Recording in progress. Yes, sir. >> Ready? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Uh, good morning. >> Morning. >> Morning. >> I'd like to welcome all of you uh to the city commission meeting for Tuesday,
June 2nd, 2026. I'd like to thank all of you for being here. Uh we have multiple opportunities as always for engagement. Um you can either zoom, you can either send us an email, you can discuss in person. Uh but what I'm excited about is
the fact that you're here and that that everyone is welcome to voice their opinion and provide guidance on all matters that are on the agenda today. So without any further ado, as I said before, welcome to the city commission. And I'd like to start off this morning with our dear friend Bju Kacho, director
of chapency and spiritual care at Doctor's Hospital. Good morning and welcome back to the city. Beautiful. It's a privilege to have you here. Thank you, sir. >> Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and distinguished members of the commission and all present here.
Let's take a deep breath. source of all wisdom, known by many names and honored in many ways. We gather in gratitude for this community we are called to serve. We give thanks for the differences, strength, and
shared purpose that shaped the city of Coral Gables. We're especially mindful of the partnerships that sustain the well-being of the city, including the close collaboration between the city and institutions like Doctor's Hospital,
working together for the health, safety, and care of all residents. Grant wisdom and discernment to those entrusted with leadership today. May their decisions be guided by integrity, compassion, and a deep commitment to the
common good. In times of change and challenge, strengthen us as a resilient community. Teach us to face adversity with courage, to respond with unity, and to care for one another. Open our ears
to listen with respect. Open our hearts to act with fairness. and renew in us a spirit of collaboration, hope, and perseverance. May the work done here today contribute to the well-being and flourishing of all
who call this community home. Amen. >> Reverend, we'd like to extend our best wishes to you as always and to your congregation and worshippers on behalf of our city. Uh thank you for being here and we look forward to seeing you again. I know one has nothing to do with the other, but obviously since you represent
doctor's hospital, it's exciting that after a few years of approving all the new infrastructure work that will be done around Coral around Coral Gables in regards to doctor's hospital, you're going to see new sidewalks. You're going to see the streets improved in front of Doctor's Hospital and that work has commenced after a lot of planning. So, I want to thank the manager for that and
his team and also thank you the doctor's hospital for your collaborative efforts. uh it's going to be a little bit difficult over the next few months obviously because the work is all-encompassing of the entire hospital around but that infrastructure is really
going to connect University uh Blue Road Granada uh the two bridges that are there uh so again uh it's much needed and we want to thank you for your patience and for your leadership on that effort. Thank you. >> Send our best to the leaders at at Doctor's Hospital.
>> Thank you very much. So this morning uh as we continue we have the privilege to have Lieutenant Col Juan Carlos JC Gomez to move forward and come here and help us with the pledge of allegiance. Our Lieutenant Col
colonel Juan Carlos JC Gomez is a United States Army Reserve officer who has served in military intelligence and operational leadership roles in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom. He currently serves as commander of American Legion Post 98 and is actively
involved in veteran mentorship, civic engagement, and community leadership initiatives throughout South Florida. Thank you for being here with us. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate that. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Sir, tell us your story that we're incred we're incredibly proud of.
>> Hey, Mr. Mayor. Thank you and commission. Thank you. City of Coral Gables, thank you for having me here today. I come on behalf of the American Legion Post 98 and our 155 members uh that serve the community daily on four major pillars that the American Legion represents. That's number one is veteran
affairs where we participate and actively assist our veterans with the resources that are available to them through veteran affairs uh department. Secondly, legislative action. We uh take part in these type of processes locally, statewide, and nationally for military
and veteran families. Third, we're involved in uh really actively involved in patriotic events. Last week, we planted about 7,000 flags almost on uh two cemeteries in recognition of uh our fallen veterans. And then this weekend,
we picked them up because otherwise the landscaping teams kind of move over the flags. We can't allow that. And then lastly, um we're involved in youth programs, which is our most important interest is uh to develop the future leaders of the United States and our local communities. We do that through a
number of uh initiatives through scouting, through ROTC's, through the JRTC's in the high schools, and through mentorship of our young people here in the community of Coral Gables and uh beyond that throughout Miami date. I encourage you to visit us. We're right around the corner from here. There's a
lot of initiatives that we have to make the the post look better and to continue to be an active part of the community and as such I'd like to recognize uh you Mr. Mayor and of course Commissioner Lara for for the initiative. All right.
We really appreciate the uh inviting us into this platform where you last week we had or last meeting you had 101 year old veteran here who lives right here in the community and was a member of um of the US Navy. Although you said he was in the army, but he navy. >> It was the It was Navy. And I corrected
myself. I just fell right on that sword. >> I'm just messing with you. I I I just think it was great that you have him here and that you're gonna have him as the marshall for for Veterans Day. And I commend this commission for moving forward with the recognition of Veterans Day uh here in the city of Coral Gables. So, with that being said, I'd like to
just give you and you a couple of coins that uh that I brought for for today. Is there police officers here today? No, there's not. Uh, I do have something for them, but I'll just pass it along to the police department when I when I get out of here. So, what I'm going to present to you today are two different things. I'm going to present to you, Mr. Mayor,
the uh, Department of Florida's American Legion coin. And to you, um, Commissioner Lara, I'm going to presenting to you a more a more involved coin that has to do with um, Memorial Day. It's something that presented to some of our volunteers on
Memorial Day, and I'm going to I have one left and I'm going to give it to you. Uh with that, I thank you again for having us here at these uh meetings and I look forward to further engagement with the Cyia Coral Gables on behalf of the American Legion and thank you once again. >> Thank you very much.
>> So I just want to talk a little bit about this gentleman, Lieutenant Colonel. what he has done in regards to the American Legion has to be commended. Over the last three or four years, he invited me multiple times to visit. He
has completely changed. And if I may, I want to just provide a little bit of background. And we didn't rehearse this. We didn't talk about this before. Correct. >> Um, you know, some people see things as what you see with your eyes, right? If you look at the American Legion post, it
is completely refreshed. from new windows and I want to mention signature windows who provided all those windows. Um they did they provided them I don't know if it was a cost or free >> no cost >> no cost okay this is a resident here in
the city which has come here before and has provided free windows uh to residents uh who are who have need um so he's a very standup individual. You also did all the exterior lighting looks beautiful. You repainted the structure. You've done a lot of things
to really spruce up the building, which is incredible. And again, it's what Coral Gable was all about. That's why we're the city beautiful, right? >> But I think it's a lot more than that. And that's why I mentioned, you know, you see things with your eyes, but you can also feel things. And every time that I've been there, there's a lot more
people involved in the post. There's a lot more engagement. You're front and center. You're at events. And you're reminding people and it's a shame that we need to be reminded uh what a privilege it is to live in the greatest country in the world and the sacrifices that are made by veterans uh who either
paid the ultimate sacrifice or gave many many years of their lives uh to ensure our freedoms and that our democracies are intact and that we continue to expand on those democracies and our constitution is protected. So I want to commend you for that. Uh you've come to visit me multiple times in office hours.
You've invited me to the post. you've allowed me to witness uh the celebrations that happen at the post and I recommend that everyone take an opportunity not only get engaged but to donate to the post because it's a true privilege to have the post on on in our backyard in Alhamra. Uh one of the
things that I had mentioned at the last commission meeting I want to make sure that it gets that it gets uh that it goes through um for the next year we're going to be we're celebrating uh America's semi-quintentennial moment at the commission meeting. This is what we're doing today.
And what we're doing is ensuring that we honor those who honor us with their sacrifices. And I want to make sure that we continue to do that, not just for one year, that we continue to honor these individuals like yourself.
And I also wanted to make sure that we have two events right now, two installations on Halda currently. We have another one after for three months. It's going to be six months. And I had requested that we do something to celebrate America 250, right, >> with American flags. And I had asked the
manager and the commission. Did we ever take a vote on that? I don't know if we ever did took a vote on that or or if we were still Did we take a vote or did I just bring it up? I can't remember. Mr. Manager, >> uh, mayor, I thought we were going to do flags all along Ponel Boulevard and we're working on on that to have
American flags on on Pon. >> I want to make sure that we do that. I want to make sure that we do that and we leave them up as much as possible and that we're thinking about using the structure at Hi that we already paid for for six months to potentially add those flags on HiA also. I mean I think it's an overkill but the flags structure is
an overkill but at the end of the day we have it up why not just you know continue to use it. So, I would like to make a motion if the vice mayor will run this portion of the meeting to put together a budget through your office to see what we need to do to make
sure that we can put up flags as we lead up to 4th of July. We have time and also to start preparing the third iteration of an installation that deals with maybe we celebrate all the American flags. You know, there's a new one that just
came out of I saw the other day, you know, 250. There's obviously 250 in the middle and it's a circular with all with all 13 colonies. So, I think it's very beautiful. I think it's very emblematic of what we are here as a city. Very proud to be Americans. I would like to see that we move forward with that and
we actually deliver on that and we don't allow July 4th to come and go. We do we're very patriotic. We do a lot of great things, but I want to make sure that we take advantage of what we're doing in Hiranda and the fact that we can install as many American flags in our downtown. So if people come to our downtown, they they really feel the patriotism. So I'd like to make a motion
on that if I entertain a second. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Clerk. >> Well, the vice mayor running the meeting. I apologize. >> Oh, I we can call the role. >> Vice Mayor Anderson. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro,
>> I I would love to support this. I I have a question though. Before when I had proposed to go ahead and put things on DAL, I think you had mentioned to me that it was an issue because of hurricane season >> through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Uh uh yes, Commissioner, but we we we
have in our contract that it would be taken down and put back up in case we have a tropical storm or a hurricane event. >> Yes, >> Commissioner Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Vice Commissioner Lada. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lago. >> Yes.
Can you mad vice mayor I'm gonna continue with now that I may I can I continue now just want to make sure. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Okay. >> I want your input. >> Okay. And I wanted to come and I wanted to come through the manager and I'd love for you to provide it and I would like
for you to give us ideas in regards to what we can do to incorporate the post. Uh you you you need you need more facetime. I want people to donate. I know signature donated. They gave a lot of money to them. It's important. I want people to
look at what we have in our backyard. A lot of people don't realize it. They don't understand it. They drive by that building going to work. We all do or going to, you know, to an event or going to visit a doctor or, you know, something important and they fail. And I and I trust me, we I do it every day.
We're just trying to get from point A to point B. They fail to really understand what's inside those walls of that building. >> I get it. Um, and just so you know, during my term as a commander there, uh, we've increased engagement tremendously. You've already felt it. Some folks here in the room have felt it. The idea behind that is that hey, listen,
veterans are part of this community. I mean, uh, the narrative of all we've been for many years, uh, to some degree, we've tried to change the narrative of who we are. We're contributing members of society. We're people that lead. We're people that are engaged and, uh, are are here to stay. And listen,
veterans are made of the people that are sitting in this room right now, right? People that served the country in the any capacity in the armed forces. They came from our neighborhoods. They didn't come from any place out of the ordinary. So therefore they're when they come back after service there's they're just a little bit changed in that they serve
their country in a different capacity but many people serve their countries without a uniform and what we're trying to sort of create is a narrative that says hey listen we're part of it we want to be part of the greatness of the of the city of the community and of the country and I think that we're headed in that direction with that said uh with
this initiative that you just placed forward we'll communicate with the uh city manager so that we can be a part of it we just did an initiative with uh commissioner um Natalie Orbis uh in the county and we're happy to engage the city of course in the same type of manner. So, thank you very much.
>> So, if you could if you could go through the manager's office if you want you can copy myself or any of my colleagues. I'd like to be copied uh to see how we can better absolutely >> better engage. >> Yeah, there's great synergy there and we're happy to be involved. >> What I we have a lot of veterans here. >> Yeah, I know that's one of the initiatives that we're going to bring
forward is to find out exactly how many veterans we have within city of Coral Gables. We have a couple of things that are initiatives that are happening right now. As a matter of fact, in the Coral Gables Museum, we currently have on display a war memorial. That is a what we call a field memorial. And if I can
just may briefly speak about that. Uh a field memorial is when we lose a member in in service while we're deployed. That same night, we uh hold a memorial. It's got the boots, the rifle, their cover, usually uh some type of helmet, and
their dog tags. Well, their ID tags um and a flag. We play taps at midnight. We all salute. We have that on display right now at the at the uh Coral Gables Museum. I urge you to go see it. It's emotional. You're going to see it. You're going to bring up some emotions.
It's got a little bit of pride to what it represents. That sort of thing. Represents every religious factor that we have in the service and in our country. The dog tag typically states your religious uh beliefs or or lack of. We have all of them represented on that
on that display. It's a good collaboration. It's one of the many things that we've been doing, like I said, in the post to continually engage out in the community and bring people into our post that are not necessarily veterans. You don't have to be a veteran to come on in there. So, again, I welcome this opportunity to uh work with
the city uh for this initiative and for any initiative that happens that has to do with a military or veteran affairs. >> Thank you, Mr. Manager. If I just two two two more requests if if you if you indulge me uh through Martha Bantin um and my colleagues will support me on this. Number one, I'd like to put on our
next on our next newsletter advertising the show at the museum so people can become aware of it here in the city. We have over 30,000 people that receive our newsletter and Martha does an amazing job along with her team uh to get the word out. And the second thing that I'd like to do is I'd like to collaborate with this gentleman in the and the and
the post to send a request to all residents and business owners via our uh newsletter. I'm going to put it on my newsletter. So, I'm going to remind Laura and the team to do it. Maybe you can piggy back on it asking, "Are you a veteran?" Let's do some homework for him. Let's
make it easy on him. We have a lot of a lot of contacts and if you know, maybe we can lead with, "Are you a veteran?" We want to hear from you. We want to engage you. Uh we want to get you involved. Uh not only because we want people to get involved with the post, but you know, at the end of the day, it could be potentially beneficial for the
city on multiple different fronts. For for example, we could have our own database uh for Memorial Day like uh what Commissioner Lada has put together now as a formal city event. Uh we could have it for Fourth of July and we can give them some benefits in regards to
coming up on stage with us, joining us, engaging with us. Maybe we can find veterans to come here because I would like to do this not for one year. I'd like to continue doing this once we exhaust all our city employees who are veterans. There's only so many. Uh I'd like to continue rotating this and continuing uh engaging those members of
our community who are who have served this great country. So there's a lot of things that I think we can use with that information. Obviously, privacy will be very careful with that and of course uh engage, but I'd like for them also to provide that information to the post because the post wants to engage as many people so they can come in and continue
to do the great work that they're doing at the post >> to the mayor. >> I think if you if I may, Madam Vice Mayor, I think Commissioner L wanted to say something before I interrupt you. >> No, no, thank you. can by the way support your initiatives and those ideas and we should take um I guess a a
necessary rhetorical vote because I'm pretty sure how it's going to come out. But I wanted to say Lieutenant um Colonel Gomez, thank you on behalf of a grateful country. Thank you on behalf of a grateful city uh for your service. I
myself have never served in the armed forces but I have always been in awe of the men and women that have because as the mayor has said and my colleagues in the dis have said the freedoms that we've enjoyed for the last 250 years are
only possible through the extreme and ultimate sometimes sacrifice that you all have given on behalf of us. So, thank you on behalf of all of us Americans who uh live, work, and play in the greatest nation the world has ever
known. So, thank you. And I'm also immensely honored that you would consider and gave me this memorial coin. Overwhelmed. Didn't know that you would consider this. Um my role along with my colleagues is very small, you know, to try and recognize you all. Um I'm
extremely proud. I did sponsor uh the with the support of my colleagues that we are now recognizing for the first time Veterans Day in the city of Coral Gables. >> That's a big deal. >> It is a big one. I'm very happy that we're going to make this first one so memorable and I'm reaching out to all of
the residents through this communication and with the mayor's indulgence, you know, to publicize this as um the broadest reach that we can uh via newsletter and otherwise um to come. In fact, uh Franco and I are talking about
where the exact location of the celebration will be because I anticipate it's going to be very very well attended. It's going to be a very large celebration and um in New York right the former Navy man Dr. House Silverman will
be our honore veteran for the uh Veterans Day celebration. And uh and I'll finish by saying that I've always been in awe of our vets and I've had the extreme great fortune in just the last few weeks to have met Coast Guard
obviously army very close friend of mine and some of his colleagues who are Marines and of course I spent uh this past weekend I was uh with uh Admiral Matt >> Schaefer. I know that's my commanding officer. >> He's a Wow. What a what a Navy Seal. I
mean it's the whole thing. So that my point is as I have an opportunity to speak with these men and women and I'm forward the American Legion Post 98 needs to be as the mayor was urging us a place where the community should frequent. You meet on the second
>> and fourth Wednesdays of every month. >> 303 303 Alhamra is the location. >> Uh beautiful building right across from Cafe Demetrio. Um, I I highly encourage Oh, by the way, shout out to Matt Brophy as well, >> who is a force when it comes to the post
>> Green Beret, >> Green Beret, right? So, we're making our We're missing the Delta Force here or the Rangers, right? We'll we'll get to them all eventually, but if you make the effort, speaking to the residents to go meet with the vets, their stories are not only inspiring, um, they're
heartwarming and they're uplifting. and the work that you all are doing, especially with the kids, is so very important for the fabric of our country and to continue the spirit and the solidarity that's absolutely necessary to keep the the flames of freedom always burning bright. So, thank you very much, Lieutenant Colonel.
>> It's my pleasure. I will leave one more thing just so that everybody's aware. You know, we're uniquely positioned in the state of Florida, moreover, in the the greater Miami date um area to have two commands here in South Florida and in the state of Florida, three major commands. If you're not aware of them,
I'm going to help you. We have Southcom in Dorado. We have Sentcom and SOCOM in Tampa. And in Homestead Air Base, we have very well not not very well known because it's a very quiet little place, but we have a special operating command down there. You just met with the with our commanding officer, two star admiral
in the the United States Navy, Navy Seal type. We have a lot of people here. We have District 7 commander here for the United States Coast Guard, which I think No, he's not here right now. Former Mayor Slesic was at that change of command. There's just a lot of presence here. Uh if you don't know what a fourstar command is, there's only a few
of them in the entire world and we have one of them here in Miami date county. That means that there's a lot of resiliency within our state and within our city. Uh it's an important topic because the presence of these major commands within our community brings in
not only military families, but the federal dollars to support all those families in the efforts that the uh the commands do. more most recently you've been getting a lot of attention for Southcom in the news because of the activity down in the uh area of operations which hasn't been for many many years right and so then now it's
getting a lot of attention and maybe we can feel exactly why it's so important to retain those folks here then once they're out of service and this is where the post comes in and tries to keep them engaged in the community and doing positive things so these things that we're talking about these topics I know I've taken a lot of time this morning are very important not just for the
recognition on the patriotic side but economic impact into our community as well. So again, I thank you all for entertaining me this morning and having these uh in-depth discussion and I look forward to more engagement in actual activity to follow. So thank you very much madam vice mayor.
>> Just briefly I mean both my father and my father-in-law served you know in the greatest generation. >> Absolutely. And they were called the greatest generation because the the fear that you had to have stepping up to serve in that period of time knowing
that the likelihood of coming home was extremely low. That's why they got called the greatest generation and everybody else that followed in your footsteps like yourself, you know, deserved uh the honor. So, I would also like to receive an email from you in any way that in capacity that we can assist
because it's somewhat sad that more people don't show up for Memorial Day and and Veterans Day. And I would hope that we can get more people at these events. And we're probably going to need to have a confirm your attendance type of um setup so that we can anticipate
how many people will be there and so we can provide the necessary chairs and u amenities. But please reach out and let me know how I can assist in any way to help the post. >> Excellent. I look forward to that.
>> Thank you. Have a wonderful day, sir. Always. >> Good luck today. I know you got a lot of busy things to do today and I wish you luck in your decision-making. Good day. >> God bless. Thank you. >> So, as part of our semi-quintentennial moment, we're continuing to reflect on the defining moment that have shaped our
nation and expanded the promise of American democracy. Today's moment highlights women's suffrage, a pivotal chapter in our history and a reminder that the rights we cherish were advanced by generations of Americans who worked, organized, and
persevered so that more voices could be heard. As a father of two young daughters, this moment is especially meaningful to me because the right to vote is at the very heart of our democracy and the suffrage movement reminds us that each generation has a responsibility to carry forward the
promise of liberty, equality, and civic participation. I want to thank uh Local 10 for allowing us to share this video here on the commission. Mr. America at 250. Defining moments in our nation's history.
>> August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment is ratified, allowing women to vote. More than 8 million women cast ballots for the first time. >> Join Local 10 all year long as we celebrate America's 250th birthday.
Happy birthday to this great nation. Thank you very much. Martha, you wanted to say anything? Okay. I thought you were coming up. I apologize. So, again, uh thank you for everyone who's who's uh engaging in this in these festivities. We're looking forward to July 4th. It's going to be an amazing moment at the
Builmore Hotel. Uh we're very grateful for our partners there and thank you for the manager and all the hard work that you're doing. Again, we're expecting the largest crowd um in our in our history since we've been celebrating for July 4th. It only continues to get
better. We're about about 40,000. Uh we usually have around 30. Uh so again, uh these are huge numbers for us. People are excited about America 250 and we welcome everybody. Uh this is an amazing place to enjoy that celebration. It's
safe. It's clean. It's welcoming. We're going to be full force in regards to our police department and our fire department. All our city employees will be there. We want everyone to know that we welcome everybody here in the community to join us and celebrate this monumental moment in American history. Thank you. And again, thank you to the
bill and to the manager for their hard work. I know they haven't stopped working on this for the last year. Thank you so much. Now, as we move on to presentations and protocol documents, I want to call on A1 presentation or
proclamation declaring June 2nd, 2026 as Italian National Day in Coral Gables. Our council here. Here he is. >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> If I could take one moment, please before we go to that item. >> Of course. >> I appreciate that if you just indulge me. I just wanted uh before we move forward, I wanted to take a moment to
recognize present with us is Tom Prescott, president and CEO of the Buildmore Hotel. He's with us today. Tom, I know you're trying to hide, but that's an impossible task. Tom, on behalf of the city commission, I wanted to publicly congratulate you uh and your entire team at the Builmore Hotel for
being recognized as the number one top workplace among large employers in South Florida. That is a remarkable achievement and it speaks not only to Billmore's iconic history and its importance to Cor Gables but to the culture that you and your team have
built for the nearly 700 people who helped make that property so very very special. And as we celebrate Italian day and I know you're Italian as well. Very proud one I must say and we welcome the console as well. It is especially fitting to recognize one of Coral Gable's great landmarks and a place that
continues to represent hospitality, history, and excellence in our city. So, congratulations again to you, Tom, and the entire Builtmore team. >> It's very kind of you, Commissioner, and thank you to all. I just wanted to acknowledge that it's very easy for me to come up here and, you know, take the
credit, so to say, but it's the team that we have at the Builmore, just like many of you have stressed about the city team that we have and all the others that really excel. But it is a nice acknowledgement and recognition. I keep telling people and joked with Commissioner Laura earlier this morning that you know I'm not so terrible to
work with. So you know it's nice it's nice to get that recognition for our extended family. So thank you very much. But again I don't want to take away from the consul. So thank you. >> Thank you Tom as always. >> Thank you. Grateful to have you here >> sir. How are you doing? >> Very fine. Very fine Mr. Mayor. Thank you. We were joking before we were
joking about obviously the World Cup and uh Italy's expectations in the World Cup. Uh but I did I said I said listen we're all obviously we're we're we're here all in favor of the United States but again
you have a long story history not only in soccer but across the board and we're honored to have you here uh and your investment in the city of Coral Gables uh when it has come to incredible shows that you've done at the cultural center that you that you have here in the city from fashion to design to architecture
we want to thank you. We're honored to have you here in the city. Beautiful. It's a true blessing and we hope that you'll stay here with us for many decades to come. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. >> So, before I read the proclamation, would you like to say a few words about how important today is? >> Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much, Mr.
Mayor. Thank you so much, commissioners. 80 years have passed since the June the 2nd, 1946, which marked the Italian unprecedented act of freedom. Through universal suffrage, women and men united for the very first time. decided to
leave behind the ruins of war and the atrocities of an oppressive totalitarian regime. Today, we are not really merely commemorating a historical anniversary, but a moment of profound significance that renews our collective commitment to
upholding, safeguarding, and fully implementing the values that lie at the heart of our constitution. State Secretary Rubio just yesterday said that the current partnership between the United States and Italy continues to promote values of faith,
freedom, and the rule of law that both nations hold dear. And indeed we do, Mr. Mayor. I am honored to stand before you today on Italy's national day to receive your proclamation which once again bears
witness to the friendship and solidarity of the people and pe and the city of Coral Gables towards me my consulate team and above all the Italian people and the more than 70,000 Italians living in Florida many of whom reside in the
city beautiful this symbolism is very profound for us because it invites us to reflect on our friendship, our shared values, and the path of progress and growth that we wish to continue walking together. Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor.
>> Thank you, councel. Uh, and before I read the proclamation, I also want to thank our ACM for being a bridge as always and leading the way and always reminding me or I dropped the ball along with it along with the DCM. um she deserves a lot of the credit along with the manager for today, especially for
this. Um if I may, whereas the city's rich Italian influence is reflected in landmarks such as the historic Italian village, 17 homes constructed in the 1920s. Excuse me. I apologize. Wrong side. That's what happens when you don't wear
your glasses. Whereas on June 2nd, 1946, the people of Italy voted in historic referendum to establish the Italian Republic, marking a defining moment in Italy's democratic history, commemorated annually as Fiesta del Republica, Republic Day, celebrating the enduring
values of democracy, freedom, and national unity that inspire people throughout the world. And whereas the city of Cro Gables shares deep cultural, historical, economic, and diplomatic ties with Italy, reflected in its Mediterranean inspired architecture,
vibrant arts and cultural traditions, international business connections, and the many residents of Italian heritage who have enriched the community through their contributions to civic, cultural, educational, and economic life. And whereas Coral Gables is honored to be home to the Consulate General of Italy
in Miami, located at 4,000 Ponds De Leon Boulevard, which manages one of the largest and fastest growing populations of Italians, Alstro Italians residing abroad in the Italian diplomatic network, serving residents and institutions across Florida, the
Southeast, the Caribbean, and beyond, while fostering cultural exchange, diplomatic relations, trade, and friendships between Italy and the United States. And whereas Coral Gable serves as an important center for the Italian culture, education and commerce through
the presence of Italian cultural institute, one of only six official Italian government cultural offices in the United States, which I mentioned before, the Dante Algri Language Center and the Italy America Chamber of Commerce Southeast, all of which promote
Italian language, arts, trade, and cultural understanding. And whereas a city's rich Italian influence is reflected in landmarks such as historic Italian village, 17 homes constructed in the 1920s to replicate Italian farmhouses prototypes, embodying
the vision of founder George Merik, as well as in one of South Florida's most vibrant Italian dining scenes with nearly 200 restaurants and family-owned establishments celebrating Italy's culinary experience and hospitality. And whereas Italian-Americans have made
innumerable contributions to the cultural, economic, and civic fabric of the United States and the city of Coral Gables, emboding values of family, faith, hard work, entrepreneurship, innovation, and public service. And whereas the bond that residents of Italian descent maintain with their
heritage is a cherished sentiment that enriches our community deserves to be preserved and should be passed on for future generations. Now therefore, I Vince Lago as the mayor of the city Coral Gables together with the members of the city commission do hereby proclaim June 2nd, 2026 as Italian
National Day Republic in Coral Gables. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> And before we take a picture, I want to thank you also be besides engaging with the consular corps, you're involved in everything that has to do with the city. you go to all the events, you engage.
Even if it's not an Italian restaurant that's opening, you're still there, you know, showing support, you know, making sure that uh Italy is represented, well represented always. And I want to thank you for that because, you know, it's truly a breath of fresh air. And as we continue to grow the consulates, it
makes it so much easier for me and the DCM and the ACM and the manager and bell keys and the consular corps to really sell Coral Gables, right? >> Sell what we offer. and why and as you're noticing a lot of the consulates want to move to the city of Coral Gables. They do.
>> One of the one of the main issues and probably the only issues is space. >> Uh we they have to find a location that is appropriate to meet the needs of uh these countries. So I want to thank you because I use Italy as an example all the time when I sit down with another
country who is uh renegotiating a lease potentially leaving another city and coming to city coral gables. and it's a great selling point to be able to say we have such a great country and a great relationship like Italy uh here in the city beautiful. So, thank you for allowing me that privilege. Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. Thank you
all. Thank you so much >> to the mayor. >> Yes, um it's a pleasure to have you here. Um I think if there's one country that Coral Gables has the most in common with is Italy because of the style that we were able to adopt from uh the
Mediterranean region of of Italy. Um, the only thing I wanted to say is thank you for your all your constant participation here in our city and uh, liberta fraternita viva. >> Thank you so much. Beautiful.
>> Thank you very much. Let's take a photo. Moving on to the approval minutes for the regular city commission meeting of April 14, 2026. May I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> Mr. Clerk, >> all in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on to public comment, Mr. Clerk.
>> Yes, Mr. Mayor. The first speaker this morning, Maria Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz. >> Ma'am, can you turn on your microphone, please? Thank you. >> You're welcome. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447
Miller Road, 305323 2154. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
After almost every commission meeting, we hear the complaints about the length of it. I have taken the time to watch some of them, have read our code of ordinances and rubbish rules, and come
today with some comments. There's a word found on both the code and the rubbish rules when addressing the role of the chairperson. Objective.
Objective. According to our code of ordinances 2.78 chairperson number seven it says remain objective for the chairperson to make a motion the gavl must be relinquished
based upon these rules and procedures. The gavvel shall be relinquished in the following order to the vice mayor to other commissioners based upon seniority. And then it continues the rule against chairperson's participation in debate
and as a quote states that the chairperson who relinquishes the gel should not return to the chair until the pending motion has been disposed of. In situations there's no second, the
chairperson may second the motion for purposes of allowing discussion and vote. During one of the last meetings, the chair made a motion and it was seconded and voted on. Clearly, the rules were
violated. But that was not the only time that it happened. The city attorney, who I believe acts as the parliamentarian, called his attention and she was completely ignored. If the chairperson really wants to run
an orderly meeting, he needs to be the example. Rules are there for everyone. By the way, on the positive, I'm very happy that now we ask for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Some of my friends
call it the Cruz rule, even though in fact it's a robber rule. Thank you, >> Samanda Gasta. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Thank you for being here. Thank you, Mr.
Mayor. You have always been a strong advocate for government transparency, and I applaud that. You also lobbyed strongly for an inspector general for our city, which I support as well. Therefore, I'd like to bring to your attention an issue on today's agenda,
which requires that you remain consistent with your public statements. Item E1261629 is being brought to the commission by one of your chief political consultants, Brian Goldmire. As you are aware, you
and Mr. Goldme have enjoyed a strong political relationship for many years and both of you have been extremely successful. You have been elected and reelected numerous times and Mr. Goldmmer has been compensated extremely well for working
on your many successful campaigns. In fact, since 2024, between your campaign and your pack Gables First, you have paid Mr. Gold Meyer nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Of course, there is nothing illegal about having a successful business
relationship, and both of you should be commended on jobs well done. However, it does cause the everyday resident to question whether you can impartially evaluate Mr. Goldmire's appeal today. As much as an individual can try to
remain objective, it is extremely difficult for someone to evaluate a case like this one and not have such a strong and long-standing relationship impact their decision-making, even if it's subconscious. Therefore, Mr. Mayor, I ask that you show our city that you
truly are about government transparency. I ask you to do what is right and I ask you to recuse yourself regarding the appeal being made by Brian Goldmire. Thank you. >> Thank you. Before we move on, Mr. Clerk, uh, Madam City Attorney, would you like
to read into the record my request from you? >> Mayor, you would want you'd like me to read the entire opinion? >> No, not the whole opinion. Just give a quick give a quick synopsis. Yes, Mayor. You asked me to to provide you an opinion on whether you had a voting conflict with respect to this item, item
E1, and based on the facts that you provided that you previously had a contractual relationship, contractual you were in a contractual agreement with an entity that's, you know, owned and and was founded and owned by by Mr. Goldmire. You advise that that contract has
concluded, that you currently do not have any contractual agreements or any business relationship with Mr. Goldmire or any entity that he's associated with. So based on those facts, um I I analyzed it under voting conflicts under state law and there's no actual voting conflict under state law. There's no
actual voting conflict under the Miami date county code. Um um any suggestion that you would be um enhanced by by this action is is remote or speculative. Um, additionally, because this is a quasi judicial matter, there is the question
that all of you must always consider, which is are you can you be fair and impartial or are you biased? That's a question that each individual commissioner has to determine for themselves. And um, that's, you know, that was the advice that I gave you that if you can remain fair and impartial, then you can proceed. >> Thank you. Uh, I do not have a bias on
this matter and I will I will not be recusing myself, but I'm grateful that you're here today. Thank you so much. Moving on to the next item. Excuse me, the next speaker. >> Gonzalo Sanria. Good morning. >> Good morning. Gonzalez, 944 San Pedro Avenue in
beautiful Gables by the Sea. I'm here to point out what I call political malpractice by one of your colleagues,
Commissioner Ariel Fernandez. And I want to recall some of the things that Mr. Fernandez has said for public consumption, wide public consumption in newspapers
and Instagram post. Let's go to one, Mr. Fernandez, that you made on February 18th, 2025. You said the following, an op-ed in community newspaper.
The subject of this was quote the politics of intimidation have no place in Coral Gables. Yet a little like a month before that
this happened and please play a video that I provided. >> Policies are put into place and I'll I'll reserve my additional comments on this but Mr. Sinabra, you will be hearing from my attorney in the next few hours regarding your complaint, which
was a frivolous complaint filed with the ethics commission, and we will be pursuing legal charges um and legal fees when it comes to your complaint. >> This is made a month before
this proclamation that the politics and intimidation have no place in Coral Gables. But I got sued by Mr. Ariel Fernandez on January 14th of 2025.
And he made that publicly clear in a commission chamber suing an activist because he objected to you hiring an unqualified city manager that has no business
knowledge of running a city. And I will make this very short. I'll give you a quote from the year 49 BC. The Roman general Satronic
in a battle about to take place told Caesar the following. He said the following three words. She said, Yakta est
is a famous phrase that still lives today and is very applicable in this case and it says the following when it's translated. The die is cast. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
>> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, we'll close the public comment. Thank you very much. >> Moving on to the consent agenda. May I have a motion? >> Before the vote adopting the consent agenda, is there anyone who wishes additional discussion or review of any item on the consent agenda?
>> I'll move it. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> Thank you. >> Do we have any items amongst the commission or staff, Mr. Manager, uh to defer today on the agenda? I have one. >> Anyone else? >> No, ma'am.
>> I'll be deferring item F7. I was looking forward uh to having my intern uh present this this uh item which I think is a really nice and interesting item to get more participation and it was part of her project uh in completion of her work at my office and I was hoping that
she could present it today but uh due to the fact that she has a school matter uh hopefully we'll do it at the next commission meeting. We'll figure out maybe she can come later on during the day but F7 will be deferred to the next commission agenda. >> Mr. Mayor, I believe we're also going to be deferring J1
uh which was to amend um commission meeting dates. Understand that that's no longer necessary. I don't know. >> Anything else from the commission? Anybody else? Okay, perfect. May I have a motion
for deferral of those items? Do we need a motion or no? We're good. Okay, perfect. We're going to take a fivem minute break and then we'll listen to item E1. Before we hear E1, we're going to hear, excuse me, just one item first. I think it was the uh the school item.
Item E1. Is that still required, Mr. Clerk, to hear item E1 first? >> No, no, no. You you can take E1 if you wish. >> Okay, we'll take E we'll take we'll take E1 first. >> Thank you. Give me a five. We're going to take a fiveminute bathroom break and then we'll take E11 and then we'll take
E1 after. Thank you. See you back at 10:05. Mr. Clerk Mr. Clerk. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Let's go. >> All right. It's uh 10:05. Welcome back to the commission. Thank you for allowing me uh the privilege just to
take a quick bathroom break. We're going to take a few things out of order. Um just just to get some things done quickly as possible. Uh the way we're going to take it is we're going to go H7, E11, then E1. Uh Mr. Clerk, let's start off with H7, please.
>> H7. >> Yes. >> H7. >> Yes. H7. >> Okay. Yes. H7 is a resolution of the city commission accepting the recommendation of the chief procurement officer to award RFP 2026-011 disaster debris removal services to the
three highest rank responsive responsible proposals in rank order. Ashbird, Inc. Primary, Crowder Gulf Joint Venture, Inc. Secondary, and Series Environmental Services, Inc. tertiary. Pursuant to section 2-763, the procurement code entitled contract awards.
>> Perfect. Mr. Clerk, do we have uh any staff uh presentation? >> We're Oh, there you are. By the way, you look very nice today. >> Thank you. >> I like that coloring. Thank you. >> Beautiful. >> Good morning, Sles Walker Harmon. Um Chief Officer, this project was issued on behalf of public works so that we can
establish um contractors to perform during emergency or declared um events for the city. Um we had um the um evaluations take place and we're making recommendations for the three highest ranked proposals to move forward for contract award and negotiations. >> Thank you very much. You already addressed any issues with litigation.
You addressed all kinds of uh obviously background checks, insurance. >> Yes. >> All of that stuff that we always go over. I know you got tired of hearing it from me, but I appreciate that. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Do we have any com any comment from the commission? >> All right, Mr. Mr. Cler, do you have any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor.
>> We'll close the public comment. May I have a motion? I'll move it. >> And I have a second. >> Second. >> Uh, perfect. Mr. Clerk, >> I'm sorry. Who made the motion? >> Thank you. >> Commissioner Fernandez made the motion. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes.
>> Commissioner L. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. >> Mayor Log? >> Yes. Moving on to E11. E11 is a resolution of the city commission granting an amendment to a previously approved conditional use resolution number 2016-140 with all remaining conditions of approval to
remain in effect pursuant to zoning code article 14 process section 14-203 conditional uses to allow private school use with educational instruction from kindergarten through fifth grade with an existing daycare facility with no increase in square footage or student capacity on the property legally
described as the east 12.64 64 ft of lot 3, all of lots 7 to 45 and alley lying between block 35, Coral Gable, section K, 320 Galda Avenue, Coral Gable, Florida, including required conditions, providing for repeater provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. This is a quasi
judicial item. >> Hi, how are you? Good morning. >> Hi, good morning. >> Thank you for being here with us. >> Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. >> Excuse me, mayor. Since it's my apologies, since it's a quasi judicial item, everyone who will be speaking, >> those who will be speaking on this item, please stand and raise your right hand.
Please raise your speaking. Please raise your hand. Thank you. >> Do you swear or affirm the testimony you'll provide today will be the truth and nothing but the truth. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The floor is yours. >> I have a presentation. I don't know.
>> Okay, >> we have it. >> Okay. So today I will explain our request for the proposed kindergarten program and how it fits within our current situation. So Geralda preschool is requesting
conditional use approval to modify the current child care preschool use to a private school because we would like to offer kinder a kindergarten program to our already existing families. Um
so um let me so as part of our continue growing services we are seeking to include a kindergarten classroom within our existing approved capacity. This is not
an expansion of the facility but an expansion of the services we provide for our existing families. Let me see. Um >> Okay. >> Okay. Um the our our kindergarten will have um we
have an enrollment of 96 students with 16 teachers and and three administrative staff and our capacity approved capacity is one 174 uh students. So we have a
huge gap between the 96 student and the 174 uh approved capacity. Um, let me show you just for you to know. We have an indoor park because we are in an urban area and the
kindergarten will be located in our existing art room that has a total area of 436 square ft. We have um about the parking we have six designated parking spaces and also in
the building that is the gables grand plaza we have 305 parking spaces for the restaurants and retail about the traffic uh the traffic flow uh we have two schedules that one that is
part-time from 7:30 to 2:30 and the full time that is until 6:30 p.m. and most arrivals happen from 8:30 to 9. Uh the kindergarten program will have an schedule of 7:30 to 3:30, but they have
to arrive at 7:30 sharp. So there is a like a separation um enough separation between the schedule for the parents to arrive. Also, it is important to mention that most of our parents um arrive by
bicycle, walking or or even using a stroller for the kids because most of our families live um live within a thousand foot radius of our school which also help minimize the you know the
traffic and the congestion at when they pick up and drop off the Thank you. And if you have any question for me. >> Oh, thank you very much. >> Madame director. >> Good morning. How are you?
>> PowerPoint, please. >> Will you will you please sit down? >> Yeah. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Um so as you know this is the ground floor of the Gable's Grand Plaza mixeduse development in between um
Saledo and Ljun on Hidala Avenue. So in 19 sorry in 2016 um the commission did approve a daycare in this location with three uh commission of approval. Um this is going to amend that and expand it to not just be a daycare but to be a
school because once you hit kindergarten you have to be considered a school uh per the state law. So um there schools on the ground floor of of the Gable's Grand Plaza um development uh facing Hialda. They are
stepped away from six parking spaces that are in the garage in addition to the garage uh spaces as well that are used for the commercial and residential spaces. Um there was letters sent out to the owners and the occupants within 1,000 ft of the property. Uh that was
sent three times. The property and website was posted twice and the newspaper was advertised twice as well. Staff recommends approval with conditions. The conditions are to maintain the enrollment to be maximum of 174 students. The hours would be between
7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. And then all the pickup and drop off would take place in the garage and not on the street. and then to require a staggering a schedule between the um daycare and the kindergarten or any subsequent uh classes um if they do expand. If they do
expand beyond kindergarten, they have to go through the the development review committee and make sure that any comments and concerns are addressed um before they can proceed to adding in first grade, for example. All their conditions contained in resolution number 20, sorry, 2016 uh 140 would
remain in effect. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Mr. Clerk, do we have any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Please close the public comment. >> Does commission have any comments or suggestions or anything like to bring up
the moment before we make a motion? I have a motion. >> A second. >> Second by the vice mayor. >> Mr. Clerk. >> Commissioner Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Lada. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. Commissioner Castro.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Lago. >> Yes. Have a nice day. Good luck. Thank you. >> Moving on to item E1. >> Thank you, mayor. E1 is an appeal to the Coral Gable City Commission from the decision of the board of adjustment on May 4, 2026 approving an application for
a variance to allow mechanical equipment for swimming pool to have a side setback and of 1 foot and 9 in and rear setback of 2 feet and 7 in where a minimum of 5T is required on both side and rear per section 3-38.D and section 5-606.4 4 of the Corable
zoning code for the property located at 722 Alo Avenue legally described as lot 8 and west half of lot 9 block 134 Corable's country club section 6 mayor um this is a quasitual item pursuant to section 14-208.6 of the city zoning code this appeal is
based on the record of the hearing before the board of adjustment and shall not be a denovo hearing. What that means is that no new or additional testimony shall be taken and it's an appeal based only on the record. the commission's roles to determine whether the code was followed and whether competent substantial evidence supported the
decision of the board of adjustment. After the city commission's review, the city commission has four options as provided in the zoning code. The city commission can affirm the decision of the board of adjustment, which in this case approve the variance with conditions. The city commission can affirm the decision of
the board of adjustment with conditions. The city commission can override the decision of the board of adjustment, which in this case means the variance would be denied. or the city commission can remand for further proceedings to the board of adjustment. The mayor as chair of the commission with me as parliamentarian have issued a procedural order that was provided in advance to
the commission and the parties. Pursuant to that procedural order, the appellent property owner will be allowed 15 minutes for presentation which shall be limited to the record before the board of adjustment. Next, the deputy city attorney and development services staff will be allowed 15 minutes for their presentation which will also be limited to the record below. Next, there'll be
time for questions by members of the city commission to staff or the parties. And then public comment will be allowed but will be limited to two minutes per speaker. Because the review of this appeal is not denovo, public comments shall not be considered testimony in this case. And then finally, there will be time for additional questions and discussion by members of the city
commission. Because this is a quasi judicial item, I do need to ask if there have been any exarty communications that um any member of the commission needs to disclose. >> Anyone? I have heard comments from various people. >> The mayor. >> Yes, sir.
