Good morning. I'd like to welcome everyone. Uh today is the first commission meeting of the 2026 year. It's going to be a very fruitful year. We're blessed to have you uh January 13, 2026. Uh we have an extensive opportunity for everyone to engage uh
here in the commission. Whether it's in person like some of you are here by phone, by Zoom, uh by carrier pigeon, we accept everything. Uh we just want your opinion. We want your input. We want your guidance and we're grateful to have
that. Um, Mr. Manager, good morning. Mr. Clerk, we're ready for the invocation. >> I'd like to uh thank you again uh to have our friends from Christ Journey Church, Pastor Ryan Reid. >> Thank you so much for being here. I hope you had a wonderful and fruitful Christmas
>> and a new year. Send our best to everyone uh in your in your church. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Really appreciate that. Great to see you again. Good morning, commissioners. Great to see all of you and meet some of you for the first time. Commissioner Anderson, great to see you again. I'm a part of Christ Journey Church,
formerly University Baptist Church, on the corner of Siggoia and Anastasia, right across from the youth center. And this May, we will be celebrating 100 years of faithful ministry on that piece of property that George Merritt gave to us 100 years ago. And so, we will be
extending invitations to each one of you to join us for that celebration. You know, as we begin a new year 2026, as Mr. Mayor said, we are uh anticipating a year full of hope, full of blessings, and also a year of challenges for sure, as each year always brings. And so, I
wanted to give you and all of us today uh just a verse to keep on our mind and heart as we begin this commission meeting and to carry with us throughout the year. It's from Proverbs 3:es 5 and 6. And it's a verse that's been resonating with me over the last few days. Simply says this, "Trust in the
Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take. And so with that in mind, let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you for the
rain. It's a reminder of your provision and grace. Lord, we also thank you for the opportunity to gather today in this commission hearing and be about the work that you would have for us to steward this great city. Beautiful. And so Lord, I invite your blessing upon each one of
these commissioners and the mayor and vice mayor. Lord, I pray that you would guide them with your wisdom. Lord, I I want to thank you for each and every single one of them. And Lord, may you bless them and their families as we seek your will today. Lord, we make this prayer in Jesus name. Amen.
>> Amen. >> Thank you all very much. >> Amen. Pastor, thank you very much. It's always a pleasure to have you. You brighten up our day. So, thank you very much. God bless you. Madame Vice Mayor, it'd be an honor for you to have us lead us in the pledge of allegiance. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Put your
hand over your heart. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. First item on the docket, item A1, presentation of the 2025 holiday window contest winners. Good morning, Salange. Great to have you here. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. I I I dropped the ball. I dropped the ball. My
bad. Sorry, Salange. Merrick moment. Thank you for the clerk for reminding me. My bad. I'm sorry. Thank you so much. I >> of course >> during our centennial year, it has been a privilege to share the Merrick moment.
And as this is the last, one moment may be a few moments today. In his 1921 book of poetry, George Merrick included his musings on a grave in the Everglades. Here are two stanzas.
By the rise of a palmgrown highland, far out in the Everglade, in a mound on a jungle island, is a seinal warrior laid. There in the midst of the prairie, desolate, forgotten, lone, neath a mound
in a land most dreary, the land he had thought his own. Weighed down with a burden of sorrow, the Spanish moss drapes in dank gray, and the sunbeams filtering borrow the dullness of a storm darkened day. On the
aisle where the cocoa plum tosses he lies, forgotten and lone, his grave overhung by the mosses of the live oaks he had thought his own.
George Merrick developer realized that he was changing the land forever. But he celebrated nature's bounty in his adopted home and respected the peoples who came before. Although centennial celebrations have
ended, the centennial year technically comes to a close in April 2026. The Mer House Board of Governors encourages the commission and the city as a whole to resist returning to
business as usual. Our statement that Coral Gables is unique and truly special due to its history should not become one of lip service. It is our brand. We
can't lose it. Contrary to a statement made, there is no magic number of historic structures that are enough. Historic preservation is a moving target. As structures and the stories
that go with them age as new families continue to come to the area, as children grow, they need to learn the story. The Coral Gables Museum is telling it in its centennial exhibit.
Every resident should stop by for a visit. We've talked about a welcome packet for residents, including a brief history of the of the city and tickets to the Merrick House. That has yet to happen. Perhaps it can this year. Let the story
be told not only by the dosent at the Merrick House but by the commission and the city staff and civic partners. And when historic structures come up for review or new developments are presented, let the decision makers be
ever mindful balancing history that which makes us unique with a thoughtful and prudent approach to modernization. asking yourselves, what would George Merik do?
As always, the Merrick House is open weekends for tours at 1, 2, and 3:00. And as always, it all of our tours are free to city employees. Thank you. >> Before you go, I wanted to thank you for
your commitment over the last year. It's been amazing to have you up here educating not only myself but the entire city in regards to our incredible history. I've enjoyed this a lot and I think it's been a benefit to the city as a whole. So I want you to think about I
haven't talked to you about this if we continue doing this forward from the centennial. Uh I leave that in your hands. I know it takes a lot of work. I know it takes preparation and you do it with such grace and elegance that you make it look easy. So, think about it and if my colleagues would
have this idea or consider this idea, I'd like to hear back from you maybe through the manager's office if we continue to do this in the follow-up commission meetings. I think it's beneficial. >> It would be my pleasure. >> I know you say that easily because you never say no. You give you give a lot to charity in the community. You're always
involved. You're involved in many, many different organizations. But I just want you to think about it because I think it's beneficial to always be reminded of where we came from and why this city is so special. uh you know we see it outside every day but I think these little tidbits that are in the commission meeting I think are important
>> thank you >> refocusing reccalibrating always working >> yes there's always new people and there are also so many people who have lived here for 30 years and still don't know the story so we we can continue to tell it certainly
>> mayor of course >> um and I have a question for the manager um the welcome packet that um was suggested ed with the the tickets. I mean, we live in an electronic age. Is there any reason why we can't um upon
closing just have these emailed to folks because the records are available? >> I think we can. I I think um yes, Vice Mayor, I think we can we can do it. We do have a welcome package, but we just printed and I think we can turn that into an electronic packet that we can send
>> together with tickets to the America House. They can hear hear the story and Yeah. because um everything in in uh courts now is electronic and you can do everything electronically. I just uh postponed my jury service from this month to to June electronically. It's
amazing. >> Actually, Vice Mayor it is working on that now. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> Great. >> A simple QR code. >> Sure. So great to see you in the new year and I wanted to echo um the mayor's sentiments because I find these MER
moments very very very educational and very interesting and something that instills and expands on the pride that all of us as residents should have because we live in such a unique and ever special place. And uh I had u by
way of example spirited conversation really enjoyable with Mike Maxwell uh from the historical uh preservation talking about architecture here and listening to you as I've done every commission meeting talk about Merrick in particular. I I know he was a poet, but
it was such a beautiful um excerpt uh passage that you read that um it just showed you how multifaceted and uh talented and visionary he was. And how would we know this with our busy lives if people like you who are passionate
about it don't take the time to um share with us? So, I again I echo the mayor's um gentle drafting of you to continue doing this and your willingness to do so, but we would really love to have you continue to do so. Um it's a wonderful
message that you're sharing. So, I appreciate you very much for what you do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Salange, take two A1. Good morning, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, city manager. We are here
to present the holiday window contest. Every December, we invite all of our merchants and restaurants in the central business district to spread the magic of the holidays by decorating their storefronts and participating in our holiday window contest to emphasize the
holiday spirit and um go along with the decorations that we as a city put up in our downtown. It's great to see all the creativity that our merchants put up. And we have four categories of this contest. One of them is a community choice award and then the other three
are judged by a panel of judges that walk the street and score. So today we are here to present the four winners of this year's holiday window contest. We have two of the businesses here with us and I'll call them up as we get to their award. Give me one quick sec here.
So the first award we want to present the Fernando Haime Deo Community Choice Award to Elabella Rosorio. They received 58% of the category total votes by the community. And we have um Rosio Sanchez
and Aya Elena here with us today. >> Good morning. Congratulations. >> Good morning. Thank you so much. This is very special especially to continue the legacy of my son and I'm really grateful. Thank you everyone. Have a beautiful new year. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Sure. Okay. Okay. >> Our next winner in the category of best use of lights we have Joy by which is a holiday popup that was at 332 Miracle Mile. And we have Stephanie here with us
to accept the award. We also have for most original intuition stylist at 80 miracle mile. They were unable to attend today but they have this wonderful display that they actually decorate and switch out um the the mannequin that you see that faces
towards the storefront. Every season they decorate it in a different style. So, they're always activating that storefront and bringing a little bit of decoration and and joy to the street. And for our best overall, uh, John Martins's Irish Pub at 253 Miracle Mile,
uh, was selected for that award. They turned their entire restaurant into a Christmas pop-up bar. This is just what you see from the street inside. They did all of the walls with wrapping paper uh, and really turned it into a festive place for the holiday season. Those are
our four award winners. Each recipient, each award winner will receive a $300 prize um out of the economic development department. Thank you. >> Let's take a photo. Let's take a photo. >> Yes,
>> that was uh one our new marketing manager. It's on the certificate. Congratulations. >> Let me get you guys a super. There you are. Moving on to item A2. Belies, good morning. Thank you for
being here. Happy New Year everyone. Let me just share my screen here really quick. And now I'm gonna minimize this. Okay, if there we go. So, if I can have David come up and Aaron. So, we're here because uh the city of Coral Gables won
um a gold um award for the community of excellence. Um Genesis, if you could also come up. So this is an award um that we have been um moving forward since 2019
and um it's been a long time in coming um and we have several partners that are associated with this. So um the people that uh started this off in 2019 was Baptist Health and we have Aaron Dow here with uh corporate she's a corporate
director of government relations for Baptist Health and we're really fortunate that they started us on this route. Um and so and and they also fronted the cost of this. So really important. We also have um David Harowwood who is
our consultant free of charge doing all of this for the past uh five years doing this work. Um our other um uh collaborator and partner is the chamber of commerce. So Mark Turbridge was really instrumental and now uh Jorge
Arisueta has taken over. His assistant uh Devin Wade has also helped tremendously in getting us through that transition phase that we had. Uh we had from the school district we had Anthony Balboa. He's the president of Coral Gables, the principal of Coral Gables
High School. And then um I'm I'm part of the city right now, but even the director prior to me was involved. So this is a long along going and Genesis really Gomez from my department really gets us through and arranging everything. So I appreciate everyone's help because this is a village that has
gotten us to this point. So I'm going to go through a couple one or two slides and then I'm going to have David take over. But basically in 2017 the communities of excellence was established and it helped to improve the the quality of life across the nation.
