%. So basically what we're looking at is do
you change the life insurance and do you add the PO? Those are kind of our our two choices since Blue Cross seems to be our our our our go-to for the renewal. >> Okay. >> All right. Anything further, Marine?
>> Nope. All set. >> All right. Well, I very much appreciate you taking the time to break it down for us. Uh at this point, I'll just ask the commission if they have any questions for you. Okay. >> Sure. >> All right. Commission, any questions for Meen on the coverage options? >> For me, thank you very much. No, thank you very much.
>> No. Okay. Um All right, Moren. Um I don't think there are any questions. Um we appreciate you being here with us to uh break down the um uh the coverage options. >> We have one more issue. We're we're renewing for June 1 and we're having our
enrollment meeting tomorrow. Um because we don't have a commission meeting after the first Tuesday of the month, we kind of get squeezed in for our our renewals. So we have to have open enrollment for the employees to
make their benefit changes. So were you planning on make doing a vote tonight? >> I'm about to present. I'm a part of the conference, but I have a commission meeting. So I just kind of >> Okay. How long are you going to be because the building's closing? >> Probably like 20 minutes. I'm next.
>> Claudia. Claudia, we we we can hear you. Would you mind just muting? Yeah. For just a few more minutes. We're just wrapping up with the the prior presentation. >> There we go. Thank you very much. >> Um well, so >> we're planning on presenting uh uh to
the employees tomorrow for open enrollment. >> Okay. So, you need a decision from the commission tonight on which plan we are voting to move forward with then. >> That's correct. We have a meeting at 11:30 with the employees tomorrow. >> Okay. Um
John, is this I mean it's on here as a presentation. Are we able to take formal action on this item? >> Um yes, that's the short answer. >> By consensus, I mean, >> you can you can um
>> direct staff to option A, option B, whatever. um is the decision of the commission and then at the next commission meeting um historically what has been done is we would put a resolution
uh on the agenda for you to approve ratifying um the actions taken at night. >> Okay. So essentially it would be providing providing direction to the manager to move forward with one of these two options. >> That's correct. >> Or one of these three options I guess. >> Okay.
>> Or two options. Yeah. Got it. Okay. >> My understanding you're coming in way under budget. >> Say sorry. Say it one more time. Moren. >> My understanding is you're coming in way way under budget. I think the budget was was set pretty
high this year >> for >> I I can comment on that if you want me to. >> I was just going to ask if we had Paul on. Paul, would you please provide us uh with uh some some commentary on that? >> Somebody's muting me. Uh okay, I'm unmuted now. the budget and had a much
higher uh population that it was being charged against. So you're she's correct. You're going to have uh plenty of money to cover the the 12.9%. Uh so that that part's easy. We also budget uh between 10 and 15% uh for this, you know, because it's a
stub year fee increase for us every time. So all that added together, you're in really good shape. So we've already budgeted for we we basically already budgeted for this increase that we were discussing. Yes.
>> And and for more people. So those two pieces together mean is how you got to wait budget. The second piece of it is um you know adding that $4,000 into the the insurance benefit is uh nominal and
staff's going to recommend you know I believe finance is you know saying no problem go forward. >> Okay understood. >> Can I have a question on that Paul? So where is the budget being effective from? So where where is it coming from the difference? >> So throughout throughout your budget uh
under each uh department line item for personnel and staffing there's an insurance line. Uh we keep all that into the salary schedule which is an instrument I share with you during the budget which ties all this together. Uh so under the salary schedule you would
see each actual employee what their rate of insurance is what we budget for their insurance and there's a there's a delta or a difference where we're always way under we we've learned this cycle because of the mid-year rate increase
and I don't think health insurance has gone down ever so pretty sure we're always ahead of it. Any other questions commissioner for Paul? >> No. Thank you, Paul. >> Are there any other questions from the commission from Paul? >> No. Okay. >> It's a great program. Thank you.
>> Thanks, Paul. I appreciate you being here and providing us with the information. Uh, look, just I mean, if there's no other discussion on on it, you have an option on really on the insurance piece, right? The only option that we're talking about now is the life insurance piece, right? Correct. >> And the PO.
>> And the PO, which is no cost, >> which is no cost. So, it's really that's a no-brainer. So, it's really the the life insurance piece. >> That's correct. >> So, that's what we should just focus on. We are we're going to do the onetime one what is it? One time salary time salary increasing from $15,000 >> $3,000,
>> right? Correct. >> $4,600 annually is is >> it's a thousand. So, it's a $3,000 more or less the $3,000 difference. So, or are we going to keep the So, that's I guess that's the only decision really that >> that sounds right to me. >> To me, it's a no-brainer. It's a 2%
difference. And the difference if heaven forbid we ever have to use it, if a employees ever have to use it, $15,000 to cover funeral costs and uh affect their family and stuff like that is nothing. Even onetime salary for some of our employees is grossly under what the
cost can be. >> Do we get that benefit? Maybe. I don't know if you're looking to That's some good money. Hopefully, we never have to use that either. Um but well, actually one time salary is only 2,000 bucks for you. It's not that much. Um, but to me it's a no-brainer. It's a
2% increase and our employees are definitely if they if it ever, heaven forbid is is used, they're definitely worth it to me. >> Amen to that. Any other discussion on it? No. >> Commissioner,
>> um, so you know, we received this presentation yesterday um, as a commission. I would always say, you know, in concept, I agree with Commissioner Hannington here. I would want to put forward the best benefits we can for employees. Um, it seems like the
budget is there according to what Paul is suggesting. It seems to be that is manage manageable in terms of what we predicted. Um, so everything flax said it's okay for us to approve. I am just not okay for this coming forth for
commission approval. I think this falls within the responsibility of the manager and should come as a decision he makes best for for his employees. Again, you know, it's part of of the evaluation that has to happen and the conversations with the vendor in the middle of the
presentation. Um, you know, us making space for approval with a presentation we received yesterday. Um, I'm just not okay with that. But again in concept 100% agree but not in format. >> If I might rebut that this is the way it's been done the last three years ever since I the commission that prior to Mr.
Childress sitting over there when we had Chris Truit sitting over there. This is the way it's been done. It's >> and I wonder maybe that's something to review right. Um again uh maybe that's a question for Meen. I don't know if uh is there an opportunity
to come and address this sooner or why are we sort of against the gun here uh to approve >> that that is a good question. So the the the meeting occurred way back um the pro the meeting I had
with um with the village manager um the the issue is that there's only one meeting in April. It's it's early and so the next meeting there there is there is no commission meeting. So this is the first available meeting. So we kind of get stuck unless we can get in and have
everything wrapped up early April um which we can try to do next year. It just it never seems to work out. And I did have um the presentation I I don't know I didn't know what the process was to get it to you earlier. I don't know when that was supposed to. So I sent it
today thinking today was the meeting. I thought maybe you had seen something before now, but apparently no. Is that >> is that fair to say >> because >> Okay, because we submitted something. I just I guess it just didn't get to you and then the the formal presentation was
sent over I think yesterday or today. >> Got it. >> But there's always other information before the PowerPoint is finished up and we can certainly get that to you well before the meeting. I mean, this this this process starts way back in, you know, back in March, and usually
decisions are wrapped up in April, uh, early April, but just we just don't have the time to get in front of you until May. But like I said, we'll try to get in we'll try to get it in that first Tuesday meeting in April next year, so you have time to review and and that's
exactly how we've done it and and it's it's it's tough. >> Thank you, Marino. No, I appreciate the effort again and and how and as you're putting together the the the process sort of ties you up. Um but thank you >> Mr. Mayor like to make it sense that we
go forward with because I because I agree with commissioner we have done this in last three years and that's the responsibility of the commission. We don't have a problem with the city manager now but we don't know what the city manager in the future is. I don't want to take that away. So I to take care of our employees is very important
and I don't think this we need to take this long to discuss it. It's something we should automatically do. So I want to make consent whatever it's called that we get. >> So are you uh putting forth a motion to provide the with provide the manager with direction to go with the PO and the increase in the life insurance?
>> Yeah. And I'll second it. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> I >> No. >> Okay. Uh Moren, I think that's it. Um very much so in case uh in case it was hard to hear, uh the the commission uh approved by majority to go forward with
the uh the increase, the PO and the increase in the life insurance portion. >> Wonderful. Thank you very much, >> Moren. Thanks so much for being here with us. >> Thank you. Have a nice night. >> You as well, >> member. So that's if I understood the attorney, it's going to come back in the next commission meeting when as a
resolution. Am I correct, attorney? Yes, sir. >> Okay, that's what I want. Great. >> All right, our last presentation. Let's move on to that. That's freebie. And I think we've got Claudia with us. >> Good evening, Claudia. How are you? >> Good evening. Good evening, commissioners, mayors, and commissioner.
Thank you so much for having me here. Claudia Mero, vice president at Freeb with offices at 371 Northeast 61st Street. Um, again, thank you for letting me come here. I do have a presentation I want to go over with you. Um, I can share my screen. I have also provided it
to the clerk for future reference. Oh, uh, the screen sharing has been disabled. If someone could let me share my screen, >> we're working out for you. >> All right. Thank you. And I would have loved to be there in person tonight, but I am in North
Carolina at a work conference, so I apologize I wasn't muted earlier. Um, if nothing else, would love to be there to see my good friend, the clerk, Pam Latimore, and after a lot of years of not seeing her from our time at the city of Miami. >> Well, we appreciate you taking the time to be with us, Claudia.
>> Do we have You should be able to now, Claudia. >> Okay, working on it. We'll share. Can you see my screen? >> Uh, yep. Wonderful. Wonderful. Again, thank you so much for letting me come and uh present to you today. I know that
we want to go over some of um the program goals, the service history that we've had here in Biscane Park. We started the service in May of 2022. Um and it has been a very successful uh service. This is a zero financial impact model to the general fund of the city.
um 50% of it is funded through FDOT funding and the other 50% is funded through CITT or for the folks watching at home half penny uh sir tax dollars. Um and so this is a great type of service which is uh perfect for small
communities like Biscane Park helping to connect all the residents, visitors and the local employees um to the nearby areas, shopping, restaurants, parks and any essential services um you know by keeping this the village quiet neighborhood focused type of character that you all enjoy in Biscane Park. Um,
again, the uh scope of service that you have there is an on demand door-to-door public transit service. And like I was mentioning, you know, this is the kind of service that you have when you know, you have a small area. Microtransit is the perfect fit for that area. Um, folks
can go on the app and request rides and it's on demand based on when they need it, doortodoor. The hours that you are operating right now is Sunday through Thursday 12 to 3:15 and then 4:00 to 7:00 and then on Fridays and Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 4:15 and then again 5 to
900 p.m. Um some of the updates that I wanted to share with you this evening is um if you look at the map that we have here some of the points of interest that we're covering we had been communicating with the city and uh right now one of the
things that we had done was we ran a survey on the app and found out that an overwhelming amount 85% of the riders wanted to add the new Publix on Biscane and 127th to the service area. So, we went ahead and did that uh just
recently. There you can look at the map and look at the points of interest. Obviously, a couple of Publix Aldi, Whole Foods, Home Depot, the Griffin uh Park and Community Center, the Burke Recreation Center, Borink Healthcare uh center, and then the Museum of Contemporary um art as well. Some those
are some of those uh service areas that you have here in in the area. So as I was mentioning um earlier this is microtransit is an essential infrastructure for the city considering that you guys have no biscane park
doesn't have any kind of transportation you don't have a bus system going through there you don't have a trolley uh transportation is not being provided by the county so when you have uh situations like that microtransit is the only and viable public transportation solution in fact if you remember when
the county a couple of years ago they they implemented their better bus network They eliminated what they called their low performing routes. And they did it in places where they had some ridership but not enough to spend millions on a bus route. And um in some of those areas they they called freebie
to have microtransit kind of pick up you know those few riders that were there and we were able to to accommodate them. So with Biscane Park that is definitely the situation where you know this is the best solution and it's the most um efficient financially uh for the city built specifically for these small type
of communities where you know you've got a population of approximately 3,000 residents. Um and then right now your wrership um you're doing about between 400 and 600 monthly riders again uh cor very aligned with the population size
that you have there of approximately 3,000 people. Uh average monthly ridership we're looking at 430. You know this month, last month, March, April, you had about 430, 450. Um definitely fills that mobility gap for those residents that don't have vehicles, seniors, um short trips. We have noticed
um and my conversations with our performance managers that a lot of the folks that are using it are taking it to go to work. So, it's an essential um use for them. You've got great performance metrics. We've served in the last four years over 20,000 total riders. Our customer satisfaction is at 98.8.
Your wait time is a little bit over 12 and a half minutes, which is great. Um, yeah, we found that 60% of our riders are women. Um, and we find that to be the case across most of our service areas because they feel so safe using freebie. They know their driver's names. The driver's names and the drivers know
their name as well. Uh, creates really that community feel that you want, especially in a small city uh, village like uh, Biscane Park. 40% are male. Um and then you know again some of the patterns that we've been seeing for the demand we see that your peak usage is
between 12 and two and then again between four and six um you know reflecting again just the day-to-day real world needs of the folks you know going shopping you know work daily activities running errands etc uh being your peak time there. And so as we look
forward, um this is a highly cost-effective program. To be clear, the total cost of the freebie is $120,000 a year. Uh 50% of that is covered by FDOT. Uh the public transit service development grant that is a 50% matching
grant. So basically half of the cost, which is $60,000, is picked up by FDOT. The other 60,000 is covered by CITT uh sir tax dollars, the half penny tax. Um and so wonderful. It's a a fully turnkey system. When I say turnkey, for the
folks that are watching us at home, the city doesn't have to come out of pocket to purchase the car. The cars belong to freebie. The city doesn't have to worry about paying for repairs, maintenance, employees. This is 100% turnkey service, which makes it very costefficient um for you uh to have at a very minimal cost.
And um again, the other thing that I wanted to kind of uh mention, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the FDOT grant, the public transit service development grant funding. You have that grant now for another year. And I understand that you are in a position
that if you let FDOT know 30 days before the grant goes into uh effect, you can give that money back. However, I do want to caution you and this is something verifiable directly with your city manager, you know, through FDOT. Um, I went to their meeting on April 15th and
they have said that because they are changing the way that they award grants, they used to award them one year at a time for up to three years. Now they're doing it three years at a time, which means now moving forward, it's going to be more difficult for not just Biscane Park, for all cities to be able to
obtain this grant. In fact, this year they said they will only award three or four cities uh grants in comparison to 10 to 12 cities that they have been doing in the past. So, um, I I bring that up because it's important for you to know that if you turn back the money
of the grant that you may never be able to get it again for a long time because you're competing and and you've got this golden opportunity because you are one of 34 cities uh most of the cities apply for this grant. And so, it's it's really um high highly favorable position to be in um compared to what future programs
or future cities are going to see when they apply for this grant. Um the other thing that I want and um for you to take into consideration is that right now the village is operating under legacy pricing which is below market. You have been grandfathered in to what our prices were four years ago when you started
with us. If for whatever reason you were to discontinue the program and later reinstate it, the cost would return to current market rates which is much higher now um than when you started the program. Microtransit has become very popular. I don't need to tell you that all the costs have gone up. Um and the
bottom line, you know, microtransit is not optional, especially here, um in in the village of Biscane Park where you have no other transportation. Um the county is not providing transportation. It's on the city to help the residents have some sort of form to get them to where they need to go. Uh it's an
essential infrastructure for uh village of Biscane Park. You know, we are happy to say that it's a high has a high rider satisfaction. the demand is there and it's a critical e- moility mobility access at a very exceptionally low cost
um to your you know but and again not making an impact to your general fund. I'm happy to take any questions that you want. The other thing I was going to say is that we do have recommendations um that I'd like to put on here which is again, you know, one of the things we're looking at is, hey, how can we get more writership? Um it would be great if the
city promoted on social media. Um you know, if they have any PSA, if you have a YouTube channel, help with that. But we can also suggest that since a lot of the folks who are are writing it are going to work, you can also look at maybe starting earlier, having a gap in the middle of the day, going a little
bit later, so that way you're catching folks who are going to work. um you know maybe at 8 o'clock in the morning, maybe an 8 to one and then starting again 4 to 9ine. So you catch the folks are coming home from work and also going out to dinner um and still able to like run their errands. So those that's you know
just one of the recommendations that we can continue talking about. Um I want you to know that we're here to be a partner with you. We're here to do whatever uh it takes to help continue making this uh the program even more successful than it has been. And u again I'm happy to take any questions that you
have for me. Thank you. Thanks, Claudia. Um, so, uh, at at this point, I'll I'll open it up to the commission for some questions to you. Okay. >> Sure. Thanks. >> Go for it. >> Um, so what and and I I I I've asked
this question before. I haven't been able to get the answer. Um, and that is, you know, we talk about how many rides does on a monthly basis and and whatnot, but we don't fully understand the percentage uh of the residents that are
actually uh utilizing the service, right? So, for me, I think that that would be at a very because if you say they did 400 rides in in a month, right? Well, could that possibly be the same person, right? using the right 400 I'm
not saying it is I'm just saying so for me I would like to understand what percentage of our community is being actually served right because if it's you know I don't know and I don't know the answer of you know if it's 15% 10% 2% is it 5 I don't know but I need to
understand that in order to un to fully understand the value uh because if we're spending $120,000 um for you know a handful full of residents. I don't think that that is fair for the entire community. That's
just my opinion. So, um if we can get that data, uh then I can uh make a more educated decision, but I haven't been able to get that data from anybody. >> I think thank you so much for for the question. I think it's a very fair question and so that I can clarify I
think that this will provide clarification for you. The numbers that we're providing are unique writers. So, it's not the same person writing over and over again. When I say you have about 450 writers to 600 writers a month, those are unique writers. Those so if you're looking at a population of approximately 3,000, uh we can, you
know, do the math really quickly. Um that's that's basically your percentage of folks that are are writing. >> So how do how do you track that? Uh is it um is it by location? How do you track that the fact that they're different writers? >> Thank you. I'm smiling because that's
one of my favorite questions. Um, so Freeb is a transportation company, but more than that, we are a technology company. So what we do is we have uh we're able to track and get um demographics on everybody. So if you're going to use the application, whether you're going to call in or whether
you're going to go and request a ride through the app, you have a user account. So we when you set up the user account, you put in your name, you put in your address, that's how we know you live in Biscane Park and that's that you're using the service. You put in your age, your sex. That's why we know
we have 60% of women using it within the the village of Biscane Park because of all the information that we we collect just to set up your account. And we track that information. Our technology is pretty pretty cool. We're able to see um heat maps and see exactly where everybody's coming from, where
everybody's going to the uh screen that I had um on earlier that shows the uh the points of interest in the map. We know those points of interest because we can see the the heat map and that's where folks are are taking requesting their rides to, you know, the Publix, the Aldi, the Whole Foods, the Home Depot, etc. So, that information is all
information that we have at our fingertips and so does the staff. Um, we can see the peak times by day, by week, by month. Um, and that's also how we track the writership and we make sure that the wrership continues to, you know, to stay steady or to continue to grow. Uh, so all of that is very, uh,
techdriven all that information that we have. So it's not we're not just guessing. Oh, we think it's mostly women or we think you know you're writing mostly from 12 to two. All of that is is down to a science with the technology. >> All right, last question since uh you have this technology. I I love
technology. Technology is great. Um >> me too. >> So um when you say let's just get use 400 as an example on a monthly basis. Is that the same person obviously using it twice because they're going to the supermarket and then they're coming back from the supermarket? Is that or is that
a one-way thing? >> So, we can look at that information, but again, it's we're looking at the rider, not the rides. So, you have about 450 unique riders using it on a on a monthly basis. Okay.
