Yes. Thank you. You want to do it now, right? Sorry, H2. Thank you. We'll do those immediately after uh the approval of the minutes and um and uh just
Mr. Curt Are you ready to begin? Yes, sir. Perfect. Good morning. Stopped. Good morning. I'd like to welcome everybody to the Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 commission meeting. Uh before we get
started, as I always try to mention and re-emphasize, uh first, it's great to see so many people here with us today, both inside and outside. Uh please remember that you can speak here in the commission uh during during the item or
uh during the moments that we allow almost an hour for public comment. You can speak in person or you can speak via Zoom. You can write us an email. You can even call in. There's multiple opportunities uh for people to be heard, provide guidance and insight in regards
to their city. Beautiful. I ask everybody to please uh turn your cell phones off and let's get let's get uh today's commission meeting started. Uh for the invocation, I'd like to uh ask Reverend Melanie Marsh from Rivera
Presbyterian Church. Uh first and foremost, welcome back. Uh I want to thank you uh for allowing us the honor to have you here today. I had the privilege of being with your congregation probably about two weeks ago, right? Two weeks ago and it was an amazing experience. We celebrated 80
years 80 years of providing uh faith-based services in our community and your congregation was amazing. Let me tell you, not only was it inclusive, but it was a beautiful, beautiful service. Uh everybody was so welcoming and it was uh an uplifting experience
and a lot of it has to do with you. So, I want to thank you for being here with us. I know you're extremely busy. And uh before we get started, can you just give us 30 seconds of what your congregation does because I don't think people really realize as they drive by sunset the many things that you're involved in. And I
was taken aback by how much stuff that you how much how many services you offer the community. Yes. So um Riviera Presbyterian Church, our community there on Sunset Drive. Um, first and foremost, we offer um we've had a 45 year ministry
of offering child care for parent working parents. It's a a preschool that's open from 7 in the morning till 6 o'clock at night for parents who can have full-time jobs and need places to to entrust their children to the care of
the people who work there. And then we also offer um inclusion services for LGBTQ plus individuals in our community both in the church and through the Yes Institute who's one of our long-term 30-year partners. Um we are active in
advocating for the hungry and homeless in our community as well as those who are um from all over the world coming into our community as um migrants and visitors and things like that as well.
So we do we do what we can to be good hospitable neighbors and show the hospitality of Christ to all who are a part of our community whether strangers or friends. So whether you're Jewish or Catholic like myself, I have to admit um being elected official for 12 years is
the first time that I really was able to enjoy a full service at at your uh your your organization. And let me tell you, I recommend that everybody go out there and uh enjoy a service. Uh you would all be most welcome. It is it is really
good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And it's an honor to be here today. Please join with me in the invocation. God of all creation, we gather in your presence today and give you honor and praise for you are the source of all that is good and the provider of every
blessing. We pray that you would guide and direct our community leaders convened here and called to serve your people in this place. Help them to walk in your wisdom. In their work, in their decision-making, may your compassion be
at the center of their hearts. In their every task, may your care for the vulnerable be in the forefront of their minds. Empower them to lead with courage and grace, generosity and humility, that
all who are governed by them may thrive. Watch over and protect them all who they lead and all who you have entrusted into their care today and always. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Amen. Reverend,
we'd like to extend our best wishes to you, your congregation, and worshippers on behalf of the city. We look forward to making this a common occurrence. So, we welcome you. We welcome you again. Okay. Thank you so much for being here with us. uh to to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. I I ask our city clerk to
lead us to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nationy andice for all. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Now we have our merit minute.
Good morning. Always a bright spot in the commission. Thank you. As we celebrate our centennial, the Merrick House brings to the commission Merrick Minute. Little tidbits that add up to a remarkable story. I'm Joanne
Maher, Maric House dosent and past chair of the board of governors. As summer continues, we bring you more news of George's travels. In late 1920, George and his wife Ununice took a trip to Cuba via Key West. This was the closest he
would ever come to viewing the type of architecture he envisioned for Coral Gables. He absorbed Cuba's rustic colonial buildings with their interior patios, painted tiles, and ancient barrel tile roofs. He walked through
town gates to the central plazas with their picturesque wells and heard the ringing of bells in the myriad bell towers. During the late summer of 1930, as George waited for Coral Gables, Inc. to complete its refinancing plan, brother
Richard, 17 years his junior, convinced George to join him on a cross-country auto trek to California. During their two months on the road, they planned something brand new, an upscale but affordable fishing camp called Caribbe
Colony on 20 acres of Lower Matakumbbe Ki. This was land he had purchased for Ununice's parents a decade earlier. Upon its opening in January 1931, the Miami Daily News proclaimed, "Florid is awake
again. The psychology of success again walks her sunlit beach." What happened to Caribbee Colony? Well, find out when you come for more of the story. Weekends at 1, 2, and 3:00 at the Meric House,
9007 Coral Way. and tours are free for city employees. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for always being here with us. Uh thank you so much. Uh before we move on to the first item, A1 on the agenda, Commissioner Fernandez is not here with us today. He's under the weather. We
wish him well. Hopefully he has a speedy recovery. Thank you. Uh moving on to item A1. Would you like the proclamation read first or would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself? Uh good morning, mayor, vice mayor, uh
commissioners, Matt Anderson, assistant director of mobility and sustainability here in the city. Salange Lopez, marketing manager with the economic development department. And we also have Diego and Nicole from my team. Uh and we're here for a proclamation. We're celebrating our 5year anniversary for keep coral gables beautiful. Something
that we're really really extremely proud of. you'll see a lot of the things highlighted in the proclamation um that that we've been able to accomplish over the last five years. Uh but I want to really take this opportunity to thank uh you all for use continued leadership and support of our programs. Uh I want to
take a a minute to thank the manager because uh when the manager was here previously uh Solange came to him with the idea and he immediately supported it and said run with it. Um and we've been able to really build this program out over the last 5 years. also thank our our fellow city departments uh community
recreation IT uh budget because we've been able to secure over 10 grants uh and over $80,000 that we've been able to bring into the city and run a lot of our programs that are highlighted here at no cost to the city. Um which is incredibly important. And I think the thing we're
most proud of is we've done over 250 events in the last 5 years uh and engaged over 34,000 participants uh in our community. And we have a lot of community members that have been actively engaged and show up to all of our events, whether it's a cleanup, whether it's a beautifification event,
uh, or whether it's starting or coming to us with ideas on our programs. And I also wanted to highlight too, as an update for you all, we started that Next plastic film recycling program. I'm proud to report we hit 1,000 pounds and we just received the bench on Friday
made of uh, plastic uh, the recycled plastic bags and we'll be working with community recreation to put that out into the community. So, I wanted to just give those uh updates and you'll hear a lot more in the proclamation about what we've been able to accomplish the last 5 years. And again, I just want to thank you all for your support and your
leadership and really the community as well for always coming out and supporting all the work that we're doing. I just want to like Matt said, thank the city manager for letting me and Matt run with this program. We came a little over six years ago. It took a year to go through the process of
becoming affiliate members of Keep uh America Beautiful. In the five years that we've been affiliates, um I've been able to serve on the Keat Florida Beautiful board of directors for four of those years. Uh we've really become one of the staple affiliates in the state in
a very short time. We have other affiliates throughout Florida reach out to us about our programming, our events, and how we do some of the things that we do on a constant basis. We even have some other states reaching out sometimes to talk about our how we do our litter index and a lot of other things. So,
we're really proud of what we've been able to accomplish in such a short time. And we are also uh going to be hosting the state conference later this year in November. And everybody is very excited. We're expecting the largest conference turnout for that and we'll be hosting it
here at the Hyatt. We'll send more information about that to the commission as we get closer in case it any of you would like to attend. And I also want to thank the team because Salange and I are here talking about it, but these two, Diego and Nicole, are the ones that are doing the day-to-day work uh and helping, you know, whether it's going
out and emptying the battery recycling bins, whether it's going out and collecting the plastic film from the city facilities and taking it to either Publix or Sprouts, building the bench yesterday. They built the bench yesterday. Uh so these two right here deserve a lot of the credit because uh they're the ones that are doing the
day-to-day work um and and doing that. So, um, so if I may just very quickly, and I, and Madam Vice Mayor, I know you're going to read the proclamation. Again, everybody here does an amazing job, wonderful job. We've, we've led all cities in Miami Day County on every
single front from solar benches to solar to battery recycling to what we're doing um, in regards to our commercial and our residential recycling uh, hazardous material. But I want to give Solange a lot of credit, okay? You know, she is amazing, okay? She's the one that, you
know, has really pushed pushed an agenda. She's brought it to the commission. She's brought it to the manager. The manager never tells her no. Hardwork. You know, she's amazing. You know, she's grown up in this city. You know, she's pushed hard. All of you
have. I remember your faces for many, many years. And we've taken a lot of we've taken a lot of risk when it comes to the environment like taking the plastic bags all the way to the Supreme Court losing but we but we really sent a strong message right um again that's not
attributed to the commission or we may have sponsored a lot of things for example but it's attributed to the hard work of the employees the four of you and everybody else that makes it happen through the leadership of the manager. So, we we we don't say it enough, you know, thank you. Keep leading, you know, the cleanups in the downtown. Uh, you
know, really trying to find ways to be as efficient as possible, having the largest 100% electric car field of any city in the state of Florida, our charging networks that the vice mayor and I have worked on for such a long time, you know, revamping the way that we design, you know, really having um the strongest lead ordinances of any
city in Miami County. And we can go on and on and on and on, but at the end of the day, it all comes to fruition with your hard work, guys. So, I just want to say thank you for that. No, you truly truly truly deserve the credit and you know that the commission backs you 110%. Absolutely. And while the vice mayor is
reading the proclamation, uh we do have some gifts for you guys that we're bringing up. Uh recycle reusable bottle and and reusable straws uh that you all can use that we just ordered. So, we have uh gifts as the mayor is uh the vice mayor is reading the proclamation. Yes. And these are the latest giveaways
that we were able to secure through the um grant that we receive as affiliates on an annual basis from the state. Keep Florida Beautiful is the um I forget the the term, but it is the litter organization for the state of Florida. So through that process, we're able to
secure the grant annually and really use that for not only most of our giveaways, but several of our supplies. Oh, this one's nice. It's got the straw in it now. Yes, it does. Yeah, it's an improved made from post recycled material and bamboo, right? Yes. And
bamboo. This is impressive. So, it's all good. It's all good. This is awesome. Madam Vice Mayor, you want to lead the way with uh I I will, but before I do, I just wanted to mention that this program not only is for the adults, but it's for the children. You have children participating. They begin to understand
why the wise I I had the opportunity to have my grandchildren in and we're at the beach and I even explained to my daughter, this is why. Yes. You know, I'm so antilastic. You know, this is why we go to these these bottles because the more less we use, the less we put out
there. Even those little lids, Commissioner Laura, they come off those bottles become a huge problem in in the environment, you know, because they they clog drains, you know, things can eat them, the plastic bags, etc., etc. So, the less we use, the better off we are.
And I've lost track of how many bags full of plastic I've taken and and it's a fantastic location at the youth center. So again, it's it's educating the youth and you have it at the adult activity center. So it helps educate, you know, the grandparents who can then
educate the youth. It's the next generation that we can appeal to. So without further ado and taking up more time of this precious time of this commission, I will read the proclamation. Whereas, keep Coral Gables beautiful program was founded in 2020 with a
mission to promote environmental sustainability and educate the community to take action every day to reduce litter and from our open spaces and waterways, improve recycling efforts and keep our city beautiful. Whereas on this
milestone five year anniversary, Keep Co Gables Beautiful is proud to highlight the many programs that have been established such as yearround battery recycling by annual recycling drive-thru, Nextrex plastic bag and film recycling, and the cigarette litter
prevention and recycling programs to reduce our waste and protect our environment. I didn't know about that one. Yes, it's that that film in there. capacitate takes a hundred years to to break down. Whereas since co keep coal
gable's beautiful inception the program has received 10 awards from state and national organizations such as keep Florida beautiful clean communities award helping further the city's position as a national leader in sustainability.
Whereas since Keep Corgable Beautiful's inception, 10 grants have been awarded amounting to a total of $83,000 allowing Keep Corables Beautiful to facilitate numerous programs and events at no cost to the city and have led to
programs such as reverse vending machine pilot project helping to recycle over 18,000 bottles and cans in one year and their lids. Um whereas the keep coral gable's beautiful program have organized over 253 events with the help of over
33,800 dedicated participants and volunteers implementing water quality initiatives for Biscane Bay. And the city has hosted 23 recycling drive-thru events, diverting over 6646,000 pounds of electronic, household
hazardous waste, paper, and clothing from entering the landfills or environment. Whereas through keep corable's beautiful yearround battery recycling program, over 3,890 pounds of batteries have been properly recycled in the city was awarded a free
recycled bench for successfully recycling over a,000 pounds of plastic in one year through the next program. Now therefore, I loggo as mayor of the city of Coral Gables along with members of the city commission do hereby proclaim July 22nd, 2025
as keep Coral Gable's beautiful day in Coral Gables. Um just a reminder uh for campaign signs, Next Track takes those as well. By the way, we that program just I want to also give credit in regards to Next was brought to us by a res. Yes, it was. And she brought it to
us and it's been an amazing success. I put it on the agenda and now look who we are. But again, it all starts with the resident, the employees and it's another great program uh that again just adds an added value here in the city of Colgate. But thank you for bringing it to fruition and again let's keep let's keep
building. Let's keep building. Let's take a photo. Yes, photo. battery. Perfect. Item A2, presentation or proclamation declaring July 2025 as parks and wreck month in Coral Gables.
Director, how are you, sir? Good morning. Good morning everyone. How are you? Um Fred Cusero, community recreation director. Um thank you for allowing us to come before the commission. Um July is Parks and Recreation Month. Um, parks and recreation month was historically
started to bring attention to the parks and recreation field. As you know, it's within an organization. It's a little different because it's not necessarily a profit enterprise. We offer a lot of things that are free of charge and even our fees for things that people pay in many cases are pretty reasonable. Um,
there might be an exception. I don't want an email that you know that what they pay is a little different but um I uh I think it's uh important you know it started that um parks recreation month was in July you know because uh throughout the country July it's it's a summer month people are out they're
active um what's great about our community if you're familiar with our community is um every month really can be parks and recreation month um we have great facilities we have great staff um we're always busy our golf courses are busy our tennis centers all of our facilities youth center. Um, we have
parks and thanks to the leadership of the commission and the city manager's office, we continue to get more and more parks. We're getting really excited. We're going to open three more really shortly. So, you'll see announcements that are coming. There's three that are just about ready to be online. Um, and we also have some more. We keep buying properties due to your leadership and
we're excited to keep developing and some of the things that we do in parks and recreation kind of unsung things that are very important to the community and uh you all know based on the emails. Um we have 150 dogway stations throughout the city that our department oversees. That's doesn't maybe
necessarily you think it's parks and recreation, but it is and it's very important to the community. Um we hear from them all the time because we always got to put more out. And uh so we're we're really happy that we're able to do that. Um and uh we have a great team. Um unfortunately most of our team is out working today. We got a lot of summer
camps going on. We're pretty busy. We have a few of them that are here. Um so uh thank you for uh proclaiming this uh parks and recreation month. We're excited about it and we like parks and recreation month to be every month. Um, and you guys are welcome to have fun with us and have it every month, too.
Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner through the mayor. So, Fred, great to see you this morning and I want to commend you and your team on all the amazing work that you do. Um, I mean, the parks and recreation is such a major contributor to why the city is beautiful, known as the city beautiful,
but also the city of fun. And, uh, it's what binds us and keeps us together as residents. and um and and the community appreciates you and what your team does every single day. So I agree with you that we should probably proclaim it a parks and recreation month every single
month, but you get July for yourself. So with no further ado, whereas parks and recreation programs are an integral uh part of elevating a community's quality of life, ensuring the health of all, and contribute to the economic and environmental well-being of our community. And whereas parks and
recreation programs build healthy, active communities that aid in the prevention of chronic diseases, is critical to childhood development, provide therapeutic recreational services, and improves the physical and mental health of all. And whereas parks and recreation programs increase a
community's economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of the local tax base, increased tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses, and crime reduction. And whereas parks and recreation areas are fundamental to the environmental
well-being of our community by improving water quality, protecting groundwater, preventing flooding, improving the quality of the air we breathe, providing vegetative buffers to development, producing natural habitats for wildlife, and increases resilient resiliency in
the fa in the face of natural disasters and climate change. And whereas our parks and natural recreation areas ensure the ecological beauty of our community and provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature and recreate outdoors. And whereas the US House of Representatives
is designated July as parks and recreation month and the city of Coral Gables recognizes the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources. Now therefore, I, Vince Lago, as mayor of the city of Coral Gables, and on behalf of the city commission, do hereby
proclaim the month of July 2025 as Park and Recreation Month in the city of Coral Gables. Thank you. Also, real quick, we do have an event um this week on Friday, July 4th. Um our Fourth
of July event. Um kind of a big event. Uh and this year we're doing something special. Uh we're going to have um not only our traditional fireworks, but we're also going to have a drone show. So um I welcome everybody to come out to the Builtmore and enjoy. Fred, would you let everybody know who's tuning in how
they can still if they're available uh purchase tickets for the event, if their tickets to purchase or how they can um find out more information? Yeah, if there's um admission into uh the golf course is free of charge. Everyone can come. There's uh you can park here at city hall. We have trolleys that will
take you back and forth. Um, and also if you're interested in VIP tickets, um, we can contact our, um, economic development department. I don't know, Solange was here. She can tell us if there's any tickets left. I don't know if we're sold out. We're probably getting close. Um, so everybody's excited about it. Thank you. Thank you.
Another point I wanted to make, thank you for bringing that up, Commissioner. I was going to bring that up. We've gotten several emails and and, uh, messages on social media on that point. I drove by this weekend on Bird at Dorothy Thompson Park and I don't know if it's open yet, but I saw but a soft opening. Yes. But I
saw a family using using uh uh the playground and I mean it was amazing to see it activated. There was so many young kids. It was a family of young kids, probably three or four little kids playing and it was great to see that uh to see that engagement on a on a weekend. Yeah, we're going to have a a a more grand opening there soon. Um we
just have a few little items to fix and then we're going to go. Yeah, I'm really happy with our turn. The blue road open space looks great. Y that looks really, really good. Also, the road's a little bit behind, but we're there. We're almost good. Thank you. I appreciate it. Yes, ma'am. So, I have a question for the mayor. Um, so I took my grandkids by
and the gate was locked. When's it going to be unlocked? Which one? Uh, the Dorothy. Oh, it's um it's unlocked right now. Unlocked right now. Yeah, it's we're we're in a we're we're in a soft opening. Um we've opened it. Um, we're
waiting for the inspection uh for um recordkeeping. Um, and then uh we're doing a couple of items and then we're going to do the grand opening. So, they can go. It should be open. Unfortunately, they they've already left, but Okay. called you. Yeah. Yeah, you should have. You should have. Okay.
But Yeah. All right. Take a photo. All right. Where's We can have our our country club director Danny's here. Our assistant director, Carlos, is here. Our marketing manager is here, Fabio. our special events manager, Susan, and our
Venetian pool supervisor. You guys can go there. Item A3. Congratulations to Captain Janette, uh, recipient of the city of Coral Gables firefighter of the month award for the month of June 2025. Chief, good morning.
Good morning, Mayor, ladies and gentlemen of the commission. Um, I'm honored to present our firefighter of the month. Uh, Captain Janetti has taken on what is very important to this city and that is its historical past and
preserving that past. And as we begin our centennial celebration, he was charged with and took upon the challenge to document the 100redyear history of this fire department. Uh find all of our
historical documents and work with the museum staff to present the exhibition that is currently going on which is the centennial of service. So uh this is a passion of his. He's a very passionate firefighter and he's a very he's very
passionate about our history and everything that we've accomplished in the last hundred years. So for taking on this project and becoming our unofficial uh his department historian and for working with the museum to present us
and our past and our present and our accomplishments. He's our firefighter of the month. So congratulations to him. Morning, Mr. Mayor, commissioners. Uh, thank you so much. Uh, thank you for giving the opportunity to be recognized this month.
Uh, it was a very rewarding experience working alongside the great team at the U museum to bring our 100redyear story to life. Uh, Univonga, the creator, and the team worked very hard uh, tirelessly to make sure it was done on time. and thank you for the unwavering support of
my chief as always to uh make sure we get all these artifacts on loan or even donated to the to the museum so they can use them. Uh I invite everybody here to please pass by and see the great work they've accomplished there. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Take a photo.
Thank you. Byebye. Item A4. Congratulations to Julian Poso, Police Department recipient employee of the month award for May 2025. Morning, mayor, commissioners. Jose Ro. All right. Hello. Today I have the honor of
presenting a couple employees for the employees of the month winners for the second quarter of the year. Obviously, Julian is our winner for May. He brought his whole the whole posi here. Um Julian's been with the city since 2002. He's currently a crime analyst with the police department and Julian was actually just selected for promotion to
a CIC intelligence analyst, a role he'll take in a couple weeks. So, it's been a good couple of weeks for uh for Julian. So, turn over to Julian. Congratulations. There you go. Thank you. Morning. I love I love that smile. I love that
smile. That smile's amazing. I don't know. Smile's amazing. Good morning, guys. Good morning. It's so sincere, you know. I appreciate everything so much. Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, city manager, uh the chief, assistant chief. I I know you're there, sir. You're always there. You're always there. You're always watching.
Right behind you. I got to be on my P's and Q's, right? Uh but no, I really love working for the city. I really enjoy my my colleagues, everybody, the citizens. I really I love what I do. I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't love it. So, I really thank you, Chief.
All right. So, let me give you the reason why all the detectives are here. You have heard anybody left the city right now. You know, at least the there's one guy that's just waiting on his promotion, so he's going to hold down the fort till next week. Uh, and
they all know who that is. uh commissioners, you know, in a in a in a world where technology changes every second and to find young people that can navigate through uh that technology open
sources. Uh the reason why these detectives are here is because this man and the team that we have put together between our cameras, our drones, our social media really are the lynch pins to solving cases. The detectives still have to do the work, the interviews and
things like that, but uh it's like being uh a principle of constantly keeping them away from picking on the kid that can do it all. And that is a testament to his abilities. Uh as as Jose said, he's been recently promoted to a
position of authority over the rest of the CIC crime analyst people. Uh this is new for the police department over the last few years. Uh but it is the direction and we've save solved a lot of cases because of this man's work and his
uh his intelligence and what he brings to us. So we are extremely proud of both of our winners, but uh Julian is well welld deserved. So, uh, I just wanted to say on behalf of the department, Julian, thank you for everything. You make us very proud. Thank you.
And no, you're working the 4th of July, too. Chief, Chief, you want to do A5 also? Yes, I'll All right. For June, we have Millie Johnson. Millie is also a veteran of of 17 years within the police department. She works in the police records unit.
So, I'm going to call up Millie and her supervisor so she can also be recognized. Good morning everyone. Good morning. I am uh truly thankful and humbled by this recognition.
I share this award with my records family. I am grateful and so blessed to work among such a dynamic and outstanding team such as my records family. I've worked for the city for 17 years. this
the whole 17 years I've worked in the records department and I could not see myself working anywhere else. I love what I do. I take pride in what I do. My team takes pride in what they do and we are honored
to produce the work that we produce from the records department for the city beautiful. Thank you so much. As we've always talked about in the police department, uh we are a family. Uh Millie not only kind of keeps all the officers in line at things that they do,
but she also does that at home because her husband is one of our detectives as well. So, uh we we understand why he does such a great job. uh you know, keeping track of everything that a police department in a city does and making sure that's memorialized. In the
old days of paper and now electronically and keeping up with that information and changing which was huge for us with the with the approval of this commission, we changed our CAD and RMS systems. Uh a momentous task that was done within a
year and it couldn't have been done with a lot of unsung heroes, Millie being one of them. So, I think supervisors appreciate Millie. Uh, I know management appreciates Millie and Jessica, her supervisor, because we can ask for this data and get it together. Uh, I know our
public records regulars appreciate Millie and the rest of the clos crew downstairs when they're generating those public records. Uh, but we cannot stress enough how perfect our record system works because of people like
Millie. Congratulations on behalf of us from the entire department. Millie, you're welld deserved. I just want to take a quick photo for each one of them, but I just want to mention, you know, when we recognize police and firefighters and general employees, when we especially when the police, it's always the police officers.
And again, I think this is important what we're doing here today for the last two months because it shows that it's a team effort, that it takes all many different pieces of a puzzle to bring everything together. And there's a lot of unsung heroes. Like I mentioned before when we were talking about the environment with Solange and Matt and
the entire team. You know, your hard work is what allows us to keep this city the safest city in Miami Day County. Again, the police officers are the face, the chief is the face, the manager is the face of the city outside of the commission. But at the end of the day, things don't get accomplished without
your hard work, both of your hard work. So, I want to congratulate you. And I want to thank uh the officers for not making it just about themselves, for making it about the people who are able to really get in get into the nitty-gritty and address these issues, especially when you're dealing with families that, like you said before,
that have unsolved cases or things that for months, if not years, haven't been resolved. you know, it's your hard work, your diligence, your follow through, working hand in hand with the police officers to to make sure that this happens. So, I just want you to know from from the commission, from myself, from my office. I can't thank you enough for your commitment to the city. It
means a lot. And being here 17 years, how and your promotion, how many years you've been here, Mr. Pos? Three and a half. Three and a half. So, you're a little bit on the on the different ends different ends of of the careers, you know, uh, which are both incredibly important. Uh, you know, but I just want to say thank you. Thank you on behalf of the entire city for your hard work. And
this is something different that I've seen in the last 12 years since I've been here because we're always honoring the police officers. You know, an amazing catch, you know, something that has been unsolved for such a long time. But to be able to have two back-to-back employees who are behind the hard work of the police officers, your job is just
as important as the people wearing the badge. So, I want to say thank you for that. Thank you. almost. She gets my best. This is going to be I know you've been on the job. Moving on to item A6. Congratulations to
Thomas Pto Public Works the recipient of the employee of the month award for April 2025. Madam Vice Mayor, will you take the lead one second? Hello again. I'd like to present Tomas Prito from the public works department. He's our employee of the month for April. Tomas works in the We have to wait for all the police to leave. Start
over. Yeah, let's let's just wait. You know, they're a noisy bunch. And you know, these employee of the month things come around only like once. Yeah. In a career. So, deserves some dignified time.
All right. Now, now that the uh children have quieted down, for the month of April, I present you Tomas Pto. Tomas is a nine-year veteran from the public works department. He works as a foreman within the general services department. So, he's the the fixer of of all the facilities, all the things that break.
He's in charge of making sure it gets fixed. So, I'd like to call up his supervisor, Ralph and Hermes Diaz, so they can help present him. Congratulations. Thank you, sir. Good morning, mayor, commissioner, city manager, city attorney. Uh, it's a pleasure to be here today to recognize
Tomas Prito as employee of the month representing public works facilities division. We honor a person whose unwavering commitment and dedication have made a significant difference in the city. Tomas Pritos has shown us the hard work, commitment, and passion can
make a real difference. This employee of the month award is a small token of our appreciation for his remarkable service. Tomas Prito is a foreman in our division, but he is also a mentor, a leader, a family man, and a grandfather
of two beautiful girls. and he takes all his roles very seriously. I see every day how he leads by example and will never ask any of his teammates to do anything that he wouldn't do himself. Tomas has many impressive qualities, but for me personally, he is compassionate,
honest, and unselfish. Tomas always thinks about others and positive outcomes and never himself. But Tomas, today we honor you. Congratulations. When when I found out that Tomas was going to be the employee month, um I
couldn't be happier. Um Tomas is a tireless worker. He's a gentleman. Um he's dependable and as many around the city will know, if you have a problem that needs to get fixed, Tomas is the one to call. So I am very proud for you
and actually for us because you are a reflection of Holy Works and I'm so happy. Thank you sir. Congratulations. This is kind of nerve-wracking but I'm going to do my best. You got this. My name is Tomas Parto. I've been a city of Coral Gables employee for the past nine and a half years as a carpenter. For
your past three and a half years I'm your public works general service foreman. Being selected the employee of the month was a big surprise. When I returned from vacation, my supervisors and my workers told me the news. This is an honor and a privilege to be
nominated employee of the month. I don't know who to thank for this nomination. All I can say is thank you. Special thanks to all my work co-workers and of course my supervisors Eric Lopez and Ralph Rodriguez. It is an honor to be recognized like this. I will continue to
do my part to keeping Car Gable city beautiful. Thank you. I just I just wanted to add that because of you and your team and all working together, we get the praise and the glory when people thank us for all the wonderful way that we take care of our
facilities in this city and the quick response times that you all have. So, thank you. Oh, thank you. And thanks to all of them, of course. Thank you. So, we're ready for the photo. Mayor, you're back just in time. Take a photo. Yes. Mr.
Yes, sir. Last but not least, congratulations to the city of Coral Gables for obtaining the intelligent community certification. Sir, good to see you. Belis, always a pleasure.
A dynamic trifecta here. Good morning, mayor, vice mayor, commissioner. So, our city received this prestigious certification from the intelligent community forum, a global organization headquartered in New York City and also Canada and Australia. For
over 20 years, the ICF has had an awards and certification program. They were founded by heads of industry and telecommunications. So initially it was about broadband adoption about digital inclusion and innovation but they have expanded now they also look at citizen
engagement at sustainability and economic development and tech skills and workforce development. So over three years our city has been benchmarked every year. H the innovation and technology department has partnered with economic development and sustainability
uh to go through that process. Soro interviews, audits, reviews. So we have received five awards in their global summits in Taiwan, in Barcelona, in Madrid, in Ontario and also uh in New
York City. So five awards and the end of the process is that we were fully certified as an intelligent community only the second city in the United States that have received this certification. So we h were evaluated in six dimensions connectivity and
broadband we got 92 over 100. In tech knowledge and workforce we got 81 over 100. In innovation we got 98 over 100. In digital inclusion we had full 100 over 100. In sustainability, we received 99 over 100 and in community engagement,
100 over 100. So, we were very very well assessed. And I'm going to pass it to my colleagues also for for for the works. Um, I just want to thank Reundo obviously because this is an effort that he spearheaded. He gave us a lot of work to do. Imagine audits. I mean, um, but
honestly, it's paid off and this is something that we can use in order to bring more uh businesses into the city. Yeah. And I'll just say all credit goes to Raundo and his amazing team back there. It's an honor to be a part of this and really shows how all of our different responsibilities really do
correlate with one another another like sustainability supporting it and vice versa and economic development. So um it's all about collaboration and and um it's an honor to be a part of this and and be certified. I will have the opportunity later at item H3 to present
an update on our broadband project. So I would like to give kudos to our IT team that had worked so hard over the years to build the infrastructure and now is a big part of what we have been recognized today. So kudos to my team there. If if I may, Mr. your manager, if we could,
can we get a photo of the entire team that was involved in this? And then what I would like to do, if the commission is willing and approves, is I would like to send out an email to the community talking about, you know, achieving this award, being only a second city in the
country to be able to do this. And I'd like to highlight the staff that got this accomplished because this is a big big accomplishment. And I think that people really need to understand the amount of work that goes into getting an achievement of this magnitude. And if you would be interested in doing that,
maybe when Martha is back, of course, mayor, we can work on as a team to really highlight this and showcase this accomplishment. Yeah, I want to echo what the mayor just said and I am overwhelmed with gratitude and pride that of what you've
accomplished all three of you and your teams because as the mayor just said, second city in the United States. So, we're known for 100 years as being the city beautiful, but I now we we can all say we're the city smart. Yeah. You know, so I I'm very very very proud of you and your teams. This, as you said,
is something that's worthy of recognition, amplification, and let our residents know what an amazing job and what an amazing accomplishment this is. And I'm going to tell you one thing, too, why it's important. So, Belis and I had a meeting this morning along with the ACM, who I think is behind Raundu. Not sure if she's sitting there or not.
She was just there. Karolina Vester, we had a meeting earlier this morning before the commission meeting uh to talk about the opportunities what we're working on in regards to permitting and what we're rolling out in the next six months uh to really change change how not only how we do business, but we're going to be the envy of every community
both in the residential and in the business side. But this is an example of a tool that we can use to attract businesses. And why do I bring that up? I don't want to give the names out, but right now we are courting two massive I mean significant companies that in the
next week and a half will be deciding. Uh we've written them letters uh on behalf of the mayor's office. We've met with them. We've had conversations with them to make sure that we can showcase what the city does just like we did with Ryder, just like we did with Apple and just like we did with FIFA. But this is these two companies are in the same
vein, the same magnitude of companies that were are now going to be leaving another important city to join the city of Coral Gables. Why? Why are they coming here? Because of the work that you guys are doing. The work that we're doing with technology, sustainability,
the trolley system, public safety. We now have police in the downtown. That wasn't something that happened 5 years ago. you know, our our our our incredible transportation system, the cleanliness of our downtown, all the things that we're doing come together. They converge together to deliver a
platform and a location where we we're the envy of every community in South Florida, potentially the state of Florida, not the country. So, this is something that I want to showcase. I want to showcase on our website. I want to showcase it to the residents so they understand what we're doing because this is a testament to the hard work of the
city employees, the leadership of the city employees through the manager's office and things that we've been doing here would set us apart from every other municipality. The mayor, Mr. Manager, may I say something, Mayor? It's it's amazing the size of of of the city and the fact that we're the second city in
the United States to have this this kind of honor. uh we work we're a small city but we work with a very large city sophistication and and so we we provide really the best of both worlds. We provide a small city with with all with all all that benefit but we also provide
a city with with a smart city like this with with uh something way beyond what a normal city like this would would provide as a second city in the country compared to some of the much much larger cities. So so I think we have a lot to offer. I agree. I agree with you, mayor,
100%. We would like to have our communications department really really put this out. Huge win, madam vice mayor. Yeah. Just uh I think also highlights the you know intellect of the individuals working for our city. uh the the quality of the people that we've
been able to attract and it always takes a good leader and Mundo thank you very much for being such a wonderful leader for the entire department and our city as well because you touch every department in this city from fire police and every other um department in there
cannot function without what you do to make it all work. Thank you. Are we missing anybody from that was part of your department that should be here? Is there anybody? when the entire department was involved in the infrastructure. I have here network manager Jella Rodriguez, network senior
network analyst Paulson Jin, senior network analyst inflated, senior systems analyst Alex Gamundi. They were integral part of these projects but also the entire team and oh sorry our senior project manager Leam was responsible for managing the portfolio of projects that
we have. The reason why I asked that is because I want to take a picture with the entire team. So if we can we can I'd like to put this on the agenda. Mr. manager just for a photo for photo op and bring all the employees of your department here and and I think it's important to wait a month to send this
out because I want look what we have with the police. We had two individuals that are in very obscure departments. The police are the ones that always get the credit that received you know recognition and I think it's important that we recognize the employees who are
again working hard every single day to make these achievements possible. So Mr. Clerk, Mr. manager on the next commission meeting. I'd like for please for Raundo's team to be here, the entire department. We can take it first first item and just take a quick group photo. Uh so then then we can send out an email
uh really advertising you know this amazing success. One final comment with your permission and the heads of the and the founders of the intelligent community forum and heads of industry and the satellite industry. They want to uh hold one of
the next global events that they do of the ICF in Kora Gables. Amazing. They want to highlight our organization. The last one was in Madrid in Barcelona in Taiwan and Ontario and New York City. Then h one of the next one because they the next one is in Vietnam and they have
other places but they want to come here. I would like to ask for the permission to help to organize that event and bring that. That's me as the manager but I don't see why not. I mean like look look what's happening in in in South Florida next year. Okay you have the 2026 World Cup. You have the G20 that's coming
here. Okay. Again, this is just another feather in our cap of what's happening here in South Florida and how this community, Miami date county, is leading and it's about time that we receive real recognition for the efforts of yourselves and all the employees here. So, at the next commission meeting, I'd like to have your entire team make sure that everybody can be here, please. You
know, obviously, if somebody's sick, I understand, but try to make sure everybody's here because the whole intent of waiting a month is to get, you know, from the person who played an hour role into it to the person who came up with the idea of appliance, everybody should be recognized. Okay, let's So, we won't take a picture today. We'll take a picture next month. Okay. Thank you.
Thank you for your hard work. Um, Mr. Clerk, B1 is regular city commission meeting May 20, 2025. I entertain a motion. I'll move it. Second. All in favor? I. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Public comment.
Uh, yes, Mr. Mayor. First speaker this morning is Mr. Tom Wells. Good morning, sir. My name is Tom Wells. I live at 1310 Corway and reside in the city for the last 32 years. I'm disappointed with Mayor Lago, Vice
Mayor Anderson, and Commissioner Lara not following the rule of law and not allowing our residents to vote on charter amendments as to changing our April voting date. This is illegal action that waste the city's time and money. This voting pack is reduced the is reducing the term of two
commissioners who sometimes vote against this pack and also reducing the mayor's own term by five months so he can serve almost 10 years as mayor, circum the eight-year charter term limit. If this voting pack cared about residents in the rule of law, they would let us vote in this charter amendment and make our city
that makes our city different from the city of Miami. At the May 20 commission meeting, I gave you a legal memo as the rule of law. The commissioner's term can only be shortened by resident vote based on Florida Supreme Court cases from 1931 and 1970. To be physically responsible
of RM money, you should either request an attorney general opinion or let the residents vote on this issue. You ignored my advice. On June 11th, the Florida Attorney General issued AGO 2025-01 providing the municipal charter in Miami
Dade County can only be changed by resident vote due to the Miami Dade home rule amendment. You ignored that advice. On June 25th, the attorney general issued a letter to the city of Miami because it is also trying to change its election date via ordinance warning
Miami of an impending litigation due to its illegal action. You ignored that advice. Governor Desanna stated there is no authority for the city of Miami to change selection date via ordinance. By ignoring the governor's advice, you
expose our funding request to his veto power. The Miami Day charter states that our charter can only be amended exclusively by voters. It's been part of the Florida Constitution since 1885. A constitution charter cannot be changed by statutes
ordinances, only by voters. This is a rule of law per 1999 third DCA case from Judge Cope, another Coral Gable's resident. AG opinions before 20251 do not involve Miami date city. Do not address the home rule amendment.
Please stop this illegal power grab that waste time and money and let resins vote on charter amendments as required by Florida law. In conclusion, if you persist with this action, it will go to litigation. We will lose litig we will lose in litigation after lots of
expenses and you look for a scape code. And if you blame the city attorney, it's not her fault. But we replace her. I would prefer that we replace her with an independent search committee. Thank you.
U Madam City Attorney, two things of correction or clarification, more like it. Do you consider this an illegal act? Mayor, um first of all, we're still in the public policy period, but I want to clear I just want to be very clear. It's fresh. So I want to be very clear. So
the commission already acted, mayor. That ordinance was already adopted and it was, you know, approved as the form and legal sufficiency. Okay. And we're not the first city to do this, correct? No, we are not in Miami date county. Correct. There is another city in Miami County that And there was never there was never an issue with the governor then. Correct. Not that I'm aware of.
And I also like to clarify one item. If I'm losing five months, how am I extending my term to 10 years? I don't know, sir. Moving on. Miss Mario Cruz. Maria, Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447
Miller Road. We always brag about the fact that our city is different than everyone else's. We do not have scandals. At the last commission meeting, Commissioner Castro proposed that something be added to the HR manual
about personal relationship between employees. Another commissioner then asked the city attorney and city manager if they knew of anything happening that would justify the proposal. Both of you answered no. I couldn't believe that
neither of you was aware of what has been discussed around the city, in city hall, in the media, and in other social gatherings. We brag about being transparent, but the fact is that our city is known for covering up. I put together some information that I request
to be put in the minutes. There are only examples of some of the incidents that have happened in this city and have been the talk of the town. I called the report and you all will be getting one
CG confidential and this is the disclaimer. These facts may sound familiar. They have been widely circulated and reported by the press and social media. If they remind you of someone you know, that's probably
just a coincidence. Or is it? What about a parks and recreation van being used to transport city guests to Alicat, a local strip club? What about a finance employee depositing city checks
into her own personal account? What about a city manager having an affair with the city mayor's secretary? A city mayor hiring his BFF so they could go to lunch together. A city director and a city manager using city vendors and
employees to do work at their personal properties at city expense. A city employee stealing $100,000 from the city by paying ghost employees and other schemes. A city manager and other employees using city credit city credit
cards for personal purchases. A city employee using a PE card to buy personal items including pots and pens with the city director's approval. A city mayor having an affair with the subordinate. A city employee complaining about sexual harassment. And to make the issue go
away, getting transferred or provided a job into a neighboring city. I'm giving the city clerk a copy of this information and request to be added to the minutes. I'm also providing a copy for every one of you.
Robert Ruvano Mr. Ron. Yes sir. Good morning. Good morning. It's hard to follow that. Mr. Robert Ruano, 1544 Mercia Avenue.