So um in 2022 the federal legislation authorized uh the COE as the seventh category of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Awards. So there were other categories but the community excuse me the one associated that would
be for us the community's one was uh finally put in place in 2022. um the only national presidential level recognition for performance excellence and in 2025 Coral Gables is the first community to achieve gold level recognition. So Coral
Gables is the first community that is eligible now to go apply for the national Malcolm Baldridge Quality Award in 2026. Mind you, we started this in 2019. Um David, if you want to go over some of
these uh results. >> Sure. Good morning. >> The um Baldridge Award uh for the community um focuses on five areas. Health, safety, economics, education, and quality of life. So, this slide highlights some of the amazing
accomplishments the city and the the partners have accomplished since uh 2019. Won't go through all of them, but I'm going to highlight a couple of the results and we're going to share some trends and the dramatic results and dramatic improvements over time.
So the criteria requires you to show trend data over many many years and they also require you to compare your performance to other organizations. What we've done is we've compared ourselves to Miami, Florida, and the United
States. So in this example of violent crimes for 100,000, you see back in 2018, uh while we were better than everyone else, right? So the bars is Coral Gables, the lines are our comparative data and you see the steady trend down
is an amazing positive uh impact that you all have made uh to the residents and businesses within um your community. Probably the one we're most uh proud of is high school graduation rates. So we have two high schools. um Coral Gables
High School back in uh 2017 and 18. While it was it was better than average, not a whole lot better than average. So, we spent a lot of time working with the principal, the school district, trying to find what were the reasons the school was challenged, you know, to get higher graduation rates. And through
identifying, you know, what type of students were struggling, providing resources, customized mentoring, and working closely with the principal, you see the dramatic uh improvements uh all the way to 2014. One of the things that we do um not only
we have a vision that mirrors the the cities, but we apply um a bar to it. So our target is to be in the top 20th percentile or 20% better than Miami Dade, Florida, and the United States. So when we first started with relative to
education, slightly above average and really proud last um fiscal year um Coral Gables High School was in the top 20th percentile high school graduation, Miami, Florida, and across the United States.
So the next steps um some of it we know and some of it we don't know. This is actually the first year through the through um um the president who will be recognizing the community. This is their first cycle doing a community. They do
hospitals and education and nonprofits and businesses but this is the first year. So still to be determined as what's going to be the application uh fee, the due date uh for the intent and the formal application. We've had some preliminary conversations with the
executive director of the award and uh you'll be very surprised how low this will be very very um affordable. Key steps um a team of examiners are going to be assigned to your community will review your written application.
one examiner will come on on site for the day to to interview staff of the the COE team, clarify some things uh your response and the criteria. The um examiners then will present their report to a panel of judges and then the lead
judge will pres present their findings to the secretary of commerce who has the ultimate decision and in conjunction with the president of the United States who will be selected as a community of excellence. We're just now in March 20
25 um organizations being recognized. So, the eligibility will be basically just over a year from now. It'll be in March of 2027 uh in Baltimore, Maryland. >> Okay.
>> And that's it. We just wanted to give you an update on where we are right now and really appreciative of, you know, all the surveys that we do that we send to residents um by annually that gives us some uh level of satisfaction how they feel about our community. that also
is part of this um program and how how you know it shows us that we're doing something positive for the community. Um and so I want to thank the commission and I want to thank the city manager for allowing us to continue on and to to be that you you guys have been as
supportive have as you have been in order for us to continue on with this. >> Thank you very much. I want to thank Belis and the all the employees including the manager and previous managers uh who engaged in this process. Again, this is another example how the city of Coral Gables, you know, ensures
that we maintain our quality of life, that we are at the top and we continue to evolve in a way that is beneficial for not only the residents but also for the business community. So, I want to thank you for being here and thank you for our partners at Baptist who are very not only are they partners with us but
also uh they have their offices here in the city of Coral Gable. So, it's important to us. So, thank you very much and we look forward to continuing to do this. I mean, how many years you said since 2019? 2019 we started >> I remember when we started this >> started in 2019 they started alone.
>> Yeah. So good things good things. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> A3 lunch Matt. Good morning. So, good morning, mayor, commissioners. Uh, we are here today to, uh, congratulate Gerald the Cleaners on
receiving the 2025 commercial beautifification award. I know we had a drama district here, uh, last month, and we're here to recognize the next business. Um, and Solange will talk more about that. Now, I just want to take this opportunity again to thank um, our team and the sustainability advisory board who vote on these awards every
year. Uh and it's always a great opportunity for us to partner with economic development uh code enforcement on recognizing our local businesses for the amazing work that they're doing um each and every day. So Salange. >> Yes. Hi, good morning everybody again. So uh like Matt said, we are here to
recognize our second commercial beautifification winner for 2025 Geralda Cleaners located at 123 Geralda Avenue. And we do have the owner Roland Losas here if you can come and join us. And this is extra special because Geralda
Cleaners is actually about to celebrate their 30th anniversary later this month on the 20th. Correct. >> So, they've done a great job of maintaining the area. They when the city redid some landscaping around um their store, they redid their own landscaping
and are upkeeping it and helping with uh with the the planters on the side. So, it's really great to to see all of the greenery and and beauty that they're bringing to the street. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Yes, it's been an honor um
for this award and the fact that you know it's 30 years uh this year is uh great that it happened. So, I really appreciate it. >> And we have a plaque and your window decal here for you. >> Thank you. We'll have two other winners that we'll present in future commission
commission meetings as well for the 2025 commercial beautifification awards. >> Perfect. Thank you for taking so much pride in the city >> and the way that your storefront looks. Again, >> you notice what we're talking about today from the Baldridge to to the previous recipients uh who were here
with us. All these little things add up to what makes Coral Gable special. you know, the additional effort that you put forth to keep your sidewalk clean, the facade to basically enhance and beautify, to take that little bit of effort and spend a little bit of money.
I know it costs money, trust me, cost money to, you know, come on the holidays, New Year's, Halloween, Thanksgiving, to celebrate all these different uh um you know um holidays. That's what makes the city special. That's what sets us apart from everybody else. So I just want to know I want you
to know and I want to thank um the individuals who are here before us. Uh thank you for that effort. It takes time it takes time away from your business. It takes times away from your family but at the end of the day this is why people are coming to the city beautiful to do business with people like you. So thank you for that.
>> Thank you. Let's take a photo. Congratulations. Item A4, presentation of a proclamation declaring January 13th, 2026 as Anna Alicia Fernandez Day in Coral Gables. Fernandez family, please join us. So,
this is a special one for me and um please come to the podium. Not only is Alicia a friend, a person who I highly respect, a person who has worked her entire life to represent Coral Gables, to do everything she can to push
this city forward. You embody everything that's great with this city. But today, we're celebrating something else. And when I say celebrating, because I think we need to celebrate memories. I think we need to celebrate people. And these are these are the these memories and these celebrations are what makes Coral
Gable special. So what I would like to do is I would like to read this proclamation if I may and then give you the floor so you can talk a little bit about why we're here. Whereas on Palm Sunday, April 18th, 1995,
6-year-old Anna Lisa Fernandez was returning from a day on the water with her parents, Alicia Roelio Fernandez and friends when tragedy struck. Another vessel collided with her boat in the evening hours. And whereas Analysis
asleep in her mother's arms was thrown into the dark water and through the shift and heroic response of Corable's police officers, marine patrol and Miami Day County helicopter crews, she was found. It was a miracle. And whereas while Anna Lisa survived
that devastating evening, the accident changed her and her family forever, requiring around the clock care which has been provided to her with unwavering love at her Coral Gable's home. And whereas Ana remains Analysis
cherished, loved, and the heart of her family and the Fernandez family would not have have it any other way. And whereas Ana Lisa's mother, Alisa Fernandez, a longtime Coral Gables resident, has channeled her family's experience into passionate advocacy for
border safety, working tirelessly to prevent other families from enduring similar heartbreak and to ensure that Analysis story serves as a powerful reminder of the critical importance of safety on the water. And whereas Coral
Gables is blessed to be surrounded by beautiful waterways and with this blessing comes the responsibility to prioritize voter safety in all its aspects from proper training and equipment to vigilance and adherence to navigation
rules so that all who enjoy our waters return home safely to their loved ones. And whereas Analisia's journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. the power of a unconditional love and the resiliency of a family who
has faced unimaginable challenges with grace uh determination and an unwavering commitment to one another. And now therefore I Vince Lago as mayor of the city of Coral Gables on behalf of the city commission do hereby proclaim January 13th 2026 as Anna Alisia
Fernandez day in Coral Gables. Alicia. >> Thank you mayor. Thank you commissioners. city manager, the Marine Patrol, firefighters, police department, and everybody who has always backed us up.
And they've always been there when we needed them. Her doctors, her her brothers, my nephew, my mother's here, and my closest friends are here in support. >> Yeah. So, I wasn't um I wasn't able to be here
uh this past Thursday for the LEAF event, which was an amazing event. Uh I was out of town. Um but we honored officer, please join us. >> Oh, he's here. >> And also, we have our our >> Randy Hoff, >> our fire chief,
>> Marine Patrol that saved my daughter's life. >> So, we honored Randy and obviously we honored our police and firefighters. >> Firefighters. That's why two years ago the LEAF program was started. >> Um these are moments. These are moments in
and why do I say celebrate? Because we're celebrating an individual who has dedicated her life while it may be an Alicia day. Alicia is a person in my heart that is has unwavering dedication and you would expect that from a mother, right? Um,
but I've been there in that house and I've seen it personal and to me uh it is a beautiful story. Even though the outcome may not be perfect, it is a beautiful story. Um, I I wasn't there to give you the key to
the city officer. Uh, I respect you and again uh you saved the life in this moment, but I would I would ask you to please tell a little tell a little bit about your experience. Uh, I don't want it to come from Yeah, I wanted to come from you.
>> I'm going to do it from over here. The uh the incident occurred uh late in the evening and um All right, I'll go back. The incident occurred late in the evening and um it was certainly a multi- agency effort
between us, the Coast Guard, Florida Marine Patrol at the time, which is now Florida Wildlife Commission. Um, and it was chaotic to say the least. Again, at this particular time, we're going back almost 30 years. Uh, there wasn't the
the prolific law enforcement presence on the water, and we were we were very lucky that, um, I had somebody on the boat with me. Back at the time, we only had one person in Marine Patrol, and that was me. Um, so I had Florida Marine
Patrol with me and and and it was, as you said, the situation worked out as best as it could possibly have worked out. Um, we had the support of the Coast Guard, um, helicopters.
We were able to to get her get her back to Mat Hammock and get her to the hospital in in record time. And with with everything that occurs, this was probably the single greatest catalyst. Um, and I've had I've had people that
are mature adults that have that have kids of their own now. But because of this, we started teaching a boating safety class through the city so that we educated the voters to what the responsibilities were. So, this
was the catalyst that brought the city's boating safety efforts and uh so it it definitely was a a turning point in in my career and in my life. Chief, >> I'd just like to just basically
recognize Officer Hoff for his efforts that day and you know, our commitment to the family has been from that moment on and we've built a great relationship together. um mainly around her uh
unending concern for her daughter and her daughter's safety, especially when we are approaching or being threatened by a hurricane, which is how we met, and making sure that her daughter was going to get the care and not be impacted by loss of power and everything else. So,
in a lot of ways, that continuum of care and that personal relationship with our residents and their concerns has continued and that's where we've built a great relationship together. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.