I'll have to think about how to ask that question in a better way. I I think and maybe I can because that was one of the questions that I was going to ask you as well, Claudia. You know, we're looking at, you know, by way of example, I'm looking at the March numbers. Um, completed rides 317, total
passengers approximately 400. >> Can you break those down with a little bit more specificity for us? Completed. >> Sure. >> Go ahead. Yeah. Go ahead. >> Yes. Yes. No. What I was gonna say is I can have our team break that down for you. any information that you want or
your staff wants, we can have them break it down, you know, u to whatever information you're requesting. So, if I understand your question uh correctly, you want to make sure that the person who's going to Publix isn't being counted twice when they come back from Publix. Correct. >> Well, that's part of it because I think what we're what we're asking because I
think what's and and I don't want to put words in anyone's mouths, but I think the way that this was represented to us was, hey, this number or these numbers may not accurately reflect how many people are using the app. you know, it's it's the same person in, you know, multiple times or it's one person down to their destination and that same
person back that counts as two rides. So, in reality, this actually is is half uh of what it's being reported to us. So, I think what I'm asking is I just want to be certain because it's coming straight from you, you know, you're the authority on this. This is freebie. Um
that these numbers represent unique individual rides. So we we just have a good understanding and representation of of how many people in our community are using this. >> Yeah. Yeah. Unique rides 100%. >> So it's about it's about 11% of our
community that's that's utilizing this uh based on this information that we're receiving today. >> Yeah. And I'm still having a little trouble with these numbers because I reviewed the last like three or four quarterly statements and I think I could see maybe one or two months per quarter
where you hit 400 rides. The average is 200 300 never 600. That 600 number is I've never seen that number for me. Uh so I'm a little wary of these numbers. I don't really uh see the validity in them because I've seen the quarterly
statements and I see 200 300 maybe the highest you get is 400 >> but >> so and I still don't understand the the ride wrership model how you get to Aldi's and how you get back you you do you walk home do you take an Uber
because I it's got to be one way there one way back you know so that the the word unique also starts to question >> but I think that what she said uh is that the 400, 300, 200 are unique users.
They're not the actual rides. Am I am I am I correct? >> Yes. >> Right. So they're they're actual they're not we're not counting rides here though. Those those are actual people that are use utilizing here. I have February's numbers pulled up. I didn't have March pulled up. And it says total
passengers 304. And then it says complete rides 224. So, how did we Well, some people may have gone and not come back. >> Well, okay, but how did we how did we complete a complete have more unique
users than we did rides? >> Because you may have one more per you have may more than one person in each car for each ride. You may have two people, three people riding on the way to Publix together. So, that's one ride with three riders. Um, and then the other thing I was going to say, if you look at March and April, I know that
when I looked at March and April myself today, it was, I think, 430 and 450 if I'm not mistaken, but those numbers just recently were in the 400s. Um, you know, and this this month makes four years that Freeb has been operating. We we're not even counting May because today's
Cinco de Mayo, right? Um 20,000 uh folks have been served in the last four years. That's 20,000 rides that you guys uh that you guys have have been able to provide in the last four years. Um, and again, you know, the I I'm just here to provide the information. The you don't
have any transportation at the county level. This is the only transportation a available to the folks that live within the village of Biscane Park. Um, I know you have a decision to make and um, you know, I'm here, like I said, to provide the information. If you guys want to dig deeper into the numbers, I will have our
team, you know, break down the numbers even further to answer any questions. I'm happy to get the the you know any questions you have through ISSA or through manager children when he returns and give you a deep dive in that. I just want to make sure that you know that you're turning away $60,000 worth of
grants that are not going to be available in the future and um and that right now you have a a zero net financial um coming from with this program because you are paying for it out of CIT funding and through grant funding. So right now out of your general budget, $0 to provide much
neededed transportation to the residents that are trying to get to work and to, you know, their grocery store and things like that nature. So again, happy to go in deep dive into anything that you want. Um, you know, we're here to be transparent. We're here to be good community partners with you and any
questions that I haven't answered um in detail, we're happy to, you know, like I said, bring bring in the technology and dissect it until you are happy with the results. And again, if you want more ridership, there are still, you know, one of the things we just did um a week and a half ago was add that other Publix
that 85% of the community surveyed. Uh and how we do the surveys, by the way, is when you're going to request a ride, you have to answer the survey question before you can put in the location that you're trying to be picked up from or to go to. And 85% of the writers said, "Hey, yeah, we please add that Publix on the new Publix on Biscane and 127th." So
Claudia, that's actually you you raised an interesting point and I had this written down to ask you about that because I saw when you added the Publix I hadn't seen that previously available through the app because I'll check it every now and then to see where it's going. Um and I saw in that that survey it says like at at the bottom of this
slide here said as of April 2026. So you guys just did that. So yes, because the city um uh reached out, you guys reached out to us um end of April and said, "Hey, we want to have uh you guys come to present at the
commission meeting." And so that was when I was made aware that you were considering uh looking in deeper into this program. And so immediately I I was told that writership was a concern. So we acted immediately and said, "Okay, you know, um what can we do?" One of the
things that we thought of is like can we add any points of interest that would cause more folks in the village of Biscane Park to use the service more to increase wrership and that was adding the publics at 127th. So we said okay before we do it let's survey and find out if this is something we don't want
to just guess. Um so we did the survey and the survey came back uh overwhelmingly positive for adding the the the uh the um Publix and that's why we did it and that's why it was like again we just we just were notified of
this and so we acted immediately um in good faith. >> Well, I'm going to be totally candid with you Claudia. uh in years past it's been represented to us from my recollection that freebie will not add any other destinations for us but now we have that which is fantastic by the way
I I'm I'm delighted to see that we've added another you know highle spot like this 85% is huge do you know I'm going to put you on the spot because I'm going to try and squeeze every last penny out of this if we're going to pay for it you know if we have was was it um uh surveyed for any other locations other
than that Publix because 85% is overwhelming Yeah. So, let me let me just go back here. I'm surprised to hear that comment because um with the CITT rules, you are allowed to go up to five miles outside of your municipal area as far as your
geo fencing adding any locations. And actually, we do that in other municipalities. So, sometimes you have a municipality, take for example, um Florida City, they don't have any supermarkets in Florida City. So, we go into Homestead and we put a geoence around Publix, Baptist Hospital, Miami
date college, etc. In Medley, we do the same thing. We have a geoence around the super Walmart in um in in Hyalia Gardens. So, this is something that we do do. And within the rules of CIT, because you're using CIT funding, you are allowed to go five miles. Now, do we recommend five miles? And especially in a city where you only have one car, you
have to be very cautious uh of what you you add. And so maybe that's what you're remembering is that you've maybe were cautioned and say, "Hey, you don't want to go too far outside of your municipal boundaries because what you're going to do is you're going to increase your wait time and then the quality of the service is going to go down and you might that might hurt your writership because folks
are like, "Oh, I don't really want to wait that long. You know, I'll wait later." So that's that may be what you're listening to. But if there's another area that you want to add, like I said, we are here to be partners with you and we want to we'll, you know, we'll definitely add other areas. again with the caveat of you don't want to go
too far um out of the zone because you don't want to, you know, affect those weight times. >> Jonathan, real quick, do we do we need to make a decision tonight on this? >> Uh is this some >> I think we do because I think the renewal period is due uh before before
the next commission meeting. I think the 30 days. Okay. >> If I remember the last meeting correctly, that's that's what it was. >> We have an item for discussion on this later today. So my question is is is uh the post office within that five miles I'm not my mileage is the post office
within that five miles >> I believe the post office is already included >> no 146 146 is it 14 yeah 146 >> it might be yeah I think it is I think it's I think that's in five miles >> post office on 146 that should be within five miles
>> we can definitely add it if it's not already there we can add Yes. Any other areas while we got that we anybody else here could think of? I didn't know we can add areas. >> Yes. >> Go ahead. >> Um Lauria, thank you so much so far for the information. So I I have few
questions for you. >> Yes. >> Um you talked about 400 600 writers and to your uh analysis are uniques. Um I was wondering by the 85% the voted forward as well to incorporate another location. I think that's huge. That
speaks at the volume of people that may want to see it. They just want it improved. Um, what's the database? Where is it coming from? How many people were surveyed? >> I I don't know how many people were surveyed. I'd have to get you that answer. But like I said before, if you're going to anybody who requested a
ride had to answer that question. So, you were actually serving actual users. It wasn't something that was sent out on email. It was people who went to go use the app had to answer that question before they could put in their destination. >> Terrific. So, we're estimating that those uh that usually would ride in in a
month uh had the opportunity to see the survey. Hopefully, since you got the call, right? >> Yes. >> Again, we don't know. Um the other one, so you talked about most cities and what they do. looking into the service right now and what you've
sort of addressed already. What improvements can we do that would make this uh you know high impact across as many pe people as possible. If one of the concern is the writers uh and how
that's coming down before you answer the question uh the second question comes about what we do to promote this among our residents. So communication in terms of marketing campaigns or advising through social media we have um you know
residents you know that that they might not know the services available to them. So I think there's part we can do I'm wondering from your perspective best practices against other cities what would you recommend? Um, as I had already mentioned, I would
recommend that we look at these start times so that we can capture more of those folks that are trying to get to work or come, you know, especially in the morning. Um, and so that you keep the same level of service hours and you're not impacting or changing the amount that we are charging you, keeping the same 56 hours, but again, maybe
having a gap in the middle of the day. So you could start 8:00 to 1 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and then have a gap and start again 4 to 9. That way you're still capturing the folks that are getting off of work. you're still capturing the dinner crowd. Um, and folks are still able to, you know, run their their daily errands and and go to
the grocery store and do whatever it is that they need to do. Um, you know, and you're not losing that that peak ridership time. So, you could do 8:1, 8 to2 even, so you can capture the lunch crowd. Um, you know, again, we're we're happy to discuss and kind of dive deeper into that to look and see
what would be the best thing. And here's the thing because of the technology and you know and the the um the dashboard that we provide you the whole point of having the dashboard is to look at the data and tweak and make changes and so we can say all right
let's do it from 8 to one or 8 to two and then look and say okay this is working this isn't working and continue tweaking there that you know that we can work with staff that doesn't have to come back to commission we could look at those numbers and see if there's been an impact with wrership or not >> all right continue
Okay. Uh, regarding money. So, you mentioned 120 grand. Uh, um, or someone mentioned 120 grand, but your presentation says we spent about 60. So, Paul being on the line. I hope Paul, I don't know if you're still there. I was
just trying to understand um, our true impact uh, from our budget to this program. Um I think Commissioner Hando you said 120 grand when you were describing it earlier and I see in the presentation 60 grand. So I don't know Paul if you're
there. What are we contributing from our current budget towards this program? um that would be freed to other opportunities which is part of the discussion we'll have later um if we
don't sign up. >> Is Paul gone? >> We still have you Paul? Doesn't sound like it. >> What's that? >> Well, we I mean um commissioner we have the the discussion items uh later on down. So if he rejoins us, maybe we can
ask. >> Well, just to address your part, Claudia, can you explain how that 60 more or less was put together. >> So if the total cost of the freebie is $120,000 a year, 60,000 of that is picked up by U. Florida Department of Transportation through the public
transit service development grant. The other 60,000 doesn't come out of your general budget. It comes out of CITT, the allocation that you get. So that's CITT money is where those $60,000 are coming from. It's not coming from your gr from your general fund.
>> Okay. And you mentioned there are specific uh grants that might be cut considering specific for this program. Can you explain >> the grant? The grant. Yes. The grant that you have right now and that you have one more year of right now. That's why you're making this decision today because you have to give them 30 days.
Um let them know 30 days before if you're not going to use it. um that grant has now gone from being awarded for one year periods to being awarded for three-year periods because it's now going to be awarded for three-year periods. Only three to four cities uh
per grant cycle are going to receive the award. And so um it's a very golden opportunity that you guys have because it's very it's going to become much more difficult for cities to get um this grant in the future because you're competing with the you know u the other
20some cities that apply for this grant every year. >> Got it. Um those were my questions. Thank you. >> Um let me just say one thing guys. Um this is a really big deal for a percentage of our community. whatever
percentage that is, I have no idea what that is, right? And I don't think I ever will, but it's a really big deal. an ide in an ideal world, you know, we would have had a workshop uh talked about um you know, freebie and and invited the community and and and and you know,
obviously the people that So, for us to make this decision tonight, it's it's going to be a very difficult decision uh because, you know, it's going to affect positively or negatively uh a percentage of our community, whatever percentage that is. So, it's it's
I don't I don't like being in this position to be quite honest. Understood. Um, any are there any other questions for Claudia before we uh let her go? >> No, thank you. >> Well, Claudia, thanks so much for being here with us and providing some context and clarity on the on the data and then answering some of our questions. I think
it's been helpful. It's certainly been helpful for me. Um, we uh we have a discussion item later on down the agenda for this. Um, you don't have to stick around with us since you've kind of provided us with your feedback, but you're certainly welcome to. Thank you. I appreciate it.
>> Thank you very much. Have a good evening. >> All right. You too. >> Okay. So, we'll get back to the freebie item when we get down to the discussion item. So, all right. Um, we've had quite a few presentations so far this uh evening. So, let's move on here. So, let's get down to our public comment.
Uh, we'll start with our public commenters here in uh the log cabin. Uh, then we'll move on to Zoom. Um, for everyone providing public comment, please just remember to provide us with your name and address and uh, public comment is limited to three minutes. Thank you very much.
Barbara Cule, 777 Northeast 111 Street. Um, okay. I've written to all of you about freebie and how important I think it is for this community. And I just want to say I'm a little disappointed that information came out tonight that
really was very clarifying about how freebie works and the money that's involved because I've read um the comments from um Al Childress, our manager about why he was he was suggesting that we should not continue
with freebie because we would have $120,000 to work on roads. But the truth is $60,000 of that is coming from a grant. So if we decide not to continue that's we are not going to have that money and
I know that 30% of the CIT money has to be used on direct transportation not roads like a bus bench. So you're going to be spending trying to think of ways to spend money. It's very difficult in Biscane Park because we don't have
things we can use at direct transportation. So this money is not going to rebuild our roads. This money if if we drop freebie, we are going to alienate a lot of residents who may not
have a way to get to a grocery store to get around or just to want to use public transportation or to connect to a bus, which you'd have to walk. We all know we're very far from bus stops. Just one other things to think about. Um, just in
the last two years, there are seven houses that are on advertised on Zillow that are $5 million plus. I looked up the tax what the tax projection would be for those houses.