>> Yeah. I've heard comments um from several residents and I've actually heard from Brian Goldmire who spoke to me expressing his displeasure following the u the um approval the application. >> Anyone else? >> I've heard from residents as well. I
have not spoken to Mr. Goldmire about >> I've heard from residents and I've heard from Mr. Goldmire also. >> Mr. Mr. Mayor, I would ask that those of you who've had um had exarty communications, if you could just please affirm that you would be able to remain um free from bias and and be fair and impartial in your consideration of this
matter. >> Commission yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. U now moving on uh to staff or to excuse me the >> the appellent. I apologize. Excuse me.
Good morning, sir. Good morning, Mr. Mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. My name is Jeff Rodriguez and I represent the applicants. At the outset, I want to thank the board of adjustment, the city staff, and the commission for your time and consideration of this matter. I wanted to also apologize. There seems to have
been some inaccuracies with the transcript company that prepared the transcript that was provided to you. They said some one person said something where it was actually another. Um, going back to the matter at hand, it's important to recognize that this is not a case where the board denied the
variance. After hearing the evidence, the board determined that the variance should be granted. The issue before the commission today is whether the conditions imposed by the board are necessary and appropriate. Before discussing the conditions, I'd
like to briefly revisit why the request why the variance was requested and why the board correctly found the variance standards were met. This matter involves a pool equipment variance for pool equipment that had existed at the same location well before my client purchased
a property and serves an existing residential swimming pool. The variance does not arise because my clients built a new pool, expanded their pool area, or intensified the use of the property. Rather, it arose because my client voluntarily undertook
improvements to their existing pool system and work with the city to properly permit those improvements. The board recognized that requiring relocation of the equipment would impose a significant hardship while providing little to no corresponding public
benefit. The board further determined that the variance was consistent with the character and nature of the neighborhood and would not be contrary to public interest. We believe the board was correct in that assessment. However, our concern is with the additional conditions imposed by the board
requiring a sound dampening cover and a restrictive covenant on the land. First, this covenant will be difficult to administer and enforce. It requires ongoing determination of sound levels compliance standards that future owners may struggle to understand and may lead
f to lead to lead to future disputes. Second, the burden of this covenant will extend far beyond my clients. This property is currently under contract for sale to an elderly purchaser with a special needs child. They've expressed serious concerns regarding their
obligation and their ability to maintain the cover indefinitely and their ability to comply with perpetual covenant affecting the property. Third, the condition did not accomplish the board's intended purpose. The neighboring property owners who complained about the equipment were not
satisfied by the cover the cover the cover or covenant requirements. In fact, despite those conditions being imposed, they nevertheless filed an intent to appeal the variance. That demonstrates that the conditions did not resolve the dispute as it intended and merely created additional burdens for current
and future owners. Finally, and most importantly, there has never been a finding that this equipment violates the city noise or regulations, constitutes a nuisance, or fails to comply with any objective noise standards. The equipment has existed for years without any citations, code
enforcement action, or determination that creates an unreasonable impact on the neighboring properties. This is a standard residential pool equipment, the type found throughout Coral Gables. There's nothing unique or ordinary about it, and there's no
evidence that it creates material different from similar residential pool equipment throughout the city. Accordingly, we respectfully request that the commission affirm the board's determination that the variant should be granted, but the remove the requirements for the sound dampening cover and
restricted covenants. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you, Madam City Attorney. >> Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission. Stephanie Throck Morton, deputy city attorney. I sit with the board of adjustment, and it's my pleasure to be here today to give you a
brief summary of the item before you. Um, as the city attorney explained, I just want to go over the three prongs. The due process, the substantial competent evidence, and the correct application of law. This item was heard twice by the board of adjustment on April 13th. After a full discussion, the
item was deferred to May 4th in order to allow the property owner to explore alternative options for the placement of the equipment. When the meetings were properly noticed, there was public comment taken and the property owner was allowed to speak. Um, as far as competent substantial evidence, there
was a numerous presentations by members of the public as well as the applicants um, attorney, excuse me. And as the um, applicants attorney mentioned, the board considered the eight considerations for a variance in the city's zoning code.
Ultimately, the board determined that the approval would be granted conditioned on an agreement with the city that would ensure that a similar acoustical cover that would reduce the sound of 50% for the current equipment only would be installed and maintained
by any future property owners. Um, as mentioned, I believe that those three prongs were satisfied and that the board of adjustment um properly did their job. and we're here along with Arelli Redilia from the zoning staff to answer any questions if you have any. >> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, >> Mr. Clerk. Do you have any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, >> Mr. Speaker, can we clarify also on the previous public comment? Um, obviously I didn't mention it. I should have mentioned it's my fault. If you spoke in
public comment and you're speaking about the same issue again, you will not be allowed to get one bite of the apple here in the city corals. Uh, in reference to the previous public comment that was provided by the young lady, do we She never provided her address. Do we have an address for her? >> It's 50 Minorca.
>> 50 Minorca Avenue, apartment 1110. >> She didn't provide it on the record. So, >> no, she didn't. >> Okay. Just want to make sure that and I never met with her, which I I would have met with her if she would have come to see. Um, moving on. In regards to public comment, >> first speaker I have this morning, I do
not have a name, but I from the signature I I believe it to be Virginia Ferrer. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, commissioners. I respectfully object to the PL applicants request. >> Do you mind stating your address for the
record, please? Oh, it's 719 Escobar Avenue. Thank you. >> Okay. I respectfully object to the applicant's request to remove the enostic enclosure condition that was attached to the
variance approval. The variance was granted only after the applicant himself proposed the acoustic enclosure as a means of mitigating the adverse impacts of locating the pool equipment within the required setback. Removing the
condition increases the already unfair burden of the neighboring property owners to protect their quiet enjoyment and quality of life. I've lived over 30 years behind 722 Alo at 719 Escobar
Avenue and only recently heard loud pool equipment noise. When I heard the homeowner was applying for a variance, I strongly opposed it. I thought I had the right since he violated the five-foot setback rule and wasn't happy with the
onsightly irritatingly noisy equipment so close to my property which I have a recording of. The next door neighbor also was disturbed by the noise. So we came up with solutions that would minimize the inconvenience
which included a permanent concrete wall around the pool equipment and and an enostic enclosure around the pool pump. The spa, a waterfall, a saltwater generator, a heater and a pool are all
situated in the illegal location. and a permanent concrete wall would have cut the various motor noises and mitigated the solution. The letter submitted by the homeowner's lawyer prior to the board of address meeting only offered
four hedges as mitigation. Two minutes before the actual meeting, Mr. Rodriguez rushed to show us a photo of a random acoustic enclosure that claims to rep reduce. Am I done?
>> Just finish it up. You can take take the few moments. Finish up. >> That only would address the pull pump. We're not even sure what motor is causing all the noise. That's why we pushed for a concrete wall and we weren't happy with just an enostic
enclosure. Um anyway um we don't think any variance should be granted and that it should go back that he should be a stopped for objecting to the single solution he
proposed and then reigged on. I asked the commission to deny this appeal and send it back to the board of to assess whether the mitigation will actually be effective and if not require additional mitigation. >> Thank you.
Danielle Loenthal Frontella. >> Good morning. >> Good morning everyone. My name is Danielle Frontella and I've been living for over 15 years on 715 Escobar Avenue. We are here to today to
ask you to deny this appeal and deny any variance. The variance approve of pool equip equipment that does not comply with the city's required five-foot setback. This is not a small or standard installation. It covers approximately 8
ft by a 5- ft area. It includes mechanisms for a pool pump, filter, heater, spa equipment, uh spy equipment, waterfall system, and saltwater converter. It is large, visually
unattractive, and extremely noisy. We're not here to debate where whether the 5- foot seatback rule is appropriate. The rule was established by professionals. We're simply asking that it be enforced. At the board of adjustment meeting on
May 4th, Miss Ferrara and I asked for a solution to mitigate the noise like a concrete wall surrounding it. So, a soundproof proofing cover was suggested by the appellants's attorney and hastily approved by the board without any
specifics on it. And now they had the nerve to appeal to the variance with conditions. I have always complied with the city rules and requirements when re renovating my home. When this equipment was installed too close to my property
and in violation of setback requirements, it raised an important question. Do some residents have to follow the rules while others can ignore them and seek a variance afterwards? Importantly, city staff carefully review
the variance request under the code standards and recommended denial. This problem is started when the appellant submitted a permit for the pool renovation. The engineer's original plan showed the equipment relocated to
comply with the setback requirement. According to a letter provided by the applicant's attorney, it chose not to do it, claiming financial hardship and disproportional scope of the work. The disproportional
disproportionate scope of the work is difficult to accept. For two years, the whole house went under complete renovation, including substantial pool reconstruction and extensive interior and exterior upgrades. So, there was
every opportunity to relocate the equipment. The appellant simply chose not to do so. The claim of financial hardship is also difficult to accept. The appellant purchased it property in 2022 for approximately 2.2 million,
extensively renovated, and is now selling it for 3.8 million. The listing itself states that no expense was spared, highlighting numerous high-end improvements. >> Ma'am, if you'd be so kind, you've gone over a minute if you would help me out.
Thank you. >> I'm almost. After investing heavily in the property, the appellent now argues the compliance with the city code was too costly. I calculate uh roughly over a half a million dollar in renovations, but he could not afford the relocation
of this pool equipment to comply with the city rules. It did not deserve the approval of the variance given hastily by the board of adjustment and certainly is not entitled to a variance with no conditions. I'm almost done. He shows
total disregard for his neighbors, total disrespect to the city rules, and wants to make a mockery of the commission members by claiming financial hardship. I trust in all of you in the commission
to do the right thing and make the appellants once and for all, relocate the equipment and comply with the city rules like all the other residents. >> Ma'am, you've gone over two minutes. Thank you, >> Mr. Clerk. Albert Sanchez.
>> Good morning, sir. >> Morning, mayor. Morning, my vice mayor, commissioners. Nice to see you all. Uh, my name is Albert Sanchez. I live at 619 Camlo Avenue, where I've lived for the past 25 years. I'd like to focus on an issue that impacts every Coral Gables resident, and
that is our city zoning code. I'm quite certain that the great majority of our residents have at some point during their time in Coral Gables requested a permit. Living in historically designated home, I'm quite accustomed to jumping through numerous hoops in order to have a permit approved. And yes, at
times the requirements seem excessively ownorous. Yet, I adhere to the zoning code because they are the backbone of our city. It is what keeps our city indeed beautiful. In many ways, I view our zoning code as
the DNA of our city. As a resident, I also adhere to the code because there is an implicit contract with my neighbors that they too are adhering to the code and they have an implicit contract with their neighbors and so on and so forth.
Now, if someone doesn't adhere to the implicit contract, we have the city to call out the violation. Which brings me to the case before us today. A permit was issued with a very clear requirement that the pool equipment be placed with a 5-ft setback
in both directions. And the applicant is admitting that he did not adhere to the approved permit. So rather than doing the right thing from the onset, he is seeking a retroactive variance and justifying it
by claiming economic hardship. However, as this commission is well aware, economic hardship is not a condition for a variance. The onus of adhering to an approved permit is always on us, the individual homeowner.
In its well-laidout report, the planning and zoning department evaluated eight conditions. Based on their evaluation, city staff, our objective experts, recommended denial of any variance. Therefore, I respectfully ask the
commission to deny any type of variance, even one with conditions. Doing so will uphold city staff's recommendation of denial. Doing so supports the implicit contract that every neighbor in Coral Gables has with each other. Doing so helps maintain our
city's unique DNA intact. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Ry. >> Okay. So, I want to I just want to put on the record. I think it's important. Uh we had three speakers in opposition. All three speakers blew through the timeline. 30 seconds, 25 seconds, and
over two minutes on the last one. I want to be fair where fair is appropriate because multi multiple times my colleagues on the commission want to talk about how we don't adhere to Robert's rules. We don't adhere to the guidelines here on time. And I want to put it on the record. I'm more than willing to give time to everyone. And we
talk about the length of meetings, but this is a reason why meetings are super extended. besides the fact that we have people speaking about issues that again, in my opinion, I don't know why they're speaking about issues. They have to speak on every single issue. So, I'm I think it's great. I love our democracy.
I think it's important, but there's a timeline. There's there's a there's a clock and we have people to adhere to it, but I guess it's only good for some, but not good for all. So, moving on to the item. Is there anything else in the public comment? >> Nothing else. Okay, perfect. We'll close
the public comment. Uh, does the commission have any comments? Do they have any questions for staff? Would they like to hear any further information >> for the mayor? >> Yes. >> Are did we amend the time to two minutes for public comment? >> Yes. >> For for this matter. Yeah. There was a procedural order for this matter that
was two minutes since it's not testimony. Just two minutes. But as you know, the mayor let them speak and finish all their comments. So I don't think there was nobody was cut off to be clear. >> No, no, no. Absolutely not. >> And but and if I may, this is this is nothing new. This is the way it normally is. >> Correct. Mayor, typically for these I
just want I want to be very clear because because the commissioner has been on the commission for three years now and this is nothing different when it's a quasi judial item like this. We have we we have the time of this limit >> for the appeals. Yes. >> Yes. For the appeals. Okay. >> Okay. So then then then the other thing that I was I had some concerns about
while the applicant was up there um when we apply for a permit. Yeah. When we apply for a permit and a variance and we put a permit up to date, it has to be up to code. Even though it's the same
pool or whatever the case is, you need to abide by if you know you're not grandfathered in. Once you start doing renovations to a property, you need to comply with whatever zoning code is the most up-to-date zoning code. Okay. Now,
why would why would they be able to comply? Why would the not you said that the new owners would not be able to comply with the special conditions because there was an adult with or or a child with disabilities or developmental disabilities. Can you go further on
that? >> Yeah, that was their concern that they expressed to us when we advised them of the ruling of the board. We brought to them the conditions upon which the variance was granted. The buyer and their attorneys expressed concern because the buyer is an elderly
woman and she has a special needs child and she was concerned because there's an ongoing perpetual maintenance requirement regarding the cover >> and the covenant runs with the land forever. So, as long as she's the owner of this property, at any time that there's something happens to the cover
that's installed, they have to go out and they have to install it. And according to them, they're having concerns regarding that, the ability to comply with that. >> I'm I'm just trying to find the connection to how I mean, why would it
be an issue? >> They've expressed that it's an issue for them. >> Okay. The other thing, um there's also a quote from mechanical noise ordinance. I according to the city is going to reduce
it by 50%. Right now we are going to provide an exception or a benefit to you to go ahead and approve this variance right with conditions. A variance is not something you're entitled to. It's a bonus. It's something you apply for and
and if we feel it's appropriate, we grant it. Now, I think it's only fair that if we're granting the ordin, if we're granting the variance, you comply with the conditions. I went into like Google Maps. I looked at the property where the pump was located. I looked at
the pump. I was trying to find every justification to be on your side. >> Yeah. And I actually it it's funny you mentioned Google Maps. >> You can't see the pump from Google Maps. There are so many trees surrounding my
client's property, surrounding both neighbors properties. You cannot physically see the pool equipment from the air. I've measured it. I actually have a video that I profered to the city attorney, but they said we couldn't bring in new evidence.
But there's a video that shows my client standing next to his pool equipment at 3 4 feet away and then he walks over to the neighbor's pool equipment at 10 to 12 feet away and their pool equipment is twice as loud as ours. This is new pool
equipment. It's it's much quieter than the existing pool equipment that our rear neighbor has. >> So, does this pool equipment sound more than three dB? I couldn't tell you the I couldn't tell you the actual dec. >> So three dB is almost like nothing. It's
like ambient like literally nothing. And this has to be measured from the other property, the property that's complaining basically, >> right? And that's kind of the point of why we're appealing. The covenant itself would require code
enforcement to continuously go out and make sure that it's below the the noise level. Anytime the neighbor says, "Oh, I think I heard it a little loud." Code enforcement has to come into the backyard and say, "Oh, I I need to go measure the pool equipment and make sure that it's below the 50 dB, 50%
reduction." because I would when we started going through this covenant process with with staff, one of the questions that came up is, well, now we need to set up a baseline decibel reading for this pool equipment and then forever code enforcement will be able to
go into the backyard at the neighbor's request to come in and and measure whether it's still a 50% reduction. It's something that seems overly cumbersome. The reality is that if he had moved the pool equipment two foot one way and two
foot another way, he wouldn't be required to put a concrete wall, an acoustic fence, shrubbery, anything. And anyone who thinks that two feet one way and two feet another way would actually have made a difference on the noise level heard by the neighbors in the
back, it's just it's it's unreasonable to think that, right? So, what we're asking for is we understand that it's an accommodation. We understand that the variance is an accommodation, but we think it's a reasonable accommodation. We think there's no public benefit to
forcing the client to move the pool equipment that was there when he bought the property. Right. So, we're penalizing him for coming in and seeking a permit to improve the the pavers around his pool and other improvements. Yes, he he did construction to his
house. everyone does construction to their house, right? We're penalizing him now for coming out and doing the right thing with pool equipment that was existing at the time. So, while we're we understand it's a it's an accommodation, we're requesting that you respectfully grant the accommodation.
>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. You had something you like to say or >> Yeah, I just um distance sometimes doesn't make a difference when you're talking about pitch and noise. I was hearing the
mariachi horn from the Mexican restaurant three blocks away from my house because of the pitch and noise. My neighbor's uh air conditioning um bearing was out and that's 55 ft away from the front of my house. Um and I
could hear that as well. So two feet is not going to make a difference. What I don't see in the record and makes it difficult to um make a determination on is what is the decibel level of this
equipment comparative to you know the next door neighbors equipment. Um the record seems to be silent on that. Is there any information that you can share with us? We don't have any decibel readings of the pool equipment,
but I can tell you that the pool equipment that's installed and will be permitted as revised is some of the latest pool equipment available and these latest pool pumps are much quieter than previous pool pumps installed
around town. >> Is there an actual decel reading for it? Is there a um decibel reading that can be stipulated to that'll be maintained at that it's maintained properly because you know the
bearing across the street 55 ft away from the front of my house you could hear through the impact windows until it was replaced. Once it was replaced it was fine. >> I mean I have a video which I was not allowed to put into the record. I have a
video that I sent to this to the city attorney that shows how loud it is. Then it walks over to the neighbors pull it and shows it much louder at much further distance. >> I'm going to ask staff there is a decel
limitation on pool equipment that exists. >> Yes. Yes. >> So the code does address mechanical noise like pool equipments. And just for the record, the videos that were submitted yesterday were new testimony and that's why they were not part of the record below. To the extent you all want
to see them, you can. I just want to be clear that they were not part of the record below and that's why they were not um >> initially placed on the agenda. So if you all want to see them, you're more than welcome, but they were not part of the record below. Um yes, mechanical equipment including pool equipment is addressed by the zoning code. I'm not
aware offhand and perhaps we have someone from development services who knows the Oh, you have it. So the the code provides that in single family residential districts um between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:30 on weekdays essentially um the maximum sound for for
mechanical noise is 5 dB above ambient sound level or maximum of 55 dB and then at all other times um so most of the time it's 10 dB above ambient sound level or maximum of 60 dB >> and we're happy to stipulate that the pool equipment will be be below that
level. Um, we have to call for a final building permit on this matter. One of the obviously one of the approvals that we need is a zoning approval, final zoning approval, which is contingent on approving this variance. So, if you wanted to put something on there that we
they have to confirm that it stays below the decibel the >> So, that is the city code. So, they have to comply with that. Correct. We could if you want to make that more specific, but they already have everyone has to comply with that, right? And we do. >> And what are the hours of operation of
the pool equipment? >> I couldn't tell you. He has a young child, so I'm sure they use it just as much as any normal resident would. >> I don't think there's they have any restriction. I I don't think they're going to be using it very late at night. Their their child was just born.
>> No, I just trying to make it clear because noises are louder at night than they are during the day because you're going to hear them more often. And I've had a um detailed conversation with our police chief about, you know, different types of mufflers on vehicles that you
don't notice them during the day, but after a certain hour, they become very shocking >> in the way of noises. So, >> I don't think that's going to be a concern at this property. >> Do you have information regarding the um hours of operation of the pool equipment? You know, when the pumps are going to be running because they're not
always running 247, are they? No, I don't I don't know the the hours of operation, but again, my my client is eventually going to be selling this property. >> So, the elderly buyer and her special needs son, they may have specific use
during the day. I don't know if they'll be using it at night. I couldn't really tell you the hours of operation, but anytime they're operating it, I can almost assure you that it's going to be within the city's decibel level requirement. So I'll ask city staff is
there an hours of operation where overnight when people are trying to sleep that these pumps are not running. It's more restrictive. The the sound levels are more restrictive during the overnight hours. So it's um 5 dB above ambient sound or maximum of 55 dB.
Whereas at all other times of daytime it's 10 dB above ambient sound level or maximum of 60 dB. >> And where is it measured from? It's measured from the property line of the sound affected site or unit and the zoning district where the sound affected
site or unit is located shall apply. Um they should be measured with a yeah shall be measured from the real property line of the sound affected site or unit. >> So you can measure it from either property line, >> right? >> Essentially >> essentially the property line. Y >> okay and we don't >> Madam Vice Mayor, I just got a message
from our client that he shuts off his pool equipment at six o'clock every night. Is that on a timer or is that manually? >> Yes, on a timer. >> All right, Madam Vice Mayor, anything else for the go to the order? >> No. >> Anyone else? Commissioner L >> through the mayor. >> Yes.
>> All right. Um, I do have some questions and um, Mr. Rodriguez, you know, we've known each other for many years from your time as vice mayor in Miami Lakes. Um, I've always held you in high regard. >> Thank you, sir. Um, I do have concerns with, you know,
what I would consider mudding the waters. You know, we're talking about pool equipment, now we're talking about who the new owner is going to be. And what we should really be considering is the current situation where where we're at. Um, looking at the picture in staff's presentation at the April 13th
meeting, if we're me measuring those decibel levels, it seems like it's about 2 feet away from where the pump actually is because the property line is just adjacent to I don't know if we can pull up staff's presentation. >> No, there were never any decibel
readings made. >> Right. That's why I'm saying if we were to to read those decibels, it's it's right there. Um, I understand the perception of two feet one way and two feet another doesn't make a difference, but if I'm speaking
here and I move back two feet and move over two feet, all of a sudden you can't hear. >> So, you know, and it's not a major difference. I I move two feet back, two feet to the side, which is exactly what we're talking about, and it makes a
difference. Um what is and I guess this question is for staff. What is the requirement that's being put as far as what would need to be implemented that would require maintenance going forward? Is this just a cover? Is it a
structure that protects it? What is it that's being required? >> So during the meeting um the the applicant profered the cover. what the board um extended was that the cover be required in a covenant running with the land and so that the covenant be
required to be maintained um throughout the length of use of that pool pump in that current location. So the the board required the covenant that would ensure that that a similar acoustical cover it doesn't have to be the exact one be maintained on the property at all times
and that the cover maintain a reduction of 50% decibb. I don't know if that's the correct term. A reduction of sound of 50%. The details of how it was to be measured, how the covenant was to be drafted was left to the property owner
and I and our office to work out um after the meeting. So, um those are the details that it would be maintained at all times while that equipment is in that location. >> Look, I guess for me that's where the biggest question is. This wasn't something that was profered
by the board. it was profered by the applicant. Uh and in fact, if we go back to the recommendation for staff was complete denial. So for me, based on the questions that the city attorney posed, we're considering here today, it's very difficult for me to say, you know, your
rights are being violated by us uh affirming the decision by the board um or even remanding it back to the board to ask them to reconsider whether a variant should have been accepted at all. uh because we are imposing a
>> an undue burden on the direct neighbors of this property by accepting this. Um Mr. >> and I understand you know you did mention that there is this was pre-existing to their ownership. >> Did they have a seller's disclosure which stated that this was done
illegally? No, there wasn't a seller's disclosure. And unfortunately, when when you do a real estate closing, if there hasn't been a violation issued, a lean search or permit search would never have shown up that was non-conforming. They would have had to
have known about the ordinance before. So, yeah, they were not aware. >> Mr. Mayor, can I just address something that Commissioner Fernandez brought up? I just want to be clear for the record that the property owner did offer the acoustical cover. They did not profer the covenant. That was a requirement of the board. So the the ongoing obligation
to have the cover was one brought up by the board just to be clear. >> Anything further? >> Well, actually, yeah. So, if you're profering an acoustical cover, is it just to have it hanging on a wall? I mean, it's to have it over >> I'll defer to the applicant on that. >> So, if it it would imply that there is a
covenant to have that over the the pool equipment. I mean, that's that's what makes sense. I understand they may not have used the term covenant, but when you're offering that you're going to have this, that's to reduce the noise that that you're having on on the neighborhood. >> Commissioner, if I may, the first
meeting that we had on this was in April. During the meeting, it appeared to me at least that the board was going to approve it. Then public comments came up and the neighbors came up and spoke against the item. the board decided to
defer the item for one month to allow us time to reach an agreement, be neighborly. Um, my client profered uh some hedges to try and dampen the sound a little bit. The neighbors were
required requiring a concrete structure around the pool equipment, which it it was brought up in the meeting whether that was even allowed under the code, whether we can put a concrete structure around that area. Um, as in an attempt
to try and reach an amicable solution, we profered the pool pump cover. Um at that point they still came up and said that they were not in favor of that.
They also the then the board decided to make it a covenant running with the land with perpetual maintenance requirements and perpetual testing requirements. That was something that got my client
concerned but even more concerning for the future buyer. So that's why we we had an issue um with the covenant with the conditions that were placed on the variance. >> The mayor, >> excuse me one second. So anything else?
Okay. Um few questions, few statements. Let's see if we can go back and forth. I think the the effort here is to find some middle ground >> was to your knowledge and I'd like to see if our city attorney could come up
here also was to your knowledge with the previous pool equipment which I think we can all say with confidence that older equipment is much louder correct you run at lower decibb new equipment runs at lower lower decibb
wastes less energy obviously we're moving into a new era the last 10 15 years. Everything from computing to equipment to engines trying to waste as little energy as possible. Correct. >> Correct. >> Was there ever a violation in regards to
the old pool equipment that was placed within a setback and was placed without obviously a permit? >> I'm not aware of one. >> No, there was not. >> Okay. So, we can both say very clearly that that pool equipment was obviously
old and was obviously much louder than the current pool equipment, >> right? It's pretty common sense. You buy new pool equipment, you install it, you you buy a new computer, everything works much smoother. new
technology, you're obviously lowering the energy use, but you're expecting it to be a lot more efficient. I don't think that's anything correct >> bias or anything that we're saying that uh is out of the normal. So, there was no violation and we're
looking at the old versus the new. Uh, one of the issues that I think we need to really figure out here is the middle grounds. Why do I keep bringing up middle grounds? Because you brought up a video that I haven't had the privilege of seeing and none of the commissioners
have. The city attorney has. We can watch it today, but it cannot be considered in regards to to um our decision-m. Um I'm pretty sure that that video is going to show that the neighbor has a pool pool pump that you can hear from 15
10t away, whatever number that is. Why all of a sudden was there an issue with a pool pump? That's the big question. So now we've in the public in the public record, not me, been brought up by other commissioners that the neighbor's pool
pump is very loud. So now the new owner, whoever that owner may be, is going to step in and say, "Now call code enforcement on the neighbor now." And they're going to have to address their issue in regards to the pool pump and spend thousands of dollars replacing all their pool equipment. That's what you don't want to see in Coral Gables.
So, I would like to see that video. I think it's important. >> You're more than welcome to see it, Mr. Mayor. As we mentioned, it just it's not from the record below. So, >> I understand that, but it's been mentioned, >> yeah, >> multiple times before I started speaking about the fact that it has evidence that
should have been shown to the previous board that reviewed this and made the recommendations. I don't know why it was not shown. Yeah, it was not provided to the board of adjustment. >> So, we're not here to debate whether uh the gentleman, the applicant um installed the equipment or he did
install the equipment in the setback. That's already done. You know, again, we we have to fix that. That's already been fixed by the variance that was granted by the previous by previous board and now it's being considered by the commission. I think we have we could have a solution here. Okay,
let's alleviate the situation here. Let's accept the removal of the covenant, but make sure that the cover stays on. The cover could stay on in perpetuity. The noise would be dampened.
We don't have any actual information right now whether with the new pool equipment there's actually a violation of the noise of the existing noise ordinance, which to me makes it very difficult right now. But you neither have proof that there's a violation. All you have is proof is that new equipment
was installed on the setback because he basically turned himself in when he provided a permit to correct the previous owner's violation, which was not a violation, but the illegal act
of installing a pool permit, excuse me, a pool pump in in uh in a setback. Am I correct or no? >> Correct. Okay. So no good deed goes unpunished here, right? So you know I think here we have to find a compromise and we have to put politics
aside and say how can we deliver on this? How can we deliver on this? I'm perfectly fine with leaving the pool pump cover on it. The neighbors going to know if the pool pump cover comes off because obviously they're being very vigilant.
But I think that adding a covenant which requires perpetual maintenance is something like I've never seen before. I've never seen that type of heavy-handedness ever. And let me tell you why. And I've been here 13 years. Okay? I've seen it when developments come and they say, "Hey, we do a traffic study every year for four years." That
requires perpetual review for not even perpetual, five, 10, 15 years. And if certain benchmarks are hit, that developer has to pay into the public trust in one form or another, whether it's sidewalks, whether it's traffic calming, whatever that may be. We've done it on multiple
different projects, constantly monitoring to make sure that the impact is lessened. So, I think that we can find um common common ground here. One thing that I that I that I don't like and I and I this is just my personal opinion,
we all live in Coral Gables. Um, most of us here on the commission, four out of five are property owners here in the Gables. They talk about property value increases and how much someone's selling a home for and that kind of stuff is tacky. You know, we can do better than that. Uh, if
we want someone to buy the house or to live in our city and once they move on, whether their family grows like this case, that's why they're leaving the house to a bigger house. You want them to celebrate the fact that they sold the property for more than what they bought it for. that that's what a healthy city
is. People want to move to our city and we welcome that. So I I to me that's I don't I don't think that's really should even be considered and it's something that we shouldn't talk about because one day the neighbors are going to sell their property and they're going to want to sell it for maximum dollar and they're going to want to receive as much
money as they possibly can. So I like to profer I like to profer the applicant if they're willing to accept it uh that the cover stays on. As you can tell we may have we have issues here obviously. um that the cover stays on but that the covenant is removed
um and that you know we work as neighbors because these neighbors are going to have to work within forthcoming neighbors and that we do things in a right way that is collegial that is respectful. Um but also let's not take it out on the on the person who's
selling the home today. Yeah, he made a mistake. He bought the property but he's not a he's not a contractor. He's not an engineer. He's not an architect. He's not a surveyor. He's not a lawyer. He's not a person who, you know, checked to see if a pool pump and that, by the way, and as we can all, as you can tell, because both of your attorneys when you
have disclosures, you know, they're not checking every last inch of of certain things. You know, they're they're very careful. They do three-point inspections, but this is above and beyond. So, I'd like to see us find a middle I'd
like to see if we can Can we address one thing? Because I I the individuals who spoke before keep raising their hand. Can you explain, madam city attorney, the process that we do here? This I don't want it to come from me because then they say that I'm not being fair. >> So mayor, I think you've already closed public comment. So there was an opportunity and you've closed public
comment. It it is always up to you though if you wanted to take more. >> Thank you. But we do not make that we do not really make that comment here in the city. Correct. >> Correct, mayor. >> Thank you. Okay. So I'd like to see if we can reach a middle ground and move forward.
Um is are you okay with my profer, >> Mr. Mayor? The cover was profered by my client, >> but I'm saying yes. And beyond that, we're not here to talk about who >> profit installs it. >> If he installs it and there's no perpetual requirement, maintenance, oversight, that that was what that was
the concerning part. The covenant was the one that was really bothering him. >> Okay. And my final concern I want to mention again just so my colleagues understand it. When you start putting these perpetual, you know, maintenance requirements on homes, it's it's just again another
wall, another issue that someone has to deal with. Imagine having to be a homeowner and have to deal with the government and provide every single year a document. Let me give you an example. I don't know if you checked their emails late last night, but there was a report that came in and I'm not going to mention it here because I think it's I
don't think it's appropriate from an a private entity that does business here in the city of Coral Gables and that they have to provide a yearly report a yearly report in regards to students, how many census that was provided to the commission
through the manager's office yesterday. you know, it's not to that magnitude, but I think that to me that's a little heavy-handed and we don't want to, you know, when you're talking about, you know, somebody who's who's who owns a business here in the city and they have hundreds of students, that's a different situation. But when we're talking about
a homeowner, I think that especially, you know, we don't want to be known as people who, you know, putting perpetual easements on properties. I think it's just a little too much. And I think that we as a city can achieve the same goal with the cover
without having that covenant put in place. So >> the mayor. >> Yes sir. >> Just a quick question. I don't want to derail the profer and the and the conversation. >> You can always do a friendly amendment if you like. >> Uh no no. It's actually just a question to understand the record a little bit better. So both to the applicant and to city attorney to drink. Was there ever a
complaint on the property with respect to a noise violation or setback violation at any time prior to the applicant seeking the permit? >> Commissioner Commissioner L if I may. I asked that question a few seconds ago and the answer was no.
>> So that's what I find very interesting. I'm not aware of it and that's why commissioner that's why commissioner I led with so you had pool equipment for let's say 10 years. I don't know. I don't know the amount of time. It was 5 years. Old pool equipment. It made more noise. It was not as technologically
advanced as it is today. You install brand new equipment with a permit. And now is when you get a code enforcement violation, not over the years, right? And and I definitely uh wanted to make that crystal clear, you
know, because I think, you know, just taking it to a um level set moment, right? I mean, what's really going on? And I just wanted to understand that crystal clear that there was no complaint, at least not in the record,
of any resident or neighbor, concerning any excessive sound with respect to the pool equipment that the applicant uh when he bought uh the property had already had installed on the land. And that's a that's a no, right?
>> Correct. That's a no. And was there ever any complaint by any resident with respect to the setback violation of a couple of feet in each direction uh ever made to the city prior to the application uh for the permit?
>> Not to my knowledge and not to my client's knowledge >> through the mayor. >> Just one second. So to put it in more put it more context what I'm asking is to affirm the decision with condition to remove the covenant.
Are you okay with that? >> I'm okay as long as he gets to install a cover. >> Yes. >> And then the co and what was profered at the board was any cover that reduces the sound by 50. >> I just want to make sure because now I want my colleagues to consider what I'm offering. >> Correct.
>> And as long as you're fine with that and your client is okay with that. I'd like to move on. Yes, Commissioner. >> Okay. So, when the vice mayor was was saying her comments, she I I started thinking I I don't know how many of us here on on this dis have a pool in our
home. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. I don't turn off my pump. I don't even know how to. >> You should. >> Yeah. Well, then I am. Huh? You turn off. >> It's probably a timer is what I said. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I guess I'm wasting a lot of energy.
>> Yeah. So my my really question here is we can control the noise and the time of operation of pool equipment especially when a home is being up for sale, right? We can't control the behaviors of the new
homeowner. And if that new homeowner goes ahead and sells to somebody else, we can't control it. The only way we can control it is by putting a covenant on the actual land. Right. Right. Because yes, maybe the homeowner now is going to
comply, but what guarantees us that the following homeowner is going to comply and the owner after that is going to comply? >> Well, I think the city attorney mentioned it. At no point has this pool equipment been outside of the noise
ordinance. This has never been a noise ordinance issue. This has always been a setback issue. And the argument was complying with the setback a would not require us to put any covers at all.
Zero. And it really would be a negligible effect on what the neighbors in the back are hearing. It's two feet one way and two feet another way. Right. So to get to your point, the the compliance is going to be we still have to comply with the noise ordinance and
our n and our buyer will still have to comply with the noise ordinance. If they go outside of that noise ordinance, then they'll have an issue. >> That's that's the the concern regarding the noise. >> So there's nothing that would guarantee us that this cup is going to stay on for a certain amount of period even if the
house is sold. Right now, I believe that the board of adjustments was gracious enough to grant this variance. I don't think it's a hardship to go ahead and do this covenant for the protection of whoever else buys this house. So, for
that reason, I'm going to go ahead and move to affirm the b the board's decision. Before we take a vote, >> yeah, >> I I need to make some additional comments and I wrote down some notes here because based what I'm what I'm
hearing is taking form over substance. I also have a pool pump within a few feet of my fence. Doesn't bother me until the bearing goes. And I talked to my neighbor. I said,
"You know, you might not have known you have a bad bearing on your pool pump because it is indeed closer to my house than it is to his windows to his bedroom." It's called being neighborly. I also got the the call from neighbors
near the Lowe's about fans, exhaust fans that were making excessive noise. And the reason they were making excessive noise again was because of the bearings in the fans were worn and squealing. Even though it was a new set
of bearings, bad metal, whatever it was, lack of oil, lack of grease, that installation, faulty installation, whatever the cause, the noise was reverberating a block away. Um,
that's what form over substance is. If you're compliant with the decibel ratings required of our code, then there's no issue. No amount of covers are going to
bad bearing because it squeals. It's like nails on a chalkboard. It's very bad. Okay. I recognize it because I had a father who was a mechanic, an engine overhaul. He had
my hands deep in all kinds of stuff when I was young. So, I know what the sound of a bad bearing is. And I communicate with my neighbors when they're bad because it disturbs my sleep. It disturbs my dog sleep. It disturbs the entire neighborhood and it's annoying.
So, form over substance. The issue here is the noise. We have no record of what the noise decibel level was. We have no record that shows that the decibel
levels exceeded what the code allowed at the property line. So if you're going to base a record or a finding on a of a board based upon competent substantial evidence and the
evidence is not there to support that finding then you have a deficient but yet we have a profer to put a cover on. Covers don't stay on permanently. They have to be taken off during hurricanes. they have to be taken off
during maintenance when you're redoing you know various things and maintaining or changing the settings on on the pumps etc. So a condition that requires it never ever to come off is unrealistic. Again,
form over substance. The issue is noise. The record is absent of anything that shows that there was excessive noise that exceeded the code that we have in our city. Granted, we do have variance requests
for a variety of reasons, whether it be wall heights so people aren't annoyed by the noise. of a busy street or the lights of a truck coming around a traffic circle. Um, every instance in
which we have conditions in our code cannot be always anticipated. That's why there's a variance procedure. But when you have a variance that's being requested that takes form over substance, we have to step back and look at what
makes common sense. And if it doesn't make common sense, then we find a way to meet people in the middle, get down to the core, what's important here, controlling the decibel levels in the annoyance of the neighbors.
Because if indeed what was mentioned to me that the neighbors pump is louder than this one and is more annoying, again, we're going to have this neighbors war and I've had to settle a few of those during my time on the commission. I'm sure you've had to do it in your capacity as well. And it becomes
a never- ending cycle unless you take people back and say, "Let's step back and look at what's really important here because we need to work together as a neighborhood to get along with each other and work together so we make our entire neighborhood a nicer place to live."
So, no, I will not second that motion. >> The mayor, >> if I may, we have a we have a motion. I just want to make sure we don't have a second. >> I have I second it. Um so the reason I second this motion I think this is the middle ground. I think
the residents are not happy with this variance granted even with the condition. Uh I think granting this variance is a middle ground from having to move the entire structure as they would be required to do based on our code and what the
residents which is what the residents are requiring and not doing anything at all. Um, the other thing that really concerns me is the fact that we're already being told that the new owner doesn't want to do this. You know, they have concerns with this being something that they have
to take care of in perpetuity. And in my opinion, if we don't have some sort of protection for the neighbors, it is now going to become an issue where the neighbors are constantly going to have to be monitoring the situation, calling the city to file a code enforcement
complaint, and I think this is an opportunity that we have to ensure that we don't have a neighbor versus neighbor issue like the vice mayor is saying because we have some assurances on our side that this will be taken care of. Now, as far as
the vice mayor's comment that it would have to be taken off, it does not. Um, my grandparents house had a pool and as just them wanting to be neighborly, they built a structure around it which covered the the pool pump and they put
soundproofing on the inside to ensure that there wasn't any noise that was going towards the neighbor's house because of the proximity and location to the neighbor's house, Miami date county. So the the the setback wasn't an issue, but it was just them trying to be neighborly and ensure that next to
somebody's bedroom, you don't have a pool pump that that's going uh at any time. So, I think what has been profered and the board of adjustment has moved on, I think is a fair um compromise
between what the neighbors are requesting and what the applicant is requesting in light of the fact that we already have concerns about the new owner not having an interest in maintaining this going forward. >> So, um for me, so we have a motion and a
second. Um, when I gave my comments, I was trying to have my colleagues I was giving my colleagues deference to see if they would at least speak about what I profered. Commissioner Castro jumps in uh with with a motion. Uh, that was not the purpose, but obviously we have a motion in a second. Mr. Clerk, can we
have a can we have a vote, please? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Lada, >> no. Vice Mayor Anderson, >> based on the absence of information on the record, um, as to the necessity for a running covenant, um, in my prior
comments, no. >> Commissioner Castro, >> my um, I I I went ahead and I addressed your concerns and a covenant is the only way to go ahead and guarantee that the cover is going to stay on after the
property is sold. It has to be attached to the land and it cannot be to the discretion of the homeowner because there's going to be different homeowners. So, yes, >> Commissioner Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Mayor Logo. >> Okay. The answer is no. Let me explain to you what the next move is. Okay. The
next move is a very simple one. When the property changes hands, the covers installed. If the cover does not work, code enforcement will be there immediately. Now we have a problem though
because now on this record here we said that the neighbors pool also makes excessive noise and that there's a video that is a public record that is in the hands of the city attorney. We have so many people here who love to chase down public records and then use
them in the blogs. So now we have exactly what I was trying to avoid. You have neighbor on neighbor conflict. Madam city attorney, give me a percentage. I won't hold you to it. How many how many covenants like these have
you ever seen put onto a resident a residential property here in the city? This is the first one that I've seen. >> Mayor, I I I cannot give you an answer to that. I do know that that over the years there have been covenants in specific situations sometimes with um historic properties or even even with
variances that there's reasonable conditions and those are often or sometimes memorialized in a covenant. So, but I cannot give you a any kind of uh statistic on that. >> No, but those covenants, let me let me let me correct myself make it a little bit more difficult on you. I think it's very easy to slip out of that. Okay.