Um, I'm here today to talk to you about a uh a uh a topic that pains me to talk about more and more. But before I do, well, I was going to have something in writing and then my laptop didn't work this morning. So, that's what you got. So,
but I would like the the uh the clerk. Okay. Can you uh show a little video quick like to show you something? This is from Saturday. This is the corner of my house on Red and Mercia. See the little curb there? The car The
car went over the curb. Went about 100 feet. A little over 100 feet. totally took out two palm trees like completely snapped a pole and stopped because the the uh the wooden pole there that was uh
by my neighbor's house. Thankfully uh can you pause it right there? There you go. Thankfully, the house next to it or on the other side, Isabelle, who has two little girls, were not walking on there going
to the canal or the neighbor on this side who has a 5-year-old girl and a and a new baby. And I bring bring this to you because you're about to do something terrible terrible on the other side. Um,
Commissioner Lara, you you didn't get a chance to see this, but could you bring up the other slide, please? And um the other slide and uh Mr. Eglacius I don't think you were here either. This is that one. This
is option three modified. Okay. Hold on. Okay. This is option three modified. In October, this commission voted on the sidewalks on Alhhamra to not go forward
with the sidewalks against the road like the mayor has been pushing. And it has and it has on and like it has on on Santa Maro across the street from his house. And they did this and I sat with Commissioner Castro. Thank you for going a little bit higher, a little bit
closer. Um, and I sat with Commissioner Castro and public works director and I think an assistant city manager and came up with a modified option three that would that would protect most of the trees. As you can see, most of the trees
are still there um as you go through and it sometimes goes out into the street to protect trees. And the commission was supposed to see this in March and vote on it. They decided not to. What happened was mayor came back as you saw
last time and kind of steamrololled it. You can you can turn that off and changed it back. You can turn that off for a second, please. And so I will implore you, you are about to make a serious mistake by putting a sidewalk,
a curbed sidewalk. And I will just finish. And by the way, I kind of did your job for you. I sent with to 1500 feet within the project site. I sent to my neighbors. Mr. Ronaldo, would you be kind enough? You've already gone over 20 seconds. No, actually we we
weren't because we were in the middle of all this stuff, remember? Okay. We got all this. I sent it for you. You're already getting emails, letters. This is not over, mayor. Thank you, my friend. And and it's not a done deal. I'll give this to the clerk. Thank you, Samuel
Lawson. Good morning, sir. Good morning, everyone. Bear with me. I have a few scrambled notes here. I didn't have as much time to prepare as I'd like to, but I'll try to get to the point that I think is probably on a lot of people's minds, but
before I do, I would like to congratulate um Sir, sorry. Can you please state your name and address for the record? Sure. Samuel Lawson, 450 Camilo Avenue, Coral Gables. Um, I haven't been here in quite a while, uh, maybe 18 months or so. So,
I'd like to first uh congratulate uh the mayor, the vice mayor, and commissioner Laura and your incredible victories. I think the people were uh um quite vocal in the margins by which they
elected you. Um, and then second, I would like to address uh the mayor and the city manager. You two specifically were put through incredible public humiliation at the hands of
um a rogue commission. You didn't deserve it. You're men of great honor and integrity. You've both fought for this city, given up much of your personal self in a variety of ways, and you did
not deserve to be treated like that. And the entire city of Coral Gables understood that. And they showed up to vote knowing, Mr. that um one of the one of the uh platform policies, let's say,
that these commissioners were running on was their support of you. So, the city resoundingly uh supported you coming back. And so, Mayor Lago and city managerius, I want to personally thank you for not
giving up when you were being um humiliated or attempted to be humiliated because your character never never allowed yourself to be humiliated. So, you didn't deserve that. And I'm grateful for you fighting and staying
uh staying here to be uh endorsed and voted in by the public. So, what I'm here today to talk about is um an article that was published um in the last week, I think it was, um by a
um a local pub a local author. Don't know who he is or she is. They're an anonymous person. They run a um a periodical called Asop's Gables. And there were some incredible
um allegations made that seem to have had quite a bit of evidence that would pretty simply and straightforwardly uh make those allegations pretty self-evident. But I just want to run through a few things so that we have tabled here uh what my request is going
to be before the commission. So, there was an accusation and I don't need to beat around the bush because it was directed at uh Mr. Ariel Fernandez of number one deceptive conduct that a sitting commissioner operated under fake
identities and used a fictitious organization to cover covertly collect residents political opinions. Mr. Lawson, if you could please bring it in for please bring it in for landing. You only have three minutes to speak. Okay. I I would just urge you to let me speak
a little bit longer because I haven't been here in quite a long time. Give it to anybody else. I got to I got to be fair to everybody else. Okay. Um there have been serious allegations. Uh I urge all of you who are here in
this room to read Asops Gable's most uh recent article. The allegations suggest that a sitting commissioner defrauded basically the entire city of Coral Gables by um in a felonious act collecting public information and using
it in uh in an uncredit an in incredulous way. So what I'm asking for today is that Mr. Fernandez who has called in sick today to not face I'm sure what's going to be other people confronting this issue to step down and
second I would like to ask that the commission take a vote if Mr. Fernandez does not step down to look into and to remove this commissioner. I know that three of the four of you have continuously
voted in support of things in terms of the city and now the city needs for you to defend them. Thank you very much. So that puts eyes on you, Commissioner Castro, to see where you would likely vote on something like this. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. And by
the way, in terms of Mr. Wells comment, I would like to add, and I'm sorry to be out of order, okay? But I'm asking you to please. city is very much in favor of moving the elections. So even though you may be operating by the letter of the law, you're certainly not operating by
the spirit of Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk. Sorry for the next speaker. For the record, it was a minute 50 over. You should be fair, Mr. He tried. Gonzalo Sanabria. Good morning, sir. Good morning, everybody. Morning. Good
morning, Gonzalo Sanabria, 944 San Pedro Avenue in beautiful Gables by the Sea. And it's such a refreshing sight as I look here at the people on the days to
see Peter Ellesius reinstated to this post. Every time I was here in the past and I saw an unqualified city manager that was costing us a horrendous $1,000 a day because of an ambush hire
spearheaded by Commissioner Ariel Fernandez. And that was a gross misjudgment of what this city needs. So it reveal itself in what Mr. Fernandez really is
is all for himself. Now I read some further details that Mailchimp and people count USA could be tied to some operations held by a sitting
commissioner. And I'll tell you what, colleagues of the commissioner, you should really put in the effort to investigate this. to make sure to make sure that that's
not the case. If it is the case, you need to come through with it. And it's upon you upon you to make sure that this is a clean situation and not a a verified situation. If it's a verified
situation, it needs to be investigated. I urge you, all of you left here on the days and commissioners to vote on a resolution today
to investigate these allegations, preposterous allegations made in the ASOP article because if it has teeth, it's a discredit to the commission. It's a discredit to the city. This is not a
banana republic. This is a city of Coral Gables. We are a preeminent city not just in the state but in the nation and we cannot be bismerched by the activities of one individual who
is all for himself. Please pass a resolution to further look into these allegations which may have some merit. Thank you. Thank you. Vivian Gonzalez.
Good morning. Morning. Hi, Vivian Gonzalez. Um, I'm not a Coral Gable's resident. I live at 6601 Southwest 160th Court, apartment 108, Miami, Florida, 33173. I'm here on behalf of Greater Miami Youth Symphony.
Um, I'm the executive director and Greater Miami Symphony was funded in Coral Gables, founded in Coral Gables and sorry I'm short, 1958. Um, I just wanted to thank you all for the continuous support of the Coral Gables Cultural Grant and the development this year of the youth arts category, which
helps funds organizations like Greater Miami Symphony that have full season youth community youth youth music education in Coral Gables, which includes our weekly large ensemble and beginning classes at University of Miami Frost School of Music, as well as our performances there from late August all
the way through early May. We bring approximately 400 students from across Miami date, Broward, and Palm Beach to Coral Gables every week um during that time. So, thank you for your support. And quickly, thank you to Katherine Caththers and the cultural arts staff and the esteemed panel that did such a
great job uh going through all the applications. So, I just wanted to say thank you because in a time when funding is really difficult for our youth arts programs, um it really encourages us to continue to have programming in your city. Um, I was a student of Greater Miami Symphony in the 1980s and it was
the first time I came to Coral Gables. I grew up in North Miami Beach and I had never seen a place so beautiful ever. The trees, the houses, the University of Miami campus and it's really our goal to give that to all of our students who come to our program. So, thank you. Thank you very much.
Go ahead and go to Zoom next. Uh, first speaker on Zoom is Manny Portoando. Yes, sir. Mr. Portoando. Good morning uh commissioners. Thank you um for allowing me to speak. Um my name is Manny Forando. I live at 820
Ganono Drive in Coral Gables and I'm speaking on behalf of um 723 petition supporters that have said no to low bridges on the Coral Gables waterway. I I understand that you guys will be talking about this later today.
Unfortunately, um I won't be available later today. Uh so I wanted to take the opportunity to speak to you hopefully um one last time. Um as I we've mentioned before, we think the underlying is a great addition to
our city. However, we don't believe um Miami dead county nor the underlying has fully considered the impact that their bridge will have on the navigability, safety, and future sea level rise of the Coral Gables waterway. We are homeowners
on the waterway, users of the waterway. We care deeply about um the waterway. Uh my understanding is that the uh proposed bridge has had some redesign that uh makes it 3 ft higher now than the US1
bridge which is progress uh but uh it's not enough. Um during the past couple of months, we decided to engage an architect to take a look at the uh bridge design.
And um the architect uh designed a new bridge that raises the underlying bridge by an additional three feet uh without changing either the slope of the bridge
or the bridge itself. Um it's really just a engineering design change that takes into account a very wellnown engineering technique uh called upturn beams which wraps the beams going up
versus going down and by doing so uh we gain uh three feet of clearance which is uh very important um if you want to navigate the waterway. Um, I think I commissioners, you guys have
uh this bridge design. It was sent to you uh this week. I know I've spoken to uh many of you and I really urge you to um advocate for this higher bridge design. You know, these bridges are are 20 year
plus structures. Let's build it right the first time so we don't have to move them again in the future. And um in addition to that, I urge you to uh request from uh Miami Dade some language, legal language and any
agreement that the city were to agree to uh with Miami Dade that uh would require Miami Day to uh bring up the height of the bridge to any future height um that
would be higher uh than the US one bridge or Bonser at the time that that were to change. Um, thank you and I appreciate your time today. Mr. Porto, thank you very much. Okay, next speaker. Mr. Mayor, uh, I only have a first name.
I don't show a last name as Alysia. If you could please unmute and, um, state your name and address for the record, please. Uh, can you hear me? Yes. My name is Alisa Fernandez. I live at 6000 Granada Boulevard,
Coral Gables, Florida. I've been a resident in Coral Gables for 60 years, living presently at this address for 40 years. And um I have two issues I wanted to speak about. I was trying to be there today,
but it was impossible for me to go. one is about Ariel and the ASOP uh article that came out and I see he's not there so I really cannot speak directly to him but I'm sure he's watching on
Zoom or whatever and he will hear this comment so I'm speaking first to Ariel then to Melissa Ariel you campaign on transparency meanwhile in the background you are guilty of be of breaking Florida statues
and being a proven liar. This is called corruption. This is what you brought to the city of Coral Gables. We, the residents, do not trust you. Plain and simple. This is not the first time I have called for your resignation. The
first time being in April at the commission meeting when you try when you wanted to fire city manager for your own personal reasons. Today, for the second time, I'm asking you resign now or run
the risk of being removed, which you should be removed if you don't resign because you brought on the corruption. Now, I'm speaking to Melissa, Commissioner Melissa.
Richard La won by a very healthy percentage in the April 8th election. His platform included moving elections to November as well as repealing the salary increases you gave yourselves without resident input. Commissioner
Lara won because people agreed with his platform. The will of the people has was to resend the salary increase. This was passed by this commission in the May special meeting. remaining was moving
remaining was moving um the elections to November which also passed by this commission in May. Why you found it necessary to align yourself with what is happening at the city of Miami shows that you've have got an
agenda. It is embarrassing. The May meeting held voting on these two items and the decision was made by majority and it reversed what the commission had passed without resident input in 2023.
Uh I'm sorry I did not uh greet the mayor, vice mayor, commissioners and glad to see city manager Peter Egles back in Corables. Congratulations, Mr. Glacius.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. That's it, Mr. Mayor. All right, then we will close uh the public comment. Moving on to the consent agenda. Before the vote adopting the consent agenda is taken, is there anyone who wishes additional discussion or review
of any item on the consent agenda? If not, may I have a motion, please? Um, I'll move it. Second. All in favor? I I Thank you. Moving on to item E1. Oh, excuse me. I apologize. Thank you
for reminding me, Mr. Manager. Item H1 and H2. See if we can hear those first. H1 is H1 is a resolution of the city commission accepting the recommendation of the chief procurement officer to award RFP 2025-00004
school zone speed detection system to Genoptics smart mobility solutions LLC the highest ranked responsive responsible proposer pursuant to Florida statutes section 2-763 of the procurement code entitled contract award.
Good morning, Celeste Walker Harmon, chief commment officer. We're moving this um recommendation forward for the purchase of um this item for the police department. Do you have any questions for us? Um I just have one one quick question. Well, two chief, every you're you're happy with this contract. You see
no issues. You're fine with it again at the end of the day. Yes, sir. I personally had had a presentation from all the people before they even applied for the RFP went out. uh they then and I removed myself from it. The process was
uh obviously done through procurement and this was the awarded contract. It was a very close competition. Uh but I am very comfortable with this provider and and help keeping our streets safe. I believe this will be the best uh negotiated deal for the city of Coral Gables.
One last question. You're fine. This is a local company or is this out of state? It's out of state. All of them were out of state. None of them have out of state. Okay. And do they have any experience here locally? I want to make sure. They do have experience in Florida as far as some of their um companies and the contracts that they do have for this particular service. So, yes. And you
know what question I'm going to ask you? I know. Do they have any litigation? I know you've already looked at I just I want to ask for the record. Yes, we we run all of our litigation through the city attorney's office and there's nothing that would prohibit them from moving forward in the process. So again, the reason why I asked that question always because not because I doubt the procurement process because at the end
of the day, I think it's critically important to make sure that we always have that on the record. always on the record because we want to uphold the highest standard, the highest bar and that's what the city cro gate was known for. Um, do my colleagues have any other questions? Anything else they like to add? Um, vice mayor, I just want to ask uh when is it planned to have them
operational? Well, as soon as once this is approved, we are actually going to start moving forward um after today. I haven't really entered in any talks with them about it, but I'm trying to get it done in the middle of the next school semester. uh
we will focus uh immediately on Coral Gables High School. And again uh I want to be very clear what this does is it frees up some of our motorcycle units to go out, excuse me, and deal with some of those other ancillary issues that we're going to have to deal with. We're still
going to have units there. This is a speed camera situation. It is not for stopping, blocking the box, things like that. So we're still going to have to enforce that. And as we this commission knows uh in the off season, excuse me, in the summer, we're working with Gables
High to worry about uh pedestrian crossings um aosas queuing up too soon and then dealing with the Italian village area uh to make sure that that things that the cameras can't help us with, we're going to have to be there. Um again, this company is
someone that's been in the business a long time. Um, and they have been at our first conversation before it went into the RFP and we went into the cone of silence. Uh, I need I explained to them at the rate we were going, we were going to have to go as quickly as we can. I don't know if we'll get done in August
with all the zones, but I do believe my target date is the middle of this school upcoming school fall semester to be around all of the public schools here. So, I I know this is not part of this issue, but while you're out there doing the enforcement, if we could get some feedback from the officers as to
additional recommendations, you know, do we need a no right-hand turn between certain hours or no lefthand turn between certain hours, things of that nature that u our illustrious traffic engineers can um address. U please bring
those suggestions back. Yes, we have we have been addressing the ones from the summer on the no left turns. Um, we've also worked we're going to be working with the school with Coral Gables High School to worry about the queuing and try and get that on campus. I know they switched the interior. Uh, but we'll be
working with the schoolboard police as well as the principal. They've been very open-minded about it. Uh, and then worrying about the students not obeying the the walk don't walk signs, which becomes another problem issue for us. Uh obviously our biggest um citation issued
around Gables High has been parents dropping off in the middle of the road and we had several years ago we had those signs installed. We're still going to have to work on that and Major Bobbleitz and the Specialized Enforcement Division is addressing that as well. Perfect. Thank you.
Anything else, Mr. Turk? Do we have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. I don't think public comment. I entertain a motion. I'll move it. Second, Mr. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes.
Mayor Lago, yes. Moving on to item H2. H2 is a resolution of the city commission accepting the recommendation of the chief procurement officer to approve a contract modification to increase the spending authority on the NASPO value point master contract agreement number 00318 public safety communication products services and
solutions in the estimated amount of 4,65,11319 pursuant to section 2-764B of the city's procurement code entitled change orders and contract modifications. Celeste Walker Harmon chief procurement officer. This was a contract that we um accessed some time ago on behalf of the
police department for them to buy equipment. So, this is a modification to increase the spending authority on the contract so that they can make purchases for um radios. So, perfect. Anything else? Chief, go to the order. Yes. I mean, the the $4 million is the total contract over seven years. Uh and
looking at the radio matrix with uh finance as well as budget and the fire department, the police department's responsible for all radio communications throughout the city. uh the current radios that we're using and we're talking just the portables is something that we will be repurposing through all the other departments throughout the
city. Uh so we will keep those and that radio shop will continue to do this. These numbers keep it within the matrix going forward uh in negotiating with the company to put it forward. This is pretty much the state-of-the-art radio. So really um some of the safety features
that it has are really insurmountable for officer safety issues but also awareness for deployments. Uh we've also factored in the fact that the this brand of radio is used by the fire department since we went along with it. There is no major infrastructure changes to our
radio system core as we call it and this will also be reimbured somewhat by the University of Miami as we responsible for them their radios were purchased through this. So, we will be reimbursed from the university for their costs into the radio matrix. And I believe it's
just something that makes us a safer, easier way. And it does um integrate with all of our other technologies, our CAD system, our RMS. This is really kind of state-of-the-art looking forward down for the next seven years. And the warranties all in are included for the
seven years life of the contract. Thank you, Mr. K. You have any public comment? Mr. Mayor, I have a raised tent on Zoom. I'm not sure that this is the item they want to speak on. However, uh gentleman's name is Roland Rodriguez. I'll ask him to unmute. Can you hear me? Yes, sir. Are you here
to speak about item H1 or H2? No, I am not. Um I'm here to speak on just public comment and I apologize. I wasn't I was having uh technical issues trying to get on. Can you do me a favor? Can you wait two minutes when we finish this and I'll and I'll make sure we hear you. Sir, we'll do. Give me one second.
Thank you. Um, so we have no we have no public comment in regards to item H2. No, sir. Close the public comment. Can I have a motion? A second before we have a second. All right. Any any any public comment? Any discussion? A public comment. Excuse me. Any discussion among the commission? Um,
just just a quick comment. I know there was an existing uh amount that we were spending and there was a delta city manager for you know I'd ask you to just fill in that piece of information. Yes. Uh, Vice Mayor, if I may, if I'm through the mayor, uh, this is part of our our
our communications matrix, and this is a a a radio that has much more capacity than our current Harris radios. Our current Harris radios will be passed down to public works and so forth. And uh, and also is is the same radio that the fire department is using with great
success. Okay. Well, thank you for bringing this to us. All right. So, we have a motion and a second. Mr. Clerk, Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. Thank you very much. Thank you. Before we move
to item E1, Mr. Clerk, would you like to hear the individual was waiting but for some reason was not able to get through? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Mr. Roland Rodriguez uh will appear on Zoom. If you could please state his name and address for the record. Sure. Good morning, everyone. Uh, my
name is Roland Rodriguez. My address is 3310 Alham Circle. And speaking in behalf of uh our neighborhood and um and in reference to Mr. Robert Ruano's comments in reference to the sidewalks. First of all, uh he
mentions uh he met with uh commissioners Castro and Fernandez and provided other other alternatives. I'd like to mention that neither one of these individuals is a professional engineer and I think it has been very clear through his the city
staff and standards applicable that uh these are safe decisions and safe options that were provided to to the public. He also showed a video. Unfortunately, there was an accident. Um but in the video there there actually was no curb. Uh so vehicle rode through
the grass and and thankfully no one was hurt. Um again this is a viable option. This has been embedded through the public works. As a as an engineer myself I can tell you that it is a safe option. Um, and we come to you as a as a
neighbor, a homeowner, and it it has gone up several times and it's just be continues to be delayed, which continues to be an actual safety issue and continuing to delay this this item. Um, again, I it we find ourselves speaking on an item that has been voted upon
several times, has been vetted, has been proven to be be shown safe, and Mr. Rana just continues to to limit limit on a uh the movement of forward of this item based on a personal agenda um that is actually not in the best interest of the
neighborhood but uh it's a personal agenda to himself. Um that's all. Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. Clerk. That's it, Mr. Mayor. All right. Perfect. I apologize about that. Item E1. Item E1 is an appeal to the Coral Gable City Commission from the decision of the
board of architects special master hearing held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, which affirmed the decision of the board of architects denying the proposed garage door installation for the property located at 69013 Street legally described as lot 16 and north half of lot 15 block 20 221
Corables Rivera section 13 according to the plat thereof as recorded in platbook 28 at page 3013 of the public records of Miami Day County, Florida. Um, Miss uh, mayor, if I may just give some background information. So, this is a quasi judicial item. Mayor and commissioners, 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 architect special master and shall not be a denovo hearing. What that means is that no new or additional testimony shall be taken. This is an appeal based only on the record. And as a reminder, your role in
considering this appeal is one, whether due process was afforded, two, whether the essential requirements of law were met, and three, whether the special master's decision was based on competent substantial evidence. The commission's role is to determine whether the zoning code was followed, and whether competent substantial evidence supported the decision of the special master. After
the commission's review, the city commission has four options as provided in the zoning code. The commission can affirm the decision of the special master. Um, the commission can affirm with conditions. The commission can override the decision of the special master or the commission can remand for further proceedings to the special
master. The mayor as chair of the city commission with me as parliamentarian has issued a procedural order that was provided in advance to the commission and the parties. Pursuant to that procedural order, the appellent will be allowed 15 minutes for presentation which shall be limited to the record before the special master. Next, the assistant city attorney as council for
the special master and the city architect will be allowed 15 minutes for presentations also limited to the record below. Next, there will be time for questions by members of the city commission to staff or the parties. And then public comment will be allowed, but we 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. Finally, there will be time for additional questions and discussion by members of the city commission. As a reminder, is a quasi judicial item, so any inadvertent exarty communication should be disclosed.
Sir, good morning. Good morning. Thank you for being here with us. Thank you for allowing me to speak in front of you today. Um, my name is Sergey Katonikov. My address is 6901 Triiono Street, Coral Gables. Um, and before before I begin, I just wanted to say this my first time in front of the commission and I really
enjoyed the uh the part that it started with where you uh um commended lots of good organizations and individuals serving the city and I really appreciate you doing that. It was very uplifting and and humbling. Uh now to the purpose of my uh of me being here today.
I'm going to start with the most important thing. The reason I'm here and the reason I'm taking your time and reason I'm taking my time for this meeting is because I purchased this property 10 years ago. Um I've since since then me and my wife have been investing heavily time, money, resources
in renovating this house, bit by bit, part by part to make it modern, to make it um safe to uh also bring a lot of sustainability features to this property. We're talking about filters, sensors, materials, insulation.
Everything goes into a modern house that has a lot of sustainability features. So, imagine that 10-year project and what you're looking at now is a tail end of that 10-year project, the last part. Uh, and that's why I'm here. Uh, it's not about a one little project, it's
about a 10-year project for me and my wife. Um so what I guess what what I would say next is uh specifically what is the project? The project is a garage. Garage is the last area of this house. The house was built in 1950s. The garage
area was never renovated. You can imagine what that looks like after 70 years. Um and requires serious serious uh renovation. Um the the part the project itself is very simple. It's very simple. It's two windows and a large, well, not large,
but a hurricane proof glass uh garage door. It's that simple. The board of architects denied my application for the glass garage door. Uh and the reasoning for that, according to the board, was that the um glass garage door does not
fit the character of the house. Simply put, so I want to make sure that the issue in front of you is very, very simple. I am not going to contend at this meeting that the glass garage door fits a 1950s Spanish style house. Of course, it there's some deviation from
the original design when you put a modern feature like that. So, you do not have to worry about deciding whether or not it fits. The only question in front of you is if there are justifications and other extenu extenuating circumstances that would permit an installment of a glass garage door in my
case and I believe there are strong reasons that there are such circumstances and that the board of architects was incorrect in making its decision. Uh I'm going to start with really two points that I'm going to bring to your attention and hopefully you will agree with me. First, uh, we've been here
today hearing a lot about sustainability and energy efficiency, and I really appreciate what the city is doing regarding this matter. It's very important, but sustainability doesn't just come at a city-wide scale. It also comes at the level of individual residents.
The reason, the big reason why me and my wife are requesting this glass garage door is because the garage is very, very dark and the most energy efficient way to make to bring light into it is not through artificial lighting, but through a glass garage door.
The other thing I wanted to make sure is clear to the commissioners is, and I believe uh city architect will confirm, there's nothing in the code that prohibits glass garage doors. They've been done before. They've been approved before. It's just a question of whether or not it fits the house. So going back to my point, sustainability is very
important to me and my wife and we would like to install this door as most energy efficient way to accomplish our goal in renovating the garage area. There are two houses uh next to me within 200 yards and they're in the record in the in the um letter of the
special meeting that have solar panels installed on the roof that are clearly visible from the outside. I fully support solar panels. I think we should do more of that on residential properties. But my point to you commissioners is that that's just another feature we in the city allow.
Even though it represents a minor deviation from the character of the house, we do allow it because we understand that solar panels is a good thing for the environment. It's a good thing for our city and for our priorities. Same thing here with the glass garage door. Yes, it is a minor
deviation from the appearance of the house, but it is a justified deviation. It's a deviation in good cause to save a lot of electricity and to promote energy efficiency in our city. So, if if the board of architects allows something as
simple as uh solar panels in nearby properties, I think it's inconsistent for them to disallow a glass garage door. In both cases, they're deviating and departing from the aesthetics of the house, but for good reason, and we should encourage that, not reject it. That's point number one. Point number
two, uh there's a property nearby uh at the 6910 um Leonardo Street. Uh and as you as you may know, the the area is right next to um Sunset School. It's the the entire community was built around 1950s. Very
similar style houses, Spanish style houses. U this particular property uh is built right in the middle of that neighborhood. It's it's a large um angular modern design house. It clearly doesn't fit within the community. Now, I don't object to the house itself. Each
resident is entitled to their their choices. But I think what is indisputable is that the board of architects did approve a property right in the middle of other location, other uh houses that just does not fit the character of the neighborhood at all. it
doesn't fit. Uh when I asked uh Mr. Resco, the city architect about this, he said, I'm going to quote from the from the um script. He said, "It's something the board experiments with on a weekly basis. They do allow architects to come
with modern language with different ideas with transitional elements. So the board of architects does experiment. It does allow from time to time modern elements that don't fit within the character of the neighborhood. I don't understand why one resident when
when they come to the board of architects receives this uh authority to experiment and another architect does not. I think in our city the design review standards should apply to everybody the same. I'm the resident who's been there for 10 years. I deserve
the same treatment as that other resident who was there I don't know for how many years. It's it's really that simple. I again I'm not complaining about that resident's uh choice of architecture. I just want to receive the same treatment. Lastly, I want to uh uh mention and
preview for you because I know Mr. Resco is going to be here in a minute uh presenting his arguments and it might as well I think it will speed up the process if I address them in advance. Uh he is one of his arguments was well look this is a garage. You really need to you know worry about the garage. It's, you
know, and you you have two windows, you know, why aren't two windows enough for you? Do you really need garage that will lit? In in my view, um that is not a relevant point to consider when a resident comes for an improvement of the property. We all deserve to to live in
comfortable, safe, well-lit spaces. And to say that, okay, this much light is enough for you and this much is too much. I think it's it's it's not a consideration that the board should in fairness uh um take into equation when making these determinations.
Uh his other argument was uh and this is the one concession that the board was willing to give me is why don't we put um one panel at the top of the garage area that goes horizontal that will be made of glass. Everything else everything else would be made of
regular, you know, regular material. um which I guess the board allowed in the past. My response to that is same as to the arguments regarding the windows. One panel is great, but three panels is what really the space needs because it's
really really dark. And all I'm trying to do is to bring this garage area to the same standard of comfort and and uh illumination as the rest of the house. And so I think while I appreciate Mr. Resco concession and in and his collaborative spirit in this process. I
think that's just not enough. Um so for that for that for those reasons I I request that you approve my proposal or reverse the decision of the board and um I welcome your questions. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Mr. City Architect, city attorney, please join us. Thank you for being here. Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners, Assistant City Attorney Gus Biles. Joining me here is Juan Riesco, the city architect. I'm going to go ahead and let him present the uh city's case and give
you a procedural history of how we got to today. Uh good morning everyone. Juan Riesco, city architect. Um this appeal is for the replacement of an existing garage door and the addition of two windows in
the garage space. The project was uh applied for on July 12th, 2024. It's located at 6901 Triional Street. It's BLDR24075826. Um the application was reviewed initially by staff and was disapproved
and the comments provided to the applicant were that the proposed garage door with all glass is not appropriate for the neighborhood or the style of the existing residence. Staff also recommended using glass along the top portion of the door to provide
the daylighting in the garage space that the applicant is requesting. The applicant did not agree with that disposition. Uh we had discussions and the applicant requested reconsideration at the board level. The
applicant submitted and was reviewed on August 8th by a two panel of architects and they actually approved the application with the condition of providing glass only along the top of the door again to provide the applicant
with his request for natural daylight. Uh the applicant did not agree with that disposition from the board level and requested an appeal. Uh the appeal was applied for August 16th. We had a conflict resolution meeting on August
28th with the applicant, city attorney, and myself to try to discuss solutions for the project. Um, and what I discovered at that conflict resolution meeting was the fact that the application was approved as noted could
not proceed in an appeal process because the project has to be rejected in order to be appealed. So, we explained that to the applicant. We gave him the information. um he went away for a couple of months, came back
on December 10th, 2024 and resubmitted the application, but submitted it for staff review instead of BOA review. So again, the recommendation was made, hey, you need to go back to BOA to get their formal disposition from them since they're the ones that approved the project previously. And the applicant
was looking for a rejection so he could appeal the process. uh the applicant submitted again in February and the same process and then they finally submitted correctly for BOA review on April 3rd.
The uh application was disapproved or actually was rejected by the board at this time in accordance with the applicant's desires so he could proceed with the appeal process. the uh
the process continue now at the uh appeal level and we had the special master meeting on April 29th and the special master uh rejected the appeal again based on the facts that were presented.
Um and so from our perspective at at city level and in summary we've had reviews by staff had reviews by myself city architect had reviews by the BOA two panels two different panels actually reviewed the project uh and also
reviewed by a special master and and the consistency of the dispositions have all been the same afford the applicant the ability to have the garage door with the glass along the top portion of the for so he could meet his criteria for daylight even though he's got windows
that are also offering daylight into the space and and so we uh we're here to answer any questions that you may have regarding the application or the procedure may
Yes sir. So, I believe the city attorney already kind of addressed this issue, but our position and really the posture of the commission is before is very finite, meaning you can't put yourselves in the shoes of the board of architects whether you think it's an appropriate design, whether you think it adds to the
value to the property or whether it's in context with the neighborhood. That's really not before you today. Um so at the end of the day reviewing the record we believe the city that the special masters decision was grounded in competent substantial evidence contained in the official
record. Nothing that was described today refutes that the essential requirements of the law were followed. The special master's hearings followed all the proper procedures. There was a forwarded due process to all the parties involved and the correct law was applied throughout
the proceedings and the decision was neither arbitrary nor capricious but rather a reasoned determination consistent with the evidence and the applicable standards. The appellant mentioned extinguating circumstances, energy efficient, sustainability, solar panels.
The city 100% supports all of these initiatives, but everything goes to the board of architects a case-byase basis. In some situations, it meets the criteria. Some situations that it is not, but as you heard from the city architect, at multiple levels, this has been reviewed
and at no point did anybody think this was inappropriate for the house, for the neighborhood, for the context. There was also mention of 6910 Menardo and a previous approvals. Once again, that just goes back to the same the same point. The board reviews everything on a
case-by case basis. Just because something is approved next door or a block away or a mile away does not in any way create a precedent that the board of architects must follow. But for those reasons, we believe that the uh decision of the board of architects should be affirmed. But if you have any questions for staff or myself, please
let me know. Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. Um, now I'd like to open it up to any questions by the members of the city commission through the mayor. Yes, ma'am. the the the the homeowner said that there was other glass doors that were approved.
We have approved glass doors on other houses that are more modern or contemporary in style. This is a 1950s ranch and quite honestly a full glass door on that particular style of home is not appropriate. And this is again
consistent with the board of architects, myself, staff, special master. That's our contention. It's not that we're not allowing the glass door. It's just that we don't feel that in this particular case. And again, as discussed by the city attorney, the case by case basis is
what we do. We we we zero in on his particular home and also his neighborhood to see how that the character of that neighborhood affects the house or vice versa. and and it's our determination that this is not in compliance with the existing style. So my second question probably you probably
just answered it now but what was the criteria um evaluated for you to say that it wasn't appropriate? Uh the the applicant submitted photographs of the existing house so we could evaluate the design and the style of the home. The applicant submitted the NOAS, the
product approvals for the actual product that he wished to install and and based on a review of those two items really they dictate the the decision-m process for us. Uh the the glass door is a very modern high-end looking industrial door
with very small frames, a lot of glass area and that's not complimentary to that again particular style of home from the 1950s. It's a whole different look and so we didn't feel it was appropriate. But there are garage doors that have panels that also have glass
inserts that we've deemed were applicable in this particular case, but of course the applicant did not think those were um to his liking, I guess. Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. Mr. City, any other any other
questions or statements? A few questions. Now I I understand I cannot put myself in the shoes of the board of architects or the special master um and that other designs were considered but procedurally
um if this was sent back to the special master and I know that during the special master process other designs can be put put forward maybe with a beefier frame or more matte finish, more opaque glass. Uh procedurally would this
assist the homeowner more? Would it be faster? I'll let city attorney advise on procedural issues. I I I don't think it's a procedural question. Could the board remand it to the special master? They could. They could, but but it rather than starting over, would it be
more efficient and less costly and faster for this homeowner to go back to the special master and try to compromise? I I think that's a question. It sounds like it's a question for the city architect and the property owner to see if there's something that that there's
they're willing to I guess to respond to your question, our position is steadfast. Uh this door is not something that we feel is consistent with that style. But that's not my question. Okay. What is your question? If the resident is willing to modify the
door design, whatever it is, beefier frames, uh different color frame, um more matte glass etc. Is there would it be beneficial for the resident assuming of course he's willing to to do
that process? Yeah. And again in my opinion I I was under the understanding that the special master meeting is the decisive meeting and and the response there is so this commission can remand it back to
the special master with certain so if it did go back to the special master my recommendation from this point moving forward is that he would have to change the door type. Okay. I don't I don't think there's anything available in what I saw in the NOA that is amanable
towards something that would look more consistent with the house. It's it's just a very modern high-end product that No, no, I I understand now that for the res is is that something you're willing to do? I I would love to if if the um if the board of architects would give me
that opportunity. I'm open to what whatever works as far as so long as it's a glass garage door, whatever design the the board would be comfortable with. I'm I'm madam madam vice mayor if I may. I just want to add one point. Um my understanding and correct me if I'm wrong please. What you you said here was
this the applicant was afforded multiple opportunities to tweak his design and it wasn't that glass was not allowed on the garage door. It was just that a full garage door made out of glass was not allowed. And I have to be honest
with you, I also stand with that. I think it I think it would change the act the overall look of that home. And I don't think that in my opinion it would it would fit in to the neighborhood. I think that there can still be glass in a garage door that can be provided. I
think a design can can actually be, you know, put together that is complemented that still provides the illumination that you want. uh in regards to to the glass door to the room. Um I h my house has solar. I know the vice mayor has
solar. Uh we but we also had to abide we also had to abide by certain criteria. And I'll give you another example. Uh the wall in my the wall in my backyard because I live in a corner. I tried to make it out of picket. Um I went to see uh Ramon Trius who was
the then zoning director uh and he told me commissioner you're not allowed to do that. The code doesn't allow that because it requires since you have a swimming pool and you're on a corner that you have to have a solid concrete wall. The difference was close to $30,000 additional.
So, I had to buy by the code. If I would have gone by pick it, it would have saved me a ton of money by the way and I planted a hedge in front of it. So, it's not as if you could really see it anyways at the end of the day. Um what I'm asking you is if we can remand it back and have you work with maybe it not
be completely solid but maybe we can come to an agreement where 50% 40% of it can be glass provide you with the necessary u light that you need uh that you're that you're interested in achieving and we can maybe meet in the middle uh because I think that's saying
the entire glass you're not going to get my support on that and I was you know I want to be very candy with you on that front and I can't I I I don't want to water down the code on that front because then you know we'll we'll start slowly slipping away uh in what makes a city in my opinion special. We have
standards here that set us apart from every other community. May May I address that comment? Yes sir. Um so two things. Um I'm I'm open to further conversations with the board on the design but from what I understand from the city architect is that he is not he is saying
look beyond the top panel. That's it. I'm not I don't know if I'm misunderstanding your position. That's been the disposition from day one that that the top panel is acceptable in glass. It gives daylight to the room that he's requesting. Yet, it doesn't
appear to be a full glass door. There's panels. It would be like maybe a 20 20% to 80% ratio of solid to glass. Madam vice mayor, you had anything else before I turn over to Commissioner Lada? I wish I had the option to go to glass
when I put in my garage door. It wasn't even available then. So, I understand the need for the light in a garage, especially when you have a hurricane and you have no power. Um, the minimal lights, it's the amount of stuff we have stored in a garage. The effort here to
send it back to the special master is to give you the opportunity to save time and money. Okay? You're going to have to compromise. And the best thing about compromise is both parties don't necessarily walk out happy, but it saves
you time and it saves you money. Right. I'm I'm open to compromise. Yes. It's just that I I I thought there was no nothing further. So, Madam Mr. City Attorney, so our only point is I don't I don't I'll be honest. It seems like he wants
to go back to the board because he's going to redesign this if the new proposal it will be a new proposal. I would recommend that the city commission, our opinion would be that the city commission should affirm the decision and let him reapply to the board of architects. He'd get another opportunity to submit a new design and
he go back to the board of architects. I believe if we're concerned is wasting time and money, I think going back to the special master would be that because it we I still have not heard anything that meets the criteria of this appeal. Can I address if I may just give one second?
Um, if we affirm and he goes back to the board of architecture, is there a cost associated with with starting the process over again? We have the ability to wave that if you if that's I I would I would I would I would ask for that. I would ask for that
if possible. We have our process and our procedures in place, but if there's an exception that you want to grant. But before we discuss before we disc I want out of respect for Commissioner LA, he wanted to say a few words. Yeah. I'll thank you both parties for um stating your positions. We we sit here in this
body in um an incredibly limited role limited role, right? This is denovo. No, this is not denovo, although sometimes it looks like it becomes denovo in in the conversation as it unfolds. And my preference, but I haven't made a
decision yet, but my preference would be to um short circuit save time and money by not bypassing uh remand to the master because we were there. But we need a basis to go back um if we're going to remand to the
master and if we're going to stick to a purely procedural review limited to the record. The only thing I can think of to to perhaps put a hook in here is that um the city architect uh said that um you know the
the position below was uh one panel of glass across the top was permissible. Three panels was what the applicant requested. Um, is there um something that I can be referred to that
the architect and the master ultimately relied upon? Um, that one panel is enough, one inch more than one panel would be too much that you put a very bright line
on only the top. Because what I'm wondering is whether that could be considered to be arbitrary to say I'm okay with one panel but no more because what what if it was one panel and a half? What if it was what if it was two panels? So with the lack of and I'm not
saying that there isn't but for me the record doesn't show clearly why one panel was the demarcation line. Therefore we may be entering into the world of arbitrary which would be a basis for me to consider taking it back to the master. Okay. Can I respond to
that, please? So, so the way you got to think about it is a garage door is normally 7 to 8 foot tall. It's divided in panels, horizontal panels, because it it's a rollup door, so it has to be sectional. So, the concept here is that the first three panels are solid and the
fourth panel is glass. So, 25% of the door is allowing you to have daylight. Now, you also need to understand something beyond what we've been discussing which hasn't been addressed. A garage is a garage is a garage. Okay? It is a place
where you store a car. Typically, it is not a usable space. It is not a functional space. It is not a space that's typically aironditioned. Normally, again, according to our code, that is the definition of what a garage is. It's a place where you put a car.
So, the concept and the discussion about daylighting, I get it. I I've been in many garages that are solid. You have to turn on a light to be able to work in there to do stuff to to move around. This particular permit is allowing the applicant to have 25% glazing on the
front garage door, which I think is a west exposure, if I remember correctly. So, in late afternoons, the sun is going to be hitting that door and creating a heat gain. And normally, again, 90% of the garages are not air conditioned in this
community. Some new constructions and big houses that have high-end vehicles do air condition, but normally it's not a typical scenario. The applicant has also requested windows on the north side of the house, which is great daylight
because it's even distribution of light. You never get the glaring sun hitting your glass. So from from from that perspective, the recommendation from our level to him has been if you're looking for daylight, put them on the north side of the house. That's the most consistent light and that'll solve your issue with
daylighting. Um and so those those things have been discussed. This has been vetted. This has been going on for almost a year now. I've met with the applicant on multiple occasions. We've had discussions and I've
given him our opinion as number one as city arctic and also the opinion of the boards now the opinion of the special masters and I think we're all in agreement that and then the last thing I want to say is again going back to that the point about the garage you know you're storing a car and what do what do
most people do most people use their garage to store other things besides a car and the car sits outside and the garage becomes a storage facility. So the concept of putting a glass door on a garage is almost counterintuitive from
an architectural perspective unless again there's a different scenario going on in that garage. So those are all the justifications and and issues that we address when we review things and and and that's kind of the the position that
we have. I don't mind meeting with the applicant again. We've met multiple times. We've spent a lot of the city's resources on this on multiple levels, not just mine. And and again, if if the will of the commission is for me to meet with him and try to resolve it again and
come up with a different door, I'd be happy to introduce different products to him that I feel are more conducive to the style that maybe have a little bit more glazing. But again, that's not something we want to perpetuate. It's not something that this city wants to
move in that direction where we want to have glass doors on our garages because nine times out of 10 you're not going to want to see what's in the garage. So, if I may, what I recommend the commission do is they affirm
and they request that the applicant meet with the city architect, wave the fee for the gentleman to reapply so that we can find some common ground to address his concern, maybe find a different application. I think that's
the best thing uh moving forward. Madam Vice Mayor, I'll move that. May I make one more one more comment? Let me give me one one second. We have a motion. Do we have a second? We don't have a second. Okay. The motion
dies. Um here I'll I'll make the I'll make the second for discussion purposes. Madam vice mayor, you're running the you're running the this item. So are you you're seconding the motion? So you can second as chair. Okay.