>> So, I'd like to call, please join us. She's very shy. She doesn't want to speak today, but I think she should speak. We're very proud of your husband and I wasn't there on Thursday to personally give him the key to the city, but it's a
long time coming. And as we said, 30 years, 30 years. If it wasn't for your husband, if it wasn't for our fighter firefighters, for our police, for for everyone who intervened, our Coast Guard, uh we wouldn't have had 30 years without Alicia. So, I want to thank you.
And if you'd like to say a few words, anything you'd like to say, how proud you are of your husband, it's okay. put me on the spot. >> Okay, it's fine. Don't worry about it. >> No, I've had the pleasure of meeting Alicia and she's a wonderful, wonderful human being and um there's nothing but
emotion every time we see her and meet her and we feel the gratitude and love from her all the time and every day. So appreciate you and we appreciate everything you do for us. We appreciate everybody and I thank God above all for
my daughters being here. Thank you, madam vice mayor. >> So, um I had big shoes to fill on Friday morning to deliver this scheme and I have to tell you that uh mayor that you could have heard a pin drop in the room
as I told the story to the individuals who are all present to support leaf organization for the great work that it does. And uh catalyst was um a very good word chief that you used.
Incidents like this test the rest of us to be a catalyst for others to help their what they need. And there's many ways that we can help out individuals. Uh Alicia, you were the reason why I had
the brainstorm to bring the resolution for helping out caregivers with property tax reform. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. >> I hope it I hope the legislature takes it up because individuals like you who don't have the wherewithal
need help not only with property taxes, but with Medicare and Medicaid. you shouldn't be having to struggle to provide your daughter what she needs. So, it is a test to the rest of us and to see if we can carry the torch and
continue to try to help those who need help. So, thank you, mayor. It was quite an experience. >> Thank you, Commissioner. where so um I was I was fortunate to also participate at the
LEAF uh lunchon last week honoring um Officer Hoff amazing individual um Alicia you and your daughter of course um I've gotten to know you over the last year almost two years and um we'd be here all day but if I can just
say that you are an inspirational individual a true community activist you care and love so much your beloved city of Coral Gables. But while those are words of high praise and they're well-earned, the highest compliment I can pay you is that you're an amazing
mother. I rarely have seen somebody as tireless and committed to the well-being of their daughter for such a long time under the most difficult of circumstances. But from that tragic moment 30 years ago, um, as Officer Hoff
uh put it, um, we we we we've had a um a before and an after moment. And I and I think one for the community for the better. So, this is what um is inspirational about Coral Gables and how with what uh occurred and how you've led
the way through your exemplary uh and inspiring commitment to your daughter, the community has rallied around you and will continue to rally around you. you know, my my gratitude to all of our um men and women who serve uh the public
safety every single day and to hear the concern about an oncoming hurricane and how there's a personal intention. Chief, it's just something that makes me very proud uh to to work alongside you. So, um, you can count on on on our commitment, my personal commitment, and
if you have any needs and your daughter has any needs that that she needs fulfilled, if there's any way that I can help, and I'm asking the public as well, uh, if they would like to, they can contact me as well and I can help coordinate. Um, but, uh, it's a beautiful love story. you two share and
um and and we'll go it would be remiss on my part to to not acknowledge your husband as well who um you know lived that story uh until until he passed on. So thank you very much for being a part of our lives and for making such an
impact on mine. >> Thank you Commissioner Lara and Alisa's doctor is here. Her doctor for the past 37 years is here right now. Su >> doctor, please join us. >> Thank you so much. This is just a um a
wonderful wonderful mothers. Mothers are all the best, but this is a special one. And her commitment, her faith, her endurance has been just incredible. I'm just a little poll next to her
and we'll be here for you. Thank you. >> Um, we always hear the bad stories about bad mothers. We never hear these stories and this is what we need to hear more about. Um, Alise, your dedication to your daughter is beyond commendable. It
shows what the true vocation of motherhood is and it's something that we need to highlight as a community. Um, I have a cousin who had a similar situation and I lived what my aunt had to go through every day as a 24-hour
caregiver. And it takes a special person. Not everybody can do it. And you have shown. You always have a smile on your face. You always have a dedication to this community. And that vocation of motherhood needs to be
highlighted so that others realize what being a mother is. and you have never stopped that dedication and it's easy to give up. Life throws some challenges your way in situations like these that every day
your doctor's addressing new concerns, hurricanes that are coming your way and you're still fighting for your daughter and that's something that as a community we're grateful for because we need to see more of it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez.
Alisa, you always tell me and I want to take a picture with you and obviously the chief and and and officer Hoff. You always talk to me and you're always in incredible spirits. We are blessed beyond measure. Even in our darkest moments, there's light at the end of the tunnel. And like I started, I'm going to
end today. We celebrate. We celebrate the caregivers. We say celebrate the lifesavers. We celebrate the people who are in the trenches every single day for 30 years and don't get the credit they deserve. So, I just want you to know that I love you beyond measure. You're an amazing,
amazing person. And I don't need to tell you that. This commission doesn't need to tell you that. You know that because what matters most is how the residents have rallied behind you and how everybody in this community from going to your house and having your neighbors in the front, see me there, and then come across the street and they end up
being best friends with my parents. uh from the days of New Orleans, everybody in this community has turned to help you because this is what this community is all about. This is who we are. This is what makes us special. So, I want to thank you for allowing us the privilege
to highlight what an incredible story this is. An incredible story of perseverance, but most importantly, an incredible story of love. True love. Thank you. >> Thank you. I just want to add one thing. In spite
of being 32 years now, >> 31 >> 31 years in April uh on a bed on a respirator with multiple issues that that brings to a the health of a child
now a young woman. This me this woman because of her she has never been admitted to the hospital except twice. one during hurricane and two just as prevention and two for
an issue that just it was solved. So she has never been in this 31 and a half years gone to an emergency department and to an urgent care and that's just because of
her. >> And if I may I wanted to add something because you introduced me to part of your family. I want to I want to thank your your sons because it takes a village uh it takes a village to be able to meet the needs of day-to-day your sons your family the doctor uh besides your friends everyone who comes together
uh your mother who's here all of you so I want to thank you for your commitment and again I don't have to tell you thank you would have done it you would have done it anyways this is what family >> childhood friends >> and the childhood friends which I know how are you good to see you um this is this is who we are at the end of the day
this is what a Cuban family and Coral Gables is all about at the end of day we come together and uh I think it's important like my colleague said to highlight this and to showcase the beauty of this story. This is a true love story like Commissioner Lada said. So, uh, thank you very much and thank
you for allowing us the privilege the privilege to honor officer Hoff, our firefighters, your family, the Coast Guard. And if I'm forgetting anybody, I'm sorry cuz I know that our employees come through a lot from the garbage men who pick up the garbage, who may do a little extra one day because it's
difficult from our public safety aids who, you know, are in the neighborhood. Everybody does their fair share and everybody pulls just a little bit harder. Okay, let's take a photo. Will you will you do me the honor so we can take a photo? Thank you. Stop
your grand job. Good morning. Thank you. Right here is called.
>> Oh yes, without a doubt. >> Of course. Mr. Clerk, moving on to item A5. Chief So, good morning, Mayor and ladies and gentlemen of the commission. Um, our firefighter of the month for October, we're kind of catching up. Uh,
if if I had to use one word to describe him would be attention to detail and commitment beyond his rank and his customary job duties. If you uh if you see him, we joke around with him that
we're just going to schedule him for every year for firefighter of the month because he's been recognized as firefighter of the month for several times by his colleagues. And he's been recognized as firefighter of the year as well. And all of it has to do with his
attention to detail and willingness to take on special projects as a driver engineer. every new apparatus that has been placed into service, uh, John Jensen has configured and placed every piece of equipment on those trucks.
Recently, the city purchased our new air packs, the tanks that we wear on our backs. He took on the commitment, the project to train everyone, do all the inservice, and place all those equipment in service. All of it goes beyond and
above his normal job duties. So for his commitment to excellence, his attention to detail, uh he is our firefighter of the month for October. So welcome John J. >> Thank Thank you again, Chief. Um
>> uh it seems like I was here not too long ago. Uh, I'd just like to thank the commission for everything you do for us, giving us the money and everything to buy all of our equipment and trucks and uh, air packs. the chief, you know, has
some uh I don't know if belief is the word in me, but I like to get the job done right and like to get it uh it means something to our not means something, but it's important to have this stuff uh ready to go for our guys
and our safety. uh thank my family for the time that I've lo uh lost with them to come and do that stuff off the off the off the uh normal hours and then uh my kids also and the chief again. Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you.
>> Congratulations. Thank you. >> May six. We'll do them. We'll take photos at the end. >> Sure. >> Thank you. So, it's a common theme for this presentations. Uh, we'd like to recognize driver engineer Brandon Ogden as well. Uh, come on up, Brandon. But a
driver engineer is probably one of the most essential positions to a fire officer. Uh, they operate our fire engines, they operate our pumps, and they get us there safely. And to an
officer, that's an essential position because their success runs around what that individual does, especially in the first minutes in an incident. I had the opportunity to ride around with driver
engineer Ogden. And I'm sure all of you know Carl Gables is not the easiest city to navigate. There's no rhyme or reason to our streets or the namings of our streets. And um there's idiosyncrasies to every
area of the city. And when I rode around with him and there was an address, he would go, "Yes, there's a brown house in the corner. When we get to that brown house, we make a right. There's a dead end over here. This is a tight turn." and he had a almost photographic memory
of our city and how to navigate through it. In addition to that, he takes exceptional pride in how he operates his apparatus and making sure that all the equipment on that truck is his and he
takes extreme ownership with it and he expects the same from his crews. So whoever his officer is on that particular day is very fortunate to have a very competent and dedicated individual and for that he's our firefighter of the month.
>> Well, thank you. Thank you, Chief. Thank you, commission. It was very, very nice of you uh to say those kind words. Um, I absolutely love my the position I'm in. I love it. I've been in it for quite a few years now. And I've really uh I've
gotten the opportunity to see a bunch of influx of young uh firefighters, new guys hiring and young officers, and just being able to show them the right way and to be able to reassure them going to calls that they're doing the right thing and we're going to do it correctly. So,
that's all I try to do. Just try to do the best job I can every day and be a role model. Thank you. >> Take a photo, right? >> Sure. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it.
Moving on to item 87. Congratulations to Nicole Goutney from parking department recipient of the part-time employee of the fourth quarter award. Madam director, >> morning mayor, commissioners.
>> Good morning, sir. uh Jose Rodriguez, interim director of HR. Um so we're going to continue with the employee recognition. So from the parking department, we'd like to recognize Nicole Gley. Nicole is our part-time sustainability coordinator. She's been with the city from uh starting in 2023.
Um so I would like to actually read her nomination because her nomination came from a resident. So in this employee recognition program, residents can actually nominate employees. So it doesn't happen too often. So, I do want to read a part of it just so you guys can get a picture of what um Nicole does for the community.