And I mean, it's astounding, but taxes for that house of $5 million are $122,000. Now, obviously, some of it goes to Miami Dade, but the portion that Biscane Park gets for those houses, for each house,
is $47,000 a year. I mean, that's probably more than a lot of us even pay for our houses, but they're going to be paying that year after year. And I know um several months ago um Commissioner Huntington had wanted to
look into impact fees because those houses being built have destroyed many of our roads. I live the mayor and I live on one of those. And we couldn't do impact fees. But think of it this way. Those houses being built can support
rebuilding our roads. And I don't want to think that we're going to have even a h 100red,000 to work on roads. We should be talking more like 300,000 or 400,000 each year to do to actually do something because if that's the number one issue in this village.
Mayor Mandami in New York said you can give people parks, you can give them museums, but when they look out the window and they see potholes down their road, they're not happy. Thank you, >> Barbara. That's if we still have property taxes, but that's another
story. Derek Hule 777 Northeast 111 Street. I paid more than 47,000 from my house. But anyway, um, you know, hope I get a little extra time since there are a number of things this
evening. You know, say we have $60,000 to spend on roads. I I mean, that's like saying you got a roof leak and each year you're going to repair a portion of it. Well, by the time you're done, you're not going to have a roof left. and that we're not going to have any roads left.
Plus the fact that doing incrementally at 60, 100, whatever it is, is is incredibly inefficient. You need a much bigger package. You're going to get a much better buy. You know, you can't have a little piece here and a little piece here. By the time you
get the end of the street, you're going to start all over again. So it's you need a much broader approach as far as the design out here for the uh walkways and the handicap parking. There were three we had a meeting of all the board
chairs when we went through the two presentations that I remember I don't remember three and the three most important points were yes providing the handicap parking yes the lighting and the other thing was
protecting the oak tree the way this design is currently now I do agree we need the sidewalks very definitely not opposed to that but you're going to be putting sidewalks around 50% of that tree. Now, you're not going to impact the tree per se, but
you're going to damage the roots and that's very critical. You're talking about damaging 50% of the roots. Now, I can't tell you I'm an expert on the process, but there is a way to do it and to do it incrementally so the roots to a
large proportion a large extent are preserved. Um Dan Keys happened to be the expert on that and I can't remember what he said, but that I'm I'm very concerned about and maybe it can be slightly redesigned to just give us more breath. The last thing I'd like to
mention and I'm glad the architect's still here. He said that this is not the roof. These are shingles and if this is not the roof, it should be the roof. Cedar shakes cannot be layered and they cannot they have to breathe. In other
words, there can't be anything underneath them or anything over them. Otherwise, you're going to diminish the life of your roof by 50 to 75% because they rot. You know, they get wet, they expand, and they have to dry out as
quickly as possible. So, I'm hopeful this is actually a roof, and if it isn't, this is exactly the way it should be done. Thank you. Uh Brian Cule uh also 777 Northeast 111 Street. Um I do use freebie. Um and I do
agree that the hours should be expanded. Um I don't know that a 1:00 cut off be best for me, but I do agree that 12:00 is too late to be starting for a lot of people. Uh I would like to see expanded to the post office. To answer
Commissioner Mary's question, I looked it up. It's about two and a half miles away. Uh so it would it would be within the five mile limit. Um yeah um my understand I think was that even with
like say 300 riders that's about 10% of the village. So that I mean you know it may not be a lot of pe uh everybody but honestly what what kind of service does everybody use except maybe
trash pickup. That's probably the only thing you'll have 100% buy in. You know, for that 10% it could mean the world. And even if you're doing it once a month or 10 times a month, you know, I don't drive right now. If I had job, I would need that to get to
work, get back from work. That that would that that would be a huge help. Um and you know also as the post office there is the Miami Shores post office um which might be you know if if uh North Miami is too far away that might
be a good option. I I would like to see a much larger area. Um I think I think that's about it really but that's what I wanted to say. >> Welcome. So I got to jump back for one quick comment. You can't say we serve
10% 15% of the community. It's meaningless. Dan may use it once a month. Jonathan may use it four times a month. You may use it just once. Okay? So the percent you could be serving 75% of the community occasionally. >> Hi everyone. My name is Liliana Paulino.
I live on 670 Northeast 114. So right down there. Um >> what's your name again? Liliana, >> Liliana, thank you. >> Um, so I just wanted to make a public a comment regarding the light. I appreciate the idea of including lighting. I think we do need um some more illumination. I am glad the
architect is keeping in mind um I don't remember what he called it, but like the expansion of light um so that it doesn't obviously impact myself and neighbors around the street. I know that we are um we're used to and we have a couple lights already in the street. So, we
don't want um too much bright light illuminating especially at night because it might impact you know sleeping and and events inside our home. Um one thing that I don't know if it's been considered as somebody who walks and drives around here all the time is kind of blind spots behind here as you're
driving in. Um it's become I've not run into people but sometimes people don't see the cars are coming. So, if there's an opportunity to maybe put some glass reflection or something that can make it safer for us that walk here all the time. Um, and regarding freebie, um, I
just wanted to say it's I think it's a great um, project and initiative. Uh, the first time I heard about it was about two weeks ago that it was a service that was available to the community. I think um either the company or the community can make a bigger um
effort in marketing the service to ourselves and everybody around. Um I think expansion maybe to Miami Shores. I did not see that on the map um would be a worthwhile endeavor for since it's the closest um area with shops and services.
And and and I'm also curious why they mentioned they only have one car. Um is it because we don't have as many users? would increasing the usability, add another car that would then decrease um the weight times for for users. Um thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Hi Tammy Lever, 741 Northeast One um 118 Street. Um my question is about the um sidewalks um in the uh making the poles
and that um I'm kind of worried about how much vegetation would be removed to make place for those sidewalks and that we're having so many of our trees being destroyed by all of this new development and that it is a bird sanctuary and I
feel that we have disregard for the trees and that Um, my other thing is freebie doesn't seem to be too much of a big deal. It should be so many people use it. So many people 10% is a good portion of your population if you think
about how many of that is your aged and that um I think that u you'd be um remiss to actually consider their needs. >> Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. engage hard 1029
Northeast 14th Street. Hi everyone. Um just a couple points on the agenda tonight. Um regarding the lighting, just again I think it was addressed, but please be considered uh the nearby residences to make sure that whatever lighting is proposed is um you know is
is not could be impacting them. I also think it's an opportunity because it was mentioned that we're going to let staff or somebody uh pick out the style of the lights that maybe we um pick something that's consistent with the rest of the village and maybe even consider creating a theme so that when we do the park or
something like that that we're that we're becoming it's a uniform thing that's not just one light here, one light on Griffin, one light over there, you know, and so uh please be um uh considerate of that. Um just question on
the uh the paint uh um uh ordinance that was being presented tonight. I know there was a change. Is there anything significant of that change that was is it is it different than what was on the the uh website? Um just curious if there was anything.
Okay. Just fine. Um and then um I was just curious in the reports will we be talking on the grant management? because I I don't really come to the meetings a lot, but I was just curious like on a lot of the grants like that we had last year, the big emergency playground grant and stuff like that. Have we will that be
addressed in that that report? Like I'm I'm just curious an update on where we're at on some of the grants that we've been asking and I was wondering if you could address that and any other grants that uh have been applied for. And um as far as the um
um the other ordinance on the artificial uh turf, um I'm going to go home and zoom in and if you have any questions, I'll be um I'll be online to answer it. So, thank you very much. All right. >> Thank you, Gage. >> If you're you're going to connect again to answer to the question, um I just
wanted to ask the attorney. So, no big changes on the ordinance as he knows it. Which >> which one? the one we just got now >> the the paint from the one that was like a couple days ago to the one tonight. Is there anything >> substantially the same and and just as
importantly it's only on for first reading and so there be an entire >> another opportunity >> to for anyone to look at it um and you know I can get into more detail but we have to adopt this ordinance. >> Okay. >> Like the the synthetic turf.
>> Yeah. Okay. Well, thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Good evening. How are you guys? My name is Dina Escarment. I am going to be I wanted to introduce myself to you guys here this evening. I will be your future state representative for the area. Um
your current state representative. She is terming out Miss Dy Joseph. So she supported me to replace her for the elections in August. Um it's a pleasure to be here in this meeting with you today. I will be walking around to your homes um and see what your needs are like we've been doing in the um
surrounding areas, Elporttow and Miami Shores um to see, you know, what you guys need as a village. I heard you guys talking about the freebie here tonight and other items on the agenda. Um the freebie issue, I'm glad that the mayor was able to clarify because some of the numbers were exaggerated and I'm glad
that you were able to get some accurate numbers um when she talked about how many people used the service. But I do think it's a very important service when you think about the population um and the demographics of the area of um Biscane Park, the senior population who could benefit from this who will not
maybe don't want to drive their cars or cannot drive their cars. Um we do need to make sure there's a way for them to get back when they go to the grocery store so that if they do have a large amount of groceries, they can get to the store with the freebie, but make sure we need to know how they're getting back, right? So I know you talked on that
point. So just to iron out some of those issues there. So you guys have a nice free flowing system. You mentioned you talked about some of the grants in the area. We would like to make sure that you guys are able to on the state level with everything that is going on to get some funding for different businesses,
different things in the area, appropriation grants as well. So if you guys need or have any questions, please feel feel free to reach out to me. And in the meantime, we will direct you to the current state representative in the area. And we know that we've been at Green Day in Miami Shores, even at the
Nomi nights and we have a lot of Biscane Park residents who come out to those events. And I know you guys are concerned about the property tax issue that came up in the last legislative session. We know that this tri village area um relies on um property taxes as 100% of the revenue. I know you
mentioned that for some of the expens expenditures here in the village. So reach out to me and we'll get some clarification on those issues. There was a special session that just ended last week apart from the original legislative session because they didn't come up with a budget and they didn't finalize that property tax issue in the first session.
Um, you know, your governor wants to eliminate the property taxes which we don't agree with, right? But, um, so we're looking at that and we have a solution that we want to propose for it. Um, so again, reach out to me. Um, my office, my address is 808 Northeast
125th Street, right next to City Hall in North Miami. So my district covers from North Miami, Miami shores, um, Elporttowal, Biscane Park, a little bit of city of Miami area and those surrounding areas. So my name is again Dina Scarman. It's a pleasure to be here tonight and I'm looking forward to your
questions and your concerns. Thank you. >> Thanks very much for coming. >> Thanks much for coming. >> Bob Anderson, 11905 Northeast 11th place. um on freebie that was brought up about going to a post office. If it does
go to the post office, I hope it will be uh North Miami's post office because right across the street you got Target and I think there a lot of people would be very interested in that. Going on the health insurance and the concern that
you know you don't have any hardly any time to go ahead and be digesting it, voting on it when you get these numbers. Back when I was on the commission, we were going the same thing, same complaints. So this goes back 15, 20
years. It goes way back. It was always because it was always in May when we had to go ahead and make a decision on what we're doing with for health insurance. And it's and you're budgeting, you know, like the end of the near the end of the
year, you're doing your budget in September or before September for the following year for the health. So it's the same circle we've been going through. forever. Thank you. Okay. Uh any other commenters here in
the log cabin? Going once, going twice. Okay. Oh, we looks like we have a raised hand on Zoom. Madam Clerk, >> Anna, can you hear us? >> I can. Can you hear me? >> Yep, we can.
>> Okay, great. Anna daily on 655 Northeast 115th Street. Uh apologies that I can't be there today, but I did just want to take a minute to share about our Arbad Day celebration that we had last weekend. It was really a beautiful morning. Uh we had an entertainer, a
musician named Grant Livingston that sang and entertained us. Um, and Nick Gilmore is a local artist and a tree enthusiast. And he gave a really interesting presentation on Slash Pine, also known as Dade County Pine, which we learned that a lot of our homes are likely built of just because of the
timeline of when our neighborhood was built. Um, we had a nice fun interformational booth about trees that my daughter ran um and some interactive displays. Um, but my perhaps my favorite part of the event was a plant giveaway. We gave away native plants that were
either grown or propagated in our board members or residents gardens and it made it really a truly a homegrown and hyper local affair. Um, I wanted to give a special thank you to Commissioner Huntington and his wife Danielle for their support of the event. Commissioner
Huntington made bat boxes and owlhouses that we can put up into the trees in the median. We're intending to put it in the median right in front of the log cabin. Um, and Danielle contributed to the plant giveaway by growing native plants over the past couple of months. Um, also
a thank you to Tiffany Noi from the Little River Co-op, who's also a village resident. Um, also donated some plants from her nursery. Um, other than that, we're just preparing for the upcoming tree planting from the urban forestry grant. We're looking forward to seeing
trees finally be put into the ground hopefully this summer. Um, and I don't really have much else to report. I was planning to be here to listen to the discussion and um on the agenda later tonight, but I have another Zoom meeting that starts in five minutes, so I guess I'll have to catch it on YouTube later.
Um thank you all for what you do. >> Thank you, Adam. Um are there any others on Zoom with hands up, Madam Clerk? No. Okay. All right. So, let's uh go ahead and close public comment at this time. We'll head into reply. Are there any reply to any of the public comments at this time from
the commission? >> Yes, I would. Um, first off with Bob, Miss Q, uh, reason I haven't responded to your emails is my Biscane Park email has been disaster. Uh, so I haven't gotten any emails since March 31st. And the guy in the back can verify it. So,
we got that straight out. But with the freebies, one of my biggest concern is I think it's a freebie. It's a good idea, but my biggest concern with the freebie, it wasn't going into bigger areas. now, but I am concerned about why it was brought up tonight, you know, about that
it's they can extend it because I've always been told that you can't extend it more than certain hours. So, the five miles is something that's good for me and I think it's going to be good and the fact that we can now go to the post office on 146th Street, that's good
because you got targets down there now that we can strut it out to to my shores, you can get into that area. So the freebie was my biggest concern was the distance and the time that it was a certain time and I like the idea that they're going to make it from 8:00 on
which is for people I work. Uh, so the freebie to me, I'm I'm changing my mind about it with the new information that I got today. And also, I'm not much of a tree person, but I am really concerned, as your husband brought up, about the oak tree that's in front and with all
the construction that we're having from people that are investors that are buying house. If a resident wants to build a house, that's I have no problem with because that's their property. But we're having outside people buying properties and we're destroying a lot of trees. So, I'm really having a lot of
concerns about that. Anyway, that's my comments. So, I just wanted to apologize to you why I haven't received you. I usually respond to you. Thank you. >> Thanks, Commissioner. Any other uh replies to comments? >> No.
>> Um I just want to generally thank everyone for providing some comment on some of the issues that we're going to be discussing this night. I There were two questions. I think one was about the one car. I think she may have left. I think Liliana asked a question about why there was one car and it was based on population size and user user base
and then the other question was on the sidewalks uh side that's a separate portion of the design. So I think that's going to come in later but absolutely correct that to pro protect the oak tree. >> Sorry I was just thinking as you as you were saying don't we have two cars one
of them being um handicap? No, >> one car one car and that's based on size but also based on our proposed budget for the $10,000. >> So we had a second like handicap uh station
>> regular one was down and they brought that back up. >> Okay, got it. Thank you. >> And Anna, I don't know if you're still with us, but um thanks very much for yours in the parks board uh effort in putting on the Arbor Day celebration. >> Mr. Mayor, I do have one reply. I know Gage asked about uh playground grants. I
don't know if the interim manager wants to field it, but I will. Uh that we're still waiting on the state budget. Ferdap is funded by the state budget and until that's finalized and a state appropriations, the same thing. So until those are finalized this month or next end of this month, we don't we're in limbo.
>> I think the I think the special sessions May 12th, if I remember seeing it correctly, >> like the 21st, I believe. >> Yeah. So hopefully we'll get some answers in starting in about a week and on property taxes, too. Um, okay. So, uh, now in between
commission reply and the reports, we talked about having a brief discussion item on lighting, >> right? >> Okay. Lighting. Yes. Um, so I know, you know, we've heard from um from Matt. Thanks for sticking around with us, Matt. We've heard some from some of the
residents. Uh, was there something specific you wanted to talk about? Uh, Commissioner. >> Yes. So, I I just wanted to understand next steps on this. Um um I'm going to be honest with you. If you remember last month I was back and forth into asking for more information. I think my my
intention was to have uh people come forward and pose their comments. I um I don't know if you are all on the same page in terms of this design moving forward. I don't understand that. I don't understand why we have option one
and what other options are there. Um I don't know that those were approved. Again, it must have been it's been four years since this has been a conversation. So, it might have been that we've discussed this at some point. I was just hoping I better understand
what the timeline look like, what's next and and sort of gather all the feedback from residents across the board because it's part of, you know, what we need to connect with you in essence to make sure that those are addressed. We're never going to make anybody everybody in the
village happy. Some people want the light, some people don't want the light. You know, I had the opportunity to go and walk around on Sunday and let people know that this was happening just so that they can come and and make their opinions. And again, I think we always have uh on those uh two sides of the
story. Um but there are a lot of concerns as as you've heard about how we protect wildlife, how we protect our landscape, um how do we work internally as what the landscape's going to look like? We have a parks and parkways uh board. Um we
have um you know again we want to make sure as a part of our planning and and and zoning and I know it's not called then anymore but it's PNZ as I remember um you know we got to make sure that it fits within the style of the village. Uh there's questions about roof as well as
you heard. I would just ask you if you have a moment before we continue this discussion if you can address those comments that were kind of brought up to us uh today. Thank you again. >> Um I think to address I think I'll start
with the roof one first. >> Um with the roof what you're seeing. >> You want to make sure that we can >> Looks like it's on. Yeah. But maybe just lift it. Yeah, it's on. >> I don't think so. I don't hear it. >> We got a tap. I thought I heard it. >> Can Can you hear me? Now it's working.