Um, so I think we I think we we have to we have to come to a decision here. We got to come to a decision here because at the end of the day, um, I think that this is a very slippery slope. Um, no, it's not. I I disagree, mayor. I'm sorry. I think it's a very slippery slope, my
opinion. Um, I think that we have to be very thoughtful, be very careful uh, in the process. Um, and I think that uh this is a very this is a an option that allows the gentleman to go back to staff, sit down, there's no cost. We're waving the fees. I think that's that's a
good gesture. Uh, and I think that we can we can find common ground. Um, I think that if we start seeing a proliferation of garage doors 100% glass, uh, you're going to see potentially a lot of things that are not within the code. What is that? You see it sometimes when you drive through the
gables. person has their garage door open. It's habitable space. You didn't want to say it. I said it. Um and again, there's a lot of things that are happening again that are done outside the code. So, um we have I think we have to be very very careful uh when we when
we allow these type of uses because again what's next? You start seeing well if you allow that then why don't you allow this. So I think that we have to I think our standards in the city is what has made the city again the benchmark throughout South Florida, not the state
of Florida. Commissioner the mayor um city attorney, should this be decided as a remand to the special master, it remains non-presidential. Am I right? The decision reached ultimately by the
special master. Should it be different? Correct. each each case, each board of architects application, each project is reviewed on a case-by case basis in accordance with the design criteria and the standards. Right. and and and in talking it through on the on the motion
that we're discussing right now, I don't want to speak or go across purposes against what we're all doing here because I I think I can sense from the from the will of the commission is that everybody wants to see if there is a um
you know a Goldilocks solution to this, right? Um it doesn't sound to me like the parties when they were running through the process were yielding to perhaps a compromise. Um and
we want to save time, money, and effort. And so whether it's a remand to the master or an affirmation and putting it through the process all over again, but with a waiver of the cost to help alleviate um you know the
obstacles associated with such a thing. I'm I'm I'm kind of like uh on the 50 yard line there because either one of those two may work for me. But I'm glad that you answered the question, you know, because one of the concerns the mayor raised is like are we heading down a slippery slope or are we setting
precedent? But my understanding and to reiterate your answer is that we we do not set precedent by sending this back on a remand to the master anymore than if we affirm and then the process
starts again. Am I right? Right. Through the mayor. Yes, ma'am. I don't know if maybe cable TV can go ahead and put on the screen the picture where it shows the glass door and and I was wondering is there an option that you were shopping for glass doors for it to
be matte for it to be Oh, it's not transparent. It's not but it's shiny and it looks like a big overgrown glass door. The the problem is um it's it's it's a you have to take the image from the website, right? And when you apply it, it doesn't come across. It's not
supposed to be shiny. It's not going to be shiny. It's matte. It's very non-transparent and in color will match the color of the house almost you know uh identically. It's impossible to show that in an image because they don't provide you the kind of the the precise
image that you actually will see on the street. So what I'm sorry what I would be comfortable with is I would move to this back remand this back to the special master. I think that we can
probably come up with a better solution. I hope so. Yeah. So, uh through the mayor. Yes. Um we recently amended the special master procedure and there's a threshold at which it has to go back to the border
architects based upon uh the assessment of our city architect and how much the um sorry if it's mater if it's materially different. And uh one other point I
wanted to add in the record is when you put the lights on at night, you know, for any type of garage that has a glass door, and I've seen them, you see the the images of what's in
there, opaque or not, you still see the images, the silhouettes, silhouettes of what's in there. the bicycles, the tools, everything else. Even with the with the opaque glass or or the uh the frosted glass, even with frosted brass,
bronze glass, uh because I've seen them and but I've seen them usually on the side of a home, not the front of a home. So, there's a distinction there with a difference. So going back to the special master procedure and I'm going to ask city
architect to um apprise uh the other commission members that weren't as um involved and weren't on this dis at the time. What would be the criteria that you would use to determine whether or not
a a new drawing, a new proposal coming for special master would have to be sent back to the board of architects. Anyway, the the criteria would be that he would go back and select an alternate product
that I I think the question is the the code provides um that if the design of a project should change substantially as determined by the city architect during the conflict resolution or special master hearing process, the board of architects shall be required to review the changes to the design. So, I think her question is at what point is it a
substantially different design? Again, that would be up to the applicant to see what he's resubmitting. I I can't make that judgment until I see what the proposition is. In my opinion, today in today's meeting, based on the historical evidence of this project from a year
ago, my recommendation holds firm. It's the top panel of the four panel door. If you if you do the the bottom panel, then you're at 50%. And and I think that's excessive for the composition, and I think it's going to look aesthetically
awkward to have half glass and half solid. I don't think that's a a viable proportion in terms of aesthetics only. My my opinion. What was your what was your opinion on the appropriate type of door? Because I think we're getting a little confused and now that we're
getting into the weeds. Okay. So, the appropriate door in my my position is a solid panel door matches this particular ranch style home. So, the glass on the top is the compromise by the woodwork. That's already the compromise. It's already been given. And that's like I stated a
year ago, our first review by staff allowed that position. We said, "Hey, we understand that you don't want to put a solid door and and it's okay to use the top portion of the door as glazing to give you natural daylight to afford the
applicant what he wants." Now, that's not enough. It's not sufficient. It's not a high enough percentage. that criteria we don't we don't delve into because again we're we're basing that position on the distribution and
the sizes of the panels and the proportions of the door. There's there's a proportion issue here that that's typically and historically is the top panel across the garage doors are glazed. That's it. Once you go 50% it
looks awkward. Once you do 75% it looks worse. Once you do a full glaze, it's not appropriate for this style. It may be appropriate for a modern house, highly modern, high-end, white box vocabulary. Absolutely, you can do this all day long, but on this
particular style of home, I think contextually it's it's going to stand out. Thank you. Through the mayor, if I may, uh, we have a motion and a second on the floor. I don't think we have a second. I second. Oh,
okay. Then there was another motion. All right. You have to hear the motion that's in place already. Um, so you like to would you like to close out the conversation so we can hear the motion? Yes. So if you do 50% and I'm trying to like imagine here, you do 50%. Would it
not look almost like a window instead? Let's say we um leave that up there. Yeah. But it's not a window. It's a garage door. A garage door is a garage door. And a window is a window. We don't want windows to emulate garage doors. That's not what we do architecturally in general or in this
particular city. We're very true to the dynamics of the style of the home and the components that go to that home. And and this city is very strong and strict on materials, on types, on manufacturers and things of that nature. And so we have our protocols and our standards.
And we try to reinforce that as much as possible and not deviate from that. We're always looking at new products. Okay, we're always vetting things that come online to see what the applicability is, the appropriateness is. And sometimes, like I said earlier
in one of the the statements that he quoted me experimenting, the board has the ability to allow things to come into play that may or may not have been approved previously, but now they're in front of ours and we we're okay with trying new materials. There's nothing
wrong with that, but it's a trial and error. And in cases that wins, in some cases it becomes something that's derogatory and I 100% approve and respect your judgment. Right. But um I'm trying to reach a healthy medium. I'm trying to see if there's any
compromising here. We send it back to the special master. Do you think do you think that there would be? I mean I don't know. I'm not the special master. It's hard for me to answer for somebody else. So I'm not in that position. If you ask me I'll give you my opinion. So if I may I can't answer. I think the I
think the compromise is where we affirm and we swing it back to the city without any cost to the applicant to find a solution because idea I don't think anybody here is willing to approve a full panel a full panel uh garage door
and I don't want to go against a city architect on 50%. So I think that reaffirming sends a message that we agree. We agree with the board of architect. We agree also special magistrate that a full panel is not acceptable at least for this product for
this design. And we're giving the applicant, you know, all the opportunity at no cost to have this heard again and to find a compromise. And thank you, Mr. Mayor. And
I'll I'll I'll give you my thoughts as I started with the original question, right? We're we're we're not setting denovo, you know, so we're incredibly restrained um if we do our jobs in this capacity to what the record is. So I'm
trying to also um echo the sentiments that we've heard. everyone on this dis seems to want to find a way as does uh the city um to be compliant with what the applicant wants and what uh our code which is strict for
a reason um mandates. And I applaud the city for reaching a compromise offer by having at least one panel. Um but I also applaud the applicant today saying uh that you would
be willing uh to reconsider more consideration more more discussion more exploration of opportunities to try and come to a compromise that maybe wasn't the case uh during the proceedings below. So that being said and after having heard all the conversation and
discussion today, um I am more now in the camp of um supporting the motion to uh affirm with the condition uh that there will be a speedy uh review of the uh new application if uh provided with a
waiver of the of the costs typically associated since it's already been paid. U this is sort of like a quas um re-review but it is would be technically an affirmation of of the uh the decision below. So that that that's my view Mr. Mayor. So Mr. Friendly amendment is
accepted for sure. Always good. I'm I'm good. All right. Uh Mr. Clerk, we have a motion. Oh, excuse me. Before I do that, I we pause. We have public comment. Any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. Please close the public comment. Uh we have a motion and a second. Please call the role.
Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. Thank you very much. I look forward to your meeting with the applicant as soon as possible. Please. And by the way, thank you for your staff. Thank you for respecting the
city, the standards, and always finding a way to help the residents. Thank you so much. Item G1, which is time certain for 11:00 a.m. I apologize. Sorry about that. No, no, you can keep it. It's fine. I had it, but I just uh didn't bring it with me.
G1 is a resolution of the city commission approving intervals, a coral gables based art series as part of Miami Art Week and for an application to Art Basle for an official event, further approving funding up to $110,000 from the art fund toward the program and marketing materials and authorizing an amendment to the fiscal year 2024 to
2025 operating budget to recognize a transfer of funds from the Art and Public Places Reserve and to appropriate such funds to put towards the cost of the project. Good morning. Morning, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. Katherine Cather, arts and culture coordinator for the
city. We do have a presentation if it can be brought up. So, the cultural development board is making a recommendation for the commission to approve developing the project intervals for the city's annual Miami Art Week project and application art basa as an official event, although
this will um continue on beyond that. So the uh um cultural development board through the arts advisory panel historically recommends city participation Miami art art week and more specifically in affiliation with art fossil Miami Beach who has
recognized the city program since 2016. Uh it is also the time of year that we do promotion of the city through its art and public places program and regional and national publications. So, uh, Intervals features five established artists presenting
installations in five public places. On May 7th, 2025, the arts advisory panel discussed various options for the city's annual program. and panel member Adler Gerier who is also here today to speak on on behalf of the board's presenter
proposal to develop a program similar to one that is on my beach titled no vacancy and is also um a program that is presented throughout the country in different programs um different cities and municipalities and to call ours
intervals. So on May 29th, the cultural development board uh discussed the panel's recommendation and voted unanimously to recommend it to the city commission. Funding for the project is being re uh requested and recommended for it and related expenses and marketing through the art fund which is
funded through private development projects. So this is just some basic u concepts to go along with it. Uh the places would be sight responsive installations. they would all be open and publicly accessible. Um, programmed
in partnership with hotels and potentially other public spaces and in partnership with the galleries represented at Art Basel Miami Beach. And this is something that we would have open to professional artists only. So, here are a couple of examples of
installations that were part of the no vacancy project on Miami Beach last year, just to give you a little quick peek at the range of artwork that may be presented. And it could certainly be something more more conventional as we'll see towards the end. Um, in this case, the slide on the left is a piece
by Julia Zerilla who presented a multimedia installation of multi-channel videos and photographs that were hung on the walls of the restaurant lobby in the Avalon Hotel. The configuration of the videos resembled Morse code, adding an additional layer to the installation and
encompassed all the walls of the restaurant, including the reception area of the hotel. On the right is a piece by artist Philip um Le who presented an interactive installation using a specialized tape on the floor of the Royal Palms Hotel lobby and the design
references wayfinding maps and is meant to reconsider an overlooked architectural element of flooring. So you can see it can be something you know um more installations with objects and paintings or or something that's really thinking outside of the box. So these
are some of the potential locations that we would consider the plaza built more hotel colonade hyatt regency aloft courtyard by Marriott and some of the public spaces perhaps the branch library city hall or the adult activity center I
would like to say that the plaza we've already spoken to them and they are definitely on board and very um excited about the possibilities of this uh here's a map that just shows the configuration of the different sites in relationship to each other as part of
the programming. We would also um try to schedule a couple trolley tours. It is walkable, but it's it's a little bit of a You're really a great walker. So, this is um uh an indooroutdoor
gallery that already exists at the plaza and this is a space that they have agreed to let us use. We could also potentially reach out to to the loan And then um a list of the potential partner galleries. So these are galleries that uh were working with Art
Basel Miami Beach last year. David Castillo, Central Fine, Pier Chaguri, Project Snitzer Gallery and Spanella Projects. And again, we've reached out at least to David Castillo so far who is also very supportive of this and has
offered his um support. And finally, a um um sample of what our Art Basle VIP event proposal may look like. It's basically um just again reiterating the project overall and the plaza has also
agreed to host this annual event. So we have um Adler Gary here to speak on behalf of the boards and to answer any questions. So the discussions we had um on the advisory panel had to do with offering
programming that is more local centric um by the participant either by artists galleries and also geographically in corables versus um the rest of Miami um in a program that also lasts more than a
week that outlasts the week of Art Basel. So this was the program it's um it will hit um many fine points. Um this first year we'll aim participation with the galleries to help us find the artists.
Next year we can open it up as an open call, but um yeah, it's that's pretty much it. Thank you very much. Uh Mr. Clerk, do you have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. I close the public comment. Uh if I may, uh first off, I I love this idea.
I think it's an opportunity that will bring many people to the community. It will draw people here, art lovers, not only during our basel, but it will be hopefully a destination where people then can interact with our incredible public sculptures uh at our museum, maybe visit books and books, maybe go
catch a movie or maybe go to the theater, the cinema, make it a cultural experience. Uh and I think that this is a going to be a driver that when you look at the benefits for the business community, the restaurants, I think it's going to uh you'll probably you'll see an uptick for sure in parking revenue.
Uh, and I think it's an opportunity to to really showcase that the city again is leading uh, in regards to the arts. Leading in regards to the arts. So, I'm I'm in favor. I think this is great. Yes, sir. So, thank you very much for this um, great presentation. And you know, I've been speaking recently to
business owners, small business owners here in Coral Gables, uh, and in particular restaurant owners who, um, tell me that it's more and more difficult for them to keep profitable because they want to drive more foot
traffic. They want more than just a Friday night or a Saturday night. They want to um find a magnet, a you know, a lightning rod to bring people who typ who who typically wouldn't maybe come to Coral Gables to to see our city. I I
went for the very first time I'm almost embarrassed to say, you know, to our Basel, you know, last year and I was blown away, you know. So if we're not a part of that, you know, if we're not in that mix, we're leaving behind tremendous opportunity to showcase our city, to showc to to promote the arts,
and as the mayor said, to drive economic activity, which we we all would benefit from, you know, and agreed there should be increase in parking revenue. I'd like to see a lot more people getting to know the amazing opportunities to dine and to
shop and to and to and to play in in Coral Gable. So, I'm I'm a big supporter and I think that what you have here is a wonderful opportunity for us. Madam Vice Mayor, so through the mayor, um I'm also in support and I'm going to add to the comments already made that some of the
decisions that businesses make on whether to come to Coral Gables is from the input of their employees and they weigh in heavily based upon the amenities that we have here and having the art and having the culture and having the restaurant mix that we have uh and the all the other amenities that
we have as well. the trolley service and the amazing employees. I could go on and on and on. Absolutely. In support of this. So, um there's no I'll move it. We need we need to move something. Yeah. Have you moved it? Anybody else? Second. Okay. If I just wanted to add one last
thing also just for the record. Uh this is not coming out of taxpayer revenue. Correct. This is coming correct. It is not coming out of private development fees. Private development fees. I think it's important because you know you have people who are you know super passionate about the arts and certain people say
why are we spending money on art we could we need infrastructure this money has to be used for art in public places and this is a great opportunity um so I want to congratulate you all on on this effort thank you Adler and thank you to your team Mr. Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and a second.
Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. And by the way, you have world, just so you understand, you have worldclass galleries that are involved. These are galleries that not only in the city of Miami. These are galleries that are all over the world
from New York art fairs to Paris art fair to Art Baso in Baso Switzerland to Sona Makco uh to Freeze Art in London. These are galleries that we're blessed to have in our backyard but again at the end of the day are also you know have serious international reach. So they'll
be able to highlight whatever artist has chosen and really push out with their own with their own social media with own their own emails to say, "Hey, go visit Coral Gables. Go visit Coral Gables." So you're talking about some serious galleries. Amazing. Amazing galleries. Exactly. Thank you. Thank you. No, at
all. Thank you for your hard work. We have a Don't leave yet. Item G2. Yes. G2 is a resolution of the city commission approving fiscal year 2025 to 2026 cultural grant recipients and setting in place a funding mechanism contingent on the city's approved budget.
Good morning. So one of the responsibilities of the cultural development board is to recommend to the city commission the annual allocation of cultural grant funding. I would like to thank our members of the cultural development board who have the role of reviewing and scoring each application. Board member
Eric Cliss is here today to speak on behalf of the board. Eric, if you want to come up while I go through the presentation, we'll still have the presentation up. I will we'll do that. Um, I'd also like to thank our cultural partners, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the Arts and Business
Council who provide important professional development opportunities and support to our grantees throughout the year. So last year the city commission had adopted amendments to the cultural grant and included a process to encourage greater participation in the program.
These amendments include bonus points for the following scenarios. They had points for organizations whose principal address is in Coral Gables for applicants who include programming of free events and organization organizations whose operating budget is
$50,000 or less. On March 11th, the city commission approved updates to the grant guidelines and process and included the addition of the youth arts program category, which you heard from one of our our grant applicants earlier today on. Thank you. Um, and that program has
dedicated funding of $50,000 to maintain and to maintain the previous year's funding of 228 228 for core organizations and cultural programs. On May 29th, the Cultural Development Board reviewed and scored 52
applications for the allocation of Coral Gable's cultural grant funding. That is seven more than last year and an 11% increase in recommended organizations. This includes the application required by Coral Gables Museum which is funded separately. So proposed funding of the
51 applicants and their scores plus the museum have been included as exhibit A in the proposed resolution. The board is recommending funding for these organizations which represent a diverse range of the arts including music, theater, film, dance, opera, literary
arts, performance, poetry, gardens, and museums. So, we have a few slides showing the range of cultural programs happening throughout the city. I just think it's nice for you all to have an opportunity to um actually have some visuals of of
what's going on around the city. And these are all from the within the last year. So here we see some art making um uh music, dance, theater, concerts, a gallery opening, art cinema, book
readings, more music, more art, children's programming, a coral concert and garden tour. These are just a few all from within the last year. And this is from maybe I don't know maybe 10% of the applicants that we had.
And finally a summary demonstrating the impact of the cultural grant program and benefits Coral Gable's residents and visitors. So here you see that the number of events that are possible that are happening um over 1300 of course all of these are happening in Coral Gables.
43% of these are free events. again 52 organizations um covering about 20 different venues. The total economic impact uh that was reported in their applications is over 19 million and the
um benefit to the to uh government revenue as part of that is almost 1 million. So again, board member Eric Cliss is here to speak on behalf of the board and respond any questions to any questions from the commission. Good morning, sir. Thank you for being with us. Thank you. Thank you for your
support. I want to thank you again for allocating the $50,000 this year to the youth arts program. The uh 50,000 made a significant impact to the youth programs that applied this year. Uh a nice increase and it's nice to see that every
applicant uh was funded this year. So I think staff is doing a tremendous job in guiding the applicants and we've seen some applications that maybe were not as well polished in years past are coming back. They're looking better. their paperwork is in great shape and it's
easier for the committee to sit down the board to make uh good decisions based on good applications. So again, um we are also uh increasing the number of activities and I think the temporary closing of Miami Day County auditorium
has brought some new arts organizations that were maybe not previously had a presence in Coral Gables. So they're bringing their audience who maybe are not residents of Coral Gables to Coral Gables, parking, dinner, the other economic impact issues we were just
talking about. So we're here for your approval to the resolution and hope you can support it. Great work for the mayor. Um and I I would like to make the motion and we could do some comment afterwards. Yeah. I just want to make sure there's no public comment. Do you have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor.
Perfect. Let's close the public comment. Madam Vice Mayor, so uh I will make the motion and uh anybody want to second? Second. Perfect. So, I I'll start off and um just like to re-emphasize some of the last figures
you put in that people often overlook. And I think the equation is about at least a sevenfold increase in revenue to our city for the dollars invested. And the attraction of people from outside the city can,
you know, not only have you seen it, but I've seen it. I went to a um function over at the sanctuary of the art arts and I learned that a lot of people were coming down from Fort Lauderdale to see what Coral Gables is doing. They were staying in hotels here locally and
having dinner, you know, so the economic impact is is becoming greater and greater the more that we have to offer. And then I you know the obvious is the value on and educational value and psychological support that the arts do
provide people. You can't really measure it, but it's there. So, thank you for all you do. There's no further comment from the commission. We have a motion in a second. Mr. Clerk, Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes.
Commissioner Lada? Yes. Mayor Lago? Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you. But before we move on, I'm going to take a personal point of privilege, and I'm going to probably embarrass somebody right now, but I think this is the most appropriate time to do it. Okay. I've had the privilege of knowing Adler
probably a decade and I've been an admirer of his art, but not only as a resident, I'm also been an admire of his commitment to the arts. He is an amazing world recognized artist who I saw his work personally at the Whitney Bano when I
traveled to New York to see it. He's a homegrown talent. He's represented by one of the most important galleries in the world, not locally, in the world. uh his work shows at our Basil. He's had museum shows and I've had multiple conversations with
him in my office and he humbly always tells me, "No, no, no, no. We can't do no. We have to put we have I'm part of the board. I, you know, I I serve at the pleasure of the city. My my objective is to expand art and culture in our community." You know, Vince, I don't think that, you
know, it's appropriate. So, I'm going to do it transparently here, not in my office. Okay. I think we should consider this gentleman for art and public places opportunity. Will we give him a deadline of two months after the summer is why I told you I was going to do this. So at
the end of day you let me no choice. Well, we give him a two-month deadline to produce a work. It can be a mural. It can be a sculpture. And you present it to the commission and to the board. And you may not like this. I understand that. But then I'm going through through
the manager and I'm doing it on the commission floor. You have the credentials. I think you're an amazing artist. I think you're we would be honored in the city of Corables to have one of your works. So, I ask you to please consider this and I'm willing to make a motion that you come back to us
with the work. And if I don't do it this way, you're going to keep kicking the can down the curb and avoiding me like you've been avoiding me for the last 10 years on this. Not avoiding. No, but you know what I mean. You don't want to do it because again, it just doesn't look right. Uh but at the end of the day, I think that you're an exceptional artist.
Everybody in this community respects you and we we want to see your talent shine here in the city, not just in the museums in New York or in our Baso in Switzerland or in our Baso in Miami Beach Convention Center or in, you know, uh, Freeze New York or the Armory New York. We want to see it here in our
community. I think it's right and it's about due time that you have a commission here in the city. I'll second that motion. I I like to say I totally I totally agree. If she's okay with that and all of you okay with it, I'm okay with it. That's not what you told me in the office. Well, it's different. The
office, like you said, the office is you and I. This is this is a few thousand people. So, sure. But listen, I think it's I think it's more more than appropriate. I'd like to see you bring something back in September if you think that's fine. Yeah. Um I'd like for you to scout a location. I'd like for you to
work with our staff through the manager through the manager and his team. And I'd like for you to bring something back again that's impactful. Okay. Something that talks about the centennial, something that talks about, you know, our forefathers, something that talks
about what makes Coral Gable special, right? And again, I leave it up to you. Never tell an artist what to do, but I I think that it's such a spectacular moment in our history that to have somebody of your of your capability and of your recognition who gives up How many years you been serving on the board
now? He's at uh um six years, I believe. So, um Yeah, he's he's on his uh hopefully um reappointment for the last term. And I just uh um since you brought it up,
Mr. Mayor, uh yes, uh Adler of course is a wonderful artist and has been invaluable. Um being an artist and his input on the board on the panel has has just been wonderful of of course we were just waiting a couple more years to maybe dip our toes into that, but if
it's sooner, I'm fine with that. Uh, and just want you all to know, and you've seen him up here numerous times, uh, what a wonderful panel member he's been. And I'm happy you said that. I don't want to waste an opportunity. When I have an opportunity to do something, um, and again, it may be, you know,
putting the car before the horse like you said, because you're waiting a few years. Why wait? You don't know what happens tomorrow. You can have something, you know, and leave a beautiful legacy here in the city. So, we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner
Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson. Yes. Mayor Lago. Yes. September commission for follow the process. Follow the process that you're so familiar with. I accept. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Tell everyone on the board. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Uh would you like
to take a five minute break to go to the to go to the restroom? All right. We'll take a five minute break. We'll be back at 12:10. Thank you. recording. What's your third take? Okay.
Madam City attorney, we're going to start with E9. Yes. Amending resolution number 2022-284 which granted site plan conditional use approval for the mixeduse project referred to as 4311 ponds on the property legally described as lots 36
through 43 block 5 industrial section Coral Gables Florida to replace requirement that all overhead utilities along the adjacent public rightsway be underground with the contribution to the city to construct certain public realm and or beautifification improvements in the vicinity of the project. The applicant is here, Mr. Mayor. And who'll
be presenting for staff? Uh yes, mayor. I will take care of it, sir. Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Mayor, and thank you for the accommodation. I know you have a busy agenda with a lot of important items, so hopefully we can dispose of this quickly. Um Joe Jimenez with an address
at 2020 Salado Street on behalf of the applicant. Um over the years as costs have risen and I will say from experience on different projects dramatically when the requirement to start
undergrounding utilities um abuing a development project have come up. I can tell you that what was budgeted and what winds up being a price given to you by the utilities is has been substantially increased over time.
Um, in this particular case and while I believe it is an important an important policy of the city, in this particular case, we ask for this amendment to the resolution approval based on where the utilities are. 4225
Pon is a large office building across from Nordstrom that backs up to what can only nicely be called an alley even though it's 39th Avenue. Um, orange also from the city of Miami also runs perpendicular into this property. Now,
if it were just the abuing poles that need to go because the utility companies, as you know, when you drop that line, you don't only drop, depending on the property, you don't only drop a budding your property, you have to drop sometimes two and three
poles down. In this case, and I have graphics for you to show you, we'd have to do loops inside the city of Miami, which and nothing against another city, but it's also an industrial section of that city. And we felt that the funds
could be better used. and having sat here for a little while and seeing the grants and everything and all the needs that the city has that the funds could be better used to beautify something that can actually be appreciated by the residents of the city of Coral Gables and not an industrial section in in a
different municipality. So, I'm happy to show you the pictures. I'm happy to let the city manager present and then show you the pictures so we can put them in context um at at your pleasure. Through through the mayor. Yes, sir. Uh thank thank you mayor uh commissioners. Uh
this is this is an area on the west side of of uh of the city. Uh excuse me on the east side of the city and it is an area that is 39th Avenue. It's very industrial. Uh the the electrical has
been underground. Those are concrete poles. Very difficult very difficult to deal with. And we feel that undergrounding an area that is highly industrial and not and really um outside the city, I think that we're we're
better off using this 50,000 for $50,000 for other areas within the city, crosswalks, etc. that can be better utilized than this uh really heavy industrial area to to the east of of the building. That's that's that to the east
of the building is really the end of Coral Gables at that point. Okay, one second. Uh, Mr. Cler, do you have any further comment? Yes, Mr. Mayor. All right, Mr. Mary Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road.
Our city has borders. Um, it's very uh interesting when we drive on red road because we
have a border there and people that live there live in Coral Gables. They pay Coral Gables taxes and yet it doesn't look like Coral Gables. Um,
I I can tell you my parents used to live on the other side and I can tell you it's not a good feeling when you drive on 57th Avenue. Uh, we even have sidewalks that are not the same as our
sidewalks because FDOT did it and we haven't been able to change it. But now we're looking on the other side. You know, pretty soon any property that's on our borders will not be the same as the rest of the city. There's something
wrong with that. I think that we have I mean, I've heard everybody here talk about the importance of undergrounding the utilities. I mean, it's happening all over the place. We're underground
utilities, but now we have a good a good excuse. It's on the border. is industrial, but yet if there's a hurricane, they're going to be affected also like the rest of us. So why are the rules different if it's on the border or is in the center?
The city is the city. If it's on the side of Coral Gables, the rules should be the same as everywhere else in Coral Gables or else pretty soon, you know, that is on the border. I guess the the north end, the south end, everything
that's on the border, you can do whatever you want because it's on the border. No, it should be the same. The rules are the rules. And if we really believe in undergrounding the utilities, we need to underground the utilities. Period. The end.
Mr. Clerk, that's it. Mr. Mayor, thank you. Um, actually, and Miss Cruz, thank you for reminding me there is something I didn't mention. FPL has already been underground. Yeah. So that what we're talking about here is the low voltage material. It's AT&T, it's Comcast, it's
things of that nature. So the grid has been hardened by this building. So I want to thank Miss Cruz because that is a very good point. So if I if I may, if I may, um, thank you for being so kind. That was not a that was not an effort to clarify. That was obviously an effort to take a dig. But you're a gentleman. Um,
let's be honest with ourselves. We have a major issue here in the city. It's happening throughout. Uh we this is something that I worked on for 10 years with FPNL and we got it done and it didn't cost the city a dollar when it was going to cost 270 million. Um the big issue next step that we're going to
have is the one that you're facing today with the polls that are existing is the low voltage is the AT&T is the Comcast which I've been working with the DCM and the manager on that already uh in an effort we've met with Comcast we're trying to find ways to see how they can
jump on board because once FPNL is off those lines it's become a maintenance issue but again that's the problem that's a problem when everything has to be politicized when your project politicized to take a jab at the commission and there's
unnecessary to do that when they don't even know what they're talking about. They don't even realize this is not even about FPNL. This is about low voltage. But there's an opportunity to take a jab at the commission. Let's take a jab at the commission. So, um this is pretty clear uh the position that that we're
in. um we have to work and our staff has our hands tied in regards to the low voltage not only in this location but throughout the entire city. And one of the things that I would like to do
through the manager is start working with Tallahassee with our lobbying team to make this a priority because now that we worked for 10 years to get FPNL undergrounded I think it's going to be around 70% of the city's going to be undergrounded and I hate to use your time your probably has nothing to do
with this but it's a great example. It does property. So I appreciate, you know, when you have somebody come up here that's constantly taking jabs in an effort and then obviously opens up the door, I have to, you know, take advantage of this because it's great when a jab misfires and opens the door for me to talk about something. So we
have to address this issue because in one way or another once FPNL is off all these lines and these poles remain and it's just low voltage on these poles, who's going to maintain these poles? every single day if you run a number through here and I've talked about this with the manager in the DC and the DCM.
If you notice, I'll make a point of it. Do you have a land line at your house? I'm sorry. Do you have a land a landline in your house? No. Neither do I. If you start polling people, you'll notice that less and less people have landlines. So, there's less and less ability for
AT&T to make money. How do they make money? They make money off internet connection. They make a few different things. So this we can either face a problem in 10 years or we can face a problem now through legislation at the state and this is what we're working on. But I'm happy that obviously this this opportunity came up. Uh no I can do another discussion. I I can
tell you that you know I've been involved in large projects that span every poll and those are easy and the economies of scale are there to do it but as these smaller projects come up that are actually sometimes in between poles. You've got to go two poles in each direction and the cost is just unbearable especially in the urban core.
So, I mean, you got to do FPL one way or the other because of OSHA, but these low voltage and they don't go in the same trench. Yep. And so, that's what some people keep asking me, why don't you just do it when you did FPL? It doesn't work that way. Um, and it's just the the
price just makes things. It's just not feasible. Mad vice mayor. So um I would like to make a motion because you know one extending and burying lines an
exordinate distance into the city of Miami is not serving the purpose of the original ordinance. So, I think we have a valid reason um to uh deviate here and better utilize the funding that you
otherwise would have used to bury essentially a Comcast cable and an AT&T line um that no one's going to see. It's not going to be like on Red Road in front of someone's house. It's behind um
the buildings that are on ponds. And we have some needs in the area that can benefit residents. Um particularly crosswalk enhancements or crosswalk buttons that need to be added throughout our city. And I'm going to mention three. Uh one may be handled by FDOT if
we take it that route and be be able to utilize the the funding for um other city locations instead. But I wanted to highlight there's a need for a crosswalk um button I should say but there is already
a light existing on Lun Road at the exit to the garage to the shops of Merrick Park so that folks can cross there with that you know safely and have an opportunity to to cross the street. Um
the second is roughly a halfway point between Bird Road and the plaza on Pon which is at Kadeima and Kadeima also has a trolley stop at that location. So it's
a it's a good midway point. And the third that I get a lot of contact uh and requests for is at the Siggoia Library. We have a crosswalk there, but there's no button with flashing lights to alert drivers that are not always paying
attention that there's someone there in the crosswalk to stop. So, we need those signs with the flashing lights that pedestrians can engage. Okay. So, that's my that's my motion to try to better
utilize these funds. I'll second that. The mayor. Yes. This is a very uh unique condition because it's in an industrial area. It's in an alley. It's an alley that's actually a street. Uh it it um it it requires work in city of Miami. So this is something that we need to
coordinate better city to city and this is a very unique situation and if it were inside the city, we would not be promoting it. Thank you, Mr. Cler. We have a motion, a second. Yes, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes.
Mayor Lago. Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you. Have a good afternoon. Item E2. E2 is an ordinance of the city commission amending chapter 58 entitled special assessments article 5 master service assessment division 2 assessments section 58-23 notice of
publication and to remove the requirement for newspaper publication and incorporate the previously adopted definition of publications providing for repeater provision severability clause codification and providing for an effective date. Good afternoon again, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. As a reminder, this is a small code cleanup to allow for the
publication um online of certain notices for certain assessment districts consistent with the past changes you all have approved. Perfect. Thank you. There have been no changes since first reading. Thank you very much, Mr. Cler. Any public comment? All right, I'll close the public comment. May I have a motion? I'll move it. Second,
Mr. Clerk. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Mayor Lago. Yes. Item E3. E3 is an ordinance to the city commission amending city code chapter 2 administration article 5 conflict of interest in code of ethics to create section 2-308 prohibition on city
commissioners serving as campaign political consultants to prohibit city commissioners from serving as campaign/political consultants for candidates for elected office in the city providing for severability clause repeated provision congregation providing for an effective date. Hello again. There have been no changes since first reading. Happy to answer any
questions. As noted before, this um adds a prohibition for city commissioners serving in roles as uh paid campaign political consultants. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Do we have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. I will close the public comment. I'll move it. Second it through
the mayor. Yes, ma'am. As I stated before, I think this this we're going to pace ourselves to this legal challenge in the future. Um I won't be voting for this. Um, madam city attorney, do you see us
be having any exposure legally here to this to this matter? Mayor, I previously did explain that that yes, there is some exposure. Um, we would have, you know, we we would defend any challenge, of course, and um that's what I stated on on first reading. When I passed this legislation in the first time, uh, that
prohibited um, individuals who run campaigns from also being lobbyists. And if they plan to be a lobbyist, there has to be a two-year window where they do not practice either as a campaign consultant before they can lobby. Did we ever get any challenge to that legislation? No. No, mayor. Okay. Uh
just make sure that's for the record. Again, this is just adding on to that legislation, providing more transparency and ensuring uh ethics and governance and making sure that we do right by the people. Let's remember in the famous words, residents first. We have a motion
and a second. Mr. Clerk, Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, no. Commissioner Lada, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. Thank you very much. Moving on to E4. E4 is an ordinance of the city commission amending the code of the city of Coral Gables, Florida, Chapter 2, Administration, Article 3, Boards,
Commissions, Committees, Division 6, Waterway Advisory Board to revise the membership of the waterway advisory board and the qualifications of waterway advisory board members, providing for severability, repealer codification, and providing for an effective date. Mr. City Attorney, good morning. Good morning. Oh, good afternoon. I applaud. Good. Sorry, just caught it. Well, maybe
not. Um, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. Uh, this is an ordinance sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson that would uh amend the composition of the waterway advisory board. Currently, the board is comprised of uh nine members, eight of whom live along select city canals or other waterways. Uh, this
would take that composition and change it so that five of the members uh live along those specified waterways. One member is uh appointed by the city of Miami or I'm sorry uh University of Miami uh for a University of Miami
specific seat. One is a city resident who does not reside along a city waterway or coastal area and one uh seat is reserved for an individual with expertise in a water related science. Okay. Uh so I'll give you a little background on this. Um I've attended a
number of waterway advisory board meetings uh back when I was a sustainability board member and quorum was always a challenge there. Um digging deeper into the underlying problems and speaking with some waterway advisory
board members, there's certain areas where they just it's hard to get a member and hard to get a member once you get them to um show up for the meeting and is in in uh Daring Bay or Snapper
Creek. So what uh this does is combine certain areas that are close together. Uh so you're combining Gables Estates, Matthysse and Hammock and Snappa Creek together for area number four. They have similar problems. It's usually trimming
the mangroves is is one of their main concerns and you know signage on the the back of the homes and seawwell maintenance uh and gables uh by the sea and daring bay are combined as well. So it reduces the number of of residents
needed to hold quorum but increases the number on the board because we do need representation from a nonwaterway board member in order to be able to um have the interests of folks that want to bring in you know non-motorized
watercraft such as a kayak or a canoe and enjoy the waterway. We've talked about boat launches before. Um and the second is um there's lots of discussion before the waterway many times about uh the university's Miami's impact uh on
the waterway is Lake Oiola in in the ma in the middle of the um the campus contri a contributing factor to the pollution. So I think University of Miami needs to have a voice. I think they can contribute. uh they have a member that's appointed on a sustainability board and I think that
they can uh appropriately uh appoint someone here and on the water quality science is I I took a broader approach than what Mr. Fernandez had suggested so that we um if there is not someone available for Miami waterkeeper, we're not um handcuffed to just that
organization, we can look look for a water quality scientist somewhere else. My hope is we can um have a more productive board uh on I'll move it on that. I'll move this item. Can I have a second? Second. Perfect. U Mr. Clerk, do
you have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. All right. We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. E5. E5 is an ordinance of the city
commission amending the code of the city of Coral Gables, Florida, chapter 62 entitled streets, sidewalks, and other public places, article 7, special events and parades to clarify and improve the city's existing scheme for the regulation and permitting of special events and parades held in public places in the city providing for severability clause repeater provision codification
and providing for an effective date. Good afternoon again, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. Uh this ordinance would amend the city's uh uh special events ordinance to essentially uh clean up a number of areas primarily just bring it in line with uh the processes that the
city engages in now. Okay. Mr. Clerk, do you have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. Is there any commentary from the commission? I think it's a wonderful idea. I entertain a motion. I'll move it. I'll second. Mr. Clerk, please read the RO. Commissioner
Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. Moving on to E6. E6 is an ordinance of the city commission providing for text amendments to the city of Corable's official zoning code, article 9, art and public places to amend certain procedures related to the art and public places process, providing for repeal
provision, serability clause, codification, enforcability, and providing for an effective date. Madam City attorney, good afternoon again. Um, some of you may recall that about a year ago, a version of this ordinance came to you all for first reading. it did not return for second reading as we continue to look at the processes for the art and
public places program and how to best address some of the concerns that have arisen um from people who pay the fees who install art and from staff. So the ordinance before you today on first reading provides for a few changes to the art and public places program. Um the first ones are ones that we had
previously addressed. It removes two of the waiver processes that are currently in the code, which is the purchase designation of historically significant buildings or the um purchase of city parks or open space. This has not been a waiver option that has been um that anyone has availed themselves of in the years that we've had those options
available. And it was the view of um cultural development staff and the boards that those be removed that they're not necessarily um replacements for the art and public places fund that they're a little bit out of the bounds of the art and public places fund separately. It creates a
process for that what we're calling private art on certain commercial properties. Um we didn't have a well um a well-escribed process for that private art on commercial properties that was not being installed pursuant to the art and public places program. So, it creates a process for that which involves the board of architects and
city staff um from the historic historical and cultural resources department. um the new provision um that has been added since you all last saw this on first reading and just for the record it's back on first reading again because there have been some substantive changes and there has been um a long
period of time that's since it was last on first reading is that um as you all know the art and public places fee has been traditionally due prior to issuance of building permit as um as well as the approval for artwork that's being installed as a waiver. Um we have
noticed and um you will have noticed as well that you oftentimes have um projects who appear before you um regarding that um that fee and the timing of when that fee is due, whether or not they're asking for something to be held in bond to use it with another project or come to ask that condition to
be changed. Um, we've worked with staff with the city manager's office and with development services to propose instead that that art and public places fee shall be due prior to the issuance of a certificate of completion or a temporary certificate of completion or a temporary certificate of occupancy for those
non-municipal construction projects. So rather than that fee being due at building permit, it would it would be due prior to the issuance of either that TCC or TCO. Um the waiver um deadlines remain the same. So, if you're getting uh art approved as a waiver of the art
and public places fee, that should still happen prior to building permit, but the fee itself won't be due until that later date. And I don't know if the manager has any thoughts to change, but that is um the most substantial new change since this was last before you. Um I believe staff is planning to take this back to the arts advisory panel and cultural
development board prior to second reading. For the mayor, yes. Uh thank you, mayor, commissioners. uh we are we are limiting this payment prior to TCO which means that the building cannot be occupied if there's condominiums they cannot be sold. So, I think this is a a
reasonable extension of this because it allows more time to get the the the art in place and yet it would it would not be an issue as far as uh potentially if we had a CO issue, this could revert back to the to the HOA. In this case,
having it before TCO means that that the uh project cannot be occupied, the project cannot be sold. Yeah. And also the important part about this besides what the manager just mentioned, it's also the carrying costs that are associated with this. Certain projects are talking about a million dollars in
art that is associated that is a u you know at that moment uh either attributed to debt on the project that has to be carried over a three or four year period. Um so at the end of the day uh I think this is an opportunity to show a little leniency. Uh it doesn't
compromise the city. we still have control and I think it's an opportunity to again give us a little more time to to work on some amazing works of art and not be in such a rush to say this is what we're doing uh and we're moving forward with this. Maybe we change our mind. Maybe we maybe we do a two-year
process where we select something that's that is again uh of much higher quality. uh or maybe we join or maybe during that time period there's there's the building next door gets redeveloped that we can join two projects like we did with the
property adjacent to to Merrick Park on Ponong we can join two properties together to put a beautiful sculpture in that park and I think that that worked in our benefit because we were going to get something that's a a lot more monumental and that plent of work uh which again uh is going to be something
that is uh beautiful in my opinion I think in the opinion of many in this community so That's why I bring this forward and I ask for your support. Mayor, one thing I neglected to mention is both for um the developers who are using the art and public places waiver and for the city purchase of art pursuant to the art and public places
program. We've also now included um excessive gallery and commission fees um are not part of the calculation of the value of the art which is I know something that has been discussed before and I wanted to make sure that was very clear and then make it about the art. I want it to be about the art, not about fees, not about infrastructure, not
about commissions. It's about the art. Correct. For the mayor. Madam vice mayor, one second. Go ahead. I'm sorry. I I this is an excellent um update and change. I think this makes sense. And um manager, you wanted to speak, but I also
wanted to move it. Okay, you can move it. Mr. manager. I want to say, mayor, that everything you said is is absolutely correct and it al gives us more time to get better art to get a to join art and to do all those things and still protects the city by keeping it
prior to TCO. We need a second. Second, Mr. Clerk, do you have any comment? Public comment. No, Mr. Mayor. We'll close public comment. We have a motion and a second. Thank you, Madam City Attorney. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor
Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. We'll move on to E7 and we'll also hear F5. Madam City Attorney, so E7 is a norance of a city commission repealing ordinance number 2025-08, which moved the date of the city's
elections from April of oddnumbered years to November of even numbered years, providing for severability, repeal your codification, and providing for an effective date. And then um F5, mayor, yes, is the discussion item. Okay. Okay. Commissioner Castro, thank you for
acknowledging me. This item is not it's not really only about changing the elections back to April. Um this commission has been very forceful saying that you know because of the election everybody wants a November
election and I'm not going to oppose that but the correct thing to do here. So this legislation is not about changing elections back to April. This election is about letting the people vote and put it on. Let's put it on the ballot for to have people um go ahead
and vote on this. If they want November, let them vote. It's not an issue. And if everybody wants November, I will be more than happy to go ahead and support that um that um that decision. Number one, I
think it's unethical and unconstitutional for us as a body to decide if we want how long we're going to be in office. Number one, we were not the ones who put us in office. It was the voters. It was
our residents. So for us to come up here without consent or without voter approval, without going to referendum and make that decision, it's very wrong. very very wrong. It is the residents that decide how long we're going to
serve a term, not the politicians. Besides the fact, it's against the law. I prepared a presentation for residents out there that do not understand this process so that they could better better understand it. Okay.