So, as a longtime resident of Coral Gables, an environment a environmentally conscious citizen, we enthusiastically nominate Nicole Gantley for part-time employee of the quarter in recognizing her exceptional enthusiasm, her leadership as part as a sustainability
coordinator in the city of Coral Gables. Nicole constantly goes above and beyond in her role as a sustainability coordinator and co-executive director of the keep coral gables beautiful program. She's willing to work weekends and demonstrates the best of Coral Gable's commitment to protecting our
environment. Our most our most intimate association with Nicole has been through the Coral Gables Cocoa Plum Women's Club. The club represents almost 90 women who support the soft plastics collection project which Nicole directs. Nicole is always
available for consultation and is always a positive influence in the community. The city of Coral Gables could not ask for a better ambassador. So, I I think I agree with with that nomination or that recommendation. The selection committee did. So, I'd like to recognize Nicole. I'd like to call her up along with
Monica and Matt from the parking department so we can help recognize Nicole. >> Congratulations. >> Good morning. Good morning. >> I'd like to add something to uh all this recognition and that is that Nicole does
not limit her efforts to anything. She does anything and everything in support of the department which as you know includes mobility, sustainability and parking. So Nicole, thank you. Thank you for the support you give the parking
advisory board and for being there for everybody, for bringing your family to all our events and and having them help as well. So, thank you. I really appreciate you. >> And I and I'll also add Nicole actually started with us as an unpaid intern uh when sustainability was over in public
works. Uh, so she worked uh with me for a year as an unpaid intern and we were fortunate enough uh when Solange and I um advanced in our roles uh to be able to bring Nicole on parttime and she's been an amazing addition to our team. Um you know we've done over 300 events
through Keep Coles Beautiful and Nicole is the one along with Diego in the background that are doing that work, putting the events together, working with the community, working with our residents and our businesses. Um and she does an amazing job. She's also helped draft a lot of our grant applications
and award applications that we come to you guys with. Um, so she's a tremendous asset not only to our city, to our city, to our community, um, to our residents. So, I just want to take this moment to congratulate her and see if she wants to say a few words. >> Congratulations.
>> Thank you. Thank you everyone. Thank you, Matt, Monica, Jose, everyone for um, this amazing award. Um, it's been an honor, uh, working here in the parking and sustainability department and it's a
dream job. I love this job. I, you know, I I love everything about it and would love to continue on interviewing. Thank you. >> No, congratulations. Thank you. Um, every time that we go to the events uh that that you put together, that your
team puts together, uh, you're a breath of fresh air, like I've said before, warm, welcoming. uh you really invite all the residents and the individuals who are engaging in that event. So, the city's blessed to have you as part of our team. So, thank you for your hard work and uh we're looking forward to a
long long career uh and you moving up the ladder. >> Yeah. Just uh it's always been a pleasure working with you, even if we're out there picking up little pieces of confetti. Uh which then was the brainstorm for the next uh piece of legislation to get rid of the plastic
confetti. Uh, it's been a pleasure working with the entire team and I'm so glad you're part of our team. So, thank you. >> Thank you both very much. >> Thank you. Let's take a photo. >> You're in the center. All right. Uh, moving on to item A8.
>> All right. Okay. And our final winner of the 2025 employee of the of the um month selections from the police department, we have Mercedes Paulino. Uh Mercedes is one of the neighborhood safety aids. So, she's the one that's out there patrolling the the neighborhood. Um she actually works here in the downtown
area. So, she was nominated by her supervisor for her dedication, her customer service skills, and always being proactive. U Mercedes been with the city since 2019 as an NSA this entire time. So, congratulations to your Mercedes. Here you go.
Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Easy. >> Just have some words to say. Of course. >> I just want to thank uh thank you so much for uh being an employee of the month. I'm truly honored and humbled by this recognition. I couldn't have
achieved it without the support and guidance and teamwork of everyone around me. Thank you to the command staff, Sergeant P, my NSAs, and my NL's for their leadership. I'm grateful to be part of the group that lifts each other
up and works together every day. Thank you for believing in me and for giving me the opportunity to grow and contribute to the community. And I sincerely thank you all. >> Thank you, uh, Mercedes. Congratulations. Welld deserved. And if
I may, when did when did we start the the NLS? >> 2015. >> So, literally like my in my second year in office, we started working on on uh obviously this relationship. And let me tell you why I think this is important.
>> Uh the police have their hands full every single day. You're another set of eyes and ears. You build relationships just like the police do every day, but you build relationships and answer to the police. I think that relationship is critical and I think it's played a significant role as you can see in the
drop in crime. Again, our police officers do an amazing job. We want to give them every resource. You're building these relationships every single day as you drive through the neighborhoods. We're human. We can't see everything. So, the more eyes and ears on the
street, the better. >> Yeah. So I think that this when we came up with this idea years ago and it was implemented, the people responsible for lowering crime are right in front of us. It's the police and the individuals in the back
who work tirelessly every single day. They build these relationships. They invest in these relationships and that's why again the city of Coral Gables stands out amongst every other municipality in Miami date county. So, I want to congratulate you on your
efforts. I want you to go I want to thank you for going that extra mile. If you're supposed to finish at 5, you don't finish at 5. You if there's a package in the front door and it's visible from the street, you grab the package, you put it in the back. You contact that resident who you have their cell phone and you send them, you know,
a quick text, hey, I left the back I left, you know, the Amazon uh box, you know, on the sideyard. Those are little things that pay huge dividends. So, I I just want you to know that we as a commission, as a city are beyond grateful for all of you in the
back, our neighborhood safety aids, all of you, thank you for your hard work. Thank you for everything that you're doing. God bless you. Okay. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you very much. >> Chief, you want to say anything? >> Uh, sure. >> Come on. >> Don't be shy. Don't be shy.
>> Oh, no. No. Uh, as you can see, you know, the whole all the employees that work for the department uh are crucial to what we do. During the holidays, they they repositioned almost 500 and some odd packages. So, it narrowed down the
ability for a criminal to go out there and make a victim of any of our res. And I think that and if I'm sorry, but I think that's, you know, I'm happy that you came up to talk because we're I think we can say this, Madam Manager, Mr. Manager, we are the
only ones in this community that are going to this depth because we have different layers. We have different layers and you don't see the results. Oh, well, they moved 500 packages. Okay. Well, how much crime was evaded as a result of that? Because, by the way, people are coming into our neighborhood
to steal. And I've said this before, you don't see residents stealing residents packages here. So this type of behavior, this type of extra mile work, you know, pushing further, you know, doing things to lead by example are what is resulting in there being less crime. It's really
not tangible. Like you can't go out there and say, "Hey, by the way, we stopped 50 package thefts that the police officers would have had to go out there and fill out the documents where they should have been on the street pulling people over or looking in an alley or, you know, trying to catch a
suspicious individual. So, this type of work is critical and sometimes we we we I don't want to say we take it for granted, but you know, I think that when you talk about 500 repositioning of packages, it's it's it's significant. >> Yes. >> And I'm happy you brought that up. Thank you for that. and and all of the uh
their hard work as the NSAs, all of them here, you know, as you can see, and I think it's a common theme as you saw with the executive officer uh Randy Hoff, >> you know, the hard work that they do every day. Not one of these employees are looking for this award, but it's
nice that they are recognized because it doesn't go unnoticed, you know, uh but they don't do it for that. And that's what I've learned here in Coral Gables. Obviously, I came from a much larger department. I didn't have the luxuries of having this ability to have that
one-on-one. You know, I go to a call here and I'll see six officers show up. I'll see NSA's driving around every single day. You don't have that luxury in a larger agency. This is tremendous. And uh to have that, you know, view of
it to me, this is a fantastic program. I told the chief that when I came around, they're very hard workers. They go out there every day. They drive around the neighborhoods. >> They take ownership. They take ownership >> all the time. >> They take ownership >> and uh and we thank you for your service every day
>> and all your uh cohorts officers that are here and uh it's valuable and thank you very much for the ability to be able to honor some of the employees that do their job every single day. >> We really appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Take a photo. Take a photo. Come on up here. Get over. Get over here. Over here, guys. also brought some >> sounds good to me, >> right?
Uh before we move on to the approval of minutes, uh we have one item H1 on the agenda that's been deferred to the next commission meeting. Mr. Clerk, H1. Uh can I get a motion for approval of minutes B1, regular city commission meeting, November 18, 2025.