When have you ever seen a performance covenant like this? every I have been here 13 years and I have yet to see one that requires in a residential home that requires a performance covenant where the city can step onto your property and
say no this is not working if there's noise if there's noise that's why we have code enforcement code enforcement will come out and address the issue then why do we have a code enforcement department here in the city of Coral Gables um why why do we have a code enforcement department the intent of the code enforcement department is to make
sure just like we have inspections When you're building, when you're building, you have the inspectors come out and you have what is called a setback inspection where you provide a survey by a certified surveyor and it says the applicant is building the following
structure and it meets the setback standards as per the zoning approval. Whether it's in residential or in commercial, there are checks and balances here in the city. If we're not going to start applying these covenants to every single
residential neighborhood, you're going to be in a situation where why have code enforcement? The intent of code enforcement is the neighbors have an issue with the noise. And this is my concern now because now you have on the record and I want to be very clear because it'll be used against me later
on the blogs. I didn't bring this up. It was brought up multiple times before we even talked about it here that the neighbor has a pool pump that is incredibly loud and that again these are residents that coexisted. There was an issue and
everything was perfectly fine. Nobody called code enforcement on anyone and all of a sudden now it's an issue. So I'd like to bring this in for a landing. I've I've profered a consideration for my colleagues before uh Commissioner Castro's motion and I'd like to see if
we can move forward. Commissioner Lada, I'm going to try um and see if we can jump on a landing. Okay, just make this kind of and and and I think I'm understanding the situation pretty well. But first of all, what we don't have and that's why I was asking the questions before the city attorney
and the applicant. The record doesn't reflect any uh evidence with respect to the decibb uh sound decibb with respect to the property um at issue. Am I right? Again, >> correct. >> Okay. But you know and the vice mayor
articulated it very well. This issue seems to be about sound because it is quite canopied when it comes to um visual and really what the variance was seeking was being permitted to stay
where it where it's currently located and not be required to be moved a couple of feet in either direction. Can't see it from above. Can't see it from next door. Um so it's about sound, right? So I am not in favor of legislating
constantly around pickyune or idiosyncratic concerns that residents may have because the more you legislate around it the more you subject yourself to further complaints litigation or confusion regarding its enforcement indeed its interpretation.
So what I think is the best way to handle this and consistent with having uh uh code enforcement and since no one has complained about the sound to my knowledge to date is that I would like to move actually to grant the variance
that was sought originally with no covenant running with it so that it can remain where it lies presently uh without having to be moved a couple of feet in each direction. to grant the variance as sought. And should there be
a concern between either the current residents or future owners of the property as it pertains to any claimed violation of the sound, we already have a process and a procedure to to to attend to such concerns rather than us
trying here to legislate around a problem that hasn't even been brought before the uh the board or this commission. So my motion is uh to grant the variance sought with no covenants. >> Mr. Mayor, >> can I just can I just clarify
procedurally? I believe then it would be a motion to affirm the the decision of the board of adjustment with conditions with your condition being that the covenant requirement be removed from their approval. >> Correct. And the cover >> and the cover. >> Those two correct
>> understood. I second that motion as I had my notes had something similar because we don't have a decibel reading. >> So future owner can always proper to put a cover on if they cannot achieve the the required decibel reading at the
property line. So not having something that is form over substance here. The substance is the noise issue. And it can be offered as a way to deal with the noise. And if anybody's ever done maintenance on
pumps, they know that the covers must come off in order to do do that. So, um, just just so you're aware, Commissioner Fernandez. >> So, we have a motion and a second. Anything else further from the
commission? Nothing else. Okay. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> no. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> no. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> yes. Thank you. Thank you very much. Moving on to item E2.
E2 is an ordinance of the city commission amending the city code chapter 2 entitled administration article 8 entitled procurement code section 2-60724 exemption section 2-685 competitive sealed bidding section 2-688 small purchases section 2-689 soul sources
procurement section 2-690 soul source procurement section 2-691 special procurement bid waiver section 2-763 contract award section 2-764 approval of change order and contract modification and section 2-910 resolution of protest
solicitations and awards formal in order to amend certain approval thresholds providing for repeated provisions of ability clause codification and providing for an effective date. >> Has there been any changes from first reading? >> No changes. >> There was a minor change to the title um mayor just to make clear that these are to amend those approval thresholds but
um no substantive changes. >> Thank you very much. Mr. Clerk, do we have any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> May I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> I'll second. Mr. >> Clerk, >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes.
>> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> yes. Thank you very much. Moving on to item E3. >> E3 is an ordinance of the city commission amending chapter 74, traffic and vehicles to create article 10, personal delivery devices and mobile carriers to impose certain safety and operational requirements for personal delivery devices and mobile carriers
consistent with state law providing for severability clause, repeated provision codification, and providing for an effective date. Do we have a staff uh presentation? >> Yes, thank you, Vice Mayor. Um so there have been no changes since first reading, but we have um had various meetings with um some of the operators
of these personal delivery device little robots. Um we've met extensively with the sponsor and we've gone through it. The item as before you today um is exactly the same as it was on first reading, but we're happy to answer any questions about it operationally. As you know, this is intended to address some of the city's concerns about
accessibility on our pedestrian rights of way, about safety, visibility, and um safe operation of these within our downtown area where they currently operate. >> Madam Vice Mayor, >> so uh I did send this to my uh disability affairs board appointee. Um
and they're happy with the language as it is because it does incorporate the ADA, uh provisions. Uh I know there's some desire by the operators to make some changes, but we can address those as time comes in the future when we have
additional time to discuss them. So um if there's no is there any public comment? >> Yes, ma'am. >> First speaker, Jose Felix Das. I think I turned it off. I apologize. Uh, Jose Felix Diaz to Alhhamra Plaza,
Sweet 102, Coral Gables, Florida. On behalf of Serve Robotics. Um, first of all, I I want to commend the vice mayor on this thoughtful legislation. Uh, this legislation is based on a model that was
passed by the city of Miami Beach. Uh you may or may not know, but the reason these robots are in existence is really because of a state statute that was created. They created a statewide framework for how these uh robots would
be deployed into our state. Um with that came a preeemption that uh controlled the way that local governments could regulate them. And what you have before you today uh is mostly in conformance with that preeemption. uh it focuses on
the safe operations of these devices. Uh one place where there is a slight deviation between the Miami Beach ordinance and this one uh is on the miles per hour. Uh Miami Beach also similarly looked at restricting the
speed to six miles per hour but ultimately um you know split the number with the state statutory maximum which is 10 miles per hour and landed on 8 miles per hour. Um the vice mayor was
gracious enough to hear us out. Uh we would humbly ask um that you would consider maybe amending this at this level and not wait until it becomes statute and change it in the future. We know how hard it is to put a genie back in the bottle. So we are hopeful that
you will consider uh an 8 mph um restriction. Uh it is less than what the state allows. Uh we believe that that is the right number uh to be operationally sound. Uh obviously these devices are used uh to transport food which is
either supposed to stay cold or remain hot and so operationally that is the ideal uh speed that these machines would operate at. Um we understand and appreciate the vice mayor's intent and
uh her background with the disability community and the amount of work that she has done on behalf of that community. Um we will uh profer any one of you wants to meet with our accessibility team we will. Um they are evolving. These machines are evolving
and trying to uh be more mindful. Um we know that they are not perfect. We know they're not perfect. Uh but we do hope that you could find a a nice balance between um access, convenience, and efficiency.
Uh which we think is that 8 mile per hour mark. Uh those are my remarks. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Diaz. Uh I'll assure you that we'll continue to work on it. I have um scooter item coming up. We're going to be addressing speeds
and other issues dealing with the scooters. Um as you saw in the reporting last night, there's big concerns with scooters. there are big concerns with with these mo these delivery devices because currently right
now as the technology exists um they don't move out of the way of people period. So if you don't have them moving out of the way of people and they're going even faster I'd like to continue the conversation with you and see where we can do additional um
changes. There is a six-month period uh before this is enforceable. So I think we have adequate time to massage it further uh in the future. So I look forward to meeting with you again >> through the vice mayor through the chair.
>> Sorry, I apologize. I have additional speakers. I'm not sure if you want me. >> Yes. Yes. Call the call the additional speakers. >> Uh Joseph Salsberg. >> Hi. Good morning. uh Joseph Salzer with Grey Robinson. Also on behalf of Serve Robotics, 333 Southeast 2nd Avenue,
Sweet 3200, Miami, Florida. Um along with I want to echo all of my colleague Pepe Diaz's comments and thank you to the commissioners and to the sponsor as well as staff and the legal department uh for meeting with us and having several conversations. Um, one of the
big things of these robots is to number one help the affordability crisis to provide food delivery at a substantially lower cost than uh regular delivery. Number two is to reduce vehicular traffic both with vehicles and with scooters which we all know are an issue
this community faces. Um, serve remains extremely concerned with the provision of the ordinance that categorically bans commercial advertising. Um, we have been told that this provision is included because it was part of the Miami Beach Ordinance uh from which this was drafted
upon. Um, important to note that during the robust uh discussion that occurred on first reading surrounding these devices uh included a multitude of concerns uh that are very valid. As you've heard, SER is not here to say that these robots are perfect and the
vast majority of the ordinance they don't have an issue with. Um but that conversation and that robust discussion that this board that this body had uh frankly did not materially mention any concerns regarding advertisements on the devices. Florida law does provide that
these PDDDs have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian in the same situation. So anecdotally, it begs the question, would the city look to regulate what I wear on my t-shirt or on my backpack if I am in the process of
delivering food uh pursuant to, you know, my employment or 1099 agreement. Um, further the blanket prohibition on advertising in its current form, uh, with all due respect, likely fails every prong of the Central Hudson test, which
is the legal standard in determining whether government regulation of commercial speech violates the First Amendment. uh respectfully the ordinance nor the associated documents at this time include any data or findings uh that static non-eluminated
advertisements on these PDDs create a measurable risk. going back to the Hudson test uh nor does the limitation of a proposed risk uh narrowly tailored to the regulation at hand doesn't seem to be a nexus and again the
aforementioned conversation of the adequate and real concerns just didn't surround commercial advertising it seems like that just kind of took a road on the draft over from Miami Beach lastly and mostly from a policy standpoint coral Gables is known to celebrate
emerging technology and ingenuity prides itself on being a haven for private investment. Um, please do not overburden that with regulations that are frankly, in our opinion, a solution in search of a problem. There are material issues
with these uh operations of these PDDs. We pledge to continue with those, but the commercial advertisement we feel uh is unsubstantiated, goes too far. We would like to see that removed. And lastly, our client from Server Robotics, who's out of state, is available via Zoom if there's any questions. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. >> That's it. >> Mayor, I just going to add, >> okay, >> because I I did have some conversation with them. I mean, our city doesn't allow billboards. There are concerns about, you know,
distractions. There is a six-month enforcement before this is in effect. We can continue to have conversations. um if there's a content neutral ban and you know what I'm talking about is much different than if we start parsing out
what type of speech is allowed or not allowed. Um so I will look forward to having further conversations with you but right now the biggest issue here is the fact that these robots
do not yield to pedestrians. They do not move out of the way of individuals with disabilities. They completely block the sidewalk and even when the sidewalk is is wider, they straddle the center of the middle.
So there are huge issues and I'm looking forward to legislation like this. Having the innovation team make these robots smarter so that they do not pose
the level of risk that they do now. And that's part of my hesitancy to entertain right now increases in speed because if you add the increase of speed to a vehicle that doesn't know how to move out of the way, you're going to have a greater potential for injury. So let's continue the conversation. Let's look at
the technology and see how we can do better going forward. So on that I'll move it for >> the mayor. >> One second. Do we have a second? >> Second commissioner.
Um, I agree with the vice mayor when it comes to advertising. We have very very strict policies, especially when it comes to signage and and illuminated advertising. Now, I understand also that that's a hardship to the company because
that's probably how income comes in to um operate these robots. What I what I would have liked before that motion was to go ahead and maybe before this was voted on talk about the speed because I also understand that's a
hardship when you're trying to deliver food and it's not even it's not I mean how's ice cream getting there at 5 miles per hour? I'm not sure the technology behind these robots if they're insulated. They're not. Um, I'm not sure, but 5 miles per hour would
probably be slower than I don't know, somebody walking. Um, I would have offered a friendly amendment to go ahead and consider that before voting because it's a lot easier to lower to to lower something than to go
ahead and raise it. >> Commissioner, you can still offer a friendly amendment. >> Well, I appreciate that. Then I would consider Vice Mayor, if you're the sponsor, we can consider the 8 miles per hour. I don't know, maybe seven um to reach some
middle ground. Not at this time. I'll sit down and have a conversation with them and um 2 miles per hour is not going to get you there that much faster. I was just looking it up and
it's not going to make that much difference at 2 miles hour. But as the technology improves and they're able to modulate their speed and steer away from people that are walking on the sidewalk and not occupy the
entirety of the sidewalk and create a a barrier for individuals with disabilities, children, people in strollers, you know, children move erratically. These are a huge safety concern. You know, I have a
pair of large dogs and they're sweet as can be and they could knock over a child. Okay, it's something that you have to take into account. These are heavy vehicles. They can knock over a child and if they're not yielding to adults, they're
not going to yield to children. Okay? So, we have to work with the technology to see where we can improve it. and as technology improves, we can modify the ordinance accordingly. I'm totally open to that. >> For the mayor,
>> go ahead. >> For the mayor, um I would actually make a different suggestion. I think we should defer this item and perhaps have a presentation to the commission where we can see these robots in action because I've had a completely different
uh experience than the vice mayor. I've actually been in a sidewalk where I've been walking and as soon as the robot realizes that I'm there, it stops. It doesn't continue moving. Uh it allows me to pass and then it re-engages. I've been in an intersection where you've had multiple of these robots trying to cross
the street and they've lined themselves up to cross the street and allowed space for me as a pedestrian to still cross the street at the same location. Uh heading in the exact same location and actually they allowed me to go first. So, I was able to cross the street first, then the robots followed me ac
across the street. Um, I think it it does not cause us any harm to have a presentation where we can see the difference between 6 miles hour versus 8 miles an hour. Uh, so that we can visualize what that difference actually is um before we jump to legislating. And
we know what happens when we legislate here. Tallahassee finds out about it and all of a sudden we're preempted on any changes that we want to make on these things. Um, that would be my recommendation. As far as the advertising, I really have no issues with with the advertising. We have cabs
that come into the city uh with advertising on them. We have bus benches in in some areas that that do have uh on the more um the areas where they're allowed. Um, we've allowed advertising on electric charging stations where are providing a
service to the city. And at the end of the day, I agree there is a service that is being provided because food delivery in the downtown area can be extremely difficult uh because most of the delivery services are either on a moped or on a bicycle uh which are adding to the congestion that we have in the
central business district. These robots are allowing for those deliveries to be made and taking those vehicles off of our streets uh and creating the congestion. You know, just on the um valet areas alone, you see that some of these delivery vehicles are trying to
find a place to park. They're causing traffic to back to back up. In some cases, you see the drivers park on Miracle Mile on the street next to the parked cars, get off, go to make their delivery, and get back in the car. Um, so there is a service that's being provided. I would like to see what this
advertising looks like. Uh, just to see. Um, I know that there are preeemptions from Tallahassee on what we can and cannot regulate as far as advertising as well. Um, so there are protections there. I understand the vice mayor's concern about, you know, we don't want
just all sorts of advertising placed on these uh, devices. You know, there's some things that wouldn't be acceptable to most of our population. Um, but I think taking a step back, seeing how it works, seeing them in action, uh, could
really help us make a better decision and ensure that the legislation that we're passing is ironclad. We're not going to be preempted by Tallahassee a few months down the road. And we're starting from scratch. >> Commissioner Lato, >> go ahead.
>> Okay. Um, I mean, just go ahead. >> Few comments on the record. Uh first and foremost, I do have an issue uh with advertising. It's been a hallmark of the city, but we have very limited advertisement. Um and I don't I haven't seen a bus bench
that we had advertisement here in the city yet. Uh that are within the city boundaries. Um, I know that we use these these, uh, very wellplaced kiosks, uh, one in front of city hall and one on on Miracle Mile on the corner of Miracle Mile Ponds in front of the region's bank
building, but I'm not aware, and correct me if I'm wrong, if we have if we have an actual advertisement on bus benches here. I hadn't seen that here in the city. So, Commissioner Fernandez's comments are are not are not in line with our standards. Um, I also was brought to my attention that we that
they wanted to do some advertisement on the trolley. I was adamantly opposed to that. Um, while the city of Miami may do it, that's perfectly fine for them. I don't have any I don't have any issues with advertisement within the trolley or within our parking garages as you drive in, for example, inside as you go up the
ramp. I don't have an issue with that. But advertising in the city, you know, then for that, let's monetize it and make real money. Let's put billboards all over the city and then there's a ton of money to be made there. I think it's a very slippery slope and I think we have to be very, very careful with that. Uh but we do not
have bus benches. So don't don't write emails. Uh don't don't send uh concerns. Uh we have not gone that far yet. Um now um in regards to these vehicles, I have concerns over them and I've made made uh
um the company aware. Um you know, there has to be a little bit of of attention to detail. Um, you know, again, this is a very early on, you know, on this a very this is a very early delivery of
these robots. So, you know, the kinks are being worked out. But what I'm hearing from residents is that they congregate in certain areas um in mass quantity where again they bother the neighborhood. Uh they take up the sidewalks and it's a robot at the end of the day. They they don't have the
judgment that a human being does. when you see somebody coming in a wheelchair or a baby stroller, you know, they're they're trying to figure out how to address the issues. If I understand that, and I I know that's going to be a learning curve. What I would like to know is, Madam City attorney, do we know or Mr. Manager, do
we know how many of these robots can be deployed? Why do I say that? For example, in the scooter in the scooters that we have approved here in the city, we we I remember we approved that legislation. We had limitations in regards to how many scooters we approved and I think it was like a 100 or
something scooters per company. I think 75 or something and they would gradually go up if everything was in line and they continued with the maintenance. If you look at the scooters, they are constantly rotated. Matt and his team do a great job and I think that we've really held them, you know, a tight grip
on them to make sure that you don't have scooters like you do in other cities thrown all over the city. >> That was and I think that's probably, correct me if I'm wrong, Matt, seven, eight years old now. >> Yes, that is correct. >> And how many scooters do we have in the city? >> They can have up to 300, but they're never near that amount. And it's
actually that amount is now shared with South Miami who has deployed the same vendor uh under under a pilot. So that amount is being shared between both cities. But I use that as an example because that's what sets our city apart from other cities. We're very methodical. We're very careful. >> You know, we're not just going to say
open the floodgates and, you know, start advertising everywhere. So, I'm in line with the vice mayor's comments in regards to the the advertising. I think we have to be very careful. Again, that's a source of revenue. Source of revenue. Um, >> so, Mr. Mayor, if I can, um, state law doesn't allow us to, um, limit the
number operating within the city. So just to be clear there there is a preeemption but I believe Matt has numbers from those who are operating in the city today. >> But if I may >> that was my second point >> while we there may be preeemption on that on that front as we've discussed for a few weeks already. Um at the end
of the day there's going to have to be action by the state because you just can't have a free-for-all. there's going to be corrective action and you know we can lobby also state to make sure that action is taken to you know address the amount of deliveries of a delivery
robots that we have in the city but I don't want that what I want is cooperation kind of like what we tried to establish before between the residents um so cooperation between the entity and the city of Paul Gables so that's what I'm looking at and figuring out ways to work on things I don't know
enough about the delivery times and whether six minutes or seven minutes or eight minutes there's going to be a difference. But do you foresee Matt because you're the one that deals with a lot of transportation issues here in the city. Do you foresee a benefit in
regards to safety if there is a reduction in speed? >> I mean safety is always our number one priority and I know that's where the vice mayor was coming from. >> But I mean from 8 miles to six, do you think there'll be a reduction in safety? >> I mean the slower the safer, right? I mean,
>> how much slower are you going to get? >> You know, how much slower are you going to how are we going to get? I mean, >> no, of course. Like with the scooters, we limit it to 15. Um, cuz that that's what it is uh for for for that program and for the stability of the scooters uh as far as the rental ones that we have
operating in the city. But we have a problem with these robots that we're that we have a limited problem with the scooters. >> Yeah. >> And that is that they're on the sidewalks. >> Yep. and we look at the scooter and the width of the scooter in reference to the flag width
does not comply with ADA. You have a you have a basically a moment there where confront scooter, you confront the wheelchair, you confront the person in one of those little motorized vehicles who may be disabled. >> So, I just want to find common ground. I don't want to vote on something today
where where at the end of the day we're gonna be be addressing a preeemption issue and then we're gonna even get harsher treatment from the state. >> What do you foresee as what do you foresee other counties or other cities?
>> How are they addressing this issue or are we the only issue that's bringing this forward? >> So, Mr. Mayor, I believe um as always you all are on the forefront of things here in the city of Coral Gables. Um, so Miami Beach has adopted legislation. I believe City of Miami is considering legislation, though it has not been
adopted yet. Um, so as far as I know, we're the second in Miami Dade County to to look at this issue. Um, we're happy to take any direction to keep um, looking at any issues. I do want to say serve in particular has been very um helpful in having discussions with us
and informing us about their operations and um as they've been operating in the city. They have been and I know um Belis can speak to this when we have special events and close down roads. They've been very helpful in geofencing um those uh pedestrian areas to make sure they're not interfering with any special events.
So, thank you to them for their cooperation. >> I'd like to hear from the applicant just in regards to that matter. >> Thank you. to Joseph Solsberg again and and the same back to Matt and your staff that uh this hasn't been a sneak attack. This has been a great conversation
between public sector and private sector um and we are committed to continuing the conversation with regard to I just wanted to talk about a couple items that had came up in this deliberation. number one um both outside counsel and inside serve individuals we have been told now
by our client who's out of state at this time are more than willing to come in whatever capacity at whatever time whether it's a community demo whether it's a presentation before the city commission um with a with ample time we could also bring um serve has an entire
department focused on disability and and and that those aspects we can include them in the conversation we can bring uh examples of other advertising speed and take as much time that is not an empty gesture. Although they are allowed to operate by right in the city beautiful
um they understand that we want to swim into the stream of this community and be good stewards. So that is not an empty gesture. They're willing to come meet individually or uh collectively in a in a demonstration. With regard to >> with that with that with that point, I'm sorry to interrupt you. >> Yes, sir. >> So you want to swim into the stream and
I like that. Um, as you see, I've been mentioning, let's collaborate on multiple different fronts. >> Yes, sir. >> Um, you see the requests from the vice mayor, which are in line with our standards here in the city. >> Are you going to collaborate on issues as important as advertisement
and and reducing speed if it's an issue on multiple fronts or your bottom line? >> No, absolutely. And thank you for for the the very valid question kind of taking a zoom back. So with regard to let me first talk about the number of robots that operate within a certain
city although that is preempted again serve is willing to come share that information share where they are in real time listen to concerns just because they get to operate by right here doesn't mean that we're not going to you know hear the concerns reduce move them around also important to know that with
for example I live in the Coral Gable area so they're traversing city roads so it's also hard to you know limit them per city but again um they're very amanable and and I think that's demonstrative of what you're asking mayor with regards to advertisements. um
we understand you know content specific you don't want sin stuff I I think rather than a public sector concern the private sector is establishing a good framework to not have advertisement that is dangerous or uh contrary to the
character of this community meaning there is not a proliferation of these serve is the 900 pound gorilla they're owned one-third of their ownership is by Uber they're publicly traded and there's not market share for a lot of these by night companies to come. There's only really two or three nationwide. Why is
that? Because there's exclusivity agreements with Door Dash and Uber Eats. Therefore, this corporate stature of this company is they're not going to do something that would be, you know, bodily injury or something that may be sin or, you know, not okay to display in
public. Um, and that's why respectfully I've I've profered to to the body and to the city is what's we've heard the specific concerns as it relates to safety and speed and maneuverability. We are not here to say those aren't an issue and we're pledged to continue to work with the city, but frankly we have
not heard specific concern with an advertisement that has been located on a bot within the city during their deployment. if there are any specific concerns rather than regulate and then come back after the fact, we would like to have that conversation. But at this
time, we're frankly at a loss of any specific concern as it relates to advertisement. And I think a lot of the concerns that surround taxes and bus benches, it's a unique situation given what I mentioned about the market share. So, but I definitely want to get up here and share that that is not an empty
gesture. both as outside council and serve robotics are more than willing to come work discuss provide demonstration or anything going forward. >> So two questions sir before I pass it off to my colleagues. Madam city attorney >> good question. So while we are preempted
if we do take measures today uh to regulate advertising and to regulate speed what reach do we have? >> So there's no preeemption as to the speed. There's a maximum speed set in state statute and we can set the speed at this. There's no legal concerns with
the the speed as is here today or if you want to raise it or change it to the maximum permitted under state law. That's completely permissible. As far as advertising, the city feels that the ordinance as written is perfectly defensible. The city has aesthetic and safety concerns about um moving objects
in the city um for safety of drivers, distracted driving as well as our regulation of aesthetics in the city. So, we also feel that that um is defensible. Though, as always, we're happy to take any feedback and address um advertising. however you would wish in a legal manner. >> Okay. And the second question I have for
you, sir, who owns this company? >> Uh, thank you. Serve Robotics is publicly traded on the NASDAQ and as public information, one of their largest shareholders um is Uber Technologies. >> It's based out of the United States. >> Yes, sir. based out of our our point of
contact uh who used to work at the city of Miami who all y'all know well Yari Diaz is based out of Dallas but actually um it's based out of the United States and they're opening markets worldwide >> but this is not a Chinese company is it? Absolutely not. >> Sure. Will we will we allow we allow in our backyard?
>> No, no, no. I'm not picking on you. >> No, no, no. I'm picking up what you're putting down. Um, not a chance. I wouldn't be up here representing them, sir. >> Okay, good. Just want to make >> as a first generation of Cuban immigrants, there's not a chance. You couldn't pay me enough. >> That makes me happy to hear. >> Yes, sir. >> To the mayor. >> Madam Vice Mayor,
>> so I'm just going to for the purposes of trying to move this conversation along. >> Um, the advertisement prohibition is only for the exterior. You can put whatever you want inside. You have flyers going. You can have paint paint inside. This is an exterior
prohibition. And there's a reason for distraction and so forth. We can continue this conversation. But what was sent over to me was so over broad and the way this was advertised for for res. >> Sorry, I'm not familiar with what was sent over to you. >> Yeah. Via email proposed language that
you know >> Oh, the Chicago that that's a little different. think that's based on an operating agreement because they're not allowed to operate by right whereas they are in the state of Florida. So >> I understand it was over broad. I'm not at this juncture willing to have a discussion without having more time with
our city attorney. So right now you've got a six-month window. You're not prohibited on putting stuff inside of the mobility delivery device uh you know to advertise and hand out flyers or have something painted on the inside. It's
only an exterior um restriction. >> Respectfully, Mayor, that's not where the the the ad generation that then goes to the proliferation of this technology to make food delivery more affordable is generated from the exterior. So, the only one that I've ever seen, frankly,
uh on Geralda was like a a sticker that said, you know, how to train your dragon is coming to theaters. So I understand where you're coming from, but the inside of putting flyers, the individual restaurant may do that and that's their own valition. That does not benefit the
overall economics of the proliferation of these. Um, just want to be clarified going forward. >> I understand. You know how we feel about stickers, graffiti, and advertising on our benches and so forth. We can continue this conversation beyond this point.
This ordinance was published this way. This has been pending for some time. We even took an additional 30-day delay to allow more comment period and discussion to occur. I sent it to my disability board member for comment. And if you've
ever had un unfortunately the opportunity to, you know, travel in a wheelchair, you understand just how easy it is to tip somebody over. Okay, I gave you examples of children. You have people in walkers. You have people
with strollers. You know, the speed on the sidewalks is concerning. I have personally experienced them. They do not back up. They do not change direction. They do not move out of the way of pedestrians. So, having it do faster and
and the inability to stop within a reason reasonable period of time because it's going so much faster, we need to have a conversation when this technology improves. Can it steer out of the way? Can it stay on one side of the sidewalk as opposed to taking the center
out of the middle of a much larger sidewalk that now leaves less than two 2 and 1/2 ft for people to get a buy on the other side. So if you have a child in a stroller or if you're in a wheelchair, you have to turn around as opposed to
the robot moving out of the way because it does not >> I understand. I I have a two and a halfyear-old and one on the way. We're on Geralda four times a week. I'm not going to say they work perfectly, but I would like to say that this conversation regarding the safety respectfully again
I think is separate apart from the concern that we have regarding uh advertisements. I just don't want them to be lumped as one. >> No, no, they you know I moved from one one issue. >> No, I understand. >> So we do need to move forward. I made a motion. We have a second >> to the mayor.
>> Yes. >> Okay. So, I mean, safety for the city of Coral Gables is paramount. >> Um, but I also want to make sure that with this legislation, this ordinance is not hindering the ability of your business actually working in. And I feel
that if that's the case, we need to reach a middle ground. But I don't feel we have sufficient information of how these robots actually function, the technology behind them, and how they operate. And I would greatly appreciate
if maybe this this commission would um consider deferral into maybe next commission meeting that you can come in maybe with a sample robot so that we know how fast really is eight it's 8 miles per hour um 7 miles per hour what
the installation looks inside what would make your company still be able to operate here in Coral Gables because we're offering a service not only to our residents or to our business community. Our business community that maybe for lunch cannot
afford to go ahead and pay $7 for delivery fee. And now these robots are not charging anything. >> No tip, no delivery. >> I understand. I understand. I think it's a benefit to the community, especially to the downtown and for even the business community that do not live
here. So, I would um city attorney, would I be able to I know there's a motion on the table, but would I be able to put this on hold the motion? I know Commissioner and Lara did this. I'm not sure. >> A motion to postpone can be considered when there's a main motion.
>> I would I would move to postpone this item. >> We have a motion, a second. >> I know a motion to postpone can be made when there's an a motion. >> This has been postponed enough. This is they've had many months these robots have not improved. I've encountered them
number of times completely blocking sidewalks, completely you know blocking individuals with disabilities being able to be able to traverse down a city sidewalk. We need to move forward and if this is what's necessary to get this company to
improve its technology, so be it. You have six months to do so. So, it is rather a slap in the face to individuals with disabilities to try to postpone something that's not even going to be in effect for 6 months
because you haven't had the opportunity to be able to experience them blocking your path. I've experienced it a number of times and I've tested it. It doesn't move to the left. It doesn't move to the right. It doesn't go in the rear. I brought up a picture. You saw it a
number of months ago. The pedestrians had to move into the grass. Thank God they had legs to do it with. They couldn't have done it if they were in a wheelchair. Somehow someway the the person in the wheelchair would have had to manually wheel that wheelchair
backwards next to Lunro traffic. We need to move forward. postponement only exasperates the damages to the individuals with disabilities that are unable to diverse around these robots.
>> We have a motion to postpone. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. Um, and let me explain why. Again, my request is very simple and why I think we should defer this item and that is because I think we should have a
presentation. And I think we should have an a meeting with the commission, the disability advisory board and our senior citizen advisory board and have a presentation so that we can see how these robots are behaving because again
I'm speaking from my personal experience. It's been completely different from yours. So I want to see why we're having a different experience when we're interacting with these robots. Um, how many users do do the robots have in the city right now? How
many people residents in Coral Gables are utilizing this system? >> Uh, I'm sorry, Commissioner Fernandez, I don't have that information at that time, but if afforded the opportunity to get that and any additional information, we pledged to get that and any other additional information requested by the
body prior to any demonstration or subsequent meeting. >> I believe the information we were provided was about 31 within the city. So, I mean, as a friendly amendment to the motion to defer, it would be a motion to defer
requiring that we have a joint meeting with the disability advisory board and the senior citizen advisory board for a presentation so that we can see how these robots are operating. And madam vice mayor, there there could be issues that we're not even realizing are issues until we start interacting with them.
Um, so it'll present us with an opportunity of again having a more robust legislation and avoiding additional preeemptions by Tallahassee which are coming pretty much on everything that we pass these days >> through the mayor. >> So just one just one second >> through the mayor.
>> But just one second. Um, Commissioner L, do you have anything you'd like to add? >> Yeah, in my view we have been kicking the can down the road on this issue for quite some time. The technology needs in my opinion something lit under it to
encourage it to move forward. Um my views are that I'm supportive of the motion to grant the resolution and not to defer it. >> Vice Mayor, >> one last comment. The preeemption we have is a federal
preeemption. It's called the Americans with Disabilities Act. These robots that are operating in our city absolutely do not comply. I brought this legislation to bring it into compliance. It's just legislation and you have six
months to comply. The alternative is an individual with disabilities brings a federal lawsuit against the company and you'll have an injunction by a federal court. No state law
can preempt the ADA. So any notion that this FL this is just going to bring on an additional preeemption from the state of Florida when we're talking about public safety matters
is is just misguided. >> I think we're ready for a vote >> through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Yes. So, I'm going to go ahead and accept your friendly amendment, but I'm also going to add there a time limitation of 45 days because I don't want this to keep on dragging. We need
to make a decision on this as as soon as possible. I think 45 days to get the board together and for you guys to prepare for this presentation and bring one of those robots in is a fair amount of time. That way, um, it stays below
the six months. And I think that with more sufficient information, we can come up with even tighter and better legislation that also um protects the safety of our citizens that are walking around or driving.
>> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Commissioner Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Lada. >> Excuse me. Which motion is it? >> This is the motion to defer. >> Nope. with a 45day window.
>> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> this has already been before the disabilities fair board and this language was reviewed by my disability member. Absolutely no. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> no. Let me tell you why I voted no.
We're going to address the issue today. We're going to find a common ground. So, at the end of the day, this is what I'm willing to do. I'm willing to make it seven miles an hour. I think it's
absolutely ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. We're fighting for one mile. Okay, I'll play along with the ridiculousness. Why not? Okay. And I will not negotiate the issue of advertisement. We need to figure out
where we stand here. City Cor standards. We want to adhere to those standards. If we water down our standards, we become like everybody else. Why are you doing business in the city of Cor Gables? Because you want our business. You want the 200 restaurants. You want the Fortune 500 companies. You want the
class A, class B, and class C office space that are full here. You want the droves of people that are coming here to the city of Corables to spend their hardearned money. At the end of the day, let's work mutually. Let's let's put a plan together that addresses the
concerns of all the boards and the commission and let's move forward. Inc. I don't know your business structure and again at the end of the day I command you know I commend you for finding a niche in a market and
delivering. But I will ask you question if you would be so kind to come up. Do you charge the restaurants to use the service? >> As a reminder, I'm outside council for serve in government affairs capacity. So I don't know the specifics of that. But
again, information that we're I'm not going to give you an answer that I don't know. >> Well, there's nothing free because you told me if you told me if you told me >> So the interaction between the restaurant uh does not go through serve. It would still go through the delivery company,
>> Door Dash, Uber, Uber Eats. Um, so the privity of contract, for lack of a better term, exists there. But I'm sure I mean, we're compensated for our services >> obviously. But I'm making a point because you said before that the resident that is making the
delivery request doesn't have to pay or tip. >> So it's it's when I've done it, it's uh no option for tip >> and your delivery fee, I believe, don't quote me, was about onethird if that, of a regular delivery fee. >> So it's not free. Again,
you're not you don't have a human. >> No, no. >> The capital cost of course is obviously a lot more than than a robot. So, I imagine they use the advertising fees that are generated to sub, you know, to to be able to make even more money to be
able to pay for the service and to be able to be more profitable. Correct. >> Yes, sir. That's interesting. There's actually not a lot of advertisements on these yet. So, it's not something that's really being used to the full extent right now. It's something that obviously from a future standpoint is a revenue
stream, but for right now it's just displaying either the Uber Eats or the Door Dash or a static unilluminated, but it absolutely is a revenue stream. >> So this is what I would like to hope that you would agree with me and and the vice mayor. >> And I will say for server Robotics wants to make it known that Coral Gables is
not just a jurisdiction. Oral Gables is a priority jurisdiction for this company course and we want to work here and we want to be collaborative. Although we have issues with the policy, I do want to make it known that SER is here to work collaboratively and we are honored
to do business in the city of Cors. That's why I told you there's 200 restaurants here and over 150 multinational corporations. Thousands of people are desperately moving here to the city looking for our quality of life, our public safety, our transportation, our cleanliness, our
parks. our style of life. So, let me make you an offer if the vice mayor will accept friendly amendment. We're going to do we're going to do seven miles an hour. We're going to do three m three month advertising ban and
the next two or three weeks going to deal with the vice mayor. You're going to deal with staff. We're going to craft legislation that meets the goals of the city. And you're going to have a presentation before disability board. You are going to give a presentation. Your staff's going to give a
presentation. you'd like to give a presentation like I've done a litany of times with other entities that wanted to show me products from the manager and I riding in an electric uh trolley electric bus uh that we ended up not pursuing because it was not Americanmade
to other outside companies that come here and they let us try their products to see if it come if it meets our standards from electric blowers versus gas power blowers. I can go on and on and on it and I'd like to have a three-month ban on advertisement, which
I'm very clear. You better come up with something tasteful if you want me to even consider it. I mean, it's got to be something tasteful. If it's a neon lights, if it's strobe lights, if it's, you know, obviously cigarettes and alcohol and that kind of stuff, I'm not even I'll vote no immediately. Um, and
reduction of speed from 8 to 7. I need to get my hands in understanding why it's got to be six versus seven. And obviously staff's response was, well, the slower the better. Obviously, obviously. But I want to see the real numbers. I want to understand where things are. And I think this could this
could be an opportunity to meet down the middle if the vice mayor is willing to accept that. The reason why I bring it to three months is because it lights a fire on this to get this address quickly before the end of the summer. And the summer comes, you go into the good months here of the city. the best
weather, people are ordering, people are back in town, school started, and that's where the most money opportunities are for restaurants. So, I want to make sure that we address it during the summer when it's the slowest months. Madam vice mayor, >> yeah, my main concern on speed is because these devices cannot move out of
the way and don't move out of the way. Um, I know there's a competitor that does move out of the way, another um company with the delivery. I don't know that I don't know its name. Uh they're consider I called them the smarter robots that could steer out of the way
or back up and be out of the way >> because ours ours are the most technologically advanced in the world. >> Okay. Well, whatever you have on the street in the city of Col Gables is not that because they don't move. I don't know why they don't move. But you know,
I I was right in front of it. I move to the left. I move to the right. See if it would yield. Wouldn't yield. Wouldn't back up. what move direction. So, um, well, there's a significant difference in injury on six miles an
hour on pushing a wheelchair over versus 7 miles per hour. Again, there is a a a window for compliance here. Okay? Okay. And during that window period, I would expect that you have a demonstration that would show the difference in speed
of of a robot hitting something because I've seen someone sent me a a photo of one in another uh another city where it rammed right into a bus bench area and the glass was shattered.
>> So, the concern is real. >> Okay. >> Absolutely. No, we we don't want this We do not want to be portrayed as dismissing any of the concerns raised. We just want to be a part of the conversation. I'm a little confused, mayor, with regard to the six to three months.
>> If it's going to be moving forward, then obviously we would like more time, the six months that was originally deliberated. >> Um I'm just a little confused as to that aspect of of what you're proposing. >> So, let me let me make a suggestion. >> I thought we were saying there was going to be a six-month ban on advertising. >> Why don't we why don't we do this? Because
>> No, mayor. It's it's a six-month education period. So, there was not going to be enforcement for that six-month period. That's that's what the ordinance >> you're being I think you're being you're being very lenient on that. I wouldn't give I wouldn't allow any advertising. It was up to me until they can show me a
way to do this in a manner that benefits them and benefits us in an aesthetic when it comes to aesthetics. By the way, Mr. Diaz is on the phone and he would like to speak. Yeah. Um and I'm more than welcome for him. Uh that was my intention in regards to six and three months. I was saying give me three months. Give me three months to work
with you. Not me, obviously, city manager. Three months to work with you to collaborate and find ways that we can do advertisement. Let me give you an example. The IKEA, not the IKEA, the kiosks. >> Yike, >> those are tasteful. You know, we curate
that. We don't allow any type of advert advertisement on that. Whoever pays more gets on. It's not the way it works. We're very thoughtful. We're very careful to make sure that it has to do with city business. So it's again it's a softer approach on how to do business.
We're very careful. It's multi-layered approach. It's not just it's not just a you know come and get it. Whoever pays the most gets it. And I don't want to I don't want to be derogatory towards any companies but there's certain things that again >> we don't allow here in the city gun
stores. We don't allow strip clubs. We don't allow pet stores. You know there are certain things that we have standards here in the in in the in the in the city. So, we're not that desperate for advertisement money. >> What? It's not shared with
>> I understand that. I understand that. >> Yeah. >> Even if it was shared, >> I'm just I'm sir, >> we want to do it the right way. >> We just haven't and and totally understand. Again, we are here to respond to all the concerns we have heard. But again, just going back to the advertisement portion,
we have heard abstract but not concrete examples. We would rectify that immediately. So, you know, we have not had any specific examples yet, mayor or commission, on issues specific to the advertisements included on these bots. And I just say that because we are
willing to come to whatever agreement, make sure that it's, you know, regardless of the law that it's something again that swims into the stream of this community. But just to be frank on the record, we have not heard anything specific. That concern has been more abstract. Whereas the other ones turning around the disability advocates,
all that has been concrete. Those are action items. So I just want to clarify that but any action items um we'll move on but as you mentioned Mr. Diaz who is in house for serve uh is on Zoom and available for questions. >> Mr. Diaz
>> sir >> here we go. >> We can hear >> uh Mr. Mayor. >> Yes sir. >> Yes Mr. Mayor uh city commissioners vice mayor city attorney and clerk. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. Um, I'm in my car, which is unfortunately why you saw the top of my head a minute
ago. I am the director of government affairs and accessibility here at Serve Robotics. Thank you for taking this item. We are very much in favor of the majority of this item. I think it's a very thoughtful approach just as it was with Miami Beach on uh focusing on safety and focusing on public safety
specifically because our delivery robots works exactly on the sidewalks and are only on the roadway when they're crossing from one side to the other. The big distinction between us and our competitors is that we are mostly autonomous. So that means that our robots are operating almost at all times
at level four autonomy except when it is crossing the street. That does not mean that it is only operating autonomously. Every time that the robot is in motion, it is supervised by a remote supervisor, meaning a human is observing what is happening through the cameras and
through the sensors so that they can take charge when something happens that is out of compliance. So, the vice mayor mentioned a couple things that I wanted to address uh because they were very right on. The robot travels in the middle of the sidewalk so that it can
avoid either coming into contact with someone that is jumping in from the street or a door that is opening from um one of the other side. That is seen as a safest place of travel. We also understand that it isn't necessarily the best place of travel because we understand that in for example the US
folks normally walk on the right hand side. In Australia and other countries, folks normally walk on the lefthand side and there is that expectation that although this is a robot that it act like a person because we are classified as a pedestrian. So to the vice mayor's point, we are making those attempts
right now to to get to uh what the expected behavior is when it comes to being in the center versus on the right or the left. There are videos like the vice mayor has said of our robot and Koko's robot running through a glass bus shelter in Chicago. um this had to do
more with the shelter itself than us if you take into consideration that Koko is mostly human operated uh versus autonomously. So there was an issue we worked there with C dot um they're really great partners and that has now been corrected. Coming to the most important concern for us which is
accessibility because safety is our top concern but accessibility is also right up there. That's why we are the only ones to have an in-house accessibility team. U Michelle Lee leads that team. Uh when we began having conversations with the disability um committee here at the
city of Coral Gables, we presented to them virtually back in I want to say it was November of last year just to answer questions that they might have around our product. We also wanted to make sure that we answered questions of the city administration. So, at some point last year, I'm forgetting the date exactly
because I'm I'm driving as I mentioned, I met with um the C the CIO, we met with Belie, we met with several folks from the city to talk through our product to answer questions they had. And one of the requests that Ryundo had was for us to integrate into the city's GIS and uh
tech systems. So, we've worked to create a report out from us to you guys so that you can receive full fleet management view of all of the the fleet that is in the city of where they are, how they're operating, what their names are because they have individual names per robot so
that you can identify them. On the topic of advertisement, Joseph mentioned that the only advertisements that we've run in Coral Gable so far is Toothless, the uh the little dragon from How to Train Your Dragon. Um we are also looking at doing
free advertisements for cities and nonprofits, meaning that if you want to run an ad campaign, keep the city beautiful or advertising an event or things like that, we have included that as part of our advertising events. um saving those spaces for cities to do it in kind. We recently did one in Miami
Dade and the city of Miami with the women's fund around human trafficking. That was another example of a different wrap that we've done. We did a rap in Miami Beach with Miami Beach colors to exemplify how we are working to be part of community. The idea of a
demonstration is a wonderful one. That's one of the reasons we actually took a robot when we met with city staff so that they could see it, they could touch it, they can see what the sensors look like. Um, to the point of the vice mayor about the robot not getting out of the way, the safest robot is a stopped one.