When I'm done, who's going to be clicking the slides or do I need the little remote control? Okay. So once again, I'm Thank you. So once again, I'm going to reiterate this legislation has nothing to do between choosing between April and November.
This has to do with having voters be able to approve this, letting them decide if this is what they want. Who decides our elections? Why residents, not politicians, must have the final say?
Your right to decide was taken away on May 20th, 2025. The Coral Gables Commission voted to move your city elections from April 2027 to November 2026. This decision shortens the elected officials turns about five months,
ending their service sooner than you have voted for. Most importantly, you the voters were not given a choice. The commission acted without asking your permission, even though the law requires your vote. There is a ballot question that this this body approved. That
ballot question is not asking you if you want a November and April election. That ballot question is affirming the fact that we already did it and it's making sure that no other commission can go ahead and undo that action unless it
goes for a referendum. That's hypocrisy at its finest. Attorney General's opinion highlighted. I went ahead and I attached the attorney general's opinion to city of Miami and I highlighted the first paragraph where it
gives them direction. The first paragraph says, I caution you that I caution the action contemplate contemplated by the city of Miami in this legal opinion to move the date of its municipal elections or to change the terms of office for elected officials
without a vote of the electors. violates the county charter and the provisions of the constitution. This state would not tolerate such an unconstitutional deviation. If we could read between the lines, this also applies for us. City of Miami is part is
one of the municipalities for the county and so is the city of Coral Gables. Key points for residents. Moving elections dates requires vote of the people. The attorney general statement makes clear that state will act if municipalities
bypass voters. The warning applies to any city in Miami date county including Coral Gables. This body, this city attorney general's opinion highlighted. Now this is the second page and I went
ahead and I just highlighted not to go through the whole through the whole opinion. According to the terms of the county charter control the method for changing election dates and the terms in the terms of office elected officials as noted above the county charter requires
a vote of electors to make sure you change to make sure the changes you are contemplating. What this means at bottom is that no statute authorizes or could authorize the proposed ordinance which could amend provisions of the municipal charter pertaining to election dates and
terms of office without vote of the people. Once again, this is like he's talking directly to us. The second two lines, you should immediately seize the process of enacting this ordinance to move the date of municipal elections and change the
terms of office of elected officials. If you nevertheless move forward with the proposed ordinance, my office reserves the right to consider all available actions to prevent this violation of law from occurring. Legal implications and risk. So, I went
ahead and I copied a statement and I also did speak to Mayor Panellas in over the phone and but I went ahead and I copied the statement from NBC News. This is a quote from um Mayor Alex Panellas. The quote is the very clear risk right
now for any official who proceeds in voting in favor of this proposal to delay the election is suspension from office. And that may not and that may be just enough to prevent this from passing. My intent behind what I'm doing right now is really to help this
commission retract and put this on the ballot. If they want a November election, okay, let's have a November election, but let the people vote. Um, I feel like I'm trying to throw a lifeline to some of the some of my colleagues up
here. It's really going to be up to you if you decide to vote for this item or not. Mayor, I'm trying to help you even though you keep on smiling next to me. If you don't want me to help you, that's perfectly fine. That's going to be on you. What the law says about your rights. The
Miami Day Charter and the Florida Constitution guarantee your right to vote on any changes to municipal election dates. Whether it extends, shortens terms, changing an election date directly affects the officials you elected, and the law requires your
approval first. Skipping a referendum violates your right to decide and sets a dangerous president where politicians, not residents, control election timing. And I want that to sink in just a tiny bit
because this is a very big deal. If this body, just through an ordinance, is going to decide how long they're going to stay in office or how long not. That is horrific. That is not democracy. And if we're changing to November,
are we not fighting because is it more democratic that we're going to get higher voter approval, but then at the same time you're not going to let residents vote on this and you're going to make the decision on your own? That to me sounds very unethical, unconstitutional, and entitled from this
body. what this means for you. The decision to the decision to take away your right to approve or reject a major change to your local government. Without voter approval, the new election day violates the law, risk lawsuits, and undermines trust in your city
government. Your right to vote on election timing is a cornerstone of democracy and it was bypassed. What I have done so far to defend your rights. Number one, I voted no on an ordinance on an ordinance that moved the election
dates without your approval. Requested a formal legal opinion from the Florida general attorney when the city attorney did not seek for guidance. Shared the attorney general, city of Miami opinion with residents so you know your rights and what the law requires.
Drafted legislation to repeal the ordinance, which is this right here. This is the item we're hearing. to return to to to the re to return election date to April 2027 unless you the voters choose otherwise in a referendum. So I just want to make it
clear one more time. This is not about choosing April or November. This is about letting the people vote. This is about not taking the right to be able to vote how long they want commissioners or this body to run to be in office.
I made it clear if you the residents want November elections, you can have them, but only if you vote to approve this change as the law requires. The other one and the last one is I kept you informed through newsletter, social media, and meetings because you deserve
transparency on decisions affecting your vote. And that was that was my um my last slide. if you want to go ahead and take it off. I want to once again reiterate that this is me
throwing a lifeline to some of the commissioners here. It's me trying to help you guys. I also I I really don't want us going against the state. I don't want us going against what the attorney general is saying. I know that some
commissioners or or the mayor is going to come up here saying that there was all the legal bounding behind it. I also asked the city attorney from from Coral Gables to go ahead and draft an opinion um with three questions that I asked
her. I think if legal battles come in here and somebody says that this is completely legal, I'll go ahead and show that opinion and I'll have a rebuttal for it. Um if you guys do decide not to vote on changing this election back to April, there would be legal implications
or challenges from the state. I don't think that is a position that we want to take at this moment because if we want to get this done, it's very easy. Just let's put it on the ballot. Let's make it fair and transparent. It's not a big deal. If you are sure that people are
going to vote for November, what is the issue with putting it on the ballot? Now, if we decide to have the state challenge us, I just want to put on the record that we spent $244,000
in banning plastic bags and straws. That's how much we spent. Then we also spent $185,000 in legal fees trying to defend the Wawa situation. Now, if the whole purpose of changing the elections to November is to save $200,000, I think
you need to think again if this is the road that you want to take because it really contradicts the fact of saving money. Um, I'm not an attorney. I'm not going to go ahead and engage in a legal battle
or terminology with the city attorney. But if if it's it's not my doing. What am I doing is here to defend the residents and their rights and that's what I'm intending to do. Thank you. Thank you.
Is there somebody on uh Mr. Mr. about to check Mr. Mayor? I'm sorry. I'm about to check. I I think somebody just pressed the wrong. All right. Well, is there any public comment before we take it to the rest of the commission? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Uh first speaker, Mr. Mary Cruz.
Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. Here we go again. Daddy knows best. We know what's best. We don't care what the people want or do not want. we don't
even want to hear because there was a petition going around and you know what they could never get enough signatures to put it through but yet we know it's best to change it and you know what I'm glad that Miss Castro brought up the
financial aside we have spent lots of money in this city paying outside council to defend things that we knew couldn't be defended it because we wanted it and we had a temper tantrum
and we had to have it. And guess what? At the end, the council made a lot of money. We the residents, we the taxpayers lost a lot of money. And guess what? We have plastic bags in Publix
while what was not built. Bottom line, stop. Do the right thing. You want to put it I think you should put it up for election. Do it. Ask the people what they want. Hopefully you believe
that they will vote your way. It'll go through. No issues whatsoever. Obviously, you're not so sure that it will go through when you want to put it through before they talk. That is the issue. If you know that the people want
it, give it them the right to vote. You have your you have ways of influencing them. You can get on the radio, the TV, the media, the blogs, ASOP, whatever you want. Convince them that it's good to change. Put it to a vote and get your
way, but do it the right way. Mr. Clerk, Claudia, good afternoon. And good afternoon indeed, Mayor and Commissioners. Um, I just felt compelled to come up here and speak. Can you
please state your Oh, yes. Thank you. Claudia Miro, a residing at 343 Mayorca Avenue, Coral Gables. Thank you. Um, I I felt compelled to speak as I was saying because um I understand the issue. I've been following the issue. I don't think
nor do I like ever when Coral Gables is compared to anything that the city of Miami does. Um, I think that it's a different issue first of all because in our case it shortens a term and in the case of the city of Miami, you're lengthening the term for a year, which
is not what the what the voters voted for. In this case, I think that you're given a chance to say, hey, you're taking the temperature of the residents and asking them, hey, do you really want to keep these commissioners here? You know, you could have kept them for four months, but hey, you're taking the temperature. And I think that that's
what the fear is. The fear is not um you know are you afraid to put it on the ballot because you don't have the votes. I think this last election has shown you know that they the votes are there. Um, and again, you know what really bothered me and I and I'm very straightforward is for you to say in the presentation, this
is the height of hypocrisy when in this very commission we talked about putting salaries for the commissions and putting it to an election and if hey we all agree I agree that the salaries needed to be higher but let the public decide what that salary need to be give it to
the residents. We said the lifelines were thrown, you know, and they weren't given. And again, clearly with this election, we saw that people were highly upset that it didn't go back. So for us to say, hey, now let's put the people first and let's do this because the
reality is there's an election that's going to shorten the term of both Commissioner Castro and Commissioner Fernandez or absentee Commissioner Fernandez because he's not here. And hey, and I also want to say I'm one to not believe everything that Politico Cortito puts on there or Asop Gables puts on there. I like to ask both sides
and I would have been happy to see Commissioner Fernandez here so that we could ask him questions or at least have him say because I think it's important especially in this political climate that we've been living here in the city for several years. You have to show your face. No matter what the situation is, no matter how hard it is, everybody,
every one of you on here has been the victim of one newspaper or another newspaper, one rumor of another rumor. And you have been here to show your face. As difficult and as difficult as this camp last campaign was and this all the the videos and the the damning
things that were said, people show your face. You need to show your face. And again, if we're going to say one thing, we need to say we can't speak of just one side. We have to speak out of both sides. We have to take and say, "Hey, if this is right and we needed to take this vote to the people now, then it was
right to take it then." And, you know, take responsibility and say, "You know what? in the past I should have done this I didn't do it I should do that moving forward or now I see the light but because you don't say that it makes it seem like it's very convenient and I just want to say that I am for moving the elections to November um and and
I'll I'll tell you previously I wasn't previously I wasn't for moving elections to November I thought you know we need to do this but I do believe that the majority of people need to come out and speak and so I hope that you continue to move forward and that whatever comes
come what may the state, whoever, come what may, I don't think it's going to be the same situation. Those comments by the AG were made for the city of Miami, not for the city of Coral Gables. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. That's it, Mr. Mayor. I will close public comment. Uh, do we have any other comments from
the commission? Yes. Through the mayor, can I can I hear from the rest of the commission? We heard from you in the presentation. Yes. Yes, madam vice mayor. Um just briefly, there were three opportunities that the prior commission had to put it
on the ballot prior to April. You had the August election in which we took up an annexation issue and it was suggested and requested that the uh November election issue be put on the ballot. Then
you chose not to. You had November elections that it could have been put on the ballot at a minimal cost to the city. We already had other items on you on the ballot in August. So it would have been zero cost to the city. And again, you
had April election, so it would have been at no cost to the city. There are very many distinctions here that you failed to note. One of the number one issues consistent and that distinguished
the candidates running for election, the ones that that won and are sitting up here today as well as Miss Bau was that we were for moving the elections to November. For the individuals that were confused and didn't know what the
distinction was between candidate Laura and candidate Wells, I asked people their opinion on certain issues. How do you feel about November elections or April elections? The box was checked
in favor of no November elections. How do you feel about the salary choice there? It was a little more nuance. Well, I think they deserve to earn earn more, but the way it was done was improper.
A lot about the way things were done by this prior commission was improper. So to say that it's hypoc hypocrisy for us to put on the ballot for the residents to choose to affirm that our choice to move it to
November after we've been elected based upon the fact that we chose to move elections to November. The people have spoken. The percentages are in. The votes are in. It is clear that that was the
choice. They chose Mr. Lara because he was willing to move the elections to November. They did not choose Mr. Wells because he was not willing to move the elections to November. That was the most black and white clear issue that we had
on the ballot. There's more I could say, but I'll I'll pass it to my colleagues. Commissioner, you have anything to say? I'll just be brief. You know, I think that we've been through this in one of the most
uh contentious and uh well attended by Coral Gable standards election in 2024, I'm sorry, in 2025, this past April. As the vice mayor just stated, um there are
few uh black and white issues that distinguished me and my opponent uh Mr. as well as in this election and the previous um election included the vice mayor's previous vote
for moving the elections to November as well as the mayor. In other words, it uh it feels to me I'm not going to use the word hypocritical, but it just feels very convenient to say that now it's important to adhere to uh what it
feels like in your view to be the the will of the people or the adherence to law or or or taking the road more ethical than not. But the the singular issues uh that I ran on and spoke with the residents at
every single door that I knocked on was led by the issue of moving the elections to November. Both both my very strong opinion on the matter and the very clear position that I heard from the residents when I spoke with them uh supportive of
that point. Right. Um, you know, I I the whole thing about having a charter review committee convened uh two years earlier than it typically would be seemed to me at the time um as a as a candidate pretty transparent what the what the what the goal behind that was
as it pertained to the November elections. But but in the end, right, when I hear the statement that we've done this for a hundred years and why change it now would almost undermine why you even would have a charter review committee because if you don't uh look at what
we've been doing for a long time and consider that maybe a better way to go or that it reflects the will of the people that you would make the change, you should make the change. In any event, I was elected, I believe, because my views on these particular issues
reflected not just the majority, but a substantial majority of the voters. In the uh first election, I had a a sizable lead
going into what was the runoff where I increased the final percentage. the issues were focused, the issues were clearer, and it remained the leading issue of whether to move the elections to November. This was also the positions taken by the reelected vice mayor and
the reelected mayor. So, it is clear to me that we have the legal authority to do what we're doing. Uh, our city attorney has also confirmed that we have the legal authority to do this. It also is representative of the will of the
people who voted us into uh office uh to carry out exactly what we promised we would do. For me to take any other position would be a betrayal of the trust that was reposed to me by the people, the residents of the of the city of Coral
Gables who voted me into office. And um I'm glad that the vice mayor brought back for historical context how this previous u makeup of the commission had voted on these issues, how they passed on opportunity after opportunity
after opportunity to put it to the voters and then now um are claiming otherwise when it for them is convenient. Um a whole comment any further? Thank you.
Commissioner, you have additional comments you like to add. Yes. Thank you. I want to make it clear this body by making this vote is not going against me. You're going against the attorney general's opinion. You're going against the governor. You are going against the
state. And I think it was very clear and there was very direct consequences and warnings by making this move. So I'm I'm I I don't take this personal. this is something that I I'm it was a wrong that I was trying to make right and I'm not
trying to say April's a better day or November's a better day. That's not in the question. So for us to go ahead and bring that up, it's I think right now it's irrealent. Right now it's about following the law. Right now it's about if we want a
November election, let the people vote. um moving elections to November because you campaigned on it is understandable, but it's irrelevant at this point. If it's not legal, you you can't you can promise something
that is not legal even if you campaign on it. as if you campaign to lower taxes and you find that it's fiscally irres irresponsible to do or you just can't do it. Just because you campaigned on it doesn't mean it's in the best interest of the city at this point.
Um so when you when my colleagues here say the people have spoken, how have they spoken? Let them speak. Let them vote. That's how people have the people are going to speak. Not just because, okay, they elected me and I was for
this. This is the sentiment of the public. No, the sentiment of the public is when we ask a question in a ballot and we put it up for referendum. That's when you let the people speak. That's when the people are going to speak.
Um, that's what's really in question. If um Billy, can you please put up the the city attorney's legal legal opinion? I haven't received it yet. Ma'am, you have it. So, I think we all got a copy
of the legal opinion. It's a public record. I I wanted to go ahead and put it up there because there's some things that the city attorney missed and I know that there's two attorneys here. Well, three, but there's two attorneys here as as um commissioners, and I think it's
important that I bring this up to the mayor. Yes. Briefly, I'm a little confused, commissioner, but you said at the beginning of your presentation, you're not an attorney. Correct. Correct. You're not going to debate the law. Correct. Correct. Okay. But it sounds like that's what you want to do
by putting up a legal opinion if you're not going to speak to it because you're not a lawyer or get into the legalities of it. And I don't see the how that's prudent. You mentioned earlier though that we're going against what the attorney general says in a letter that he wrote to the city of
Miami. You understand? I wasn't elected by the attorney general. I don't answer to the attorney general. The attorney general gives an opinion. I was elected by the residents of Coral
Gables. That is who I represent and that's who I stand up for. and the will of the people in the vote that I've given in the vote that they gave me reflect the same. That's what I'm here to do. But I'm not here to cowtail to
what an opinion may come from an individual who is giving nothing more than an opinion. Not an order. The governor hasn't given me or any of us on this dis. They're giving one opinion to a
different body. And uh I have and remain uh a practicing attorney and have been so for over 30 years and I have seen many opinions given and sometimes they're right and sometimes they're wrong and it depends on the reviewing
body almost all the time. So I will not get into the legalities of something that you admit you're not qualified to speak on, but I appreciate that you gave us your view on it. I
don't think it's prudent for you to though however in my view invite scrutiny, invite challenge, invite attention
almost, it appears to me that you are seeking intervention from the attorney general of the state of Florida to create the very litigation or legal challenge that you're saying right now
we should be trying to avoid. I could be wrong. Many times I am. My my gut tells me something different though. So I hope my my points have been clear to you. We have legal ground
uh to support the ordinance that we already passed. I understand there are different viewpoints and I understand that um it isn't what you have voted for in the past and I understand that despite you saying that you do not
have a view one way or another with what you're proposing I do believe that you are quite against a November election. Certainly everything that you've ever said and done on the subject points to that. So we should put the cards on the table. you are doing what you're doing
to undo this because your endgame is to not have a November election, not because you're worried about any other of the issues that you bring up. Should that be the case, you would not be writing letters to the attorney general asking for an opinion
on a matter that our city attorneys already said is legal. You're the mayor. Yes, ma'am. I I think this this item and there has been no motion is dead. And with that, I
have another matter I'd like to to bring up. Before we get into that, I'd like to just address one item, Madam Vice Mayor. I'd like to just make my comments on the record. Sure. You have anything else you wanted to add or you're done? I I'd like to speak. I haven't spoken once on this issue. Can you I mean, I think that's following Robert's rules, right? Yeah,
that's great. What do you mean I'm following Robert's rules? I'm not understanding. Let me go ahead and continue. Billy, were you able to go ahead and put the opinion? Yes, ma'am. Okay. I requested a an opinion from the attorney general directly for city of Coral Gables. That
hasn't been given as of yet. I'm pretty sure we will be getting it soon. And with when that happens, I'll go ahead and I'll well I think the city attorney can go ahead and circle that around. Um if you can you put it on the screen. Yes. Okay.
This is a legal opinion as for the city attorney and I'm only going to state what the attorney general stated because I'm not in the position to come into any legal rebuttal or or or debate. Um the
city attorney's opinion only addresses state statutes. It doesn't acknowledge or an analyze Miami date county home rule charter specifically section 6.03 3 which requires a referendum which means a voter approval for charter amendments
like changing election dates and terms. He also stated the Florida Constitution Article 8 section 6E grants Miami Dade counties home rule charter authority over municipal matters unless preempted by state law and none of the cited statutes preempt the county's charter
requirement for voter approval. Her opinion as well ignores controlling county law. In a charter county like Miami Dade, state statutes give municipalities general authority to set election dates. Don't override the
county charter. And if the charter requires voter approval, I think all the facts are laid here. Whatever you guys want to go ahead and do with me providing all the facts that I did provide and you feel comfortable with that vote, I mean, that's what it's
going to be. Um, I think the governor and I think the attorney general most probably is watching right now and um, they know very well where all of us stand. Okay. Thank you very much. I have some prepared comments I'd like to read
and then speak about a few issues that I think are important. So, I was concerned to learn uh that a member of this commission independently reached out to the attorney general suggesting a position that was neither discussed nor adopted by this commission. That position communicated did not reflect
the consensus or will of this body. And that is deeply troubling and goes against what I've seen this commission do as a whole over the last 12 years. Everybody's entitled to their opinion, but like what Commissioner Lada stated very eloquently, when you're reaching
out to the state to enjoin yourself in this process, it sends a horrific message and jeopardizes the city. This situation highlights exactly why I have worked to clarify the role of the mayor, particularly as it relates to our lobbying efforts in Tallahassee. When
speaking on behalf of the city or this commission, it is essential that our message is unified, deliberate, and representative of a collective decision. This was not done last year by Commissioner Castro, Commissioner Fernandez, and Commissioner
Menendez. That's why we were able to get zero dollars in appropriations from the state. Multiple commiss multiple state representatives and senators told us it was a result of self-serving actions taken by Commissioner Castro and Commissioner Fernandez
like raising your salaries, like not moving elections, like firing competent staff, like hiring a manager without a process. As elected officials, we each have a responsibility to respect protocol and maintain the integrity of our processes.
When individual commissioners act without coordination or authorization, it is not only undermines our credibility as a governing body, it creates confusion among our state partners and risk damaging important relationships. Case in point, the two previous years we made around $3 million
in appropriations, the highest we've ever gotten in the city, and then we went to zero. Rogue actions like this can have farreaching consequences. They can make our city appear divided and unprofessional. Case in point, hiring Amos Rojos in the middle of a commission
meeting without a resume based on a LinkedIn profile. That's insanity to run a thousand employee almost $300 million business and hire somebody based on their LinkedIn profile without a background check. The intern in my
office had to have a background check by the police department. She couldn't come to the work until her fingerprints were taken. Just let that marinate for a second. So rogue actions like this can have far-reaching consequences. They can make
our city appear divided and unprofessional, as I stated, and they may jeopardize our ability to secure state funding or support because they suggest a lack of cohesion and clarity in our leadership. It is imperative that we move forward with a shared commitment to communication,
transparency, and accountability. We must work as a team and when we speak on behalf of the city, it must be with one voice, grounded in process, guided by protocol, and reflective of the decisions made by this commission as a whole. Just as a reminder, because uh
Commissioner Cast is well aware of it, she doesn't want to mention it. We're not breaking new ground here. This happened in the city of North Miami and the governor under his term took no action and neither did the AG. They
moved their elections. 28 out of 34 cities have their elections in November. We're not extending our terms and I'm one of the individuals that would lose five months from my term. This is the right thing to do. Remember,
we have a city attorney opinion that is very clear and concise. I've run polling of this multiple times. Over 75% of the residents and Claudia Maro will tell you and Richard Lotto will tell you and the vice mayor will tell you. You knock on doors and it's
overwhelming the question, why don't we move elections to November? In the words of one of our constant guests here, the reason is we want quality over quantity. And what does that mean? That is a dog whistle where at the end of the day, an April election
will result in less voters. You can control the narrative using the likes of the CGNA. You can control the narrative using the likes of the newly created uh Gazette, which is controlled by the same people as a Gables Insider. You can control it using different
platforms and you can push an agenda like Commissioner Fernandez did with those push pulls that were exposed destroying people's reputations. And Commissioner Alada touched on it
very well and he took a little bit of my thunder, but I got to give him credit. This is not about November elections. This is about less voters. Commissioner Cash is well aware after everything that's happened over the last two years. The voters are awake. There
was over 10,000 people that voted. The only election that garnered more support was my first mayoral election which had a few hundred votes more. People came out to vote for change. This was not a this was not an election that uh somebody won by 1% or 100 votes. No, no. This was an election that was won by
18%. 10%. Massive numbers. Okay. People want to change. So, we can stand in the back and giggle, laugh, and deny the facts, but the truth is in the polls. The truth is in the individuals who went to vote.
They wanted a change. I sent out an email to all the residents today. Promises made, promises kept, changed elections. That is part of my platform. No one's being caught off guard. People knew what they were voting for. So, thank you for throwing me a lifeline. I appreciate
that. But I tried to throw you a lifeline for two years. You opposed an inspector general because you didn't want an inspector general because you preferred the politics. We got an inspector general done. You raised your own salary
without public input, hiding it in the budget. I told you and I begged you along with the vice mayor, please don't do that. Let's have the residents have input on it. Let's do it the right way. No, you raised a car allowance again,
hiding it in the budget. That's not transparent. You resisted moving elections to November over and over and over again. And you unethically hired a city manager to run a city where the city was
paralyzed for 10 months. It was shameful and embarrassing. The city deserves better. Our employees deserve better. Our residents deserve better. So, at the end of the day, thank you for the lifeline, but I attempted along with
many people in this community to throw your lifeline and you didn't listen. That's why your polling is where it's at. I have the polls and that's why people have an opinion and you don't want to move elections to November. You want to maintain them in April to suppress the votes. It's very clear the
less voter turnout the better in your case. But I'm not afraid to go in front of voters. I never have because at the end of the day my work speaks for itself. My commitment to the city speaks for itself and the proof is in the elections.
So we have a a motion. Is there a second on the body here? So that motion fails. Madam vice mayor, you had a comment you wanted to make. Yes, I do. and it's really an extension of what we've been talking about here.
Um the actions commissioner sending a letter without calling a special meeting to the sending a letter to the attorney general without calling a special meeting of this commission of this board to get our
input and unilaterally trying to sabotage what this commission the work it has done the votes that came out the people that voted for a change,
etc. is a censurable item. You asked for an opinion from our city attorney on June the 14th. You asked for an answer by June the 26th. And you've got it. You got it. But
what did you do? What did you do before that opinion even came out? You went ahead and you sent a letter on June the 23rd, 2025 unilaterally without consulting with any member on
this commission, asking for an attorney general to take an action that contravened what the voters voted for, what this commission voted for, and overturn,
which he doesn't have authority to do what this commission had voted for. You omitted a lot of really important information in there for the attorney general. So even if this this commission chose to send a letter to the attorney
general, there were critical facts omitted. But it didn't really matter. Didn't really matter. By the way, you the election date that you put in there
implied that we extended our terms by more than a year because you use November 2027 as the election. Big typo. This is a centralable item. No member of this commission
on a downside of a vote should reach out and try to overturn a decision of this commission without the advice and consent of the rest of the members of this commission. You had the ability if you felt that that it was an emergency to call for a special
meeting. You chose not to. you had the ability to put it on the agenda and wait to hear from us. You chose not to. So in order to make it clear to you
that this type of behavior is improper and should not be tolerated in the future, I move for your censure on this item and direct you in all future instances
to not be hasty. you can put something on the agenda. If it is an emergency that can't wait a few more days to the meeting, you can ask for a special meeting through the mayor. Okay?
And I want to make it extremely clear. I will not stand here while this commission tries to take away resident rights. And I would say it again, whether this commission agreed to
whatever they agreed to, I am not going to agree taking resident rights away. And I will stand up for them and I will fight once and once again. So, no. If I would have
to reach out to the attorney general again, I would do it a thousand times because I was trying to undo a wrong this commission made. Now, if you guys want to go ahead and you want to vote with the vice mayor to go ahead and censor me for standing up for my people,
for standing up for my residents, go ahead and do it. But, you know what? You're going to give me a lot of publicity. Let me just tell you, you know, for what? For standing up for the people. So it's up to you the mayor. Yes, sir. Right. So I I think there's been unfortunately so far too much
attention um put on you, Commissioner Castro. Negative attention in your in what I believe is also your rogue act in writing unilaterally like that in this climate at this moment under these circumstances as the vice mayor said. On
your motion, Vice Mayor, I second. Okay. So um in reference to attention if you consider political or tadito and the if you consider political I didn't interrupt you. So just again you said Robert's rules respect Robert's rules.
So if you consider political and a pay-forplay scheme like the gazette and uh all the cast of characters that are behind that um some sort of uh publicity. I think that's negative publicity because everybody knows that
it's all pay for play and it's a beautiful thing to have a November election because you go in front of more voters. You shouldn't be afraid of that. So, we have a motion and a second. Mr. Clerk, Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner
Castro, no. Commissioner Lada, yes. Mayor Log, yes. Okay, we don't have a motion to move forward on item E7. We will move on to E8. E8 is a resolution of the city commission pursuant. By the way, if I may, excuse
me, Madam Secretary, I apologize. I'd like for my colleagues here to mull over um potentially an amicus brief if we have another city uh that moves forward because I'm hearing multiple other cities are considering uh potentially
enjoining themselves if if there is a lawsuit uh in the in the state in regards to November elections. I would like for my colleagues to consider uh supporting any of these cities that move forward if there is a lawsuit in the future. I would move on
and I will second assuming of course yes the issues in the law align sufficiently not just to insert ourselves in another 100%. But yes and at the end of the day and a friendly amendment to my own piece of legislation
it will be brought before the commission before we move further. It would just not allow the city attorney or the city manager just to inject themselves. Okay. So, so mayor, typically the city attorney does have authority to file on this piece, but in this particular case, I'm understanding the direction is if there is such a lawsuit and you would
like and I'll bring it to the attention of the commission and um the commission can decide whether we want to because at the end of the day, we support the governor and the attorney general and we have the utmost respect for our state leaders. But if you use North Miami as an example, there was never an issue when
North Miami did the correct thing and move elections to November. And I want to make sure because I'm hearing from other cities that if they engage in this conversation and potentially supporting if there is a lawsuit. Hopefully there is not and we move forward. Um but I would like to make sure that we properly
show support uh for this for this action. Mr. Clerk have a motion a second. Commissioner Castro. No. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson. Yes. Mayor Log. Yes. Madam City Attorney E8. E8 is a resolution of
the city commission pursuant to zoning code article 1 general provisions section 1-104 jurisdiction and applicability granting approval of the window replacement for the city hall complex located at 405 built more way legally described as tracks B and C coral gables built more section revised Coral Gables Florida providing for
repeated provision severability clause and providing for an effective date um Mr. Mr. Click, we will have to swear in um individuals who will be testifying today on this matter. Those who will be appearing on this item, please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear a firm testimony you'll provide today will be the truth and
nothing but the truth? Thank you for the mayor. Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, uh could we add H10 to that which is the discussion of city hall update? H10 update regarding city hall. Yes. Thank you,
Billy. If we could go ahead and put the presentation up for each step. Okay, there you go. Good afternoon, honorable mayor, vice mayor, and commissioners. Joe Gomez, deputy city manager, like to provide you with a brief update on the city hall
restoration project. So, in terms of the project delivery method, um uh after consultation with the manager and with our consultant, we've decided to to do a one-phase project delivery uh which will be a continuous phase that takes us all the
way from assessment all the way through design and construction documents. And this will be broken up into two subfases which we refer to as phase 1 A and 1B. Phase 1 A being the building assessment, programming, schematic drawings and design development. That moves us right
into phase uh 1B which would be the construction documents, permitting and construction administration. Moves us right into construction. So, a little bit about phase 1 A, which is the initial design scope. That includes building assessment and
recommendations report. Um, it also uh allows us to do the the space programming for the offices, for the staff, and the elected officials to better utilize the space within city hall to make sure it's consistent with the historical context of the city uh of the city hall. schematic design level
drawings uh includes a detailed preliminary cost estimate very important which will set the tone for exactly what the the cost will be for the renovations of city hall uh design development uh level drawings which will take it one step further. We've already negotiated
the the the contract with RJ Heisenbottle for the phase 1A and we're moving into negotiations with the phase 1B directly. This uh phase 1B is design development drawings. Uh this is more detailed drawings and then that takes us to the construction documents. This is
what will be used to to to bid uh the the contract project specifications permitting of all construction documents and includes construction administration and that fee as I said will is already being negotiated with R.J. Heisenbottle
project schedule. So we've developed a very preliminary schedule which we think is a very achievable schedule. It's tight but it's achievable. Uh we intend to have all permits complete by the end of June of 2026. That'll move us right into constru immediately start after start construction right after the
permits are issued. We expect construction to take about 18 months in a complex building such as this. So our substantial completion date will be December of 2027. We we're looking at the delivery method for this uh contract as a construction
manager at risk. And the reason for that is because of the the extent and the level of uncertainty in in terms of the repairs that will have to be done. It it provides a much better um a much better working relationship between the contractor and the and the design team.
So they'll be working uh together provide it provides constructibility reviews. It provides the contractor input during the design phase. It also provides very detailed cost estimates so we can get very narrow down on the on the construction cost and and that will lead us to develop the what we call the
guaranteed maximum price. So we hone in on that price so at that at the end when we issue the contract for construction we have a good price. We know what the price is going to be. City Hall annex window and exteriors. Um
so reviewing the latest hope window. We're currently reviewing the latest hope proposal uh approximately $3.8 million. That also includes the windows for the annex as well as of city hall that the cost of reinforcing very important the cost of reinforcing uh
city hall of the windows that will be part of the construction cost or the overall construction cost because all the window frames will have to be reinforced for the for the new windows. The delivery time for the hope windows is is is pretty long. It's a long lead time of 30 to 34 weeks uh after the shop
drawings are approved. So that's why we have to move quickly under design schedule. Once the contract is secured, we'll proceed first with the annex buildings and the annex building already all the construction and hardening for the windows and the doors was already done. So that allows us to move first uh
essentially as a pilot project. This is just some photographs of the current conditions of the existing doors both on the Belmore way side and the coral way side. And this thanks to our our great uh IT director Raundo Rodulfo
uh he he rendered the hope window uh using AI technology so that you can see how the windows will look once the the city hall is completed. So all the all the windows that you see there that's the actual hope window rendered into city hall. As you can see, they look
beautiful. Excuse me. Um, Mr. Gomez, is that a before and after or are those are just like No, this is the current this this is the current building with the the new windows rendered in. AI is amazing.
And by the way, also the doors will all be replaced with with with uh through hope as well. Raund's amazing. That's it. That's the presentation. Uh, Mr. Manager, great job, Mr. DCM. Mr. Mannequin, to the mayor. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, what we've done is
we've taken a two-phase project and combined it into one phase. Cut out about a year and a half. So, instead of doing an assess a very lengthy assessment, we have assessment, programming, scheduling, design, design, development, construction documents, the start of construction within a one within within one phase to to cut out
about about a year and a half. That's why we we feel that uh because of the delivery of of the windows, we could incorporate them instead of doing ahead of time right into right into the project. We are looking at at using the annex building as a pilot program for
for the windows. We have a mockup downstairs which is what we're going to deal with from our quality and color and and all the perspectives that we need to match the current windows as as much as possible. We worked on on the window
issue for about a year because we were trying to match historically as close as possible the the type of window that we have. They're very small structural elements and we were trying to have a window that had uh that could sustain
the wind pressures of of a hurricane impact impact criteria and also also water infiltration which is a huge issue that's that's uh very big problem with the current windows that we have now and we can see that around the perimeter of the building is where we've had some of
the issues uh excessive amount of water infiltration. So working looking through different window types. We looked at wood, we looked at wood compos wood with with uh with uh steel strengthening. We looked at aluminum. We went to steel because steel is so strong is the
strongest material that we can use and reduce the elements as much as possible. So steel is substantially stronger than aluminum and though and so we can reduce uh the window elements as small as possible. Try to match these elements. with the asbuilts of of of the existing
windows to try to match them as closely as possible. You the mayor um whether to you Mr. Gomez or city manager, can you talk briefly about any unique aspect of the exterior of the building that may make it more difficult or have an effect
on anchoring? Yes, I can I can I can discuss that from a structural point of view. Um, we we have limestone. And so when we add shutters, we really add them just to try to for low for low event storms, category one stones and so forth to try
to minimize water infiltration into into the building because there are no structural values on anchors into limestone. It's too soft. So our windows are really when we put shutters up, it's really more for water intrusion. Uh, also we have the the building is made
out of terraota block. So it's not concrete block. So you can't really put a fastener into it. So we have to expose the the inside very very carefully without hurting the outside skin because nobody's going to match that outside skin if if we actually hurt it the the
lstone skin and provide uh reinforced concrete on either side so we could anchor the actual windows too. So what we're doing is is having is increasing the resistance of of the building. So we we certainly can't get it's a 192027
building. We're not going to get a new building. But as we increase the the uh the strength of the building, then we in we increase the uh decrease the vulnerability from from a from a a probability side, right? If you can if you can if you can carry a category two
hurricane, I'm not saying this is what this is, you're you're much better off from a probability point of view if you only design for a category one hurricane. So we are increasing by by strengthening the building we're increasing decreasing the probability for damage right and so and so also we
deal with the water intrusion issue these windows uh this building was was designed without air conditioning these windows really the the water intrusion is huge and we see deterioration on the perimeter and not on the inside right if we look at at at the outside beam so so
it's it's a difficult building to do because we we have the outside skin which is critical that we don't touch it. We have to work from the inside. And so and so by by taking by taking I think condensing condensing the schedule a year and a half and by and by working it
as as one project not as two separate projects I think we can uh I think we we can reduce the schedule by by a year and a half. Also part part of our of our schedule is we are currently working on the Monorca garage. We are working on
the west side. we uh on on the west side for the commission offices there. We were initially going to be using at the entire uh that entire site, but of course the tax collector that building was exactly geared for the tax collector. So we we leased it to to a
tax collector. We'll be looking at a building on pawn about a block away within walking distance to the uh to the public safety building so we can all be near at that point. We we plan we that that the contract for uh that work in in
the Minora garage is coming up under this commission meeting. We would like to finish it uh and have it and have it uh coed by the end of the year so that we can all move out in January and and and start selective demolition and so
forth on on the building. So this is an a much accelerated schedule and but I think we can accomplish it. Thank you. Okay. Through the mayor. Yes. Okay. I watched the the June meeting for the historic preservation board and they
were asking for a an assessment in in staff report. Um I'm going to go ahead and move to defer this item as the recommendation as the historic preservation board until we have an expert assessment on the window project
and is completed and presented. So there was there was actually there was a motion made though by the historic preservation board at their second at the sec the second time the windows went before them. So there was a and it was their recommendation was reduced to a motion commissioner at the um thank you uh
Stephanie Throbborn W city attorney. I sit with the historic preservation board and just for the record the first time I believe it was in January or February that Mr. Gomez came and presented the windows there was a request from the historic preservation board for a full assessment. The item returned to the Historic Preservation Board last month
and the item was discussed by the board. Um I don't know that they renewed that request for an assessment. So I may finish Excuse me one second. Um Mr. Clerk, we have a motion. I'd like to see if there's a second on the floor.
Second for discussion. Um while you were watching it on TV, I was there. I attended and I was going to say what basically Stephanie just mentioned right now. The board was satisfied. The intent is to stop spending money on assessments and assessments and assessments. I
remember that it's always been said in the county commission, we will assess ourselves and study ourselves to death and there won't be any money left for the budget. This is a project that needs to get moving. It is critical. We're in hurricane season. We need to move forward. We need to harden this building
and commence the work that needs to be done here. We will, if we continue to study this, we will kick the can down the curb even further. Mr. Manager, uh, yes, Mayor, I I one of the reasons why I presented to historical board was for the assessment issue. Uh, I I I said to
I mentioned to the historical board multiple times that as a structural structural engineer, those windows are repairable. If they were where the the issue was, were they repaiable? We can repair the windows, but we're getting the same product that caused the the
problem again at a very very high high cost. So, can the can the existing windows be repaired? Yes. But do we want that same window has no no hurricane resistance, no impact resistance and no and and minimal water infiltration
resistance? And and so one of the one of the things that I I did present was to take care of of the assessment issue. I don't know uh what what happened during during that meeting but to assess to spend a great deal of time months
assessing windows that we know what can be done it it just it just is not necessary. We need to make a decision. It seems to me do do we uh repair the existing wind windows and deal with this issue or do we as as actually what the
historical board said that which was the first item was was try to uh save or protect the building as much as possible. What these windows do is actually protect the building as much as possible. What happens during a hurricane is is that uh as a wind flows
into the building, if you lose a window, what happens is the opening is breached. So the the in the in there's a tremendous amount of internal pressure that creates inside the build inside the building like a balloon effect. And so and so as the wind goes around the
building on the back side of the building is trying to suck the building and then you have this balloon effect. So you've got a sucking uh wind a suction from the wind in the back and a pushing from from from the inside. So this this this these two effects are
cumulative and and a building a building that be that may be barely hanging on will will come apart generally at that time especially a building that this is a well-built building but it was built under 1927 technology. So by by by by by
having windows by and helping uh not breach openings we are actually protecting the historical integrity of the building by protecting the building itself. Thank you madam vice mayor. So, I I have some some questions and some things that we've
discussed before um that I I think we need a little more time for. Um issues regarding rust prevention, issues regarding the open extrusion on the end, um
and we talked about the hinges as well as part of it. And I've also talked to members of the community and the reality is, you know, you're if you're repairing an old wood window and I've done it before and people don't understand that I put my hands into a lot of different
stuff, you're you're using things like wood putty that are actually plastic. So, um, it's never going to be what it was before. I mean, I I can see the windows now completely. The paint is peeled off. the fibers of the of the the wood are
deteriorated. It's never going to have the pristine crisp look that it had before, nor is it going to protect this building. We're not in 1920. We're we're in an era where the intensity of the storms has
not only increased, but the length of time, which is why you see more tree damage. The more you push at something, the more it's going to wear out. So, I don't know if city manager, you've had a chance to get some answers to those questions
through through the mayor. Yes. Um, vice mayor, uh, what we're doing, that's why we have this mockup and we intend to to meet with with hope uh, and answer all those questions. I do believe that the hinges should be uh, should be uh,
different. I think they're they're very I don't know, they seem to attract attention and they should not. That's an element of the window issue. Now, uh so some of the quality issues we're going to be we're going to be addressing to make sure that the product that we get is the correct product. And that's why
we we had that mockup built. The mockup was ready in December 23. We we just got it and and and we're going to uh we're going to use that mockup to take care of all the issues that uh that you've mentioned. How about the galvanizing
issue? We're going to be looking at galvanizing. All right. Um some of the some of the problems uh and some of the problems with with galvanizing. So that's one of the So we we will be looking at that. We will be looking at at the hinges. We will be looking at certain certain u we we're going to be
very picky with these windows. Very very picky. And as we should be uh because of the building and because of the cost that amount of money. How much time do you need to get those answers? We should be uh we we plan on working
them as as soon as as soon as u as soon as we we we decide which way we are going towards those windows then we then we will move forward and we need to move forward quickly because we would like to use them as a pilot program on the annex. So, if I may, if we approve these
windows today, can can the DCM and yourself and the team put together a refined window with some of the issues that need addressing that say by the end of July so we can for the August meeting and and obviously those will be addressed by the shop drawings that will
be submitted for we'll have those we'll have it for the August meeting. We have we'll be prepared to discuss. We'll be we we we plan to meet with hope here and go over every issue on the as you know mayor that that's what that markup is for. Okay. Do you mind if I go to public
comment? Mr. Clerk, Mr. Mayor, before public comment, the motion we have right now is from uh Commissioner Castle to defer this item. Yes. We have a second also from Yes. You want to you want to take a vote? Let's take a vote. Um there public comment
Okay. Uh, first speaker, Mr. Maria Cruz. This has been a Maria, Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. I know the mayor doesn't like it when I laugh, but let me tell you, this is
better. going to a circus. Uh, I'm sitting here writing little notes and some things come to mind. Several years ago, we had money for this building and we decided to make the
project, call the project the city hall complex. So, we use the money to fix a 427 building. Of course, we didn't fix it well because they're still having problems, but we used the money there. Today, we had an item D9 where we had to
get money for emergency sharing to the amount of almost $85,000. Emergency. I guess something happened between yesterday and today. I mean, it hasn't happened for years. Now it's an emergency.