Okay. So, uh, just to speak to the roof, um, what you're seeing is, uh, the existing woodshake roof, but what's because of the changes in since this building was built and hurricane codes and whatnot, the system that goes on top
is a is an NOA approved system, which um, in when when we put our package together, we actually have two different um, cedar uh, cedar shake shingle uh, alternatives. One is a traditional cedar shake shingle which is installed in a
manner that would that would protect you know would allow it to dry. Fundamentally though when you go with a cedar shake shingle in this environment they tend not to last um as long as as they as we would like them to. And then there's another system which is a walaba
which is a which is a it's a wood but it's a different type of wood that tends to work better. Um the only issue we've had is that we have not been able to get a sample of it yet and and to present that to um the state to get an approval on it to see because it's this is a
getting a historic funding grant in order to change out the roof. So we have some historic elements that we have to that we have to meet. So uh so we are taking into consideration the roofing system and how to you know how to come up with a system that's going to last um
as long as possible. I think this roof um uh I don't I don't know if it's maybe 15 years maybe it's been on here. Maybe 20, but I don't think it's more than that. Maybe less than that actually. >> That was going to be one of my questions to remember like >> Yeah, I want to say it it may be only 10
or 15 years since the the roof has been put on. >> Yeah, it's not been a very long but again, you know, they're going to remove we're going to remove the current roof and then and then take care of that. um to go to the um to the parking area. Um
I I what I do believe happened is that I believe that the prior consultants had come back with several alternative solutions and with the final solution being the one that was presented tonight
which is a modest amount of sidewalk uh and with the intention of not impacting the oak tree uh or as little impact to that oak tree as possible. Now, we can we can review during the design phase the location of that and we
can work with an arborist to make sure we come up with a solution where we we maintain the root structure around that tree. It's a beautiful tree. Um, but I think that that final solution was the one with the the least amount of impact. Uh, and and as far as I'm my
understanding is we're not removing any other trees. So, so it's a very uh modest um impact on that. And then obviously with the lights um I think probably you know we work with staff on on selecting as you can see in the
presentation the light was a very a very traditional type of light. Um, I think in or from the neighbor's perspective, the the they call it the coolness of the light or the heat of the light. I think we went and go something that's a little
warmer probably that gives it it's more of a golden light as opposed to like a neon uh fluorescent light. So, that'll be something that we we'll take a look at as well. So, um and we can, you know, we'll work with staff initially and then and then if we need to bring it back to
the to to to you, we can we can go ahead and do that. I think really fundamentally we just need to get started on the design portion of it in order to start moving start get getting this thing to move forward. And >> so on that point my my my question is what do we see next and by when do you
expect it? >> Well like I said I we um we would uh schedule-wise we would probably uh try to get out here next week or as soon as we got our NTP uh get our engineers out here to just verify the power um start working on our base drawing. So, I would
say in two or 3 weeks, we would probably have a layout done and maybe not have the phototrics yet, but have a pretty good idea of the light fixture and what where we're planning on doing it and a and a layout for the uh for the sidewalks and that, you know, and then at that point, if things were, you know,
going heading in the right direction, it would probably need a week or two to wrap that up and then would be ready to go to permitting. Again, notwithstanding the other work that has to sort of occur. Um, so there is some time available to to to review stuff and not feel like you're, you know, under the
gun to get this done. Uh, because still the roof has to get done and then at that point the other phase of the work will start. >> Got it. Perfect. Thank you. >> Okay, that's all I have. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Great.
Uh do you you have some some time to Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> We we have we'll have another mic. >> Perfect. >> Oh, thank you. That's great. >> We have another mic. No, no, he's gonna bring it to you. He's gonna bring it to
you. that new Biscane Park uh it going to work. >> I was I was on the one of the committees when we were working on this and Gary was too. And one of the issues with the oak tree is there's almost nothing you
can do because the roots are right there. The tree is so close to the walkway that the one of the things that they came up with was to eliminate the concrete going up to the front steps. You have the two entrances, the
handicapped entrances that you're going to have sidewalks. It'll connect to the parking area and just eliminate the front concrete. >> We we can do that. Absolutely. You know, that's not a problem. Yeah. The other thing too that I don't think everybody's aware of is we were told that you were
going to have to elongate the parking spaces that the handicap wasn't up to code because I think it had to be 20 ft long. It wasn't. So, you're going to have to kind of cut into the green space to begin with. Then you're going to have a sidewalk which is again going to
shrink your green space. And this is a very unique building and we really want to at least I want to preserve it as much the way it looks now rather than having a lot of concrete. So, you know, the front walkway really isn't that
necessary because it could endanger the tree, which I think is more important. >> Well, like I said, we can we can certainly review that. I I I mean I think I would um I would have to recommend though with with redoing the parking and the lighting not to have
like I like I stated before not to have that sidewalk and and the sidewalk really I think we're looking at a a 5-ft sidewalk and if code would permit it we could make it a little narrower but >> but the sidewalk adjacent to the parking >> it would be where you know where the park where the front of the car it would
be on that side. Yeah. >> And I can agree with that. I understand that. But for me, it's the >> that's the area right immediately >> right next to the tree next to where the tree is. Yeah. That that we want to try to leave that as open as as possible and and we can look at or some alternative
uh pathways into the to get into the um into the building with that aren't as impervious as say concrete is something else we can look at. >> The other comment because this is such a unique building. I'd hate to just say plain concrete sidewalks because today
in the new parks on the beach that they just put in by the old golf course, they have very creative ways of you of having concrete that are a little bit more interesting and go better with the building rather than just something very utilitarian.
>> So, if there's any kind of finish you could come up with that would enhance the look. Yeah, we can we can certainly look at I would be happy >> different, you know, stamped concrete color. We can add color to the concrete like they do in Coral Gables. They kind of have the pink, you know, the salmon
colored concrete. So, there's a there's a bunch of options that we can we can take a look at during the design phase. >> Just it's not really a comment to the architect. It's more to the commission. I I've done a couple of projects on the beach. Uh and the concern of course is
for the turtle nesting and there are a number of fixtures now that have shielding that are very sensitive to light pollution where you can really direct it. So I wouldn't be overly concerned with that. It's just a matter of doing the proper research to select a fixture and I'm sure the architect's
aware of that. >> Yep. And it's one of the things we mentioned earlier in the evening, just getting the right lenses and the lights the light screens on the on the lights. >> And and just to reemphasize the point, Matt, um that I asked earlier, um this is I mean, when you guys have your
design and you've you've looked at all these items, you've considered, you know, some of the comments you've heard here tonight, looked at the different light fixtures, something that we're going to be able to see. We're going to be able to see this when we finalize it. >> Yeah. I would I would say from our when we get our NTP I think you know how we
would work is we we would want to provide a schematic for you all to look at and then once that schematic you know and I think as part of that schematic we could probably do a phototric so everybody gets an idea and then once that's once that's done then I think we can just you know run we'd be able to
run with it or make whatever changes we needed to make at that point. So yeah, I mean we I mean that's you guys are >> sure you have that in your within your perview to request that. >> I think that'd be tremendously helpful for some of the items that we're talking about right now is is impact on neighboring residents. Give everybody an
opportunity to see the design what it's actually going to look like instead of just kind of talking in hypotheticals. Um you know that's yeah where I would go with it. >> Any other questions for Matt? >> No. And I think >> I think this gentleman I think had a question about the Yeah. He needs he
needs the mic. He's he's going to bring it to you. >> Bob Anderson. >> I was a commission. I was on the commission years, you know, for a lot of years. The roof that you're looking at is put up here from inside for looks.
On top of that is plywood. On top of that is the shingles. >> There's actually some insulation too in there. >> And you have some insul. Yeah. Before all of that, we just had the regular shingles up there. Yeah. And when you had a long dry spell, then it started raining. water came in until the shingle, you know, the shingles swelled
up there. >> So, yeah, the roof is complex. It was supposed to been when the roof was first put on, this roof was first put on, there was a a material, a spray material that's put on it on those shingles to
help to preserve them. And it was supposed to be redone every couple of years. >> Never was. And it's proved out if you don't do it, it rots. Yeah. So, like I said, I think we'll look at that that Walaba and that was actually um it was
actually recommended by the by the building official that um we when we were working with it that he had suggested that to us. So, we had added that as a sort of an alternate material that could be used. So, I think it's something that we'll take a look at. But I totally agree with with what you're saying. It's >> a beautiful roof, but it's uh
>> exactly >> not really good for this environment. That's that's why, you know, hopefully the future commissions will go ahead and make sure it's in the budget to go ahead and maintain the roof. >> Maintain the roof. Yeah. Well, there future commissions. That is
>> um Okay. Uh any other questions for Matt? >> No, I just wanted to say thank you because this allowed for you to take home some some of the comments um so that you know when we see you next >> You got it. >> are addressed. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks very much, ma'am. And so for me
to close out again, I don't know where you all stand on this. I I wanted to have this opportunity to be to to have input from residents. Definitely I you know not having been here when that happened. Um really appreciate uh when others come up
with the concerns. I I think uh one thing I would say is the purpose was to have input from residents. I would encourage staff to always include this presentations freebie um you know any of them that whenever we have them in
advance uh with the agenda so that uh not only those folks that can be here today can see it but everybody can see it. I mean not just folks that live around here are are are going to be affected by it. Um but that's it. I
appreciate the space and you know it seems to me that there's so much opportunity to come back with feedback uh based on what we've heard today. So that's >> agreed. Thank you, Commissioner. Um okay, let's head on down into our reports. Um uh we have our village manager report up
first. Are any questions for our interim manager here with us this evening on the manager report? Acting, excuse me. Excuse me. Sorry. Apologies. Acting. Uh, any questions on the manager's report? >> I do. And you might be able to answer.
Maybe you don't. Um, but you'll tell me. Hold on. Let me just open my thing. Sorry, I closed this and now I have to open this again. Here we go. Um so uh an on-site meeting was how a
landscape consulted to discuss planted of flowers and trees in the entrance of the village. Um I was I was wondering who the consultant is that that is doing this for us landscape support if you remember. I don't know. Oh it's the arvorous. Oh so that's the the
consultant. Okay. And then the other one which I was also wondering is village clerk assistant clerk and village clerk consultant. Who's the consultant? Is it Maria? Maria. Okay. Those are my my questions. That's it. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Any other questions on the manager's report? >> No. >> Hearing none. Okay. Um code compliance. Any questions for uh uh Dorene on the code compliance report this month? >> Yes. Dorene, where are you at?
Um just very quickly. So I noticed and I think it's in the same perspective than the police department. there is an approach more towards um courtesy notices versus uh violations. Right. >> That's right. >> Um and I I 100% I understand it has to
do with the the spirit of education. You spoke about that. I think it's a great thing to do. I got the letter about, you know, the are the things we're looking for. You know, make sure you're sort of in place to have an inspection. I think those things absolutely help. So I'm I'm
very welcoming of of of that strategy. So thank you. Um one question I had. How do you sort of manage the data and how many of this courtesy notices originate from complaints versus actual actually proactive enforcement?
>> I would say 99% proactive. Got it. >> So we do the letters of intent first. Yes. Give 30 days and then we do the courtesy notices after 30 days. What that does is give the residents more time to be able to comply. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Instead of the 30, the regular 30,
they're getting up to 60 before we can issue a violation. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> I only have one. Um, first off, your report is fantastic. Uh, just to refresh my memory, is, and I think the commission knows the answer. Uh, is
construction allowed to be done on Saturdays? >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. That's that's because I I seen some that was done on Saturdays and I was concerned about that. Saturdays are good. >> Just Sunday that would >> no Sunday and no federal holidays. >> No federal. Okay, that's
>> any other questions. >> Um, >> thank you very much. >> Sorry. Did you have another? >> No. Thank you. >> Um, okay. Finance. Uh, Paul was with us. I don't know that he is with us any longer. Uh, any questions or any issues anyone wants to raise with finance report? >> No. >> No.
>> Hear none. Uh, police, we have the chief here with us. Um, any questions for the chief? >> A quick one, chief. So same I saw that there is a movement towards more of uh courtesy um how do you citations in the case of code versus violations right so
there is a strategy of trying to educate and sort of uh alert people of the right ways of behaving I guess uh which I think and I appreciate because that's at the end of the day uh education tool um misdemeanor arrest 1 to13 I was
wondering what the misdemeanor is that we have that that increase. >> What a misdemeanor is. >> Yes. What do you count within the mis misdemeanor list? >> There's traffic misdemeanor. >> Okay.
>> Like uh no violent driver's license, things of that nature. Can you hear? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh there's other misdemeanors that are actual crimes. >> Okay. >> That that I just saw a big jump, you know, and I was wondering what what that was about. Um,
>> for the most part here it's traffic. >> Okay. >> And yes, we are in we we're almost done with trying to educate. >> Got it. >> People hear this out because I think it's important. Yes. >> Yes.
>> And you can't be just courtesy all the time. Say, yeah. >> This this weekend alone, uh, my guys wrote over 150 tickets. >> Oh. And I mean it's residents if they break the law, they're going to get tickets.
>> Yeah. >> Half half and half. Yes. Uh that and that's the problem. >> Yeah. >> Um for we I we we don't distinguish between a resident and non-resident. >> Yeah. >> A crime is a crime. Correct. >> We're going to write it up.
>> Now, do my guys have discretion? Yes, they do. Yeah. >> As long as it's not a a crime itself. >> Yeah. >> Then then then they have no discretion. >> All right. So that that answers the number. Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. Any other questions? >> Um, not a question, just a I just want
to publicly say, Chief, I know I've said it to you privately, but I want to publicly say that I've seen the enforcement out there. I've seen an uptick in it. Uh, one of your sergeants, Officer Rogers, I'll give him Sergeant Rogers, excuse me. I give him kudos. When I was driving kids back and forth this month, I mean, that guy was working overtime. He had somebody pulled over
every and I know and you could tell because they're right after a stop sign that it was stop sign runners and he was he was busy. So I see the enforcement I see the enforcement on the interior street which is something our residents have been begging for and I just want to say congratulations and keep up the good work. >> Thank you sir.
>> That that I'm sorry I missed one question so I'll wait until the end. Everybody's asked theirs. >> Just wanted to do commissioner same thing commissioner's comments. I've seen a lot of enforcements where the off and I've seen the most important thing is we didn't have in the past is courtesy. I
haven't, you know, I've been stopped a couple times. Um, and I it was always been the courtesy. They didn't know who I was. So, just to let that know they didn't know who I was the commissioner, but I see the courtesy and uh so that's to me is the most important thing. And so, I just wanted to comment on it.
>> Glad to hear that. >> Thank you. So my last thing, so I did get a visit from the CRO um which I really appreciated, right? Um George or Horge, how's it how's it go? Okay. Um so it was
really nice to get that visit and sort of talk from a neighbor's perspective on what it is. I did post the question to you. I didn't get an answer and I think at some point I'd like to have a meeting about this is how do we sort of track CRO activity? How do we uh how do you
post this? Um I've seen uh where we send a CRO to address a code issue. How does it all gets tracked? So not something I I I will jump into today, but I I would like just to understand how you sort of uh track this you know in a system so
it's uh reflected of the work that SR is doing and sort of the issues that come up uh from it. Um, and the second thing I I wanted to highlight is I did get comments and you've you've heard them as well about speed bombs request and how
can we make sure to address those. This is not the first time we've heard those. Um, I know some residents were asking for maybe a potential meeting to be had. Um, I would love maybe for the next meeting if you can have some feedback as to what can be done within the big
picture of everything that we have going on. >> Okay. So as far as enforcement is concerned, yeah, that's what I can do. >> Okay. >> Speed bumps, >> it's up to the commission. Uh how you get that done. There's
there's a certain amount of um things that have to be approved by the county in order to get speed bumps. >> That's not something that I my department or I can even get involved in. >> Right. So so so just to be straight. So is the feedback when people are asking
for speed bumps and sort of this deterrence that that is up for the commission to do or is it something that because because then we would have to put it as a as a status I would just include it for the next agenda that we address that >> it's some people have commented maybe speed bumps.
>> Yeah. >> Um >> I don't know everybody's a you know pro them by the way. >> Again that's not something that I can do. I can't arbitrarily go ahead and put speed bumps on on the street because that's illegal. >> All right. So, so maybe something we can we can leave for for the next uh meeting
as a status uh and just discuss with the manager before to see where we're at. >> Um that's it. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Sorry. One of the uh Mr. Mayor, one other comments I want to the fly that you have and what is that the office that the community office that we
>> NRO neighborhood resource office. >> Yes. the flies that you handed out because the building that I live in has it. It's very good and I like it. Are you gonna have in the future maybe like um almost like a town where the community can meet the individual?