>> I'll move it. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> I >> uh moving on to public comment. >> Uh yes, Mr. Mayor. First speaker this morning, Mrs. Mary Cruz. Good morning, Mrs. Maria Cruz. I'm
surprised that I'm able to do this. Somebody gave me some mints. Uh, this is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. I think I forgot my address. 1447 Miller Road
since 1976. We keep hearing the phrase winter is coming. Anytime we talk about money, especially finances, we are told that
we have to tighten our belts. But of course we couldn't grant the 1% cola to the rate retirees. It sounds very good but we do not always remember what we say or mean what we
say. What about changing requirements, deleting requirements so that somebody we want to promote can meet the criteria and then making the promotion before the end of
the fiscal year so that person can benefit with the cola based on the newest salary. What about the employees that were paid after they had resigned and we were told
that they were working on getting reimbursement for the city. Nobody has heard that that happened. I guess we forgot. On the other hand, I commend the city manager for his creativity. We save
money by keeping highlevel positions open, some for months, some for years, and then we have money to spend for pet projects. That's very creative. I think that, you know, when I look at the 4%
cola that everybody got and I see what the low paid people get, pennies on the dollar, and then the people on the top get thousands of dollars because 4% of somebody who makes over a hundred
and,000 or 200 uh is a lot of money. But yet for the people that make 40 45 50 4% is pennies. So um I'm very I think that we need to think about how we uh what we
do and what we say and make sure that what we mean is what we really what we say is what we mean. And don't forget that people take notice and people listen. And when you overpay people by making changes, that is wrong. Thank
you, Jackson Holmes. Greetings. Uh, my name is Jackson Rip Holmes. I live at 35 Sedonia Avenue here in Coral Gables. Um, I'm taking up this public comment to
raise to you all my deep distress uh as to what's going on with efforts to uh in my opinion revive the corrupt former business improvement district. Uh there is a matter coming up before
the commission. Uh, and I I want to um show you what I'm for and the overwhelming aspect that I'm against. So, let me start with what I'm for. This the the the business improvement
district was terminated uh in 2022 and the city has picked up the bill for Christmas lights which is substantial. uh let's just say it's a 300,000 a year
approximately uh and for Halloween uh and this is not this is something which directly benefits uh Miracle Mile which is where I have my retail property uh there's no free lunch I think that
there should be a special taxing district to uh pay for our own success on Miracle Mile that is to pay for the Christmas lights and for the Halloween what the city has been paying. Uh but what I'm against really is all the rest
because the uh history of the former business improvement district is really uh in my opinion criminal. They they ran elections uh where that were illegal and violated state law. They from the their very
beginning they were taxing business condos uh which they were not allowing to vote. Whereas state law requires that anyone who is going to be taxed in a special taxing district has the right to vote and you must get a majority of the
people taxing themselves in order even to have a special taxing district. Uh then they tried to uh and and did really actually corrupt this the commission vote on the legality of what they were doing when they were trying to get
renewed. Then they absconded with half a million dollars. And I don't know about you all, but I wouldn't want to be a person who stole a half a million dollars of taxpayer money. Uh I know how to spell the word Levvenworth. Most of
us are afraid of that. Yet somehow they got away with it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay, we'll close the public comment. Now, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I'd like to pull one item, which
is D5. Would anyone like to pull any additional item on the consent agenda? If not, may I please have a motion? >> Move it. I'll second. >> All in favor? I >> I you >> uh Mr. Clerk, item D5 is a resolution of
the city commission expressing its desire to reactivate the sister city relationship with the city of Lantua, Guatemala. Um since I've been blessed to be a commissioner or mayor, I've never taken one uh trip on the city dime. I've
never gone to any foreign country. Um, I've never spent $1 of the city dollars. Uh, since we talk about being fiscally responsible. Um, again, I have no issues with other people doing that. It's perfectly fine. But me personally, I will not do that. Um,
I bring that up because as we expand, I know what the next comments will be. There's some objective from the from the mayor. Um, that's not the case. This is a beautiful city. I think it's it's served us well in the past and I asked
my colleagues to engage in the sister cities program. Uh Mayor Valdis Fi spent years working on this along with previous mayors and it has served us well because we've been able to donate to these wonderful cities and we've also been able to learn from them as they've
been able to learn from us. We have so much to be grateful for, so much so much to thank God for that it's an opportunity for us to continue giving back. So, I would love for my colleagues uh when we have the members of our future sister city once again, Antiua
that are here in Guatemala or they'll be coming soon. I'd like for you to meet with them, have a conversation with them, see how we can really expand on this brotherhood and sisterhood. I think it's important uh a great opportunity not only for them, but it's a really wonderful opportunity for us. So, that's
why I just wanted to put on the record. >> Yes. >> Um I think absolutely, Mr. mayor and I think we need to one of the things that I met with uh the um I guess our international uh affairs coordinating council last year and one of the things that I asked them to do was find ways
where we can engage our sister cities uh to ensure that these partnerships are being beneficial to uh Coral Gables residents or Coral Gables community or Coral Gables businesses and also the businesses and and the the residents of our sister cities. Um I think the sister
cities program can be extremely beneficial but there needs to be an activation of these uh uh partnerships. It it can't be something where we become a sister city and then we just never hear from that sister city
again. Uh it was very refreshing to see exam pav here last year. Uh I think that was a very beneficial u visit for them uh to see what Coral Gables was and find ways where we can engage for them to meet with our business community here in
in Coral Gables with the members of the commission and and have that exchange of ideas. I think the sister cities program can have a lot to offer, but as you said, Mr. Mayor, we need to have more of an engagement in it. It's not just
about, hey, we have a sister city. It's about how can we benefit mutually uh from that partnership. Uh and um you know I'd welcome Latia Guatemala coming back on board and re-engaging. Uh but I know that we have some that we haven't been able to hear from in years as well.
So we we need to find ways to communicate with them and en ensure that that partnership remains alive and uh fruitful for Coral Gable's community. >> Thank you Mr. Commissioner. Yeah,
through the mayor. So, I agree with you and I agree with Commissioner Fernandez as well. I I think that overall um since you you touched upon the subject of LA, right, is that we need to have um clear objectives, mayor, you know, of of what it is that we're trying to achieve with
the sister uh city program. Economic, cultural, or educational goals need to be mapped out so that we can establish, you know, metrics to reach to make it all occur. active programs, right? Um, it sounds like you
had uh former mayor Valdees Valley engaged, right? I remember former mayor uh Don Slesnik also actively engaged with the sister city program uh in the past. I think there's a lot for the city to gain. I think there's a lot for the
sister cities to gain as well. And um it it is yet another hallmark of how unique Coral Gables is, you know, especially our ties uh especially our ties to Latin America um among others. So I'm I stand behind that 100%. Uh I'm going to commit
some time to figuring out maybe some suggestions to share with my colleagues of how we can make it um more active and I'll take up your your call to action. >> Thank you. I appreciate >> Mayor. I'll just um add to that. I mean you're the um proposal that you had and
you engaged in where uh sister cities could uh bring in with assistance from the city cultural events I think has really broadened the horizons of residents in our city to be able to experience some of the culture
and so that we don't live within our own little vacuum of of places. So >> well we have a >> the preminent >> we have a treat we have a treat today. We have our our mayor >> preeminent they the they >> the person most active right now >> Mr. Mayor and commissioners just let me
add to what you all have said and that is that and especially about Lantigua. I was proud to have led a delegation of 25 people to Lantigua and then you'll find in the archives of the city uh virtual I mean not a virtual but a uh film about
our visitation there and then Lantigua came here and also and I'm not sure if I haven't seen the report but also this city gave Lantigua a fire truck and the funny story behind that is that it was a retired fire truck that could no longer be used and so we were learning how to
ship it to Lantigua They came here and drove it drove it from here all the way around the Gulf and down through Mexico to Hanuka. So the retired fire truck that couldn't stay in service drove from here to Lante. It's a great city. I urge uh you all to visit it. It's a
beautiful, beautiful city. It will remind you of the kind of city beautiful that we uh are ourselves. So Mr. Mayor and commissioners, I really support what you're doing. >> Don't move. >> Okay. >> Cuz you're up next, but we're going to take a fiveminut break. But I want to add to that. So, I I want to thank the
mayor for always being a wealth of knowledge and resource. He always is a phone call away or or, you know, a coffee away. Uh, I'm happy you told that story cuz you told me that story. I didn't know I was what we were getting ourselves into. But there's there's there's something very interesting
inside that story and that is that you know we have certain levels of standards that other nations especially in South and Central America don't use standards protocols where the life expectancy of a vehicle or an apparatus as we were talking with the firefighters uh before
uh one of the gentlemen who was honored mentioned the fact that you know that we give them the resources to be able to have worldclass um you know items so that they can serve this community. Um, those products are still great and head and shoulders better than some countries have. When you see when we were able to
give them that firetruck and that was with when Jim Kase was here, I remember when we gave that firetruck, it was like as if it was Christmas all over again. It was the best fire truck in the entire fleet. They were ecstatic. Uh, they would have they went to all lengths to
get it home and you saw what they what they were capable of doing. So, um, like I mentioned before before the mayor stood up here, yeah, it's great to have a sister city. Yeah, we can learn a lot, but at the end of the day, we have so much to give and what are we going to do? We're going to sell we're going to sell something for scrap when at the end
of the day, you can give it to a community and they can benefit from it immensely. So, >> um, one of the things that I had, uh, spoken to, uh, Elvis at the museum about, uh, and >> was the potential. We have a sister
cities room in the museum and the potential of having our sister cities may be engaged in a quarterly presentation where that room can be dedicated to one of our sister cities and they can promote their sister city uh talking about their culture, talking
about their business. Um and it can be an exhibit that that can change quarterly. Uh exhibiting our sister cities. We we have several sister cities. So, this is something that could take a couple of years to uh to basically promote our our different sister cities. Uh but it's it's a
resource that we would have there and it's something that can help promote as well the museum. Uh bring in a different um interest to the museum and a room that's currently not really being overly utilized. Uh but it would provide for for something that we can showcase our sister cities and uh and the
partnerships that we have as a city. >> So, so why don't we do this, Commissioner? Why don't you maybe not at the next commission meeting whenever you feel you know comfortable you bring back a proposal uh with an idea of how we can accomplish something of of of that measure and I'm more than willing to not
only entertain it but I think it'd be a great opportunity to continue you know to showcase our sister cities cuz remember Belis will tell you and the manager will tell you when we're having conversations with countries that are considering putting their consulates
here in the city of Coral Gables this It's just another feather in our cap, but we can say look what we do. Look at our relationships and look who we are when it comes to sister cities. It's incredibly beneficial. One of the countries that I thought would be great and I've had conversations with their ambassador is to have a sister city relationship in Israel. Uh, and we've
been having conversations in regards to that matter and I hope that in January of 2026 I'll be able to finally bring something here or you the commission will bring something here. If you have ideas, we're looking at again cities that are in line with our vision. Like what Mayor Slesnik said, when you study
a little bit about Lantua, you'll understand, the city is in line with who we are on many, many different fronts, many different fronts. So, um, I'd love to hear more about that in the next commission meeting or the following whenever you're ready. >> And you're absolutely right, Mr. Mayor. I think one of the when you talk to
people internationally about Coral Gables, you talk about the Fortune 500 companies that are in the city, that draws some interest. When you talk to start talking about consulates that are making their home in the city of Coral Gables, that peaks their interest. Um that that's really something that is a feather on our caps and something that
we can highlight. So, I'll I'll I'll meet with uh with Belkis and the manager and and try to find a way to and Elvis at the museum and see how we can get that plan. I'll bring it back in an upcoming meeting. >> I love it. Perfect. Um, next item, time certain, uh, 10:30, but I want to just take >> Mr. Mayor, before you proceed, can we
please have a a motion and a vote, please? We had done that already. >> I'll move it. >> I'll second. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> yes. Uh, Mr. Mayor, with your guidance
and approval, I just want to take a two-minut break, a bathroom break. We have a 10:30 time certain agenda item 2-1. We'll be back in 2 minutes. Thank you. All right. Well, welcome back. >> And we will now proceed with item
two-1, Mr. Clerk. 2-1 time certain for 10:30 a.m. >> Charter review committee interim recommendations. Madam City attorney. >> Thank you, Mayor. Yes, we provided to
the commission a summary um prepared by our office of the recommendations to date of the charter review committee um with an explanation of each of the topics. Um I know that our chair uh mayor Slesnick is here and he would like to present those recommendations to you all.
>> Yes. Perfect. Um before you start, Mayor May, I just want to say thank you to you. Thank you for always giving of yourself. I know you're incredibly busy as an attorney. You're involved in many different organizations. When I called
you to serve as a chair, as my appointee to this board, you always said yes. You never say no. So, I just want to say thank you on behalf of the commission of the city. You're amazing. Thank you very much, my friend. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and my my pleasure to serve as is the other the pleasure of the other members of the committee. And
I'd like to say good morning to you, Mayor Lago, Vice Mayor Anderson, uh Commissioner Fernandez, Commissioner Castro, and certainly Commissioner Lara. Um thank you for having me in front of you today to uh offer a very brief presentation. I know you have it in
writing. I just wanted to add uh the feelings of the committee as to how we got to where we were. I'd like to tell you who served on this committee for the citizens of Coral Gables to know these people gave of their time and energy too. Uh besides myself, our vice chair
is Raul Valdees Volley, former mayor. We had former uh state representative Annie Benton Court. Uh we had Eve Bodis. Uh she is the city attorney, madam city attorney for is it Hollandale Beach? >> Dena Beach. >> Dana Beach. So she is a Coral Gable
citizen but a current city attorney in practice. Felix Partardo, an architect and former president of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables and former member of several boards of the city. We had Jane Moscowitz who is here today and Jane of course is a former federal prosecutor.