We want to make sure that if it comes into a situation where it is not uh able to move quickly, it'll stop to allow what the next step should be for the remote supervisor to do so. if a person is literally right on it, it will take a minute for the remote supervisor to back
it up or to move it out of the way. Um, another commissioner who's who mentioned that the robot waits patiently at the crosswalk. That's exactly what they are programmed to do. They would line up, wait sometimes two or three light cycles because there are so many pedestrians
crossing in order to wait for those pedestrians to cross to then follow behind them. So, these are all the things that that I've heard that I wanted to make sure to mention. Um, I did also hear the mayor mention uh doing advertising tastefully and the vice mayor mentioned some items that were
profered by us. This came from our permit in Chicago. It was very specific to commercial advertising that would not be permitted. So, as examples, mayor, to your point, it would be commercial advertising that is untruthful, misleading, lielist, uh defamatory,
commercial advertising that is obscene, pornographic, sexually explicit, and it gets very detailed on what that means. Uh commercial advertising that displays graphic violence or anything that is obscenity, racial, ethnic, slur, etc.
And then things that are more basic like things that infringe on copyright, things that in it declares or implies the city of Coral Gables uh has any association with any specific product. So just these are the things that I want to make sure that we have profered already to the city as a means to not
have to block the entire uh advertising overall. So I'm happy to take any additional questions that you folks might have, but I just wanted to make sure to address each of the points that I've heard so far. >> Okay. Madam Vice Mayor, as a sponsor, what would you how would you like to proceed so we can get going?
>> Yes. And I would like to get going. Um I would like, you know, as far as having a demonstration, I've seen plenty of demonstration, including one of these sitting in the middle of the sidewalk for in excess of six hours across the
street from my home. As far as a stop pro robot being the best option, if you're in a wheelchair and you're the one having to have back up on that sidewalk another 100 ft because the robot does not move, that is
not a good option. That's a barrier to accessibility. It's clearly in violation of the American with Disabilities Act and it needs to be dealt with. So, um, this needs to move forward as far as being passed now.
Uh, I hope the technology improves. I I there are restrictions in here on which sidewalks uh can be used so we don't have a 5-ft sidewalk next to a highway where you have high volumes of traffic forcing an individual with a disability
to back their wheelchair up in that dangerous condition. So, we need to move forward for that. As far as talking about the advertising, we had started that conversation But I don't want to do this in a rushed fashion. Nor do I want to see uh the type of
advertising that is unbecoming of the city of Coal Gables. I do want to see things that help our businesses, not hurt our businesses. And having excessive advertising on something could also be a distraction. So we have time
to have that conversation. We can pass this on at this time. and there's a six-month period of non-inforcement. We can continue to wordsmith uh the advertising issue in that period of time. I'm open to that. I started having
a conversation with you. But what I don't want to do is last minute right before this thing get a draft of something to to have a discussion with uh you on the dis on the fly and not have an inadequate opportunity to be able to speak with my city attorney and
city staff to think about the actual language because I'd rather do it once. So right now we have six months before enforcement. We have plenty of time to work on it. Even when I'm traveling, I take all these devices with me. We can
wordsmith on the fly and continue to work through the language on it. But the disability issue must move forward now. I've seen enough demonstrations real life. Okay? And if you take the center out of the middle and you can't back
these things up to get them out of the way, you might as well be a wall in front of somebody because they're not going to get be able to get past it. >> So, may I ask you a question, Vice Mayor? >> So, 6 months comes and goes. If we're not able to come to some sort of
framework in regards to advertisement, what is where do we go from there? I don't foresee that we can't have some framework but six months comes and goes if there hasn't been uh an effort on both parties part to have a discussion
to wordsmith something that is palatable for the city of Coral Gables then it's it's in place okay but there's got to be efforts on both sides >> I just want to lay the groundwork to make sure that everybody is you know understands six months comes and goes
Anything else from the commission? >> Yeah. Through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Um if your amendment would have been accepted, I would have supported that 100%. >> Um does staff have any information about um injury potential, the difference
between the miles per hours? We did we did on cars. Vice Mayor, we don't at this time, but I'm sure we can work with our public works staff through the manager to get you some information if you would like. >> Okay. And you have that for the next
commission meeting. >> I'll defer to the manager staff on that, but happy to help however we can >> through the mayor. >> Uh, yes, vice mayor. We we can look into that. So, I'll accept the friendly amendment, but with the update,
if it does show that there's an increased potential for injury based upon the way these mach these uh robots are operating currently, not being able to move out of the way, not being able to avoid objects, not being able to avoid children on strollers, etc., then
we'll have to um I'll have to address it at that time. So to clarify then the the motion is amended to include approving the ordinance with the um change to the maximum speed to 7 miles per hour. Correct.
>> And we will return next month with additional data and um I don't know if the vice mayor the mayor's suggestion regarding three months to come up with advertising language was part of the amendment you accepted or not. No, I think I think as it's written
right now, the six-month period may be because because of the summer months because of people are traveling. I want to make sure that we word smith this adequately. >> Understood. I understand your motion. Thank you. I don't know if the second also accepts that.
>> Well, I'll accept it. >> It's a second. So, we have a motion and a second. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. Commissioner Castro, >> yes. Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Mayor Log, >> yes. >> All right, moving on. Thank you very
much. Let's see if we can run a few a few of these before we have to go to lunch. Item E4. E4 is an ordinance to the city commission amending chapter 58 special assessments article 3 repair construction of streets and sidewalks to amend section 58-48 duty of abuing
property owners to repair in order to amend the code to clarify that abuing property owners are not responsible for defective sidewalks where such defects are a result of city trees and the city has been notified of those defects providing for severability repeat or cotification and effective date. >> Thank you mayor. This item sponsored by the vice mayor. There have no been have
been no changes since first reading. As a reminder, it's the duty of the owner of property abudding defective sidewalks to remedy such defective conditions unless it has been determined by the city that such defect as a result of damage from a city installed and maintained tree and the abuing property owner has notified the city of those
defects. >> All right. Thank you. We have uh any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Maria Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road, 305 3232154. Wonderful
um ordinance. The only thing that I'm here to ask is to please get um our Coral Gables PR or whatever it's called, the communications department to make sure
that the people get this because most of us thought that it was a given if the trees damage the the sidewalk, the city would fix it. and some of the PE they need to know that yes that's what they
need to contact the city and request it and let the city know that there's a problem. I think that would be a wonderful thing if we can get communications to transmit what happened today. Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. Uh do you have a motion? Move
it. >> Move it. >> Second, >> Mr. Clerk. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Lada. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lago. >> Yes. >> Item E5. >> E5 is an ordinance to city commission
amending chapter 18 elections to amend the code consistent with the recently adopted charter amendments to change the date of the city election runoff and qualifying dates to amend the sections regarding canvasing board and adjusting other associated dates for vacancies and qualifying providing for severability repeater codification and effective date. Do >> you have any public comment?
>> No, Mr. Mayor. >> There have been no changes since first reading. Mayor, as a reminder, this is implementing the changes that were adopted into the charter at the last referendum, including um additional vacancies and candidacy and qualifying dates. And a special thank you to the clerk and the supervisor of elections for their assistance in getting this
information. >> Thank you. May I have a motion? >> Move it. >> May I have a second? Second, Mr. Clerk. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Mayor Log, >> as a sponsor item, I thank you for
supporting this item. Yes. Item E6. >> E6 is an orance to the city commission amending chapter 2 administration article 2 city commission to amend section 2-29 compensation of mayor commissioners travel allowance office expense to require a vote of the electors prior to certain changes in compensation consistent with recently approved charter amendment providing for
severability repeater codification and effective date. >> Are there any changes? >> No. Um this item is sponsored by the mayor and as you know this is implementing those changes from the charter review referendums. >> Madam city attorney do you know what the percentage was of this of this uh charter amendment? I don't have that
immediate. You do? I do. Uh 77.84% of the voters. >> I want to make sure that everyone Can you repeat that again? >> 77.84%. >> That is uh you know not overwhelming. That is a tsunami response from the residents and I'm proud uh to be the sponsor of this item. Um Mr. Clerk, do
we have any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you very much. May I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Commissioner Fernandez? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Lada? Yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro. >> Yes. >> Mayor Logo.
>> Yes. Thank you to my colleagues for your support on this item E7. >> E7. Senor the city commission amending chapter 2 administration article 3 boards commissions committees to create division 12 charter review committee to amend the code to codify the charter review committee membership and qualifications and require convening of the committee every 10 years beginning
in 2035 consistent with recently adopted charter amendment providing for severability repealer codification and effective date. As a sponsor of this item, are there uh any changes? >> There have been no changes, mayor. And um just for your information, we're having our um I think final meeting of the current charter review committee
later this week. >> Yes, I spoke to my my appointment to that board. Um what was the overall percentages here? >> 66.38%. >> Against >> four. >> Four against. What was that? What was
the amount? Oh, mayor asking me to reply >> 34%. So, almost almost double. So, uh overwhelming. And I want to thank my colleagues for supporting um this legislation. Thank you very much. May I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> Second. Do >> any public comment?
>> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Perfect. We have a motion and a second. >> Commissioner Lada. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez? >> Yes. >> Mayor Lago? >> Yes. Item E8. E8 is an ordinance to the city commission amending chapter 2 administration article 7 finance
division 1 generally to amend section 2-352 fund balance and reserve policy to require vote of the electors prior to certain changes to the fund balance reserve policy consistent with the recently approved charter amendment providing for severability repealer cotification and effective date >> are there any changes
>> no changes I know you're sick of me mayor this is 63% of the voters and as mentioned it just adds the same language as was added to the charter requiring that any amendment to the 25% reserve requirement requires approval of the electors. >> Yes. So, as the sponsor of this item, um
I want to commend my colleagues for making the right decision and supporting this item. Uh the residents spoke. They want to have they want to keep their reserves. The reserves belong to them. Uh when I started here, we were not even one/4 of the reserves that we have now. through the leadership of the manager
and his incredible work along with his team, finance director, we have been very fiscally sound and very tight. Let me um my colleagues could have could give me just one moment of uh of latitude here as you can see what happened yesterday
from the state. It is rather significant and we'll go over the numbers later and the manager will be mentioning it. the impact for the for the tax reduction which again I'm fully in favor of before somebody says I'm not the tax reforms that are forthcoming from Tallahassee which I think are very beneficial
especially for those who are retired and those who have served in the military are going to take a big chunk out of our ability to potentially fund certain capital projects uh address issues like we're doing right now where last year we spent $9.5
million of additional monies to pay down on our debts uh which was or our pension debts which I started doing in 2015 along with my colleagues. So we're going to have to weigh all those options but thank God thank God we did not under any circumstance entertain at one point this
commission did taking money uh from the reserves which is something that commissioner Fernandez mentioned uh for for additional projects. Thank god we never did that because right now we're looking at some significant numbers reductions in our ability uh to have funds here in the city uh when this if
if the the voters uh vote in favor of this tax reform. Uh the numbers are pretty stratospheric. worked with the manager. The manager did an amazing job uh really really uh getting all the information uh and it was the numbers are he'll go over it later, but we're talking about I think it was around $12
million potentially if it's a $250 million $250,000 reduction in the homestead exemption and then it's almost double that uh when you go to 500,000 the subsequent year. So the residents here made a very very very decisive statement. They want to protect our
reserves and it can only be used for emergencies and for a rainy day. Case in point, when we had a hurricane, we were the first ones cleaned up. We were able to go to market and we did not have to get any debt, which would have taken, by the way, Mr. Manager, it took how many years for the state of Florida to pay us back? >> We still have a few bills.
>> We're talking about over eight years. >> It took us Yes. We were we were at 90% in about three or four years. >> Yeah. >> And then the the final five to six 8% took another 3 to four years. So imagine that if we would have taken out that debt and we would have used a portion of
that fund of our reserves. Uh it's so easy to use, but it's so it's so difficult as our finance director who's in the back along with our assistant director will tell you to tighten your belt every single year and just save like we're doing with the sea level rise fund which has almost $30 million in it
that we started doing. I think it was about seven, eight, six or seven years ago. So these are decisions that were made. The finance director that she looked at me and maybe I said something wrong. Did I say something wrong? Okay, good. I want to make sure I'm correct. Um, so these are decisions, tough decisions that we made years ago. And what were those decisions we made? 2015
to overfund the pension by I think it was about $4 million and last year was 9 and a half. No, last year was seven and a half. The previous year was nine and a half. Uh, it was a $2 million reduction because of the cola that was approved. It should have not been approved. We talk about sea level rise and really
taking really taking sustainability seriously. We've been putting away something around three and a half million to4 million dollars a year into an account so that in the future if sea level rise truly affects us the commission that will be in place will have close the goal is to
have a hund00 million in place. We have to now look to see how that's going to be affected as a result of the potential tax cuts and also the amount of money that we've we've been able to sock away in a rainy day fund 25% of our budget. When I started we were about $15 million. Now
we're talking about we're in the high $60 million. That is the reason why we're a city that has a triple triple bond rating. And I want to commend my colleagues in the commission for those who supported making sure that this got to the voters. And the voters overwhelmingly with over
63% said that they want to be fiscally sound. They want to protect our financial ability and not just spend uh items on items that we should budget for over three, four, five years. That's what fiscal responsibility is. So, I want to
thank uh the residents and it's an honor to to uh be the sponsor of this item. These are tough pieces of legislation that again may handcuff the city, but they're the right thing to do. >> Mr. Clerk, do we have a motion in a second? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> I'll move it. >> Second.
>> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Lada? >> Yes. >> Mayor Log, >> yes. It's great to put a bow on it. All right, we're going to move we're going to move to one more item before we go have lunch. Um, item F1.
F1 is a resolution of the city commission authorizing an initial funding commitment to support the operations and maintenance of the underlying within the city of Coral Gables in the PR-rated amount of $180,000 for fiscal year 26 authorizing city manager and city attorney to negotiate the terms of a memorandum of understanding with the underlying
management organization incur business as the underlying conservicing consery regarding the funding operations maintenance management and programming of the underlying within the city of Coral Gables. Okay. Do we have anybody here from staff?
Madame ACM Veester, assistant city manager. Um, this item really is kind of a stop gap to fund the prrated amount for this year. Um this is going to be coming from recurring capital and um we've had
several meetings um now amongst staff with the underlying staff uh with their legal counsel as well as with representatives from the county and the county's legal counsel. Uh so we are still working through some issues and the res resolution as it reads it does
have those initial conditions that we mentioned during the last meeting that we're still waiting for those items to be provided to us by staff from the underlying. >> Thank you. Madame ACM you have anything else further or >> No. Uh I do want to mention you know something that came up during the last
meeting was the financial numbers for Miami Day County. Um so they did commit uh last fiscal year about $2.6 6 million uh to maintain the underlying especially the first couple of segments that had already been open and usable for this uh
2526 adopted budget. They did fund $2.6 million in maintenance and um as I mentioned during the last meeting, it is unclear what the funding commitment will be during their discussions with the budget this year. So, as a sponsor of this of this
legislation, um I'm not a fan of having my back against the wall, but I feel like the city has been pushed to a corner. When I sponsored the legislation that I worked on with Meg Daily proudly
10 years ago, we worked on a funding mechanism for construction. We talked about envisioning a 10-mi linear park that would be transformational. Transformational not only in regards to quality of life, but also raising
property values, bringing a community together. Never did we discuss, actually we did discuss the fact that the city's responsibility would be for capital in regards to construction
>> and planning. It was never discussed that we would have a responsibility in perpetuity for maintenance and overhead. As a matter of fact, we were very clear about that when we invested almost $10 million in the under.
Now the county has backed out of that agreement and the county is saying that they will not provide uh the maintenance and overhead to make sure that the underlying is kept to the standard that we envisioned when
we invested all this money. I wrote the legislation which delivered on the funding necessary for the construction using funds impact funds within 1,000 ft of the
underlay. We've tried to find ways to address this issue. The county is not cooperating. They're requiring city Miami of Miami, which I've met with both mayors to find solutions.
It is only going to get more difficult on cities and whether you're in favor of the tax cuts or not, it's not the discussion. If those tax cuts are approved, we will have to address issues. This is an example
of an unforeseen condition that we as a city have to address. We have almost three miles of the underline within the jurisdiction of the city of Coral Gables borders the University of Miami runs parallel to one of our major streets
Bono. And we need to do everything in our power to ensure that this linear park is up to the standards that we take so much pride in when we open up a new park. Case in point, David Lawrence Park, the last park that we opened up that everybody in
Miami County rants and raves about, or the Dorothy Thompson Park, and I can go on and on and on. So, I don't feel comfortable agreeing to anything else but this 180,000. I also want to make sure that my colleagues
consider and support me in ensuring that the city manager has is either appointed or has a design that he appoints to the governing board once that governing board is established. I think that's critical.
>> And that is one of our requests that is >> I just want to put on the record so people can hear it at home. We're not just cutting $180,000 check. This is a one time and we will have to come back and we'll have to negotiate and if we do have no other choice but to approve a funding mechanism here for the underlying I will
only do it for three years. I will not do it in perpetuity and as long as there's funds like other cities have done whether it's the city of Miami or South Miami. So um our back like I started our back is against the wall on this issue. Uh we've tried to
find solutions. We've met on multiple occasions. uh the county will not be funding what they said they would be funding and I hope that the endowment for the underlying uh can grow because I think the underline depends on
its autonomy. I want to be clear the underlying depends on its autonomy. I don't I'm not enthusiastic about if the underline fails in its in its endeavors to be able to raise the
capital necessary to run the underline. I'm nervous about how the county will run that three miles within the city of Coral Gables. I don't like to take swipes at our colleagues on the county but at the end of the day we see that here at the city
of Gables we have a much higher standard in regards to our parks quality of life and how we maintain our infrastructure. So, uh, this is something that we have to discuss and the reason why I'm doing it for one year is because I want my colleagues to play a role. This commit
this commission and future commissions to play a role and to constantly be vetting the relationship between the city, the underlying and the county. Um, I welcome everyone's guidance on this matter.
You know, we will be looking for additional funding in multiple different forms. Uh but this I think allows us to backs stop the underlying show them that we support them but get back to the table to negotiate what the next three years are going to look like. I will not
approve five years that will be my vote in opposition. So that's where basically we stand on this issue um after 10 years and as the underlying comes to fruition. Uh it's a little bit bittersweet for me. I'll be honest with
you as we cut the ribbon on that because so many are going to enjoy it. But I never expected that it would be uh this much of a financial burden on the city and the difficult nature of it is only going to get more complicated as the tax issue
becomes a reality in 2028 if the voters approve it and other issues. So that's why as the conversations that I had with the manager and staff the other day and I mentioned in our pension board meeting, if we can just be fiscally
prudent over the next five years, we will have close to $25 million. And I'm producing a memo that will be going out today to the residents. As a recap to that meeting, we will have $25 million a year that can be spent by those leaders at that moment in five
years to continue to elevate the quality of life of residents here in the city of Gables. Anybody have any questions? Anything else you like to add >> through the mayor? Thank you. So briefly, you know, don't take my my
views on this as in any way condemning or shedding or shining any sort of negative light on the underlying because >> you think that you think I haven't been difficult enough on myself already in the last three minutes. It's okay. Don't worry, I can take it. But I I I uh No, but I I um
agree and support uh this resolution, but quite reluctantly as you've made perfectly clear. Um I expressed during the last commission meeting displeasure at on so many points on the
compass, right, of how we find ourselves in this position. And I also don't like to have my back against the wall or find myself with what appears to be a shifting of of the deck of cards. Three card monty feels like, you know, you make a deal and then you're you're
you're staring at a different set of variables, right? When there should be no variable. You know, this this has already been agreed to. But, you know, consistent with and supportive of this amazing project, right? three. It would soon be three linear miles coming through the city of
Coral Gables to transform what was otherwise an abandoned or or let's just say blighted looking track of land underneath uh the the metro rail where we just now are providing the residents which is enhanced park activity, beauty.
Um, I'm I'm 100% supportive of that and in particular of Meg Daly with her personal sacrifice over so many years on this labor of love that is the underlying but reluctantly support it because I don't
like the position we find ourselves in. And this is the the Hobson's choice that we're making here. And I would urge my my colleagues to also support the mayor's resolution because we have to maintain the standards of Coral Gable's parks, but this is not an open
checkbook. This is not an invitation to continue to run the table if somebody at worst is trying to do that or that if it's someone else's error or incompetence becomes my problem. you know, we're we're going to solve it
and we we'll have some some immediate time spent trying to figure this out. I know Karolina, you're working on this as point and I urge you to continue to insist on what is right and what is fair and reasonable to get the information you need along with the city manager to
be able to get back to where we were when we approved this some time ago. And I have the commitment I think he's here Ulys Cleley representative from the underline and you can join me up here if you want but he has committed that he would get us the information by the next commission meeting and and that is one
of the contingent items in this resolution that we still have to execute anou and that we have to be provided with the items that we previously discussed at the last meeting. >> How are you sir? Thank you for being here. >> Doing well doing well. Thank you. And uh thank you Mr. Mayor and uh members of
the commission. But first, I want to thank uh assistant manager uh Karolina Veester. Um she's been really uh working with us to make sure that uh we are working collaboratively uh with respect to not only the underlying in general, the full three miles, but also uh other
destination areas that we have uh within the city of Coral Gables. Uh so yeah, we absolutely will commit to provide the information that's being requested and we also will be available through the negotiations with the city manager and and assistant manager Veester.
Thank you very much. Yes. >> So, um, sometimes you would say that this is sort of like a perfect storm. We have a comm you had a commitment at one point from the county to maintain a beautiful asset
and now you've put so much work into and benefits all because the people that travel through our city on an underline are not just from the city of Coral Gables and vice versa. And uh and I'm think you're aware of the
efforts I've made to improve this the safety of the underline through its entire length as we had a public meeting on um on 27th Avenue to improve that intersection in particular because it's
very dangerous for people to traverse. But this has got to be um something that's got to be looked at as a long-term asset I think from the county and that serious conversation needs to be had. It's a perfect storm too because at the same time all municipalities in
the county are looking at lower property tax revenues going forward. Not only because property values have flattened out, okay, but because we have the threat from Tallahassee to cut revenues significantly.
So it makes it very difficult to forecast for the underlying or to forecast for the city what our commitments can be in the future. So, but I'm supportive of this particular resolution so that we can get this
conversation moving forward with the caveats that the city manager's office has put forward to try to improve um options in the future efficiencies, you know, because we have our uh budget
budget meetings coming up and I know what it costs for us to maintain our parks and as expressed to me by other city managers uh during Saturday's ga gayla we can build it with moability impact fees or
with bonding money but we can't maintain it with those funds because those monies cannot be used for that so we have to have a recurring course recurring source I should say of funding going forward this is not going to be easy so um do we
have a motion yet >> I'll make I'll make a motion. I'll second. >> Mr. Cler, do you have any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. Before we go to public comment, I don't know if our finance director or the manager, do we know do we have an idea where we're looking at
now in regards to property uh property revenue, like the increases of property values. We've gone from 10 and a half to eight and a half to five and a half over three years. I don't think I was laughed at. I think I was mocked at by certain people in this room here when I said
that winter was coming. Now with the tax tax implications that are forthcoming with the $2 million cola that we're spending a year now with our requirement to fund the underlying uh think everybody better bundle up because
uh going to be a tough winner. Going to be a tough winner. >> You're the mayor. >> One second. Yes, ma'am. How we looking? I'd love to know. Have you spoken to anyone in regards to uh >> to our to our the property property appraiser? How we looking? So, we received our June 1 property values
yesterday. >> Um, I was going to present this tomorrow, so a little early. Um, so our June 1 property values, I was actually surprised to see that they went up by 6 and a half%. So, 6.5. >> We need every dollar. >> However, u what's important to note is
that the uh existing property increase was 5.5%. And new construction actually represents 1% of our increase. So new construction the value of new construction in our city actually more than doubled than last year. So as you know last year our
new construction value had gone down and this year it went up significantly. >> So what is so we went from three years ago 10 and a half 10 and a half right I think it was 10 and a half then two years ago was eight and a half and then it went to five and a half. >> It was a year that we went to 12 and
then last year was about 5.8 >> 5.8 And this year is 6.5. >> I thought you were taking 6.5 on top of the 5.8. >> No, no, no. 6.5. >> Don't get too excited, guys. Don't get don't get too excited. By the way, health health costs went up this year. >> Health costs went up this year. So, we
got the underlying, we got the cola this year. We >> And we don't know what pro what the state's going to do with property values next year. So, >> yeah. So, we've seen some pretty interesting numbers. By the way, thank you. Thank you for working on those numbers with the manager. I know that you guys worked on it over the weekend and I appreciate that because we needed to see those numbers and they're pretty
staggering when you look at the 250,000 homestead versus the 500 which would be subsequent the year after. The numbers the numbers are massive. Again, great relief for seniors and those retirees that deserve it and the military, but it will hit the city >> massively. Massively.
>> Yes. Mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, mayor. Uh we had uh existing values going up 5.5%. the the new construction accounted last year 4% this year 1%. And we've also been very fortunate that we've had some major sales in cables. We've had become
a very popular city and uh we we've we've had sales reported nationally and so we we we I think we've been very fortunate that our existing property values went up five% with an additional 1% or new construction.
>> Thank God. So maybe one maybe 1% better than last year. >> Okay. Well, it's better better than better, but we're still still not where we need to be. >> The mayor, we went up 4.4% last year for new construction. We went one full percent up this year >> construction. >> Good stuff.
>> Uh, we have a motion and a second >> through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Um, so I agree, Mr. Mr. Mayor, as we discussed last time, I think that we're being put up against the wall without the ability to do anything about it after we've spent as much as we've spent
on this project. Um, and you know, as we mentioned last time, to no fault of the underlying, uh, this is the county. What was striking for me was after that meeting, I actually had people approach me who are engaged in the process and who are familiar with it and they didn't understand that the county was the one
that was reiging on what it had uh profered originally. Um, and I had to inform them. So, I think it's important for all of us to make sure that those out there who don't really understand what's taking place understand Miami date
county is the one who is pulling back on paying for the maintenance. uh because I don't think that that some people who are even invol in involved in the process have understood the process did not appreciate the fact that it was the county they thought that the city was the one who was always required to do
this. The city never had a requirement to pay for maintenance. We had the requirement to put in the capital but the maintenance was always going to be handled by the underlying and Miami date county. So I think it's important to get that on there and I agree with you Mr. Mayor. I think if we do have an
agreement going forward, um I I think a three-year maximum uh has to be uh our what we consider um because we do have a lot of uncertainties going forward past 2028. Um so I agree with you on that.
>> Anything else for the good of the order? We have a we have a public comment. Yes, sir. Go ahead. >> First speaker, Maria Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road, 305 3232154. I heard the mayor talk about the impact
of Tallahassee's actions. We all are concerned about that. I understand that we do not have really at this point a choice but to continue with the underlying and see what happens later.
But I have a concern. And it was interesting because when the mayor used the title, he used assistant director. When in fact, as of April, as of April, we had an assistant director
that was reclassified as a deputy director, which for six months of this budget year is getting 10% more than was before. and that will affect our budget next year
because that carries on. I think we need to look at whether we're in a position to continue reclassifying people, employees. Now, at this point with salaries that
will be impacting our budget for next year when we're trying to uh tighten our belts, we're trying to tell the unions that we do not have money for them. We have issues with
um sidewalks, street trees, potholes, etc., etc., etc. And then we can do we can keep improving salaries when somebody's making that high amount to begin with a 10% is not the same as
giving a sanitation employee 10% of maybe $50,000. When you give 10% of upwards of 150 plus,000 that's a big impact in our budget and we need to reconsider that. And I I would
suggest that perhaps this commission needs to put a a pause on any salary increases from now till the end till we know what Talahasi is doing or else we're going to be caught on that. >> Thank you.
>> Gonzalo Salia. >> Good afternoon, sir. Gonzalo Sanabria 944 San Pedro Avenue and beautiful Gables by the Sea. I'd like to just tell you that I am an economist.
I'm also a former board member of Miami Dade Expressway Authority for 13 years and extremely knowledgeable with the Underline and the Lulum Trail. Practically knowledgeable. We worked out
some stuff that with some deals and some structure that was outside of Gables proper mostly on the south side by day station. I want to tell you I just got a flash on my phone that says that the
state legislator is fasttracking the tax reduction act for November. So, it's coming. And you're right, Mr. the man way you said it and it's going to be a
pretty big hit on Coral Gable's uh expenditures. Also want to tell you something else that uh befuddles me and that's when I said this morning political map practice at the last meeting here at the commission we were
talking about the underline somebody blurted we should sell this to the county meaning the underline and then Vice Mayor Anderson corrected that person being you Ariel Fernandez
that the county already owns The other thing is you commit $180,000 of Coral Gable's money. What are you? What are we? We're good creditors. We are good creditors. And that money
can be used to make all the improvements that they want to do alongside the underlying. In other words, we're the ones guaranteeing whatever loan or improvement or project it's going along there. Whether it be a million8 will be
3.6 million, whatever it is, we are underwriting this. The service calls that we have there, the the issues that could prop up from three miles of underline, it's just astounding
to to commit anything along the lines of the underline. It's objectionable to everybody I can understand what it could entail. It's a slippery slope. Stay away from this
commitment. It's going to bite us and it's going to hurt us. It's not going to benefit us. Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> So, um, while I don't disagree with Mr. Sanabria, I just want to be very clear when I say our back is against the wall
because the state and the federal government are not going to bail us out here. And the county has already been very, very clear, as you can see by the amount of money that they have contributed over the last two years. They're not going to budget. There is not a friendly environment out of the 13
commissioners to pony up the money as per the commitments that were made over 10 years ago. We are in this position. We have to make a decision. If we decide not to support the underlying, this could go back to the county and the
county could do the bare minimum. That's okay with some of my colleagues and we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Well, my goal now is to make a small investment in the underlying and provide as much help and assistance to the underlying to make sure that they
can continue to address their endowment, hopefully get attract as many large donors as possible, show that the three municipalities that are facing or they're attached uh to the underlying city of Miami, city of South Miami, City
Corables back this project and that we're here, that we are good creditors, that we're going to do everything in our power to make sure that this is a successful endeavor. But I'm very clear, we're not going to be taken for a ride. I will not under any circumstances
approve millions and millions and millions of dollars in perpetuity. I I'm I'm also um very uncertain that I would approve the current budget of $1 million a year. So, uh we need to find a real solutions and we need to find the money necessary
uh to address this. And I'm working on that with hope with partners, community partners that right now we're in the process of negotiating and to see if we can really engage through the private sector uh some additional revenues uh to address the shortfall. So we have a
motion in a second. Mr. Clerk. >> Yes, sir. Commissioner Castro, >> I'm super conflicted on on this item. Um, just for clarification, this money is coming from the leftover capital
improvement projects. How much money is left over from that? So, as we've presented in the past when we've talked about capital, as projects close, any savings for those projects would go into contingency. Those available funds that go into a capital
contingency have become less and less as the cost of projects have generally been exceeding um or very close to budget. We haven't really had savings in the past few years. So, we essentially depleted all of our contingency for capital uh to
fund this item. Um that funding would have otherwise gone to any other projects that we might have found need. So, uh, sidewalks always have need or any roadway improvements, any pro any projects that are on the way that may, um, that an estimate may come a little
bit higher. So, this 180,000 is almost about all of the funding that we had. Um, there might have been like about $20,000 left and we'll give that to something else that'll need it. >> Okay. So, the underlying is something that
supports our neighborhoods. this is something that residents really like that they show a lot of support for and I and that's why I'm so conflicted. Um I'm going to go ahead and vote yes on this but I don't think it's fair for the
city of Coral Gables when they did not come into agreement for the rest of the the the million dollars to go ahead and take responsibility for the county even though it is in our city. So, I I'm going to go ahead and support this to make it move forward, but I will not
support anything further than this. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> for the reasons I stated, yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> for the reasons stated, yes. >> Mayor Logos, >> yes. Thank you very much. Uh, moving on
to one final item before we go to lunch. E10 >> E10 is an orance of the city commission amending zoning code article 14 process section 14-208 appeals to revised appeal procedures extension deadlines and notice of appeal requirements limiting the scope of
states establishing provisions regarding consolidation related approvals finality and abandonment of appeals providing for severability clause providing for repeated provision providing for severability and providing for an effective date >> Mr. City Attorney. >> Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioners. This is City Attorney
Gus Bios. So, the uh amendment that's before you is something that we've been discussing over frankly a couple years to clean up our appeal section and to make it consistent from both a procedural aspect and a code aspect. Uh I'm going to give you the quick recap of
the minor changes. Um specifically, the timelines, the only timeline that's really being modified in terms of appeals is staff decisions. What does that mean? Currently, the code requires 10 days to file notice of intent to appeal for any appeal from board of architects,
historic preservation. That is not changing. The only timeline that's being shortened is staff decisions. So, an appeal from staff decision is going from 60 days down to 15 days. Where do we get that number? We did search similar place, similar size municipalities in
the area um both on the east coast and the west coast of Florida and we found that 10 to 20 days was the average that most staff decisions could be appealed. So this brings us more in line with every other municipality that we could that we could identify. Additionally, we've noticed that appeals have been
submitted to the city and there there lacks a certain level of specificity. Sometimes we just get appeal and that's all they write on the actual section. So this code changes and requires them to be a little bit more detailed, provide a little bit more information so that all parties know exactly what's being appealed. Um
couple of the other items that we are addressing is uh specifically remands from city commission that only remands will occur when there is a material issue that needs to be resolved and it cannot be resolved with the existing record consolidation. Um the idea behind
that is so that we don't have a scenario where one project that goes to the board of architects and then historic preservation and for some reason a different board that each one of those items can be appealed. If we can consolidate everything and bring it to the city commission all as one item, that's the goal and that's the intent.
Additionally, postponements have also been um modified to minimize any unnecessary delays. One big note to make is that nothing in what we have proposed today prevents
a delay or postponement if all parties are in agreement. Meaning, if I'm the I'm the property owner and I'm appealing a decision by the Historic Preservation Board and I want to bring to the commission and for whatever reason, whether it be a hurricane, whether it be personal reasons, if the city's okay with the extension, we're okay with the
extension. There's no injured party be besides myself, we can we can extend further than any of the the the timeline and restrictions that we have here. Um, it's designed so that there's a third party that can't unnecessarily undo um or provide an undue influence on the
appeal process. I don't know if you have any questions, but I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Any more specifics on the actual changes? >> No issues. Mr. Clerk, do we have any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> I move it. >> I'll second. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. Commissioner Castro. >> Yes. >> Mayor Logo. >> Yes. We have an easy one here. H8, which is under the manager. I don't know if you have your team here, but I mean, it's pretty simple. It's a resolution of the city commission approving an interlocal agreement. You want to do that one now or you want to do it after?
Do you have a presentation for that or no? >> Uh, mayor, this is the the interlog agreement for for the trolley. >> You want you want to do it after? You want to do it now? >> We can we can do it now if you >> No, no, we can do it now. Mayor, >> I just wanted to get one thing done. One extra thing done.
We can >> It's pretty self-explanatory. >> It should be very quick. >> Okay, that we'll do it now. Okay. >> The circulator services is is the trolley. >> Mr. DC. >> Uh good afternoon, Mayor and and commissioners and Vice Mayor Anderson.
Um so this interlocal agreement is an is the agreement we have with Miami Date County. Uh it says circulator services, but that's specific to the trolley. It's an ongoing agreement that we have with uh Miami date county. Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Sorry about that. >> No, it's okay.
>> I thought we just take two little two little ones. Good. >> Yeah. This is uh updating our interlocal agreement with Miami date county for the trolley service. Our original agreement that started in 2012 is set to expire next year. >> They're in the process of updating it. So, we went through and and are going through this process with >> Do you have any public comment?
>> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay, >> I'll move it. Second. >> Second. >> Commissioner Lada. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro? Yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lago. >> Yes. And I have one last one. I think the DCM will be happy about this. This
will be very, very quick. H6. If we can do this one in 15 seconds. We'll be even faster. >> H6. >> H6 is the resolution granting the city manager to negotiate purchase terms for the purchase of 475 Builtmore Way. >> Mr. Manager.
>> Uh, Mr. Mayor, commissioners, I I would like to be able to u sign a PSA uh as quickly as possible uh for for this for this purchase. We have our asset manager coming in to provide some some further information,
but we have been looking at this property for some time. We feel that having a city hall complex where where everything is is is is here, we can bring all all uh all our all our departments under under in in one area
under under one under one umbrella of this city hall complex. And I think it's something that we've been looking at we've been looking at at this as a city for some time. And so we we believe that that the property is available. they've contacted us and we've been looking at this for some time and we would like to
proceed uh with a PS with a PSA purchase sale agreement as soon as possible. >> So I want to thank you for this and and undertaking this both of you. I brought this to the manager seven eight years ago when Kathy was our city manager. Uh we we we wasn't entertained at that
moment. I I thought it was a great buy then. I think it's a great buy now. uh this would allow us to control the entire city block and I think it's again a good bookend for us uh moving forward and it's another incredible asset as large corporations and individuals are moving into our city they're moving into
citywide that's why I believe in continuing to buy as many pieces of property in the downtown that the city should control its own destiny and I want to thank you uh for undertaking this uh negotiation and I wish you luck and your team on this >> uh through the mayor >> yes sir >> as you as you saw this project seven
eight years ago we'll probably see this project again again with the same view 70 years ago 78 years from now and saying we gl we aren't we glad we purchased the property so so uh it's it's available now and I think uh and I think what happened uh 78 years ago is
something that we'll be looking at again 70 years ago but from a positive perspective >> a lot more expensive than it will be now >> yes it will >> good luck with that yes ma'am >> thank you sir good afternoon mayor vice mayor commissioners speech for assessment manager to just add to what the city manager just articulated. Um
the city requests today your approval to authorize him to finalize purchase negotiations for the property located at 475 and 495 Filmore Way. It is situ situated on the same block as city hall and de development services. Um this
property supports the long-term plan of consolidating consolidating multiple city departments into one central hub, creating a seamless one-stop shop for residents to access municipal services. This consolidation will reduce the need for departments to operate from multiple
locations, improve coordination and overall efficiency between staff, and create a smoother and more convenient experience for residents. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk. Do you have a public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Maria Cruz Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road, 305
323 2154. I like the idea. I know that we're going to be told somewhere along the line is fully rented. We're going to be getting uh rental lease money, etc., etc. But the
problem is that as we know because we went through the 427 ordeal, once we buy it, it'll have to be refitted. It would have to be we would have to spend a lot of money on it. And
even though I like the idea, I think the timing is not good when we don't know and when we know the winter is coming because we don't know what Talahasi is going to end up doing. Not a good idea today. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor.
>> That's it. Perfect. >> Madam, vice mayor. >> So, um, source of the funds are limited fund that we cannot put into the general fund. So, for that reason, I absolutely support this because this these funds can only be spent for this type of
thing. So, with that, I'll move it. >> I'll second. >> Yeah. And if I may, also go ahead. We have a motion. a second. >> No, go ahead. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Lada?
>> Yes. >> Mayor Logos. >> In the need to continuously paint everything in a negative light. The lack of actual understanding of what we're doing here today uh reflects poorly on that individual. The money here is not being put forth via debt. It does not
cost the city anything. It's money that we already have and as the vice mayor mentioned cannot be used but for anything except this. So at the end of the day this is an this is an important purchase for the city uh and as we move forward uh the manager will give more information as he negotiates but this is
not debt. This will not cost the city anything and this is a good investment for the city as it completes the entire block and controls our own destiny. So, at the end of the day, um I'm all for opposing views,
but with actual facts and actual knowledge of what we're trying to do right now, but my vote is yes. Congratulations, Mr. Manager. We wish you the best of luck. Thank you for all the hard work on this. Okay. Thank you. I know we I know we haven't closed it, but I know this has been a long, long process and you've been at the forefront
of this, so I want to thank you for that. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Uh we're going to go on a lunch break right now. Uh, I hope everybody enjoys lunch. We'll be back at 1:55. That means we'll be really back at 2 o'clock. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Recording stopped.
Hello. Mr. Clerk uh >> recording in progress. >> Item E9 time certain. E9 is an orance of the city commission amending ordinance number 1952 as amended which changes zoning on lots 1 2 3 20 21 22 23 and 24
block 120 and lots 1 through5 block 131 country club section 6 uh 430 440 4450 and 520 University Drive Gables Florida to remove certain conditions of approval for lots 1 through 5 block 131 520 University Drive one that the that limit the use of the property to overflow
parking and two that revert the zoning of the property under certain circumstances to single single family zoning. All other conditions of approval contained in ordinance number 1952 shall remain in effect. This is a quasi judicial matter. So, everyone who will be speaking today needs to be sworn in by the city clerk.
>> Those who will be appearing on this item, please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you'll provide today will be the truth and nothing but the truth? Thank you. Yes. Um, does staff have a presentation?
>> I do. Yes. >> Yes. Would you like to proceed? >> Okay. Thanks. >> Uh, Jennifer Garcia, planning and zillian director. So, um, there are two parcels back in 1972. the larger one to the north um off
of University Drive between Sto and Camilo and the second one being more shallow between um Riviera and Kadima. These were zoned to be single family. The commission at the time then passed or adopted um ordinance number 1952
um and that had four conditions. They resone the property to be from single family to special use zoning with these uh four conditions of approval. Uh the first one dealing with that the condition of the property to be remained um unpaved
um but also as well used for off streetet parking um and to be preserved at a park-like manner um with preservation of the trees as much as as feasible. The second condition dealt with the intent of the commission to allow these two properties that are formerly single family to be zoned
special use to be used for off off streetet overflow parking for the youth center and the library. The third condition has two parts. The third condition dealt with ingress and egress off of University Drive. Um that would only be off of University Drive for
these um parking lots. um and that when it was not being used for parking, it would be closed off for any public access as a fence or some kind of barrier. And the fourth condition deals with the reverter clause that if there was some time that the commission or the
city um deemed that the overflow parking was no longer necessary that the property would be reverted back to single family zoning. So we are looking just at the property that is uh known as 520 University Drive
in between Riviera and Kadima. You see the property right there. So the current uh future land use is public grounds and buildings and the zoning is still special use zoning as it remains back from 1972.