>> We're working on that with the city with the village manager. >> Okay. That's because I think that would be a good idea. >> Yes. >> Thank you. But I just want to comment on >> By the way, there will be >> Yes, there was Okay. So, we we did have a special
traffic detail uh on May 8th uh because of the concerns of the people that are letting the NRO know about their traffic issues. >> Okay. >> So, you know, we we gather the information and when it appears to be
more than two or three persons on a block complaining about the same thing, we go ahead and hit it in force. Okay. And hopefully that becomes a deterrent. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thanks, Chief. Um, all right. Let's uh
head to our next report, which is parks parks and wreck. Any questions for Issa on parks and wreck? >> As a director though, can I say something? Of course. Parks and W. >> Um, just want to shout out the police department. Uh the Tconnect mobile that
they had at the park was super well received by all our residents. Um and I know the mayor, you also have something. >> It was the drive the mobile DMV. >> Mobile DMV. Um so I think our numbers were the best way better than the last time. So you guys did a great job. Just wanted to make sure we acknowledge you about that and also acknowledge all your
officers for their enforcement on the sidewalk parking. Seen a huge difference um already and I think people are getting the message. Um so appreciate you on that. Thank you. Oh, I do have one question. Issa, what's the update on the um no idling signs?
Are they on order? >> So, no idling signs are on order as >> a sign. Perfect. I don't I don't know if I said it already, but Jazz in the Park spring egg hunt were both very well attended, very
well done. Uh you continue to raise the bar every year, so congratulations. >> Any other questions for Isa. You're not Oh, and did we paint the parking lines at the over the rec center? >> Yep. >> Shout out to public works. Thank you.
>> I thought they reigned the parking area um on 9inth Court. So, >> job, John. >> Um all right, great. Thanks very much, Isa. Uh uh next is public works. Any questions for John on public works?
None. Okay, John. Thank you. Um I know um Gage mentioned this earlier, the grant management. We have just our our kind of standard grid update on our our grant management. Is there any comment or questions about the grant management update? >> No.
>> Okay. Uh building department, uh any questions on building? None. >> No. >> Uh and CIP, any questions? I know, um Al isn't with us this evening, uh but any questions on CIP or comments, I guess? No.
>> No. Okay. Um, all right. So, let's very quickly uh jump into commission reports. I'm going to give Commissioner Ams time. So, I'm going to start on that end. >> Uh, so for my report this month, uh, one, I did attend the, uh, parks and parkways Arbor Day, uh, celebration. It was a very well attended event, very
beautiful morning. Uh, I did make the bath houses and my wife, I want to say thank you to her. She generously worked on uh, plant donation as well as Tiffany No from Little River, donated a bunch of plants. Uh we had almost I I can't even count over a hundred and they were all
gone. I think I took home maybe 10 and we're holding them and keeping them watering for the parks and parkways if they want to plant them around the village. Uh so it was a great event. Uh I did have one meeting with a resident on 121 concerning a traffic incident. They had a car run into their front yard. Uh, so I went out there and met
with them and I've made contact with the commissioner from North Miami whose district shares the road with 121 because you know our ILA does not allow for speed bumps on perimeter roads. So, I just want to see what their feedback is. If they're seeing the same
complaints this resident had for speeding on 121, so we can get some more data. And uh hopefully if if they're seeing the same thing we are, we can maybe look in our local agreement between their municipality and ours to investigate the speeding issue on 121 and u you know pursue traffic caling
measures if necessary. But uh I have set up that meeting with her. starts uh this Thursday. So, I'll be meeting with the vice mayor of North Miami just to see if they're hearing the same things that I'm hearing about speeding on 121. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Anything? >> I don't have a report. >> Okay.
>> Um I have one. Uh I met with the uh city manager. Uh we're coming up with and I had my notes, big notes, and I left it home. So, I'm just going for mine here. But I met with this and I want to get ideas from the from the commission and residents. uh was celebrating our 250th
anniversary as a country and uh one of the ideas that I had was to have uh a picnic with the residents and uh where it would be potluck they can bring it and we could also have business sponsoring it. um we can have our police
department so you know do some activi just make it as a community thing and it was going to be like originally was going to be fourth of July but everybody's celebrating the 4th of July so you're not going to be able to get anybody um but it was going to be on this probably the week after the 4th of
July we have time that we can decide it but I want to get ideas for the commission to think about something that we can do all the other cities are celebrating the 250th and we have a habit of not doing that we have a habit of not doing what other cities do and we
we need to start doing it. We need to start have residents participation and I think a pot luck would be a good idea. Um and we can have uh businesses sponsor, you know, sponsor the event. Um which will pay for the biggest concern that city managers always said is we can
never get employees for overtime. Well, with the sponsorship, I think you'll be able to get that and I think it can be a good event for the residents and uh so just an idea that I have. The city manager, I talked about it. We're going to bring it up, but I wanted to bring it in front of the commission now and see
what other ideas the commission might have, but I think that we the 250 is going to be big and you're going to have people that really going to participate. Fourth of July, yes, I agree that I would like to have it on the fourth, but you're not going to have it. people are going to be doing stuff, but I think after the 4th of July, the week after
that on a Saturday, it can be done. And I just want to get ideas and bring it to the commissions, you know, um what they think. One of my biggest things is I always had ideas and I never did it in front of the city manager. Now, I bring my ideas to the city
manager before I bring it in front of the commissioner to get his idea um and then to the commission. But I think this can be a good event. And then also another one which we have plenty of time is we're coming up to the 25th anniversary for 911. I met with the city
manager and uh we're going to be discussing that in in the June meeting. But I just wanted to bring it up um that we're coming up to two big events and I think we can get really community participate because that's what Biscane's about. It's about the community and in the past we have not
done that. we have not done community stuff and just that's a thought that I have and you know hopefully get more response from the commissioner. >> Uh Mr. Mayor, if I will rebut to that. I I >> I completely concur with you. I think
the America 220 or 250 is a is a uh um huge number and it's something we should celebrate. I think we're a little behind the eightball. So, I think if we really if you have any intention of this happening, maybe we should put this for a discussion item at the bottom of the agenda tonight so we can just pledge out what's possible, what's not possible
because we're in May, so we're only two months away right now from having a community event. I think if you wait until next, you're dead in the water. The bottom of the agenda for tonight. Hopefully, we get to it and see if we can talk about what's feas feasibility at this point, two months out.
>> I I agree with you. I just didn't want to put it on the agenda without the city manager being here. That's one of the reasons that I didn't do it. Uh, but it doesn't have to actually be in July. I mean, it, you know, it it doesn't have to be I mean, I agree with Joe. It's short time. I came up with this at the
last minute. So, I apologize to the committ. I just had this at the last minute. Um, but it can be later on in July. It doesn't have to be the second week of July. Um, I think we can really, and I asked the city manager if we can organize this in that time period, and he says yes, we can. So, but I agree
with you 100%. And you know, if the commission's willing to discuss it at the end of the meeting, I have no problem. I know we we discussed I don't like putting items on unless we bring it with backup and stuff. So that's the only reason not put it on agenda now, but I agree with you 100%. >> I'm 100% I put it at the end for
discussion. I love the idea. Yes, >> I agree. Okay, great. Thank you. >> Thanks, Commissioner. Uh, Commissioner Hamzer, >> no, no, no report. >> Okay. Uh, I'm going to keep mine brief. It's already past 8:30. um special session we already talked about. Uh
there's there was a resident group that asked for a speed bump. This kind of coaleses with the speed bump thing. Um a resident group up on 119th that asked for some information in data. I think the data we I went out to the county county DOT provided us. They actually
ran uh the traffic study um on that. Not like a full-blown traffic study, but more of a count um and an analysis of the traffic on that to see if it's supported uh under uh under the manual on uniform traffic control devices if it would the data would support putting
speed bumps there. Um I think this was I mean this was the day after our our April commission meeting. So I think it went around to the commission. Um, you know, but this is their conclusion was basically that, you know, the three-year crash history on that road identified only one crash that would be corrected
through traffic control measures, and they require a minimum of five correctable traffic uh traffic collisions there. Um, to warrant consideration for placing something. Again, this is by the county. uh they just you know they went through the the analysis and they determined that
traffic volumes are low on those local roadways and 25 mph speed limit signage was acceptable condition. They basically came to the conclusion that they were not going to do anything. >> Now that doesn't mean that we can't and we can use this data to kind of further support any any additional action. Uh
and we did ask county DOT to be here this month to provide some kind of backup and information about that data. Um, I don't know that we got a response, but hopefully they can come in June because I'd like to see how what they collect, how they interpret that data because the data is kind of raw and it's
kind of hard to understand. So hopefully they'll come and and kind of better interpret that information for us and we can see how we can use this type of information to better place, you know, speed bumps if they're warranted. So, you know, just kind of falling back on this idea that we have an interlocal agreement, but we still have to have
data points that justify putting these things there. Um but this now gives us hopefully will give us a better understanding of what we can do, what data we need, how to collect it, and then how to support putting something there. Um >> to the point at I thought at some point
we spoke about using the app for people to report uh you know that they want to see. We also saw uh Commissioner Hun, it was your wife, right? That brought us a bunch of um residents that were asking for a mitigation for that. Yeah.
>> Um and was it 119 or 121st? I can't 119. >> So, so, so you know, and that was about twothirds of the entire uh um certain area. So, I think there is data in place that we need to look into. what I I was suggesting earlier and I I I will put
this uh forward Jonathan to you but I think it's um we should do a next meeting and and just a deep dive of what we have and and kind of bring together the data you just discussed what we have available what the recommendations are and again we're tied our hands to uh
regulations I mean we can't just do anything it's very clear what can be done is still sort of a question up in the air that I would like to lend somehow Oh, >> so uh if I might segue on this a little bit announcement that uh our safer streets for all uh study yes off this
past week. So that study is underway from by Kimley Horn and that really kind of muddies the water because I I trust me I am 100% with the I think the rest of this commission that I want to see traffic calmer measures put in because >> I think data only gets you so far. Yes, >> there's a there's data, there's numbers, you say crash data, you can say all you
want, but there's a feel there's a feel of walking down our streets with your children. >> The uniqueness of the village on that point >> and with when a person passes you going 35, that doesn't feel safe. So there's and that person might not interacted with you, they been enforced on that
doesn't get uh input into any database, but it is a feel as I walk down the streets. I don't feel like the crash data says there's only one been one crash on 119th in the last years. I feel like I could get hit. That's what I feel like. So, and that's that's what I get from residents. That's what I get from
residents. That's what I hear in an echo chamber over Yes. So, I 100% want to see something done. I I want to keep collecting as much data as possible and utilize that and utilize this safer streets for all study. Uh they're both going to the same means to the same end.
Um, but what I don't want to see happen is is too many cooks in the one thing. We're saying another thing and and muddy in the waters. So, I I agree. I think we should do a deep dive and show the data and and I think that when one of the things that's going to happen with safer streets for all is is hopefully policy
change is we're eventually going to need to talk about how we get community buyin. Is it is it a half of the block, twothirds of the block? You know, what what is the the the parameter because other municipalities have established these parameters. We don't have anything on the books and the question is going
to come up as you said some people are for speed bumps some people are not and the question is going to come up of you know where's our line in the sand where we say yes the the data is there the residents are there let's do it >> and I think to the point it's going to come down to um effectively what we can
measure will drive policy because you'll need to base yourself from somewhere to say you know twothirds of the block require without data or data so I think Those are conversations to be had uh next month. I agree. >> The good thing is Safer Streets for All works with us as far as policy change.
It's not just physical change, it's policy change as well. So, I hope I see some of that coming out of there. I it's something I'm going to be pushing for in the next couple months on our own is to start talking about policy change and what are other municipalities doing? What can we can we get in moving in in the hopper for when safer streets all
come out? Because they're they're saying a draft in September 1st. So, we're talking about by the end of the summer, we should be seeing a draft from them and start getting some of this projects lined up, data lined up for hopefully solutions. Okay. Um, all right. Thank you both. Uh,
the last thing I just want to say, I'm we'll skip everything else, but I just want to say that, uh, I went by it today and I got confirmation from the manager, the county finally started building the crosswalk on 107th. >> Two plus years, they finally started building it. >> I I saw them put in put in the lines and
signs and all of that. So that's that's good news. >> Two and a half years from getting the money to doing it. They're finally putting the crosswalk in. So I was very very excited to see that. Um all right. So let's keep going. Um uh let's move on to our consent agenda. Do I have a first and second to approve the consent agenda
as amended? >> I make a motion to approve the consent agenda as as it first. >> Second. All in favor? Hi. Hi. >> Hi. >> Okay, let's uh move on down to our ordinances before we get to our resolutions. Uh our first ordinance uh
John is ordinance 2026-02. Would you mind please reading the ordinance under the record for us? >> Sure. Ordinance number 2026-02 uh entitled an ordinance the village commission of the village of Biscane Park uh amending the code of ordinances
village of Biscane Park to regulate the installation and maintenance of synthetic turf providing for inclusion in the code providing for conflicts providing for scrutinters errors providing for severability and providing for an effective date. This is on second reading and adoption. >> Thank you John. Do I have a motion to second to move to discussion? I make a
motion to approve uh ordinance of second for 26 262A amending the code of ordinances regulate the installation of ma maintenance the synergrass second. Okay. Is there any public comment on the ordinance before
we move to discussion? Going once going twice. Okay. No public comment. Um all right. Is there uh any discussion on the item now? Actually, you know what, John? Um would you mind just give us uh a quick reminder and uh as to what we need to do and why. Oh and
also um I don't know if Gage is with us but I as I understand it um you met with Gage and you were able to incorporate all of their requests and changes into the ordinance. Correct. >> That is correct. Um so briefly um you know the uh Florida legislature and its
infinite wisdom uh continues to erode uh local government's home rule powers and uh one of its most recent uh foray into the area of preeemption is um u preempting the area of synthetic turf
and local government's ability to regulate it. And uh so in recent legislation uh the Florida legislature has stated that local governments need to adopt um regulations on synthetic
turf consistent with proposed rule that is being uh in the process of being finalized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. and the proposed ordinance uh that is on second reading essentially tracks those um uh
that rule um and implements it at the local government level here in Biscane Park. Uh I did have the opportunity to meet with Mr. harder and to go through the ordinance and the comments that were made by the um planning and and and
advisory board and uh I I believe that you know at least according to my correspondence back and forth with him uh what you have before you does incorporate all of those comments and is u uh consistent with the requested
modifications by the uh planning board. Uh those for um are highlighted in yellow, I believe, so you can see them. They're in um double underline so you can see the changes between first and second reading.
>> Okay. Thanks, John. >> And I'm here if you have any questions. >> I was just going to go to you next, Gage. Um so I I already had John kind of confirm that he was able to input all of uh your board's recommended uh changes and edits. Uh is there is there anything that you want to say on it uh before we
discuss and ultimately vote? >> Um I mean I mean I think it's all pretty self-explanatory uh what what the um the the the planning board recommended uh and uh John was able to capture the the concerns that we had. So um you know uh
obviously we're not opposed to synthetic turf. We just were just more concerned about how do we regulate it uh and stay with inside of the uh state statute and um and uh but also you know maintain some kind of control within the village um under the state law. So if you have
any questions I'm I I'll stay on I'm here. >> Understood, Gage. Thanks very much. Um all right, so having heard from John and having heard from Gage, are there any questions on the ordinance before we move to vote on second read? No, my my my question was going to be,
you know, specific of those changes. Gage, uh I was trying to pull up the latest one. Hold on. Um so, uh can you can you describe what the process was with the with the board on this and how
did you guys came about this comments? So, we received the uh the first um uh after the first um uh you guys voted on on the first reading, uh we received it and we met twice on March 9th and March
23rd as a board. Um and uh we we had, you know, we reviewed it. We went through line by line and uh discussed each item and um you know, the board is made up of um you know, we have a planner on our board. We have a architects, we have business people, we
have, you know, a wide uh range of people. Um and uh and basically um going off of how we um you know, we have to interpret the the code and how we see the code. Um you know, we that's how we came up with these these um suggestions to you for a
second read. >> Thank you, Gage. >> All right. Any other questions before we uh call the roll? I just I'm trying to make sure that I have the latest uh ordinance in place. So So I'm looking at
it has no number. Is that is that fine on the top? >> I think the latest actually has the yellowed um uh suggestions on it. So that might help you to identify it. >> Yeah, but I don't have So I'm picking up
the one I received um last week. Should I pick up the one in the website? >> No, it what the the ordinance that is attached as a link in the online agenda that you received uh is the correct
version. >> Okay. All right, Gage, I'm 100% on board on whatever the comments might be. I just right now can can pull those um you know, yellow remarks you're talking about, but I'll I'll go ahead and and approve. This is second reading for us. Is that correct?