Um, and then we had Nester Mendez, uh, another attorney here, all citizens of Coral Gables, and we had a former member, attorney, Tom Wells, who served in during the first year. I wanted to start out by thanking the people that worked with us on your behalf.
Obviously, the city clerk's office, city clerk, uh, Billy and his staff are always there, uh, working and making sure that things happen smoothly. The city manager's office, of course, was an intricral part of the process. And what made this whole thing happen was the
city attorney's office. So for Christina Suarez, our deepest thanks and the person that she assigned to be our direct support person, her deputy Stephanie Throck Morton, uh made sure that we didn't get too far a field, although we tried uh but she kept
bringing us back. So with that, let me just go through some of the things that we did discuss and that we did offer you thoughts about. um on the election date. It it was a long and arduous history of this in the front of the uh committee because at the beginning the committee
had voted to uh take a position on the election date. However, under the following uh composition of the committee when it was expanded to seven and we were remitting then with a new composition, uh we backed off of saying that it was probably inappropriate for us to take a position about the
question, but that we did in fact uh offer our suggestion of changing some of the words of the item that you intend to put out to be voted on. and we uh said that we would, if it was up to us, strike the phrase with the intention of increasing voter turnout and decreasing
election costs as somewhat of a uh prompt to citizens to vote one way or the other. So that was our recommendation there that we understand it will go on the ballot and we understand that uh it will be voted on in April, but that was our suggestion there.
Runoffs, that was an interesting discussion. Um, as a matter of fact, we concluded finally that we would recommend that uh you put on the ballot a recommendation, not a recommendation, but a question of whether or not people wish to consider runoffs. Uh, there's a
big concern, as you have expressed, about voter turnout. And obviously, the voter turnout even falls lower in a runoff. And if we move the election to November, it becomes even a bigger problem because then the runoff comes in December between Thanksgiving and
Christmas somewhere near the lighting of the Christmas tree. And as you have seen in the report, the uh supervisor of elections has said if we do that, there will be no pre uh voting. There will be no early voting. So you will see a
tremendous drop off from the November election to the December runoff. So it was our opinion that if you're putting this out to the citizens to vote on that there's good cause to say maybe runoffs are a expense and a cost that do not produce the results uh that will in fact
represent the majority of the people of Coral Gables. on term limits. There was discussion about uh having a longer or more term limit restrictions, having an overall term limit restriction of so many years on the commission as mayor or commissioner and then after that not
being able to serve again. And the committee rejected that. The committee in the majority vote said that the fact of the matter was is that we trust our commissioners and we trust the people of Coral Gables to choose who they wish to serve. And um there was not a there was
not a feeling that we need to artificially terminate people's service on the commission because if we have good people that are willing to serve uh it's up to the people to decide if they've been there too long or if they want new faces. Uh so we backed off of
that recommendation and that's not something that you were putting on the ballot anyways. So that's not a recommendation. the qualifications for office. We thought this was an interesting one because the city attorney had uh talked with us about one of the recommendations about adding the
word immediately about one-year residency before you run for office and making sure it's always been interpreted as a year before the election. So adding the word immediately would be just a scrier's correction to put the word that we think should have been there in the first place, but we went one step
further. we recommend that you put on the ballot that the new words would be one year prior to the end of the qualifying period for the election which he or she seeks office because if it's one year from the election, let's say it's in November, so it's one year from November 7th, let's say, that goes back
to November uh 7th in uh the uh past year. But if it was one year from the qualifying period, it would go back one year before you qualify, which would put it back in the summertime. So it'd be one year of residency before you qualify for office. And we thought that was an
important change and we recommend that to be put before the citizens of Coral Gables. The compensation uh this is interesting because uh I'm this is not by the way a criticism of you all. It's actually a vote of of confidence in y'all. You are deciding to
put on the ballot a question about changing compensation for commissioners to be a public vote. And our committee in the end decided that seven to zero that we didn't think that's necessary. That maybe there was one blip on the screen in the last hundred years about
compensation. But you know, most of us trust you all and most of us trust what you do. And if you do something that we don't appreciate or don't like, we can always express ourselves in the next election. And so we just don't think that putting your compensation on the
ballot, it kept being brought up by Mayor Valdez Folly that you know, look at the county commission for 50 years they've been trying to raise the uh compensation of the commission to something uh appropriate and it's been defeated every time it goes to the public because the public is not going
to vote for higher compensation um for their obvious I mean obviously I'm not trying to prejudge what they do or think but they voted with their votes. No, we don't want to pay you more, but we trust you all. The committee I'm speaking for 70 saying why put that on the ballot? We
trust you to make the right decisions about your compensation. And I think it should be left there. uh on the initiative and referendum, we were uh had a recommendation to change the the uh barrier or the um crossing point for
which you can put something on the ballot to make it a lower standard so that you could get referendums on the ballot without as many signatures as was previously required. And in further discussions, we backed off that position so that there is no recommendation on
that. And the city attorney pointed out to us that the state has taken action in this area to further uh refine what can happen for referendums. Um and so therefore in initiatives. So we think that in this case we said listen this
this is not something that needs to be brought to the public at this time. It can continue to be discussed and continue to be debated. uh the estimated revenues. Again, this was brought up that this was a improvement to the revenue projections for the citizens of Coral Gables and we agreed with that,
but we decided in the end to recommend to you that it didn't need to go on the ballot that it would probably be more appropriate that you could do it by ordinance and just take action on this by the commission's action and the reserve policy. Again, um you know, we
we think that it's very dangerous. I know that when you decided to put this on the ballot about changing the reserve policy that there was not as much talk about the doing away with property taxes and so in view of the what the legislature may do in the next two
months. We thought that this is a a vote that should be put off till we see what's going to happen because if we do if the legislature and the governor take action to remove our property tax income or to lower it, I think that this is kind of a dangerous position to be in if
we change this policy at this time that we need to wait and see what happens from Tallahassee before you put this on the ballot. That's our recommendation. Again, we know our position. We understand you all are the decision makers and that you all will make that decision. These are just our
recommendations. And since I named the committee, I think you can see that we have a very diverse group. We didn't always agree as represented in the float the votes. We agreed on some unanimously. We didn't agree on some and we think we represent a pretty good cross-section of our city. So, in our
best opinion, that was it. uh on public work contracts. We think this is a a a solid one that you should put on the ballot to change the charter because right now all improvements and work projects over 25,000 awarded to the lowest bill responsible holder after
public advertising. So the 25,000 is so old and so out of date. So, we went to a a number that is seemingly have been approved and state level and by the courts and a good solid number recommended by the city manager's office and everything was 300,000 and you need
to change the charter for that. But we need to move projects along. I think you all realize that you spend a lot of time and energy up here behind the DAS and this is the kind of thing that would help us move the projects along in a more modern way. So the 300,000 was agreed on as you can see seven to know
uh that that was an appropriate figure on the boards and committees. Uh we were split on this but we uh split vote said you don't need to send this to the voters that we trust the system as it is. Uh I mean most of the things that we
did say we trust you. I mean I know our position is different than what you were going to put on the ballot. So, you may think that we're taking issue, but we're saying, "Hey, we trust what you do and we trust what you've done in the past and we trust what you'll do in the future." Um, the on the charter review
where you're putting on the thing about each city commission and city manager should appoint one as a resident. The only thing we were concerned or some of us were concerned about was the city attorney shall appoint one member who shall be a current or former municipal or county attorney. um was that it doesn't have to be a resident
and I understand that there you know there's maybe an issue that well will we find a former county attorney or a former uh city attorney or a current for uh city attorney or current county attorney that lives in the city and some of us felt very strongly that that's not
a problem that we know a bunch of people that live in the city that fit that qualification and then some of us talked about well you could expand from either municipal or county attorneys to former judges. I mean, there's a number of reasons, but we felt strongly that the person should be a resident. That's that
was our feeling that residents should be part of your thing. On the inspector general, we made just one recommendation on a change of the title of your vote. And just to clarify what what it's actually voting on and that is that you
know the we already have the power within the city attorney and this commission to appoint uh what you might call an inspector general or outside person to investigate things which you find need that kind of investigation. But because you have an intention to put
it before the public and bring their bring their attention to the fact that you can do that. All we suggested was changing the title authorizing inspector general services as needed just to make it clear that people aren't voting on a full-time inspector general because I
think that you all intended that and all we did was try to enforce what you intended. So we agree and on budget transparency uh we postponed the final decision on anything we recommended that and if this committee continues as it is
we will continue to discuss that and if we don't continue we'll let you discuss it. So Mr. Mayor, commissioners uh that is our report. it's before you. And my hope was just to bring some clarifying uh notes as to how we got to where we
got to. And to reiterate, and I mean this sincerely when I say this, I'm not up here to um gain favor. I have no petitions or projects. Not even looking for a permit at my house. But our committee continually expressed confidence that our commission over the
hundred years and and now does the right thing. General does the right thing. discusses, debates and ends up and we trust what happens up here. So, thank you very much for your attention >> through the mayor >> and there is one thing I think one of
our members Jane Mosquitz wanted to say a couple of words about the process. Did you is that okay? >> Yeah, I was going to invite her up right now. Okay. >> I'm sorry, Commissioner Gford if you want. It's okay. >> Appreciate it because I'm certain I'm I'm out of order.
>> Introduce yourself. >> I'm Jane Moscowitz. I live at 6841 Verin Street in Coral Gables. I've lived on that block since 1982. Um, as Mayor Slesnik said, I was a federal prosecutor, but that was before
some of you were born. I was then in private practice and now in my retirement apart from being on the charter review committee and Miss Rockmorton advises me to tell you that I'm speaking in my personal capacity but
one of my other jobs in retirement is um chair of voter protection for the Miami Day Democratic Party and in that capacity try to make sure that everybody who's entitled to vote no matter what party gets to vote and that their votes
get counted. And in that regard, I have some either questions or concerns about the upcoming election. My personal belief is to leave it where it is because I want people to focus on Coral Gables issues and Coral Gables
candidates and not be swallowed in everything that goes on in November where you're scared to open your mailbox. But that's not that's not what I want to talk about. I also want to give my thanks to Mr. Kia who um I've
been stalking with emails and responds to everyone and I'm and I'm I'm grateful for that. So here's there was one uh one issue that we were concerned about we raised already in the charter review and
that's that you are mailing these ballots to everybody but in general for people to receive ballots but in mail by the mail that have to sign up with our supervisor of elections and that there
may be confusion of people who receive this ballot in the mail that then they will believe that they are enrolled to vote by mail. And Mr. Akia assures me that you all are going to send out some notice that explains to people when they
get this ballot that they're not going to get any other ballot in the mail unless they take that step of enrolling, which in a in a measure that does not promote voting now has to be renewed every every election cycle. Your vote by
mail has to be renewed every two years. >> If I may answer you because you you posed a question and I want to make sure that we address >> if I may respond to you. >> Please. >> We have already addressed that. There will be multiple opportunities that we
will use here in the city to make sure that everyone is educated, whether it be TV, inhome flyers that will be sent, email, we'll actually be recording a PSA with the elections supervisor, Miss Alina
Garcia, and we'll be doing everything in our power to make sure that we have as many people come out to vote and that they're aware of the process to make sure that their vote counts. Well, Thank you. And I I understood that piece had been taken care of for which I'm
grateful and everybody should be grateful. I have a few more uh smaller items I think but or different items and one is that you know mail and ballots aren't forwarded. So,
if I move within the city of Coral Gables and you don't, even if I've put in my forwarding address, um, those people will not get their ballots, ballots are sent back to the supervisor of elections. So that's
another piece of voter education that needs to be made that that people need to know what to do either if they have moved uh or if they don't get a ballot because the mail is by far not
infallible. Um, and so I I hope you will tell people that you know that part of the PSAs is that if you don't get a ballot and you're a resident of the city of Coral Gables, call whatever whoever. >> Okay. So, as you're as just to respond
to you, uh, we will that's already been addressed also. >> Okay. >> Uh, just like you are with the Democrat party uh, locally here and doing everything in their power to make sure that people can vote. I am doing the same thing, but not for a party. I'm doing it on behalf of the residents and I'm honored to serve.