The proposed amendments um are dealing with those four condition approvals that were part of that original ordinance um to specify for only the property again deal with 520 University Drive um that would still remain to be in a park-like manner with those trees and
preservation of that of that landscape that's there. The second one would be amended um to clarify that the intent of the commission is to also have it as overlook parking or also a function of the public park. And a third condition is uh amended
again when it's used for temporary overl would still remain to be off of University Drive and striking through the requirements of having a means of closing of those properties when not in use for parking. And then number four would be removed completely which is
that reverter clause uh reverting back to single family zoning. So the plan zoning board reviewed this uh last month on the 20th and recommend approval. A vote of 52 and here we are for first reading.
Their property um letter was sent to the property owners within 1,000 ft of the 520 University Drive property. Those letters were sent twice for applying zoning board and commission for first reading. The property was posted once for a PCB meeting. U both sides
posted twice and the advertisement was done once. Staff has determined this is consistent with the comp plan as it's encouraging uh more parks and our single family and residential areas to be more accessible and that we recommend approval.
>> Thank you. >> Mayor. >> Yes, you're back. Yes, ma'am. >> Madam City attorney, next steps. >> I think you can hear public comment. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Public comment. Yes, Mr. Mayor. First
speaker, Maria Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road, 305 3232154. I've gotten several people have approached me, people that
live where I live, and their comments are very interesting because most of them said that there's too many dog parks in that area where it's being proposed. Some people asked me, "What about South
Gables? We haven't Are there any dog parks in South Gables? Well, I know that some people are going to tell you that this is needed because, you know, park uh dogs have to be able to socialize
because maybe the dogs cannot be taken by car because they may get car sick. Maybe because they don't have a backyard big enough for their dogs. But the bottom line is you have a dog
park at Salvador Park. You have this the world famous Chewy Park under by the underline at the underline. Um there are other issues that concern
me. I have a cat and I don't have a a cat park, but I don't need one because I do have u a backyard and besides my cat lives inside my house and he doesn't need to socialize with
cats that are roaming around possibly carrying diseases. And that's what my vet said when I asked, "Would you take your dogs to a dog park?" He said absolutely not because what guarantee do I have that they've been vaccinated or
properly taken care of? That's from a vet. And then my last uh comment I think is that once again here we open the door. We remove the restriction from one property. But guess what? Once you do
that, other people can come back and say, "Hey, wait a second. There are other purposes there that we can do something else." And eventually what the intent of that uh plan was not to do anything unless parking because parking
is only several times a year. Okay. and the people can use those properties for it's a park but it's not encumbered with uh benches and other things that we uh put on parks. Okay. So to me this is a
waste of everybody's time. It's a waste of city's money and once again a few are trying to tell the the most to do what they need to do. Sylvia King. >> Sylvia King, 3617 Harlana Street. I am
an attorney assisting in the University Green case against the city. Two things. First, we filed an amended complaint yesterday. We maintain the proposed amendments are illegal spot zoning. were being treated differently than the 400 block university residents.
Additionally, there was another Sunshine Law violation at the May 20 board hearing. Another speaker will address this. We incorporate without waiver all of our lack of notice and improper procedure arguments from the zoning hearing and our new complaint.
Separately, we serve discovery on the city. The commission shouldn't decide anything until we get answers to the discovery and until the lawsuit is resolved. Second, with all due respect, the vice mayor should abstain from voting on this issue. She is a central
figure in our lawsuit and she is too personally invested in a dog park at this location to be impartial. Members of our association who live directly on the triangle say that in 2024, Vice Mayor Anderson personally contacted them
about the dog park. She heard their opposition and promised the city wouldn't go forward without their support. A year later, at the November 2025 commission meeting, the vice mayor didn't disclose those contacts. She said
her project quote is for the neighbors, not mentioning that the immediate neighbors were opposed. She said she found 520 University and made a rough dog park sketch. This was, in her words, her handiwork. She said there's been a
lot of discussion between me and individuals that are willing to contribute towards this. But at the January 13th commission meeting, confronted with public opposition, her story changed. We went from this is my handiwork to in her words this was not
led by me. And she chastised the association saying quote none of you came to provide input. In fact our members were some of the first to provide input to her and it was a firm no. Though ICE mayor continued to make
promises at the zoning board meeting I met a resident who signed our petition against this dog park. He was there to make sure the reverter clause was not removed from the 400 university block by his 100-year-old home. Jennifer Garcia
from zoning came over to assure him that the reverter would not be removed for him. He explained the vice mayor personally assured him the bark park would not be placed next to him. This is what we're talking about when we say the amendments are illegal bot zoning. This
is a quasi judicial action. We are entitled to an impart impartial decisionmaker. Respectfully, the record shows the vice mayor is biased on this matter and we move to recuse her. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And
Lo Fernandez, >> can I submit this to the >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Excuse me. Um, if I may, just out of respect for for everyone who's here, let's make sure that we keep all the comments towards the commission and that
we don't speak out of turn and speak from the galley. Okay. Thank you very much. From the gallery. I apologize. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Lo Fernandez. I'm a member of the University Green Neighbors Association.
I live at 415 Kadeimma Avenue and I would like to discuss the January 13th city commission meeting minutes in relation to today's item. Commissioner Castro and Commissioner Fernandez, uh, when I raise these points, I'm not directing them to you.
The minutes show that you advocated for a fair and transparent process. You listen to our concerns and encouraged your colleagues to listen to the residents and start over. At that meeting, our attorney told you, and you can see on page four of the transcripts,
that the city could not build a dog park at 520 University Drive for several reasons, including the zoning on the property, which is suse with conditions would not allow it. Those conditions per ordinance 1952 require the property be
used only for overflow parking. that property be maintained in a park-like condition, that ingress and egress occur only from University Drive, and that if overflow parking was not needed in the future, the property would revert back to single family zoning.
Today's item proves ordinance 1952 remains in effect and that you cannot build a dog park on the property without changing that ordinance. Um, when our members told you we received no notice of the November 18th
uh regarding a proposed dog park at 520 University immediately abuing three single family homes in our neighborhood. We were told we should have read the agenda and that no notice was required. Suarez on page 20, Lara on 21. You also
told us we were not excluded from the process and that was Mr. Lara on 21, Mr. Lago on page 22. Today's item with property postings, mailings within a thousand feet, and legal announcements proves a November 18th item, an accompanying resolution
were not correct. Mr. Mayor, you asked staff to look at Salvador Dog Park and Blue Road Open Space as existing pieces of land that were changed. It's on page 23. I'm not sure if you were briefed, but Blue Road
was a very different process for two reasons. It had a neighborhood engagement process unlike ours and the two properties were park and open space unlike ours. Page 23. We were also told that this property was
already a park and no notice was needed to transition the park to another park use. That was Mr. Eglesia's 20 l 20 and 21 and 24. Today's draft amendments prove 520 University Drive is not already a park
and your process was incorrect. When we said a bark park would negatively affect our quality of life and disrupt the fragile ecosystems, we were told the decision has been made, but we can help design it. Mr. Lada on 19 and on 27,
we don't want a dog park. If we were going to design a dog park, it would be in the neighborhood that wanted it. It would be consistent with Miami Dade and City of Coral Gable's codes, and it wouldn't include plants and trees that are unsafe for dogs if ingested. When one of our members raised serious
and specific issues with a November petition submitted in support of off leash dog parks, you allowed the three-year-old Catalonia dog park signatures to be added to increase the amount of residents in support of the proposed dog park.
Dallas Powell on page 10 and 16, Anderson 15 and 17, Lago on 16, and on uh page 30, Commissioner Castro asked the city attorney to develop a standardized park notification and petition process,
page 25 and 26. It's been 5 months. We look forward to seeing the results or at least a working draft. Please also distinguish between a passive park and an active recreation use in your approach. There are several sections in the January 13 minutes where Mayor Lago,
Commissioner Lara, and Vice Mayor Anderson said you do not want to pit residents against each other, but this failed process has ignited that conflict. In addition, one of you reached out to some of the people that signed our petition to get them to
reconsider. Commissioner Lara, you said this November 18th vote was a lawful vote, page 27. But today's vote item proves otherwise. Whether you were given inaccurate information from staff, not advised of the behind-the-scenes
dealings, or it just didn't matter, I don't know. But what I do want to know is how are you going to correct this? And it's not by racing this item through because the litigation as the board attorney advised the planning and zoning board. Thank you for your time. Thank
you. >> Ivan Alisale. >> Hello, my name is Ivana. I'm a member of the University Green Neighborhood Association. I live at 535 Bird Road. I would like to speak about the Coral
Gables public library and give you statistics that make clear why ordinance 1952 should not be amended. To best understand why Corable's public library needs to be able to have access to overflow parking in the lot, you need
only look at their current door counts, special events, and countrywide early voting attendance. You may recall the Coral Gables Public Library underwent an extensive renovation program at a county cost of 6.8 million. The building
received a new roof, new curric impact windows, bathrooms, air conditioning equipment, and other improvements. You can now plug into your chair for data and technical hookup rather than scoring for an outlet. New computers and other
technical equipment enhancements are also in place, including outdoor Wi-Fi for the public. In February of this year, one of our members emailed the Miami Day Public Library system a series of questions regarding attendance at the
Corables branch. They received a timely and throughout response from the public records custodian for the Miami Day Public Library system. Here's what we learned. The Coravables branch library averages 30 to 40 programs per month
which programming related attendant estimated between 1,000 and 1,250 per month. That's 12,000 to 15,000 per year. Currently for fiscal year 25 and 26, the door count averages are approximately
26,000 visits per month. That's 312,000 visitors per year. the third highest among all the 50 branches. Last year, fiscal year 24 and 25, the corugable was branch average approximately 31,000
visits per month or 372,000 for the year. The second most visited branch in ter of door count surpassed only by the Miami that by the main library in downtown Miami. From 2018 to 2024, countrywide early voting
at the Corivas branch library has ranged from 16,000 to 25,000 participant. That's a large number of voters in a concentrated twoe period for the primary and general election with governor, US senator, US house of representatives and
many other state positions in addition now to coral gables. The number will again be high for the twoe periods primary and general. Throughout all years, the Coros branch has constantly rank among the top five early voting locations in Miami date county where
everybody is coming through in or near Cargills to cast their ballots. A door count of three 372,000 annually, 15,000 special event attendees yearly, and 25,000 voters during early voting period. It's
easy to see why the ability to have overflow parking in the lot must remain. Taking away the overflow parking at 520 University makes no sense. Simply the numbers do not add up.
>> Thank you, Gina Davis. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> I am Gina Davis and I speak in opposition to the proposed zoning change. I am a member of the University
Green Neighbors Association. I live at 3710 Harlano Street, which I have owned since 2004. I bought my first home in Coral Gables in 1973 and over the years I have also owned
homes on Columbus, Mariana, Ander Lucia and Anderson. I tell you this to let you know that I have experienced neighborhood notification in numerous past occasions. Never did I think that this city would
undertake to build a dog park half a block from my home without notification. I was further surprised that the commission decided not to remedy this original error. I do not see the need for another dog
park with artificial turf and fences. My dog Grace and I are happy to walk through nature as it has existed on the lots in question for many years. Grace and I are documented doing just
that use of the area in the Gables Gazette. They run that photo every time they have something to say about the activity on this issue. I see this as an issue wherein our city government has steamrolled over the
residents of this neighborhood. If you think that this is not your issue because you do not live close by, then I share with you the following from Pastor Martin Neilm. First they came for the communists and I
did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. But then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me. Thank you for your time and your consideration.
>> Thank you, Lynn Wars Part. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. My name is Lin Guardo. I live at 421 Kadima Avenue where I've lived for the past 36 years. Other residents are joining in our
fight. A new citywide petition is circulating and we hope you will sign it. We've been contacted by Coral Gable's residents that live outside our neighborhood who want to sign our petition in opposition to the proposed dog park at 520 University Drive. So, we
drafted an expanded petition which is being circulated. It is only for Gable's residents 18 and over who did not sign our neighborhood petition. You can email university greencgmail.com for a copy if you would like to read it
to sign it. Please allow me to read it. Opposition to proposed dog park at 520 University Drive next to single family homes. Honorable mayor and members of the Coral Gable City Commission. We stand with our friends and neighbors in the University Green Neighbors
Association in opposition to the proposed do off leash dog bark park at 520 University Drive in front of the Coral Gables Library and directly adjacent to single family homes. Our objections include the following. The neighborhood was never consulted in
using the passive green space in this quiet single family neighborhood for a large bark park exclusively for dogs and their owners. Yet three commissioners voted for it anyway. The neighborhood has repeatedly asked the city commission and city staff to stop the process. A
40,000 square foot dog park would bring significant noise, persistent barking early mornings and late nights. Increased traffic and parking congestion. Sanitation and odor issues. Safety concerns for children, elderly, and pets would disrupt the fragile
ecosystem and potentially dis decrease property values, especially for those homes closest to the site. The proposed project is not in compliance with Coral Gables or Miami Dade County codes. No traffic study or parking study has been done to measure
the impacts of this large dog park on the Coral Gables Library, the Coral Gables youth center, and the single family neighborhood. Nor has any comprehensive dog park master plan been developed. University Drive is a busy eastwest corridor for commuters and
buses and buses, excuse me, and a major access point for fire rescue transporting patients to doctor's hospital emergency room. The library and the youth center are already short on parking and a dog park would make it worse. The Coral Gables Library is the
second or third busiest in the 50 branch system with an annual door count of 372,000 patrons, 15,000 special event attendees, and 25,000 voters during early voting periods. The youth center with
year-round playing fields, tournaments, theater performances, classes, and rentals also brings cars, school buses, traffic, and energy daily. The passive green space serves as a needed buffer while also providing the library with occasional overflow parking during the
hyper peak times. The city has no operational plan, no enforcement procedures, no capital program, and no maintenance dollars identified for the project. If another dog park is needed, please conduct the appropriate studies and community engagement to in to
identify a neighborhood that would welcome a dog park while ensuring it would be consistent with all city and county codes and regulations. Mr. City Clerk, we would like to turn in 36 additional signatures in opposition to the proposed 520 University Drive dog
park. More are on their way, including 60 new ones that we will submit after verification. Thank you. Thank you, William Ryvenbark. >> Good afternoon. My name is Bill Ryvenbark. I live at 3616 Harlano
Street. I am a member of the University Green Neighbors Association. Our house is 125 ft away from the proposed dog park. I walk the neighborhood at least three times a day with an amazing rescue dog. I know our neighbors. I know our
dogs. I know the library. And I know that we do not want a dog park at 520 University. I cannot tell you how many times we were told that the property was already zoned as a park and that the city could
transition it to another park without use of consulting the neighborhood. Commissioner Laura said it. The city manager said it. Commissioner Anderson said it. The assistant manager said it. And the parks director said it to us
twice in person while walking the property. We told you that it was not zoned as a park. And you dismissed us. You also told us that this was not a park that if it was not a park that we would have neighborhood meetings to discuss what
type of a park the neighborhoods would like. Today's item shows that it is not a park at present. The draft ordinance attempts to make it one. So, I'd like to ask, when do the neighborhood meetings begin?
A prior gentleman already gave uh very valuable statistics regarding the library, so I will not repeat those. However, did you look at your staff's parking and traffic study memo?
Only one sentence on elections was included in that as well as with other high volume events. The report falsely and recklessly concluded that no overflow parking is
needed. Your staff did not reach out to the library or to the supervisor of elections to get details on ballots cast, especially during the elections.
If you did, you would know that 25,000 Miami Dade and Coral Gables voters used the Coral Gables branch library in 2024 for the primaries and general election. That's a lot of cars in a two-eek period. If you would have taken time to
ask, you would have learned that special events parking on the grass area of 520 University is absolutely essential. Where Pretel does your staff tell you
that the cars would be parked otherwise? who would probably be in our neighborhood. When we came to you on January 13th and said we didn't know about this until after you had voted on it, that no one from the city came to our street.
No mailers were sent. We learned after the fact that there was an item buried in the agenda two or three days before the commission. We were and remain angry and disappointed in our city government. At the meeting, Mayor Lago said, "But if you told me there was a glitch in the
matrix in regard to the process, that we didn't follow the rules and someone was disenfranchised," I would say to myself, "Okay, we've got to fix this. We've got to back this out." Mayor Lago, this item proves that there was a glitch in the
process, that the city did not follow the rules, and someone, our neighborhood, was disenfranchised. We're holding you to your word, sir. You've got to fix this. You've got to back this out. Thank you for your time.
>> Jose Val Cohen. >> Good afternoon. >> Afternoon. My name is Jose Val. I'm a member of University Green Neighbors Association. I live at 520 Kadima Avenue. I ask the city commission to remand this item back to the planning and zoning board due to improper
advertising and due influence by the board attorney and incomplete staff report and the failure of staff to honor the conditions associated with the board recommendations. The city must have been very confident the item will move forward since the
notices for today's meeting were mailed even before the planning and zoning board started. Item E2 at the planning and zoning board originally related to 430, 440, 450, and 520 University Drive, which share the same zoning, the same governing
ordinance, Ordinance 1952, and identical conditions. Without explanation, the proposed ordinance title was administratively revised to relate only to 520 University Drive. Yet, the board attorney read the unchanged title listing all four properties into the
record, and CGTV did the same through the televised presentation. and due influence by the board attorney. Certain members of the planning and zoning board wanted to defer a recommendation until the litigation had been concluded and a parking study and traffic study were provided to the board. The board
attorney told the board with regard to the litigation. I think the city is looking to resolve this issue prior to the litigation. Number one, he continued. Number two, I understand there's a certain urgency of the item getting to the commission. If you all feel that there should be a parking
study and a traffic study, I think that could be included in any motion to approve or motion to deny. Acting as a uh concern about possible exarty communication, acting as a quasi judicial board on matters related to zoning. Similar when the zoning
commission hears a son item, board's members are required to disclose exarty communication. Only one more member disclosed they had visited the site. He lives in the neighborhood but had not spoken to his neighbors on item E2 and he affirmed he could consider the item
with fully objectivity. Based on comments from some of the board members, it appears one of more may have failed in disclosed exparted communication. Incomplete and inaccurate staff report. No information was provided on parking. The board was not advised the failure
land use, the future land use will need to be changed and it was unclear how the property could be a fence 40,000 feet dock park will while continuing to provide overfall parking as suggested in the staff report. The report stated that amendments will
allow the property to function as public park space thereby increasing the availability of recreational and open space amenities within the residential neighborhood. However, the parklike manner of 520 University Drive already provides passive green space, which is a
direct preferred benefit of the neighborhood P5. The report stated, "The proposed amendment will not have an impact on development. The University Green Neighbors Association believes the impact of this amendment as envisioned will directly and negatively affect the
quality of life for the residents of the neighborhood P5. The reported stated the proposes amendments and the city stated intentions to build a dog park will not cause a substantial diminish in the property value or neighborhood character. The University Green
Association categorically disagrees homes that are close to the dog park especially the three on the same residential block abouting in across from it will be negatively impacted and mine. Staff commented stated the
proposed amendments will be more compatible than surface parking lots P6. This is neither a fair nor accurate deception deception. Currently the property operates as a passive public green space with occasional space event parking on the grass. Much like
Fairchild Tropical Gardens overflow lot during the festivals. The ability for cars to park short time on the grass keeps them from parking through the small neighborhood while supporting the library cultural programming and early voting. Lastly, the condition to include a legitimate legitimate parking study
and traffic study prior to the item item being presented to the city commission was not honored. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Rose Power. Hello, my name is Rose Bower. I live at 3716 Siggoia Street and I would like to
speak about the dog parks and the property values. I grew up here and love the historic charm of the city beautiful. I have a senior Australian shepherd and a cat. I'm a member of the Gable's Cat Network and I often feed our community cats too who have lived in the
triangle for many years along with possums, raccoons and even a fox. It is a beautiful habitat for animals and people to equally enjoy. But today I want to speak about my profession. I am a successful real estate broker for 30 years with my firm Ria Real Estate and I
am concerned for the impact a dog park would have to nearby homes and my neighborhood. Buying a home is a large investment. The green space is most certainly a grand amenity to any buyer when they purchased it. Today, it provides for overflow parking for the
library. If the board approves a change, there is a big difference between this green space and a large dog park immediately abuing homes. Most Coral Gables homes have a yard because there are very limited zero lot lines. Buyers purchase in Coral Gables for the
security. Dog parks create a security concern. The maintenance is very expensive or problems surface with trash and odor from the fake grass. These factors affect the value of the homes and reduces the ability to command top
dollar for the seller. I question who are we providing this dog park for? The renters. They do not pay any of the high taxes that we do. Most of the new buildings sadly are not allowing pets. Yet, approving a dog park takes the valley away from the children and the
adults that enjoy the walk in their neighborhood and play in the open green space. If this was really about the well-being of the dogs, the Miami Date Animal Shelter would not have 600 healthy dogs waiting to be adopted and horribly being euthanized daily for
space. We live in Coral Gables in part because of the intrinsic value of the location and quality of life. Our taxes and properties have increased every year, but the property values for homes close to the proposed 40,000 square foot dog park will be negatively impacted.
Please hear our voice. It is not wanted by the community. Thank you for your consideration. >> Mary Powell Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, city manager,
city attorney. My name is Mary Powell and I live at 3267 Riviera Drive. I was here last November when the commission voted to move forward with the dog park at 520 University. I am back today to reaffirm
that this community's support has not wavered. Support for this dog park is broad, documented, and citywide. I presented petition signatures to the commission last November, and that
support has only grown. This is a city with a dogs issue of the Coral Gables magazine, where commissioners lead group dog walks and encourage adoptions, where we hold doggy Halloween costume
competitions, and where we just welcome the first doggy ATM. Coral Gables has made it clear that its residents and their pets are woven into the fabric of this community. This park
is the infrastructure that matches that commitment. Since November, the city has done its homework. Public works, parking, community recreation, and the city clerk's office all reviewed the
parking question and reached the same conclusion. 520 University is not needed for overflow parking. The PZB reviewed and proposed amendments to ordinance 1952 and recommended approval.
Every protection for adjacent neighbors remains fully intact. Both the park-like character and the preservation of trees and foliage. I acknowledge that some neighbors disagree and they deserve
respect, but I ask this commission to consider what 520 University is today. City-owned land zoned for public use sitting largely unused. The city's own comprehensive plan calls
for parks within a 10-minute walk of every resident. This site fulfills that commitment. An off leash dog park is not simply a convenience. It is a place where neighbors meet, where families gather,
and where the social fabric of a community is sewn together. This effort has followed the proper process. Residents engaged, petitions were submitted on both sides. Public comments were given. The item was
properly noticed, debated, and approved by both the PZB and this commission. By continuing your support today, you provide what this community depends on, consistency,
predictability, and trust. Residents engaged in good faith and now reasonably expect the city to follow through. This dog park is a quality of life investment. It fulfills a clear
planning commitment and it reflects the will of a broad cross-section of Coral Gable's residents. What has grown since November is not just community support. It is the body of evidence behind this decision.
Residents input, staff's report, and the PCB's recommendation. I respectfully ask this commission to pass this ordinance on first reading and keep this project moving forward. I thank you for your time and your
commitment to this community. >> Thank you, Barry Golden. Good afternoon. My name is Barry Golden. I'm a member of the University Green Members Association or neighborhood association. I live at 3628 Harlano
Street. I live five houses away from this proposed dog park before the city considers revising the ordinance, removing certain protections and conditions, and considering additional uses. A comprehensive parking study and review should be undertaken. I think you
need all the facts if you're going to make make an intelligent decision on parking and overflow in the area where I live and all these people right here live. I think you need all the facts. I'm not referring to the three paragraph memo submitted by the staff that
concluded no overflow parking was needed. I'm not sure where they intend to park the 25,000 Miami date voters that choose our Coral Gables public library to cast their their ballot in early voting for the primaries in in the
November general election. No formal current or future demand studies have been conducted. a member of the University Green Neighbors Association conducted an informal parking count between 5:30 and 6 PM and around the library during the first two
weeks of February 2026. This included daily surveying the 48 space library, the 11 including two handicap parallel parking spaces in the circular drive in front of the University Drive entrance. The 20 angle parking spaces on the west
side of Riviera and the five angle parking on the east side of Riviera and the 22 spaces in the swale of Siggoia in front of the west entrance of the library. The youth center parking lot parallel to
the University Drive in the Skovia North parking lot by the playing fields were also surveyed. On most days, all parking spaces were exceeding capacity, including those under or areas under the banyan trees marked no parking on
University Drive. Depending on the programming of the library of the youth center, parking regularly exceeds capacity as drivers drove frantically around looking for a safe place to park. This makes the Coral Gables Library a prime candidate for special event style
parking during certain large events. I have pictures that uh our association has taken and um put into a um all all the commission can see. And I'll pass this out to the clerk so everybody
can see. But these are some of the pictures of some of the um overflow of parking during regular days. I I was at I drove down around that Kadeima down university um by Riviera at
3:40 last Wednesday and took pictures and there were cars everywhere. Cars were parked right there in front of a sign that says no parking. Why a traffic study is needed. The planning and zoning board conditioned their May 20th recommendation on city staff conducting a legitimate traffic
study before the recommendation is presented to the city commission. Many of the board members would have preferred to defer a recommendation until they could review and consider findings. A short three paragraph staff memo stated that a traffic study is not required for any project with fewer than
50 vehicle trips. Carelessly or deliberately, staff failed to mention that the city's development review process handbook under definitions and/or application requirements specifically states
specifically states a development generating less than 50 new trips may require a limited traffic study to address special considerations. I think I'm almost out of time, but um you know, I have a dog. I walk that dog
every every day. I walk around the area on Pendema, the the green space at 520 University. Um, one of our members, Sarah Cortez, brought up at the zoning board meeting
that, uh, um, walking that area with that green space has a very incredible mental effect on you that when you just walk around that area peacefully. I take for granted sometimes when I walk my dog and I don't have to walk by a dog park
with a bunch of barking dogs and people yelling and screaming and this, that, and the other. um I don't have to worry about that because it's a nice peaceful walk. And so um I'm the ninth speaker
against this dog park. I've heard one person, the previous speaker, one of the previous speakers speak for it. But I hope as a con commission that you're going to listen to all these people that are sitting right here that have been
fighting this for six months. All those people that signed a a petition back in November 2025. I don't see any of those people here. I saw one and that's all I saw. One person that's here. You know why? Because it doesn't
affect them. You're not putting a dog park right in front of their house. You're not putting a dog park where Jose Foul when he walks out his door every day he walks out not looking at a beautiful green space. He's looking at a dog park. These are the people that this dog park
is going to affect. Not those other 199 people that signed that petition. So I ask you please as a commission listen to the people that voted you into office. Listen to the people that pay your salary. Listen to the people that it affects most us.
I live five houses away. I don't want a dog park. I love dogs. I've lived here for 20 years, but I'm not going to a dog park every day. Can I please hand this to the clerk? >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you very much. >> Jackson Holmes. So, I'm in on dog parts. Um, and uh I
have so much to say. Uh, so I'm I'm going to start on the upside. Um, I was a taxi driver on the famous South Beach uh for the first 20 years after I
got back to Miami. And uh I don't know if this is funny. I don't know how much time you all have spent on South Beach, but what you see there, you go to the dog park on the Washington Avenue and Second Street and you see some of the most beautiful women in the world
walking some of the most beautiful dogs in the world. And and so uh how many of us know what a um a blue merl collie is? Ask yourself, you know, that is the most beautiful dog in
the world. And we got him in Coral Gables and and I made friends with a blue merl collar. All right. Now, here's another rare dog. It's It's not that beautiful, but I love it. Anyways, uh how many know what a kendo is?
That That's a Korean dog. Uh how about a a uh Rhdesian Ridgeback? Um, and then somebody said they had an Australian Shepherd. That's the second most beautiful dog in the world.
So, I did a brochure and I said, "South Beach is is an an everyday international beauty contest." Uh now laugh along with me here for both women, you know, it's it's a Miss
Universe contest for women and uh and the dogs of the world contest for dogs. So you you get these beautiful women walking their beautiful dogs. It's unbelievable, right? Um why would we not want a dog park? People say it's going to lower the property by I don't know.
Maybe I I love dogs too much. I plead guilty. All right. I don't see why anyone would ask um Commissioner Anderson to disqualify her, recuse herself. Oh, I'm a dog lover, therefore I can't vote on this. Okay, I'm guilty. I'm a dog lover. Um
and I find it to be honest with you, um very depressing to think that so many people would turn out against dogs. Some people said, well, you know, they're with the green initiative from the University of Miami. Okay, so Coral
Gables is an is a tree city and Coral Gables should also be a dog city. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. Um before we move on to a little conversation amongst the commission, I want to memorialize this because I know
that this will be heavily discussed in tomorrow's blogs via the Gables Gazette. First amendment will be discussed. So I want to put this on the record. Uh there's two individuals that spoke in favor of the dog park. One stayed on time. The other one ran over by 54
seconds. It's okay. It's fine. On the other side, we had over 13 and a half minutes of additional time that was granted. I wrote it down. Commissioner was watching as I wrote down every single every single time. It's perfectly fine. I know everybody's passionate. I want to
give you as much time. I don't want this to be about neighbors versus neighbors or first amendments. That's repeated over and over and over on these blogs. Thank god I don't read the blogs. I just get people to send them to me and I keep telling them, "Don't send it to me. Stop reading it."
My point is this. We're voting on on issues as elected officials based on what we believe is in the best interest of the city. This city of Coral Gables is a very special place. We're not Miami Day County. Not that Miami day county is not a special place, but if you're familiar with politics in Miami County,
and I won't take over 13 minutes, don't worry. I'll be very brief. You have 13 elected officials, and Miami Day County is carved up into districts. So, they only take care of their districts. We as elected officials here in the city beautiful are responsible for the entire
city all the way from North Gables to South Gables. Whether you own a dog or you don't own a dog, whether you live in an apartment, you live in a house, we have a responsibility for the entire city. Sometimes we vote on issues that maybe don't affect us. For example, my area is the University of Miami where I
live in that area around St. Augustine, University of Miami. We're a country club, Lenar Center, Doctor's Hospital. That's my area, my neck of the woods. But I have to make decision. have to make decisions based on Fairchaw
Tropical Gardens or North Gables, Little Gables, right outside Little Gables and North Gables. But my point is that when we talk about these issues, and I saw certain people mention, you know, listen to your constituents, listen to your constituents. We have to vote based on what we believe is in the best interest of the city, not a personal issue. It's
not whether I don't even own a dog. Okay? Right? So, my point is that I don't want to I don't want to be adversarial. I don't want to see people being adversarial. I know we're passionate about issues, but these are decisions have to be made by this commission moving forward. No, not a personal
matter. I wanted to put that on the record. Um, even though I doubt that it will be covered in the blogs, I'll be attacked for being anti- first amendment. So, would anybody like to kick this off with their personal comments? >> Madam Vice Mayor,
>> well, I I'll start by asking the city attorney. You received a request for my recusal. Um, have you evaluated that? >> I have not evaluated that, but my understanding um, from what was explained during that request was they were asking for you to recuse because
they claimed that you could not be impartial. And so that as we've mentioned before, as we've discussed here in this commission before, the question of bias is one that each of you should evaluate whenever there's a quasi judicial proceeding such as this one. And it's a determination for you to make if you're able to be fair and impartial
in consideration of the application um based on the the present the evidence right the competent substantial evidence that's a determination for you to make. >> I'm going to start with the following comments. Residents came to me and asked me to put
on the agenda a dog park item. I said you gather the petition signatures and I'll put it on the agenda. That's what happened in November. And that item on the agenda was to proceed with a design. It wasn't an approval for a dog park. It
was a design because it's the same thing that happened with Salvador dog park. A design was done first, then resident input was sought. So the statement that it was approved as a dog park in November was incorrect.
A design needed to be done. So res so public input could be had. So I looked at the results of the public input and I have an obligation to listen to those results.
And those results indicated that 71% of the people that responded that live in Coral Gables want the dog park. Am I to ignore 71% of the residents
that took the time to respond? That's not my habit. I'm listening to what the majority wants. So, that's where I sit on this matter. I do think I can be fair and impartial. I will listen to the residents
and provide uh what the residents are looking for. And I'll add one more thing. When I was first elected, this was one of the top priorities of residents who voted and it continues to be one of the top priorities of residents that voted
second to traffic issues, safety issues, and things of that nature. Uh, and mayor, I'd like to defer the rest of my comments to after hearing from my other colleagues.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. So, first I would want to put on the record that I am a dog lover that um I foster dogs. I do the dog walk here in Coral Gables. I love dogs. But the truth here is that this is not a
dog park argument. This is a process argument. From the beginning, I've stated that we needed to go ahead and start all over and give a fair chance to everyone. and I would support what the end result
would be. This commission decided not to follow through and not to support my legislation when we presented. Okay. Now, what do we have before us? What we have before us is very interesting because when I had my pre-aggenda meeting, I I was wowed,
astonished with what I was reading. Um, I don't think the city should be changing the rules of the game while the legality of the original action is actively being challenged right now.
The other thing is if the city believes it acted properly, then it should be willing to defend those actions based on the laws and ordinances that existed when the decision was made. The other thing is if the city now feels compelled to remove the restrictions
that have existed for over 50 years that naturally raises questions of why those restrictions suddenly need to be removed removed while the matter is pending litigation. I have a statement here.
Regardless of regardless of how anyone feels about the dog park itself, this property is currently the subject of active litigation. One of the central issues before the court is the meaning effect of the existing zoning conditions placed on this property decades ago. I
do not believe it is appropriate for this commission to amend or eliminate those conditions while litigation remains unsolved. If the city believes its actions are were lawful, then it should not allow the court then it should allow the court to evaluate those actions under the ordinances and
restrictions that existed when the decision was made. Now, out of respect to the judicial process, to the taxpayers funding this litigation, and to the residents who have brought this concerns forward, I move to decline any
changes to the zoning conditions, and they should be deferred until the case has been resolved. Are you making a motion? >> Yes, I need. >> There a second. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Clerk >> through the mayor. >> Give me just give me one second. And we
have a And we have a a vote on the matter. We have a motion in a second. >> We discussed things. >> I know, but I I want to get a vote. It's okay. You can wait a second. May I have a vote? Commissioner Castro. Um, while you're voting, you can go
ahead and state whatever you need to state. Since the mayor is running the agenda, he's not giving us time to discuss the motion. But once again, to clarify this motion, it is just to defer it until litigation is resolved. It's not to make any decisions um moving
forward. That's what the motion is. And my vote is yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez. So um there is a legal process in place. Um there has this commission has acted in a
way that has forced its residents to sue the city in order for things to be done the right way. And that's unfortunate that residents have to go through the expense and the time. I mean, some of these people have been sitting here for a couple hours taking time from their
day in order to fight for their neighborhood because somebody from the city commission has decided they're going to impose a dog park in this area. And if we're on the topic of dog parks, I drive past Salvador Park four times a day.
And if I've counted one dog in Salvador Dog Run in the last three or four weeks, it's a lot because nobody uses it. And why do people not use it? Because it wasn't done right. The first complaint that you get from people that go to dog the dog run is
it's the wrong material. It's sand. So, it's hurting the dogs. It's dirting their cars when they try to get back in their cars. But some people here think that they're smarter than the process and they want to impose their way of doing things. And that's why we're here today because we're now trying to impose
on our residents what we want to do with a property that clearly is not zoned for what the majority in this commission wants done. So what the commission has decided to do is move forward with a plan and force
the residents to sue the city. And guess who's on the hook at the end of the day for that lawsuit? The residents of Coral Gables are having to pay for it. So, we love to talk about, you know, we're spending money on this, we're spending money on that. Madam, city attorney, how much have we spent on this lawsuit so
far? Do you have that number? >> I don't have it handy, sir, but I could I could look it up. >> Okay. If you could provide that for me. >> I could see if if we couldn't get that number. >> Perfect. I'd appreciate that because that's money that we're literally wasting because we didn't decide to just pause it, go back, have the community
meetings that were requested, and that would have saved us a lot of time and a lot of money. And I know it upsets you, Mr. mayor and that's why you're all jittery in your chair right now. You can't even control yourself. But the fact is you decided to move forward with
a process that was not the process that was laid out cuz this should have gone to the parks committee first. They should have made a recommendation. That didn't happen. It didn't happen till after the fact because the commission decided to
take it up. The residents who were against the project, who have been vocal that they did not want this project, were not notified that this was taking place during that commission meeting. It was scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. time certain
last minute. The funny thing is the only people who were notified that this was taking place were the people who were going to be there in favor of this project. But let's not mince words here. There
was definitely a plan in place and it excluded the residents who live in that neighborhood. So yes, I believe we should defer and I believe a process should be followed so it doesn't continue to cost the city in litigation because we've decided to go
down this road. Commissioner Lada, >> a question for either the city attorney or city manager. At the November hearing,
special set at six o'clock was the was 520 University zoned at that time park. >> The zoning is as it exists today, which is special use zoning, which does allow for a park use. But this ordinance um
number 1952 does have a restriction. the uh that limits the use to overflow parking. >> So, it is to put differently, it's accurate that when I repeated that it was zoned for a park, that's an accurate
statement with some restrictions on how it can be used as a park, >> right? And it and it did even even that or the ordinance that zoned it special use said to be maintained in a park-like manner, >> right? Because if if it was the case
that it wasn't a zone was not zoned for a park or if it was that I said incorrectly that it was zoned as a park when it wasn't, I would think differently how to go forward. But
it it it seems to me abundantly clear to me that that meeting was properly noticed back in November that even though we all attended a uh memorial that day for a fallen officer who used to be a part of the Coral
Gables Police Department, our meetings regularly go beyond six o'clock, 7 o'clock. They've gone 8:00. I've been here till 9:00. I wish they were shorter, but we've done this on a regular basis. So, I don't
believe that any it should be countenanced or or supported for a moment that because an item was specifically set for a 6:00 start time would have been outside the norm of when normal items are heard during a given uh
day's agenda at a commission meeting. So I I believe that we have uh covered all of the uh notice requirements. Uh community outreach has been uh adequately conducted. Mary Powell
provided us then and repeated again today that we had substantial number of residents as we are here serving the city of Coral Gables in support of a dark. But we are not deciding. We weren't deciding then and we're not deciding today whether or not there's a
dog park or what the design of a dog park is going to look like. We're deciding today deciding today whether we're going to amend the ordinance. So with respect to your request, commissioner, or deferral based on litigation,
I'm quite confident that we did things appropriately. Um stand behind the city's position. I welcome always the the residents voices challenges when appropriate and I would think differently if the facts
were different, but they're not. So, no. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> one of the things I learned in law school is with due process, you have to ask what process is due.
The initial meeting wasn't a decision as to whether or not there was going to be a dog park. It was to create a design for residents to review. The process that happened thereafter is the process that's due. The lawsuit that was filed
was filed prematurely because the process had just begun and that's what we're doing here today providing the process. The planning and zoning board spoke in favor 52. So no, I'm not in favor of deferring it. we need to
proceed with the process because that's indeed the relief that was requested in court. I haven't looked at your amended complaint and I'm not making a legal opinion on that, but I don't think delaying this benefits anybody.
>> Mayor Log, so before I respond, you see me a little bit uh uneasy on my seat. I don't know why Ariel insist on bringing that up. is because I did some heavy squats today at 5 in the morning, which I highly
recommend that Ariel join me. So, with that being said, um, now that we've gotten to, uh, the ridiculousness that always results in these meetings, let me explain to you why I wanted to
move quickly in regards to the motion that was made by uh, Melissa Castro, Mr. Chad, GBT. So um my point is that very simple is that we have now become
we have grown accustomed here to circumventing people's ability here on the commission with an immediate motion to do something. No, let's have everybody have conversation. Let's let everybody talk like I allowed all groups to talk. You shouldn't just make a motion to try to
just chill all conversation. That's why I wanted to get that out of the way and then we can have a conversation in an appropriate manner. So, um, one of the things that I have to correct my colleague, Commissioner La on the record, which not correct him because he failed to mention it, was Madam City
Attorney, what commissioners were at that meeting at that public meeting? >> Mayor, I believe I believe you were present. Um, Vice Mayor Anderson was present and Commissioner Lara was present. >> What was the rest of the commission? >> You asking me? >> No, no, I'm not asking you. I'm I'm I'm
not asking you. So let me speak. I allow everybody to speak. So be respectful. That's all I'm asking you. It's the only thing I'm asking. So at the end of the day though, this is very simple. We are having a conversation. If we have a disagreement, it's perfectly fine. We don't have to always agree at the end of
the day. But there's no need to get personal. Madam City attorney, do you have the litigation cost? Because I'm intrigued to know what it is. >> Yes, I do actually. So, what has been build to the city um since starting in
March was is a total of $10,763. >> Perfect. Thank you for that. Now, the vice mayor has worked diligently on this matter, very clear in regards to what steps we're taking. What I want to see is us have a conversation
on the merits, on the facts, so we can meet halfway and figure out a way makes everybody happy. Um, I'm a no because I don't want to defer this. I want to address the issue here today in the commission. That's our job,
not to continue to kick the can down the curb. So, I'm a no. All right. So, now getting back to the issue at hand. Okay. We have an item before us that needs to be addressed. Madam vice mayor.
>> Yes. Moving forward on item E9, can we talk a little bit about your concerns, what you're hearing in the community? We've heard some residents from some residents on both sides of the issue here. Um, what do you what do you think is is
important here? Because again, I've also and I'm not an attorney and I' I'd like to have our city attorney chime in here because you had um Commissioner Castro mention you have to respect the judicial process. You cannot move forward with with with any resolutions or ordinances.
We have to respect the process. You're a city attorney. Are we breaking some rules? Are we doing something out of common place here that we have to clarify these things because these things will all make it into the into these very misleading blogs. >> Happy to. >> Will you give me a little bit of background on that as an attorney
because I've never heard that in 13 years. We've moved forward with legislation in one form or another. >> So, mayor, the the lawsuit is challenging essentially the commission's action in directing staff to move forward with development of of a dog park at at this location. Um, as as the
vice mayor has mentioned here and as we all know, that was a resolution directing staff to proceed with development. That did not definitively start construction of a dog park. There is lots of steps in the process um including one big one, which is funding for the dog park, which that resolution said that there would be private funding
for the dog park. Um, so this is one one of those necessary steps is addressing these restrictions in this ordinance. Um the the lawsuit also claims complains about the fact that this ordinance hasn't been addressed or this ordinance exists. So this is a step in the
process. This also also approval of this ordinance also does not definitively mean that there will be a dog park developed there. In fact, the ordinance is not about a dog park. It's removing a restriction and as we understood from staff um staff's position is that there's no longer a need to restrict that use solely to overflow parking. But
I I do also want to point out that it does say that there may be overflow parking at at you know is how staff is proposing that the ordinance be amended. Um so I do not think that >> are we doing anything illegal? >> No. >> Are we breaking the rules? Doing anything out of the norm?