>> Correct. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. If there's no other discussion, then Madam Clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mayor G. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Andler? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gonzalez. >> Commissioner Huntington. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Samra. >> Yes. >> The ordinance is adopted on second reading. 50. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Gage, thanks for uh yours and your board's work on that uh and getting it up to speed with John. We appreciate it. >> You're welcome. Thank you. Um, all right. So, our next ordinance is
2026-03. John, would you please read it onto the record for us? >> Yes. This is uh an ordinance in first reading uh entitled an ordinance to the village commission of the village of Biscane Park, Florida amending section 163
exterior painting permit chapter 16 permits and certificates of the Biscane Park land development code to ensure the provisions uh is in conformity with section 166483 Florida statutes providing for inclusion in the code providing for conflicts
providing for scriveners errors providing for severability and providing for an effective All right, John. Thank you. Do I have a motion to second? >> I make a motion to approve ordinance 20263 amending exterior paint requirements. First reading. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh is there any public comment on
this ordinance before we move to discuss once? >> I'll just comment um that the uh the planning board will look at this ordinance also and report back um if we have any comments before your second reading. >> Perfect. Thanks. Thanks very much, Gage. Um, all right. So, uh, having no other
public comment on this ordinance, um, are there any questions, uh, or any discussion points on the first read of this ordinance? >> Uh, I I'll start. The only thing I have is that, uh, I completely concur with the language that says that if you are repainting the same color that you shouldn't need a permit because that's
just a maintenance issue and seems simple and why are we even requiring a permit for painting the same color? Obviously, that falls a code to make sure that they actually are telling the truth and painting the same color, but um to me, that's that's a maintenance issue and a no-brainer. That should be
we should make that simple and easier for our residents to upkeep their properties if they're not making a major change. Uh white I can see some gray area. I see the the benefit to it, but I also see some gray area there, which what might be off-white or cool white or warm white or there's a lot of different
you go to Benjamin Moore, there's a billion different kinds, but I see the the point. So, um, to me, I'm fully in support of this and and the rest of it is is what changes that the state has mandated we have to change. So, I'm fully in support of it. >> So, that's I Nick, John, I apologize. I
neglected to ask you first. It's And Commissioner Huntington already jumped out ahead of it. The state has mandated that we make this change. Correct. >> That is correct. And and to the commissioner Huntington's comment, this is probably one of the very few times where I tend to agree with something
that the legislaturator has done in the way of preeemption that they >> You want to say that a little louder for the legislature, please, into the microphone. >> Get in the good graces of the legislature. Um where they've done something to make it easier for residents to uh get approvals at the
governmental level. >> Okay. Uh sorry. So, uh, any other, uh, commission questions or discussions on the first read? >> Um, I have a question. So, it we received this today, right? This is the one you along. So, what changes are here
that were in before that we need to see? >> Um, they are some um, the language actually regarding the U. The white colors is what was added in u
from the first version that I worked on and what you have now. >> Okay. >> What you have represides for that change >> is that so that's the only one. Yeah, that's highlighted here. Okay, >> great.
>> Just have one question about the the same color. So, um I'm all in favor of not um having folks having to get a permit to obviously to uh repaint the house the same color. Having said that,
to leave it to code, uh to figure that out with all due respect, I know it's just listen, let's be honest. You know, you didn't know the house was white yesterday and you didn't know it's yellow today. Okay? So, uh that's not happening. Um, so my question is that
while we I certainly agree with not having to pull a permit, should they at least come by and said, "Hey, I'm painting the house white and it's white and here's a picture of it today and this is the you know," so that at least there's some checks and balances because right now the way I can I can tell you
right now that the folks that are going to change the color, if they don't decide, we're not going to catch. It's not going to get caught. So, I'm just saying that that's that's something that's a little something there that not adding up. >> Gage, do you think that that's something you might be able to look at when you're
uh reviewing it with your with your board on? >> Yeah, uh definitely. It is actually something that I brought up to the um the manager was I just was concerned about how do we manage um confirming a previous color is the same as the
current color. Uh, so we can definitely discuss it as a board and um give you some input on that. >> Okay, >> Google Maps will help you out. It it takes uh you can just go down Google Maps and see what the color was last year. >> Who's going to Google map that? Not me,
Ryan. Not you. Not >> someone. If your if your neighbor complains and says, "Hey, brown last week and it's red this week." >> That no neighbor is going to complain about a color that that's listen, there should be something just simple for folks to do. And I think that if Gage
and the and the board discuss it, I'm sure they'll come up with a very easy thing to do. >> Yeah, Gage, I I appreciate your uh your input there and um would ask if there's maybe some sort of mechanism you can look into as a board as to how we might be able to keep eyes on something like
that. >> I'm getting head nods from Dorene, too. Just by the way. >> Yeah. I mean, just a just a couple things on that, too. I mean just you know the the legislature took away the the the the our power to require a permit. So we have to ask for a uh color
approval. So that's basically what this language is is taking out the word uh permit and using approval. Um you know we do have a uh a fan deck in the village hall of pre-approved colors of that is you know it's a lot of the whites and things like that. So, if somebody really wanted to get a permit
and get it the exact same day, they they could literally walk into the village hall and and pick one of the colors that is already pre-approved by the board and they could walk out with a pre-approved color. Um, you know, that mechanism is already in place. Um, so, um, and it's a
pretty wide variety of colors of off-whites and colors. So, so we we do accommodate that. Now, we tend to only see when people are wanting to do something that is like a unique color or more bold or more something that might be a little bit more uh controversial or
that's not part of their pre-approved. So, um so you know, we don't get a lot of color approvals anymore because of the fact that we've already pre-approved a lot of colors. So, we can definitely look at that. >> Okay. All right, Gage. Thanks very much. Um any other comment or questions from
the commission? Okay. Um, all right, madam clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mayor Gro, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Amler, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gonzalez. >> Commissioner Huntington, >> yes. >> Commissioner Sam, >> yes.
>> The item passes on first reading 50. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. All right, so let's move on to our final ordinance for the evening, which is 2026-04. Uh, John, would you please read the ordinance under the record for us? >> Yes. Uh, Mr. Mayor, members of the commission, this is uh ordinance number
2026-04 entitled an ordinance of the village commission of the village of Biscane Park, Florida, amending article uh 8, purchasing and procurement of chapter 2, administration of the code to establish a purchasing system for the procurement of supplies, materials, equipment,
services, and contractual assistance necessary for the operation of the village. providing for inclusion in the code, providing for conflicts, providing for scrimer's errors, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you, John. Do I have a motion and a second to the ordinance?
>> Make a motion to approve ordinance 20 20264, procuring policies and procedures. >> Second. Okay. Any public comment on this ordinance before we move to discuss? Okay. Hearing none. Um, all right. John,
could you just briefly um give a summary update as to what this is and why we are we why we are doing it? >> Yes, sir. Um there was a discussion during the um last strategic um um
meeting um u and there was direction by the commission to update the current policies and procedures that the uh village has for procurement. Those um provisions are currently found in the
section of the code set forth in the title of the ordinance and chapter 2. The um if you recall the discussion that took place was to amend the code to allow the commission to approve by
resolution the policies and procedures moving forward. So that avoids the need for the two public hearing process that we need to follow. Currently if we ever wanted to change the procurement code. So that is the uh impetus uh and the
direction. At next meeting when this is back on for second reading you will have a resolution and those policies and procedures. Uh, frankly, they are um substantially similar to what you already have, just expanding them and um
um flushing them out, so to speak, so they're more comprehensive and detailed in what we're doing in order to save, you know, make sure that we're um maximizing bang for the buck of the taxpayers through procurement.
>> Okay. Thanks, John. I mean, I know that goes part and parcel with the memo that um uh that the manager provided with this item. So, I'll ask the commission at this time if there's any questions or discussion items on the ordinance before we move forward. >> No. No.
>> None. Okay. >> All right. Um Madame Clerk, would you please call the role? >> Oh, no. I have I have a question. >> Oh, sorry. I thought you said not me. >> Um maybe me. >> Oh, >> so I just wanted to So that this is John. One of the questions I have for you. We didn't have the chance to speak. So if you can just guide me as to
purchasing policies and procedure, how is that different to what we currently have in the code and I'm not understanding the purchasing manual per se? >> Well, the the right now all of your rules and regulations regarding purchasing are in
your code, >> correct? and um which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a more efficient way to do it, particularly since we're in in at the point where everyone recognizes the need to update them because they've not
been updated in years. Um is to and use best practices is to allow the the the adoption of your purchasing policies and procedures by resolution as opposed to having going to go through the more
ownorous and um uh expensive and time consuming process of amending the code which has to be done by ordinance. >> So in that case um I'm trying to understand so right now we have a by ordinance as explicit in terms of um
what sort of steps uh need to be followed for for procurement. Correct. >> That's correct. And so what you're proposing with this is that instead of being on the code, it will live on a on a manual per se and that manual gets the opportunity to be updated through
resolution or is it that at any time there is a procurement we'll see a resolution. I mean I know we have to state take in you know vendors and do the whole RF. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. the it anytime you uh update the
policies and procedures, you would do it by resolution as opposed to uh by ordinance. So, you will see that resolution uh and an attachment in exhibit A that'll be at this point I think it's about uh 15 pages long with
how we go or how we will u procure items in the future. the process by which you implement that ultimately is historically by resolution. >> Yeah. >> Uh and so that's the I think the second part to your um your question. It will
continue to be done that way um in order to um so that there's always a record of what that procurement is and there's also an inherent level of transparency because it goes on the agenda. >> Okay. And so when was the last time we
updated this on the code? >> I don't think since it was adopted. Um the the first time. Uh, if you give me a moment, I can 2005. >> Okay. So, it hasn't been updated since.
And so, what why why the need now? What would you say is uh the main source of the driver of you know in 20 years to have this addressed now? >> Best practices. >> Okay. compared to >> taxpayers money. >> Okay. Uh when you say best practices,
which um which uh sort of municipalities or cities are you referring to when you compare? >> Uh we are comparing them to multiple communities um um >> that they have a manual in place and by risk. >> Yeah. A lot of a lot of municipalities
and counties um do the um their procurement policies in this manner. >> It's a more efficient manner uh in which to do it again as opposed to every time you want to ch make a change having to
bring it back in the form of an ordinance and two readings, advertising notice, etc. um you're able to do it um by resolution which only requires um one meeting. That's best practice in itself.
>> But I'm saying so we haven't changed it in 20 years. So it's not like we have recurring expenses behind this changes and our ordinances in our code that would you know effectively be expensive for the village and payers. uh you know uh >> again the the idea is that if you are
going to change it which we you know the direction is let's do it the most efficient way possible now and going forward. >> Okay. My my only the reason I I keep bringing that it up is because for me
you know many municipalities uh usually are luckier than us when it comes to the size of their budget. Uh this flexibility I'm sure allows for the type of purchases that constantly go back and forth within the procurement
manual. I don't know in our case we're just such a small budget we're being so concerned of keeping it very tight and having a very key control from a commission perspective that being on the code and authorized through a double you know two months in a row sort of
approval process for any changes to that. Um I've seen it it's worked so far and that that's how I read it, right? Um sort of it's not broken uh per se. Uh and that's why I'm just not understanding what the problem that it's
sort of solving in essence for us, not keep it that way. Um you want to do it by um uh ordinance uh every time you wish to amend u the the code or policies
and and procedures that is your prerogative. It's that's why it's before you. If you u don't like this process then you know the direction would be to vote it down and we would go back to um modifying and
updating the uh the the co the policies and procedures by amending the code. >> Got it. >> And it would be all laid out in in in an ordinance. >> Got it. Okay. All right. I think that answers Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, if there's no other questions,
uh, madame clerk, would you please call the role? >> I know the Did you ask for public comment? >> Yes, we did. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. >> It's not. >> No worries. >> Mayor Gro, >> uh, yes. >> Vice Mayor Anler, >> no. >> Commissioner Gonzalez,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Huntington, >> yes. >> Commissioner Samra, >> yes. >> The item passes on first reading 41. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, real quick before we we move on, uh, he brought up a good point that I that I just it just
came to my mind that I didn't know the I don't know the answer, but I'm I'm sure Darin does. He he mentioned uh, complaints, right? Uh, resident complaints, and I know back in the day, we used to have uh, anonymity when we would uh, a resident would complain and
that law changed some years ago. Have you noticed a a serious decline in and people calling in now that they have to identify themselves? Uh so right because I know you've been in this business for a while. So so that so how do you have
any idea of what you I mean it's got to be significant I'm assuming. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. we >> because now I got to identify myself every time I there's a code compli uh code complaint right back in the day that we didn't have they didn't have to do that
>> yes commissioner this the difference is very very significant we used to get a lot of calls in the past I mean I would say hundreds of calls but now people they do call and sometimes they want to
stay anonymous and then we can't act on that kind of call because the law has changed but It's very very few callers. It's very few people going through the app and and complaining. Uh so we have to get as proactive as possible.
>> Right. >> I have a follow-up question on that. That's very interesting. So how um do you record an anonymous calls? Um, we don't really record anonymous calls because we are not supposed to take them. However, if they sent an
email and some of them do come as emails with a very weird kind of email, um, you reply to the email, it doesn't it won't even it bounces back. People do stuff like that. Some anonymous calls do not come directly to code. They would go through a different office and they
don't get any information. So we get the information about the complaint but we don't get the information about who complained. Those kind of complaints are treated a little different because the person that uh received a complaint is not a code officer. We are as code
officers um have to abide by the law. >> Right. >> We cannot um take that uh anonymous complaint. However, >> come through any department. >> It can come through any department. It come through you. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> And we don't need to register them. You don't have we we don't need to register
but I don't register them because by law I shouldn't. However, if register an anonymous call they have to give their name and right. >> However, if it comes through another department say commissioner here comes and gives us a complaint. He doesn't
give us the name. He says a resident approach him for ABC. We discern. We look at the complaint. If it's a health hazard, if it's a safety hazard, it's a destroying habitat, then we would go and follow up on a complaint like that. If
it's a noise complaint, we're not going >> the qu if the resident questions where the you have to tell them where the complaint came from is my understanding. So, if it came from code or if it came from the popo or if it came from Ryan or the commission or a commissioner or
whatever, you have to disclose that. We will absolutely disclose it came through Commissioner Huntington, >> but not the person who >> but not the person who complained to them. >> Thanks, Lorraine. >> Okay. All right. Let's keep going. Uh
we've got under an hour and we've got uh several resolutions. So, let's step back to the resolutions that were removed from consent. The first one is resolution number 2026-33. Uh John, would you read the resolution for us, please? >> Yes. Uh Mr. Mayor, members of the
commission, this is resolution number 2026-33 entitled a resolution of the village commission, the village of Biscane Park, Florida, retroactively approving an emergency expenditure for the tree trimming services on Northeast 10th Avenue from 120th Street to 121st Street
performed by Joe's Landscaping and Tree Service in the amount of $1,200 providing for conflict, scrier's errors, for severability, and an effective date. Thank you, John. Do I have a motion and a second to move to discussion?
>> Motion to approve resolution 2026 20-23. >> Second. Okay. Um so, Commissioner Amsor, you asked this one removed. Is would you like to um open with your item? >> Yes. Um so just following through um just to be consistent you guys know how
I feel about resolutions coming our way with um the fall within the purchasing power of the manager um and the idea that uh we provide sort of retroactively uh approve this when it's within this
power and within his um allowance if you will to do um I don't feel comfortable. So that's why you'll see that I pull not only this but the other two resolutions which are similar. So um uh again just
wanted to be consistent with that and uh and uh so that I can vote against it. That's all. >> Okay. Um thank you commissioner. Any other uh questions or comments on the resolution from the rest of the commission? >> Okay. Hearing none. All right. So all in
favor of I lost it. Sorry. All in favor of approving resolution 2 2026-33. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> uh no. >> Um okay. Uh the next one. Mayor, if I
will, Commissioner, if your intention is to just vote no on those two block we just block vote the next two so that way we can she can vote those. >> Yeah, we can do that. >> You got to we got to read it. Have read each one separate. >> Okay. So, I have an idea then. Um, all
right. So, let's go to 2026-35. Um, John, would you please read the res resolution for us? >> Yes, sir. Uh, members, mayor, members of the commission. This is resolution 2026-35 entitled resolution the village commission of the village of Biscane Park, Florida. Authorizing the village
manager to enter into a purchase order or similar contract with Joe's Landscaping and Tree Service for Landscape Maintenance and Tree Trimming Services at the median near 120 120th Street and Northeast 17th Avenue. Sorry. Northeast 7th Avenue providing for conflict scrim errors for severability
and an effective date. >> Thank you, John. Do I have a motion and second on the resolution? >> I make a motion to approve resolution number 2026-35. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh so maybe I can copy and paste for you, commissioner. Do I mean I guess
uh we understand that uh your objection is as to each of these three resolutions is the same. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Just the one comment that I will have. Uh manager gets to do this the way he wants it. I reason I like this is
transparency. I've said that in the past he's given tren this is stuff that doesn't mean he have to come in front of the commission but it's a transparency and that's what I like. So I just want >> understood. I think we we we've given consensus to the manager that we're okay with this. Commissioner Amsler's her
prerogative. If she wants to pull it that's fine. I think in the in this happens, I think we just block vote and she can vote no on all of them. That way, we just move forward, I think. >> Well, I think we still got to read the resolutions and and follow >> all of them and then just vote. >> Uh John, I
I'll um I'm going to defer to John on this one. So, uh all in favor of passing resolution 2026-35. >> I >> I gonna vote no. And I'm gonna answer to um Commissioner Samaria just to confirm that my vote uh is clear. So, um I'm
100% for transparency. The only comment I have usually with this ones is that they can they belong in the commissioner in the manager's report. So, this could be pulled up there. No need for a resolution to have the commission approve $800 in this case.