Now we hear that, you know, if we don't put this windows, we're going to have problems with hurricanes. I'm trying I'm sitting here and saying from 1961 when I came here, how many hurricanes have we had and what happened to this building
that still standing? You know, I know that scientific, you know, experts tell me that, you know, this building will not survive a hurricane unless we do the windows that
we shouldn't do. We have to do that. So, it was not this building was perfect. There was no issues. We didn't have to be out of this building. Oh, but we're going to be out of this building because the commissioners are going to be moving
to some area that's going to be fixed for them. But we didn't have to move before. I mean, I'm telling you, it's like I'm going to sit down and go through all the minutes and all the videos so I can point out every time
that we say something and then deja vu, it changes the next time and we forget that we said it. The bottom line is we do not want to spend money, but we just a few minutes ago decided that we will
join any city that will challenge what the state wants because we have money for that. We have outside council that will be counting already all the money they're going to make. So,
here we go again. Here we go again, guys. We the people should be very very happy and we should be very grateful to the powers that be because this building could have been ready for
demolition by neglect because we chose to neglect it and now it is it wasn't an emergency but it is an emergency now. Please please save me from this. It is smoke and mirrors. It is lie over lies.
It is trying to convince people that what we did before we didn't do because we could XY and Z. I'm sorry. Other people went way over. So be patient because I had somebody that went over almost two minutes. Okay. So uh Cruz,
I'm asking you to finish. People listen, people watch. You didn't tell Lawson to sit down. He went No. And he kept talking and he talked for two more minutes. 45 seconds over. Over 44 seconds. You're still going. 44. Yeah. 44 seconds. It went over almost 2
minutes. So, you know, it was good for the goose is good for the gender. M Cruz, I'm asking you to please to you is you say that you listen to the people. That's why you were all elected. You know what? The people will be
watching and they know there's money when you want to but there's no money. I'm still way less than Lawson was. Clerk, Mr. Clerk, there was not much time. Mr. Clerk, will you please please address the clock? Okay. Wait a second.
You're one You're one minute and 30 seconds over. 50 a minute 50 more than he was supposed to. And I told him five times to stop. 50. I'm very short. Yes. And you're 1 minute and 35 seconds over. No. Well, I'm asking you here. He was
here a minute and 50. Cruz. I'm asking you nicely, please. Okay, bring it in for a landing. You're 1 minute and 45 seconds in. What you do for some, you have to do for all. You do it for everybody. Who you allow? Again. Again, you're one minute and 50 seconds.
Carbon. Good morning. Good afternoon. for gosh, I think over three years. And um I'd be remiss not to speak. and I was listening on um you know online and I
thought well if I have time I'll go and speak in person. Um and I did hear something and of course I'm here not requesting a big decision. I'm here requesting a
deferral. A deferral to allow and again I hear this whole assessment issue as a negative. And with a historic building, it's actually an asset to do that that type of
investigation. So, and I I did hear that the um you know about the historic preservation board and also the the staff and what their
recommendation was and at the um at the June sorry I have to where my at the June uh meeting which was the last meeting um there were uh there was a
recommendation from the historic preservation board and the one recommendation the first recommendation was to protect the building, right? So that that's what we all want. We all want this building to be protected. Um but the second recommendation was to
keep keep and that's a big word there. Keep the existing 100-year-old windows that are important character uh defining element of this landmark. And then three uh for you know this consultant
architect to explore hurricane protection that will solve the best way to support one and two. So no one's saying uh one side is wrong and the other is right. we're we're you know as far as I'm you know representing voices
from our historic community is let's have a dialogue with all the information because I feel like we've only heard one side of the information and not the other and then um the staff report
um does then ask um that an assessment will you know they're recommending an assessment and this is an excerpt right from the staff report from the historic staff report and it
says to ensure compliance with the secretary secretary of the interior standards for rehabilitation any modification of original wood windows and doors at city hall should be carried out in a manner to protect the building
may I have a few more minutes or a few more seconds Can you do 30 seconds, please? Thank you. And by the way, we are doing an assessment on the on the entire building. That is being done. That includes the city hall windows and how those do not need an assessment and if they could be restored or not. Again,
the manager addressed it. They can be restored. They can be restored. Yes. But there's different options. Absolutely. So, at the end of the day, Absolutely. asking you if you could please. All right. Let me just read I we need we need to follow the order. I know certain people break it, but at the end of it, it has to be law and order at the end of the day. Okay. Please. And mayor, I do
want to say here in public that you are an advocate for historic preservation. I say it because you have been there for every request that I have made to you. So I get goosebumps because I am
speaking okay um you know very honestly but let me just read the excerpt. Uh it says to ensure compliance with the secretary of the interior standards for rehabilitation, any modification of original wood windows and doors at city hall should be carried out in a manner
to protect the building's historical and architectural integrity before replacement is considered. A thorough evaluation of the current windows should be conducted to determine their condition. A visual inspection of the openings
completed by staff should Mr. Carell within it's a minute and 30 seconds I'm asking you please anyway you get the idea the idea is it's come from many sides of the historic preservation uh community. So please take into
consideration that. Thank you. And by the way just so you know and and every I think the entire city says it. We would never do anything to compromise the historic nature of this city of this of this building. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Yes, sir. Anyone else? No, Mr. Mayor.
All right. So, let's please let's close the uh public comment. Uh we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Lada, if I can have clarification on the u motion language exactly. The motion language is to defer
the following item. No, no, it was broad. It was broader than Let's go through the Let's go through the mayor. Through the mayor. Yes. So the the the motion was to go ahead and defer it until we have the assessment completed
and presented. Okay. Now, let me answer. We're dealing with the windows. We're not dealing with the assessment of the entire building. They're two separate things. Let's not conflate issues. Okay? The assessment will be done for the entire building. If we wait for that, it could be six months to another nine
months to have the entire assessment done. So, we've been talking about this for a long time. We need to move forward in one form or another. Right. So, crystal clear. Thank you for that. No. Mr. Clerk. Commissioner Lara. Sorry. It's no. Thank
you. Vice Mayor Anderson? No. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Mayor Lago? No. Okay. So, now we finished that. The item before us is moving forward with the windows. As discussed, there's a there's a little bit of refinement that needs to be done. By the way, just so
we're aware, the Builmore windows, because I know it's going to come up and I want to put it on the record, when they were replaced, the historic gem, uh, they used aluminum cladding on on those windows. Um, so it was good for the bill more again and they're
appropriate for the bill more and they went through the process. We are considering the premier window in the world. I haven't seen anything better than this. I mean, this is an exceptional product that will do justice to this building. We have an option
here. We're never going to find perfection. Let's not allow good to be the enemy. Perfect. Perfect be the enemy of good, excuse me. Uh, and let's move forward with an opportunity here to finally address this issue. Remember, Ariel Fernandez, Commissioner Fernandez
said, "Mayor, this is under your watch. This is your legacy. We will get this done. This commission will be the ones that address the preservation. Just like when Karia came to me and asked me about the whiteway lights, we got the whiteway lights addressed. Just when we asked about issues like the gondola building,
we got it funded. Just like when we asked issues of historic importance. Uh for example, the thing studio, we bought it and we got it corrected. So there's a litany of things that have been addressed here in regards to historic preservation. We're not going to get perfection, but we have to get as close as we can. And I think these windows do
it justice. Madam Vice Mayor, you have anything like that to add? My concern is that if the information comes back that we cannot achieve, you know, the, you know, the protection element of it. We
can only protect and keep if they accomplish both. and the existing windows, even if rehabilitated and put in with impact glass, will not protect the building.
So, am I correct, city manager? Yes. May through the mayor. Uh, even if you put impact glass, the the the impact glass is very thick. It doesn't really fit. In addition to that, the frames are very weak. So, any impact would go right
through the frame. So, There's just uh we could try to put as as good a glass as we can there but the actual frame is not there to actually support the window. They are quite weak windows uh designed in another era for under
different conditions. Uh basically keeping the wind for non-air conditioned space and without and this building was done in 1927 was a great building in 1927 under that under that technology. Right. And at that time they didn't have
impact glass to choose from. They didn't have the wind the NOA standards to consider. I mean that those facts just they didn't know how they didn't know much about hurricanes. They didn't have wind tunnel studies. They didn't have all all that knowledge. They did the
best they could under that under under those conditions. Uh remember that a hurricane is something that's just is probabilistic. Do you can happen it cannot happen. many many structures under Katrina had been there 400 years and were no longer there the day after.
So it's just a matter of how lucky do you feel and and so these kind of these these type of windows uh are just not not there for water intrusion, wind loading and and impact loading. Yeah. One of the last hurricanes that came
through this area, you can see that a tornado came through down my block because it topped and skipped on which trees it blew out and no one next to it wasn't affected. So, it's a probability as you indicated. My concern is if it if
it's if it comes back and and this is not going to be able to address the hinge issue, the rust issue, um termites, termites, all those types of issues, this body may need to take a different course as that's why I was asking you how much time you need. Can
do you need just until the August meeting? Vice Mayor and let's not forget if we use wood windows, they require a lot of a lot of continuous work. Any any product that we use has to be maintained and that's something that we have to have a maintenance schedule and we have to this is an older building. It's going
to require more maintenance and uh as the mayor knows from a construction point of view, the the older building is just uh it's it's going to be 100 years old soon in a few years there's there's there's more maintenance involved. So
whatever product we use, uh there's no such thing as maintenance free. Concrete is not maintenance free. People think that and that's why things deteriorate. And and metal is not maintenance free, but it'll be less maintenance if it's galvanized. Yes. And and we're and we're going to be looking into that. That's
one of the issues that you and I talked about that we're going to be discussing with with Hope along with some of the quality assurance issues and the hinges. So, if we vote today on this and we move forward, we're going to have some shop drawings or at least some rough shop
drawings in the next meeting in August or preliminary shop drawings so that we can address the finer details that are still pending like the hinges and and those type of things. If I may say, mayor, I would like to get them here before the August meeting and and see if we can wrap that up from uh from all the all the issues that we've just
discussed. Okay. So, are you making a motion that would require them to bring it back in August? I can pass the ga and make the motion. Okay. Pass the GAW when I make the motion. Well, not to bring it back in August. I want to move forward so we can already engage and then we can come back with with the finer details that are
pending the commission may have. For example, one of the items is the hinges and just move forward on the path on the course that we've set forward. It's time to check this box off and move on to the next item. No, I I I think that's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. No, I feel I feel we need to move forward,
but if it they can't check those boxes, we have an opportunity to readress. Oh, no. Of course, I have no issues with that. I mean, again, I I have I mean, having done this for almost two decades, um the process is really refined through the shop drawing process. And that's
where you're able to see dimensions. You're able to see each single window will be showcased in the shop drawing. you'll be able to see, you know, the hardware, the hinges, uh different applications, how does the how does the window open, extrusions, a lit of things
that again that you can really only see once you have the shop drawings in front of you. And uh all right, because I was in the favor of deferring so we could do that process, but if that's not going to be necessary, we're going to get this back here in in August to make that final decision, uh then I'll second it
through through the mayor. Yes. Uh yes, we we'll bring back uh shop drawings uh uh for various uh standard window types. We're going to be discussing all those issues with with hope and we will bring
we'll can do a presentation in in in the in the August meeting. It helps us to move forward because now I think everybody knows this is a viable project. we can move forward uh and and if there's any if there's any glitch in this which I don't which I don't see we
can we can discuss that in the in the August meeting sounds like we're going to provide them a a contract initially we have a lot of things to to actually take care of in uh during that time but if we know that this is a viable project then then I think we can all move
forward from that perspective and I think it would be good also for the manufacturer to know that we are negotiating uh for real. Okay. Um we have a motion and a second. Is there any further?
Yes, ma'am. So, you pass the gall. Excuse me. Yes, ma'am. Vice Mayor, you're you're running. Um I think any no further comment from the commission. I think we're ready for a vote. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor
Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, no. Mayor Log. Yes. Thank you. I think everybody's hungry. We'll take uh how does how does uh 20 minutes on 30 minutes? We can do 245. Is that fine?
Back. Thank you. Let's start off with H4. H4 is a resolution of the city commission accepting the recommendation of the chief procurement officer to award RFQ 2025-005 for architectural consulting services and negotiate a professional services
agreement with Burmeo Hamil and partners RJ heisen botto architects Gurimatu Mcarian Associates Ferguson Glasgow Shuster Sto and Agga's architecture the six highest ranked responsive responsible proposers pursuant to
section 2-7 763 the procurement code entitled contract award in Florida statutes 287.0555 known as the consultants competitive negotiation act mayor this these are for architects that we use on on an ongoing basis. Yes. Uh and for the smaller
projects in in lie of going to RFQ I called you out of order. I'm sorry. Get that blood going but I think this is pretty straightforward. It is. It is. Celeste Walker Harmon officer. This is a pool of a professional architectural that would be used for the public works
projects. So, thank you, Mr. Clerk. Do we have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. Close the public comment. Can I have a motion? I'll move it. Mr. Clerk, Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Commissioner L. Mayor Logo? Yes. Thank you very much.
H5. H5 is a resolution of the city commission authorizing an amendment to the fiscal year 2024 to 2025 annual budget to add 20 full-time positions and recognize the transfer of one $1,300,000 from the building reserve fund and to appropriate such funds to the building division and the general fund for the cost of the added positions and the
replacement of existing vehicles and equipment. Mr. Manager, excuse me, mayor. I was just getting a text from Anesto Pino. That's okay. Don't worry. But I get it. about about the windows. I'm sorry. Uh, madam city attorney, it was um Mr.
Manager, it's H5, which is the resolution authorizing the 20 full-time positions. Yes. Yes, of course. Uh, these are positions that will come through the enterprise fund instead of waiting for October 5th, October 1st. The uh we we want we would like to get
them on on the budget now and start um and start soliciting these these these positions. some of them will probably be very difficult to to to hire. So we we would like to start now and this has no impact on the general fund. Yes. So I'd
like to just put a quick comment. Um this is the effort of revamping the entire permitting process organically from within to provide the gold standard uh in regards to permitting. I've asked a manager and I hope my commission will give some input that the George Duo's
study be completed by September September 31st. sometime in September it be completed because I want to that's why we're moving forward quickly with hiring these individuals now so we can hopefully by January 1 uh already have a permitting process that again elevates
the quality standards and that we're providing the best in Miami date county and that we have a way of tracking wait times a process where we understand why someone is taking three or four reviews why is that person taking three or for
reviews. What is the reasoning behind it? Is it there is there a design flaw? Are they following the code? Is there a misunderstanding? What is the reasoning behind it? Something as simple as a painting as a roofing. Uh something should be moving through the system expeditiously. Uh so at the end of the
day, this is part of that revamping process which I think will make everyone in the commission and the city uh very very happy uh in regards to finally addressing this this process from within organically not depending on any outside consultants uh but doing things the
right way through our trusted staff and providing this this world-class service to everyone. not just a uh you know a pay service where if you can afford an extra 15 or 20% you get uh a
fast lane no everybody should get exceptional service worldass service may I yes may I say this was this was done in consultation with Mr. studios. We've had various meetings on this orchard change and it will be uh it will be um
part part of this presentation also. So this was not done without uh without a lot of uh input from and I and I recommend I recommend uh Commissioner Fernandez, Commissioner Castro, Commissioner Lada and the vice mayor since we don't speak I they may have already. I've had the pleasure of
sitting down with the ACM. I've had the DCM I've had Mr. Dios have conversations give your input. This is coming forward by September and we hope that with the leadership of staff and the manager and the DCM and the ACM and all the individuals who are involved, we can
really deliver on something world class, something that we can, you know, hold our head up high and say we're doing something exceptional that we're the envy of every other city in Miami Day County. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Perfect. Looking forward to Yes. just uh the comments that I have to to add to that
is not only is this critically important for the residents, but it's it's critically important for the future of Coral Gables. Um unfortunately, the the route that some developers have chosen to take is to bypass our city and use other means, whether it be, you know,
county uh going through an RTZ process or the live local act. Um and the reality is we need to really tighten things down and be able to get people to a site plan much much quicker. Now um deputy city manager unfortunately was
the um the victim of the uh walking and knocking that I was doing because every single time I identified an issue that someone you know hadn't felt comfortable I guess or hadn't reached out to the city on I was passing it on. So that was
more data in the hopper for uh making decisions on where we had existing problem and where we need to resolve it. So I'm fully supportive of using the enterprise fund. It's not taxpayer dollars, but this is uh applying that money to where it needs to improve
services. Thank you. The mayor commissioner, I'm sorry, commissioner. Yes. So I I think this is a I think this is a good idea. The only thing with this is that it gives me a little bit of heartburn because hiring 20,
I'm contradicting myself a little bit, but hiring 20, it's a reoccurring expense. These 20 positions, I think, is I think it's going to make a great difference with the type of service that we're giving, but I'm just worried about
moving forward um with 20 more employees. How many employees does that department have? We've got uh probably 20 employees will put us probably at 120 something like that. 120 110. However,
however, uh we we we've looked at how much we have in the enterprise fund and we've looked at how much how much uh what those permit fees are. This was worked out with with the input of George Duos and and so we are not we don't feel
that that's going to be an issue as far as far as maintaining that that high level of service. So we so we do um have a recession right and let's say 5 10 years in you expect for us to be to have enough
revenue to go ahead and cover all these employees. the way that we establish our our our permitting fees are not are not based on large projects or based on small projects. Large projects are are viewed as additional uh projects that may or or may not come in. So we we've
already looked at that when we originally did the the existing permit fees. So so the the we have a lot of smaller projects and our permit fees are based on that. they're now based large larger projects are based provide additional income into the enterprise
fund and in in in addition to that if you look at uh let's say we have a major recession and our permit fees go down to 50%. One year of one one year of maintenance of the overall cost will will provide two years uh of of that we
can sustain the uh the uh development services. So two years of that will provide four. And if you look at most recessions by two by by two to three years we're out of it and and getting back into into another boom. If you look
at the 2009 2008 2009 recession by by 2011 we we were we were out of it and I can tell you that in Miami we were booming. So, so the idea is to is we actually with with two years we're actually dealing with with four years
because of the fact that even though permits again even though permits reduced by 50% we have two years of of operating capital. So if if we're if our recession is not over in five years we got big we have really big problems. So given the statement you just told me and
trusting that you said you formulated this and and it's well formulated um just in case things don't go as well. I will be a guest vote on this, but just based on the statement you said. So, so let me let me just let's go back one second.
So, one year is $1.3 million, correct? What is what is the 1.3, right? There's $30 million in cash in a bank account. I know trembles a little bit when I say that. So stop looking for excuses to shoot this down and just say we found a
better option than doing it in the private sector. We're not going to go single source with a person who wants to control our building department. We're going to do it in house with competent staff and we're going to get this done. We want world-class service. We're going
to get world class service. We're finishing a study. It'll be done in September. It's okay to say, "Hey, we have competent people who are at the helm who actually studied this, who actually led a building department in city man, who led a building department in the city coral gables, who know what they're
doing. And look at this incredible staff that we have. Look at this. They're amazing." And we're listening to to our consultant, George Duos, who was brought in, not under you, correct? That was brought on before. Yes, before. Correct. I want to be clear. Um he's person who lives in this
community, has an exceptional reputation. He's done this in other places and other cities and at the end of the day he understands through the meetings that I've had. I recommend that you meet with him and you have a conversation. He knows like the ACM which I sat down and we had a conversation. I think it was what a week
and a half ago right in front of the city manager's office with George Dios and said I want excellence. We're going to spend this money. We're going to hire these individuals and we're going to do the study. I want excellence. I don't want excuses. I want by January 1st to be humming on all
cylinders. I'm more than willing to give you the time. Let's get this done. Let's hire people. Let's not wait for the study to be done. The study was supposed to be done in December. Correct. Yes. I said we're getting it done by September 31st. I want to take October, November, December to roll out. Let's start hiring
people. Let's get this done. Excuse me. I'm not done. You don't need to be a permit expediter to figure this out. I'm in this industry. I do this every day. You're the mayor. It's this is about efficiencies and this is about getting
things done and accountability. Madam vice mayor, I'll move it. Okay. Through the mayor. Great. Through the mayor. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. Stop politicizing everything. Okay. If you didn't hear me, I said I was going to be a yes. So, yes.
So, for you to say I I just It's going to be a yes vote. I don't know. I You have selective hearings. Sometimes it's a yes vote. I am in all my right to ask questions when it comes to fiscal responsibility. That's one of my duties. As I said, I
was going to be a yes. So, Commissioner, you lost that right when you raise your salary without having the input of of a commission or the res. Okay, stop interrupting me. I did it. That's it. Over. The conversation's over. Nothing more. Mr. Mr. Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and
a second. Mr. M. Mayor, I have members of the public request to speak on this item. Yes, Mr. Mary Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road.
Oh my god. So now, not only can you shut the residence down, now you can tell the commissioner she lost her right to ask questions. Wow, what power. All right,
I'm looking at H5 and I'm really very concerned because we had a budget meeting what about two weeks ago and we were concerned about spending money
for because the year 2027 was going to be tough. We needed to hold on to the money. That's what I heard that day. Maybe things have changed and we were also concerned about adding positions. But today,
oh my god, this is the enterprise money. We have $30 million in the enterprise account. I believe that's what it's called. And now we're going to we're going to move money so we can have 20 positions. You know what?
Maybe maybe it may be a good idea because I think this enterprise money and this is what um Surami Cara was talking about money from from permits and so forth and so on and we've been holding to it $30 million and we have
people we have code enforcement officers that knock on doors and they don't have uniforms because we haven't been able to buy them uniforms. You know, it's interesting. We have money when we want to use it. When we don't want it, we don't have it. We say
one thing two weeks ago, the first budget meeting. Now we I'm telling you, I got a a text from somebody who said, "Maria, get some rubber boots because you're going to be waiting in a lot of
stuff." Okay. So today we are going to take money from the building reserve fund to fund 20 full-time positions. Even though a few days ago we didn't want to add positions. Well, now we do. Even though
we were worried about what would happen in 2027, I guess we're not worried about 207 anymore. We're going to have plenty of money. That's it, Mr. Mayor. Uh, thank you, Mr. Manager. Good question. Are you aware
that um code enforcement officers do not have uniforms? No. Can we use Can we use uh enterprise money to buy uniforms? Uh no, mayor. It's it's it's code enforcement, but we will use uh our general fund to buy uniforms. So, this is what I tell you constantly. This is
the constant misinformation, the efforts to mislead, misguide statements that are made. Um it's the same repetitive nature over and over and over and over again over. It's an effort to mislead the community, the business community. Um but again, it didn't work at the
election and it's not working now. Um any further uh statements or any further public comment? Uh no, Mr. Mayor. Perfect. Do we have a motion? Yes, sir. We do. Let's move forward. Thank you. Commissioner Castro,
yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson. Yes. Mayor Lago. Yes. Wow. Unanimous. Beautiful. I love it. Excited about the future for the building department. We're going to get it done together with our wonderful employees. Great work.
Moving on to H6. H6 is a resolution of the city commission authorizing the city manager to execute a temporary license agreement between the city of Coral Gables and Pedrio Arte with regard to the retail space located at 290 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, Florida 33134 for a term of 6 months August 1st, 2025 through January
31st, 2026. Good afternoon everyone. Belis Perez with the economic development department. This is the property at 290 Miracle Mile. It's being used as a popup space. So, we had a pop-up tenant that ended up being Oh, if I could pull up the power. Sorry.
Here we go. I'm sorry. Okay. So, we had a a tenant that ended up being in the space for a few years. Um, they vacated the space on March 31st, and this was a a great opportunity for us to reestablish that pop-up program. The
goal of the program is to activate the vacant storefront to energize the area through creative short-term business installations. you uh have an enhanced pedestrian experience while the business uh test the Coral Gables market. So, it's a really Miracle Mile is definitely
the place to um have a popup. Uh we wanted the business to go through this program to get their name out there, establish some clients, and then move on to a long-term lease in another location in the Central Business District. So, we've got the terms here listed.
Basically, what we're uh the program was established in 2019. Uh it is a six-month popup with the option to renew for an additional six months at the city's discretion. There's a security deposit due. There's base rent of $2,000
with with an estimated 3% uh sales tax. Utilities are included. They must meet the city's signage policy. And we do want them to be open at specific hours because we do want to attract more people and we want um our other businesses on Miracle Mile to see that
it is okay to open late. We want to keep to have people um frequent our downtown after they finish eating and um continue shopping there. So Monday through Saturday 10 to 8:00 p.m. Sundays 10 to 5. Um there are other requirements. We
had a total of four applicants uh of which two met the sub the submission requirements and were deemed complete. The economic development team coordinated some structured uh internal evaluation process. Um they structured an internal evaluation process and then
uh included four separate meetings with senior leadership to review the applicant materials and gather some feedback. And in that review process um you know we focused on program alignment, business concept viability, community impact and application
readiness. And so based on the consensus, feedback and alignment with the program goals, Pedr was selected as the top candidate. Alejandro Pedrio is the artist. He is a contemporary Cuban artist uh proposing a
gallery space and art studio. So, it won't be uncommon to pass by and see him working on an art piece, which is something that was appealing for us. Uh, he plans to have other artists exhibit in the space as well and plans to include possible ceramics and art uh
workshops and uh will also sell a variety of pieces uh at different price points, which is also good. So, Alejandro was a resident artist at a gallery just two storefronts from where the studio is. He is highly motivated
and u made it a point to be a part of the community. He has hosted groups of seniors, art talks and community art projects while res uh while a resident artist and he knows how to activate a space in creative ways. Uh Pedrio Arte
will uh participate in gallery night and s serve to enhance the cultural offering that is available in the downtown community. And that's our presentation. Thank you. Uh Mr. Clerk, do we have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. Okay.
Close of public comment. We have a motion. I'll move it. I'll second. Mr. Cler, you have a motion and a second. Commissioner Lara, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Mayor Log, yes. Thank you. Thank you.
Great work. Welcome. Moving on to H7. H7 is a resolution of the city commission retroactively authorizing the acceptance of amendment number one for grant number 24HSC 900.117 from the state of Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources
for a six-month extension to the agreement from June 30th, 2025 to December 31st, 2025 for the Coral Gables Venetian Structural and Surface Repair and Renovation Grant in the amount of $500,000. Mr. Clerk, do we have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. Okay.
Good afternoon sir. Good afternoon Merc director. Um so so this is a grant for the ongoing work um at the Venetian pool and you know fortunately you know this older buildings you find stuff you open up a wall and and so the work is taking a little longer than you expected. So we're working through that. So this is
an extension of the grant until the end of the year but we time we should be absolutely completed for this job. Okay. Move it. Second it. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes.
Commissioner Castro, yes. Mayor Lavo, yes. Thank you, sir. H8. H8 is a resolution of the city commission accepting the recommendation of the chief procurement officer to award the purchase and installation of an emergency generator to AGC Electric, Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the estimated
amount of $574,55 pursuant to section 2-763 of the procurement code entitled contract award and request for proposal IFB2025003. Madam director SL Walker Harmon chief comm officer um this is a solicitation that was issued on behalf of the public
works department. Um we had five biders and this is the lowest responsive bidder. This um particular emergency generator is for the trolley depot that's located on Dixie Highway. Mr. Manager. through the mayor uh mayor commissioners uh the trolley building
has our our backup 911 system this is this is key and that building is also design it's a modern building designed to current code and so and with our backup system I think this is important as far as backup power for for 911 let me ask a question Mr. manager. Could
this potentially be intertwined in next year's appropriations due to the fact that it's it's has a significant uh lead time? Yeah. Right. Has a significant lead time on the front and it's also excuse me on the back. I apologize that on the front also, but it also um is
just so intertwined with public safety and I know that the state of Florida, you know, really looks positively on appropriations that have to deal with public safety or or infrastructure. I just want to maybe while we have to wait such a long time for this lead item, maybe we can add this into our
appropriations. Also, because my understanding is um as we've been briefed, this year's um this year's House and Senate will be convening early. So, there could be an opportunity to
maybe slip this in. I don't know. I leave it up to you, Mr. Manager. Thinking about different ways maybe we can cover half the cost. We can certainly try, Mayor. Okay, we can surely try. Let's Let's We will do that. Let's see. Never know. So, move to
defer. Yeah. No, no, no. Move to keep going. That's it. Just I mean, again, but it's going to be such a long time. Maybe we can figure out a way to cover half the cost uh through through an appropriation of the state because again, I don't think it gets any more important than than than when you talk about public safety about the redundancy that's required that's going to be
brought forward by this by this uh machinery. Mr. Clerk, we have a motion, a second. No, sir. Okay. And I'll second. All right. Unless you did. That's okay. It's okay. I need more coffee.
Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and a second. Yes, sir. We do. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Commissioner Lada? Yes. Mayor L? Yes. Thank you very much. H9. H9 is a resolution of the city commission accepting the recommendation to wave the competitive bid process of the
procurement code and contract with Gavarza, Inc. for the construction of temporary offices for the mayor and commissioners at the Minorca garage located at 254 Minora Avenue in an estimated amount of $636,481 or not to exceed the available budget pursuant to section 2-691 of the procurement code titled special
procurement/bid waiver. Mr. Director, so this is part of the overall plan for the renovation of city hall where eventually um the mayor and the commissioner's office will be moved to the miracle garage for the duration of the renovation. Um even though this is
asking to bypass the procurement code, we actually asked for bids and um through an informal quicker process and uh Gavete was by far the cheapest. So we ask your permission to proceed uh with the recommendation to wave the
competitive bid process and award the contract to Gavetto. Otherwise, the process will take significantly longer. But I just want to make sure that we actually went ahead and ask for bids for a different vendor. So it's not that we're we didn't go into this blindingly. Okay. Mayor. Yes. Uh, mayor, we we did receive three bids. This is the uh
lowest lowest bidder. We have worked with with them before. This is part of the process of restoring city hall is moving the city commission to uh the minora garage. And then, of course, at at that time, we will, as I mentioned before, because the tax collector has
has the area just to the to the west of this area, we will be moving into a building on ponds. And then that way we can leave the building sometime in January. Uh do any any exploratory demo, anything we need and and hopefully uh wrap up construction documents and start
construction with our with our CMR uh in June of next year. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Do you have any public comment? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Okay. Mr. Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. I'm
sorry that I didn't bring my binder with all the minutes because I seem to remember that when the commissioners were moved, when most of the people that were in this building were moved out of here,
the commissioners had offices in the police and fire building and then they were brought back here because there was no reason not to be here. And now we are going to spend over
half a million dollars to fix offices that they had there, but now they're not going to be there. They're going to be at the garage. You know what? I have enough to look for in the minutes
because we changed. You know, we didn't have to be out of here. Now we have to be out of here. Uh very confusing. And I have oh the next one I'll I'll ask on the next one because I have a question on the next one too. Interesting.
All right. So to clarify that again in an effort to confuse the public as much in an effort to confuse the public as much as possible. This is another example. You see it here clearly in front of you. Conflate confuse and make sure that you just terrorize people here while you sit in the back and you laugh
and laugh and laugh. So and speak under your breath. So the point is that you're only embarrassing yourself. Just you understand that. Um my office and the vice mayor has never left here. We've been here. There was no need to move to the other building. Let me tell you
where the offices were because I went there a few times to visit. The offices were located where we have all our giant TVs when there's a natural disaster. They took offices and they had people sitting in the cubicles in front of the
na who the the first the EOC EOC basically it's a giant room probably twice the size of this room and people were just sitting there for example the DCM had his office there he had a corner office the old manager had an office there uh Lena and certain members of the
manager's team were had their office there what what Maria Cruz is trying to do again is saying that is is is saying again trying to confuse there was no money spent here on on offices these they just sat cubicles and existing
offices. What is going to be done right now, I'm going to have the DCM come up or the manager, depending on how the manager would like to handle it, to explain to you where these offices are, where they're located, so you can understand the money that's being spent. Okay, Mr. Manager, please explain. Yes,
Mr. Mayor. This is part of the original plan. Yes, part of the original plan, which was to move to the bottom of the Minorca of the of the Minorca parking garage. Let's stop that one second. May I? Okay. That is a brand new parking garage. The current state of that space
is called a gray shell. Correct. Yes, ma'am. What is a gray shell? It's there's no interiors and there's no floor. So, it's never been built out. So, what you're doing is over the over there. How long is the extent of this renovation of this building? It could be it could be a year and a
half. Two years. Two years. Okay. So, we're going to renovate those offices and when we're done with those offices, those offices will be used for other other city business or maybe we'll lease it out or like we did with the tax collector Danielle Fernandez where now
they're offering licensing and a line of other opportunities. Maybe we do like for example the passport offices or maybe some who knows maybe there's so much business we can or we move other employees there. But again, in an effort to confuse, mislead,
and act like there's a ton of money being wasted, this was always the plan. Nobody moved into offices over there. They were literally stand they were literally in the EOC sitting down in tables. That's where was that's where they were. Mr. Manager. Thank you,
Mayor. Thank you. Uh we also uh the community meeting rooms were also designed as com as uh with the communications and everything necessary to to be a commission space because we knew that when the move when when we have to leave city hall that we needed a
place to function. So the original plan was to use the bottom of the Monorca garage and then the the C the community meeting rooms the CMR rooms were designed the CMR was designed as a commission space so we could run commission meetings at that time because
we knew that we had to leave this building for a year maybe a year and a half hopefully maybe two years and so and so part of uh of the planning was always to use the the bottom of the Minorca garage for our purposes.
Now, we built something for the city clerk and we that we were going to mod modify for ourselves, but uh but it really is a is a is a interior design that works extremely well for the for the tax collector. So, why not rent it to the tax collector for the next 15 15
or 15 years when we can when we can go ahead and lease space a block away for a couple of years and then and then and then when we finish city hall, I'll come back to city hall. So the the plan did change because we weren't expecting the tax collector but actually u was not
unexpected because that that space was excellent for that is it's it's already the the tenant improvements are are already done for that. So, so this was this was the D plan. There was uh the we were we were in the EOCC emergency operations center and we move we've
moved back to leave the the fire chief with entire EOC which we are now as a matter of fact running a simulation there in a in a week simulation. So remember remember again I have to put on the record the building
is not falling. It never was. That was just a statement to mislead and to create more chaos before an election. That was the only reason why it was done. I'm sorry to be so honest with you, but at the end of the day, that's what was happening as a result of
election that occurred here. So moving forward, we continue to address issues like renovating this building because like Commissioner Fernandez said, who's not here with us today. This is under my watch, under this commission's watch, and we will address it through the leadership and assistance of all the
employees, the amazing employees that we have because I have faith and confidence in all of you, Mr. Clerk. Yes, sir. We're done. This item, we take a vote. I do not have a motion on this item. Mr. May, I'll move it.
Second. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Mayor Logo? Yes. H11. H11 is a resolution of the city commission directing the city manager and city attorney to re to negotiate and execute an agreement with state
representative Demi Busatada for use of certain office space at the city hall annex building for a one-year period. Mr. manager. Thank you. Thank you, mayor, commissioners. Uh this this space is something that we had been discussing for some time with state representative Demi Busada. Uh I think it's it's great
uh for to to have uh this this this intergovernmental activity in in this building. I think the residents will will benefit from easier access to state level resources and and representation. And uh this is a one-year term. We we
the city uh attorney and I will look at all the logistical details and I think I think it's a great asset to have the state representative here. Okay. Any further comment from the commission? Other than it's going to be excellent to have her uh available nearby. I move it.
And I want to thank our governmental affairs director for get making this possible. She met with uh Demi multiple times over the phone and in person and made this happen finally. We've been talking about this for about four years now and it's come to fruition. And also thank you to all the employees that renovated the facility. They worked hard
over the last few months. The representative was ecstatic when she uh I wasn't there. I heard uh from the director that that that uh that she was ecstatic about the location and it's going to be great to to have someone who's has such a significant role in the
appropriations process literally 10 ft from our front door. It's a great thing. We welcome her with open arms. Um we have a motion. Yes. Can I get a Can I get a second? Yes. Second. Okay. I'm sorry, Mr. We're ahead of you, Mr.
Clerk. Do you have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. All right, Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Mayor L? Yes. G3. Have I missed that one? G3 is a resolution of the city commission confirming the appointment of
Raul Desfali nominated by commission as a whole to serve as a member of the arts advisory panel for a two-year term which began on June 1st, 2025 and continues through May 31st, 2027. I'll move it. Second, Mr. Clerk, any public comment? Uh, no, Mr. Mayor, but I
do believe um so the city commission has two board as a commission as a whole appointee appointments to the arts advisory panel at this point. Would you happen to have another name you would want to nominate for this seat? I don't, but I have a I have we'll go over some other stuff. Do I have somebody else?
Yes. What did I say? Sorry. Bear with me. I know you told me. Ray Corral. Thank you for reminding me. Everybody knows Ray. Yes. Doing great things here in the city. I'll move it.
I'll second. When can I go over the final appointments that I have also that I want to bring up some? Can I do it now? Yes, sir. All right. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Lada? Yes. Mayor Lago. Yes. Um, we have uh we have some openings
also here. For example, firefighter pension trust historic. We also have an opening historic preservation board. I'd like to I'd like to uh nominate for historic preservation board Ruben Rodriguez to be appointed to the board. Mr. Mayor, if you don't mind, I would like to bring you that appointment at
the next commission meeting only to because there's certain positions that have to be checked for that board and I want to make sure Mr. Rodriguez meets that requirement. Perfect. Um, I also I have two people that I wanted to appoint. Um, does anybody have any other boards that they would like to to fill? I have
a cultural development board which is not empty, but obviously I have to and I have some emergency. Did I tell you that Commissioner Keon wanted to be appointed? Can I point it to my emergency management board? Emergency management division. Okay.
Does anybody have anybody they want to know? You had um cultural opening. You said I do. Yes. And and I and I do have somebody. You do? Okay. Yeah. So So let's put him at the next meeting because I got to tell my my appointment that that I've got to remove that he's being turned out basically through the
mayor. Yes, ma'am. There was three items that just came up and I was in the bathroom. My vote for those three items is yes. Thank you, ma'am. Does anybody have any other appointments? I'm working on it. So, for the mayor to
appoint uh former commissioner Patricia Keon to the emergency management division. May I have a motion, please? Motion. Move it. Second. All in favor? I. Thank you. I'd also like to, like I said before, um,
consider Ruben Rodriguez for the board. I I will bring it at the next commission. Perfect. Thank you. I have no I have nothing else. No other appointments. Okay. Now, let's start with commission
commission items. F1. F1 is a resolution of the city commission directing city staff to extend the resident parking rate pilot program through the date of the first city commission meeting in January 2026 to collect additional data in order to better determine the long-term feasibility of a resident parking rate. Mayor and commissioners,
I'm excited to have our legal intern present this item. Oh, how are you? I'm good. How are you? Good. Can you please state your name for the record? Yes. I'm Juliet Vorhees and I'm an intern for the city attorney's office. Where do you go to school? Uh University of Miami. What year are you in? 1L. I'm going into 2L
year. Congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations. How long have you been here in the city? Um I say about a month. Yeah. What? About a month. How are you liking it? I love it. Yeah. We're blessed to have you. I loved working, meeting everybody. I've learned so much already. So really grateful.
Well, it's a blessing to have you here. Thank you. Thank you. Do the mayor. Yes, ma'am. Quick question, Joanne. So, yes. Two questions. One, what was your favorite subject year one? Oh, um I would say property. Least favorite subject.
Your zoning attorney. I'm I'm trying to calibrate this. Least favorite. That's a hard question. Um I would say maybe towards just because that wasn't my favorite
thing, but not not feeling litigator in the in the future. In the future. Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Um, okay. So, as you may remember, on February 11th, 2025, the city commission adopted a resolution 2025-28,
which directed staff to implement a pilot program offering registered city residents a 25% discount for hourly rate street parking, mu municipal lots, and certain city own parking garages. The program is scheduled to end on July 6, but this resolution proposes extending
the pilot through the date of the first commission meeting on January, 2026. This would allow staff to further collect additional data and analyze the impact of reduced parking rates for the city. Thank you for presenting it. Thank you. Thank you for your time.
Thank you, Commissioner. Yeah. Monica, do you have anything to add to to this item to to this resolution? Monica Beltran, director for parking sustainability and mobility services. So I'm happy to report that the program
continues to grow. The uh waif revenue is very manageable. We now have 1,400 tags registered and I've received positive comments about the program. How much is it costing the city? It's less than 1%.
It's about 80 85 cents for transaction. It's a very minimal uh waving of revenue and having changed the way that we accept funds um in the credit card the credit card funds. How does how does that does this
become a net neutral when you reduce the 25% and you add the credit card fund the final the credit card fee on top of it? What does that equal to the resident? actually because we now wave transaction fees for for um credit card transactions
actually um through mo mobile payments such as pay by phone and soon park mobile with the new contract we wave the transaction fee which is 35 cents and um the credit card fee is 25. So actually
that more than neutralizes it actually helps residents. So this is separate and apart from the So there's no So there's no credit card fee anymore. Zero. The the credit card fee exists but it's 25 cents. And the transaction fee when you
use a mobile system like pay by phone which is 35 cents is being waved for all residents. That's just part of the contract that we negotiated. All right. Anything else for the good of the order? I'll
move it. I'll second. Okay, Mr. Mayor, I have a member of the public requesting to speak on the item. Mrs. Mary Cruz. This is Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. I guess I'm going to surprise the mayor because I think this is very good what I
hear. I do not uh I haven't reg my my car because usually my daughter drives and she doesn't live in the city and I didn't want to commit fraud and have her drive my car. So when she drives, she
pays the the parking. Um, but I have heard from so many people that said that they used to avoid coming downtown, coming to Miracle Mile and to restaurants here and this is an incentive.
They are so happy that this is in place. As a matter of fact, the other day we had a meeting at church and there were three ladies that asked me, "How do I go about it?" I said, "I don't know. You go online or call Monica and she'll tell you what to do." It is one of the things
that we have done that people are very happy with. Okay. Anything else? No, Mr. Mayor. Perfect. We have a motion. We have Yes, sir. We do. We have a second. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Mayor Logo? Yes. All right, moving on. F2. So, after years of discussion with the
manager, we have I laugh because this is an item that we have not agreed on. You're both laughing. We have not agreed on, but I think that I finally beat him down. I think I got him. This is a $200,000 a
year cost. Am I correct? The budget was around the correct. Tell me what is it? Mr. D. Excuse me. It varies. Not even, but you're not wrong. Okay. Around there.