>> To the contrary, sir, this is following the process. We we started with the planning and zoning board process which is what what has to happen when there's a a change of a change of zoning or an amendment to a zoning ordinance. So, you know, there was notice for that hearing. There was notice, you know, and and
we're going to through the steps. There was notice for this hearing as well. Um, and I I if I may, mayor, I'd like to address one comment that was made about the mailers going out for this before PNZ had made their decision. This could move forward even if PNZ had recommended denial. So, I think staff was just
moving forward through the process to timely get it on this agenda since we won't have another meeting until July. >> And we've done that before. We've we've heard things out of turn. So, at the end of the day, it's >> But but it's not a Sorry, mayor. It's not out of turn. It's not out of turn. I know what I'm saying. But I'm going even further. We've heard things out of turn. We're not even out of turn.
>> So the word litigation is used a lot of times to call up, you know, throw a big bucket of ice water onto things and say no. So, madame madam madam vice mayor, will you kind of give us a little background and continue moving forward in regards to the intentions of this of
this uh resolution and what we have here before us now that we've gotten away now we've gotten away from, you know, the circus that usually when we try to derail things. Let's have a conversation. Let's talk about things that are important here and let's see how we can build some consensus.
So, with a few statements made about Salvador Dog Park, and yes, it does get used and I have regular conversations with the residents that live directly across the street from it who chose the sand
substrate. In fact, brought me a sample of exactly what they wanted. The first iteration that went in didn't meet their expectations, so it was upgraded. But each site is different. And
the design that staff proposed for a park in this area, which is not what we're voting on at the moment, um had a small area that had astroturf for small dogs and the rest of it is grass. So, I'm going to share with you the
discussions that I've had with the residents over at Salvador Dog Park who are very happy with it. It's regularly cleaned and our staff takes very good care of it. Um there was a discussion regarding parking issues that if an
issue arises that we could address it with the choice of the residents that were being impacted whether it was residential parking permit signs or no parking permit uh no parking signs.
And it was indeed their choice and they didn't want to do it right away because they wanted to, you know, assess how many uh people were visiting the park uh where they because most of the people actually walk to the park and
that is the premise behind having these regional dog parks to walk to. I know this that you're all calling it a bark park. That's not what it is. Dogs don't go to the bark. They go there to run. And the reason for having regional parks
where dogs can run is no different than the exercise that every single one of us need to get every day. Walking alone is not going to do it. The conditions of approval for the Salvador Dog Park, and this might help give you some guidance,
were vaccinated dogs only. You have to have a Miami date county tag. We haven't had any problems at the Salvador Dog Park. If it really becomes a problem uh where there's too many people coming, we can do residential
access card zoning. But we can only do this a step at a time. Right now, we're at a stage of dealing with the zoning issue. That's all we're here for. So, I don't know if any of you have any additional comments on this. No, I just
wanted you to lay the groundwork and be very I wanted to lay the granular. Yeah, that was >> and be and be very granular on on that front because again there's a lot of things that are thrown out there. You know, you have litigation, judicial process, we're not being fair, a lot of words that are used and at the end of the day, people who are not attorneys like myself, you know, people they see
it as, okay, well, hold on. What do we We're circumventing a process. We're not following a process. We are following a process. It's gone through all the necessary steps. It's gone to the boards and we're doing things the right way. We may disagree. We may disagree, but at the end of the day, maybe we come
together, we find a solution that makes everybody happy. But to say that we're not following a process, isn't that correct? Commissioner Lotto, >> briefly. Um, mayor, I just want to address a couple of points that were made during public comments about this commission not taking into
consideration the individuals that have appeared here today. I I I haven't counted, but I would say the university uh green association, neighborhood association, I would say has probably less than 10 people here. I I could be
wrong, but I remember a few years back a packed historic Coral Gable city hall packed packed with residents in opposition to a resolution to fire Peter
Eiglesius as city manager. hacked. Resident after resident after resident voicing their strong opinions to not go forward with what Commissioner Fernandez, Commission, then Commissioner Mendez and current Commissioner Castro
voted the ouster of Peter Regles. One would say hypocritically that they're here to listen to the will of the people. that majority of the commission then certainly did not.
However, this majority of this commission during the November hearing on this issue took into consideration an overwhelming majority of residents who signed a petition and listened to
the residents who came before to give their opinions, have their voices heard, which were all duly considered by the only three commissioners that appeared at that meeting. So I just want to address that we are
fair, we are respectful and we are colleial for those who have been identified as not being so today. I hear you. I heard you then in November. But I'm an individual who besides being
commissioner, I'm also an attorney and I believe in the process. The process was followed. I can please everyone, but we're not mobb rule. We're not majority rule. We're representative
and we followed the process. One last question just for the record. The issue was mentioned and brought up and brought up process again. I want to hear from the city attorney. This is important.
Was the appropriate process followed? with respect to the every yeah I mean I've >> did we did we break the law >> I am not aware of any failure in process or any failure to follow process or any required due process mailings anything
like that sir no again I want to reiterate that initial resolution was a direction to staff to proceed with development of a dog park but that began the design process etc um it did not begin construction of a dog park and so there's other steps that
have to take place this is one of them. Um, and and we followed all the required process. >> Just want to make sure because multiple multiple individuals I'm not a lawyer. Multiple individuals have brought up. I have to lean on you. I have to lean on you and make sure that I'm very very
clear when you mention process and judicial oversight and the legal system here that we're circumventing all the process and that we're trampling over all of that. I want to make sure because that's what will be written later, especially in comments aligned. But mayor, just if I could just kind of
bring this back. What's before you once again and know what's been said was before you is not approving a dog park. In fact, it is amending an ordinance that had certain restrictions when the zoning was changed back in the 70s and that is a decision that you all should be making on the competence of central
evidence that you've heard today and and it does not dictate that whether there will be a dog park. It will it would if if you all were to vote no today, it could perhaps halt that process and that is something that you know again it's part of the process. >> Again, I understand that the reason why
I bring it back and if the clerk I'm not going to have them do it now because we don't want to waste more time, but if you look back at multiple comments that were made by the individuals who were speaking from the public, they mentioned failure to follow the process, a
breakdown in the process. They quoted multiple members of the commission saying it is a failed process. Failed process. So I want to be very clear when somebody says a failed process. I want to have our city attorney who your job is not to agree with us. Your job is to protect the city and protect the charter
at the end of the day. So when I ask you we broke the process, we failed the process. Your answer is no. >> No. >> Clearly >> correct. >> Thank you. >> Through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Okay. So with the residents that live close to this park
where this park is impacting the residents. Besides putting this on the agenda, were any of you notified that this was going to be heard in this meeting? Raise your hand if you were notified. Okay, raise your hand if you weren't.
Okay, so the only people that were notified that this was going to be on the agenda were the people that wanted to dog park. You wouldn't say that's a failure in process, especially when the people being affected by this dog park really I mean living right next to it are we're
not informed. What is the city going to say? The city's going to say it was on the agenda. It's your responsibility to look look at the agenda. I'm sorry. Every normal citizen here in Coral Gables does not look every two weeks or three weeks to see what's on the agenda. That's not
your job. If something is coming close to you, it should be the city's responsibility to go ahead and at least leave a door hanger or mail something to the closest resident. Now, I understand that it's not part of the process. I did try to make it part of the process and
this commission declined. Okay. Now, now the other thing is um I want to put on the record that we are moving to change the zoning of this
parcel of this property when it's one of the main complaints of the lawsuit. So, in other words, it's like going into a store, stealing something, getting out, them telling you, "You
stole something, and you say, "Oh, no. Let me bring it back. Here it is. I didn't steal it. The crime was already done. Even if you if you if you give it back." So, um I think we're handling this very poorly.
>> You're the mayor. Um um give me one one moment, Commissioner Lara. >> Absolutely. I thought you were done. >> No, no. And then the last thing that I do want to address is Mayor, this is the first warning again during this commission meeting that I'm going to ask
you to address me with respect. I corrected you. I am your colleague. I'm a commissioner. I'm not Mrs. chat GPT or whatever is that you want to call me because if I have names to call you oh trust me there's a list okay I'm
refraining from that first warning I will move to censure you and I would hope my colleagues given the circumstances would support me >> I welcome it commissioner >> through the yes through the mayor
commissioner Castro that was um interesting what you were saying about people and declaring that there was no notice given or worse that there was
only selective notice given but I find that the height of irony when you yourself were not present at the meeting when this vote was taken. >> Miss Sorry. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> My apologies. Um, I just want to clarify some things because I I believe
Commissioner Castro was asking whether they received notice for the November commission meeting, but I it it was a little bit unclear whether that meant this meeting. So, I want to clarify that because the November commission meeting, there was an item it was a resolution directing staff to proceed with
development of park. Mailed notice is not required for that item. And but for today's meeting, there was mailed notice and I want to make put that on the record that there was mailed notice. Um, and I see the the planning directors up there. Is that what you were going to address? >> Yes. So, mail notice was sent out on May
20th, the same day as plans are meeting as you I think heard from multiple residents here. So, yes, within 1,000 ft of the 520 University Drive property. >> Right. Commissioner Lara, let me go ahead and respond to you >> if I may. >> Okay. We have a pretty long agenda. Uh,
let's get moving on this issue. I know we want to go back and forth tit for tat and it's perfectly fine. Um there anything else for the good of the order that that has that adds a little bit of substance to the discussion? Madam vice mayor as the your other sponsor correct on this item?
>> Yes. >> No, this is staff. >> No staff. I apologize. >> This was this was a staff staff. >> Anything else you'd like to add for the good of the order? >> No, I'm I'm just reading the proposed amendments. A that the property at 520 University shall be not be paved for
off- streetet parking. The property shall be kept in a park-like manner and in with the trees and foliage of the said property shall be preserved in their present state as much as feasible. Okay. So you know this is the first step of
the process to maintain this property as the green space that is intended to be. Um this doesn't dictate right now that we're developing a dog park. It removes the restriction on the property that'll
be used for off- streetet parking. So, I'd like to be able to move this thing forward. >> Do we have a motion? Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Clerk, do we have a motion? A second. >> Commissioner Fernandez. >> So, Coral Gable's January 1972,
the commission under the leadership of Mayor W. Keith Phillips stated specifically that the intention of the commission is that the said lots should be used only for overflow parking
from the youth center and the library. Nowhere does it say it can be used as a park. It is very clear. It is in black and white and I am a no. This is a matter that's under litigation right now and we should not continue to move
forward until the issues are addressed and residents have their say. >> Commissioner Lada, for the reasons stated, yes, Vice Mayor Anderson, >> this is the process that's required is the reason for the lawsuit is to have
the process followed. We're following the process and the vote is yes. Commissioner Castro, >> I'm going to go ahead and answer Laura's question. What I was referring to was when this item first came about, and I believe that was in November. It wasn't
fairly advertised. It was only advertised or only the people that were in favor of this dog park were present here. I watched the meeting online. I wasn't here to clarify that point. And the and the second thing is for the city the city attorney by approving this
ordinance are we removing one of the complaints from the lawsuit >> wouldn't be one of the complaints. >> Okay. So we're kind of fixing the zoning code to the privilege of city
of Coral Gables and their lawsuit that complaint will no longer be valid because we're fixing it. Well, Commissioner, respectfully, if you're fixing something, then that's probably a good thing. Um, it's it's it's if they're complaining about a a
deficiency of some sort and and we're addressing it, then we're addressing it. I don't think there's been a deficiency. To be clear, this was it's a required step. They have included many arguments in their lawsuit. I don't think this is the appropriate venue to to to hash them out. Um but I think that this is a step
that that when done by the commission Yeah. They they if this process concludes then they would not be able to say the city didn't address this issue. >> Yeah. But it's not about the city addressing this issue or not is that that is one of the complaints of the lawsuit and now we're coming here and
we're fixing it before the lawsuit's even done. >> Commissioner, that's a it's a step if you know as the city is moving forward with the dog park or not moving forward. We've got to figure that out and this is one of the things that needs to be addressed as part of that process in you
know the the next steps in in development of a dog park. >> My answer is my my vote is no. >> Mayor Long >> through the mayor. >> Yes sir. >> Commissioner Castro. If there is relief being sought and along the way the
relief should be withdrawn as moot that happens every single day and twice on Sunday in litigation. Number two, respectfully, you should address me as Commissioner, Lara. I certainly know I've earned that. >> Didn't.
>> That's a boo boo. Uh my vote is uh yes. Moving forward. Thank you. Uh let's move on to item which was a 2:30 time turn 2-1. Unless anybody needs a bathroom break, I
may stand up to stretch out my back. Commissioner Fernandez says to take a break. It's a good opportunity to stretch out my back. >> Recording stopped. >> Five minutes, sir. >> Five minutes. Good for me. >> Commissioner Commissioner Lara, what did I
All right. >> Recording in progress. >> Welcome back, >> Mr. Clerk. Item 2-1, please. >> Yes, sir. >> Time started for 2:30. Thank you very much, >> sir.
>> Yes. Good afternoon. Um, this item is to the resolution asking the commission to approve the study of a uh scrambled sidewalk. Just to be clear, it's to approve the study, not the actual construction of the scrambled sidewalk. So, as a transportation advisory board
uh chairperson, I've tked my uh my members to look for uh availability for safety and mobility throughout our city. Um, obviously Pond and Miracle Miles, one of the most traversed sections in our in our CBD and I think it it it it merits the additional study for
pedestrian safety crossing uh through that area. Um, Miracle Mountain and Ponds are areas that are managed by the city. So, basically, there's several things that need to be looked at studies. Um there are some um there
there are potential there are benefits and there are cons like in any study. So what the what this study would do is evaluate those and see if and determine if a a crosswalk is feasible in this area. Um there is presidents of of of scramble crosswalks. We have it at 57th
and Sunset. There's also one in Bickl and H Street. Um I pulled up some general data on the cost. Um in this case besides the cost of the study uh if we were to proceed the study shows that it's feasible and it's something that should be done. Um as far as in the
field constructing it the infrastructure is there I would basically do the restripe uh the signing is in place um and also the ramps are in place and then redo some of the signal timing to uh improve the phasing for pedestrian crossings.
First and foremost, more important than the scramble sidewalk, I want to thank you for your service to the city and and as a resident, you do a lot and I'm happy that you're engaged and we're happy to use an engineer like yourself who wants to serve and who wants to spend time here. And I apologize, we're about an hour and a half late for this item.
>> Okay. >> Um I you know what I would like for you to do if you would just appease me. I'd like for you to sit down with the manager and have a have a conversation in regards to this to the scramble sidewalk and see how we can collaborate on this issue >> uh and work together. Um, I think that will be incredibly beneficial. The
second thing I wanted to tell you was, um, you've been incredibly patient in regards to sidewalks and the road work that's being done in front of your house. Thank you very much. >> Task accomplished. So, it's >> So, how do how does how are how is the residents and the >> um I was talking with with vice mayor
and we see a lot of pedestrians walking through the area. They're actually they enjoy it. I have conversation with all my neighbors walking through it and I think it's it's coming through very safe. the traffic has calmed down and I think it's it's accomplishing its effectiveness of what it what it was meant to do. >> So, I use I use that street every single
day and one of the items I had multiple visits with the manager and we talked about it. Obviously, we've been planning for this for a few years now with your help and the resident's help and it's incredible how when you tighten the street and the sidewalk, you tighten the street besides the island that's right adjacent to
uh to the uh to the bridge, the tightening of of of the street has really slowed people down. It slows me down. >> Yeah, >> you have to be obviously a lot more alert, more careful, >> and more cognizant of it. So, but I'm happy to see that a lot the people are using obviously a sidewalk. That's the intention and that obviously we were
able to save the trees and the canopy stayed intact. >> So, have you heard any any of the residents in that area that are upset about it? >> Not no uh we've had some concerns during construction, but those have been resolved with staff. I've have good communication with staff on that and I think we finally got to the end product
and it's it's looking great. The only thing that I left uh in the hands of the manager uh was uh Mr. Freriedman. Uh he had an issue. He has some we were going to put no parking sign on his house and obviously replace his grass that his grass was a little bit damaged which is about I think it's two doors down two
doors down from you >> on the other side. >> Right. >> He's on the on the golf course side. >> So that's the only thing that I've heard so far. I haven't had any other complaints. >> No. >> No. That makes me happy. >> Great. Um, what I would like for you to do first and foremost, will you send back a message on behalf of the commission to everybody on the board,
uh, thanking them for their hard work? >> We'll do. >> And I would like for you to schedule time with the manager whenever you guys available for the next week so that we can have more information moving forward on this project. >> Mayor, thank you, Mayor. I'll be happy to set up a meeting with the public works department with our public works
director and our assistant uh director of transportation so we can all so we can all discuss and and and look to see whether we move forward with this or not. >> Madam vice mayor, you want to add? >> Sorry, I came in late. >> No, we're just talking about the
scramble sidewalk. Um and obviously they're asking us to recommend it. I don't have any issue with it at all. I but I want to take advantage of the manager his experience and these two individuals who are engineers can have maybe we can come up with a plan that in my opinion not only is a scrambled
sidewalk but maybe we're not looking at all the angles and I think that when we sit down at a table with your expertise your background as a civil engineer is him as a structural engineer we can sit down and have a real conversation and say maybe there's other areas here that we're not looking at similar to what
happens when I go to a job site and and I go with staff they see things that I don't see and I see things that they don't see. >> So, um I just want to take advantage of of of the fact that everybody that we have a team that we have here and especially residents along with Hermy's and Melissa who are the directors who
are amazing uh and the DCM who could probably join us too u and get engaged on on this whole discussion. >> Sure. >> So, through the mayor. >> Yes. >> So, yes, I agree. I I believe in on-site meetings a lot because you get to see what's happening
and uh the meeting that I did with uh the secretary of u district 6 uh Mr. Eacius was eye opening at the intersection. Those lit up no right-hand turn signs that remind drivers not to make a right when the pedestrians are
crossing are are wonderful. So, um, yes, I hope that we can help improve safety there at Pon and and Coral Way. And I like those diagonal sidewalks as well because it just I think makes it much safer for pedestrians uh going forward.
>> So, in preparing for this, I in due diligence I I have um acquaintances with some of the folks at District 6 as well and kind of kind of um had some conversations and they said, "Yeah, it could be feasible." on the same thing. It would sit down at the table, find other alternatives in the current
condition. Something that may may help is actually enforcement of the no right turn on red signs. Um, which if you're crossing now, it the you're you're not only dealing with that, but you're also dealing with the left turns coming in. So, um, again, in my opinion, I think,
uh, scramles, it's it's worth looking at is you have a dedicated phase now. Uh, instead of having two pedestrian phases, you reduce it to one. It's an increase a little bit. And obviously what's the impact of traffic and that the study will show all that >> through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Yes. So I don't believe the manager is a
really big fan of this proposal um especially in this intersection but then again I can refer to him. I'm just saying um based on our conversation in our uh pre-aggenda meeting now how much you said you went ahead and you found
out how much the traffic the study would cost. How much is it? >> Well, I'm I can't speak to that because I'm not aware of what the the consultants rates and negotiation protocol is for the city. So, that's something that the city can determine. Um I I as far as construction costs um
at 8 Street and Bickl the cost there was about $120,000, but that involved more infrastructure work than what we're talking about here. Here's the striping and and >> just a study because this is for a study, right? Funding a study. Now, this act this item doesn't require action
unless one of us moves it. And I'm I'm willing to go ahead and move this item just for the study to find out um if it's really convenient because it is an intersection where we're going to have to stop all traffic lanes to let people
cross. Right. So, just for the for the study, for the funding of the study, I will go ahead and move this side. We have a second. >> I'll second. >> So, in response to Commissioner Castro's
comments, I was trying to eloquently get the manager and you in a room without saying the manager was in opposition because the manager is not in opposition. The manager has concerns and as an engineer, I respect his concerns and I want to make sure he can sit down and have a conversation with you and his
staff and review it and see how we can find common ground. Um, so that's the way that I've always done it. I'm not going to say whether he's in favor or against it. When I had a conversation with him, he told me his concerns. He also told me why he also was in favor of certain infrastructure upgrades. So, what I would like to see, what I would
like to see is not just an approval. We can vote on this. It's very easy to vote on. What I'd like to see is two people of your caliber get in a room with staff and find solutions uh and find different things in that intersection that can be benefited. Let me give you another example. Okay, we
have signage in there on the signage signage on the corners there. I think we can significantly reduce signage. I think that we can significantly uh assist in what the vice mayor has been advocating for years uh which is ADA infrastructure in regards to the noise
attenuation uh machine machines that are forthcoming on on on major uh intersections. There's a lot of work that can be done. Uh and again person like yourself sitting with a manager and sitting with our amazing staff is something that I think is more important than just saying hey the
manager is against it. Uh the manager is not against it. He just has concerns and that's his job. And that's why I appreciate the manager every day more and more because he he gives me the other side of the coin but says let's review it. So with a person like yourself who has probably more civil
engineering experience than outside of maybe the DCM that that I' that I've met in a long time, I think we can find a lot of really important solutions and also kind of craft craft uh that area into being something special. Maybe the scramble maybe the scramble
sidewalk doesn't work, >> but guess what? May we find solutions to other issues that we're facing. >> That's my point. Yes, sir. Sure, Mr. Mayor. >> So, mayor, I I think it would be u great to sit down and look at this intersection being such an important intersection, Miracle Mile and Pon. And
I think with the with uh all the uh uh engineering uh that we have in this room right now, I think it would be great to sit down, look it over, and see what is what is what what is the optimum solution for that. >> Let me give you give you an example. Let me give you an example. He's going to laugh. Give you an example where the
manager and I disagree. Okay. I think we should remove, he's laughing. I think we should remove the stones at the intersections. Just a maintenance nightmare. He's tried everything. He has invented. I don't know how many slabs and different
concrete mixes and additional reinforcement rebar and you know, is it on sand? Is it not on sand? Staff Hermy's Hermies and Melissa, they've gone crazy trying to figure out ways to do this. Okay. >> Cross team. >> Yeah. And they've gotten better. They've gotten better. They've gotten better.
They don't fail like they used to fail, but they still they're just you can't have the weight of the trucks on on those papers. It that was something that was not accounted for when you and I were there when they were milling the first time that evening when they started the transition to the new to the
new Miracle Mile Streetscape. So, I like to bring him in and maybe that's that's something we look at and say because if it was up to me as we're having as we're facing this tax issue now that's forthcoming from Tallahassee and we have the cola and we have a lot of other expenses that we're taking. You know how much we're spending a year on the
maintenance of of the crosswalks? $200,000. That's what we budget. A lot of money. Do I think they're worth it? They're stunning. But the material that is from Brazil, correct? >> Yes. from Brazil. It's just it's not
that it's fragile, but you can't have that much weight for trucks. And by the way, you can't stop trucks from going down Miracle Mile or crossing on ponds. >> So, at the end of the day, those are one of the things that we disagree on. And guess what? You know, we've left it there because once they're once they're once they're refreshed, which happens
once every This has been a while. It's been a while. It's been about a year and change. I can't remember the last time we've had it, but um but I'll tell you um it's painful. It's painful to see staff having to go run out there and bring in a contractor to address the ditches that have been forming there. So
that's one of the things that you can look at. Maybe you have a different idea in >> there's multiple alternatives. I've had the opportunity to work with multiple municipalities throughout the state. There's stamped asphalt, there's stamped concrete, there's combinations of so there's multiple alternatives that are
feasible and less cost or more cost effective for I'm going to tell you now. I'm going tell you now if I may. Stamp concrete is Not >> I know again I always like to look at alternatives the global perspective and obviously come down what's what's the safest and most cost effective
>> and I'll give you an example of something we're dealing with right now that the DCM is dealing with it and we had a meeting with it about yesterday. Uh we're writing a memo on it. Laura from my office is working on that right now and I think we may have submitted it already. Uh when you go to regions bank you see you see that they have we have
three different tiles. We have the miracle mouse streetscape tile. Then we have it was a paper excuse me and we have a very thin tile and then we have the concrete. We have three different treatments. That tile in front of Regent's Bank should not exist. Remove that tile and throw concrete there or
extend extend the Miracle Mile Streets Caver. If you go and look at that right now, it is an absolute disaster. The tile is lifting up. You know, these are covenants that have been in place and we have in about three or four locations is in my memo. Can you do me a favor, Mr. Manager and the DCM? Can you share the
memo with him? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Share it with him. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Because it's we're trying to find solutions to beautify the city and obviously not be a tripping hazard because right now if you drive if you walk in front of regions, you'll see literally a pothole about this big. >> So the mayor.
>> Yeah. Uh I'm going to move to defer the vote on uh the uh on the study so that we can have the engineer symposium um meet and see what we can get uh discussed and resolved and come with
some um suggestions and recommendations to the commission on how to address all these variety of issues that we have here because it looks like six more issues popped up in the process. So, I I'll move to defer. >> Let me ask a question. How much is the study?
>> What do you think the study is going to be? >> Here comes the director. >> Could I had you up the whole time? >> Good afternoon, her poly director. Um, we have to look at in detail, but a place like Pon, you're probably looking somewhere between 50 to $75,000.
>> So, needs to be a county. Uh, >> do you mind if we have this meeting and we bring this back in July in in July? >> No. Because I before I strike 507 $75,000, we're looking for every penny right now. We may have to use those $5075,000 at Regent's Bank and come to some if if they're not going to do it or
we got to figure this out, you know. Mr. Manager. >> Uh thank you, Mayor. I I think that we should have our meeting before. >> Okay. >> And then we we can we can we have a a lot of engineering experience here. we can come up with with different ideas, look at some of these solutions and if
we feel that a study at that time is done is is is appropriate, we will bring it back. you could give us to the meeting in uh in August. It would it would be great to allow us a little bit a little bit of time to look at at the intersection and uh and we also have
some some some data that our assistant traffic uh director has and it would be a great meeting for all of us to see if we can improve really our our most one of our most important uh intersections and certainly the one that's most important in our downtown area. I just want to make sure I respect all of you
and especially obviously the resident who who's going to you know >> gracefully >> again this is a conversation starter and I think it's >> there's a lot of good items and then these are also items that I can bring up to the tab as well for further conversation elaboration as well. So I
think this helps at the end of the day is we want to improve our walkability our safety mobility and in our city and I think good collaboration helps. I may add one one more thing for the meeting just for the meeting because uh can we get through the DCM if you speak to
Laura I sent our district 6 commissioner Natalie Orvis I've sent her two letters and one one was a memo we had a conversation in between about the infrastructure that addresses the lighting the lighting obviously the traffic lighting and that there's new technology and maybe we can do a pilot
program uh using some of the subcontractors in the county to just basically address it on ponds in certain areas. I would like to do a traffic excuse me a pilot program where maybe we >> the intersection for example in front of Hillstone if we can remove if we can
remove that box or at least minimize that box and just push it into the gr push it into the bushes a little bit which is not that far it's three or four feet away I know it costs money to relocate it but can you imagine the beautifification that we could do and I think it's something that the city of Cor Gables would be willing to do if if
if our staff really finds areas that that are high impact like ponds and and miracle mount. We have a box right in front. So, that's one of the items that I think we could talk and we can get that memo that I wrote this week uh to the district 6 commissioner and she she
was very interested. We had a conversation. She's all in on that front >> to the mayor. >> Yes. Um, I think if you're having the meeting, have a conversation about the entire Miracle Mile because we have three
intersections in Miracle Mile and maybe there's one of them that you'd be more will open to to having our first scramble uh crosswalk in and test out, see what needs, what works, what doesn't work, so that we can move down Miracle Mile and have them all be the same. Because at the end of the day, if you're
a Miracle Mile, most of the time you're trying to cross the street, whether it's because you parked across the street or whether you're going to an establishment across the street, um those scrambled crosswalks are going to make it a lot easier for people to get across because most of the time you're crossing north, south or or east, west, and then you're
having to stop there, wait for the next light to then be able to cross. Um, so especially in the hot summer months when people are just standing there baking in the sun, um, it's something that we can really make the walkability of Miracle Mile a lot better, uh, and maybe help some of the businesses. You know, we
always talk about that southwest uh, block on on Miracle Mile being the one that struggles the most. If all of a sudden we're making those scrambled crosswalks that make it easier to get there, you may be able to get that pedestrian uh traffic there uh and get people frequenting the businesses that
are there that are struggling. Most of our businesses on that strip are the ones that are the first to close. They'll open for 6 months, but they just can't sustain the pedestrian traffic. People end at Starbucks. They don't take that extra uh block over. So, you know,
I think if you're having the conversation, have the conversation about the entire strip, uh, and see if we can make it better. I know the city has done work in the past and has done studies on on what best practices would be and stuff. Uh, and I agree with the mayor. I think those those crosswalks
for me in particular, the days that it rains, I have certain shoes that I cannot wear to walk on those crosswalks because I slip all the way through it. You hydroplane. So, any suggestion? And maybe, you know, we can consider selling them. maybe we can sell them to somebody else who could use them and use some of
that funding for uh yeah, you never know, right? So, I appreciate the work that the the TAB does. Uh I think it's one of the advisory boards that has been underutilized for years, but I'm glad to see that you're all taking initiative on
on moving some of these great projects forward. Uh it's going to help with ADA issues if we get something like this done as well. Um so, it's it's welcome and I really appreciate your effort on it. >> You're welcome. And we we're privileged because now I'm not the only engineer. There's uh Santa Maria is on on there as
well who's also an engineer. So we have two engineers now on the board. >> I got a group. Okay. So we have a marching orders. Mr. Manager >> through the mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> The the issue commissioner is the devil's always in the details. So we want to make sure we look at at the details, but it' be a pleasure working
with you and looking at at the intersection. Maybe we could look at the entire mile and it would it would be a a great meeting for us to do so. So I I appreciate it. Thank you. >> So, Mr. Clerk, we'll we'll bring this back on the August. >> Yes, sir. >> So, there is a motion and a second
that's pending. >> And I had a motion to defer and I I think um we need to ask if there's a second on that so that we can have the engineer symposium. >> I'm okay with with uh you know the the meeting moving forward and then having us bring this back in August. You know,
if the if the mover of the item is okay with it, I'm I'd withdraw my my second. I'll go ahead and retract my motion. >> Thank you. >> But we need a second for the deferral, right? >> I think there's consensus just fine. So, August, it's on the agenda already. So, and we'll just look at everything
holistically. Everything from like we mentioned, sidewalks obviously. So, all the equipment, all the technology, the poles, all the signage, everything. I'd love to see that. It's great. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, my friend. I appreciate you. >> Moving on to item F2.
F2 is a resolution of the city commission requesting that mobility impact fees generated by the Ponds 8 project located at 3808 Southwest 8 Street be used for eligible mobility and transportation improvements in the North Flagler Ponds area and providing for an effective date. >> Okay. I'm the sponsor of this item. I've
been having a lot of conversations with the residents uh north of A Street and Pon. Uh many of you are aware Zulie Partardo is is uh kind of like the general in that area. I say that with all due respect and uh you
know she's engaged in a line of different things in the city and they always talk about how this area is under under service and you know they they they really want to be front and center. So I'm really spending time here and I know that my colleagues are also and the
manager also and our team the DCM and the ACM and all directors. So this is something that we talked about. This is nothing new. We've done this before, but I'm bringing this resolution because this is our first lived local project in the city of Coral Gables and this is going to make a significant impact in the community. And I've had
conversations with the manager to get his guidance in regards to where, you know, I want to be very careful doing this, but this is already a high impact area where there's a lot of cut through traffic, a lot. And now we're going to see even more impact with this lift
local project moving forward. So, I'd like to see if my colleagues have an interest in doing this. I think this is incredibly beneficial and u I think it will be it will help us fund future proposed projects that we're talking about sidewalks, tree canopy, infrastructure, traffic calming and the
manager will talk a little bit about. Mr. Manager, >> thank you mayor. We're we're looking at uh we're currently uh finishing or working on excuse me phase three of Pon Leon which would which would take Pon all the way to uh Southwest 8th Street and we are looking at uh proposing Pon
phase 4 that would that would be from Southwest A Street to Flaggler Street. There's approximately $160,000 at this in mobility fees mobility impact fees that this project would generate. And since what we're doing on on ponds would
be an improvement, uh certainly this would be certainly a place where this impact fee could help us uh provide better better uh traffic situation on ponds u help help with the cut through traffic and and help us fund phase four
of of Ponzelon. >> It's a start. I think that's the point we shows that we're committed and uh and this is something by the way I know we're going to be going into budget season soon. I want to make sure that my colleagues again You know, there's limp pickings forthcoming, but I want to make sure that we're committed to this area,
committed to the park, committed to a few different things that need to be done there because this area, this area, just like Builmore Way, it's another area, this area and Bmore way are areas that we should focus on over the next four or five years. >> The mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> We are proposing phase four as part of this budget from from a design point of
view. And this $160,000 would be something that we could use to to start uh that that project. >> Commissioner L. Yeah, I am so supportive of your resolution. You know, I had the the privilege of meeting with uh Zuli Part a couple of weeks ago at Rotary
Park where we we talked about, you know, the the original vision for that area and I know you're very familiar with that as well. Haven't uh been somebody spearheading this uh for quite some time. So with Pon's uh 8 project uh looking like it's just moving forward, I
think that it's a very very uh prudent, appropriate, fair, equitable uh resolution to the extent that it is um legally permissible, the full extent of the funds. I think that's the best place as well to deploy them.
>> And since we're having the conversation, thank you to the clerk who reminded me, let's also discuss H2 also, uh Mr. Manager, which is >> Yes. Go ahead, Madam Vice. Uh, >> we're discussing both. At the end of the day, I think they're >> Yeah. >> I'm absolutely in favor of um I mean, I
did do one resolution to carry from 8 Street North because there is a need to direct funding from the mobility impact fees uh into that area. And this is a very appropriate project to also apply those that funding to because uh the
amount of funding that's needed for an area that has been uh neglected for some time uh making it much more residential and dealing with the um type of speeding of traffic that's going through the area. Um I did that before I was a
commissioner using mobility impact fees and and this is very very um appropriate at this time. So I'm I'm in favor Okay. To the mayor, >> do you need a motion or >> Yeah, we'll do. We will need a motion. >> It is a resolution. Yeah. >> Yeah, we do need a motion. >> Um, so, Mr. Mayor, I think this is a
no-brainer. I think this is the community that's most going to be affected by that project. Um, and they really need the funding and the investment in the area. Uh, I think we did well with the development project that's coming. They're going to be doing a lot of profiters that are going to be
helpful. Uh, and you're right, it's a drop in the bucket, but it's an important first drop in the bucket to to move that neighborhood forward. Uh, and hopefully, you know, in the next few years, we can also have that entrance feature up on on Flaggler, which um we were able to buy that property and and
have it ready uh and really complete that final uh stretch of Pon all the way up. I was on Pon this week and saw the progress that's being made. Uh it's looking good. Um, I heard a lot of positive feedback from the businesses in that area who have been hoping for this
for years. Uh, so hopefully we'll be able to finalize that project soon and move this forward. So if you're making a motion, Mr. Mayor, I'll be happy to second. >> Uh, the vice mayor made the motion. >> We have a second. >> Yes. Made a motion. >> Do we have any public?
Do you have any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Mayor Log, >> yes. Uh, Mr. Manager, we can we do H2,
which is basically in line with Ponate, and it talks about the the live local. >> Yes, um the the um impact fees uh the parks impact fee is approximately $700,000.
Uh the mobility fee is approximately 160,000. And there's also another 50,000 for fire and and police. So, uh these these um are certainly the the parks is a is a
substantial impact fee which could be used in the park on on Flaggler the that that we purchased and that can be that can be even done as part of uh puns phase 4. So, I think it gives us a lot of flexibility uh in the area and we're
looking uh we're looking to uh as this as as it could be a potential funding source for that >> and how and in regards to your item on H2, we talk about the live local application of PON. How is that going? >> We are having a presentation now. >> Perfect.
>> And uh but I but I think we were talking about impact fees too. So, this brings a a number of of benefits from an impact fee perspective. By the way, just before we jump into this don't move, I I I know we're budgeting, you know, the the architecture, the engineering,
all the work that's going to be done, all the consultants, but I think that's this is going to probably be like a $10 million project, maybe even more if you talk about depending on the scope obviously. I would like to make sure that we have as much community input and we really have some ideas. You know, I
know we may want to do some conceptuals or want to show people, but um the more heartscape we put in, the more it's going to cost and the numbers could be stratospheric with the pricing of construction. Now, >> uh through the mayor. Yes, mayor. Would be 10 to $25 million depending on what
we do throughout that area >> if we take the the whole area together. >> Madam director. >> Uh yeah, Garcia, planning and zoning director. I just wanted to give you an update on the Pon 8 project. It's a mix sorry it's a mixeduse project. Um but
using the live local act um the property is located on 8th Street between Galliano and Pon Leon. It's an inner block. You can see it's taking up I think six potted lots. There's an aerial so it's not quite reaching Gallaliano on the corner. Um it's wedged between I
think Cafe Italiano or Italia. Thank you. Um an office building um to the west. Um there's an aerial chart looking southwest. So the future land use map actually is commercial high-rise intensity and the
zoning map shows it to be MX3 zoning. This is a shot of the mixeduse site plan for the ground floor. So it has um ground floor retail facing um 8th Street. There's an arcade that runs most of the uh frontage on 8th Street. The
parking ramps are in the back. The entrance is actually shown here on the left side. It's on the east side of the property for oneway in access. They have underground parking as well as four levels of parking. I'm sorry, five levels of parking above and then a
vehicular ent vehicular exit um to the west of the ground floor and a dog park in the corner. This is a typical floor plan. So, you can see it's double load um uh hallways. It's a kind of a shallow U uh shape of units and it has the pool
and amenity space. um on the south side which you can see on the top of the screen. So the property is 36,000 square feet. The zoning is MX3. Um the total floor area ratio or F is 5.0 which is the maximum you can have with the live local
act preeemption. The building height is proposed to be 175 feet. Um that's with the mixed sorry the med bonus. um residential units or be 200 units which um equates to be 242 dwelling units an acre. It's another um preeemption by the
LIOA act. Uh commercial would be approximately 18,000 square ft and that's split between the retail on the ground floor as well as um shared uh co-working space on the sixth floor. And there'll be 294 uh parking spaces and
6200 square feet of open space. This is a rendering showing the frontage um on H Street. You can see that's a 16story building. Let me go back um with an arcade um on
the frontage and that one way in, one way out on H Street. So, the DRC reviewed this in August of last year. We went through a round of comments multiple times. By the time they got that uh resolved, some of our comments from from zoning, they reviewed by the
board of architects for conceptual review which is required for the med bonus and then the the VA uh issued them a preliminary approval and the med bonus was granted um in April. A planning and zoning board will not be seen application nor will this commission because it is a live local act
application. This is a rendering looking west looking southwest. Um, so you can see um, Cafe Italia in the foreground. Um, the arcade facing H Street.
You can see the arcade. Here you can see the entrance into the garage on the left side of the screen. This is the picture of the arcade and then in the daytime and also in the evening as far as how the line will will
be expected. This is the um rendering of the tower facing south. So that's the uh terrace space and the the place with the three arches is a lobby um for the top floor of the building.
The top is showing this the mini space. The top is showing that uh pool area that'll be on the south side of the building at the sixth floor. And then this um terrace area that'll be on either side of the pool again on the south side of the building.
And this is a rendering of the of the lighting on the south side of the building again facing uh the north ponds area. And then um this is the last slide showing again that lighting um situating the ground floor for that retail
lighting as well as the top of the building. That's it. Thank you. >> May I ask you a quick question? >> Yes. >> Uh the project if it was not live local what would be the height that's allowed there? Um with med bonus it' be 190.5 >> and the density
>> 125 units an acre >> this is a a pretty pretty significant project that's forthcoming and it has has no review from the city of Coral Gables correct >> by staff it does >> but minimal but minimal it doesn't have to have commission approval >> correct >> that's a mixeduse project so all
mixeduse projects no matter if they are as of right require review by the commission So that's a big a big hurdle that the developer no longer has to go through. >> Correct, >> Mr. Manager. >> Mayor, and no review of the planning and zoning board either. So, but but it did
go through the board of architects. I was there for the first review. It was a very uh successful presentation to the board of architects. the mayor. >> Um in your conversations with the developer, um one of the biggest issues that we've had with um the projects on
US1 has been the location of the pool. The pools facing residential where they have the basically like a sound wall which is projecting all the noise into the residential. just some food for thought, maybe they can move it to the north side so that it's not facing the
the adjacent to the residential behind it. Um, and the other thing is, are there going to be any um I guess traffic uh lights or any way for those cars that are making left into the building
because traffic stacks all the way almost to 37th Avenue in the after in the afternoons. So, anybody who's going to try to make a left into that building is only going to continue to add to that traffic. I don't know if if uh that's in consideration. That would obviously be state because uh 8th Street is uh is
FDOT, but just food for thought in the conversations. Um because my concern is it's just going to continue to cause more you have 200 units probably have most of the the full the maximum capacity of the vehicles coming into that building, especially mornings and
afternoon as they're leaving and coming in. they could cause a major issue for traffic for for residents in that area. So, just as you have the conversations, I know we don't have a whole lot of opportunity to to push what we would like to see, but if they could consider those things, I think that would be >> through the mayor.
>> Yes. >> Uh yes, commissioner. They will that uh 8 Street is a state road, >> so they will have to get permits from 8 Street for ingress and ingress and and they they'll have to address that uh with with FOT. and through the mayor though they have
been working with FDOT it's helped by they change it's one way in one way out so they've been working with FDOT for those driveway permits as well as circulation onto that road >> thank you for the update thank you very much Mr. Uh item F3.
>> F3 is a resolution of the city commission directing the city manager not to proceed with any major capital improvements that would require temporarily ceasing operations at the Coral Gables Memorial Youth Center until the reverter clause in the deed to the property has been modified to address the city commission's concerns regarding its potential interpretation and directing city attorney to pause on
litigation efforts until further direction is provided by the city commission. Madam, vice mayor. >> Um, this was an item I I brought in an effort to try to help reach a resolution uh with the World Memorial Youth Center. Um, the reverter clause has been a point
of contention uh because of its lack of clarity uh for some time and this uh particular resolution would put a pause on ma doing major capital improvements other than the maintenance that's required.
um for our normal operations, but not a tear down of the building without having uh the reverter clause addressed. It's a one-way street right now that if misinterpreted or misapplied or a lawsuit begins um and the property is
reverted back to the War Memorial Youth Center, um there is no requirement for that organization to continue to run a facility as it is intended to be run uh for the benefit of the youth. uh the they get the property rights and
there's no obligation going forward. That is the reasoning behind um this resolution uh to try to bring closure to this issue. >> Anyone else on the commission? >> I know you have a I know you have a following item on F4. So
>> well well actually what I want to do is I wanted to withdraw F4 and continue conversation and dialogue regarding F3. >> Okay. Okay. Um, do you would you like to address it now or would you like >> Well, no. I I wanted to say since we're on that on obviously the F3, you know,
the intent behind what F4 was, interestingly, the vice mayor and I obviously we don't confer on these things in advance, right? >> So, you're not you're not violating the sunshine law, >> right? Because I'm not committing a violation >> Oh, okay. of sunshine. >> But um I I I do think that great minds
think alike and and we we we both and not not maybe inconsequentially, we're both attorneys and we're kind of thinking the same way. How do you how do you get to an elegant uh solution or resolution or an elegant exit off a highway of um
you know um imminent filing of litigation, right? So I I always feel that litigation is will be the the the last resort, you know, the least uh preferred path. Always, you know, if there's any way to avoid litigation
because there's a legitimate dispute, um you you must exhaust all reasonable alternate, you know, avenues. I think that the uh vice mayor has come up with an interesting one, right? because and maybe maybe this is the way um without
rehashing it all right here you know that the concern has always been um among others but the main concern has been is like truly the effect of the refer clause how any challenge can come at any time with respect to its interpretation. So to allow some oxygen into the room,
to allow the parties to explore uh w without any undue um pressure or or undue if the case may be personal feelings being involved, none of which that I have or share. Um
to be able to figure out what makes sense for all the parties, you know, to put a pause on the litigation to uh uh do so until such time as this reverber clause matter the parties can sit down and come to a resolution and the biggest
concern would be that the the the major capital investature right we the certainly the the I understand and believe that the city wouldn't be in a position shouldn't be in a position to invest millions of dollars and still have unresolved the the uncertainty that
presently the reverter raises so I I would supportive of the um I am supportive of the vice mayor's resolution again with the common view that we both share of wanting to explore
a resolution short of litigation by giving everybody a fair and reasonable opportunity to do so. >> Um so my colleagues don't have anything else they'd like to say I just give you my thoughts on this. Um I'm ready to move forward. Um, I think we've, no pun
intended, over litigated this conversation. Uh, we've given three opportunities for the members of the board to show up. We have been stood up at the dance three times. I'm not an attorney, thank God.