>> Is it $800? I'm sorry. Is is it $800 in the case of 202635? >> Is that correct? >> Yeah. But the residents don't always see the the manager's report. Well, but then that's to the point of the extent of the agenda is up for everybody to read. So
again, the transparency aspect I think it'd be covered and also we were just talking about how expensive it is to go ahead and and you know pull a resol an ordinance and you know do the the the readings etc. I think we have staff involved in every resolution and that's the reason I don't think they're needed
and just to be consistent you'll hear no from me. >> Okay, understood commissioner. Um, all right. Um, resolution uh 2026-36. John, could you please read uh that resolution under the record for us? Uh mayor, members of the commission, this
is resolution 2026-36 entitled resolution of the village commission the village of Biscane Park, Florida, authorizing the village manager to enter in a purchase order or similar contract with Jose landscaping and tree service for landscape maintenance and tree trimming services at the median near 118th Street and Northeast 7th
Avenue providing for conflicts scriveners errors for severability and an effective date. >> Thank you, John. Do I have a motion and second on this resolution? >> Motion to approve. >> Second it. >> Okay. >> All right. So, Commissioner Hamzer, um, unless there's anything else, just noting your objection to this one. Um,
>> I would just, uh, you know, same comments as before with the prior resolution, um, and be a no for me. I would just, um, ask the clerk to make sure that there's remarks about what I just said included in the minutes uh,
for this uh, particular case. >> Okay. Um, all right. Thanks, Commissioner. Um uh so uh all in favor of passing resolution 2026-36 >> I >> I >> I >> No.
>> All right. Our final Well, this isn't >> um All right. So that was the final Well, that was the final resolution on uh consent, but we did have one additional item on consent, which was the uh the minutes uh that you asked be pulled, Commissioner Amsler. Um it's not resolution or anything. It would be by
just consensus of the the village commission. Uh did would you like to lead with or provide an update to the commission is why you asked this one was pulled. >> Yes. So resolution 2026-31. Uh I just wanted to clarify for the record the motion to approve the
resolution included a condition to the vendor present uh today. Um it was in approve as a blank as stated on the minutes uh in the minutes is reflected as a different direction. So I would ask that to be corrected. My motion was uh
you know um conditional of this presentation happening for the intent of participation. The other comment is regarding resolution 2026-24 that does not mention any voting results. So it's currently empty and I
couldn't remember if we voted yes or no on that. So that needs to be verified and checked. Um and there was another point of discussion that we had the action uh there was
action point missing on the discussion related to the walkability efforts. uh Commissioner Huntington, you brought forward about doing uh a workshop that included people um with us co-hosting it uh being an idea that what we both
brought up during strategic session. Um the idea was to involve residents, consider opportunities for grants provided um that you had provided to the manager and potential locations to be identified by administration. So, I want to make sure we put in the record that
those were the next steps um awaiting and I think that's it. >> Okay. Uh thanks, Commissioner. U Madame Clerk, can we um have these put back on next month? Great. Okay. The the clerk has those um edits. Uh so, I guess we'll we'll we can defer the item because
they'll be edited and brought back to us uh for June. >> There you go. >> Okay. Uh Commissioner, thank you. Let's move on now to our final resolution for the evening, which is 2026-34. John, would you please read it on the record for us?
Sir, uh resolution number 2026-34 uh entitled resolution the village commission the village of Biscane Park Florida ranking proposals received for the village historic log cabin roof
replacement project RFP number 20264 approving an agreement with uh top ranked proposer authorizing the village manager to execute the agreement and any related documents on behalf of the village providing for conflicts scriveners errors severability and an effective date. >> All right, John, thanks very much. Do I
have a motion and a second on this resolution? >> Make a motion to approve resolution 202634, ranking proposal awarding contract for log cabin roof replacement. >> Second. >> Okay. Um, if uh if there's anyone that's
interested in providing comment or questions about it, you know, I've I've personally I've looked at it and I've reviewed the contractors. I even was able to get a few uh an opportunity to speak with our building uh department manager uh Pedro about these. Um so I you know I'm I'm prepared to as we've
done with some of our other contractors in the past uh back in April uh prepared to make a proposal on how we would rank these going forward. But are there any questions or discussion on the resolution? >> Yes. I don't know how you can make this award when it seems to me the architect
was indicating that they weren't even certain what the material would be. >> Well, so um the way that this the way that we this is work, we're not awarding a contract. We're basically saying here are this is in priority the um contractors that we'd asked the manager
go and discuss with in awarding them the contract. >> Okay. But again, you don't know what you're discussing. the roof replacement. >> Remember what you second the the second and if they change the material maybe
that's going to affect I think the architect misspoke because I think that second material was shot down by the historic preservation board. They wouldn't allow it because it wasn't his it wasn't historic. >> I'm sorry. Are >> you Ryan? What's that? >> You may be right but like you should know that >> the architect mentioned two different
materials and I've had this discussion with the manager. he's not here to to comment on it that they shot down the second material because it was not historically accurate. They wanted to go with the lesser material which was more historic. So that's why I think they're if you go to our procurement people this has already been fledged out what
project we're using. >> I think what we're we're just we're just agreeing we're just agreeing to the the order of the selection that we're not agreeing to uh materials. We're not agreeing to any of that stuff. They have >> but again
>> we're just agreeing to This is this is got it. >> Okay. Well, then that's the answer to your question is that we're not agreeing to materials at this point. >> I know, but if you change the materials, it may change the >> But that'll that'll also be discussed. >> That's a good point, Gary. That's that's a fair point. Um I I think, you know,
when if we provide direction on the rankings of these to say go and speak with them about what their proposal would be, maybe it'll change. if it changes, you know, I would imagine it would come back being significantly different than what's being bid here. Um,
but >> that's also why it's a ranking. You know, we're going to rank these and the manager will try to enter into contract with the first one. If there is a design change and that first one doesn't, he'll move down the ranking to number two and number three and number four. So, he'll obviously bring the best contract to us
fitting in the ranking. even even if there was an executed agreement >> that until a notice to proceed is issued to the contractor no work is done. So that would give the village the
opportunity to cons with the architect determine what is the exact type of shingle that the village is going to use that and direct the the the contractor and then a a notice to proceed would be issued. So there are multiple safeguards
in place to make sure that the the work doesn't start and the village isn't committed to anything until all those details are um determined and and made aware to the contractor.
>> Okay. Go ahead. >> Does that answer your concern or what it does? Okay. I have a question. >> Explain what this resolution is really
to explain what what the purpose of this resolution is, Mr. Attorney. >> Yes. >> To uh take the um individual scores that were developed by staff.
um you all rank them, we put those into the resolution and now the manager pursuant to the resolution has direction to uh work with the selected contractor, the top ranked contractor to develop an
agreement and uh eventually enter into that agreement for the um replacement of the roof. >> Okay. So then what does the manager do after that? I'm trying to get >> he will he will meet with the top ranked
u uh proposer and negotiate the details of the contract or the contract is executed and the work is commenceed would include a determination of what is the material that the roof is going to be replaced
with. And if that company doesn't do what let's say a concern that he has, he will he can go down to the second group. Right. >> That is correct. If if for whatever reason the um top rank proposer is
unwilling to use that particular um type of shingle u material as a replacement of the roof, then the under the resolution, the manager would have the authority to begin negotiations and ultimately enter into an agreement with
the second ring proposer and so on. to that the point in the RFQ when we are I'm sorry RFP when we're asking for vendors to come forward with this pricing does it do we specify the type of materials we want and would that
change it? Yes, I I I believe in this RFP um we the the and staff members here too and can answer this if I give an incorrect answer, but it's my understanding is the the the
RFP that was put out on the street provided for like replacement. So um I don't know the term cedar shingle to cedar shingle. Okay. >> Am I correct in that?
>> Christina Brown. >> Hi. Would you guys like me to answer any questions? >> Any uh any comments on what on the the topic that's currently being discussed? >> Yes, sir. Yes, mayor. >> So, um when we put out the RFP, we
received the specifications and the drawings from Chisum Architects. they remain part of the package within the bid form that we put out which is where the contractors have to specify their pricing. They also have to adhere to what is specified in those drawings and
we gave them two options that they could choose from including an alternate option that they can submit for waba. Ultimately we don't have the final say. Who has the final say is a combination of the building department and the historic preservation board FDOS. our
grant manager in Tallahassee has been looking at the drawings, has been looking at specifications. He has given us feedback. Um, they want to see material that we're going to select and they'll have the final approval. But within the actual bid form, it was specified that there could be two types
of shingles or shakers. And ultimately, once we negotiate with the contractor, when the manager meets with them, we still have to run it by FDOS and they will have to say yes or no. And then from there, if anything does change, the price goes up or something like that, the manager could bring it back to you
if that's what's needed. But I think at this point, we have enough information within that RFP that should protect the village based on what Chisum architects provided us and the amount of reviews that we've had. We've had reviews from the building official, the assistant building official, the state twice along
with internal staff that has looked at it, John Jenkins. There's multiple people. It hasn't just been one. They've also provided um um previous details on what was on the roof. We've had meetings where contractors came out here. They asked a lot of questions. We provided a
lot of feedback. So, I I trust that we have done our due diligence and um we will do what's right by the village. >> Thank you, Christina. >> Yes, it helps. Thanks. I have one more questions. Uh so, um who were in charge
of providing this um sort of uh rank in if you will >> staff members >> correct >> um I believe M >> it's uh two current building well >> is is it what that was the qu so there
are said >> the three evaluators that scored it were um the building official the assistant building official and the architect that was here tonight they did not rank it they score it they go through their process to score we have criteria that
they have to score against and um the manager specifically selected them because they're the most knowledgeable of roofing. And in fact um the building official had um he was the one that actually reviewed the questions came in along with Matthew and they provided
jointly responses back um to the pro pective prospective um proposers. So I do believe that um they like I said they evaluated in good faith. They did what they were supposed to independently. They did not share those scores with each other. The first time anyone uh saw
the final scores was tonight or when it was posted onto the agenda, but it has not been ranked and that's what we need direction from the commission on at this time. >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the ranking as as uh and move this forward. >> Are you are you talking about by total
score then? >> Yes. Yes. So then just for uh purpose of the conversation here it would be Supreme Roofing followed by Leaporta uh followed by Sky Peak
uh and then followed by Main Enterprise Jenkins Roofing and A1 Property. >> Second. >> That's I my top was I was going to go with the two the 262 score the supreme one. >> All right. Uh well we have a motion to second on the floor. Um
>> can I ask a question before I vote? >> Sure. >> Um I guess I go back to last month. Uh John, if you can guide me as to why we need to do it and in this case the manager is not providing that that uh final say
>> because the RFP1 provides for this process and ultimately um it's your decision to make. Uh there's u also I believe uh issues of timing as there were uh last month as well. So it it
would be impractical to convene uh a meeting of the staff members for them to get together and to compile the um scores and generate a ranking
>> forward that to you all. So um you know at the end of the day as the commission you are in theory free to um even if there was a ranking by staff. Got it. >> Free to agree or disagree with that ranking.
>> So just to clarify so we don't continue this echo chamber month after month. Uh if this would have been noticed as a public meeting these three expert individuals would have met publicly and they would have ranked they would have and they would have ranked this. This would have been their result. So the result doesn't change. It's just that
they didn't have that public meeting. They didn't meet publicly. They didn't meet at all. They privately scored it and and then provided us to confirm their scores in a total ranking. Mhm. >> This is even more uh you know uh has more checks and balances because they met or they didn't need they they scored
it privately and there's no undue influence if one expert shows up and says I know more than you do and this should be the score. They could sway the score. This they're privately scored. They don't know what they're what either of them put down on that paper until it all gets compiled together. And so to me
this is even more uh has more checks and balances to it than the a traditional method. and the score the results will be the same. So to me I I just want to make put that clear clarity out there so that way we all understand. >> Christina >> I appreciate that that the clarification
Ryan because I think for from my perspective the way I was thinking is it's it doesn't um you know it didn't happen the way you just described it. So um I agree. I mean if that's the case you know and and in a way we are moving
forward independently and regardless it would have come for approval in the commission right >> yes ma'am >> in the first scenario as well >> not to belabor the point this is one of the things you can decide in the context of the policies and procedures that we
would be doing by resolution as opposed to two hearings if you wanted to modify it. >> Got it. Okay, >> Christina, last anything >> just for clarification, there is a lot of from the day that we leave this meeting, we go straight into agenda review speaking about the next month and
what we're going to do. There's like 3 weeks total to meet and what happens is we have to get people that are not in the village, for example, consultants like Matthew to all come together to meet in one place to publicly notice it 10 days in advance. It's we don't have a lot of time. We are so that you have
peace of mind for the Northeast 6 meeting avenue services. >> I saw that >> we have put a public meeting together for that. That is going to happen May 11th at 11:00 a.m. We had to reschedule that one more than once because some staff was on vacation, others were out, you know, out of the office. It's it's
it's very cumbersome. You guys are very small. You don't have a lot of staff. A lot of your work is outsourced, including like myself, and it just getting everyone in one room together is hard. you guys make it happen here, which is very great, but it's not that easy for everyone else. But the next one
is and will be and has already been publicly noticed. And when you get that resolution with the policies, procedures, just like the attorney said, we can work together. Like this is not, you know, right now you guys, I have I'm tell from experience. I work with a lot of, you know, little cities. No one has
had this many RFPs or bids out at once. I have never seen it. I have had other clerks calling me and saying, "Oh my lord, what is going on?" Um you guys congratulations >> list of things here tackling so that's why they're coming together but that's great I mean for you all just so you
know congratulations cuz the amount of work that you're pumping out for a small village is enormous and what I see in other places we can't even I had one location that we had to cancel the bid three times. So like you're you're pumping out work that's great for the community and I don't want anyone in
this room to be worried. We are going to do our best. Okay. I appreciate your your participation tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Christina. Thank you. >> Uh, all right, Art. I know you've asked us uh to vote on the motion that's been pending. So, um, all in favor of approving resolution 2026-34.
>> I >> I >> I >> I >> Okay. Um, all right. So, let's move on to our >> Mr. Mayor, sorry, I forgot to mention this during the works uh portion of report. Did we put in a lighthouse in the village?
>> Did we? What? Because John, I think you missed one of your vacation photos was on the uh on the report. There's a lighthouse on the public works. I guess I'm the only one who caught it and I forgot to mention it. But I'm glad you had a good vacation, John.
>> Rolling through. Did we put in a lighthouse I forgot about? Thanks, John. Um, all right. So, let's uh let's get into our discussion items. We have two. Uh let's start with the freebie discussion since it's uh an an old business item. Sorry.