I want to give credit where credit is. Do the managers tried everything? Okay. To not to not throw in the the the yellow the white towel, excuse me. Uh we've tried a 12-in slab to try to hold up the pavers. We've tried different
setting systems. I've been there with him. I was there when the manager and I started the project when we basically started removing the asphalt. This was 10 years ago, I think, right? 80 years ago. I can't remember the exact date. It looks beautiful, but it doesn't make
sense. The amount of maintenance, the amount of work to make sure that these cross crosswalks maintain, it's not economically feasible. And not only that, when you have to maintain them, you literally are in the middle of construction on Miracle Mile.
And it pains me to say it, but when I see something like this that we're just throwing money, good money at bad, there's no way. We've tried everything to engineer a way where the where those pavers can handle the load. There's no way. There's no way. When you're talking about trucks, garbage trucks,
construction, when you're talking about heavy duty vehicles, it pains me to say it. We we have to remove these pavers and we've got to just go to a you know some sort of last American paint, asphalt, concrete. I leave that up to the manager. Uh there's just no way it's unfeasible financially to continue doing
this. Sorry. I think I think we lost this battle. Madam Vice Mayor, anything you like to add? I I concur. The um people with women's, you know, women's heels getting stuck between the grooves. The trip hazards is continuous.
So, um, yes, when it comes around to crosswalks, no papavers, please, ever, ever. I think that, as far as I thought you were, and I think the city attorney would be very happy because it limits their liability. Um, and I've been there where I've seen multiple people fall just papers are a mess. Papers are a
mess. You're the mayor. Yes. Yeah. I myself have has have fallen. Um, one of my heels got stuck in one of the papers crossing Miracle Mile. I'm just I'm just not completely satisfied with
this. This is the heart of our downtown these crosswalks. I'm not satisfied with the alternative that we are probably exploring. Um I don't think it's very eye appealing, especially given it's the center of our downtown. I do think something needs to be done.
I just I don't know if there's any way to consider something else than just putting asphalt. You done? Commissioner, the manager and I have been discussing this for years. We brought this up. I think the DCM will tell you I copy him
on text messages every day. I deal with all issues facing the community how many times we we've talked about this. We have done everything we possibly can from a 12-in slab that was installed below. We've tried to find every solution possible.
Do you have a solution? I'm open for anybody to come forward with a solution. I've asked and with all due respect, if Peter and the DCM cannot figure out a solution, I don't know of anybody that can because
it's not the infrastructure. It's the paver. The PA cannot handle the load. It's a stress on the paver. And you know, again, we all I have all faith in Mr. Diaz. We've been working together for a long time. He's a straight
shooter. Do you see anything that will actually work? We've been talking about this for a while. Do you see any option that we could ex that we haven't exhausted already to address this issue? Nothing that will mimic those favors. I mean, there there's plethora of products you can put out there, but maybe those
favors um you know, and the manager and I have that discussion, the favors are very brittle. And on top of that, because they're not um they're not really construction paper, so they're not interlocking. So, they So, so it's a it's a combination of both of those things. So, I mean, they're all
the things, but they're not going to match the look of those pages. I don't I The reason why I bring that up is because just like the windows here, we have to eventually take action. We have to stop.
We have to move on. Someone's going to get hurt. We talk about want to avoid liability. Someone has to move forward. If you're in a wheelchair, you're a person with a cane, you're an elderly person, this is a nightmare. So again, I don't want to do this. Trust
me, it's not going to be the most to remove the papers. Again, goes against the aesthetic of the project, but we got to do something. You're the mayor. Yes, ma'am. May I suggest that there's other things we can do to beautify the mile
other than pavers? because most people walk looking straight up, not looking straight down because you need to look at where you're going. You can do lighting, you can do decorations, we can activate more things, uh,
lots of different considerations. I I will hand that over to our esteemed staff to make suggestions, put it through the boards if necessary as to be the best solution that will both attract shoppers
and uh make the the mile beautiful. So, one of the things that I wanted to add on to this because we're going to bring it back to the commission with directive in August is I'm not taking this money, this $200,000 a year away from Miracle Mile. I want to inject that money back
into the mile in line with what the vice mayor was saying. We were talking about that. We're talking about that with the manager, the team, and the agenda. I don't want to take the money away from it. Let's use that money. Let's do something beautiful with landscaping, which Dena has done an amazing job with landscaping. By the way, the clock is
back. We fixed the rust. Fix the rust. Um, can we make sure that when they're watering the plants, they're not overwatering and the tree and and the clock gets even more water on top of it. Thank you. Um, so my point is that uh if staff by the
next commission meeting can come back with ideas on what to spend the money on, you know, we don't have to spend it all. We spend the money on go back to the general fund. But if you tell me, "Hey, Vince, we want to hang some planters, we want to do some this, we want to do some that." Uh, we want to try to maybe beautify some electrical,
you know, some electrical that's that's there. Uh, for example, on ponds, if you see there's some exposed electrical that we've been removing slowly, maybe we can spend the money to get that all taken care of. If you look in front of, by the way, Sushi Maki, there's there's some there's some there's some planters there that are awful. They're covered with
asphalt. Maybe we cut that cut that section out and redo it and make it look beautiful. It's in front of the salad place. I've sent you photos of that many, many times. So, Mr. Clerk, I'd like to put this on the agenda for the next commission meeting with action and for the manager team to put together, you know, something to spend that money
on and we can have it reoccurring for projects like, hey, let's let's address this sidewalk which is broken. Let's do this planter. Let's put these trees. Something that again continues to beautify since we're taking away from these crosswalks. If you told me in August when we come back, Vince, I have
an idea for the crosswalks, we can save them. I'm I'm willing to listen, but you're not going to find a PA that matches that that's stronger. These are brittle pavers. It's impossible. Mr. Manager, uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh they are very
brittle. Brittle brittle materials like that, I'm not surprised they have a cyclic load issue where where they're continuously pounded and uh whereas that problem is not a problem on the sidewalk or on on the parking areas. So uh what we can do
is in August is bring back various let's look at what alternatives we have um other than than than those papers and we can present to the commission so that so that we can see we're going to look at at all options there and see but but I I
do think it's a material issue. We we we've tried everything. We've tried to minimize stress on them. But it's a brittle it's a brittle material and brittle materials tend to be subject to cyclic load which is that continuous pounding as trucks and cars and everything move through it. So and
if we could if we could work it pains me to say that as you know if we could work with the manager your team the commission speak with my colleagues speak with bell keys the ACM the DCM miss you know whoever whoever has any input in regards to Miracle Mountain downtown
and say what can we do with this $200,000 put together a little budget. I just gave you an example in front of the salad place, that sidewalk looks horrible. Looks horrible. The alleyway behind Hillstones, you know, you could do something with that money. You could attack two or three nice projects a year. Um, you know, to really address
issues. And I think over a few years, you can really address some issues that that I think are affecting that we've kind of not addressed because we have bigger fish to fry, you know. Is that fine? Do you need action? We will bring it back. No, we will bring it back in August and we'll look at different
alternatives and different things that we could do at that crosswalk and we'll we'll do a presentation to the commission. Okay. To make a decision. Mr. Clerk, please put it on the agenda. Uh item F3, Commissioner Fernandez is not here, so we'll defer the item.
F4. F4 is mine. I Chief Deere we go. Chief, I was waiting for you. Chief de la Rosa I have um this discussion is the CFA deferred the accredititation for the Coral Gables
fire department. Um there was a news article and then I started getting I don't know many calls regarding this and I think it's just good to clear the air and to put the facts on the table. Thank you chief. Thank you. So
you bear with me. The sole mission of the Coral Gables Fire Department is the safety and security of our residents. And that mission is accomplished. And the public trust that this community
places on us is relied on by the men and women of the Coral Gables Fire Department. Their dedication, their professionalism, their effectiveness
is the cornerstone of what we refer to as the Coral Gables brand. That brand that is emblematic with the service that we provide. So it is unfortunate that the very
process that we use to push ourselves to be the best to selfanalyze ourselves and our effectiveness is misrepresented with a
political rhetoric of unsubstantiated allegations that have been presented time and time and again in various venues. ues that call into question the effectiveness of our firefighters of our department and that of our position
in this community. So to be clear, Coral Gable's Fire Department remains an accredited agency. In this reacredititation process, we were afforded an administrative deferral
which gave us more time to meet some of the documentation requirements that were asked of us. specifically an internal department strategic plan and an
enhanced community risk assessment as stated by the CFAI accreditation manager that I forwarded to all of you and the lead evaluator. This administrative deferral refers to
documentation and that we were a high performing organization to address some of the allegations that were made in the post that frankly were made to create political I'm excuse me
community concern and outcry. CFAI accreditation process impacts ISO. That is not factual.
ISO is an independent evaluation tool that we use to evaluate the effectiveness of our fire suppression program. We were evaluated in August of 2024
by ISO. At that time, we were awarded a score of 101.5 out of 105 possible points. Incidentally, a department needs 90 or better to be a class one.
The CFAI process, another allegation that was made is that the CFI process could possibly impact insurance rates of our businesses and our residents. That is not factual.
Only ISO classification has that impact and we are a class one which is the highest or best accredit uh classification that you can re reach achieve through ISO that the the CFAI process could impact
our ability to obtain grants. That is not factual. an ISO or CFAI accreditation does not preclude a department from applying or being awarded any grants. That the issue was due to staffing
shortages. We have 155 budgeted sworn positions. Currently, our department has 153. That includes the six that are in our
8-week academy and their graduate at the end of July. One of our current vacancy is a result of one individual that was hired and could not meet the requirements of the accredit of the academy. So that was the
seventh position that was hired. One vacancy occurred this past week from a firefighter that has resigned and is moving on. To be clear, between the end of July and
October, we will have three vacancies as a result of retirement. We're already in the process with the human resources department to open for applications and continue the hiring process to fill
those vacancies and any other subsequent vacancy. As a result, allegations were made that the current reacreditation process was a result of internal lack of internal
planning or secession plans. So, I'd like to highlight some of the accomplishments of my command staff and our firefighters in the last five years. First and foremost, the department led
in the response and recovery of COVID, including testing, vaccination, elderly support, providing direction for the reopening of our businesses and internal policies.
We have processed and hired a total of 66 firefighters. We have equipped, trained, and implemented a technical response team that already has had two significant v
victim rescues in complex incidents. Staff has coordinated the building of two fire stations, fire station 2 and fire station one, which includes our EOC and our headquarters.
We have provided a risk analysis and justification and have led to the approval and the current building of firehouse 4. That firehouse results this also in 15 new firefighters
and an additional fifth rescue added to the response. This is the greatest service enhancement since 1993. We were the first in the nation in 2020 to beta test a then remote accreditation
process to meet COVID restrictions of the time. We developed the risk community risk reduction division that consolidated all fire prevention and fire plans review
and new construction processes into one division. that has streamlined our construction inspection and plans review process where no plan sits for more than 5 days with the
average being two to three days of being processed. These are just some of the handful of accomplishments that have a direct impact on our community that were accomplished by our firefighters and my command staff in the last five years.
Throughout my tenure as fire chief, I've remained committed to work with past and present managers, mayor, and commissioners to achieve our sole mission
of protecting our residents and our visitors. Concurrent with that, I have worked with everyone involved to make sure that my firefighters are the best trained, equipped, and
supported. They are the cornerstone of our effectiveness of what we call the Coral Gables brand. So it is unfortunate that in our process of self-improvement
that gets mischaracterized and placed on posts as what we saw this week. Professionally and personally I tell you that our firefighters, our brand, and our community deserves better than that.
Thank you, Chief. And I think this is why it's so important that you came up here and spoke the truth, put the facts out there. Thank you. And I appreciate each and everyone in your department. Appreciate that. So
chief, quick question. Um, where was this article? Where was this post? This was posted on the Gables Gazette. Okay. So I want people to remember this is what you call politics.
Politics at its finest. This is David Paris, the head of the union, the same guy who goes out there and go scorched earth on people on their family. He went home by home spreading rumors
about me, handing out ridiculous flyers with the help of many other people in this community, some that are here sitting in this in this room. and they failed miserably. They lost by almost 20%. Remember,
we have amazing firefighters in this community. They're not represented by David Paris. David Paris is a disservice to the city. He's not a professional. He's a service to the fire union. He's a
service to the fire brand. and all he does is hurt himself and hurt this community. He thinks that by attacking and attacking and attacking and attacking he's going to achieve some sort of
goal for the fire department. All he does is embarrass the fire department and himself. So at the end of the day, what you see before you, Chief, is a commission that supports the
firemen and women. While we may not always agree, it may be union contracts, maybe issues, but at the end of the day, there has to be respect. And a person like David Paris who's willing to do whatever it takes to achieve a goal, hiding in the shadows,
my opinion, it is what it is. He's shown time and time again that he's nothing but a mere, pathetic individual who is desperate for attention and who never be taken
seriously. So I want to commend you on your leadership. I want to commend these two gentlemen here who work day and night to uphold the brand that is the City of Coral Gables Fire Department.
I want to say thank you to the men and women that I run into when I was getting ice cream this weekend on their break after having four calls in the middle of the night and we spent a good 15 minutes having a conversation. We can be professional in disagreement.
You don't have to destroy people. You don't have to even potentially destroy your own department. Think about that. You're out there mischaracterizing and hurting your own brand, which we spend so much time and effort
building up. So, don't take this personally. I know you don't. I know you're very serious about your job. You've been doing this for almost what 30 something 35 years 40 years spent your entire life professional life being a firefighter
helping people saving people along with these gentlemen who are here so I hate to say it but after 12 years of public service this is the cost of doing business but we have to know who's behind all this and that's why I call it out the way I call it out and we can't be afraid
to do that because this individual does not represent the fire union does that represent the city of Coral Gables. I want to thank the firefighters, the men and women of your department for always shining and always being true
leaders and putting the politics aside and never never mixing it with their day-to-day job. Okay. Thank you. through the through the mayor. Maybe I missed this part and maybe I just read it read through I I barely even understood what they were talking
about in the in the article, but is David Perez quoted in there or was he the one? How is there a relationship to that? Commissioner, if you're going to try to hide and you're going to play a game that's not David Paris, then you're being as you've always been disingenuous
with this community. This is David Paris through and through. It's been David Perez in every election. He fails over and over and over again to sew a a rhetoric and a and and all these lies. This is David in his own efforts to try
to push forward a narrative at all costs. So if you want to sit here and say, I don't know, David Paris, you want to stick up for your friend, that's perfectly fine. I don't have any allegiance to David Paris. The allegiance that I have is to the men and women of the fire department and to the employees of the city. Even in this agreement, I respect them. So, I'm not
gonna I'm not going to hear pull punches here, uh, whether it was David Paris or not, when everybody knows that the union should wise up and get rid of David Paris and move on and be smart and conduct themselves like professionals instead of going out there and doing things in the shadows and, you
know, destroying people's reputations and spreading false lies and all the kind of things they do. So, yeah, that's up to you. That's your decision if you want to do that. I won't I won't I won't play I won't play that game through the mayor. Yeah. I mean, I find it very hard to believe that it that it's him because he loves this department as much as you
do. Now, again, I can attest for him. I have no idea anything that the mayor's talking about, but I would find it heartbreaking to even think that he has something to do with this. Here, I'll fix it. I'll I'll I'll do it for one one look, I'll address the issue real quick. Ready? Mr. Parish,
show up at the next commission meeting and show me that it wasn't you, okay? And we'll address it there. Uh through the mayor. Yes, sir. Uh, just want to address two people. So, Commissioner, I agree with you, right? Do you agree with me that if David Perez was associated in
any way with any of these disparaging remarks that it's reprehensible? You agree? Of course. Do you agree that if he uh promulgates pushes out falsehoods regarding our bravest, it is um dishonorable?
I No, I agree. And if that's the case, he should resign from the force, right? And not ever be associated with the with the firemen and the fire women of of Coral Gables in any way. You agree with me, right? That is not that that wouldn't be up to me. That's a very hard decision to make. That's I I don't even know what the legal boundaries is behind
that. Be really easy for me to to say that yes, he should resign. Should if it's tough for you, that's um that's your opinion, right? But I I want to direct it out to the chief. You've worked a lifetime on your
professional and your personal reputation, and I commend you for steadfast adherence to the highest standard as it reflects on you personally, professionally, and the men and women that you lead in the greatest uh fire department that I have ever
seen. You cannot undo decades of your commitment to excellence with one false story or someone's attempt to divert through misinformation. I know you know that I'm speaking to the residents as
well. So, we wouldn't want anyone to give another moment's thought uh to that story or to any of those false allegations because all we'd be doing is just adding energy and sort of as they say giving some
importance to something that deserves none of our attention and we just keep carrying on and doing the very best that you do and that we do every single day. So I thank you for all that you do and thank you for coming today and amplifying and reiterating the
excellence of the team. So, one final comment on this, Chief. We've seen this time and time again. It's the fear-mongering tactics to try to create a problem that doesn't exist,
to try to move an agenda to cause certain people to get elected that will listen to you or encourage them. You know, give them the idea that they're going to be supported in their next election.
I was approached as well to take p certain positions, you know, and we'll support you in your election. I'm not about to do that. I know you're not about to do stuff like that either. You're going to stand by your values and
I commend you for doing so. Thank you. Thank you, Chief. I appreciate you being here. Thank you, gentlemen. Moving on. F6. discussion regarding traffic safety measures at Old Cutler Road and Kartahena Plaza Poca Plum Circle. Thank
you very much um deputy city manager and Hermes Diaz for coming up to present this. I think my m major concern here was some residents have reached out to me and there is a lot of traffic and I
know that um the deputy city manager reached back to me with a very detailed response saying basically that there's really nothing we can do. So I decided to bring it up to the commission anyway because
five heads think better than one. Um do you want to present it? I I thank thank you commissioner through through the mayor. Um so as I articulated in my response to and I think all of you got
copies of my response uh regarding so Kartahena Circle uh also known as Cocoa Plum Circle um is a county uh facility and three of the four roads that connect to that circle are all county roads.
Ljun Road, Sunset and Old Cutler Road. All of these roads um take a tremendous amount of traffic because again uh all Cutler Road is a two-lane road with a a tremendous amount of traffic that comes from the south. Sunset uh brings in
traffic as well as lune. Um the circle right now uh processes this traffic. Um the county has uh two projects that are going to be let at the same time February of 2027. want us to replace the the bridge on June Road which is uh been
been deemed uh uh deficient and the county has a project for it and then they're also going to be doing improvements to to the circle itself and part of those improvements I've looked at the plans is to channelize the traffic better through the use of separators to be able to route the
traffic through. Now the the circle operates in lie of a traffic signal and the reason that it's so successful is because when you have roads in coming in at different angles, it's very difficult to be able to have a traffic signal
process all that without substantial delays. The purpose of the circle is to be able to move the traffic through. That's the the ultimate purpose of the circle. So I understand the concerns from the residents but the alternative will be far greater. What I mean by that
is if you were to put a traffic signal in lie of the circle or if you were to institute traffic calming on these major collector roads what will happen is the spillover will start going into the neighborhoods. So before you know it the cure becomes worse than the problem. So,
in this particular case, what I what I what I'm saying is that let's give the the chance the the county's plan a a a chance um both the the bridge project which is going to improve the the Jun Road bridge as well as the improvement on Cartahena Circle. Thank you. Let that
work and I think there will be uh improvements to traffic. But it is it's a reality. All these roads are it's a confluence of roads that are coming in together in a traffic circle. um and and they do carry a lot of traffic. So, in conclusion, let's let the county
do their thing to see if that would be a better a better fit. And if I may add, one of the benefits of a traffic circle that as opposed to an intersection where you have the potential of a t-bone crash when, let's say, somebody takes a red light, accidents in a traffic circle have a tendency of being milder because
you're more likely getting sidewipes. So, so you're looking at a reduced severity of accidents when you're dealing with a circle as opposed to a traffic signal. It doesn't eliminate them, obviously. In fact, studies that have been done, uh, the the 30 to 40%
less accidents happen at traffic circles and roundabouts than with traffic signals because you don't have that stop condition or somebody will hit you from behind or you get t-boned. Mr. DM, I know you weren't here. Um, Mr. Diaz, how many times have I brought up this item on the agenda? We talked about
Kartahena serpent I believe several times. And what is the outcome? The county is doing a project. Okay. So this is simple. When residents write you an email and they call you and they say there's an issue. What I would do is I would write to the manager and say, "Mr.
Manager, I know we've talked about Cartana Circle many times. It's not under our jurisdiction. Can you please provide us an update in regards to where we are in the current process?" Mr. Diaz, the manager will will will pass it on to Mr. Diaz and Mr. will verbatim provide you with an update where we are
in regards to the issue. Um, this is nothing new. This has been brought up many, many times. We've discussed this issue. We have to wait for the county to finish the work. We're pushing the county, talked to the the DCM about this, the ACM, the manager. Um, again,
this is a very complex intersection. And by the way, it's only going to get more complicated now with the bridge. Okay? And there's issues there where we have traffic issues in front of the park. So at the end of the day, I know that the residents want action, but again, this
is under the opice of the county, right? And there's limited limited jurisdiction and we have to work with Commissioner Regalado who sees this as an important issue and it's very complicated, very complicated. We've talked about lights,
we've talked about, you know, one lane versus two lanes, two lanes versus one lane. We've been discussing this for years. By the end of the day, it's under the county's jurisdiction. To the mayor. Yes, ma'am. One other thing I'm gonna add to that. Um because I know Commissioner Castro hasn't here
during that era and I remember watching the meetings. Uh the bridge issue has been going on for over six years that I can recall. And replacing that bridge is very very complicated because where is all that
traffic going to go now? So the dance that the the county has to do is dealing with all this traffic, rerouting all this traffic, and finding the perfect time to try to do this project as efficiently and quickly as possible. For
every traffic uh issue, calming, etc. that I've encountered, I direct it to staff to get a response back. And Mr. Diaz, Mr. I'm sorry you are the recipient of a lot of these emails, but it does is not
something that needs to be on the agenda because the answers we can get from our staff. Please give us an update. So I mean I you know periodically we can do updates on on major things and we have one coming up here so that everybody's a breast of what the current
timing is and what's been done and what is planned. Uh but that that'll be coming later on the agenda here. Thank you for your time. Anything else for the good of the order on this item, Mr. Mayor? Yes, sir. through the mayor. Uh the bridge is operation obsolete and has
been downrated from a load from a load perspective because it because it does have structural issues. So, it makes sense to do the bridge and and the circular intersection at the same time because you that way one diversion works the pain one time get rid of the finish
construction. Mr. DCM same situation. Alhamra, same point in Alhamra. We've been ready. Alhamra looks like a war zone. I mean, it's horrific the asphalt there. And we don't want to spend money twice on that issue. So, we're literally
ready to go. Sidewalk, traffic calming, fixing whatever is necessary in the bridge, and then the asphalt. Yeah. We actually relocated a forcement from the old bridge to the new one precisely ahead of the county's project. So, we've been working on this for a while. Yep. No, I know you. I know you have. Trust me. Okay.
Um, do you want to take item F7 and Thank you, gentlemen. Do you want to take items F7 and F8 together? I would be okay with it. Madam Vice Mayor, you want to take the lead on this? Yes, I I will. I asked staff because, you know, I've been in
conversation with him for many years, even since before I was elected, on ADA uh transition issues, ADA issues, period. um and the need to move this forward. It's why it's also been added to as a
capital imp to the capital improvement budget so that we can track things and move things forward. It's why, you know, I had requested and it was included as part of our state appropriations request. You know, it wasn't one of the ones that um the governor chose to keep
in. Um, we can address those laterers, but I'm I'm going to let you do the presentation and thank you for your patience with me every time I send you a picture, a request um because I think we're actually making some uh improvements here now and uh
I'll catch anything that I think that you have omitted. Okay. Absolutely. Good afternoon, mayor, commissioners. Raweta, HR director, and ADA coordinator. So, as the vice mayor said, we have been working diligently for the past couple of years with the vice mayor and prior
to that um to update our transition plan. So, the city has a title 2 ADA transition plan. That transition plan is just a guide. It's a guide that we use. It's a living document and it's what we use to make sure that all our facilities, um garages, parking spaces, rightways, uh become ADA accessible.
Right. So, so in order to develop that plan, we did a comprehensive evaluation of all of our buildings. And in that, we evaluated 14 of our buildings, 33 city-owned um and operated parking garages and parking lots, 42 city parks
and recreational facilities, 55 stops for our city's trolley services, and all of our public rideway sidewalks and parking spaces within the city central business district. So we have all the barriers that we need now to remove. Our target date is 2033. So we want to have
we want to remove all our barriers and be completely ADA compliant by 2033. And we have been making significant um progress. Um the good thing is we have renovated many of our main buildings. So as we renovate our new our buildings, we make sure that they're ADA compliant.
We're just beginning to make our youth center um ADA compliant when it comes to accessibility. um the restrooms um access to the gym. So I believe that's in the design phases. So that should be um coming up within the next six months to a year. And so we do believe that we are going to be we are making we're on
on target to have everything completed by 2033. Um we have money set aside um and every year budget sets aside monies so that we um have enough monies um to make those um to make those repairs or those um update
those facilities. In addition to that we have been working with our intersections and our audible push signals and that's something that the vice mayor started a couple of years ago and also with our disability affairs board. I think you attended a couple of our disability affairs board meetings and they were
making a big push for audible push signals as a result of that. Um if you can um Billy if you can put up the presentation for the mayor one moment. Yes. Should we take advantage of this that speaking on audible traffic um signals
to include item F8? Yeah we are together. So the first slide is just what I spoke about the an update on the transition plan. Um the second slide is our audible push signals. So a couple of years ago at the request of the fi of the vice mayor we um identified several locations
that we thought we felt it was important for us to have audible push signals and we looked at Ljun. Lun is a very um highly trafficked um street um with cars a lot of cars going at very fast rates of speed. So um that is an FDOT road. So
we contacted the FDOT um about a year and a half to two years ago and requested audible push signals at Minorca and Delusia um Valencia and Bird Road. Um the FDOT went ahead and approved um those um audible push signals. They are currently in design
for 2025. I think construction does not start till 2028. Um that is an FDL project. Um we have another audible push signal that has been approved at Coral Way and Granada Boulevard. That is a county road. Um, however, because the city um has undertaken some improvements
in that intersection, we have decided to go ahead and and place audible push signals. So, that's something that we're excited and should be coming up. Addition to that, we want to add um to that same FDOD project which is down Lun. We want to add Ljun and Ahamra and
Lun and Coral Way or Miracle Mile. Um we want to make it part of that same project. So, we have requested the FDOT to add those two um intersections. um as audible push um signals approval locations. We have not heard back from them. They usually take about 90 to 120
days to evaluate and get back to us. We anticipate that they're going to approve them just because we have that big project down. So they'll just go ahead and add those two. I I just going to interject there. Yeah. I mean, I've done
100 28 cases and some cases were in bankruptcy and you always prioritize what needs to get done first and and plan it out. Some of these these intersections identified, you have bus stops at and you need audible signals where people can't
use drive because you can't see or you have diminished capacity to see. So that is why I pointed out some of them because you do have bus stops on those locations and you do need to get across a very busy intersection. Something interesting that I want to remind the
commission that we have is because this takes some time in in as we get these audible push signals. The city has an app the city provides free of service an app called IRA. IRA is an app if you're uh visually impaired. um you connect to
that app and that person connects to that person's camera and they act as a visual interpreter. So as that um blind person or a visually impaired person is walking down Miracle Mile, they connect to that app, the camera opens up to that
visual interpreter and that visual interpreter is detailing for them exactly what that person or the caller is seeing. So they're able to cross um Miracle Mile. They're able to go into a store and ask that interpreter to maybe
read the menu or a price on on a shirt, on a tag. And we offer that free of charge, provided they're within the city of Coral Gable's geoence. So, if you're visually impaired or you're blind and you have that app, it'll let you know as soon as you enter our geoence that it's available and it's free of charge while
they remain in that app. So, that's something that was again by the vice mayor and the disability affairs board. We um we've had that for a couple of years now. That that's excellent. I actually I just want to mention I was trying to push you to get it done by 2030 and you said, "Oh, that's impossible." Yeah. And because it it is
a lot and I you sent me as soon as I was elected the Excel sheet sheets, massive of items that we needed to take care of. So, thank you for taking the lead on this. So we we do have some proposed locations
um that we would like to add uh to to our audible push signals throughout the city. We have two on Miracle Mile. So they would be the one on I believe 37th in Miracle Mile and yeah Pon and Douglas Road on Miracle Mile. We would also like
to add um two additional ones on Ambra Circle and Ponds Ahamra Plaza and Douglas Road and then two on Ponds, one on 8th Street and one on Bird Road. So they're colorcoded because the process is a little bit different depending on who manages the road. So the two on
Miracle Mile, the one on um 37th and on Pon, they're city roadways. So that is something that we can phase in and we can do ourselves. It's a cost item. We anticipate each intersection can be anywhere between 50,000 to $150,000, but
we will be budgeting for them in the next 0 to two years or 0 to 5 years to implement them. The ones that are blue are county roadways. Now, there's two things. The county will take two positions. If there is an ADA complaint
or if there's someone that's visually impaired who makes a complaint to the county, they will take it upon themselves if they have the funding to update those push button push signals and make them audible. If not, the city can undertake that project and do it
themselves, but it would be fully funded by the city. And so we do anticipate putting those four intersections, the two that are under the the city roadways and the two that are on the county roadways. We do want to place those in our transition plan to
update them to audible push. So is this presentation been given to the disability board so they're aware of the um criteria? Absolutely. So, we had a a disability affairs board meeting last month and that was this is actually one
of the items that was discussed and this was one of the goals of the disability affairs board was to for these audible push signals to be installed throughout the city and and that's what they wanted. So, they will be very happy and pleased with this presentation and where we're going with this. Yeah, I'm sure
they're going to have some additional requests on pants and we know I'd like them to the lead on those requests. Absolutely. Mayor, so regarding FA, I'll go ahead and I'll I'll move it and I would want
see if you would be willing to co-sponsor it with me since you've been working on this for so long. I think you you might need to wait and understand a little more about the legalities of an ADA transition plan
and understand that there needs to be a prioritization of issues because there's there's more to accessibility than audible signals. There's a lot more. You need to have curb cuts. You need to have bathrooms. You need to have
many different things. And when I've handled cases and we're dealing with with even companies, businesses in bankruptcy, you need to prioritize what needs to be done first. First, you need to get someone in the door.
Next thing is perhaps they're driving along and they need to use a bathroom. So, which bathroom do you do first? Do you do one in the guest room or do you do one in the main area that everybody can use? You have to do priorities. So
if you jumpst start and push as the priority of ADA issues audible signals on all these intersections as you as you have requested, you won't be able to get across the street if there's not a curb cut where it needs to be. Well, there's not a
detectable warning. Detectable warning is that bumpy stuff that informs the individual with a sight issue that you're transitioning from a safe area such as a sidewalk to an intersection.
And if this type of prioritization hasn't been done and instead is being directed by individuals that are not experts in the area, mistakes are going to be made. So, I'm going to ask you to defer your item
and let's use our board. Let's use our expert that we've hired to it's going to help staff direct the funds to what needs to be done first. Mentioned the intersection of Pon and
Corway. I didn't direct it. I've asked the board to do the consideration. to ask the expert to do the consideration as to when it should be done. You're the mayor. And if I may, I want to just add something very quickly. Um, as you heard
from Raquel, I think you probably mentioned six or seven times during during this presentation of the work that the vice mayor has done over the last four years. I don't think it's in your position, Commissioner Caster, to be inviting the
vice mayor to co-sponsorbody. If anybody should be inviting, it should be the vice mayor. She's been working on this for four years. Um, we have to have respect for the hard work that people have done, especially when they've when they've been working on issues. It's not about sponsoring things and taking credit for
as many pieces of legislation. The idea here is to is to is is to produce impactful pieces of legislation that are transformational. Um, I would never dare step on the on the vice mayor's toes in regards to issues that I know she's been working on, just like I wouldn't step on your toes. I'm not going to go out there and say, "Hey, can I co-sponsor?" We've
been through this back and forth over the last two years about co-sponsoring issues. I don't have a problem if somebody co-sponsors something with me if we start working on it together. And we take steps forward that take years to bring that piece of legislation to fruition. But to come in at the 11th hour and say, "Hey, I'm going to, you
know, co-sponsor on this." Uh, so you can send out a video or an email to me, I think is just disingenuous. Madam dove tail on that. I think your parking program is great. Yeah, it's great. I'm
not asking co-sponsor. I'll vote for it. Okay. Through the mayor. Um I I really don't care if I'm the sponsor or not. You I I could completely give it to you. I put this on the agenda because a resident reached out to me and maybe it's good to reach back out to her
because she might be one of the people who reaches out to the county. This is but but if I can if I if I can add something this is why I tell you you don't have to put everything on the agenda to look like you're doing work. What you can do is very simply speak to the manager like I do or the DCM or the
ACM and say, "Hi, I just received this email from a resident. How can we move forward to address the concern?" The manager, the DCM will say, "Hey, Raquel, can you please help us out with this? I know you've been working on this with the vice mayor for Okay, perfect. You can respond accordingly. Explain the
situation. Not everything has to come here to the commission. This is an item that again, as you can see, the amount of work that the vice mayor has done on this project is huge. It's significant in nature. She's been advocating for this in Tallahassee. She's been working at the federal level. She's been really
This is This is one of her pet projects. It's just an issue about respecting like I would never you you you've done two major things that I'm aware of. Number one, door hangers and number two, reducing reducing parking by 25%. I don't have a need to sponsor it. That's your those are your those are your
items. You want to move forward on that. I would never step in at the last moment on second reading or first reading and say, "Hey, I'd like to co-sponsor this." There's no need for that. I have more respect for the work that you've done on those projects. So, I'm I'm just going to explain
issue of prioritizing expansion of audible traffic signals within the city to promote accessibility, inclusivity, and safety. It's already been done. If something's already been done, there's no need to have a resolution on it. Our staff is on this issue. The
reason it's been brought up in front of the disability board is because we've been working on it and our director has done an amazing job. And I'd like her to continue to to lead
the way and help us get get through this because this was stagnant. This was literally stagnant when I took office. Okay? It wasn't even on a capital improvement budget. We had money set aside, but it wasn't in there saying, "Okay, we got a five-year plan.
What are we going to get done first?" It was being done as we renovated facilities like Salvador Park. Those were ADA things that were taken care of. But as far as going through the downtown and putting any optical signals and getting the curb cuts, additional curb
cuts in in areas where we're not doing improvements, that hadn't been looked at yet. We need curb cuts in where there's doctor's offices. We need more handicap parking spaces available for people to park in. all that. I've asked staff to include
that in the DRC process to be looking at those things because there will be opportunities that we'll miss unless it's looked at at every step of the way because in a DRC processing and say, "Oh, there's a medical facility there. How many how many street
available parking spaces do we have? Is your parking in that garage that you're going to be going in? Is it van accessible? Does it meet the height requirements? you know, where is the curb cut? Is it vice mayor? If I may, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to interrupt you. I'm
not even gonna delve into those waters because I'm not a professional like the vice mayor is legally and in regards to issues of ADA. She's tried cases on this. This is her bread and butter, her forte, and she's a professional when it comes to this. So, I I want to, you know, I'm sorry to interrupt you on that
front. I apologize. So I I hope you understand what I'm trying to say that us directing what gets done first as a direction as opposed to the other pieces of the puzzle that have to be taken care of cohesively in order to
really make our city accessible. It needs to be done in a comprehensive manner with a prioritization as to what needs to be done first. And I think our staff has done an excellent job. Believe me, hear for me if I think that
something's missing. Next item. Are you done? Moving on. Moving on to F9. Commissioner Castro. F9 is a resolution of city commission directing the city manager to display the United States flag and the city of Coral Gable's flag
on their own poll at city hall. The I think it was probably a year back we went ahead and we spoke about it and I think we approved a different flag pole. This is this is just moving forward um
and honoring and respecting the United States flag and the Coral Gables flag. No other flag should really be flown with it. If we want to go ahead and celebrate anything else, then we're going to have a separate poll for it. And I think I believe the commission had
agreed on that already. Commissioner Castro, if I may, Mr. Yes, sir. I wrote this piece of legislation a year ago. Uh, it was brought before the commission. Um, do you have that legislation? The number of
that legislation? I can pull it up, Mr. Mayor. You can pull it up. This is the same thing I was talking about before by the ADA. The intent of the legislation that I wrote was for us to buy flag pole. Mr. Manager, is it included in this year's budget? Mayor, we will be
putting the flag pole on the other side on the Builtmore side of of of the building because historically, yes, they would not like us to put it for the two flag poles already. So, we've already had meetings with historic. It's already budgeted for things take time. I brought this legislation forward about an
additional flag pole. It's the same thing as we discussed. This already has been addressed. It has already been legislated. If you want to vote on it again, we can vote on it again. It's different. No, it's not. It's the same thing. And like I said, if you play back, excuse me, if you play back the tape, it says
that flag will serve as one. You can have that flag will serve as one purpose, honoring whatever we're going to honor. If it's a centennial, if it's Pride Month, if it's our our friends from Crystal Academy in regards to autism, that was the intent of my legislation. It's the same thing over
and over again. Mr. Mayor uh approximately exactly one year ago, July 9th of last year, the commission adopted a resolution of the city commission authorizing the placement of an additional flag on the Builtmore Way side of city hall and it was resolution
2024 155. Who was the sponsor? You were, sir. I was a sponsor. Okay. So, it just go but I'm not done yet. It just goes back to the same thing as we're talking about over and over and over again. It's you don't have to put everything on the agenda. What you can do is you can ask the manager and you can say, "Mr.
manager, can you give us an update in regards to what's happening to the flag pole? What's going on with that? He'll tell you, we've just met with Historic. We are now in in the issue of the budget season. We're putting it into into the budget and we're moving forward to deliver on the flag pole. But if you'd
like to do it, we can vote in again for the mayor. I think I think you didn't understand this resolution. So, let me go ahead and explain it. Okay. This resolution is so that moving forward we do not place any other flag under the
United States flag and the Coral Gables flag. This is different. I know it correlates, but this is different from your legislation. Okay. The only flag that's allowed to stay there for now because it's already there. And if you would read the resolution, you would, you know, learn a little bit is the
Centennial flag. And that's because it's already there. It's not an exception. So this resolution is basically saying that moving forward, no more flags under the United States flag or the Coral Gables flag. That's the difference. Now,
I would like to Commissioner, hold on. I'm not moving. No, we're not done yet. Commissioner, again, a year ago, the intent, what do you think I asked for? Why do you think I profered the legislation to put another flag pole? Was it just to leave the flag pole empty? No, the intent was to the intent
was to use that flag pole to fly, like I said, the autism awareness flag, the centennial flag, other things that would not conflict in one form or another with the American flag or the city or the or the state of Florida flag. That was the intent. I didn't just put another flag
pole there because I wanted to put another flag pole there. But I mean, this common sense, if you would read my legislation from a year ago, you would you would realize that was the intent. And if you would look back at the conversation, it was to have the flag used for ancillary things outside of the
American flag and the state flag. I don't want to argue with you because everyone want to do you argue. It's already been written. The legislation already written. You don't need you don't need to propose the same legislation. Mayor, this is not the same legislation. Once again, we have not followed
protocol. If that's what you intended, we haven't followed it. We have put other flags under the American flag. Okay. Moving forward, this legislation resolution says we should not do that until we have a new flag pole. Do you agree with that, Commissioner? If this
is your legislation, do you agree with it? Yes or no? Commissioner Commissioner, the reason why the legislation has not taken effect is because the flag pole is not up yet. We're waiting for the budget season to be able to buy the flag pole and install the flag pole and
then go through the process of speaking with historic to make sure it was appropriate the location of the flag pole. Stop trying to confuse people. At the end of the day, the intent of the flag pole is to honor the American flag and the state of Florida flag without
having any other flags underneath it. That's why we're adding an additional flag pole. We've already addressed the issues of location. It's in the budget and it'll be coming. Yes, sir. You know, as the newest commissioner,
I'm learning a lot. So, my question to anyone on the commission or through the mayor is before a resolution is brought before this commission for discussion or ratification, right? Is there a process to make sure that you're not sort of
covering ground that's already been um tread? because I would not want to be and I feel like I might be in the unenviable position of having to say after hearing this for the first time um I'm I'm not in favor of this because something else might have been but then
it might be misconstrued as I'm not pro the United States flag right or I don't want to be caught in that kind of situation. So is there a process to ensure that the public's not subjected to this conversation before we convene? You want to know why that that does that
was never needed. It was never needed. It was never needed because it's called personal consideration because when you when you worked on something, staff would say, "Hey, but that already exists that would already exist." And you would not step on anybody else's toes. In 10
years of being in public office, that never happened. If Rahul Badisfali was working on something, if Slesny was working on something, if Keon was working on something, if Frank Mana, uh, you know, any any of the people that I had the privilege of serving was working on something, you took consideration. you took consideration of the hard work
that that person was doing. That was never an issue. But since Commissioner Castro and Commissioner France, this has been an ongoing issue for two years. We battled this for two years. An issue of, for example, you weren't here, but we had issues of co-sponsoring. We had battles, battles up here on the
commission floor about I did not want anybody to co-sponsor an issue after working on something for a long time. I never had to do that before. I never had to stick my flag on the ground, no pun intended, and say, "This is what I'm working on." Because there was just personal respect and there was there was
consideration that went out by the wayside as quickly as they came in. A lack of professionalism and a lack of dignity and it's just shown right here because again, at the end of the day, if you want to pass legislation, we'll pass it again. We'll do it again. It'll be the same thing again. And you and you can Can the city can the city attorney
tell us the difference between the two resolutions? May May I before before that because I just want to stay on this thread before we go on. I'd like to ask the question directly to the city attorney and and then reserve one moment to respond
depending on what you say. So commissioner, if you bring us proposed um an idea, an initiative, we will work with you. Many of us in my office have been with the city many years and so we have a good um institutional knowledge plus we always search you know items and the history and we'll you know it's also
helpful to talk to staff and loop in staff when you have um ideas and initiatives um whenever you all are ready I can I can answer the commissioner Castro's question as well. Well, I I would say that that's really great to hear because it doesn't seem to me that you need a deep well of
institutional knowledge because if something was in fact years ago, decades ago sponsored or the germ of the idea came from another commissioner and nothing had been acted on for years, then that may be an appropriate time for someone
else to take up the cause, right? But if it's within recent history at least, you know, I I would think that this would save us this sort of um time. Madam Madam Madam city attorney, will you please provide educate me on my
legislation, please? So So mayor, the proposed resolution that's this this item right now does acknowledge and it does reference that resolution from last year. It's referenced in there. I think that the difference with this one is really an in the meantime direction.
until the additional pole is installed. This is the direction regarding so it's it's writing a legislation to a legislation. So it's in the meantime in the meantime we're not going to put any flags. So you're not going to put the autism flag. You're not going to put the pride flag. You're not going to put uh
the centennial or centennial. Yes. But you're not going to put any flags until we put up the new flag pole. That would be a decision for the national legislation. Why don't you make a motion? I I will move it. And this is different and I'm acknowledging your work in the resolution. Please make a
motion. I'm moving it. Is there a second? Fails. So crazy. Through the mayor. Yes. I I don't know exactly the process, but I would like to sit down with the city attorney and maybe the city manager ultimately and see if we can perhaps
formalize a process that before we bring a resolution uh before the commission, right, that we run through a reasonable process, uh if we can't seem to do this collegially, we must then move to something more formal. Yes. And I'd like to be the guy
behind that if you want to say. I love it. You know what? When you put it together, I'll come right behind you and steal it. That's a joke. That uh madam city attorney, will you do me a favor and please work with Commissioner Alana to formalize the process? Absolutely. We've been dealing with this for two years. Okay. So, I'm happy you're
bringing that up. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um moving on to F10. Vice Mayor, this is yours. Okay. So S10 is a resolution of the city commission amending resolution 2005-125 regarding board membership composition to add a member to the city's advisory
board on disability affairs. This is one of the boards where we have an even number of members. We typically have odd number of members. It's a great idea. Okay. Um happened to be one where there was overlooked where the city manager didn't have an appointee. Um
it's an important board disability affairs. And I think the more input that we can have from more members of our community that are uh individuals with disabilities, the better off we are. We'll be able to identify more barriers in the city and come up with uh the
prioritization of projects in a proper manner. So based upon that, I'll move to have this it this resolution adopted so the city manager will have an appointee. We have a second. I'll second that. Mr. Mr. Cler, do you have any public comment?