Um, but anybody will tell you who's a litigator, and I have one my left and one to my right, that in these moments, you cannot show weakness. You cannot give up your hand or at the end of the day they won't take you seriously. They do not take us seriously already. Okay. You've had multiple members of that
board leave the board. As a matter of fact, one left two weeks ago. The vice the vice chair I think uh is no longer part of the board. And there is no transparency. There is no need to discuss it or argue it or belabor the point. We've had this over and over again. We can talk about five years of
not being an active 501c3, you know, not providing documentation. This is supposed to be our partner. This is supposed to be our partner. I think it's a great move uh to freeze all major capital projects. Let me give you one final example and that is in five years.
In five years, and I'm sending out today a letter to all the residents, an email, excuse me. It will detail the success of the pension, the leadership of the manager. We started in 2015 funding significantly more than we needed to.
One of the items that came out of that pension board meeting was that if we continue to overfund the pension and the economy continues to move forward as we as it's has been moving forward over the next five years, we'll have about $25 million. Correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Manager. That's correct.
>> About $25 million of excess monies that we will no longer have to attribute to paying down the pension. will be close to 98 99% funded. Right now we're almost 80% funded. We're right there. If you continue smoothing, we're right there 77
78%. We've done a heavy lift. We've done a heavy lift since going from almost 50% when we started overfunding the pension in 2015. Why do I say that? In five years, we can basically renovate the incomplete youth
center. By the time that we've done the plans, we've entitled it We've gotten them approved. We've selected a contractor. It probably takes about two and a half years. And then when you build it, it takes another two years. But think about it. It could be about fiveyear process. If you're if you're socking away $25 million, you could
potentially pay that renovation in cash. How can you make an investment of this magnitude? By the way, remember what Kirk Menendez wanted to spend close to $175 million on a bond issuance, which I voted against. And God, I voted against
that because right now the city will be paying a lot of money as our taxes are being cut. So I cannot support renovating significantly. And by the way, I'm all for it. I think the youth center deserves a massive renovation
after we've done after we've completed with city hall and the mobility hub. I think that is the next big project. We've done Venetian pool. We're going to do now the water tower. We're going to do the gondola building which are smaller projects but a mag probably of the magnitude of of of uh of u the youth
center requires real attention and real commitment. We can't do that knowing that there's a reverter. What have I profered over and over and over again and for some reason I I I'm not sure why they don't take it seriously. Either a covenant or I'm willing to go even further
and to require a referendum. There's the constant ridiculous uh statements by the blogs that are said that you know we're going to sell the youth center or we're going to redevelop the youth center into some multif family. It's a
political ploy. You know the ploy the politics they stoke the fires to scare people. I mean that's pure insanity. Okay. We're in the we're in the we're in the business of trying to acquire as much land. Look look what we're doing today with acquiring the neighboring building of city hall. and wait till
they hear about our We're almost there, Mr. Manager. We're almost there. Well, we are We are there conceptually. We're there. We finally got the agreements. We're going to paper it up. Your office is going to paper it up and we're going to deliver on the largest piece of land in private hands and we'll bring that into the city. And
what are we going to do? We're going to put a covenant on it so that it remain a park in perpetuity and you cannot build anything on it. But we're about protecting green spaces. So, I it pains me to see people get scared for political ploy and political reasons, but thank God we didn't approve that
$175 million bond issuance. So, to me, I'm in favor of that. I just think I just asked my colleague, the vice mayor and commissioner to put a book end on it. If you want to freeze litigation and effort that, you know, the two parties can come together and have a real conversation, I'm all for
it. Look, we're doing our part. We've invited them here three times. They've stood us up at the dance three times. We've said okay we're going to free litigation now for three months that hopefully we can meet and come to an agreement and then we're going to make a commitment in three years to spend significant amount of money to
design and remodel or rebuild the youth center to be honest with you. Maybe take a complete rebuild. We're going to give you three months to have these conversations or two months by the end of you know September 1st. we
want to be be ready to go and then we will move on to litigation. But the idea that in perpetuity we can just say, "Hey, we're gonna we're going to freeze litigation." I'm not in favor of that. It would be a no vote. But I'm willing to support my colleagues on this uh because I think it's that we have to address this issue once and for all uh because I don't think it's I don't think
it's appropriate to have, you know, these constant fears and these constant lies that are being said um that uh you know that we're going to develop develop uh the youth center. I mean, that is sacrilegious in my eyes. So,
um I don't know how you like to do it, Vice Mayor. I kind of >> I mean uh my concern for that property is more um the fact that the exact opposite could happen if we end up in litigation. If the War Memorial Youth
Center interprets that a certain percentage was not meant because we have such vagueness in this reverter clause that opens it up to anybody's opinion which we have many different opinions in a room about how much is too much in the
way of adult activity versus youth activity on that site. So the exact opposite of my is my concern. While they they claim and think that uh City Corables is going to develop the property, it's more my concern that somebody down the line
um whomever is on the board and we don't know who's going to be on the board in the future um actually is is the individual that's not going to maintain it as a youth center has no requirement to maintain it as a youth center and could do something else with the property that is clearly not in the best
interest of the residents of the city of Corables. So, in order to to maintain this property going forward, we have to put a a bookend on the fact that we're not going to make this major capital investment unless they come sit down at
the table and renegotiate uh this reverter clause. Um, as far as a book end on on litigation, um, >> let me book end on this grace period more and more. Sorry to interrupt you. on the grace period. Um,
you know, I I can take another look at that and and address that in the future. I don't know what time period is appropriate there. Commissioner Laura, do you have any thoughts on that matter? My you the mayor my uh view on this is
that I think that looking at it from a different angle is that both the uh well at least the current board the board that we're dealing with is desirous of the same things that we would be desirous of ultimately right is that when the times appropriate for a
capital improvement of a material and major scope we all would want that right it is that common desire to get to that end point that then the city has leverage right to get their
attention so that we can come to a resolution regarding the reverter clause. I think that if if if if people will be reasonable about the concerns that have been raised for a very long time at this point to to reach agreement
that will protect all interests, then then the leverage that the city has is that we're going to hold off on making the capital improvement of a material size, right? because then we we would be subverting our responsibilities to the residents
with respect to millions and millions of dollars of potential expenditure. So I I think mayor that that there's there's there's great benefit to putting a pause, not losing the momentum, continuing the conversations, but always understanding
that if if they if if the parties can't come together for resolution, the keys to the cell are in their hands if they want to resolve the refer clause with us. If not, we have to protect what
otherwise would be a major capital improvement expenditure. So, the way that this is presently phrased, I'm still supportive of it the way that the vice mayor has >> through the mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> Uh mayor, commissioners, this this facility is a dated facility.
It it there's no fixing it. Uh if we were to do a new facility would probably be around now around 70 to 75 million. And we we there's it's very dated. It's older buildings. Uh it would have to be it would have to be torn down.
Uh that means that there will not be a use center for two years, two two and a half years. And and so what happens when there is no youth center and technically it's not a youth center? I I I think I would rather have my
the control on the city commission than any aboard from any place else. But it it it There's no fixing this building. They really if we're going to go to something new and and something and it really warrants it because uh it's it's
a it's an incredible facility used used by by by my nephew, by my son, by by everyone and and and and you have the you have the the the kids of kids now uh using this facility. So, it's not a
facility that that that can be um that can be that that uh we're not dealing with a a correction of the facility. We're doing a complete reconstruction of this facility, which means there is no use center or maybe two or or two and a half years. And there's an opportunity,
Mr. Manager, there where we're going to take that drastic step. We're going to spend let's say hund00 million on a facility of this magnitude. Then let's make it the best. Let's green big. What do I mean by that? You have a intersection, a street that runs between
the library uh and the youth center. We combine those streets. Making the youth center even bigger. And these are just thoughts, ideas. We can work. We own the library. So, at the end of the day, we can do something even better. We could have combined parking. Maybe we do something in the youth
center where where again there's there's actual speaking out loud underground parking. You know, it's expensive. tremendous master plan. >> You could do something beautiful. You could do a master plan with A, B, and C and then have different pricing in regards to the magnitude of it, which is something that we've always done. For example, what we did with this building.
Remember, we talked about additional floors. We saw the cost and, you know, sometimes I regret we didn't do an additional floor here. >> We talked about elevated swimming pool, running decks, >> uh, underground parking. I mean the the the site really lends itself to a lot of
a lot of uh to a tremendous project uh in 31 uh if we take care of of of the pension plan then it would give us about $25 million of additional of additional funding at that time. Um but but I do think that that the building uh there's
no saving the building >> and what we need to do is make sure we're going to have this real conversation. If you want to put a freeze on capital and we're going to have this real conversation, that's fine. But there has to be there has to be a time frame for this conversation. It just can't be in, you know, we we'll see you in six months. We'll see you in
two years. We'll see you in 5 years. It has to say, okay, let's let's sit down and have a conversation. Let's see. Let's see what comes out of it. Designate somebody uh from the commission to be involved in those conversations with the manager and the city attorney and we have a real sitdown conversation to see how we can we can
find consensus. But I I would just ask that my colleagues I'm willing to give. I'm just asking that my colleagues uh put a bookend on it so that we can come back and say look these are these are our findings. This is what transpired. That's all I'm asking >> through the mayor. >> Yes.
>> So this conversation continues to happen as if the city of Coral Gables had oversight over this association, but it's actually the other way around. The association was created as a mechanism to protect
residents and ensure that the Coral Gable's Youth Center always remained a youth center. You know, and as I continued to hear this conversation, there was one word that came to mind and I didn't want to say it unless I looked up the definition. Obtaining money, property, or services
through coercion, intimidation, or the wrongful use of threats. It's exactly what's going on here. It's extortion. We're trying to extort a foundation or an association that was created to protect the residents in order to secure a change in an agreement that we already
had. And we we just heard, well, you know, we're going to make a covenant on this property so that it doesn't become X, Y, or Z. Yet now we're trying to change a reverter which is yes a covenant agreement that was made with the
association way back in the day when the property uh became uh the cities to use for the youth center and I understand you all have concerns about the use of the funding and we're not there yet. We have no money in the budget right now
for youth center um capital projects. Um there's been discussions for the last probably six or seven years uh but it hasn't materialized. We're talking about a large sum of money for the renovations of the center, you know, and and we
hear, oh people are being scared into believing that it's going to be redeveloped. What is the reason we're trying to get rid of the reverter? The reverter is there to ensure that the residents of Coral Gables always have a youth center to rely on. that property
will never change its use. If we're talking about making changes, underground garages, all that sounds great, but it does not change the fact that something has to protect that property to ensure it is always a youth center.
And look, I trust that the five of us up here have the desire of keeping it a youth center. I don't believe anybody up here has a desire of changing it into something else, into selling the property. That's not what I believe. I believe we do have the best intention in
mind of preserving the youth center. But I think we're spending a ton of money going after an association to try to change a reverter which is there to protect our residents. That's why I'm not supportive of this. I don't believe we should have gone into litigation to begin with. I believe I I mean we are
asking an organization that oversees us to provide us with documentation so that we can find a way to get away from a reverter. Yet to this day, Mr. Clerk, have we released all of the public records that were requested under discovery? >> We have we have not released anything.
We're still going back and forth in what was requested. So, this is an organization that oversees us and we have not released records, putting ourselves in a situation where they could file paperwork tomorrow to take the youth center away just because we
have not released our records proving that we're using it for the right purposes. So, I think going down this rabbit hole again, we're trying to use muscle power to try
to get something that we don't even have a right to request. You don't go buy a car and then show back up at the dealer, you know, 10 years later and say, "Hey, I want to renegotiate the contract that I signed in the car because it doesn't work for me anymore." That doesn't work. That's not how the way the way it works
in reality. And let's call it what it is. This is political. 100% political. >> You done, sir? >> I'm done. >> Okay, good. First and foremost, Madam
Vice Mayor, in the typical Commissioner Fernandez way, he doesn't give you all the information. This is good for sound clip on the gazette or or or leche or whatever it is they call it. Mr. Clerk, will you do me a favor? Will
you put on the record, even though I won't make it tomorrow, maybe the hero will print it. How large was their public records request? >> It was an extensive public records request. We're going back and forth with the association in order to narrow it down
>> to determine a number that is, you know, somewhat accurate and and re realistic. >> Okay. I'm going to ask you I'm gonna ask you again. I'm ask you again. I know you want to protect the city. You do. It's okay. But we have to show how ridiculous
the public record was. Okay? Because somebody who is serious, and this is why I want to make sure the vice mayor understands this as as per proposal, they're not serious. They haven't come here three times. They're not protecting the the youth center. You know why
they're not protecting the youth center? Because they can't even keep their 501c3 active for five years. That's not serious. That's not a firm or an entity. That's serious. They don't keep they don't even keep their own records in order. Mr. Clerk, I'm going to ask you
please to tell me how large of a public records request did they make and what was the cost of that public records request? Mr. Mayor, I don't have the exact number right now, but I I'm going to say it's upwards of 200 million emails. Um, we
worked back and forth to try to reduce the scope of the public records request. The last number was something around 20 million emails, but we're still going back and forth before providing them with an estimate on how much it would cost to produce over 20 million emails
from the city. >> Mr. Clerk, how long have you been part of the city of Colgate? >> 2003. >> So, you're 23 years here, correct? >> Yes, sir. >> Amazing. Congratulations. You learn from one of the best. and you have this
lovely young lady here who works with you who's your right hand. Let me ask you a question. In your 23 years of being the assistant clerk and now and learning under Walter Fulman, who we
miss him a lot. Is this the largest public records request you've ever seen in your life? >> Without a doubt, sir. So when you say these things, it just adds credence to my statement that they're not serious. What they're trying to do is bog us down in the mud. But that's
fine. And my colleagues don't want to do it. I don't have a problem. I'm ready to move on. They're not protecting anything. Because you know who protects us? The city of Coral Gables does. Why? Because we maintain it. Because the manager goes out there with the DCM and the ACM and staff and they deal with
people and they address the maintenance of the building and they're there in the building. Anybody who is sits on that board and puts their entire family on the board is not doing what's in the best interest of the city. And we may disagree with it
and want to continue to play politics. That's politics at its finest. That's politics. So you can maintain control of the board. So you know, hundreds of millions of requests in regards to public records requests being invited
here three times and not coming here. We can go back and forth all day. I'll vote in favor of this. I don't have a problem. Even though I oppose it because it's not going to go anywhere. Yes. >> So, because there have been so many misstatements put on the record, I want to make sure, Commissioner Fernandez,
that you understand what I stated. The reverter clause that was written back in 1950s, just like some leases that we've had in our city from decades gone by, did not
anticipate the reality of what could happen if misinterpreted. Number one, it's not reciprocal. Number two, it does not protect the youth center. It absolutely does not protect the youth center. In fact, it
does the exact opposite because it's not reciprocal. They can assert that the reverter clause hasn't been complied with and then receive the property and have zero
obligation to run it as a use center. There are no protections for the residents in that reverter clause. None whatsoever. Nor does that board answer to the residents who vote in this city.
They can do with it what they want. They will tell you that their board bylaws which can be changed and amended and state statutes which can be changed and amended somehow protected. Perhaps that's a new avenue for live local. Perhaps it's a new avenue for other
legislation that we could never imagine in our life 10 years ago would exist today. They're not protecting the youth center. They're just protecting an old right
with a poorly written document that doesn't adequately protect the youth of our city. or even a memorial that it is supposed to represent because boards change. people on those boards change. And the
best way to protect the residents of Coral Gables who vote for people that sit up here and can remove the people that sit up here is to make sure that it is a reciprocal revert clause, not a one-way reverber
organization whose body changes is not subject to answer to the residents of Coral Gables. But this resolution, if you had read it, precisely identifies that as the issue.
It says, "Whereas the city commission fully and unequivocally intends to continue the operations of the Coral Gables war memorial youth center for the recreation and benefit of the youth of Coral Gables, but concerns remain regarding the restriction of a portion of the youth center property that is
subject to a nonrescrocal pervert clause. Therefore, while disclosure by the association of its organizational, operational, financial records would alleviate those concerns to a certain extent, the city commission ultimately
remains concerned about the potential for future interpretation of the reverter clause, which is overly broad and contains no guard rails. Okay? And that's a fact. It has no guard
rails. The residents of Coral Gables are not protected by that reverter clause. This resolution aims to resolve that issue by getting people together to sit around a table to once and for all have clear
language defining how we're going to protect this valuable asset for the future long before we're all gone. Madam Vice Mayor, I'm also again I'm in favor of getting again together again around around the table. Um I just don't
want to be once again be waiting at the altar for a fourth time for them just to even show up. So I have no issues. I just would like for just a time frame also. >> So you're the mayor. >> Yes, ma'am. >> We have some ballot items coming forward
in November on property taxes. I think we'll have a clearer forecast at that time as to when um we will be able to include in a capital improvement budget
items such as the youth center. I would ask that we revisit the matter u in January or December, your choice to address this time frame issue. Okay. >> Okay.
>> As far as the capital improvement budget, I'd like to pass this uh as it is right now and we'll bring it back on the agenda after the November election. >> Move it. >> Yeah. >> And through through the mayor question.
I know that um Commissioner Lara's item was to stop litigation until there was a meeting. Is there any combination? Are we stopping litigation with Vice Mayor's ordinance? Not an ordinance, it's a resolution.
>> It's a combination. We didn't violate sunshine. We just happen to be thinking along the same line. >> No, no, absolutely. I I never suggested you did. I just wanted to make sure if this is actually stopping litigation. >> Yes, it does. It does say and directing
city attorney to pause on litigation efforts until further directions provided by the city commission. >> Beautiful. Okay. So then I will I I will support this for the reason being that yes, I agree with what Commissioner Fernandez is stating. However,
this is a resolution. So to be honest, anybody like there's another majority can come up here and dissolve that resolution or amend it. I mean, as easy as that. It's just a resolution. It's not a covenant. it could be done
undone very easily. And um I think right now stopping litigation and making this a bigger deal is is is more important. And the other thing, if I really really want to be honest, I think the reason this is being done is
because at some point we're investing so much money into mobility hub and I don't think this commission wants the youth center to be placed on the ballot compared to the mobility hub because they would be afraid that
the residents would probably prefer to invest some money in the youth center. But that's I mean I already know where this is going. So um I will support the resolution and just a minor correction
here. It's not a rocon it's called political cortito the mayor. Um by the way um I would never support anything going on the ballot for a referendum that did not have a revenue stream. Again, the mobility hub has a revenue
stream coming from parking fees. The idea of spending $175 million, thank God I stopped that and it was a no vote on that. Uh it would have been disastrous just like taking from our reserves would have been disastrous. Uh just like the cola was a disaster. So at the end of
the day, uh we have to be very fiscally sound and this is why we're moving forward in the direction that we're moving in. Thank god we did the things that we did in 2015. In 2015 leading up to this point because now you wouldn't have the reserves and you would have a bloated albatross of a pension system
that would be 50% funded. So very easy to poke the finger and say you know the things that you want to say but at the end of the day uh delivering on fiscal responsibilities put the city where it's at right now. >> Commissioner Lotto. >> So briefly because we really beating the dead horse here. >> Yep. >> Um
what happens when you're a newcomer to the city? you forget or you don't know how you got here. >> You know, um the mayor and the vice mayor and I we voted for and gave direction to the city attorney to bring the litigation.
Two of the three so far, the vice mayor and I have sponsored resolutions to to put a pause on that litigation. Right. So, you know, I I'm not even sure what Commissioner Castro was referring to about this is not a covenant uh or that
it can be undone. Of course, it can be revisited. We were on the up side of the vote. It's not an amendment to the earlier one, but it's an evolving situation. We are exploring ways to get to the
common goal end. Uh to one extent, I agree with Commissioner Fernandez, right? that nobody on this disas wants to do anything other than preserve the war memorial and the youth center in the way that it was always intended to be uh maintained
as I believe um the same for the current board of the war memorial youth center but I completely disagree and I actually got to say I find it unfair and and even offensive to suggest that the vice
mayor's resolution is um an extortion move that's um inflammatory. I I I don't think you're advancing the ball here in any way. Um it's kind of distracting. So, that being said, bringing it home, right? Uh, I think
that what we want is to bring the parties to the table to see if we can resolve what is a um unfair um
um meeting out of obligation. As the vice mayor said, we are the ones that respond and our our bosses are the residents and we're subject to what the residents want, but not the board. They don't, right? The youth center, the the war memorial youth center that do not
answer to the residents. And so, we have quite a bit at stake here to ensure that we're the best, most responsible stewards of the taxpayers's money. And so, to negotiate with
another party with respect to the interpretation of a reverter drafted 60 years ago to meet with and meet up with the current landscape that the city is facing right now
is expected and it is something that is what we've been you know elected to do um not simply say set it and forget it. So, I I I I'm still exploring and I hate
to be be delaying this, but although I'm completely in support of the vice mayor's resolution, I am still um contemplating what the vice mayor is saying would be some type of a bookend.
Um, and so I I would suggest a friendly amendment and put a book end by the end of this year. >> The mayor. >> Yes, ma'am. >> It's essentially what I was trying to say. We have a a vote coming in November
on increases in homestead exemption that may inform our decisions going forward. So that's why I said December or January would be the book end to revisit this this matter. >> Would you just allow me and I'm willing
to support this again? Give give another opportunity for them to take me to the dance and not show up, you know, fourth time. Would you just grant me the ability to at least have a bookend on it and I'll meet you there and I'll vote in favor of it. >> What book end are you looking for?
>> Whatever makes you happy. December. I was willing to go September 1st. I'm willing to negotiate. >> I I wanted to get past the property tax. >> Well, that'll be done December 1st. >> December 1st. >> Okay. By the way, um Commissioner Fernandez was incorrect. Once again, um
there has been money spent already in the youth center. Uh there has been conceptual drawings that were that were that were uh that were worked on that there was significant money that showed a complete remodeling of of uh
of the youth center. Am I correct or not? >> That is correct, mayor. >> And they were embarked on by Hland Partners. And they were beautiful, by the way. Beautiful renderings. And I was in support of that 110%. I would love to see that come to fruition. I think the city deserves
that. I think our children deserve that. Future generations deserve that. And I think that that building, not only is it outdated, it could it's a it's there's a lot of wasted space there because of the little rooms, doors here, open spaces that are not even used. Case in point,
where the, you know, we one of the things that I would love to see, and I mentioned it before, we have such an amazing gymnastics program. They are literally, I don't want to say this, but over capacity. They're begging, begging. That's how popular and that's how well and the awards that they're winning.
They're begging us to expand. They they they've come to see me. We'll take double the space. I don't have the space to put you. We'll pay more. We want to pay you more rent. Give us space. Give us the auditorium. Give us We don't have the space for them. So, um I appreciate
u the concession, uh madam vice mayor. And this is why we have to be very very careful when we say things. There has been money spent already. There are conceptual plans. It is a public record. We were moving forward. There was discussions of $175 million bond the parks with the majority of the money
going to the youth center. It was brought. It was worked on. We paid lawyers. We paid outside counsel. We paid consultants. So, we were here. Thank God I voted no. Look where we be today. So, what did we do? We did parks like
David Lawrence Park. We did parks like Dorothy Thompson. properly budgeting, not encumbering the city with more debt. So, madame vice mayor, would you like to uh make a motion on your item? >> Uh, make a motion as amended on the floor
>> with December 1st being >> December 1st as a book in. >> We have a second, Mr. Clerk. >> We have no public comment. Correct. >> No, we do. We have not done public comment yet. >> Public comment. First speaker, Maria Cruz.
This is Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road, 3053232154. If it was not so sad to hear the comments that I've heard today, I would be laughing from now till the
end of the year because we're missing a point where we're talking and by the way, I was accused of being bringing forth negative comments before and now we have
two commissioners trying to put this to make it work and who came up with the negative comments comments. The one that accused me of always bringing negative comments. Enough on that.
I have been around enough to remember how many times the youth center uh plans and I'm glad that the mayor remember we did have a plan and then
commissioner uh Menendez was um convinced to push it up a little bit so we could do something else. And then we pushed it up a little more so we could do something else. And then I'm glad that
my ex-friend, my old friend brought up the fact that then we decided not to do it because there was a break. because there was a break because the same as I was deposed from being madame mayor,
Commissioner Mendez became the bad person and politics came in and it's very sad that we know we need to do it. the the manager says the place needs to
be done and you know Commissioner Mendez doesn't have any children he this is not benefiting him this is for the children of this for the youth of this city and we are still dealing with politics you
know what when we talk about uh poorly written documents I remember when the Mat family took the they county to and they won because when you have an agreement as this one, you do have legal
ways to keep it. And you know, we keep saying, and yes, it does sound like extortion to me. I didn't know what word to use, but then um Commissioner Fernandez used it. It's either you do what I want or you're not going to get
the money. Darn it. I watch enough crime movies to tell you that sounds like the mafia talking. I'm sorry. Okay. I believe that this is all part of the revenge tour. And you know what? The
youth of our community deserve to get a new youth center and stop the politics. Mr. Clerk, Jackson Holmes. Greetings. Um, thank you very much. Um, I hate to say this, but uh, this is the
most shocking attack on children. This thing of trying to get them to to lift their reverter that I've ever seen uh, in our city. It's an attack on children. It's saying that uh as far as I understand this, there was there were
people that owned this land and they they own the land. There's no negotiating over reverter. If someone says here's here's a present, here's the land as long as you always use it for a youth center. Okay, that's not for
mutuality of a reverted. That's that's really unbelievably uh I would say dishonest talk about mutuality of ver. They own the land 100%. They said you can have it as long as you always use it as a youth center.
Um and I I interpret this thing as an incontionable attack on our city's children saying that the city wants to have the right to do with this whatever the city decides. Maybe it's a elementary school. Maybe
it's a developer that contributed to a campaign. Uh we don't we should never even be thinking about the possibility of selling the youth center to a developer. It's incredibly bad. I I I think you should resend this whole uh uh
ordinance or motion or whatever resolution that you're doing. It's a disgrace. Thank you. Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. Do we have a motion and a second? >> We do, sir. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Fernandez. >> I go back to 1972 where a commission sat on the deis and told its residents that it is the intention of the commission that the said lots should be used only for overflow parking from the youth center and the library.
Today this commission is saying the intention is to continue to use this lot for youth center. Yet today we took a vote where this commission voted to resend that commitment it made to the community back in 1972.
And the only protection that we have for this youth center is an outside organization that is there to oversee the city's operation and ensure that it's being used for the right reasons. For that reason, I'm a no. >> Commissioner Lada.
>> Yeah, I I got to say that just so many misstatements that are flying around that it's mindboggling. I think that um what again what we're trying to do here today with this vote is ensure
that the intention of the original grand tour which is to maintain a war memorial and a youth center always remain a war memorial in a youth center. I would suggest in the notsodistant future we really should be
exploring a covenant so that it is absolutely crystal clear that what both parties want both parties agree to because right now what's been agreed to doesn't quite get us there. But if everyone is exactly on the same page and
they say what they mean and they mean what they say, then a covenant would be the clearest and most efficient way to ensure that it remains exactly what it was intended to be when it was granted 60 years ago to the city to protect not
only the children but also the memory of those who served. My vote is yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, >> the gross misinterpretation in statements that were made by certain members of this commission about what
the purpose of this resolution are and the unfortunate um way in certain way certain residents have accepted that as being the truth is sad because the purpose of this isn't to
indeed protect the youth, protect the future forever more. Many times when you begin crafting something, whether it be in words or by an invention, the first iteration is a great idea, but as time goes on, we can
improve upon it. We improve on engineering, we improve on designs, and we certainly can improve on the language in a covenant that forever more will protect the youth and a memory of those
who gave of their lives to protect our country. And it's sad that people use loose words such as extortion, as if this is extorting some money. The true meaning of extortion is that we're taking some money away from somebody. No one's taking money away from the war
memorial youth center here. What we're trying to do is make sure that the original intent of those who crafted the reverter clause are protected in a much better fashion going forward. So my vote is yes.
>> Mayor Log, my vote is yes. And again, it's it continues to be embarrassing that like the vice mayor just mentioned right now, the word extortion is used uh by Commissioner Fernandez. Uh it's probably like one of the most obscene things I've seen uh a commissioner do on
this floor. It is the most obscene thing I've seen when someone says that extortion occurs. That's just a lack of knowledge and really understanding of what we're trying to do here. U but again I wish it was just a lack of knowledge. That's just true disingenuousness in an effort to politically grandstand tomorrow on the
blogs and clobber somebody over the head by something they're going to send out. Um it's just shameful. So shameful that that it actually happens here. And thank God this is all coming to an end soon enough. Uh it can't come fast enough. And I'm grateful for the voters to have changed the elections from April to
November. Uh because uh this will be all exposed and people will be made aware of just the absolute ridiculousness. I mean look at look at the agenda. Look at the amount of legislation that's profered by certain individuals of the commission. And look how how little legislation is profered by people in this legisl in
this in this body. um you you come to work, you come to office off to offer office hours to provide a service to the community, to meet with residents in the neighborhoods, to really address the needs of this community, you know, not to not for a paycheck. And at the end of the day, it's it's just embarrassing
that those words are used. So, my vote is yes, unequivocally. And I would like um the manager and for the city attorney uh to have one of one of the elected officials, I don't want it to be me, uh be selected. hopefully one of our attorneys. So that means either
Commissioner Lada or the vice mayor to assist and be the point person on this uh moving forward just like we did with the mark just like we've done with our University of Miami agreement uh development agreement. I think it's important to have a direct connection with the commission. That way you know
we don't have to wait for commission meetings. We don't have to wait for for u you know I have a weekly meeting with a manager. I talk to him every single day, four or five times a day. But you don't have to wait for that. And I have full faith and confidence in my colleagues on the commission that they'll do what's right by the city. But just the idea that you had mentioned
extortion. I mean it's it's just embarrassing and it's shameful. Shameful. Um and again that's just the type of politics that we don't expect here. We expect it in other cities but we don't expect it here. Um would you mind madam vice mayor? I got to leave it up to you or or commissioner. >> I'd be happy to serve in that capacity.
>> Okay. Thank you madam vice mayor. Um moving on. Um something a little bit more beneficial. um and I think a little bit more happy. Item F5 uh is an item that I put on the agenda. I've been doing the summer page program for the last few years
and um I I think it's important that we highlight the efforts uh of our staff, especially Laura who runs my office now uh and Nicole before she left. Um so this year we received dozens of
applications from 11 different high schools. Um we've selected 16 students to engage uh in this page program. Most of them are residents. Some of them are not. Uh but they're incredible. Uh you should come by and meet the individual
who is uh in the University of Colombia uh right now and he's he's working in the office. He's amazing. I hope that you get a chance to meet with him and spend some time with him. Um he's of Mexican descent. uh he's you know really really impressed me on his first two
days in the office. Uh these individuals were will internal Gables senior high school. >> Coral Gable senior high school graduate. Thank you. Thank you. >> At Columbia University Columbia University. >> So I mean if you see him he walked in in a suit and a tie. I was like mesmerized
when I saw him. I said wow this is this is amazing. Um I brought him into my first meeting. We started having a conversation. You know he hit the ground running. I want you to meet them. Uh these interns, the ones that we selected, the 16, I wish I could have selected them all, but we we just don't have the room. Um will be working in
eight different departments. I want to make sure I thank our staff for really, you know, working hard. ACM, DCM, Mr. Manager, city attorney, city clerk, all the directors, thank you. Um thank you for having the patience. you're going to be dealing with professionals, young
professionals, uh, but you're going to be spending the time to really mentor mentor these individuals. Um, I've been doing the page program for I don't even know how many years now. And I always get so much out of it. Um, because these these we remain friends with these individuals, some of them come back,
some of them go to law school, go to engineering school, go to accounting, you know, they become professionals in their own right. They visit us and it's uh something truly impressive. And the end goal is uh hopefully for them to one day hopefully work at the city. So I want to thank staff. We're really excited. We're looking forward to
hearing uh their final presentations. So on July 7th after they've worked here in the city for a month, as you know, we've been doing it for years now. They will be presenting final project here uh in the city coral gables on the July 7th meeting. Again, uh these presentations
are dictated by the department directors. If the commissioners want to work with them, um I welcome it. Maybe you want to craft something in regards to sustainability or you want to craft something in regards to finance or maybe the manager wants them to present something in the commission or assist in a presentation. But the whole goal is to
have these presentations so they can leave with that experience. A lot of them come in nervous and uh we've seen here before in the past and a lot of them leave very confident and that makes me really proud. So, um I hope that you engage with them and you uh and you uh
you get the feeling that I get that I get when I get more out of it than they do. So, thank you for that. Thank you, Laura, once again and thank you, Mr. Manager, for your assistance on this. >> Thank you. >> No, I don't. >> It's a great program. Um I think that these these individuals learn a lot
while we're here, but we also learn from them as well. >> Yeah. So, they're great. They're great. And you got to meet this gentleman in my office. He's amazing. >> Um item F. Yes, >> I think Mr. Mayor, this is one of the the highlighted pro the programs that should be highlighted in our city. Uh because we're really giving an
opportunity for the future leaders to um not just see how we work but cooperate in the process as well. And I think we've seen through this program and all the other programs that we've offered in the past um how much they can contribute
to the the discussion. We recently had the presentation from the uh um our um information technology department about the work that their interns are doing in that department. Uh spearheading a project the vice mayor has been trying to get done for a while. We had been
able to find a product. They've been able to make it a reality. Um so it it's a contribution that that they give to us, but it's also a lot that we benefit from them as a city and uh you know we should do more to maybe highlight them. I don't know if it's something we can do
on the e-news, introducing the community to who our our interns are and the work that they're doing at the end of their program. >> Great idea. Any way that we can uh get more engagement, but besides the social media, what I ask you is don't just put them on social media. Spend time in city
hall, engage with them. uh come to your office, meet with the with meet with the interns, spend time with them, shadow them, take them to your office, take them to your meetings, and really give them the experience that they deserve because it's very simple just to bring them here. But at the end of the day, that's why it's so important what I was
saying about, you know, we have our finance director here, we have public works, we have parking, we have our law, finance, you know, we have all our all our team, you know, all our team members here. Douglas Ramirez is in the back. Um, engage with these ch with these I hate to say children. I shouldn't say
children, but these kids are 18, 19 years old. They're young kids. Just engage with them. Spend five minutes with them. Buy them a cup of coffee. Go have lunch with them. These kids are exceptional. These are amazing, you know. And I think that when you do that, you know, like for example, you have
Claudia Maro's son here. He just recently received a scholarship from the Coral Gables Community Foundation. You know, that's a personal a personal uh organization that I raise over $150,000 for every single year. And to see him get money to me is an investment in our future. And I'm picking on him because
he's here, you know. So, when you meet with these children and you have a real sit down with them, I promise you, you're going to be beyond impressed. Especially the young man that I have working at my office right now. Um spend some time with him and if you want to steal them, steal them from my office. you know, take them take him for a day
or two so he can get an understanding of what they do at the clerk's office, what they do, you know, at the finance department because to see what this young man has done from when he gone from Coral Gable Senior High now to Colombia, I mean, it's again, it's amazing. It's amazing. It's impressive. So, I welcome it. Um, madam vice mayor,
item F6. >> F6. Um, Mr. clerk, there's a few photos that were shared with you just to help tell the story of this item. And I see Commissioner Orbus' staff is here as
well. Uh that if you have any um would like to participate in this at all, please let me know. um had the opportunity to meet out on site with uh FDOT Secretary Daniel
Glacius, Senator Garcia, our staff members regarding changes that were needed um at certain intersections. And I've been working together with Senator Garcia and uh FDOT staff uh Stacy Miller
and now uh Secretary Glaciius who have been very very receptive to many of the changes that we've looked forward to. And attached to this item is a memorandum that provides you a highlight of some of the items that were discussed at this particular meeting. We met out
at 27th Avenue because it presents exceptional circumstances um that needed looked at on site and that's because we have to completely redesign that intersection in order to make it a much safer place for pedestrians to cross. But also discussed
during that meeting were many of the other initiatives that we have brought forward. Uh we discussed the FDOT no right-hand turn signs and if you look at page two of the memo uh and I'll ask u the clerk to bring it up when there's an
opportune moment to show people what a no turn blankout sign looks like. Um no rightand turn blankout sign. Uh and when you bring it up I'll talk about that a little bit more. but also the the
resolution that we had brought forward and all voted on to have the signal prioritization necessary pushed forward by Miami Date County. And I know that Commissioner Orbus uh has taken a
leading interest in that. Um if you would like to share any updates with us. No, not at this time. Too early. It's too early. Okay. I'm always hopeful. you know, coming from private industry, it gets a little frustrating dealing with government sometimes because you want it
done like now uh because it is a pedestrian safety issue. Uh are you able to pull up uh page two? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And while you're doing that, I'll continue to highlight some of the things. So, starting back in
2024, working with our staff and Senator Garcia, we addressed a number of pedestrian safety improvements in our area. You ready? Okay. A little dull there, but it's on the other screen. It's a lot better. That is what a no
rightand turn blankout sign looks like. And it turns on when traffic is not allowed to make that particular movement. Um, so we've accomplished a lot in this period of time, collaborating with the senator,
collaborating with FDOT, and now we're collaborating also with the county commissioner to get changes in our district. We're reducing the speed on Ljun Road to 35 miles an hour all the way from US1 to Southwest State Street. We're going to have a number of
improvements done throughout that area with do not block the box and no lefthand turns in certain areas. But there was a particular request um and I'd like and I've talked to staff about this that FDOT has made and that request
is that early on in the projects possibly at DRC level or earlier that we require um major developments to to submit to FDOT early on the traffic um uh examinations, the plans
um and the traffic studies because They always receive them at the last minute after the projects have been approved and it's at that time that the additional requirements are put put on because I also talked about the the intersection of Cababayto and US1 and
that we needed a to have a traffic light there. They need the traffic study in order to evaluate that early on before the project is approved. Just like we do conditions of approvement, they need to uh for approval, they need to have those
as well. So that's my update and my requests from staff that we bring that forward to change the process to require the traffic studies early on. They also requested the traffic study uh for the public's project on Ljun so they can
address the do not block the box the the audible signals the various things that we've requested so that it's not an after the fact um item that gets forgotten. That's the update. Thank and thank you
again Commissioner Orvis and Senator Garcia for the willingness to work with us as well as Secretary Glaciius and and U former Secretary Stacy Miller. >> Madam Vice Mayor, thank you for undertaking this. I know it's a lot of work. I always see how many meetings you have in regards to this effort and it's
paying off. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Very, very welcome and thank you for you doing it. I mean, it takes a team. >> It's a pleasure. I know you're out there grinding, so it means a lot. Thank you. Um, by the way, maybe you can use some of your expertise and I mentioned it before. I don't know if you caught it. I know you probably did catch it. I
shouldn't say that, but maybe you take care of it later, but when we had our our our resident here from the TAB and we were talking about the meeting with the manager and the board, you know, that's a major intersection. We can always work on that, figure out a way how to make it even more pedestrian friendly. >> Yes, sir.
>> Okay. Uh, we'll move on now to item H1, city manager items. One is a resolution of the city commission regarding resolution number 2023-360 which directed city staff to instruct Florida Power and Light to CC replacement of certain silver light poles.
>> Mr. Director, good after Good afternoon. >> Yes, good afternoon. Not evening yet. >> Yes. Um so um this is a followup to um an item a presentation that was done at the prior commission meeting regarding um
the issue about the silver lights versus the black Washington lights um and more specifically um about the 137 lights that were installed I will say with the last few years um versus the 86 on Greenway and uh based on all the
followup discussions that I had with FPL uh we really only have two options. Right. One option either we proceed with the FPL program to replace the lights or the city is going to take over the lights and be responsible not only for the installation new lighting but um
their maintenance. So, just to recap um from from last uh last commission meeting presentation to do only the 86 around Greenway, you're looking at approximately a cost of $2 million plus electricity and maintenance versus
325,000 payments to FPL over the following 20 years. To do 1337 lights, which included the other location of San Maro and Harlano, um you're looking at approximately $3.2 $.2 million versus a payment of $518,000 to FPL over the
following 20 years. So our our recommendation is that the commission resin um the resolution that was passed um in um number 23 2023-360 uh which your exit city staff to
instruct FPL to seize the replacement certain silver light and then we allow um FPL to complete the installation of the the replacement of the black lights that remain which things like a 12 or Mayor. >> Yes, sir.
>> I believe that FPNL is adamant about not changing their catalog and maintaining their catalog schedule uh of of lights because they have to work with so many cities that uh it's very hard to to maintain the that many different lights.
uh and so and so it it would take months to for them to go out buy different lights and and uh instead of being stocking items as far as maintenance uh damage and so forth is concerned. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Manager.
>> Anything from the commission >> to the mayor? >> Yes. >> I just wanted to I know we had said we were going to bring this back after uh the mayor met with the president of FPL. Were you able to at least try? I know that they were reluctant to do it. So I made I made an effort. I tried.
>> Uh we've been dealing with this effort. We've been dealing with this for if I may. I don't I don't want to speak incorrectly. Can you give me an idea? I don't want to put you on the hot seat, Mr. Director. >> How long how many years is this now? >> Three years. >> Three years. Okay. >> The the resolution specifically was in 2023. >> So maybe two and a half. Three years.