Play that again. >> Correct. But we added a second one based on comments from Commissioner Samria. Um all right. So look, Art, um I just want to start this thing off by saying I completely agree with your what you said earlier that this is very important. Um
and I will say just two things very quickly. one, I I appreciate the manager trying to be creative with costs of this village and how we can use them to make an immediate impact. Um, but what I will say at this point based on what I've seen so far, what we've received from
freebie so far, uh, on the call, the change in the level of service in the areas, uh, I was under the impression forever that we could not change the the service areas at all. We couldn't change anything. And we've added an area where people can get dropped off. We've heard freebie themselves tonight tell us they
will add more that they will change the service hours. Um, and look, I understand, you know, that there is some confusion about the numbers, but we have to come to a decision tonight and the information that we have is the information that we have. We're not going to get any more clarity right now
on on the ridership numbers. I would love to have more money to to pave roads. And again, I I commend the the manager on trying to be creative here, but I I would vote to keep the service because I've seen the expansion so far. I think there can be a further expansion. We've heard some folks who
use it. Um, and I don't want to lose the service because my my most important thing on this is an alternative. I don't know what the alternative is, and I know sometimes how things happen. We say, "Hey, we'll explore an alternative." And then it just doesn't happen. So, that's where I stand. I just wanted to make it
very clear at the outset that I would vote tonight to uh to renew the service. >> I would like some clarity on this $60,000 grant. Maybe Issa can touch on that if if that's the case because this is the first time I'm hearing that we only have $60,000 of of CITT funds and
then the other 60 comes from a grant. If Issa, you could touch on appreciate it. And I do want to just give some insight on this. So I've been working with FRE with Freeb for the past two years. I'm putting on my transportation and transit hat right now. Um, and CITT the grant is
through our grant team. It's a a state grant foc um $60,000. All the money we spend in freebie we spend up front and we're reimbursed. So that's just that money comes out of our our budget first. Over the last three or four years, I don't think we still have yet to receive
any money from the CIT funds. And that's just because for so many years, a lot of the record keeping and things weren't done correctly. We're back on track now and we're doing great. We hope to receive a lot of those funds. Never was this an intention I think and speaking on behalf of the managers because I've
been working handinhand with this was for us to do away with freebie or change service to the community and the people who are using it. Again, we were trying to be creative in our ways of how we see fit that we can save money and redirect some money towards what we know is a
sore in the village and that is our roads. Um and so for us, we looked at the numbers. It looked like the service was being underutilized. We know people use it. We're not saying that, but it feels like it's being underutilized for the money that is
being spent, which if you break down the numbers, some of those numbers she gave this evening are a little inflated uh in my eyes just because I do the reports. But you also have to know that Freeb is a company and this is a contract that they are also trying to keep. So, they're going to say some things that
benefit them. Um, adding the Publix to to the demographic was something that we brought to them last week in the meeting. Putting the survey on the app was something that we brought to them last week in the meeting. For as far as we've known, we cannot extend our service until this last meeting that we
had where we are entertaining maybe not having their service anymore. So now we're getting that information which seems a little convenient. Um, but at the same time, hey, if we can do that, that changes things in regards to our service and and our writership. I'm sure um we can change the time, but we can
only still have 56 hours based on our $10,000 a month. One vehicle, 56 hours. >> The more you expand that radius of people going five miles if you want to extend it, the longer the wait time will be for this one vehicle. Yes. And those
are just simple things that we have to look in. Our biggest goal here is to pro provide services for the community but also spend our money to the best of our ability. So the grant, yes, $60,000 from
the um FDOT grant goes towards the funding of the freebie car service. We have one year left on that. This is why we needed to have this meeting this year because if we don't decide within before the next 30 days, we we either lose that
year and or um we can terminate in time to not be penalized. We are on the second extension of that grant which they only offer you two extensions. And with this extension, we do have to upgrade our service. The only way we could find to upgrade our service
without increasing the cost to the village was to change the vehicle. So, if we do continue with this grant and going forward and continue with our contract with freebie, they we will have to upgrade the the vehicle, which is just a it's a Volkswagen, a slightly
larger vehicle. Um, can fit more people per ride, but it doesn't change anything for us in regards to cost. Um, it's still an electric vehicle, so it doesn't change anything. Space, obviously, it the the ride the vehicle is housed at public works. We would have to work that out, but that would be the addition that
we had to make to get that final extension of the grant. Not sure if we would be guaranteed to get the grant the following year, but we do know that we're secured for at least one more year >> um with that. >> So, just touch on before you move on. So, that's the final extension. So,
after this extension is over and we lose that $60,000 funding next year would be coming out of general fun. >> You would have to reapply obviously. Um, and they are making those changes where they're offering three. Um, but again, in these situations, >> fourth, there's no guarantee that we'll get it. >> No guarantee. >> Absolutely.
>> But you also said something that caught my attention. You said that we haven't been reimbursed by C. I don't think that that's accurate based on the the information that I've received uh with uh CIT. But you're saying that we haven't been reimbured for several years from
>> they're holding. So the manager and I we're working with I think we're getting our first dispersement very soon. um in towards uh not transit but transportation. So, and just to touch on so CITT the 20% the other $60,000 that
goes towards freebie >> is offset by CITT money but we only have to spend 20% of that 100% of CITT money towards obviously towards uh transit which is the freebie program. that 20% comes out to like $36,000 of what we
received from. So then the city is covering technically that other or we are then dipping into transportation. So with all the the projects that we had towards uh drainage that we've done over the years, we were all of that money for transportation was going towards those
drainage projects. What we how we were looking at and being creative is minimizing that 20% that we are spending for transit down which we're spending more than that now obviously and then being able to re delegate that money towards road paving. So again we it this
isn't our our plan to do away with freebie. It was more to be creative and put money towards the roads where we felt this service was being underutilized. Now, they brought some options to the table that definitely could increase our utilization, but there's one thing that isn't changing is that we only have one vehicle.
>> We are set on the times, though we could break that those schedules up. Um, so we just wanted to bring this to you all and get your opinion. Obviously, we hate being put under the gun with the time crunch. >> Sure. >> Um, but we we felt we would do a a disservice if we didn't at least bring
you guys these options. >> It was it was consideration and I think it was creative. um it gave us an opportunity to revisit the freebie service since we haven't talked about in a couple years. So yeah, no, it was just something that was proposed to say let's just look at it, right? >> Um and I just think some of the information that we've received and you
know I particularly um find uh comments by the CQ family to be very applicable. It made a lot of sense. It made I mean it made a lot of sense. I mean I I think that the the presentation from uh from freebie was very eye opening as well. And I I get that that you know we asked for a service when hey we're considering
maybe not renewing it. Well, let's give you a new area. But hey, it it works, you know, and it's it's a high kind of high value area that public. So, I don't want to take any more time. I I'll go to the rest of the commission. >> I was glad the commission decided at the last meeting to have them put a presentation because I was against uh
this as I mentioned at the last meeting uh because I was concerned about the expansion areas that it was only in the Pacific area and then the time and the numbers bother me and they still bother me. I still and it's a business. I think they floated their numbers higher than
it really is. But the expansion is what you know I'm really for and the time I do agree with you. If somebody goes to to uh Miami Shores, but I think you pick up ridership more. You go to Miami targets is at at uh you know I drive my
truck. I would and I'm home. I would rather take it go to the post office and and visit Target or if I want to go to minors. So, I'm I'm for this and I wasn't for this before this meeting, but I'm glad we had Freeb come back and give
a presentation. Thank you. >> Uh, okay. One question I have. What is the total number of funds we get from CIT a year? Not you're not including the grant because that can only be used for freebie. What is the total number of funds we get? We are supposed to get and I guess we're not getting reimbursements.
I say 209, but let me find it. I don't want >> 209, but then only 20% of that would have to be used towards transit. The rest of the rest of that money could be utilized. 180 what? 200,000. So
80% of that could be used towards roads. So that's a a huge number you're passing up here if we continue with free. You got to understand is it's not 60,000. It's it's considerably more than that. You know, we're talking three roads a year and that was at the 120,000. Now if
we're 200,000 minus 20%, probably more than three roads. So just figure that out when you have about 75 roads and you're talking three roads a year. If we would have just started this in 2022 instead of freebie, the impact would have been huge. You know, multiplications, it it it's a snowball
effect. That's one. Uh two, I'm totally disenfranchised with freebie because I've reviewed all of their quarterly statements, inflated is a understatement. That's I'm totally and when a company comes here and blatantly inflates numbers to me. I I'm disenfranchised with that. I'm also
disenfranchised with the fact that they say for years we cannot expand services and then as soon as we're talking about leaving they will want to give us give us something. The 85% of writership that number sounds impressive but to me it's not impressive because how long was that
survey on the app? I don't know maybe it wasn't wasn't even a whole month because it wasn't in the discussion last month and now it is. So two weeks and a ridership is four they say 600 600 riders realistically it's more like 200
riders. So how many people wrote in two weeks that equated to that 8 85%. 30. So what's the percentage of our residents who actually voted in that survey that says they want 127th Publix? Trust me I'm I'm ecstatic that they they
included it. But to me, if we're gonna uh enter into another agreement with them, I don't want to consider the validity of that survey, I'd say we should host our own survey and see what all residents want because some residents might say, "I want the the post office in North Miami. I want the
post office in Miami Shores. I want this. I want that." I I don't uh support that validity of that survey at all. That I mean, it was posted for 15 minutes and then we pump pumped out 85% of respondents said this. We don't even know how many respondents that was. So
to me, I'm totally disenfranchised with freebie. Uh I understand that I think the the consensus is to move forward and continue the relationship, but to me the impact is 10 times more to 100% of the residents by utilizing over what I can't even do the math right now, but over
$120,000 of road repair. Even if you just repair potholes, that's a huge impact. Huge impact. There are potholes everywhere in this village that could be professionally repaired that wouldn't come back. So to me, I would do I would do away with freebie just from from the presentation I saw and the inflated
numbers tonight. But that's my >> All right. Let me let me let me just say uh two things. Uh number one, uh something that this young lady brought up, which was, you know, how busy this the village is and how many projects we have in in the works. You know, I've been here long enough to
know that the only reason these things are pouring in and being pushed is because we finally hired a manager that makes sense. Okay. Um, so that's the first thing. Uh, number two is as far as the freebie is concerned, you know, I
feel I don't I have no idea who uses a freebie. No idea. Uh, nobody that I know uh uses freebie. I've never used freebie. I don't intend to use freebie. Having said that, in my humble opinion, I think that that some of the folks or maybe the majority of the folks that use
do freebie are the vulnerable in our in our in our community. And uh for me to say sit here and vote against the that uh is a problem uh for me uh especially, you know, the reality is I don't have all the data that I wish that I had, but
I don't have it. But um just to consider that fact uh is is is is a serious concern. You know, with gas prices also skyrocketing, you know, folks are are are are looking for alternatives. Um so
I I I I can't vote against it at this point. for the renewal for the next year. Put in the concerns that Commissioner had. You know, >> absolutely. >> You know what I'm saying? I want to have >> decide to continue to kind
>> We're going to do everything we can to boost writership, get the get more details, get the numbers um and and work hard so we can bring you all the numbers so that when and if this comes back up again, we're we're not under the gun here and still looking for answers.
because I'm I'm willing to give, you know, another year's chance if we know what we have to do and we know what they have to do. I again, I don't believe everything that she said tonight 100% on that, but I have to think of the
residents and just by the comments that I heard from the residents tonight on the ones that do use it, it's it's very important that we keep it. And uh so that's one of the reasons why I'm supported but I do need to have much stricter guidelines um
that they have to follow. >> Okay. So uh for me I I just went back to sort of my notes on on what's next step here. um important why this needs to be noticed on the minutes again because um
there were action points to be taken and one of them was I thought you guys were against the wall in terms of timing. Um you know I did mention this last month uh 30 days uh for coming back with an alternative of what that could be. I think it's very tight. Um, so I think
we're we're against the the ball here to make a decision and that isn't proper opportunity for us and to have all that information to make the right one. So what I would encourage is if we're going to move forward with this, it's next year, four months, five months in advance, we're having this conversation
to avoid being here again. That's one. Then the second will be, you know, the proposals that I saw in terms of three streets that could be covered. This is all hypothetical, right? Um there was a strategy at some at some point during strategic planning of last year. There
was a discussion I I guess about what was we were going to do about roads and the discussion was we were going to lower the milit rate and with that money we're going to qualify better to go for debt. But if now the idea is to tell people that we could have saved money
from freebie to fix those potholes, I think it's an overreach of our promise. I think it puts us in a very uncomfortable situation as a commission because it's going to be how come you had 120 grand and you didn't fix three streets. If you ask me in four years, I
would be pretty upset. Um the feedback we've gathered over and over has been that there is no money to do this. That we need leverage. We need to consolidate a budget. We need to have a plan which will still have to identify which our priorities are, right? So we can't we
can't just say that now we have 120 grand. we're going to fix these three. I don't agree with that statement. I think we just need to be very careful because data needs to come together and one of the points was to have a proposal and alternative. Um and and and the last one
again I think we we could do more marketing. We could do push it out there. I appreciate the service some people are are receiving. I am 100% to first off thank you because I think the idea is it's what I value. There's other
things we could do. Let's look into that. But I think we're just not not there now to make that decision. So I'm okay with moving forward with and staying with the contract. The only point is Commissioner Handed, I think you brought up last uh month about is the contract going to go up, you know.
So that's another thing. So I would ask are we going to remain flat year to year considering I know electricity is not you know electrical cars might not be affected but I would just want to make sure we're we're remaining with the same sort of a >> how they bothered in that price.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Rership the next stream is going to be that we add a car. >> Yeah. So, >> and we will have to evaluate that for for next year again or at some point in the middle if we can come back and say, "Listen, it's not working. It's been six
months and it continues to go down. We've done everything we can. Then let's readress, you know, thank you again for bringing it forward." >> Look, um, Isa, I'll just say again, I I I certainly applaud you and the manager trying to be creative with this. Um, and Ryan, I hear you loud and clear. I think
the roads are of the utmost importance. uh living on 111th Street knowing how bad it is. And where's John? We got some new ones over there on 111th Street that need patching. So, look, I I I could not agree with you more. Uh I just think that it's not at the expense of this
service. That's all. Um so, I'll just I'm going to ask for consensus by the commission to uh provide direction to Issa and the manager to move forward in renewing. Do we have to renew or is it just we just stick with it as is? We don't got to do anything. >> Yeah. Okay. Then to confirm
>> good we but we needed to let them money by now that's grant. >> Okay. >> Really will be bringing you the new contract for signing. >> So consensus from the commission to do that >> just there is no penalties for the ILA
and the the thing that was mentioned. We avoid that. Great. and and also is to bring up our comm the commissioner's concerns with them. I think that's very important. >> I would definitely echo again that uh we should host some kind of our own survey
to see what the resident what locations the residents want. >> I think listing the ones we currently have and say hey what do you want? What do you is because I downloaded freebie again after I mean I have used it once and I downloaded it again to just refresh myself on it goes to the
library. I got an email said it didn't go to the library. It goes to the library but it goes to a lot of random restaurants that I've don't think a lot of people go to. So what what do the residents want to see if the I heard today post office. Let's let's put that in there. But let's have a place for
writing. Hey, I want to see it go to downtown Miami Shores. I want to see it go to the Miami Shores Pool or to North Miami Rec Center or something like that because I think you're going to get more ridership if you have more ability to for it to be customized to our residents
>> and this is the perfect time to to push that right now. We're in a contract time is a perfect time to say, "Hey, look, >> these places don't work. >> These will." >> Yeah. No, I I I think it's a great idea. And Issa, that's you know, I know you've been working with Freeb for a long time, so that might be something that you'd be best suited to to bring up to them now.
say, "Look, okay, it was it was on thin ice, but we're going forward and we know that you conveniently added something here for us." >> They made those changes with it within the day of our meeting. So, the fact that they can do that on like that was >> that was literally the day after we had
that meeting and we brought up that there wasn't a Publix within the service area. >> Yeah. >> Only the Aldi. So, that was the only grocery store that you could go to, >> right? >> So, that's why we chose that one. But we also know they're building a new Publix on Biscane. So, um, a lot has to do >> traffic and but I mean, if we could
extend it just a five mile radius around Biscane Park, >> maybe that's just the best option for us at this time where you just make it a five mile radius. You want to go anywhere in that five miles, go. >> Yeah. >> And then people also need to know since we're on the topic is that they can
catch a freebie to a freebie. >> Yeah. >> So, you can catch a freebie to North Miami and catch the North Miami freebie. >> That's a >> And I think people are underutilizing that aspect of it as well. Understood. Understood. Okay. So, so it sounds like we have consensus to go forward um as as you identified.
>> All right. Uh thanks everybody. I appreciate the uh the discussion on it. I I know we've only got two minutes until 10 o'clock, but we did add on to the new business this discussion about a 250th very quickly. I mean, how do we foresee this >> this and I appreciate Commissioner O'Hel
this to be added on because we we had no intention to add on. Basically, it's going to be the 250th anniversary. have it as uh as I met with the city manager, a picnic for the residents, >> right? >> And uh it' be a potluck. So that we get sponsors uh of businesses that will
sponsor it that will pay for the event itself for the overtime and stuff like that. >> Okay. >> Will be, you know, be held on Saturday. It I was looking at the second week >> of July. >> Yeah. >> All right. So then with the >> city manager if this is possible to get it done and he said yes.
>> Okay. Oh, really quickly to try to speed it along because >> uh I completely concur. I think we should do something. Uh I don't think that if you do it the week after 4th of July, anybody's gonna FIFA and World Cup and people are going to be so summer and
summer camp. I'm going to be out of town. >> Once you're gone after Fourth of July, it's a blitz to this beginning of school year again. So I think the only thing you can do is the day of Fourth of July. Uh you already have Miami Shores fireworks going on North Miami, whatever. So, I I looked at I actually mapped out when I heard you were going
to talk about this, I mapped out what was going what available hours there are. The only available hours really are the morning. Uh maybe a community event like patriotic bike parade, you know, >> low low cost. We just got to get some police officers out there to close some
roads. Get out there, get active, walk around community. >> Great idea. decorate >> the end of the rec center with a little statement >> because I originally had it for I originally had it for the 4th of July, but I thought people have all the not going to come to our event, but I like
the idea. I think the fourth of July >> if you want to spend a little bit extra money, World Cup's going on that day. You throw up a a projector and soccer game is going to be uh viewed at the at at the rec center today. >> It's something else we should have talked about and we should have done more watch parties in the park, but past
that. So, um I >> 100% agree. >> And you can also get businesses because I have my business. So, I'm telling you right now, you can get businesses to to uh be sponsors for this, you know, and and that'll pay and that'll pay for the
overtime that the city manager's biggest concern was the overtime for employees. >> Uh maybe give direction to the manager and to our esteemed direct director to come up with like a little parade route that we >> That's some ideas. Isa, >> you understand? >> You don't got to tell us now. parade. A bike parade.
>> Issa on this. >> No, Issa. So, you understand what the commissioner said tonight, right? That you can talk to. So, tell the city manager. Wasn't my idea to do this. One of the commissioners brought it up. So, >> it's a good idea, but I wasn't going to up to have an item. Okay. So, you know
what we want. So, we're going to have it for the July 4th. >> He said thank you. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. All in favor? I >> I 101.