No, Mr. Mayor. Uh, can I have a we have a motion? A second? We do, sir. Yes. Right. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Commissioner Lada? Yes. Mayor Log? Yes.
F11. A resolution of city commission directing that the rent report for city- owned properties be made available on the city's website and requiring a four-fifth vote of the city commission to approve grants to tenants or improvements of city-owned properties that are obligation of the tenants under
the applicable lease agreement. Madam city attorney, will you please provide clarity uh in regards to this legislation that I'm sponsoring? So So this is a a two-part resolution. The first part is directing that the rent report for the city owned properties that are leased um be made available on the city's website. It is my understanding that the manager has
already directed that and it's already been done um once he was made aware of this resolution on the agenda. And then the second part would require a forfeits vote if the city commission wants to approve a grant or reimbursement to to one of our tenants to make improvements to the leased property that under the
lease agreement are the obligation of the tenant, not the city. Yeah. So, two two reasons why I've done this and I'll use a Miracle Theater as an example. I think that everyone should be able to see how much rent is paid on the Miracle Theater, on the on the on the uh cinema, on any city owned property, the
Starbucks, you should be able to see what is the rent that's being paid front and center. That's transparency. You're knowing what it is, what the escalations are, how much the rent is going. I think that is appropriate. It's taxpayer money, and I think that you should be able to know. Number two, I
think the commission should not arbitrarily break the lease. I don't do it in any properties that I own and just give away money like we did to the theater in regards to 40 plus thousand dollars. I think that to me again is a poor taste, poor judgment and sets a bad
precedent and shows a lack of true understanding of how to run a business. I hate to say this, but the city is a business. It's not welfare. If you run it like welfare, we will go broke. That's what happens when you hand out
$20 million colas and you raise your salaries and you give out, you know, $40,000 here, $40,000. Every business that rents from us believes that they can come and ask for money. Well, you gave it to the theater. I deserve the same thing. It's a bad precedent. And the same thing, all these things happen
during election season in an effort to sway support. It doesn't work. It only sets a bad precedent. Okay? So that is why I'm requiring a four-fifth vote and we are protecting these assets and
protecting the city budget. I'll move second. Any comment from the commission? I have a comment. Yes, sir. If I may. Of course. So, um very interesting you bringing this up and and I think it's a um very much a needed uh piece of legislation. I remember and
those who were here uh in 2024 know that I came during public comment and I was uh I was absolutely outraged at what I witnessed which was um a request um and by the
former commissioner to award $41,000 um calling it a reimbursement uh to the tenant of um the Miracle Theater, the Actors Playhouse. house uh for the construction of a ramp. Uh there was
very little if any basis for um granting uh what would be a gift when there was a lease which had an obligation for the tenant to pay if there was any ADA required improvement or uh repair or upgrade needed uh to the um to the uh to
the rented space. In fact, there was no um evidence given, no nothing profered to show that there was a problem with ADA compliance. And if there was, the solution was one that was expensive, not backed up. There wasn't uh multiple bids truly given in a way that could be
backed up. It was it wasn't compliant with the city's procurement process because it wasn't in fact a city procurement scenario. So, it was a unique one where a simple majority of the commission, in my view, parted with $41,000
in what appeared to be at the time a play for political pandering. I'm not I'm not bismerching the uh the tenant uh if the commission gave that money away under the what was uh the the scenario back then and there they were the recipient and the beneficiary of it. Um
I would if I can be just be given one more moment, Mr. mayor to say that um at the time I went through a very difficult uh period of being accused of being against the disabled against the disabled um rights which I took personal
offense to but of course it was a political um season. Um, I had spirited conversation with Commissioner Castro uh during that time and all I was asking for was um an explanation for why that
was being done and um I wanted uh nothing more than transparency and accountability, not ever attacking anybody. In the end, I just want everybody here to know that I you know personally am an advocate for the disabled rights. I sit as and for years I've sat as the chair of development for
Easter Seals South Florida. And with with respect to the um Miracle Theater, the company that I serve as executive vice president, chief legal counsel to is amongst the the diamond sponsors for years of the Actors Playhouse. So this this was u further political theater to
try and bismerch my name. And I'm very pleased that we are uh considering right now a safeguard against this ever happening again uh by moving uh to a four-fifths composition to to grant such a uh departure from lease requirements.
Vice Mayor, um I'm I'm pleased as well. I mean, I went and looked at the facility, Commissioner, I know you did as well. We're only talking about a ramp of a few steps. This was not significant ramp. It screamed at me because the the cost was
so exorbitant. Um there was no evidence of competitive bidding. Um and I know plywood was expensive, but it wasn't that expensive. And there were other alternatives. There definitely were other alternatives on how to handle this
matter. Um as opposed to something that appeared to be uh political pandering. Um, people that I know that were donors to the the Miracle Theater uh shared that they never received a call to action to make the donations and they
would have been happy to to do so for that for that ramp. So, um, wonderful piece of legislation. Thank you for bringing Thank you. You know, this is the type of legislation that you know what I'd love to have is
an entire commission to co-sponsor. Would anybody like to co-sponsor this? I'll co-sponsor it with you. Great. I'll co-sponsor it with you. Love it. And I'll mad vice mayor. Here we go. So, after giving away $40,000, we now have complete consensus from the commission how the wind turns, which is beautiful.
Mr. Clerk, do we Sorry. Okay. Yeah. The fact that I'm the fact that I'm co-sponsoring this is because I think it's good legislation, but I am not um agreeing with my colleagues remarks regarding the actor's playhouse.
Just wanted to put that on the record through the mayor. Yes, I'll be very brief, but the transcript is clear, the video is clear. If anybody wants to review it concerning our colloquy when I asked you if you had spoken to the
tenant regarding your vote in support of this gift to the actor's playhouse. I believe your response was I don't want to refer to facts that may not in fact be facts and I think I did you a a much
better recitation than the one you gave but I don't mean to insult. I'm just saying that we we gave or I should say I gave you an opportunity to provide the basis for why you voted and you uh diverted and didn't respond. So I
haven't made any accusations that aren't in fact um supported by the facts and and and again I I I applaud you for joining in the co-sponsoring of this resolution. If I may, it's not an insult, Commissioner. It's just
the facts. It's the facts. It's $40,000 that used to be in the coffers of the city that were just given away that anybody who know that anybody who knows how to run a business would never in their right mind do that. When you have a portfolio of businesses that could come and ask you
with their hand out and say, "Hey, I want to do the following. Give me money." And if you we have our we have one of our employees here for the city who has run uh properties for a long time and I actually have had conversations with the previous individual and if you'd like I can bring her up here and ask her if this is
common place where where cities just break leases and give away give away money based on the commission's need. It sends a deadly precedent and it shows a real lack of an understanding of real estate and how to run a business because at the end of the day, the
problem that we have here in this city is every year we have a reset and there's another $250 million that comes in in property taxes and we just kind of lose lose sight of the fact that it's not our money and just because there's a
reset every year, we just can't spend it. So, Madam Vice Mayor, there's one more fact just to make the record complete. Those funds came out of the ADA transition line item for the budget. That's where it came
from, the capital improvement budget. That's painful. $41,000 less to be able to apply to all the many things that we need to do in our city. Yep. All right. So, can I have a motion?
I think we already there. Oh, we do. We have a motion to second. Perfect. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Lara, for the reasons stated, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. Uh, let's take a five minute break and
then what we're going to do is we're going to tackle F12, which is a big item. And, uh, everyone can have a, you know, water break and do as they please. Thank you. Let's do it. Recording in progress.
I got it. Mr. Clerk, you ready to go? Let's go. doesn't mean I'm going to do anything wrong. All right. Mr. Clerk, ready? Yes, sir. All right. Madam City Attorney. Yes. Item F12, please. Discussion regarding youth
center property. Yes, Mayor. So, would you like me to go through some of the history? Yes. Okay. So, mayor, so in the in the 1940s, the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center Association operated a youth center at the property
where the Publix is currently located. And the city, my understanding is the city would fund that operation or or budget and and and provide funding for that operation. There was a reverter clause on the property that if it ceased to be used as a youth center, it would revert to the city of Coral Gables. At
some point in the 1950s, that association approached the city and requested that that reverter be released so that the property could be sold and the proceeds from that sale could be used to purchase the property where the youth center is currently located and um and then the balance of that to be also
used for for funding the operation or for constructing the youth center actually. And so in 195, I think it was 1955, the city did acquire um what's known as like lots 117 and 118 where the youth center is located and part of the fields um from
the University of Miami. A couple of other lots were owned by individual owners and there was a couple other little lots that were acquired by eminent domain and that is where the youth center was constructed. In 1958, the city by ordinance directed that the property be deeded to the Coral Gables
Memorial Use Association so that it could be deed back with the reverter clause that we are familiar with or that we've heard about. And that reverter clause provides that um should the property, you know, the property must be used for the recreation and benefit of the youth of Coral Gables with limited
use allowed for adult recreation and certain and civic uses. Um and so failing which you know it would revert to the association. Um and then the other part of the field was acquired later. I believe it was 1968 from the University of Miami and there was also a rideway that was vacated. So the
reverter clause applies to those initial conveyances. Um so it's not the entire property but it's certainly the property on which the building and part of the fields are located. Okay. Uh the reason why I put this on the agenda is because I've received many phone calls uh from residents who were very concerned about
what they saw during the during the elections. Uh this is to me a a big concern as a result of our cherished youth center should not have any cloud on title should be clean. And when you talk about the 501c3 that is associated with the youth center,
you've had a multitude of issues with that 501c3. It's actually expired on multiple occasions. I haven't seen the filings. Uh the board hasn't met in years. Uh because I know several individuals that are on that board and I think that it lacks a transparency that
the youth center or any property associated with the city of Coral Gables should have. Case in point, if you have the mayor's council or if you have a board here in the city, there's notes that are taken. There's a member of staff that's there. It's televised. None of that exists for this board.
And in the odd case, this board is dealing with over $100,000 in cash and bank accounts and has power over the youth center if something were to occur. That to me is a problem, especially when you talk about potentially, which was
already discussed and I thank God that we were able to stop it, $160 million be spent on a bond referendum in regards to our parks and youth center where 80 million of that 160 was going to go to the youth center. Think about spending $80 million worth of taxpayer money,
which is not really 80 million, by the way, because when you spend 80 million, you got to pay interest on that. So, it's potentially 140 160 million over the 20 30 year lifespan of that bond. Imagine spending all that money on a property that we could potentially lose one day on a reverter clause. So, what
I'm asking today with your with your help, and I hope the commission joins me on this, is to clear title. I'm asking for there to be a formal investigation In regards to this organization, I want to see all documents. I know that staff
has recently uh been provided a bunch of different documents that they found in in in storage. I'd like for staff to come back in August with an a plan of action to contact the board, ask for bank records, and for a plan to dissolve
the cloud on title. The city will never in my opinion the opinion of many I don't think there's would knock down the youth center and build housing there. The intent of the youth center is for the members of this community the young people in this community to have a place where they can call home and enjoy themselves. So the
idea that you know this this this board has to exist and there has to be a reverter clause because you know we need to protect the youth center that's not the case. The case is simple. Uh we need to clear this up and it's an asset that belongs to the city and we need to move
forward and give it a very clean slate and clear up these issues that in my opinion are are clouding not only title but are clouding the good name of the youth center and people associated with the youth center. Madam city attorney um what do you recommend moving forward
that we do to bring this back in August with a with a plan of action from here to August? Mayor, we can explore the possibility of of of, you know, if if that reverta can somehow be released. Um, obviously, one way is to request that it be released. Um, and we can also
review any documents that that have been located by staff and we can look into the history of of, you know, whatever those documents might um, shed light on in terms of the reverter clause or anything else. And um, we can come back in August and and report back and provide the commission with any options.
And I also want to, you know, there recently there was a rush to reactivate the board, uh, reconstitute the board. I'd like to see up totheminute finances, not just a spreadsheet. I'd like to see an actual audited financials. I'd like to see audited. We're not talking about $5,000. We're talking about a lot of
money. I'd like to see audited financials. I'd like to see minutes. I need to see minutes. This is a board that has power. Power over the youth center. a you know a rather significant property here in the city of Corables that has a reverter clause. So I'd like
to see if you know what are we facing before us. I'm not an attorney but at the end of the day u we're in a position where we have to put the city in the best solid footing moving forward. And I think having something out there that's ambiguous and potentially clouds our
ability to control the youth center uh is not in the best interest of the city. So, mayor, in August, we can come back and and perhaps, you know, it could be a resolution directing that we, you know, maybe my office reaches out to the organization and requests this information um and request that the revert be released. It could be
something like that in August. I think that we should we should we should make those requests now in preparation in preparation for August. Okay. I'd like to see bank records, up-to-date bank records, uh going back five years. Um I'd like to see meeting minutes going back five years. I'd like to understand why was a 501c3 why was a 501c3
extinguished? uh what why was it for so many years not active? Um so we can make that we can so we can send a request and and we can make that ask and I hope my colleagues will provide their own guidance as attorneys in regards to how we can clarify this issue and put the city in the best
position moving forward. Did you want to speak commissioner? I mean I'm I'm fully supportive of um you need something from us to help you know to authorize you to make those requests. I think a direction would be I mean I've got the direction here so I don't need a formal motion. I think I'm
hearing the there's consensus with that direction. Well that you certainly have my support. You know I during the um during the campaign when this sort of came out to light you know some of the concerns that reached the public
regarding you know for for me perhaps the most concerning was the um change in designation from not for profofit to profit. if if that's the case, right? Because if that were the case, then it sounds or appears to me that it would
have been done through um inaction, nonfeasance, some failure to do what was expected to be done. That is the first red flag of perhaps of perhaps some form of mismanagement at the at the highest level of that of that uh board. and uh
there's just simply too much uh attached to um you know the the the board, namely as the mayor said, the youth center itself. And so we we um not only recognize every day how important the youth center is to the residents of the
city, but we also debate endlessly about how many uh hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars are going to go to the upkeep, the improvement of that property. So, we must ensure that um we protect it. And so, these are very basic
no-brainer type requests that we would need. They would look very much like um uh you know, what you would serve in a on with a subpoena or if we were in litigation, you know, and just basically request for production, you know, interrogatories and and so forth. Um
it's very important that we're comprehensive and that and that we're we're kept up to speed on what response of any we get. Um which will help inform us and dictate, you know, what next steps would be. But I would hope and trust and expect that your request for
transparency and a comprehensive pro production of information will be complied with forth with and it won't be delayed unnecessarily, but I could be wrong. On that point, uh, make sure we get corporate documents, uh, any
insurance that they may have, any emails, financials, uh, nonprofit records, all their filings, and I'd like to make sure these are audited financials. Um, I think it's critically important, and I think that moving forward, it allows us to, you
know, we'll make the request, part the ways, part the ways to finally put this to rest. We'll make the request. All right. And then the obvious annual meeting minutes of the regular corporation um continual filings, the voting
history, stock issuance, all those type of documents. We can always chat after the meeting. Yes, we will make the request and see what is is provided through the mayor. Yes, sir. I I I believe that we may be well served. You know, I know that it appears that we
have consensus here on the on the dis, but I would I would love, you know, to either have, you know, through a formal motion or other vote of of um conformity, you know, coming from a so, you know, with that I I'd like to move that we do so. Second, Mr. Clerk, we
have a motion and a second to provide the requested documents that we've spoken about over the last 10 minutes in the August commission meeting through the manager's office and through the city attorney. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson. Yes. Commissioner Castro, I have a quick question before I
vote. What is the legality or jurisdiction? Are they obligated to give us these this these documents? So right now that it would be a request. We would be asking them to provide the documents as of right now. Are they obligated to give
them to us? So we can explore that further but as of right now that what I'm hearing the direction is make the request and then depending on you know what else we find in the in whatever documents and the history that we can see here but it's it's not an organization that we currently have you know oversight over but we can make the
request um and and see what they provide or or what response we receive. So the motion is to to make the request. My answer my vote is yes. Mayor Lavo yes and I'd like to also add something. If they don't provide the documents, I have no issues going legal uh to make sure
that we again protect the youth center, especially when there's already a history of not properly filing your documents as required by by the state of Florida in regards to nonforprofit. And we're talking about a significant amount
of money that is associated with the youth center. And to be clear, and I've said this three times, and I'll say for a fourth time, the youth center should be crystal clear when it comes to title. We should not be beholden to any organization because nobody will protect
the youth center better than this commission and the employees. Thank you very much. Moving on to item F13. F-13 is a resolution of the city commission authorizing city manager and city attorney to negotiate and prepare
unnecessary documentation including certain key terms to authorize operators of the Builmore Hotel to charge for parking at the west parking lot. Uh mayor uh through the mayor. Yes. Uh this this item is something that we've been looking at for for some time. It's
parking on the west parking lot. Uh it's free it's free parking now. uh a hotel like like the Billmore normally does not have free parking and it's being abused by a lot of people, a lot of non non-residents. So, we view this as a
large potential source of income for restoration of the parking lot and restoration of the Billmore Hotel. So u well we've uh we we we've have some uh prior discussions so that so that all
this all all the money generated by by the parking lot will be initially to redo the parking lot and and after that 100% for restoration of the built hotel. What we need to do is come up with the final the uh final um percentages and so
forth as far as far as um as where the monies are going. However, from uh that's from a percent from a percentage point of view. However, not for where they're actually going to going to go, which is a restoration of the Builtmore
Hotel and and the parking. So we have some some rates to negotiate uh you know a number of of contractual issues to to negotiate and we would like to bring this back in August with with with the
final document. Okay. Good afternoon sir. How are you? Thank you for being here with us. It's a long time coming since 2022. Mr. Mayor. Long time coming. Uh, one of the issues that I've been facing and I know that my colleagues in commission have also is the amount of people that are again are illegally parking on the facility. And
um, you notice it really at night when it's the same cars that are parked in a location where they shouldn't be parked and there's certain things that again are infuriating we won't speak about here but uh that shouldn't be occurring on that parking
lot and they do. Um, so at the end of the day, uh, we need to put certain parameters in my opinion, uh, to make sure that we safeguard this city asset while you run it. Again, at the end of the day, it's a city asset and we need to do everything in our power to make sure it's run the right way. And also,
you know, I think to be able to draw financially from it, uh, I think is a benefit because all that money through through the leadership of the commission will be used to re reinvested into the asset. I think one of the biggest things that the asset needs is a refresh of the
parking lot. I know it's costly, but there's a lot of things that again needs to be refreshed. I think it will benefit the asset significantly. So, moving forward, we're bringing this forward today because I want to hear a little bit what you need and how we can be of assistance and a good partner. It's been
too long since we brought this forward. Well, I thank you, but I think the manager and yourself summed it up best. I know that I've had discussions with everybody for several years on this matter. Um, there's not much more that I can add to that. Unfortunately, last night when we were actually sold out,
which is a a good thing at the hotel, we actually had to give back credits and discounts and refunds due to the fact that some people that drove actually were unable to do so because there's a number of cars that are in there that we've been working with the city to try to identify. So, everything you said is I couldn't really expand on that any
further. Um, I agree that the investment needs to be done. We have actually as the Builmore itself independent of the city continued to try to do so and we'll continue to do that. We're working in partnership with the city that is what we absolutely hope to do. Okay,
vice mayor. Um how can we expedite this? Need a motion. You know Yeah, it's a resolution directing us. So it's a motion. So I'll I'll move it. Second. Mr. Manager, we'll have this in in August. August. You ready to go? Okay. And then you're going to designate where
we're going to obviously the investment and the breakdown. Yes. And and the uh breakdown all the investment to be clear is going to the Builtmore restoration initially to the parking lot restoration. Once that that is paid, it goes to the Builtmore restoration 100%. That that's not an issue. We're just
working out the just the parameters of that. One of the things that I that we also need there is I know it'll be your benefit is cameras. there's a lot there's a lot more kind of visual presence because again at night it gets dark there you know there's a lot of events there's a lot of people coming in
and out and I want to make sure that we have a number of PTZs but we've also talked with Chief Udak about you know other cameras as well for the purposes that you're citing um we improved the lighting it looks much better but we more to do so we don't have a problem with that and it's also by the way the
lighting the lighting is a catchy I guess it's a touchy not catchy it's a touchy issue because you have to find a balancing act. The residents want more lighting, but then they too much lighting bothers the neighborhood. So, it's I get it, you know, and I understand it. Excuse the mayor. Um, but
you rais a very important point, right? So, I've been seeing this trend lately uh private businesses uh if uh patrons um invited guests uh are are injured or worse. You know, one of the um number
one um uh plans of attack when litigation ensues is to go through the negligent security theory. Um and what they have is a playbook of uh did you request a crime grid? Have you done a study regarding the lighting? You know,
have you listened to anybody from, you know, police regarding adequate video or or guard presence? So, free advice. you know, I I know you said that you spoke with Chief Hudacak, but make sure you know that you you take this opportunity to kind of um have a conversation with
him once again to ensure that your plan is is comprehensive and that it's backed by them because it's uh an ounce of prevention uh scenario. I concur. Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. The ounce of prevention could include
cameras to prevent false claims. Thankfully, it's not a joint towards feature situation, but I understand. It's not a joint towards feature situation, but I understand exactly what you're saying. Yeah. No, it's unfortunately necessary. Yeah, it's a it's a different world. I understand. It's a It's a different world and we
have to protect ourselves. Yep. So, we have a motion and a second. I have a member of the public requesting to speak on this item. Mr. Mayor, Mrs. Maria Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. This
item goes back several years, but I find it very interesting to begin with that we just talked about. I guess it was item or I forget the
medical theater. We talked about uh we they asked for money. We shouldn't have given them the money because they had a contract to take care of the facility and we all agreed on that. But now we're
going to officially give the bill more the way to do this. There's a problem. This was discussed many years ago. Many years ago when the bill worst put signs up and was charging without getting
permission to do so. That's how it all began. And then there was an argument that the US parks department I think or whatever whoever gave us the the bill
there is an issue that that would could not be done. Okay. So I suggest and I've already requested the minutes involving the discussion because we had a long discussion and the end result was that
the city could take over the parking when Mr. Keiny was here. He offered to run that as a city parking lot. Okay, that was the decision at that point. He could do that but the bill but that
parking lot didn't belong to the Bilmore. it was a separate uh thing. That's okay. By the time you all think about it, I'll have the minutes because I know it was a long very long discussion because it came about from
the fact that the bill was charging and signs were up and then when the city said no, you cannot do it, they would cover them and then they will remove them to be able to collect. Peter must remember that it was a big discussion on that. So I have requested the minutes
everything that was discussed because I think there were some legal issues about it. That's it Mr. Mayor. Perfect. Close close the public comment. So in an answer to in an effort to once again clarify the record because we have no
choice because the whole thing is too confused as much as possible. We don't need to wait for public records. If you'd like to see the public records, ask for Billy. He can get them for you. Madam City attorney, will you address the legality of our ability to to So, Mayor, we've been going through the process with um the National Park
Service to um convert that designation from um parks to the historic monument, and we believe that'll be done by the time the documentation is all finalized. Perfect. Thank you very much. So, again, there's no reason to conflate, there's no reason to mislead, there's no reason to scare, there's no reason the
continued effort, you know, the continued effort to stall, hinder, stop. There's no need. We've been working on things for a long time. It's already been in the works. And by the way, the issue of the Miracle Theater, like I was just mentioning right now, we gave them this, we give them that. Yes, but the Miracle Theater does not give us a
dollar. We give them Mr. Manager, how much do we charge for rent there? Uh, minimal minimal amount. A dollar a year. It's a Mayor, considering the property is a token amount. Okay. Mr.
Prescott, how much do we pay? How much do you pay in rent? Over $2 million a year. And if we charge for parking here, which by the way, I think I'm going to go on a I'm going to go on a limb here. Okay. 99.9% of hotels charge for parking. Correct. There's no place we
found that doesn't charge for parking in some way, shape, or form. So, there has to be law and order. It cannot be a free-for-all where people are parking in a parking lot and then catching an Uber to the airport so they can save $50 a day at the airport from from saving. I see this happen all day. And you know who tells me this all the time? Willie Beret, who lives in front of the in
front of the building, which we all know and we all heard from Willie saying, "Vince, the amount of people parking in this and driving with an Uber to the airport to save a few hundred dollar in parking is absurd and it's an insult to the city. It's the same situation we're dealing with are trash pits in regards
to their green matter. Everybody in town dumps in the city of Coral Gables and it cost us millions of dollars a year, but we don't want to face it. The same situation we're having with you. But guess what? We're facing it today. We're dealing with the issue. So for the record, because you've heard backto back to back to backto back issues to try to
confuse, stop processes moving forward, laughing, giggling, the whole nine yards in the back. How much are we going to make from the parking? Not a number, a breakdown. Well, I personally think that it will make a sizable amount. just in the period that it was charging which went
back immediately to the lighting that enhanced of course the parking lot um you're looking at potentially millions of dollars to tell you the truth if you look at it over the course of period I have another property on the west coast of Florida where we charge for parking and we average about 85 to $90,000 a
month that goes directly back into restoration purposes and what is the breakdown in regards to the percentage that the city would receive which wouldn't come to the city it would go into restor restoration of the asset that we own 100%. Okay. So, we're leaving over a million. We're leaving a
lot of money on the table. Correct. Just to give people a free parking. Yes, sir. Another question because we want to scare We don't want to scare people laughing and giggling and, you know, taking photos and doing all the things that are happening in the back. Okay. Do you think the parking lot and that area
will be safer by controlling parking? Yes. Okay. So, if it's if the city is going to benefit and then we're going to reinvest that into facility. It's going to be safer. I can't find a reason why not to support this. Thank you. I agree
as you know for several years. All right. Um Mr. Clerk, we have a motion in a second. Correct. Yes, sir. Yes. All right, Mr. Manager. Mr. Mayor, just to clarify, the Miracle Theater, the token amount is zero. So, the Miracle Theater pays $0 and we're giving
them $41,000. How do you argue with that? I'd like to know I'd like to know how you argue with that. You would You would like that. Will you try? You know how many times I've gone there to receive a to receive a plaque to receive a plaque or or or the last time I was there, I
paid I paid $10,000 for a table for the centennial for June Morris's event. Personally paid for it. I've never I don't go there for free. I don't go there for photo ops to post. And you're telling me, hold on right now, that we gave them $41,000 and they by the way, just so you know, they subleasase that
property to churches to to other entities. So they make money on our free lease and now we don't want to give you we don't want to give you the opportunity to charge and 100% of it comes to us. By the way, madam city attorney would would this be would this process be handled audited? Would this
be audited financials the process with with the we we can negotiate all those points. That's one of the things that we'll need to the details of the accountability we can um negotiate. No, but my point is everything we do with the bill is already correct is audited on an annual basis. So you will see that every single
year. This is standard operating procedure just like the entity attached to the youth center should be audited financials. Okay. So you're seeing a trend here. Let's not charge the miracle theater. Let's not follow through on entities
that are attached to the city. They go inactive. Who cares? We'll deal with it later. It doesn't matter if it has money. It doesn't have it doesn't matter. But at the end of the day, let's give you a hard time uh when you're telling me it's going to be safer. We're going to get in the and and the assets going to benefit. Um, sorry about the
diet tribe. It's just extremely frustrating dealing with some of the stuff we have to deal with. Um, Mr. Clerk, we have a motion, a second. Yes, sir, we do. All right. By the way, the point of me asking that dollar, that zero dollars, is because I want people to see online every single
rent. I want people to see what Starbucks is paying. I want people to see everything transparently, every single dollar. I think it's incredibly important. Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, it's online right now. Okay, perfect. Commissioner Lara, yes. Vice Mayor
Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. Thank you for your time. And we have a we have a ball rolling. We are going We are unanimous. Two votes in a row. Two votes in a row. This is amazing. God is good. God is good. God is good. I dealt with this for
two years, man. I got my butt kicked in for two years here. Um, if I may, just one thing on a on an earlier subject. I was going to mention it to the manager about pavers that you mentioned. I was going to have I don't know if it's something of enhanced stamp concrete with the thermoplastic covering or things that are people are looking at
I've noticed recently. I'm not saying that's the solution, but it's something I had heard recently by a couple of others. So, if it helps just like I offered to Mr. Gomez to go to Carmel, Indiana and see the roundabouts that have 150 there. I think it's the most problem and and I know what you're talking about. The problem with stamp concrete, it just doesn't No, no, no. I
I'm just saying I've heard about it more. We don't deal with that. But I'm just saying it was just something. But it's a great idea, but it just doesn't look I understand. Up to snuff for quality. It wears very Sure. Mr. Clerk, what other items do we have? Thank you very much. No, thank you. What other
items do we have? Uh F14, Mr. Mayor. F14. F14 is a resolution of the city commission prioritizing residential reviews by establishing an order of business or board of architects meetings. Oh, this is a long time coming, madame vice mayor. I I noticed the smile
on our city architect's face. This is years in the making. Sometimes people don't like change, but we really need to become more efficient. So, in an effort to
be able to have residents first and being taken care of first and not waiting around for large projects to be reviewed. While it might be interesting and educational, um we're going to be indeed put residents first here. So, we're going to
restruct the order of business before the board of architects. um time certain presentations will be based on project types. The goal is to prioritize residents with the intent of expediting in the process for all. You you have the presentation up there. I
should just let you do the presentation, but you know the idea. Go ahead. You take the you take the floor. I've talked enough today. You guys you guys can do it that way or I can walk you through it. So, good afternoon and mayor. I think we're going to get three for three.
I think so. regarding your uh your uh unanimous votes. I'm hoping so. Uh good afternoon, gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen. Juan Reesco, city architect. As a city architect, I am also the secretary for the board of architects and the liaison to our residents. As you
know, the board is responsible for the reviewing of all projects in the city of Coral Gables and upholding the high standards of design that this city expects. Our VA meetings are unique in that we have weekly meetings instead
of monthly meetings, and it's different from all the other boards in this city. Our meetings are held every Thursday at 8:30 in the morning and typically run till 1:30 p.m. Due to the high volume of submitts that we review. Our meetings are very intense and rigorous where many
projects are reviewed in a limited time frame. They range from a simple fence project to a very complex and large project. We typically review 25 to 30 submitts on a weekly basis. Uh we currently have nine registered
architects on board with an average of 20 to 30 years experience behind their belt. Uh each of them has vast knowledge and of ranges of smallcale projects to large complex developments and based on the inputs of the residents and the
concerns of the commission we are here to adjust our order of business at the board of architects meeting. Two quick slides. The first slide is uh again as the vice mayor stated we're restructuring the order of business. The
goal is to prioritize the residents with the intent of expediting the process for everybody. Uh we are now initiating time certain presentations based on project types and complexity and we are also soliciting additional architects to the board to help expedite further reviews.
If you can put up the second slide I hope you can it's readable. Okay. I wasn't sure. This is my first presentation. I wasn't sure about the text size. So what what we've done to address the concerns is separate the meeting into three tiers. Okay. The
first tier is what we call panels which are going to be initiated. Our meeting starts at 8:30 roughly. It's an hourong session for panels because these are the simple projects in our mind. They're the simple projects. They're the fences, the windows, the decks, the docks, roofs,
tiles, signage, all of the the miscellaneous ancillary components of a structure, whether it be commercial or residential. And so they go relatively quickly. What we do is we subdivide into four teams, two to three people per team, and then we concurrently review
projects and try to keep a handle on what's getting approved, what's getting deferred, what's getting rejected. Uh the second tier of the meeting is what we call the board and that's where we review additions, renovations, alterations, new construction, and solar
panels. And what we do at that point of the meeting, which usually starts about 9:30 and will end probably by 11:00, we're hoping an hour and a half session. And this is the core reviews that we do where we have the most volume of work. These are the new houses
uh that sometimes become cumbersome. And so we split up into two teams of four architects. Uh anywhere from three to five depending on the attendance of the meetings because now we're into the summer session and a lot of the team is traveling whether it be business or
personal or not available. So it can range from three to five people per per team. And then the final tier of the board meeting is going to be the full boards where we do the large scale and complicated residential projects. We we have some residential projects. We just
reviewed one last week that was 30,000 square feet. The biggest one of the biggest residential projects in the South Gables in uh right off Cutler Road and Gables by the Sea or Gables estates. I'm not sure where it was. So in the full board sessions uh this is also the
the portion of the meeting where we review projects that are requesting med bonus. Uh this is where projects are requesting conceptual reviews. So this is delegated to the complex projects that are the most time consuming and require the most
attention in terms of detail. Uh we also review historic properties. We also allocate time for product presentations. So in this city we try to vet products that are new that that are coming online. We try to stay on top of the materials that come into the market
because a lot of developers, a lot of owners, a lot of builders want cutting edge new technology, new materials. there's a there's a strong push for composits versus natural materials because of course degradation due to you know water infiltration, termites,
whatever. So we got to watch what people use in the project. So we ask them to come in and do product presentations so we the board can vet the materials, look at the uh you know the u the guarantees, the materiality, the connections, how it's attached, how it's
connected. So that's something that we do on a fullboard level. And then the last thing we do at the full board level is based on the mandate from the commission, we review the metal roofs and that's a full board requirement. And so that's kind of the in a nutshell what
we're doing. That our full boards can run up to a couple of hours. Sometimes we go past 1:00 which I don't think is productive because the board is tired after four or five hours of reviewing projects and everybody's hungry by 1:00. So, we try to I try really hard to get
the agenda complete before 1:00. Uh, but again, it's we're at the mercy of the project and the complexity and the and the dis, you know, the exchange between the applicants and the board. And that and again, a full board uh session is anywhere from five board
members to nine board members. I need five to create a forum for the full board session. So, in a nutshell, that's what we're doing. We think this is going to solve a lot of the concerns and a lot of the requests of the residents and also the commission. And I think it's a
great a great situation for us at the board level. I was on the board for 11 years. And uh this this ability to break up the board into two components is going to help us tremendously with the time because now I can have two concurrent boards running at one time.
So hopefully people will get in quicker and get out quicker and and hopefully lessen the the complaining about sitting waiting for five hours, which I understand, but up to now that's been the MMO for the board meetings. And so I'm glad the vice mayor brought it to
our attention. And I'm also glad that some of the residents have talked about it at the meetings that, you know, why should I wait for four hours? And uh my answer was always, yeah, it's based on the agenda. It's based on when you submit the project, you get put on the agenda and we got to deal with it. My my
promise to everybody is that we'll get you done on this board meeting that it's not going to get sheld to another subsequent meeting. So that's that's it in a nutshell. Okay. Okay. I mean, I I talked to um board members about two years ago about doing this. There was
some push back at the time, but I think the appetite is there now. So now is a good time to do this. And uh you know it gives you the opportunity to bring in some additional people. So it's not as much as a strain on the existing board
members that we have. Uh and you can still get uh projects processed here. Um this is a resolution. It's a minor tweak to our code. Um I'll move it. I'll second. Can I can I just say just for
the record a few things? Um first of all, I want to commend you for working on this. This is something that we've been talking about for a long time. I've heard from a lot of architects. Um something that we had talked with the manager on multiple occasions and I think it's the right thing to do. I
think it really um offers different um not only opinions but I think skill sets and it really opens us up. It really opens it up so that people can get a better understanding and really delve into residential versus,
you know, high-rise construction, commercial construction. And I think um it's it's been a long long time coming. A long time coming. And are there any other ways that you think that we could potentially do a better job that maybe you think, you know, there's there's
constraints financially, staff, what can we do? Because one of the things the only thing that I see Mr. City architect which is um which is I don't know how to answer these individuals when they come to me I bring them to you. You know
there's how many times dozens of times I brought them to every week every week. Hey my project was denied for a fourth time for a fourth time at the board of architecture. Usually the residences you know I think some of the some of those again I'm not an architect. I look at them and I say, "Oh, that's a beautiful
design." And they say, "Oh, they, you know, I don't want to make the windows smaller. I want to leave the windows the way they are." And there's that back and forth. That's just giving you one example. What do you think? What do you think that we can do? Is it just that people sometimes use architects that are not local or
architects that don't have the experience with the standards here in the city? And I think sometimes it's very frustrating for staff because staff wants to tell them, "Listen, your architect is just not a person who understands our standards here or doesn't understand that you're in a
historically designated neighborhood and you can't build an ice cube in the middle of a neighborhood." No, but this is what I want. So, what can we do to make your life easier and staff's life easier? Because it's really hard when you have to deal with somebody and they
say, "I want this." But you're like, "No, you can't have that." Well, but let me answer the first question. I know it's a big qu. I know it's a loaded question and I apologize, but I'm I'm I'm ready to answer that. Uh the first component is the staffing. Uh we are short one staff member now in my
department, but we lost somebody in January. And so it would be great to pick up another employee that will help us with the internal reviews at staff level, not at BOA level. This is purely what we do in house where we review what we call miscellaneous projects, the
small projects. So that would be helpful on that level. The second issue or the second response to the the broader question about people getting deferred or rejected at the board level, I I hate to say it, but the majority of the architects that I
deal with on a weekly basis that get rejected are I I think exactly what you mentioned that they're not wellversed in perhaps Mediterranean design. They're not wellversed in traditional Coral Gables architecture.
They're they're modernist. I I'm a hardcore moderist. I graduated from college, a loving Richard Meyer, which is a white fox guy, but I understand now that I am an employee of the city of Coral Gables and I have to adhere to the standards of the city. And so I put that
away and I focus on what I need to be doing here. And so I I try to meet with the applicants, mayor, to respond to your your query about people getting upset. I I do it on a weekly basis. I probably meet with three or four peoples every people every week regarding
rejections from the board. That's that's a big part of my job here as a liaison, as an ambassador of the city is to try to get these guys in line so they understand what we expect. And you're absolutely correct about what you said that some of these modern houses cannot
be built in our traditional neighborhoods. is just not something that we can accept because again our marching orders are very clear. We have to protect the integrity of the neighborhood in the context. If there's a position or a part of the town that's
a little bit more open-ended, maybe an annexed area that we took over from Miami date county that has a little bit of variation, then we open up the doors a little more and we allow the more modern vocabulary in those areas. But unfortunately, uh many of the architect
that they come to the board. Uh some are first timers then they have no clue what they're getting into. Some don't come prepared. Some don't understand the requirements of you know whenever they're doing renovation work existing versus new and how we read the plans and how we try to understand. I mean, you
got to keep in mind, we're looking at a project for sometimes 15 minutes, and we have to be able to determine what the scope of work is, understand what they're trying to do, and make sure that it's all complete so we can give them an approval so they can move on to the next
year. And so, um, a lot of guys just and and I'm working on that also. We're trying to create some design standards. We're trying to generate typical permit comments that we look for on the projects that we're doing. So there's a lot of things we're trying
to put stuff online. We're trying to publish the product standards. We're trying to do a lot of things that weren't available when we were in in the hard copy days. Now that we're in the digital world, we have a lot more flexibility. I have a lot more ammunition that I can that I can use to
do that. And so we're working on all these things and we're trying to to give the community and the architectural community in particular what they need to be successful in this city. And just unfortunately some some guys just don't
have it. I hate to say that. And some guys we can work with and some guys are stellar and they do great work and we you know we appreciate that and we love that on a week. You know, I've got guys complaining to me, hey, I've been there four times and I got deferred, rejected and then I got a guy that I saw a guy
get approved on the first shot. Yeah, that guy unfortunately probably did his homework, did his research, did his context study, looked at this at the requirements that the board expects, put together a package that's complete, put notes on the plans. I mean, I can't tell
you how many times we stop presentations because the the product isn't complete and also not enough enough information for the board to make an assessment. So, can I ask you a question also and maybe there's a also a question directed at your staff. Don't you think a lot of it has to do with also not only an
experience in regards to the city and our and our and our objectives, but it also has to do with the fact that the times that we're living in right now where everybody wants to maximize every last square inch of the property to get the highest dollar amount. So, it's like
they're going setback to set back. They're trying to build. And for example, you look at my house for example on a 12,000 foot lot. They build 3,000 square feet. Could probably build another thousand something on that on that lot. But 50 years ago when they
built that ranch style home, it wasn't a necessity. Now they would take that lot, knock the house down, build to the last square inch, let's say it's 4,500 feet, so they can sell it for x times 45 and make the most bang for your buck. And then again, that you see these massively
packed lots where Coral Gables was never like that. You never had that many two-story houses. you always had, you know, sprawling one-story houses that, you know, they have a lot more green space. Now it's real setbacks. Do you do you think that has a lot to do with it also? No, I think it has everything to do with it. I I think that's that's a
viable discussion point. And again, that's an argument we have on a weekly basis at the board level where an applicant says, "Hey, you guys are not allowing me to do a second floor." And the answer is always no. We are allowing you to do a second floor. We are trying to address the concept of mass and how
you distribute the mass on the second floor. so that it's not imposing on the streets, so that it's not imposing on the neighbors. And and and again, I I can't tell you how many meetings I have with owners and and applicants on a weekly basis having that same discussion. Why won't you let me do my
my second floor? Says, "Sir, that's not the point here. We want you to do a second floor. We welcome the second floor, but it's got to be done properly. It's got to be integrated. Sometimes it's an existing renovation where they're adding a second floor to a single story in a neighborhood that's full of singlestory homes. And so this
is the first impact that that neighborhood receives. So we want to treat it really sensitively and make sure that the addition is going to be compatible with the house and that that particular house is compatible with the neighborhood. And and it's a big it's a big uh contentious point that we deal
with weekly and and that's I understand you know you're paying a lot of money for the dirt and you want to maximize your your your dollar and you want to maximize your square footage and exactly what you said. You know, we get into discussions with people about lot coverage. They're, you know, their their
chart says that they're they're off the lot coverage requirement by one square foot. I said, are you kidding me? You're not giving yourself a little room for error. You know, don't do that because eventually you're going to have a problem somewhere. You miscalculated. you missed the drawing wasn't to scale and all of a sudden you're you're uh
your back's up against the wall and what what happens now? You got to remove a portion of the structure which is absurd. But that's kind of the mindset. You know, the mindset is to maximize max and we're and we're the opposite. We're like, hey, another discussion that comes up a lot is the twotory volumes on a lot
of these modernist homes where they want double door entrance and a foyer that's 30 feet tall and a living room that's 30 feet tall. that increases mass. That volume, that second story volume that's part of the ground floor increases the mass of the project. So, if you take
that out and you put that mass somewhere else, you can bring it down. And so, again, it it's an argument. We deal with this uh daily. I mean, it's it's the individual property rights versus the city requirements. That's kind of the
fine line that we walk every day. And it's it's a tough pill to swallow. Most people don't like to hear that. Hey, you're you're rejected. I mean, I've been an architect almost 40 years, and I can't imagine somebody telling me that I'm rejected because I work hard at what I do. And some of these guys just come
into the meetings and and they they're not prepared. They don't understand. And, you know, it's a it's a rude awakening, but I I'm there moderating the meetings, trying to be fair to both the applicant and the board members. Some some people get hostile, some
people get upset and and you know, I'm there to make sure that doesn't get out of hand and and I I try really hard to appease applicants and I meet with them after. It's not a requirement. It's not part of my job description, but I do it because I think it's a good thing for
the city. It's customer service and uh so I try to meet with them. I try to steer them in a direction where I feel the board might have an opening where they can, you know, approve the project and and I give them the input that I that I have gained and the knowledge
that I hear every week in and week out and try to move them forward. And sometimes I'm successful, sometimes I'm not. Some, you know, it's always the typical scenario. You get to a fork in the road and you make a left or a right. One of those two is the right way, the other one's the wrong way. And sometimes we have collateral damage. You know, you
make design changes thinking, "Hey, this is what I'm going to do to address the board." And the project actually gets worse, gets further away from what the board expecting. And so it's uh it's a tough business, but I think we work really hard at it on a weekly basis. I
think the board tries really hard to get the projects approved. That's what everybody wants. It's the least path of resistance. It's the easiest way out of this, but unfortunately, it's it's not an easy path to get to. And I think that's kind of
um I think that's what the city is about is a high I we don't want the regular everyday stuff that you see everywhere else around us, our cities. I think there's a there's a level of expectation. There's a there's a standard of quality that we want to
adhere to. And I think uh that's our job and that's our charge. So, I don't know if I answered your question, but okay. You uh have any other questions? I'd be happy to answer. No. Okay. We have a motion. We have a second. We're ready. Mr.