>> Time flies. >> Two or three. Yes. >> So we have certain areas of the city that are not that don't have light right now. >> So I wanted silver lights. We all want silver lights. The lights are not historic. They're made of fiberglass. They're in very poor shape. I even have
issues with the black lights right now in my neighborhood as I brought it to your attention. Some of them are are having issues, which is very weird because you and I talked about this. They're integral. >> Yes. >> So, the paint is inside the concrete. And I've done a lot of work with integral paint. Integral concrete, excuse me, where the blends and I've
even talked to the manager about it. Comes in all different colors. Very expensive. It's weird. You never see it fade this early. >> We we brought that up to FPL. Um and and in fact if you see the lights that are on Pisano itself >> they've actually been there longer
>> our suspicion is that maybe there was a bad batch >> okay that happens >> and uh so we brought that to attention to FPL and and our expectation is that that's going to be resolved >> and just to give you an idea to my colleagues when you when you pour concrete and you blend color what they always tell you is try to blend one mix
>> even if you have to pay more for it because at the end of the day if you go back and then you do a sidewalk And that could be a different it could end up even if you use the same color the aggregate could be different right >> it could be a change and it there you know nature is not perfect and that's the beauty of nature. So what ends up
happening is that you'll never get that exact color. So when they pour these walls and they're they want to get as they they over request the concrete. >> Well on this issue I've seen them I've seen them. I've taken pictures of I sent it to the DCM >> to the and to the manager and to you.
>> There's there's some fading issues. >> Right. We've given it our fair shot. Okay. I even got I even got an email this morning from uh Mayor Sle. We've met on site. We've dealt with the issue. Right now, we just got an email from our
um from excuse me, from our our director of from Chelsea Grenell talking about the issue of the fact that it already passed the house. to moving forward this tax package. We've talked about how
many things are encumbering us over the next few years potentially, right? Costs and our revenue. Thank God it went up six and change when last year was 5.5. So, it didn't go down again. It stayed kind of stable, but there are
additional costs. Our government affairs director, I apologize, but we're getting a playbyplay and this is moving very quickly. It's not something that's going to take months. But if we had the revenue, I would spend the money. But my concern is not only the money. My concern is the
maintenance, which is my biggest concern, which the manager has drilled in my head the point that it's I'm I'm I'm don't even want to talk to him about it anymore. But it makes sense. I mean, listen, we're trying to get rid of liability. So, we don't even I don't even know if we own a bucket truck.
Do we own a legit bucket truck to be dealing with >> a bucket truck? No. >> Okay. >> We have a boom. I know, but >> we have a contractor who we can get. But at the end of the day, if we take responsibility for it's added cost, right? >> It's got to buy the equipment, got to hire, we got to hire a private contractor. You know, we're going to
have to do a lot of the work ourselves. When the light bulb goes out, you're not going to call somebody to come and do it. The cost will be exorbitant. Probably have our team do it. We do a lot of stuff in house. So, it's not only the cost, it's the maintenance and it's the management. and it's more stress on staff which already has an immense amount of stress already to deal with
the level of quality we require here in the city. So I'm asking my colleagues it's time to move on. Okay. I want to make the residents as happy as possible. I want to make Mayor Slesing as happy as possible. And I responded to his email today when he asked me if a meeting had occurred. Weren't able to get the meeting. We got to finally move forward
on this issue. Anybody have any any further guidance? Any further help on this? Can we can we figure this out? because this is like the underline. Our back is against the wall and we got to make a decision here >> through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Yes. I I agree with you that right now is not the moment to invest this amount
of money into into lighting. But I also want to put on the record part of um Mayor Slesnik's um email. And point number two that he was bringing up was while these lights are not as historic as the 1920 installations, they
do qualify as historic for being over 50 years old. And he is really he's not talking to all he's not talking about all the ones around the Granada golf course. Um he is talking about the ones on Riviera Drive and Siggoia
Siggoia Street. So I don't know if maybe we can exclude that. So those are different lights alto together. So So the fiberglass lights are basically a replica >> done with fiberglass. The ones on Segoia specifically, those are city maintained. >> Yeah.
>> And those are they're not necessarily historical either. You can actually have those available, but those are maintained by us and and that's not part of this patch. The only things that were changing those are FPL maintain lights that are being transferred from the
silver into the black Washington. the ones in Sergoia, those are not under those are city lights and there's no current plan to replace those. >> By the way, I mean, this is >> I don't know how not an issue that we've
even brought up or even discussed. I don't want to get anybody confused about that. We're not replacing the ones to go. The next thing now we're going to get is start getting phone calls that we're getting replaced from Siggoia. That has never even been in consideration. I've been dealing with this FPN issue, this lighting issue for three years now. we should replace those
lights in Siggoia because they look terrible and I've sent many photos to the to the uh to the DCM. How at a minimum can we at least clean them? >> We've done some of them. >> I know. I know. But I want to make sure we have on rotation maybe once a year every six months. Kind of like what we do with the Whiteway lights.
>> And by the way, talking about the Whiteway lights, there's a whiteway light across from the library that is very close to a tree limb. So maybe we can have Dena uh go out there and take a look at that because I would hate I would hate for that. And it's a massive massive branch. I mean, I'm talking about it's this close to it. It's I know
it's ridiculous, but it's within a foot of a whiteway light that remember, we spent millions of dollars on these whiteway lights and we have I want to make sure the base we went through with the manager that the base has the whiteway the white rock and that we're maintaining them, keeping them away from sprinklers and getting the reports. So,
the last thing I want to see is five years from now that we have to spend more money on after this massive investment. >> So, let's be clear. I don't want to I I I love receiving emails, but I don't want people to be confused. The ones in Segoia have nothing to do and they're not being replaced. Those are city lights.
>> They're metal. >> Yes, >> those are not fiberglass. >> Those are not fiberglass. And number one, those are not historic. And let's also be clear, and we don't have our historic preservation offices here. Just because things are 50 years old does not mean they're historic. Okay? That's not the way it works. We have to be very,
very careful when we say things like that. With all due respect, so the the fiberglass lights, if you've seen them, they're all full of pitting. They're they're they're cracking. They're from the 1980s. They're almost 50 years old, but even if they were 50 years old, they
would not be historic. Okay. So, um does anybody else have anything uh to add for the record? >> Yes, madam vice mayor. >> I mean, um I understand what fiberglass is made of because boats are made out of it, cars are made out of it. Doesn't
last forever. >> Okay. So, it's going to require maintenance and we'll have to do what we need to to do it. Clearly, now is not the time to be spending money, additional monies on these light poles. Perhaps when after the pensions paid up
and we have additional funds, we can revisit this this topic. But in the meantime, we need need to consider public safety. And lighting is important for public safety. It absolutely is. I mean, the House and the Senate have voted moving forward, and we know what's
going to be on the ballot about the property tax relief, and we do need property tax relief. We need to see what the voters are going to do on that and wait for the pension to be fully paid before embarking on large expenditures
uh going forward. I use the same analysis on the youth center matter. We need to see what happens in November. and FBI will not maintain metal lights. They they've made that very clear.
>> Yeah. No, I I know it's abundantly clear. We've kind of beaten that dead horse a few times. >> So, in the interest of uh moving this M meeting forward, I'm going to >> We need a motion on this. I'll make a motion accept the resolution.
>> Second, Mr. Manager. um through the mayor. Uh the FPNL a number of years ago had has some very favorable tariffs as far as lighting is concerned. By using those tariffs is substantially less than than than if we were to do this kind of
uh this kind of investment and in in addition to to taking care of of of the maintenance as you mentioned a car hits them, they replace the light. If a hurricane comes in and te and and and destroys the lighting, they replace the lights. So, it's it's a very favorable
tariff and it really gets us out of the light business because it's very expensive for us to be in the light business and and and and not it's not very efficient for us. That's not what we do best. >> We have a motion, a second. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. I have a member of the
public requesting to speak on the item. >> Maria Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road, 305 3232154. I know the timing is not good to spend money, but we have money for other
things. Let me tell you, I cannot believe that this city who I mean we think is very important and we know that it's very important and the world knows that we're very important. We cannot force the president of FPNL to
meet with our mayor. That doesn't make any sense. Okay, I'm sorry. You know what? We use our power when we want to. We go to court when we want to. This is important to a lot of people. Not to me because I've already had to agree that
accept the fact that the Sangamato lights are horrific to too too high up and incredibly ugly. But I think Don Lelesnik has made it a point and he's right. You know, we only fight the
battles that we want to fight and forget the ones that we don't want to fight. And at this point, we have money for other things, but we don't have money for that. And the fact that we do not want to be in the light business, we didn't want to be in the landscaping business either. Go look
around and see how well the private sector is handling our grass, our our our circles. It's horrific. But we're out of the business. When we were in the business, we did better than now.
That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, Mr. Clerk. Uh, just a few points of clarification. I want to thank uh the manager for his comments before in regards to not wanting to be in the business of of uh handling the power. Just for the record, nothing has changed from today than
three years ago. It's been the same same consistent statement that we should not do this that FPNL is not willing to bend that we are selecting the most the most spectacular high-end lighting fixtures
available in the catalog. We are receiving favorable tariff. Correct me if I'm wrong. >> Correct, mayor. >> And we should not be in the business of maintenance. This is the same thing. We could have had these lights on three years ago. We wasted three years. Neighborhoods have not had lights for
three years. Okay, that's number one. Uh number two, uh the comments that were made before, again, factually incorrect across the board. I'm not even going to waste time whether we're in the business or we're not in the business. I live on Santa Mar. I
like the lights. I like the lights. I'm a resident. Okay. I'm a property owner. I own my home. So, at the end of the day, many people in the community have asked
my neighbors asked, "What do you think about the lights?" They say, "They're spectacular." Nobody has complained in my neighborhood about the lights. If anybody feels that they're not happy with the lights, please feel free give me a call. What they're happy is about the the refresh.
They look great. They work properly. They turn on and off. They're not on all day. And it's again much better than we've had before. Is it what we want exactly 110%. It'll never be 110%. But like I said three years ago, let's
move forward. We didn't move forward. We've been caught in this back and forth. And guess what? We're in the same position we were three years ago. Now we give the green light to Piana to move forward. And hopefully we can get this taken care of going into hurricane season.
It is not only about the money. It is about the maintenance of these poles and if something were to happen in regards to a hurricane, we could be years with these poles down. >> So, the mayor.
>> Yes, sir. >> FPNL is a utility. It's not a private sector. It's a utility um accepted through the state and part of the public service commission. So we are dealing with uh with with a a a company that's a utility that that that's what they do
and that's the business that they're in. It was a different time in the city Coral Gables under Amos Roas and at the end of the day now we have more sensible leadership here which obviously knows what they're doing. Um we move forward and we're still in the same position in regards to FPNL's position on this. It
has not changed whatsoever. >> So we have a motion and a second. Mr. Clerk, I just I just feel horrible about the amount of time that we wasted here. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Mayor Logo, >> yes. We could have done this three years
ago. All right, let's go to I'm going to go backwards. We're going to go H5, H4, and H3. Hopefully, we can leave H3 for the end because I think maybe that may take a little bit of time. H5 is a resolution of the city commission amending ordinance number 2015-17 as amended to add and amend fees for the
development services department and the community recreation department providing for severability and an effective date. >> Madam finance director, how are you? Thank you for being here. >> Good afternoon. Um give me one quick second. I'm sorry. I was expecting the
other order. Um okay. So um this is a fee schedule change. Um there two departments are having uh fees updated. The development services department is proposing amendments to the certificate of use fee schedule to simplify the fee schedule
structure and align renewal per periods with the city's business tax receipt renewal cycle. And then the community recreation department is amending the summer camp fees schedule for next year's fees for youth center summer camps and tennis summer camps to account
for increased costs associated with operating the programs through overall summer camp fee increases and these adjustments will help offset the rising costs of these um summer camps. >> Okay. Anything else from the commission?
>> Mr. G, you have any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. Are we a cruise? This is Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road, 305 3232154. I um so
the I guess the booklet, the manual that's published with the agenda and spoke. It wasn't just the development services department and the community recreation department. I thought it included um some of the fees that would be
changed including sanitation. That's not here, but is it was included in the same uh manual that was published. Okay. And that's what I wanted to talk about. So, I'll wait till it comes up.
>> Okay. Thanks, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. Perfect. Uh, can I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> A second. >> Mr. Clerk. >> Commissioner Lada. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez? >> Yes. >> Mayor Lago?
>> Yes. Moving on to H4. is a resolution of the city commission establishing an intent to reimburse certain project costs incurred with proceeds of future tax exempt exempt financings providing certain other matters in connection therewith and providing for an effective date. >> Blue mayor. >> Yes.
>> H3 and H4 are related. >> Yes. >> So if we can do the presentation which is >> um the starts of the presentation. >> Yep. >> Is the H3 presentation. >> Commissioners, I'll be tag teaming with a >> Oh, that's nice. This is a this is a breath of fresh air. I like this.
>> Mr. Manager, can you bring your microphone up, please? Sir, >> you got to listen to this man. >> Does anybody Does anybody need a fiveminute break? >> Let's do it. >> Ah, you said I knew my guys need a mic. >> Five minute break. >> Thank you, mayor.
>> I got to stretch my back out. >> Recording stopped. recording in progress. >> Mr. Manager, Madame Director, the floor is yours. >> All right. Good afternoon. Um, if we can put the presentation up. So, Diana Gomez, finance director. So this
presentation is intended to provide an update on the mobility hub project, explain how the project has evolved over time, discuss the planning that has occurred over the last several years, and present uh the rationale for the requested intent resolution, demolition authorization, and future financing
plan. So the mobility hub has been discussed for many years. During that time, the project has invol has evolved. Construction markets changed dramatically and the city took deliberate steps to strengthen its financial position and prepare for implementation. What we're going to walk
through is that progression and explain why we believe the city is now positioned to move forward with the financing. Uh sorry, how do I move it? How do I move it forward?
Okay. So, this intent resolution preserves the city's ability to reimburse eligible costs from the future tax exempt bond proceeds. The prior reimbursement resolution was used for the design phase and it's no longer valid for the
construction phase. The $50 million num uh amount in that resolution is not the final project budget or the final bond size, but it creates the IRS required reimbursement framework so that work can begin on demolition while final construction pricing and bond financing
are completed. The current plan is to finance the project with taxexempt special revenue bonds for over 30-year period. The bonds would be secured by legally available non-advelorum revenues which allows a city to use its AAA credit profile and
reduce borrowing costs. Operationally, the expectation remains that the parking system will absorb the annual debt service. A key point is that parking revenue are legally unrestricted. They can be used for any general governmental purpose and
the city has been planning for that debt service with the parking system over the past several years. We evaluated whether to issue a traditional parking revenue bond, but that structure would carry lower ratings and higher borrowing costs because the pledge would be limited to
the parking revenues. The recommended structure gives the city a lower cost financing tool while still maintaining the operational plan for the parking system to carry the debt service. So timing is important. Today's action
preserves reimbursement eligibility for demolition costs. So item H4 will be that intent resolution which is the next item. After that, the next major commission action is the bond resolution scheduled for the July 7th meeting agenda.
Approval at that meeting is critical milestone for the financing schedule. After that, the financing team will complete the rating agency work and bond preparation in July and August, target a competitive sale in midepptember and
close in early October. That schedule is designed to have proceeds available before execution of the construction agreement expected in late October 2026. So with the intent resolution covered, I'll turn it over to the city manager
for a project o update. >> Thank manager. >> Thank you. U want to shift to the broader broader update. This is where we will address the project, how the project evolved, what happened to the pricing between 2020 and now, why the
city paused the project and why we are recommending that the city move forward. As you can see, the mobility hub encompasses garage one and four. The project was initiated by a development proposed by the Alan Morris company composed of a mixuse building on garage
site on garage four on the garage 4 site and parking garage on the garage one site. connecting garage uh garage one and garage four as a development site was that it was used as a pad the planned area development which would
connect both sites because there's these since the sites are are um are separated by rightway and city and city property they could be viewed as one site as a as a pad the the F the F proposed on on the
site number four on site four is was 6.3 since the F from the parking garage on site one is not counted towards the F calculation. You recall mayor that I think that was the reason why you voted against the project because the F was so high on on that particular
>> my understanding it was over 6.0 0 I think it was >> 6.3 >> 6.3 >> over3 6.3 we also had the legal hurdle to to start the project if if you uh and and I think we've forgotten about that that we had to start we had to start the mobility hub by October 1 of 2022 or the
project would come back and and and be approved the project documents were completed uh but due due to the to the pandemic uh we did not start construction and it was deemed to be to be set to that that that
requirement was satisfied at that time and uh we currently have have the have the drawings permitted. Uh we could if we had a contractor we could we could permit those pull that permit tomorrow. Uh we have what we are doing now is is
as a revision revision uh providing a revision to the skin and to the and to the uh activated deck on the on the on the on the ninth on the ninth floor by uh changing it from from to to a more um
from from a more of a of a of a kitty park to really more of a restaurant event event place. This shows the um how how the cost evolved on on the project. The project design evolved into a garage more in
line with with the future the mobility hub would provide for EV microobility adaptive reuse and an activated roof. By 2023, contractor feedback and market escalations that pushed the pricing to above 73 million. This was the decision
point. We could not proceed into an open-ended escalation environment. Project was paused, reassessed and monitored. The pause was not because the project was was abandoned. It was in response to market conditions. Design period over
overlapped with COVID disruption, labor shortages, material shortages, concrete and steel inflation, electrical equipment delays, and a broader supply chain problems. construction escalation was more severe than general inflation particularly during the 2020 21 to 23
period. This graph uh is u this this chart they tend to show directionality of of what happened. If we look at the uh the bottom line is the CPI. If we look at
the red line that's a construction cost index based on engineering news record. And if we look at the green line, we we can see how that escalation took place within that period. It was uh it was so great that we we could not sign a contract with with a contractor
without an an escalation clause. So we really did not know what what the upper end cost of that project would be. Uh I think that was if you recall mayor construction at that time was was interesting to say the least. Very risky. Why a project was was paused. There's
clear explanation to a to for the pause in 20 22 and 23. Projected pricing exceeded 73 million. The contractor needed an an escalation clause in any signed agreement. There was not enough clarity around final cost. As mentioned,
we pause rather than recommend moving forward under those under those conditions. As evident in the prior graph in 25 and 26, the projected cost is back down below the escalated 23 projection and back to constructionability. We could go back to
that prior slide. We we can see how the costs are now below the red line and we are doing that's through value engineering which we are which we are proceeding to do now in addition to a strong negotiations.
What happens if if we do nothing? Doing nothing does not avoid cost. Rajuan remains an aging asset with limited capacity. A minimal replacement will address some immediate needs, but would not deliver the mobility improvements, public amenities, or long-term downtown
support reflected in the mobility hub. Also, minimum replacement would would require an equal minimal replacement of garage 4, an operational obsolete facility with considerable land value. Moving forward not only addresses a problem of an aging obsolete facility
but offers support, growth and vital and vitality to our very important downtown. Why move forward now? Reasons the reasons we are moving forward now are the the project estimate has stabilized. There is greater cost certainty. The
parking system has been strengthened. the the financial planning is ready and the city has maintained a trip AAA credit profile and we are in much better position today than it was during the peak of construction market volatility. So our requested action today is the
approval of the intent resolution and general authorization for demolition site preparation. The bond resolution will come back next month. Later this year, after bond closing, the city would be positioned to execute the construction agreement and begin full construction activities. We recommend approval because the intent
resolution preserves reimbursement eligibility and allows a project to keep moving forward while uh financing is is completed. Finance director and I are ready to answer any questions on the intended resolution, financing schedule, project cost history, and our decision to pause
and restart the project. So, first and foremost, before my colleagues, and I'm going to reserve my questions, I want to listen to what they have to say. I want to say thank you to both of you. Uh, I think that we are at the precipice of accomplishing something that has been dreamed about. Just like
we've talked about uh city hall finally getting done, just like we talked about Venetian Pool, just like we talked about the water tower, just like we talked to medians on ponds, just like we talked about so many things over and over and over again. uh we have taken charge and
we've addressed these issues. U let me not forget the referendums. We talked about the referendums for a long time and we got them accomplished. So with that being said, um doing this for a living brings me great joy, pride to see that we are bringing
this to a final close where we're actually going to embark on this process. We would not have gotten here without you, Mr. Manager, and your incredible team. This is one of the most complex projects in South Florida and you know I to have to have that accomplished here in the city of Coral
Gables is truly going to be a milestone that's going to have a significant dividends for our downtown. This is an investment in our business community. We've heard recently that u we're not pro business
then then they have us confused for somebody else. This is an investment in the business community. This is a massive investment in the business community. Uh so we can't be any clear in regards to the fact that we're investing in our business community. Why? Because over 25%
of the taxes that we bring in come from the business community. And if you add the downtown apartments, almost 40%. But why would we be against the business community? Why would we making such a significant investment? The reason why I'm in favor of this project and I'll go
more into detail because I'm going to talk about the actual breakdown cost because certain comments were made in the last commission meeting and I want to clarify uh because now you're stepping into my into my territory when you talk about the fact that this project is now affordable as a result of for example Commissioner Fernandez says
that he made this project possible. No, that's not the case. Just like the sidewalks were not the budgets were not tripled. That's not the case. This project was made possible because of your hard work. And let's not get that even remotely twisted and your team's
hard work. We face an unprecedented challenge and I was at the face of that, at the front of that in my industry where projects prices were changing on a daily basis. Escalations were happening on a daily basis. Projects were being
abandoned on a daily basis as a result of this unprecedented challenge that was co our finance director dealt with it on a daily basis. because every single contractor was asking for money, more more money. And it wasn't out of greed because we were showing you the increases at lacantas. We were showing
you the supplier costs that were going up every single day, the concrete costs that were going up every single day, the labor costs that were going up every day. So, it was unprecedented moments that put an immense amount of stress on the system. But I want to congratulate
you, Mr. manager because we are here today just like we are in regards to city hall accomplishing that goal and moving forward because of your leadership and because of your technical expertise and the team that you have around you. I want to go into more of the details of finance after and I want
to have a real discussion on that. Um but I'm looking forward to the negotiated amount because I think we're going to be we're going to be very pleasantly surprised. I've spoken to the contractors. I have a lot of faith in the contractors and I know they're they're drilling down on the numbers uh in regards to the new skin and the
structural system that we have there and I know there's been some savings already in regards to the foundations and you're working on the relocation of FPNL. These are things again that are going to pay huge dividends and I'm looking forward to are we going to be able to do it for $40 million? I'll tell you right now we're not going to be able to do it for $40 million. We're not even going to be able to do it for $50 million because
there's been a reset in regards to prices. But I think that we're going to have to we're going to have a project on our hands that's going to be palatable, that's going to be funded through uh parking revenue, which is something why I'm supporting this project because there's a revenue source in line and
that is going to feed feed this parking garage and feed this debt for the next 30 years. So, I wanted to thank you first and foremost. Do my colleagues have anything they'd like to add to the mayor? >> Yes, sir. >> I agree with you and Peter in particular, both of you, but Peterius in
particular. Thank you. um for spearheading this, navigating it correctly through incredibly choppy economic times. Um, it will ultimately be a legacy that you can claim
rightfully as yours because the mobility hub project it it's replacing two obsolete garages. That means the level set, right? Um, with one right modern ADA compliant facility that supports our
downtown businesses. It improves accessibility. It accommodates future transportation technologies. It protects Coral Gable's economic engine. Now, we as reasonable residents, we can always debate height or design, which is perfectly appropriate. That's what we
do. But what I don't think can be debated is that doing nothing, if we did nothing, that will no longer uh serve the residents, the people who come to visit or the people who do business here in an effective way. So,
I'm fully supportive of this project. This is the time. The time is now. Um, and so I'm fully supportive of this resolution. Thank you, >> Madam Vice Mayor. >> Um, city manager, I applaud your efforts
and marshalling this forward through many difficult times. One of the things that I had to answer the questions to um early on back in 2023 when we were dealing with this project is why are we replacing the older garages
and did we really need that much parking? So for those who are watching this now, I'm going to remind you that I did issue a memo based upon the parking studies that were done in the past and the parking demand that we had in the past that we we needed these garages.
And the date of the memo is May 22nd, 2023. It's up on the city website. And 2023 is one of the issues that I that I issue. the investment that we would have to put in these old out- of-date,
poorly designed garages to make them ADA accessible to millions and millions of dollars of wasted funds. It's not going to get us an additional parking space. not going to be the worldass facility that we need to supply for our residents. Not a well-lit um clean
looking garage that will attract um customers to come to Miracle Mile to go to the restaurants and have the amenities that we will have available uh within this very modern, clean, and
well-designed garage. So, I am looking forward uh to that era where we're going to have a facility that's centralized that can serve all the needs for our central business district um serve the the customers of the miles, serve all
the restaurants and also be within a stones throw of where you can also pick up the trolley service and and use the rail as well. So, thank you very much for all your hard work on this amazing project. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. And if I if I
may, we it's also designed for adaptive reuse. So uh the it's a it's a 12 to foot height and the design has can be can be um converted to multif family very very easily. Uh the even the skin
adapts to multif family. So you don't have to replace the the skin. simply remove the vehicle guard, put a storefront and you've got fenistration the fenistration requirements for for multif family. So it's it's so it has so
many uses. uh the upper floors in in in the future could be multi uh multif family and uh and and so could be living in the hub and u and the b and the bottom floors could be used for microobility
uh and and of course we have an activated first floor which is aligned with the po coming coming from miracle mile so the garage is really is really that's why we called it a mobility hub because it's really beyond that. It really deals with
with our future requirements uh and not so much a garage that will that will be uh really obsolete and and be torn down in the future as most of our other garages will be except for the one next
door which which is uh which is a uh a garage designed to to store our vehicles. Uh it's a store of vehicles for police and fire. That's a hardened garage. Uh we saw what happened on the on the west coast when there was no
protection. Police and fire cannot cannot function without vehicles, without their equipment. So So the uh the minora garage is actually part of of our EOC. When when the EOC is activated, that becomes their storage area for for
for our vehicles. And we have a we have this building has been designed with very high floors. So you can put the larger vehicles here, the the smaller vehicles uh next door, and we'll be we'll be ready to really assist our residents after a major storm.
If you leave things out, they're not going to be there after a major storm. >> So like you mentioned before, we talked about legacy and and uh Commissioner Lada mentioned it. This is also your legacy, public safety building. And I'm going to be honest with you, since we moved over here and I've been parking
for the first time ever uh in the parking garage next door, I It's a very pleasant experience. Very pleasant experience. Well lit know it's again it's not not hot. It has multiple points of egress and ingress. Very comfortable.
And you know I was taken a back and it made me appreciate even more uh the level of quality that we're going to be producing in the mobility hub. So another opportunity to congratulate you for for this for this partner. that was done as a pilot program but really for mobility >> and it's also and it's also something that you and I talked about because when
we were when you were designing and you were working on it was the fact that one day because they talk about the fact that maybe one day we'll be using flying cars and there'll be actual uh transportation here in South Florida. We're working on that for years, God willing. Um and parking garages will be
obsolete. Well, look, that's another example of a parking garage that could be con, you know, transformed into a commercial building, could be transformed into housing as needed. Uh so again, there's not that it would be because obviously it's part of our public safety building, but who knows? Who knows at the end of the day what
these incredible parking garages/mobility hubs could become in the future once parking becomes obsolete, which I don't see it happening in the for future, but at least we're designing it. We're designing it in a way that uh we leave those options open. >> Anything else from the commission?
>> Well, even even flying cars need someplace to go. So I was hoping I was hoping to debate construction cost today because I I studied I studied for this. I guess nobody wants to debate nobody wants to debate construction. Um my point is this uh you and I have a very along with the DCM have a very good
understanding of of cost of construction of what we saw during COVID and we used to have a lot of conversations uh during those moments. It was the wild wild west. It was $200 a yard of concrete, you know, and if you want it, it's 205.
uh you want to pump this concrete right now? Well, this is how much it costs. And when we priced this project and it went from the number to the went, there was no other choice but to obviously shelf the project. And one of the items that we did not mention here, and I'm I'm going to be very careful talking
about this, was the fact that when the project was awarded, which I voted against, I want to be very clear. Uh there was a reverter for a certain amount of years that we had to extinguish in regards to the individuals that won that. But we were never going to allow
that to happen. Went back to that project. At least I wasn't because I thought that a 6.3 F was a behemoth of a structure that would cast an immense shadow over the entirety of Miracle Mile. While a very beautiful design, there were certain things that I wanted. And what was that? Number one was a
smaller project. And number two, I wanted a green space in downtown. And you know, we ended up doing it. ended up working out because we got a 20,000 square foot park deed to the city in Publix which is something that you and I have worked together for four years to bring to fruition. Another part
of your legacy. >> We have a rooftop park in this in this rooftop. So at the end of the day these are things that are forgotten. One day they will be remembered you know at the end of the day. But uh I think we're in a much better position like Commissioner Lada mentioned before with this project
than we were with that project and with a 20,000 square foot park instead of a little postage stamp that was being proposed on the corner of the building which was remember it was it was a park that had a canal levered a canalvered roof over it. I one of the questions that I remember asking it's a public
record was that's not really a park the sun can't shine. It's a indention of a building where people can congregate, but it's not really a park. The public's 20,000 square feet is truly a park that is under the sky and it's something beautiful that's going to be enjoyed by
all the residents just like the one where adjacent to Boschett's project and the other one where we have there next to the plaza and the adjacent one where Kodina and Cadre are putting together. So, these are all things that were not even in discussion four years ago. We were in this situation. If you recall,
mayor, how many how many uh talks we had about escalation? >> I I don't know how many it was, but it was it was constant. Yes, probably the cost was going up on almost on on a daily basis. >> It was u I don't know how many discussions we had, but uh it was almost
every day. >> I want to thank you for your leadership. I want to thank staff, the finance director, DCM, ACM. Um I want to thank Sudami Caba who's not here with us. She played a major role uh you know on you know really on our whole construction team. I want to thank our our public
works team, our our city attorney, our city clerk, everyone that played a role, you know, our outside consultants that are working on this project. Uh thank you uh for we're one step closer to delivering something that again we don't need to say it but I'll say it anyways
because obviously politically everything's about politics. Um, we're making the biggest investment anyone has ever made in regards to the business community here. Gavas, I don't think we need to prove to anyone that we are in favor of the small
businesses here in our community. >> If I can say, mayor, I'm blessed with an incredible team. >> Yes, we are. >> Yes, we are. We're blessed to have you. Um, if there's nothing further, I I'll entertain a motion. >> I'll move it. >> We're going to do that now.
>> I'm sorry, Mr. May. Who second it? >> Commissioner L. >> Thank you. >> Do we have a public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Go ahead, >> Jackson Holmes. >> Thank you. >> So, forgive me. I should have a better prepared speech on this. So I've been
working on this along with Shamin Azan at Gensler and all their team and uh so what do what do you say if you're in the middle middle of the Sahara Desert and you're dying of thirst and somebody
shows up with with uh a gallon of water. You say, "Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for saving my life. Thank you all for saving my life." Now, what do I mean by saving my life? Um, I don't like
to discuss my personal business, but it's the only way to really bring it home. Uh, two or three years ago, um, I was talking with my tenants at my store at 256 Miracle Mile,
uh, Massage Envy, and I said, "Look, um, things are not going well at the city commission. uh all these developers don't like to build parking, but they want to use parking. Things are in flux. And they said, "Well, let me make it simple for you." I said, "Go ahead."
They said, "If you don't have adequate parking, we're not going to renew the lease." And so, of course, for me, since this is my sole source of major income in life, the world stopped. And then I started
remembering all of the things you were discussing today about you know the uh alternative plan and all of that. And then I remembered that this uh mobility hub which I hadn't even had center for
center place in my mind. Uh but then I said I called him back like a week or two later. I said listen don't worry look what we look for what's in the works here the mobility hub you know. And he said okay then we'll renew. But that's it. It's life and death. Whether you're in the Sahara Desert or you're on
Miracle Mile and uh it's with the city, too. Uh this doesn't end our parking problem. We there's there's more to go. That's why I want uh >> But RI, can I ask you a quick question? >> Yeah. >> So, would you say this is the largest
investment for small businesses in the city's history? Um, well, if you say so. >> I'm asking you, would you? >> Is it the best investment? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Absolutely. It's it's life or death. It's like somebody giving you water or not giving you water in the Sahara Desert.
>> Okay. >> Absolutely. That's what I've been saying all along. This is life or death. Thank you for saving my life. Because if I don't have income, guess where I end up? Eating out of dipsy
dumpsters. Um this is absolut this is just as important to businesses as water is to continued life. So um can I say more? Uh I think that um
thank God you know I I think I heard possibly that you'll break ground uh possibly even before you leave hopefully. Um and that that seals us off from any kind of comeback from you know the alternative
uh plan and uh so thank you for life. >> Thank you sir. >> That's it. Mr. Mayor >> um perfect that we have a motion in a second. >> By the way I I know that he mentioned that you're you're you're leaving. I'm I'm trying to make sure that you stay.
We're going to figure out a way to We need you to stay. >> There's too much work to be done. We need a person of your caliber to stay. So, >> I'm in denial, by the way. >> We're not You're not You're not going anywhere. You're not going anywhere. >> So, we may end up just tying you down. >> You're not going anywhere.
>> If you can visualize this or tape you prefer tough duct tape or rope. >> You're going on a nice vacation right now. You deserve it. You deserve it. You're going to go a nice vacation and then you're going to come back and you're going to You're too young. My dad's 77 years old. He's a surgeon.
He goes to work and it's a good opportunity for him. You're young. You're staying. You're not going anywhere. The DCM is not ready yet. The DCM needs a little more cooking. >> It may shock some of you, but my conversation with Peter the other day, I told him I was disappointed in him leaving. So, you know, I appreciate the
work you've done and uh a reset in our relationship this last year and you're working with me on projects and uh putting the city first. >> All right. We're ready. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez,
>> yes. Commissioner LA, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> yes. All right, Madame Vice Mayor, anything else for the good of the order, unless I missed something. Mr. Cluck, did I? >> No, sir. >> All right. >> Hope everybody has a beautiful and safe week. I'll see you tomorrow morning
bright and early. >> Measure. >> See you tomorrow morning. Very exciting morning. Can't wait. >> Mr. Lada, >> I thank you all for a very productive uh meeting today. See you all very very soon.
>> Commissioner, I think we've uh gotten a lot of good things accomplished today. Um, you know, um, sometimes we get heated up here and if I've been out of line today, I apologize, uh, for letting my, uh, Cuban
blood get the best of me, but, uh, I look forward to continuing to working collegially in this commission, uh, to bring about the best results for our city. >> Thank you. Um, few points and I forgot to mention, by the way, your manager, we forgot about Hern and
Boss. going to be the artist, God willing, in in the in the mobility hub. The most important artist to come out of Miami. It's a big deal for us. He went to New World. He's world respected. And these are just other little things in regards to the mobility hub that again
are going to be amazing. You know, you a lot of there's a lot of facets to the mobility hub that are really incredible. Um, one of the things I want to I want to commend staff and the our our whole team. Uh we wrote a letter uh to Senator Brian Ailas um and uh had conversations
with him today uh in regards to outlining our concerns regarding the proposed tax bill. Thank you to the manager, his team, um our government affairs director for preparing that long letter, working with Laura and the manager uh to get it out there. Just to give you a quick understanding so you
understand the implications that we're that we're facing. Again, be very clear before they say I'm against it. I'm in favor of property tax reform, but we have to be honest with ourselves because I mentioned something on social media the other day. Hey, he's against property tax. I'm not against property tax reform. Bottom line is that you have
to understand the implications of the property tax reform. What is that going to do? It's going to have an implication on our budget. And we're going to learn a little bit more about that tomorrow and it's still up in the air. If homestead exemption is raised, you know, like to $250,000 and correct me if I'm
wrong, the city would have lose approximately around $11 million. Correct. That's correct, ma'am. >> The following subsequent year will go up to 500,000. That will be about a $23 million $22.6 million loss in the budget. >> Mr. Manager, what are we talking about
our budget excluding capital improvements is on a yearly basis? >> Mayor, um if the if we lose 20 $22 million, I I don't know. It's going to be hard to recover. >> So, it's going to be hard to recover. With that being said, we need to have
real we need to start having real conversations. Sea level rise fund, which I started with Jim Casein when it was here, it's $4 million a year. We have $30 million. We may not be able to fund that. How do we pick up the garbage? The garbage. These are real conversations. You got to you got to
make the money up somehow. You just can't walk away into the sunset. How do you pick up the garbage? Um how are we going to continue to overfund the pensions? Mayor, we are subsidizing about uh $ 8.9 million of garbage from from the general fund right now.
>> How how are we going to are we going to continue to overfund the pension? Last year was 9 and a half million. We started doing this at 4 million in 2015 when I when I got here. This year was over 7.5 million. I'm just giving you some major numbers of things that we do here in the city to ensure quality of
life and to ensure that we're fiscally responsible. That was part of the letter that we sent obviously to to to our respected Senator Brian Avida. These are real conversations that we're going to be having. It may not be tomorrow in the budget hearing, but these are real conversations that I want people to become aware. There's a good side to
this, but there's also a side that has consequences. We also have negotiations forthcoming in June and July. The manager team is going to start working with uh the fire and the police unions. We got to offer them a deal. We got to offer them something that's respectable. And again, that's
going to increase costs. So, and then we have obviously a laundry list of capital projects that we have to address. So, those are things just to kind of keep in the forefront of our mind as we continue uh to work down uh this process. Talking about the World Cup and
community events, I want to thank the ACM. I know she's working with the plaza and to potentially do something uh in Pon Circle Park. Uh I'm getting a lot of calls uh in regards to what's going to be having happen happening during the World Cup. Um, I think it's going to be great. I'm looking forward to the
activation. There's also, excuse me, multiple activations that are that are part of FIFA, uh, here in the city that you're going to be seeing coming up. Thank you to your staff for doing a great job on that. Something that was not mentioned today that I want to mention and I would like for the manager, uh, via Martha Panting and her
team uh, to put out tomorrow. Uh, let's put out an email tomorrow with the support of the commission because tomorrow is George Merik's birthday. And I would like to put out a simple onepage email that talks about who was
George Merrick, who was our founder, what did he do, how did he come to the city beautiful, and how did he die? He bet he bet it all on Coral Gables and he died a broke man because he believed in the vision of Coral Gables. He
believed in the city beautiful. And I want to highlight that most people haven't had the opportunity to read his books. I've read a few of his books. I've seen some of the plays, especially the play that Alan Morris's wife put together, which was incredible. I wish, you know, that ran again. Um, and it really talked about the hero that he
was, the friendships that he made, uh, and the visionary that he was. I I would like to with the input of my colleagues and staff come up with something that again maybe a few photos of George Merrick as a child. George Merrick you know while he was here in
the orange fields um and right before George Merrick passed away. We can include some photos to give people a little bit of context. Also include include uh some of the background in regards to the Bohemians u you know that he obviously entrusted uh with his vision and they were the ones that
delivered upon his vision. They were the rock bases. They were the ones that knew. It's a story that we're memorializing in a beautiful sculpture across the street uh from city hall and we can include a little bit of information on on those on those partners of ours here in the city beautiful >> through the mayor. >> Yes.
>> Um potentially an easier way to do it would be for us to put out our Merrick minutes. Um I think there was one that u Joanne Maher did on George Merrick. I think she read one of the letters where he talked about the relationship with the Bohemian community. Uh, but she did
several that were specific to George Merrick and his vision. Uh, and a lot of people maybe didn't get an opportunity to see it. I think it would be a good way to highlight it. Uh, in addition to the the short script, >> I guess I'm up to any suggestions. Oh, here goes Martha. She heard her name. I
thought Martha had gone home. She's always here. Yes, ma'am. >> Don't tell me. Give me credit. Let me get credit for it. Don't Don't take it away from me. >> Tomorrow we have Martha. I know you're already doing it for sure. communications and public affairs. Tomorrow we do have a post about his
birthday on social media and we will also are also including it on e-news. I caution against sending a separate one-page email because if we send too many things out, it becomes spam. And we
are pride ourselves in having a 55% or above open rate, which is way above the government average. And I think that it's best just to use the tools we have. As far as Joann's Mars Merrick moments,
they are actually all on our Centennial website, which we have kept active. >> Can I ask you for a favor through the manager? Uh, can you do me a favor? I know that we don't do this. We ever we never do this. and you tag the commission so that we can repost
whatever you put let's say on Twitter or Instagram just for this one one time >> because I I I don't want I'm gonna post something and I'd rather it just be uniform uh in regards to the content in regards to George Merrick's birthday. I mean I think it's a simple benign request where you know I know that we kind
>> and just so that >> we try to be very careful on sunshine and politics and all and I respect that >> but on this issue I think it's something that we should all be uniform the city the five elected officials because I want people to know who George Merrick is and take pride we had a moment in
this city I don't think it was I think it was just the vice mayor and myself we dealt with issues here in the city where George Mayor was characterized as an individual who he was Right. And you know, I want to commend a lot of people in this community who stepped up
and said, you know, George Merrick had his flaws. We all do. It was a different time, but at the end of the day, George Merrick was a visionary. George Merrick was a person who helped those in this community and made sure those that were in most need were taken care of. So, I want to make sure that people come to an understanding who George Merrick is,
especially those who are moving into our city and may not really understand. maybe they get maybe they get interested and they and they uh uh grow an appetite for learning a little bit. >> I will say that we are safeguarding the history of our city. Uh we uh pretty soon we will have on our website and we
will have an exhibition at the museum of the 25 people that have served as mayors of Coral Gables. We've restored the pictures that were outside your your offices. We have included a bio of each
one, a short bio of 125 words or less. Some were very hard to find. We had to look through obituaries, etc. We did reach out, we did reach out to some family members, for example, uh Ke Keith uh I can't think of the last
name that his father and grandfather uh were mayors. So, uh we are preserving the history. Our next step is working with the city clerk's office. We are making sure that we have everyone that has served and this is going to be by
year as a co in the commission and we're also going to put that in the website. So we are interested in preserving our history and we will definitely tag you tomorrow uh all of you for our George Merrick post.
>> Okay. Uh >> Mr. Mr. Manager, anything else for the good of the order? >> Mr. Mayor, while Miss Pantain's here, I have one more ask. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, I had spoken. >> You haven't had enough pain already at 7 o'clock at night. You want more? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> Don't forget I'm in good shape, but my
back hurts a little bit from this morning. >> Oh, well, you know, no pain, no gain, right? >> Right. um you know the um spoke with our economic uh development uh department about uh creating um
information regarding restaurants. They're going to be showing the FIFA games uh the World Cup games and uh I'd like for our communications team to also share that with us so that we can repost. Well, >> okay. Tomorrow in ENUS, the first the
top story is actually going to be about a FIFA style activation that economic development is having a an exhibition in their offices from an Uruguayan artist that is uh all about fans. So that along
with uh an activation that he's doing with the museum for children will all be there. We do have uh someone from my office has been calling different restaurants so that we can share what all restaurants or bars etc in Coral
Gables are planning to do so that the community knows that Coral Gables is the place to be. >> Okay. Oh, I appreciate it. Especially if you can share it with us. >> I will definitely will. >> You're much better at this than I am. >> So, in closing, I want to invite everyone again. We're not going to have
a meeting before Fourth of July. Correct. The next one is July the 7th. >> This is the last meeting. >> Yes. So I want to invite everybody obviously to the Bill Mo Hotel and to our celebrations for the Fourth of July, 250 years of the greatest country in the world. Blessing to live in this country and I want to thank everyone and ask
them to please join. We're going to have an amazing an amazing uh festival and celebration in honor of this great country. Um may I have a motion? >> I'll move. >> I'll second.
>> All in favor? I >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> Recording stopped.