Vice Mayor Anderson. Yes. Commissioner Castro, this is very good. Yes. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Mayor Lago. Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Final item. Correct. Yes, sir. H3. H3.
Three for three. Let's see if we can get H. Let's see if we can get four for four. H3. You must have had a really good lunch. Just tired. How are you, sir? How are you? Thank you for being so patient. I apologize for
skipping you over. No, no, sir. Thank you, mayor, mayor, commissioner, Mr. Mar. So, uh, I will go really quick about this uh slides. What I'm going to do, I'm going to skip some of them and you're going to maybe get a copy. I'm going to upload this later. So, this is an update on a an important project that
we started in 2022 to expand our broadband corridors. So build four additional corridors and installed a lot of infrastructure in the smart districts for public safety, for mobility, for public Wi-Fi, for connectivity and many
other benefits. So we at that time I did uh three presentations with my team here to the commission 2022. The first one to present the scope of the project to get feedback from the commission. The second one to present the design we were doing for the smart poles because we wanted to
build the poles in a way that they were aesthetically pleasing that they you know were aligned with the materan revival architecture of the city. So we presented that design that we did with Spin Farina and with Aking and the city commission selected uh two or three
designs that like the most and the final presentation in 2022 was to uh for get approval for the award of the solicitation for the construction of the fiber corridors and uh we accomplished the goals that we the the main goals. So
basically we we built the four corridors and we connected them. We connected all the city buildings and facilities that we needed to connect. And when you connect city buildings with um outsourced fiber or connectivity, you
have the risk that that fiber has a combination of overhead utilities and aerial fiber with underground. And we know when we have high-speed winds, hurricanes, so we lose those connectivities that can affect critical services, you know, for public safety facilities, for city services. So we
know how important is to have a resilient underground facility um utility that we can rely that is not going to go away when we have a hurricane or a storm. So we were able to connect those critical city facilities with city fiber which is private by the
way also is has higher levels of security which is important in today's uh world where we live and also uh we were able to uh connect the corridors and we were able to install some of the poles the majority of the of the most critical poles that we agreed with with
Chief Hudak when we designed the the better locations for those uh poles. So uh the That was 25 additional fiber optic corridor segments. Before 2023, we had 20 segments. So we expanded that
with 25 more segments. Uh we also uh connected those buildings that I mentioned there. Juice center, adult activity center, museum, four parking garages one, four, two and six h studio which is also economic development
office. And we got to the pawn circle where after the renovation we will also be able to install a pole there. And those four corridors we call it the financial corridor in Alhamra cil and we call it also that big corer that is the
spine of corables the pono de leong and also university corridor that connects to you center the mobility corridor that's how we call it in and lucia and the one that we call the arts and culture corer on Aragon that we have the art cinema we have books and books and
we have the museum and the historic preservation office And so the funding came from uh funds that were allocated for broadband and and we had four phases and I can say that we uh completed the
project uh under budget and ahead of time. Basically we were able to leverage a lot of the capacity in my in my team. So we did design, engineering, planning, connectivity, integration, security. So we did turn key we only outsourced the
construction or undergrounding of the of the conduits of the fiber and also the directional boring and the uh the boxes with the handhold of the fiber. So the project when I presented this project was 42 months and I think that I heard
from the mayor and the commission can it be done quicker. So those three and a uh 3.5 years h we completed it ahead of time. So we reduced it to 2.5 years. So we completed the construction of the four quarters in 2.5 years in 30 30
months and also uh under budget because we were able to maximize the ROI the efficiencies of doing a lot of the work inhouse by my team. So I have to big kudos to my to my team. They work very very hard completing this on time and crunch time in project management as
well with high quality because we install highgrade uh quality fiber. So benefits I'm not going to go about this but you know a lot of benefits in economic growth attracting business attracting uh also customers and
residents providing free Wi-Fi has a lot of uh benefits also public safety big benefits uh installing expanding the public safety infrastructure you know uh for crime prevention and also for traffic management traffic engineering a lot of benefits that we find uh in all
those corridors so this is a big view of what we had before so before 2023 We had corers in Miracle Mayo. We had Gerala Plata. We had Salerero. We had segments of Sevilla and we had 20
segments and we had a lot of buildings already connected. So we already had built a smart city infrastructure very robust with a lot of uh uh district capacity but we needed to continue growing and expand. And this is a zooming to those cores that existed
before 2023. And so these are the new phases. So financial corridor at Hamra Circle, we completed those uh new segments. We connected the entire corridor. We connected three new smart city poles. We already had one poll at Alhamra and Pona
Deon and we completed those. These are photos of the three new poles. These two poles that you see at the top, they are the new uh designed that was completed with spinning farina. They are the only poles of their kind in North America. They were designed by aerospace
engineers in in Germany and they pretty much incorporate all the technology in one single pole. No attachments, no external cables or wiring. So very aesthetically pleasing and very smart. They have a intelligent uh um builtin
intelligence powered by AI. And the port on the on the bottom is a port that we install at the pump station there. So basically allows to connect for telemetry. So we can connect also for poly works and that's a photo of some of
the public Wi-Fi uh service points that we installed in this one is pitman park I think and second coron. So we completed all the segments that we wanted to complete. We connected in studio. We connected uh
the pawn circle area. We connected the youth center. Very important there. So now we can say that all those sites are connected with on the ground private uh resilient fiber. And those poles that we planned for that segment, five poles, we're going to wait for the renovation
at Monero. That way we're going to save a lot of money if we wait for the renovation. We synchronize work and we don't do work twice. photos of the of those boxes. So um those boxes you know they were done very professionally. We have all the as bills for the fiber the
locates which is very important. So we also share this with the industry make make sure that uh those f corers are not disrupted by other work. So it's very very important to do this up to up to code and we so these are the photos of those and the corridor and the Lucia. So
we had there uh those segments that they connect to the activity center. We connected the activity center now with city uh private fiber and also we had one pole there planned that uh next to the city hall here at Merrick Park
that's going to be important for security for city events. Sorry my uh just to let the commission through the mayor. Of course she's standing up. Thank you. I just want to let the commission know the polls are German poles but we designed them for hurricanes here. There
are no hurricanes in Germany. So we actually worked with the Germans. Uh mayor mayor I just want to say that the poles were designed in Germany but there are no hurricanes in Germany. So we did the hurricane design here to make sure that they were compatible with with our
I appreciate that. And my puppy also appreciates the fact that he didn't use metal lids because when she steps on them and they make noise, she gets scared. They are phenomenal poles. They're segmental. You can add different different things to them, f 5 5G, etc.
And uh so and they're also uh the designs you recall were were designed by Pine Farina. So the the idea was to have a 5G pole that was commensurate with the design standards of Coral Gables instead of just a
concrete pole with a with a box at at the bottom and some some antennas on top. Yeah, I remember that presentation. It was far better. It went went to a to they were fantastic. They they they found a pole in one of their conferences from from from a German manufacturer and
we we designed them for hurricanes here and now we have probably the the the best poles in the country. Okay. So the final corridor arts and culture corridor we completed the fiber optic. connected the museum building and
historic preservation, the parking garage 2 and parking garage 6 and uh also we built that segment at Merrick uh Merrick way and these are photos uh you cannot see it but there's technology there that is now uh back holed by this fiber including previous emergency
communication poles that we had there now they can connect to the fiber directly and also cameras for security. This is the post that the city manager was mentioning. The first one pilot was the first one in North America in 2021. This is still the only of their kind in
in North America and the first one uh with the design that the city manager had to redesign for Florida code. Uh though that design later was improved version two and the last two are the new design version three done with spinning
fina and also in collaboration with University of Miami school of architecture Dean Rodolf Curi he provided feedback also for the aesthetics and the Mediterranean revival design. This is the what we presented at that time. How pin Farina helped to get inspiration from the city's
architecture, from the city historic buildings and also from from nature. The design in the center was the one that we used at Alhamra. The design to the right is the one that is inspired by nature too. is the one that we're going to do
at city parks because makes sense to have it together with trees and and a lot of new Wi-Fi access points we have installed. So we expanded the city free public Wi-Fi coverage. H a lot of these sites that
you see here in this long list were done through those new phases. So that what one of the main drivers also when we hear from the community is that they want this project also to help expand uh free public Wi-Fi coverage. that we have done throughout all these corridors and we will continue as we build others. So
the expand now that we were able to complete this um behind schedule and also uh under budget we have some remaining uh funds on the CIP that we can use to start these new phases. So phase five would be a phase
to help us extend the fiber corer to the underlying. So now we will have the opportunity to connect the underlying part to collaborate with the underline because they also have a fiber corridor. So we have had conversations with the on with the leaders of the underline on
that and recently one with food too because there's a public safety component there as well that will allow us to connect the four very important facilities. the backup app, the 911 backup is app. Connect the passport office, connect the trolley depot, and
connect the um the one. No, those those are the main ones. And the fire station 2, of course, that is part of the complex of the 911 and the backup 911. So, fire station 2, backup 911, and trolley depot and also
the passport office. and phase uh six depending on uh how we can um stretch those dollars that we still have. We can maybe do it now or request additional CIP for phase six to connect the northern gables uh district and get to
the Flaggler corridor potentially having the opportunity to collaborate with the county. I have had conversations with Miami Day County because if they build a corridor in Flaggler, then we will be able to realize a little bit, let me keep of this dream of this vision of
creating a triangle for resiliency that we can back each other up uh throughout the cities and the county regional vision, but also we can have more collaboration, digital literacy, uh community innovation centers, uh economic development, but also public
safety collaboration. So we can do more if uh we get the county to collaborate with us and help us create this triangle in certain way building that triangle for innovation as well. And that's this is it. The only thing I wanted to mention that we also have all this uh
infrastructure connected to the public in the smart city hub corable.comsmart cityhub that has continued to evolve with artificial intelligence and transparency portals. and also the digital twin corable.comdigital twin. If you go today to the digital
twin has evolved a lot since the last time that I presented to the commission. Today you see the trolley is uh moving in real time. You click on a trolley and you can see how many passengers are driving on that exactly time. The infrastructure is connected the the sensors are connected traffic sensors
environmental sensors. So this is a very this is a state-of-the-art platform that was engineered by by by my team. So, thank you so much. If you don't have any more question and sorry for the for the late presentation at all was incredible. Wow. Thank you so much, your manager. Mr. Mayor, I think you can see why we're
the number two smart city in the country. Yeah. Pretty impressive. Exactly. An amazing team. So, mayor, um related to some of the issues that have come up today, uh I have a couple of issues to bring up. Okay. Um one is, you
know, there has been a call out for essentially an investigation related to the allegations that came out in a particular article. Um, we've had internal investigations before. There
was one years and years and years ago involving Chief Hudachak. Um, it was internal affairs investigation. It was handled by FDLE, I believe it was. Correct me if I'm wrong. You're been here longer than I have, city manager. We generally do the internal if it's internal.
that that was there was an outside um um council and and an outside investigator that was hired through the city attorney's office per the direction of the commission. Right. And uh more recently there was um mayor you were the subject of an internal affairs investigation
which um you know cleared you of any wrongdoing and there's been allegations of wrongdoing here against Commissioner Fernandez and I think it would be incumbent upon us not to just sit silently here and have this matter addressed in an appropriate manner. Um
some people asked for resignation, some people asked for an inspector general. Um, I'm going to open this up for discussion because perhaps an internal affairs investigation where FDLE takes it up would be the least costly uh way
to um assure the public that this matter is not being uh just kicked like a can uh to the side of the road. So, um, do you have any thoughts and ideas on how we should proceed? Uh, so the public knows that, uh, we're not ignoring, um,
these, uh, allegations. You know, I've gotten a lot I've gotten a lot of calls, uh, from residents after reading the article on Gables. Um, it was pretty well detailed and, um, you know, to me, I think it's
very concerning. Very concerning. You're concerned about that, correct? I haven't read the article. It's an anonymous blog. I mean, I wouldn't put any credibility to something that nobody puts their name on it, so I don't read it. So, I'm not sure what is it that
it's saying. So, I'm just going to add to that. There's confidential informants and people don't reveal their information, but police departments do utilize informants on cases and the fact that their identity remains undisclosed
is not a factor because there's corroboration that occurs. So, anonymous or not, that's not a factor for for me. I I I see that there's credible allegations
that need to be addressed. I've received many uh reachouts from residents saying that this needs to be addressed. The question is how to address it. Yeah, that was my next question after I gave the courtesy to uh speak with Commissioner Castro. was giggling during
the issue. So, I wanted to make sure that obviously we address also funny in the room. Um, first and foremost, whether it's anonymous or not, it doesn't really matter. The facts are there. It's very clear what happened. I was uh along with
Commissioner Lada and the vice mayor were targeted on these push pulls. Very clear. The intent was to tarnish reputations just like what happens every day in Politico. It's a pay-for-play bug, just like the Gazette, just like the fire union. Billy Corbin, all these
individuals are all intertwined here and there's a whole host of people in the background who are residents uh who are engaged in all this type of activity. But the people spoke at the last election. You know, I thought about truly just leaving it there, but when I saw this article and I read how damning
the evidence was and the extent that people were willing to go to ruin someone, uh you know, to me, I think there has to be some sort of action. I don't know if it is through, for example, through FDLE, which I went through. I went through the FDLE process uh when your city manager uh stated very
clearly that I assaulted him and that was leaked to the Herald and they wrote an article about it uh without actually having any facts. Again, another effort in a whole host of efforts to try to ruin my reputation which failed miserably. Failed miserably because
people saw right through it. And the interesting thing is that none of this stuff showed up was never it was never like this in the commission for 10 years. Never. We had battles on issues, but it only started happening when Commissioner Castro and Commissioner Fernandez showed up here. That type of
dirty, dirty, nasty politics, you know, drag out, destroy someone's reputation uh only started happening and, you know, I've gotten as I've gotten on the back side of my uh of my political career, I become more vocal. I'm not going to
allow that to happen to me. Uh just the the nastiness, the lies. So to me, when I went through the FDLE process, I met with two FDLE officers, um with my attorneys, uh we had a a conversation.
I was deposed and other people that are in the room, including then uh ACM or DCM, excuse me, Parus was in the room also, and they cooporated my story, which was I was nowhere near the city manager. Yeah. Was it was it a heated conversation? Yes, it was very heated,
but at the end of day, it wasn't physical. Um, in this case, this I would have to defer to the city attorney whether it should be FDLE or it should be referred to uh Kathy Fernandez Rundle, but something needs to happen here because this is the constant shadow
attacks, you know, destructive, you know, reputational uh efforts that at the end of the day um need to be addressed. And just like I had to go in front of the FDLE and I had that hanging over me for six months until it came
out. And by the way, when the Herald cleared the air after they wrote that article, I think they put it back in the cooking section, the article or the comic section. Uh it wasn't addressed front and center like the article that stated the allegations was front and center, but that's the herald. That's what they do. It's all clickbait at the
end of the day. So, I'd have to defer back to to the city attorney because but I would like to see some sort of action uh taken on this matter because I think it's embarrassing and at the end of the day, you know, it's our reputation
through the mayor. Yes, sir. Yeah. So um in the course of of when this article came out um through and including the start of this meeting during the public comments and through my lunch hour um I've also been approached um by residents expecting something to be done
by this commission because the allegations while their their allegations at this stage are are serious. And so looking at it from a different perspective, right? We as the commission um should not allow
our own reputation as the professional body that we are the ethical elected officials that we strive to be um to be uh bismerched or diluted at best. um when allegations
that are serious like this uh go um unressed. You know, mayor, I remember when allegations were being made by a former commissioner that the city was a drift and a cesspool of corruption and that he was going to lead our beloved city out of the muck.
um without providing in that instance any specifics. But that formed the basis I think in prepared remarks for why we hired or I should say this commission hired um a city manager that had um never been
interviewed by anybody offered a position by some unknown unnamed individual without commission having any prior knowledge. But the point is, you wanted um to access an inspector general
because you cared in my view enough about this commission and its reputation to clear your name, to clear the commission's name in the most difficult and unenviable way because you have to prove a negative, right, that you didn't
do something. You have to chase a ghost. But in this instance, right, we have a very fresh and I regret to say very serious and it appears to be very well supported
um series of um ethical potential alleged ethical breaches um misuse of the public trust, misuse of the public office for personal gain, for political gain. And in any event, if um
Commissioner Fernandez were here, I I would venture to guess that he would want uh to have these allegations dispelled. Not not not hidden. I I would assume only because I would assume if I was in
his shoes, that's what I would do. So, you know, I could be wrong, but I would think that he would want his name cleared because this is not something that, you know, his bathroom, you know, water cooler type talk, but it is something that it
seems to have um caught um the the the widespread and and serious attention of our residents. So how we go about it there's any one of a number of ways but that something
should be done and quickly I think is um crystal clear. Uh but inaction if I if I can say inaction on our part would be at best indifference and at worst ratifying that kind of alleged
behavior and and I can't have and won't stand for either one of those. Um, so, city attorney, I I I think I' I'd like to know um if there's an internal mechanism to start perhaps in a in in
the least intrusive way, but in a way that affords um an opportunity for the individual um you know, at the at the at the at the receiving end of these allegations to respond to questions that we may have
because I believe I would assume assume that we the commission have an obligation to self-regulate ourselves, you know, the way the bar regulates attorneys, right? If we if we receive credible uh concerns from from the
residents concerning how one of us is discharging our duty, well, I would expect that the commission would respond by giving level one inquiry to that individual, you know, to produce, if needed, some answers to questions that
could resolve this. if that individual would resort to, you know, counsel instead of providing us the answers. I understand. I mean, people have a right to assert the fifth amendment. I'm not I'm not there yet, but I'm just saying
these are things that could be coming down the pike. Um, I would like to keep the cost to a minimum so perhaps we can decide as a body to have uh conversations opened um with u the
appropriate local and state law enforcement to see if um they can offer us some solutions and interest to help clear what is a very material and serious allegation. um this comes there's no good time for this kind of allegation
but you know it seems to me this is the kind of thing that will resonate not only with our residents but potentially resonates all the way to Tallahassee um because we we we seem to be fighting and I've heard this directly from certain elected officials statewide that
we we've got to climb out of a of a of a hole. I don't know how else to put it that we we we we we don't go in when we're looking for appropriations with the best reputation uh over the last couple of years and we we're we're taking steps to rectify and write the
ship. But this this feels like it could be potentially a massive step backwards if we don't step up and take care of our own house. Um there was just some initial thoughts I have, but this is regrettably a very
serious situation uh that we're dealing with. And I I'll just echo one other thing that the mayor said. I'm I would be personally um affected by, you know, what these allegations involve because I was then a
part of a target if this if any of these allegations drew. you know, I I'm I'm one of the targets of of of this um alleged, you know, surveillance intimidation tactics utilized to gain information from residents regarding a
political uh campaign. I'm not saying any of it is true. What I'm saying is that it's been brought to my attention by several residents expecting me to do something about it. Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir.
Uh, I'm sorry I couldn't be there in person. As you know, I got called away. Yep. Uh, if I can make a suggestion through your office, um, having some experience on this side. Yep. Um, the city attorney's office obviously represents the board and
everybody on it. uh uh through our charter. Uh if the board wants the manager to have the police department initiate an investigation with outside entities,
that would probably be the course of action, even I'll defer to her final opinion on that. Uh the way it would go down is similar to what we have done before. the manager uh can instruct me. Uh internal affairs could initiate
uh what in fact we would be looking at. We would then bring in immediately the outside entities whether it be the sheriff's office who has a public corruption unit, the state attorney's office who has a public corruption unit,
the state of Florida which we use which is FDLE out of Tallahassee. We've used them before uh to look at that and then if there's an ethics violation, we would bring in the ethics violation. When I say we would bring in, we would essentially turn over these
investigations um through to them for their final conclusion. My recommendation to you all is that it has to be looked at criminally before we look at the ethics side of it or if there's something that
this body would want to take action on which is really limited in scope. You don't want to have those conversations and then if there is in fact a criminal violation it could impede a criminal um
filing of charges if you will. Mhm. Uh again, I'm not familiar with all the allegations, nor would I be. Uh I would I would assign our uh commander of internal affairs to coordinate with the
outside entities and I would contact the heads of those entities saying what the will of the commission is by resolution. Uh that gets enacted by a resolution or a direction to the manager and then his direction to me. uh at which point we
would be hands off and they another entity would handle all the interviews, any possible charges and then a final conclusion. Once that's done that would get presented by that entity to the board and then the city attorney could
appine on what the options are or actions could be taken if nothing else came of that. If it's an ethics violation, obviously that would come from ethics. If it's a state attorney getting charges, that would come from the public corruption unit. And if it's
something uh on a larger scale or a bigger area, the FDLE could use the statewide prosecutor on that. And they have specific units that handle this all the time. Uh, I'll just remind everybody
when we had the um the doortodoor uh signing of petitions that was immediately handled over handed over to Tallahassee. They did the investigation. We had no further in uh involvement in
that until it was either closed out and my recommendation uh for for guidance and I would defer to the city attorney uh instead of having somebody who is either a constitutional officer or an employee of this body uh
doing an investigation into a current or past person on the commission. So yes, the mayor, you know, based upon my background and experience, you know, that is the usual course of action that
you you don't do the internal investigation on folks within. you um have it directed out. And uh I'm going to make a motion to direct the city manager to um address this matter with
an internal affairs investigation in the manner that the chief just indicated and they can send it out to the appropriate agency to do it from outside rather than inside. And it also would be the least costly way to address
this matter and put it to rest. one way or another. Yes, sir. I second, but I want to also comment that I I wish that we would have Commissioner Fernandez here. Um, but I don't know why. I don't know why he's not here, but the circumstances are such
that we can't wait in my view. Um, this is why I I I second and I would urge that we carry the motion um when we take the vote. Any further comments? Yeah. So, I don't
know what the facts are. I don't know what you're saying that he did. Is he following recording people? What is what are the charges or what are the facts or I have no idea. Nobody's reached out to me, which is funny enough because if this seems to be such a big big deal,
it's it's from what you guys are saying. It seems to be pretty substantial. Um, but I'm still a little lost to what are what would be the charges or what is it that we are blaming him of doing or I
mean I know that you guys want to take action or we're talking about a person that's not even here and we're talking about something that I don't even know what we're talking about. We're we're accusing him of what exactly? If I may through the mayor. Yeah, if I may. But
you you decide. Yes, sir. Go ahead, Commissioner. I'm not accusing anybody of anything. I'm and I'll repeat, I have read an article with substantial and serious allegations that appear to be supported by competent facts that the um
commissioner uh may have engaged may have engaged allegedly engaged in uh conduct which constitutes surveillance uh on residents. um through his position as a sitting commissioner.
Um through um a very um uh complicated scheme of using fake uh email accounts uh sending out um emails uh with purported surveys
without disclosing that he's the one behind it. which also for those who actually conducted the survey and participated in it uh involved embedded tracking software in it. So I understand you're saying you have no idea about any
of these allegations. Um and I know what I've read, I know what some residents have told me seems to match up with um what's been alleged. But all of this is an allegation. Where
I'm coming from is that the public trust appears to already be broken if we don't act. And act means to investigate. You know, when when you heard one of your fellow commissioners say that the city was a drift and assessed pool of
corruption. If I were sitting here, I would have said, "What are you talking about?" Because that's quite a serious allegation, right? But that wasn't what I heard from the dis. I know that the mayor wanted to have an inspector general look into a serious allegation
like that and he was blocked. If I may, uh, Commissioner, I'm sorry to interrupt you. I've been quiet during this whole time. Uh, Commissioner Castro, I requested an inspector general. You voted against it and the whole intent was to clear my name uh, as I was battered over and over and accused of
being corrupt. And I asked you to please vote in favor of Inspector General. I then attempted u madam city attorney and please uh clarify if I am not being factual. We said that we could even do it for cheaper speaking with the county and getting another entity to piggy back
off. Is that correct? We did speak with the county. We did speak with the county but it was practically challenging but we tried we we tried. So at the end of the day we brought it back to the commission in an effort and I said please I implore you let's start with my office. We will start with my office to
ensure that there were not a drift in a cesspool of corruption. You unequivocally voted against it. You voted against it. Why you called me corrupt? So I apologize for interruption. No, no, that's fine. So the so the point is through inaction
under these circumstances when allegations of this nature are being made and the public is reaching out for us to look into it in good conscience. I don't know how we can't pursue an inquiry an inquiry
to see if there's any truth to this at a minimum to clear this this commission's name because inaction in my view at this point would be as I said before um indifference at best or ratify ratifying this type of behavior if true but we
won't know unless we ask by the way I think you mentioned earlier about anonymousy you don't read or give credence to things that are anonymous I a couple commission meetings ago, I received anonymous letters from people complaining that there were some issues
I suppose that touched upon HR here and I believe that you directed me or to this D the commissioners to to give credence to that. So I'm not sure which way that the target is moving when you say we should look at things that are anonymous or not. But but that being
said, I hope I've answered your question that we should be taking seriously if you didn't know. I direct you and I can send you a copy of the article with the um allegations that are uh contained in it. And um
we're advising you of that now through the mayor. And thank you for you have really good memory. A lot better than mine. But um I do also remember that the mayor gave no credit to those letters of employees because they were anonymous.
Yes, it's on the record. You can go back to the minutes. So that would be a little more contradicting as well unless you know exactly who is writing who is writing ASOP Gables. I mean then if you believe them, it's a different story if you have a different relationship with them. May I respond to you? Absolutely.
First and foremost, I know that you're connected with political talito because when I leave a building and something happens or something doesn't happen, she calls me immediately because I know you call her. So, everybody knows that you leak everything to Politico and to the
Gazette and to Robert Ruano because you've been caught here taking pictures on the dis and then leaking it to them and both Maria Cruz. But hold on. That's not true. I have it here. I have it. Okay, but that's not true. I think it was things to political. You're correct. They don't. You use a conduit which is Maria Cruz and Robert
Ruano, but you do leak. You do leak things to them and then they send it to her immediately. That's how it gets on the internet. But hold on a minute. I don't remember saying that. I don't believe those letters. At the end of the day, they're employees. I believe them whatever they're feeling and I'm here for them. But if you read the article, the
difference between somebody telling you, "Hey, I want to I want to have a work from home opportunity from reading an article that has such ironclad evidence that for a person who's not technologically savvy for myself, it's undeniable,
especially when you look at it." That's the difference between somebody saying, "Hey, I'd like to work from home." You know, please consider that and an article that breaks down step by step by step how a cover up occurred. And then they show you screenshots of how a
person got rid of public records and removed items from their LinkedIn as you're so familiar with. Uh it's amazing and it's undeniable unless it's doctorred. So again, I don't know if anybody has
done anything wrong here, but I was hammered and so was the vice mayor and so was Commissioner Lada with these push pulls. And I know you want I know you don't want to admit it and I get it, but at the end of the day, uh, I've said it here and I'll say it again.
When I send something out, it says Vince Log or it says Coral Gables first. I don't hide behind Ladra like you do. I don't hide behind the Gazette. I don't hide behind those kind of, you know, Billy Corbins of the world where again
they go out there and they destroy people's reputations no matter what just to get to an end goal. I put my face on it. I give my name. I'm front and center. I've always done that. My name is attached to it. I don't hide. Madam Vice Mayor, so with regard to
corroborating information, you know, take the opportunity. You might want to read the article because it's going to point you to documentation that identifies that is it's reliable and it's credible. Law enforcement uses
anonymous sources all the time, but the underlying principle is that they have to always have corroborating information. Supreme Court of the United States has authorized this type of information to use to get search warrants to search
people's premises. It's good enough to issue a search warrant on to establish probable cause that there's a crime somewhere. It's it would be incumbent upon us not to ignore this evidence that appears to be very credible. We're
not making an accusation. We're going to either rule it in or rule it out by handing it off to a third party essentially, not us. I'm not making the decision. You're not making the decision. None of us are. But we cannot ignore it. For the sake of the
reputation of the mayor, it should have been done then. For the sake of the reputation of of Commissioner Fernandez, I would think that he would want this either, you know, ruled out if it's it's false and information.
But if it's true, it's true. We can't deny the facts. Hand it off to a proper investigative agency. They handle it. We're not going to steer the investigation. We're not going to influence the investigation. It just needs to happen
through the mayor. I mean, if this is something illegal, isn't this something that automatically the police will get a hold of? Mr. Mayor, I can answer that if you want. Yes. Yes, sir. Uh, I mean obviously if I witness a violation because I'm in most of these
meetings and it's a violation of law, Commissioner Castro, then we could initiate a criminal investigation, but we would do it the same process. What I recommend at this point is um and I can be very clear once I have a
conversation with the manager, the the commander of internal affairs will take initial statements and then he will then provide them to me about what we believe would be the appropriate investigative agency outside of the city of Coral
Gables. I just need to tell everybody and I know the city attorney understands this is these continued conversations will also have to be addressed individually to you all by the investigators. So the longer we talk in
public about this if there's any other kind of allegations or secondhand information, this would just prolong what the investigation would the investigators would have to look at. In other words, we have to look at all of these all of these videos, all of the
issues that were out there, all of the posts that were put up there and and put them in a very concise file that the investigators can then come to a final conclusion of did it violate the law? Did it violate ethics? Did it violate
our charter? Um, and so my I mean, I know we were under discussion on whether to direct the manager to meet with me, but I wanted to be very clear what would happen. the the internal affairs people would take the recorded statements. I'm not going to be part of that. Then he would
present it to me about what who we who we should talk to, not what is said, what is truthful or or what is hearsay versus what can be proven. That that decision would be then what what department's going to do the investigation.
So I I mean I I know it's there's a lot that we're talking about right now. Uh but if it was a clear criminal violation that somebody stood up and said, "Hey, this person took money, then I would be obligated under my oath to make sure I
initiated somebody from outside." I have not heard that yet, and I haven't seen a lot of these things that we're talking about, but I do understand the character assassination, and that would be something that we would have another entity look at. As far as an IG
conversation, um, an IG will work for this same body. These kind of these kind of accusations would be and should be referred to, in my professional opinion, to an outside
uh entity that has jurisdiction over everybody that's involved. If there's subpoenas due or something like that, that would be an outside entity, not your police department, not an IG. So, I believe this is the safest
course of action for this body to take to to Commissioner Lar's point to run down these issues on both sides of what has been put forward. All right, I think we have a motion. We
have a second through through the mayor city attorney. Were you aware of this? Do you are you up to date with any of this? I I had heard about this article. I haven't read it. I'm not familiar with all of the allegations. Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and a
second. Vice Mayor Anderson. Yes. Commissioner Castro, because I don't have the facts in front of me and I have not read the article, my votes going to be no. Maybe in the future if you guys do give me the facts or for this item, I can vote on
this a different way, but right now I I this is too new to me. So no, Commissioner L. And it's precisely because we don't have all the facts and what we have are allegations. It's an emphatic yes. Mayor Lago. Yes,
Madam Vice Mayor. Anything else for the good of the order? Yes. Um, for tomorrow, because there's some questions about how many how much ADA funds we have left and what they're being applied to, the received an
inquiry from uh someone who writes um won't mention names. I'm just going to ask for it be brought forward during the budget meeting. Um second wait for our illustrious
hopefully impact glass where we decrease the noise. Um city manager um I'm going to ask you to give a brief update on our appropriations wins. I mean I know the the boat I addressed
with Senator Garcia back in November along with the the the chief. You know, this is the introduction vote. We had some I met what I call pre-season meeting with the our representatives um between basically September and December
before campaign season. I met with them as well and my understanding is we've got the Granada Basin money. So, if you could just give us a quick update on our legislative We the only two items that we received was the uh vote for the police and the and the sanitary sewer
issue to reduce infiltration. Okay. And um something else here. So, the ADA fund issue just bring it tomorrow during the budget. Uh, so that someone is inquiring of me of of what we
have and what we've spent and what we're planning on spending will address tomorrow. Excuse me. Excuse me, Vice Mayor. The ADA issue. It's I I think the vice mayor is asking for the the ADA funds, the the fund that we have for ADA improvements. She wants to know the amount of funding in there,
right? Amount of funding. I've received an inquiry about the amount of funding and how we're spending it. What's our plan? Perhaps we can cover it tomorrow during the budget meeting. Yes. So, and last is I hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July. Um, remind the residents
that they can get the trolley from city hall and avoid the chaos over at the Builtmore Hotel. Getting there. Commissioner Castro. Yeah. So today, this body has decided to censor me, this
body sitting right here, the mayor, the vice mayor, and commissioner Richard La, for the reason of me reaching out to the attorney general and defending the rights, the right to vote of my constituents, of the people.
After I after I presented all the facts, this body decided to act against the attorney general, against the state con constitution and the county charter and they went ahead and they still censured me.
It was unethical, unconstitutional, illegal because I was here to defend your right to vote. This wasn't a matter of April or November. If this would have been put on the ballot, that was my request. Put it on the ballot. This body
has taken your right to vote. And I was here defending it. And for that reason, I got censured. And I want every resident out there to know that even if I got censured, you're not going to silence me because I'm going to
continue to fight for you and for your rights. Everybody, happy 4th of July. So, I I'll briefly respond to that. You're you're quite right, Commissioner. You know, we we voted today to censure you. I would say that
hypothetically using this very last topic that we were just talking about. If I if if if these allegations regarding conduct that um was committed by Commissioner Fernandez resulted in me deciding to hold a press
conference or you know take to social media and ask for somebody's head on a pike let's say right I would expect to be censured because the the proper way to handle something like That would be to do
exactly what we did right now, which was to have a conversation, a dialogue amongst and between the other colleagues on the on the commission with the input from in this case the police chief, city manager as well as city attorney. So
under no means by no means and under no possible stretch of the imagination was the censure that I voted for an attempt to u silence the voters or to silence any of your rights
which is believed for the reasons stated on the record that you rather than than than help the situation we believe that you were attempting to worsen the situation. uh and invite harm uh to the city, frankly.
And and with that being said, I I want to wish everybody also a very happy 4th of July. I hope to see everybody at the Builtmore. I'll be there um witnessing what I know will be yet again another spectacular uh fireworks event with uh
additional uh surprised entertainment uh for all to see. I haven't seen any of it um of the new stuff, but I'm looking forward to it. And um as a reminder, I won't I may have abbreviated office hours on on Monday
as I have um a dental appointment that I have to take care of. So, priorities. Well, I I know the vice mayor knows what I'm talking about, you know. Uh so, thank you. I have a few items uh for the
record. Uh, Commissioner Castro uh mentioned two items, one in this commission meeting and the one past. So, she had me do some homework. And when I mean me, worked with staff to address the hybrid work policy.
So, she emphatically enu enthusiastically said that there's four cities that have hybrid work. You know, we should be able to do it. Okay, perfect. So, you got to take her word for it. What was the letter? But I was reading the letter, remember? But
you again, you stated it for the record. I went and did the homework with staff's help. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Thank you to staff. First and foremost, City Miami, City Miami Day County, Miami date county, I apologize. Mayor Dan Lee Cava requested
a plan of action by March 21st, 2025, ensuring the return of county employees back to office no later than April 15, 2025. Number two, Fort Lauderdale does not have a specific hybrid work policy. The avail the availability of work from home
option is determined on a position byposition basis by the manager. City of Miami Beach. The city permits teleawwork as an alter alternative working arrangement. Telework will be approved by the city manager. The city
manager reserves the right to require employees to return to an office work at any time for any reason for no reason at all. City of Dorado, no specific citywide work from home
policy exists. I spoke to the manager myself. Facts matter and to say things in an effort to build your argument and make your argument sound more accurate or more appropriate.
Next item, the censure. Don't feel bad about the censure. I was censured also. I was censured by Melissa Castro for stating comments about Commissioner Menendez and Commissioner Fernandez's work employment.
That's what I was censured for on a radio station. So, at the end of the day, you censured me over over something I said on a radio show, not even on this DAS. So that sounds like you've been you've been you've been No, at all. No, that's
exactly what it sounds like. Commissioner, what I'm doing is clearing the air. I don't need to retaliate. There's no need. I just give you enough rope. Third thing I'd like for my colleagues to consider
since we have so many protocol items in the beginning of a commission. Maybe we start at 8:30. and we handle the protocol items from 8:30 to 9 if it makes sense. You don't have to decide today something that maybe we can talk with the manager and if it makes sense for you we'll do it. I
used to do that with Mayor Valdis Fley. It worked out well but at the end of day if you don't want it I'm perfectly fine with it. I'm just bringing it to your attention. I also want to uh wish everybody a happy 4th of July. Uh this is going to be a special moment.
I won't be there, but I also want to for the first time I'll be missing fourth of July, but we've invited many state representatives and senators to join us. So, it's going to be a great opportunity to thank them for their leadership at the state and to continue building on a
bright future. I want to congratulate the vice mayor. I always like to make sure that, you know, the appropriate the appropriate respect is given to somebody who worked hard on something. The vice mayor has been working on the drone show
for several years now and you brought it to fruition. Congratulations. Thank you. Uh thank you for that. And I think it will be like Commissioner Lada said, special evening to celebrate our great country. The fact that it is an honor
and it's a privilege to live in this country. That's not a right. And as a son of immigrants, I'm reminded to that every single day. So, in closing, I want to thank you, the staff, to our city manager, city attorney, city clerk, to all the residents that were here today.
We made many decisions today. We passed a lot of legislation. We moved forward on infrastructure. While we're never going to get 100% consensus, I think we got close. And I foresee a bright future in this commission. Hopefully one day we'll come
together. Please don't forget, Commissioner Castro, for two years I was sitting in your seat. And I went to FDLE as a result of a manager who said that I assaulted him. I was not even allowed to stand up at
one point in the commission meeting because the meeting will be adjourned if I stand up to go to the bathroom. My intent and our intent is not to punish. Our intent is to lead the city without making the massive mistakes that were made by the previous commission.
So, I want to say thank you to everyone who's here. God bless everyone. Happy 4th of July and thank you for your helps. We're going now to move uh you want to say something, Madam Vice Mayor. Just one last thing because I I I sense that you don't understand the censure.
We failed to seek the advice and consent of this board. A single member cannot act opposite to the direction of the board. Just like we put together this legislative agenda together,
we have to act together. If you have concerns, wait till the next agenda, put it on before you send a letter to the attorney general. You might be surprised. Maybe we will approve it,
but it's all about doing things the right way. They were censored to dissuade you from doing the same thing again. Okay, that's one. Madam city attorney, should we adjourn
or do we go to the Yes, we adjourn and then so we'll be adjourning this meeting and opening up the next one. Yes. Uh to address the HiA parking the Hira Garage condominium association. Okay. So we're opening draw the garage condominium association. There's one resolution. It's item A1, a resolution of the city commission sitting in its capacity as a
Gerald garage condominium association, ratifying all previous actions taken by the board of directors and by the city approving the use of operating expenses through the city budget and electing a board of directors. Mr. Kirk, do we have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. I entertain a motion. I'll move it. I'll second. All in favor?
I thank you. Closing. Now moving on to the 250 Aragon Condominium Association. Thank you, mayor. We have one item. A1, a resolution of the city commission setting its capacity as a 250 condominium association, ratifying all previous actions taken by the board of directors and by the city, approving the use of operating expenses to the city budget and electing a board of
directors. I move it. I'll second. All in favor? I. Thank you. Closing and now opening the Andelus Garage Condominium Association. We have one item. It's A1, a resolution of the city commission sitting its capacity as Anduja Garage Condominium Association ratifying all previous actions taken by the board of directors and by the city approving the
use of operating expenses to the city budget and electing a board of directors. I'll move it. I'll second. All in favor? I Thank you. Thank you. Happy 4th. God bless. Thank you. I know we're saying happy fourth.