>> I'm not and I'm not saying this on behalf of >> But if I may. >> Yeah, >> if I may. Um, we're also setting forth because you mentioned the ability to make a phone call. We are also setting a dedicated phone line. This has already been voted on and approved by the commission. A dedicated phone line that
will have someone answering and so they can answer every question in regards to the referendums, why somebody hasn't received a ballot, where they can get a ballot, provide them stepbysteps opportunity to address their concerns. But as you know, as you know, cuz you're
very well verssed in this, you've been you've been working on this for years. The final responsibility is incumbent of the resident to make sure that when they move, they get a new license. So, you know very well, you know very well as a
lawyer that you cannot drive around this city with a with a license that is not corresponding with your home that you're living. So, at the end of the day, as people are shaking their head, you know
very well that the voter has to take it upon themselves and we're providing them with all the information. There's there's a significant amount of time, 4 months before the vote comes and we're going to be doing an extensive outreach campaign to make sure they go and they
get their new license. Also, as you're aware, I sponsored the legislation through the help of the tax collector. Now, we have a new office here where you can get your license and you can do a litany of of county issues here in the city of Coral Gables and it takes
minutes versus hours or appointments. So, it's very easy if someone really wants to vote uh in this referendum, they're going to have every opportunity and everything within their reach to make sure that they can get this done. So, but at the end of the day, it is incumbent on the voter. No matter how
much you reach out to them, no matter how much you tell them to get involved, no matter how much you engage, there are rules and strict regulations. >> Yeah, I I understand and agree and I don't have You're absolutely right. Um
but I have two more things. Um one is why not have a drop off spot at the library? >> I can answer that for you too. Yes, >> because it's not allowed as per Madam Madam city attorney, please put it on the record. And I thought you would know
this with your engagement in the Democrat party. You should know. Madam City attorney, will you please clarify? >> Yes, it's we've we the per the supervisor of elections, there's only one one drop off location, which is the supervisor of elections office. >> Well, but but that doesn't say that
there can't be another one. I mean, there's in >> there cannot be one. >> There cannot be one. By state statute, we are not allowed to have additional drop off locations. The only way we're allowed to have drop off locations is during early voting when locations are staffed by Miami Day County elections.
We're not allowed to do it for this specific >> that Yes, I understand it would have to be staffed and it would cost money. Miss Moskovich, I also had a conversation with the election supervisor in regards to this exact question because my intent was to have multiple location drop offs
to make it as easy as possible to have people engage in this election. She was emphatically clear that that is not allowed to happen. Your fourth question. So, I think that voters should be notified. By the way, and I I strongly believe in what, although I'm not
speaking as a member of the charter review committee, that your language should not contain the with intention part, but I think voters should learn that there will be no early voting on the runoff. I mean, I haven't agree with
Mayor Slesnik. I don't know why we need these runoffs where 10% or 8% of the population appear uh and you know we could get rid of the whole thing and that would really save money but to people who work and they will be
restricted to I'm talking about if you're if this passes which one may assume it will that the runoffs are held in December if and there will be no early voting. I think people should understand that that that privilege is
going to be taken away from them if this measure is enacted because a lot of people vote that way. >> So I'll respond to I'll respond to you in that measure. We have talked about seven referendums. We have not entertained what you're proposing in regards to eliminating a runoff what
you're discussing today. This is >> Go ahead. This is the first time that we have that discussion. And if the if it's the will of the commission, I have no issues moving forward. But that was never up for discussion at all. And that's why it's not on today's agenda.
But thank God. Thank God. And the manager will tell you and our city attorney will tell you. In my pre-aggenda meeting, I asked the city attorney to find out when was the last drop date that we could include another referendum if it was the will of the commission. And your answer was, madam
city attorney. >> So the date to get the questions to the supervisor of elections is in February. So we still have the next commission meeting to have the commission approve any additional resolutions with ballot questions. >> So knowing that Mayor Slesning was going to be here and our team brought it to
our attention that this was something that the charter review was interested in having a discussion. I inquired about when was the last possibility to not have a seventh but an eighth referendum item on the agenda. So that's something that we could discuss here on the commission and potentially move forward >> of not having a runoff.
>> Yes, ma'am. >> That's good. Um but I also it's the separate point is telling people on this referendum that if they enact the election change to November of even
years that on the runoff they will not have early voting. >> Understood. It affects people who like what I used to be. It used to be difficult for me to vote on election day. I counted on early voting because I don't believe in mailing my ballot
because you know in the city of Miami election 700 voters mailed of of the 25,000 that voted were disqualified because they arrived late. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate your I appreciate your commitment to the city.
your engagement. I know you've been doing this for two years and it means a lot to that you're involved. Thank you so much >> for the mayor. >> Yes, madam vice mayor. >> Uh and I really have some questions here for the city manager. Um we have this beautiful card. I doubt seriously
>> postcard you came up with it in the minutes between our break that this pre-existed with a QR code. >> Nice. Very well done. Saves paper. Good job. Can we can we include in this QR code if we don't I haven't had a chance
to check it different things uh such as changing your your driver's license. Um we also can have the ballot item in there to remind people to look in their mailboxes. Um homestead exemption filing. Uh people
do forget the voter registration change. reminding people to do that as well because if they don't change that um as well. And um I'm glad you brought up the the runoff election thing u issue because that is you know something that
I've been a bit torn about and without an an early voting opportunity. Uh I think it's something we should seriously discuss. But >> through the mayor >> kudos on this. >> Thank you. Uh, Vice Mayor, that's a link to our to our website and to the website for for the residents and we can add
anything anything to that website as as needed to make sure that new residents are aware of of of everything in Corals. We'll be happy to look at those issues. >> Okay. >> Through the mayor and vice mayor, are you done? >> Yes. >> Okay. Commissioner.
>> Yes. Um, Mayor Slesnik, Jane, I want to thank you for your time and for all the years of experience that only you guys bring to the charter review committee because that really is very fruitful and um it's a great asset to this city. So, thank you. Secondly, I would like to
move to approve all the recommendations of the charter review committee. I stand 100% with your recommendations and I trust that is the path forward for the city. Um, if I may, first and foremost, there's not a second. We're going to
discuss these items later in the agenda, uh, one item after another. I'm the sponsor of the items, uh, after working on this for almost a year and a half. And I think the appropriate thing is to have those discussions item by item by item and, uh, give a little bit of respect to the work done by these
members and also the city, uh, the residents and the business community that deserve to hear item by item by item. We are going to take into account the hard work of the committee. Uh and I look forward to having that conversation. Uh when I bring forward items um
I'll tell you right now, excuse me. Items F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9. They will be held. They will be held and heard today and we're looking forward to moving forward. Thank you very much. Commissioner, you have anything you like to add?
>> I What was the motion? I just >> I'm sorry. The motion was to go ahead and accept the recommendations of the charter review committee. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and a second. >> Mr. Mayor, before uh moving forward, I have members of the public who requested
to speak on this item. >> Okay. Uh first speaker, Mrs. Mayor Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. I am very very happy to hear
uh Mayor Slesny and Miss Moscowitz address issues that quite a few of us have had and I think that it's only appropriate since they've done such a good job
that we um accept their recommendations and that If you really um look at the process and some of us would say well there was a committee and when they were
changed then they went back on some things but obviously that's what democracy is all about. The new committee had different ideas. They voted again and some of the things were changed, but obviously they came back they came back with a wonderful
wonderful report and I commend them for doing that. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Next speaker, Jackson Holmes. Thank you uh mayor and commission Jackson Palms 35 Sedonia Coral Gables.
Um I too uh am extremely grateful to the charter review committee uh for the most beautiful work I've seen in the at least a year uh in the entire city. Thank you so very much. and I agree with
Commissioner Castro's motion that uh you all approve their recommendations. Um, I also though want to add what I think should be uh on this referendum
and I'm going to just go ahead and simplify the uh idea here that we should have a uh paytoplay audit. uh that that the we should have an audit
every year of how much developers are donating to city commission candidates and what they're getting for all their money. Um the uh estimate is by uh trying to
remember the name of the specialist on PAX uh that was a candidate here. Um, I'm sure you all might be able to help me if you had the chance, but anyway, so the our expert on packs says that 80%
of all donations to city commission candidates comes from developers. 80% and only 20% comes from uh all taxpayers combined.
So I believe and I think the citizens want a pay-to-play audit of what are the developers getting for their millions upon millions upon millions of dollars. Are they buying Coral Gable's elections?
Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> We have a motion and a second. >> Yes, sir. Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. Commissioner Lada. >> No. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> I appreciate the work that the committee
had done, but just like um Miss Bos, it's like we go through jury instructions line by line and and language, I want to go line by line and uh have a a fruitful discussion of some of the u suggestions. And I appreciate the suggestions. you know, as you could
hear from the comments, uh I think we're we're going to be in agreement on many of the items, but for an ad hoc uh vote just to uh approve things and not go line by line, I cannot vote in favor of that. So, my vote is no. >> Mayor Lago, >> before I say my vote, I just want to put
it clear for the blogs and uh for the herald that's here. Obviously, what you're witnessing right now is absolute political theater, which is making a mockery, and Mr. Slesing is shaking his head, and I appreciate that. uh making a mockery of an incredible group of individuals that spent over two years two years of their time working uh as
members of this in esteemed committee. Uh we shouldn't play politics with ridiculousness. As for speaking with the city attorney, you can't even vote in favor of this because if you vote in favor of this, there's you're basically contradicting yourself and voting in ways that you're going to have to deal with it anyways later. vote by vote by
vote because the legislation that's in place on this agenda contradicts whatever we would be approving right now. So, uh, enough with the politics. I don't have an issue addressing item by item when we come forward. If we want to address, you know, the verbiage on a
certain piece of legislation, but again, this is just another uh Coral Gables cuz that's special. You know, the commission votes in favor of opposing um the the committee's recommendations. that's not the case, but that's what you'll see tomorrow or the following day. My vote
is no. >> All right, moving on. Thank you very much, sir. It's a pleasure >> to the mayor. Just a point of clarity, you know, and and in both the vice mayor and the mayor, you stated eloquently. wouldn't want anyone to take my no vote um without echoing your sentiments. But
the truth of the matter is, you know, as the motion was phrased, it's an approval of all comprehensive all recommendations depriving any meaningful discussion regarding the the the countless hours put in on a voluntary basis by the members of the charter review committee
where it would require a thoughtful one by one discussion. I assume, but I I got to be careful um that one would take that from my no vote uh in the positive sense and not to uh disparage anything
which I I I uh I support and I absolutely commend each and every one of the members of the charter review committee for the work they've done and and for you know uh Jane Mosquit's appearing today in her personal capacity uh on behalf of the Democratic party. Um, but that being said, um, I
reiterated my no for those reasons. >> And if I may, uh, Commissioner, I just want to unequivocally tell you, you have just wasted two minutes of your life that you'll never get back because when they publish this article, none of that will come out. All right. Uh, thank you very much. Uh, moving on to items on
second reading, item E1. No, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. >> Items on E1. >> Point of order. Correction, Miss Moscowitz was not here representing the Democratic Party. >> Yeah, >> please correct the record.
>> Okay. All right. >> Voter protection >> of myself and on behalf of people being both, you know, about their votes and not on behalf of >> Okay. I'm sorry. I just want to again just for clarity, I I may have
misunderstood. I I only heard that you weren't speaking on behalf of the charter of review committee and on behalf of the work that you do. I think you mentioned that the city attorney suggested that you declare that the work you were doing is in furtherance, I believe, of an organization associated with the Democratic party. I could be
wrong, but I'm glad that you clarified it. >> Well, let's but let's let's let's do this. Let's not have a conversation back off the dis. I think it's inappropriate and there's rules in in place to make sure we don't do that. So, thank you very much. We've given an open platform to have a real dialogue and I look
forward uh to bringing this in for a landing uh when we vote for this later on today. Thank you very much. Uh Mr. Clerk, item E1. E1 is in norance of the city commission providing for a text amendment to the city of Coral Gable's official zoning code by amending article 7 sustainability and resilience standards section 7-102 green building
requirements to provide national green building standard silver certification as an acceptable option for compliance providing for repeater provision severability clause codification and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you very much. >> Good morning. There have been no changes since first reading actually. >> Okay, perfect. No changes. Can I have a
motion? >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mr. Mr. Cler, any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Mayor Loga,
>> yes. Thank you very much for your hard work. Item E2. >> E2 is an orance to the city commission providing for text amendments to the city of Coral Gable's official zoning code by amending section 3-200 principal uses amending section 3-201 group homes, assisted living facilities, and childcare facilities to clarify
statutory capacity and licensing requirements. Heading section 3-2022 certified recovery residences to establish procedures for review and approval consistent with state and federal law amending article 16 definitions to add definitions for adult daycare center certified recovery residents dwelling unit and group
residential home providing for repeated provision severability clause codification providing for an effective date. >> Good morning. Also no changes on this one since press reading. >> Thank you. I'll entertain a motion. Move it. >> Second. >> Mr. Clerk, do you have any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. >> Commissioner Lada.
>> Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Mayor Log, >> yes. >> Thank you, Madam Zoning Director. Madame uh item E3, ordinances on first reading. E3 is an ordinance of the city commission granting approval of proposed amendments to the text of the city of
Cro Gable's comprehensive plan pursuant to expedited state review procedures and zoning code article 14 process section 14-213 comprehensive plan text and map amendments to modify the required mix of uses when developed within the University Station rapid transit district overlay to allow maximum floor area ratio of 3.5 and to provide for
policies to implement the University Station rapid transit district overlay providing for a repeated provision providing forability clause and providing for an effective date. Madam director, >> good morning again. I have a brief PowerPoint. Wow, they're fast. Perfect. So, as you know, the county did approve
and adopt the expansion of the RTZ, the rapid transit zone, um with the creation of the Gable's University Station sub zone in September. Um this grant authority for the county to to review and and um impact fees and control uh
any property that's going to be entered into the sub zone. Um today right now there's only one property that's part of this sub zone with the county. Um there's been a lengthy review process of this. This started May of last year with a discussion by this commission. Um plan
zoning board did recommend approval of zoning and comprehensive plan map amendments as well as zoning amendments and that went to the commission here in October. So what you're looking at today actually is our amendments that the comprehensive plan text. Let me get to
that. So the overlay itself has not changed as far as the boundaries go. It's between Turin and Cavayto on US1. There's an aerial looking at it. It's directly across the street from the University Metro Station. Another aerial, another map was showing
the location of this. In October, this commission did um approve on first reading the uh proposed future land use map amendment to commercial high-rise as well as proposed zoning map amendment to MX3 for these properties within the overlay district. And that's what that
would look like looking at 3D. This would make it comparable to uh the existing um PO project which is on Cabayota and US1 um but more setbacks. Today you're looking at three texts to our comprehensive plan. The first one is
increasing the F to be 3.5 as a MAC FA excuse me F within the overlay district as well as simplifying our mix of uses for just this district to only require two uses a minimum two uses for just
this district and also incorporating a policy specific just the university station of a transit district overlay um about mixed use walkability encouraging housing near transit stations um being consistent with the smart plan of the county.
And as you know, this was reviewed by planning and zoning board for the map amendments and the zoning code amendments in Janu sorry in July of last year. Uh first reading for again those map amendments and zoning. Today we're looking at the comprehensive plan text amendments and we're hoping to come back
in uh January 27 with all of these amendments, the comprehensive plan text and map amendments with the zoning code text and map amendments. We sent out notices whoops within 1500 feet as required by the zoning code um
including all of the um pieces of this legislation uh four times July, October, um December as well as for today's meeting uh website posting and newspaper advertisements recommend approval. It is consistent with the comprehensive plan as it is
encouraging development on transit corridors of our city right now. Recommend approval. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Manager. Um, just very quickly, can you provide in the next minute, 30 seconds, um, kind of a recap of the many meetings, phone
calls that we've had in regards to the mark, where we are, you know, all the effort that we put in, the negotiations that we've sat with the team, and all the positive uh, positives, you know, that we've been able to kind of bring back to the city of Coral
Gables. I had a very nice conversation uh with Commissioner Regalo this morning before I got on the dis. Uh she was happy to see the success that we've had with the mark uh and also to see that we've been able to negotiate a few things that again we're going to we're bringing we're going to paper them up right now and bring it to the commission
for ratification. But as the commission has placed me to negotiate this along with the manager and our incredible zoning team who's here, uh I think we've made a lot of positive headway. A lot of positive headway. Uh and I think that the commission is going to be very satisfied. uh not only financially, we're talking about millions and
millions and millions and millions of dollars that would have gone to the county, but also in regards to usage, signage, design, height, a lot of different things that again are more in line now with the city and not with the RTZ. Mr. Manager, >> uh yes, thank you, Mayor. I I think we realized uh back in May of last year
that the RTZ was was coming. Uh we acted very very quickly. uh our assistant director did a marvelous job in getting everything done and we were we were in an effort to bring this project back to the city of Coral Gables. Uh I believe that this this these overlays uh that
we've done is RTZ area and that uh we've all worked very hard on them. Uh we've had very good negotiations. I believe that that through this effort we've been able to I think bring this project back back to the city which means that this project will be permitted through the
city of Coral Gables. The impact fees will come back to the city of Coral Gables and more important the uses and signage and all these other issues that were later would be of county control are back to our city. So uh mayor I thank you for your efforts and and uh
incredible work on this. our assistant director did a phenomenal job in getting this overlay and getting this this uh report done and uh and uh great great work to our planning and zoning board where they quickly realized what was going on and and what the issues were.
So I think we have a very good uh I think we can bring this project back and I and I think we can get a much better project from from the from the developer and uh and and work with them to to make this project successful. I don't see why
not. And uh and uh thanks to your efforts or and our our development services efforts, we were able to get this uh what I believe is this project back into the city. >> So I want to I want to thank you thank you for that. But again, it was our effort and I also want to thank the
developer. Uh the developer came to the table on multiple occasions. They understood that we had to negotiate and the RTC is about negotiating. And for example, art and put places impact fees that would have gone to the county. Now we're remaining in the city beautiful. Uh so you know some people may may say
ah what you know the project changed. Guess what the project was going to change through the RTZ but at least we have control over the project. Uh we are presenting now we're working on a schedule for deliverables in regards to approvals which is part of the agreement
that will be brought for before the commission. I requested a schedule um with a detailed breakdown for approvals so that we can be held accountable and also can the developer be accountable. They already submitted that schedule. The manager is reviewing it and he's
basically revamping the schedule. Uh we had a long conversation over the weekend uh to talk about the project. But I this isn't this has not been one meeting. This has been extensive amount of meetings. The developer deserves credit. Staff has lifted this beyond measure. The manager has done an incredible job.
This project was already in the county. Now it's coming back to the city of Coral Gables. It took a lot of heavy lifting. The DCM, the ACM staff, they all deserve the credit. So, uh, thank you for having trust in us to bring bring this back and I think you would be very satisfied uh that, you know, we're going to have a
project within our scope that we control as a city with obviously a negotiation that took place with the developer uh to make sure. By the way, for the viewers here, let me be clear. A no vote here is going against a a 60 vote by PAB because
planning and zoning board understands that we don't have control with the RTZ. We don't. You just can't say, oh yeah, you know, vote no against it. And you think to yourself, you know, we're going to somehow someway, you know, magic wand is going to be and they're going to do
what's, you know, in in the city's best interest. It's not going to happen that way. They're going to do what's in their financial best interest and what it takes is a negotiation. So, madam vice mayor to the mayor, >> madam vice mayor, >> excuse whatever.
>> So, I'm I'm just going to add on to it to an additional praise to city manager because I thought this ship had sailed. Okay. and you put your talent into bringing this back because what would have happened with the RTZ in the county
would have been a horrific project. Okay, sorry I don't mean to disparage you any but I mean by Coral Gable standards it would have been a horrific project. We're able to bring back that 20 foot 5ft set back against the uh mixeduse area. Uh there's condos back
there. It's uh you know sing it's not single family homes but it's it's mixed MF um area we're multif family is we're able to get the wider sidewalks we're able to control the architecture we're able to get the impact fees which go to
our parks department to create parks millions and millions of dollars plus the arts and public places the permitting fees these are dollars that were being taken out of taxpayers in city of Coral Gables and we're going to be given to to the county. Um, and I
also have to applaud to Commissioner Regalado because she was willing to listen and the developer because they were willing to listen. I really thought this ship had sailed and we weren't going to be able to get this one back. But thank you for being here and for steering this ship and around and
turning it around and bring it back into our city. And if I may, if I may add something else, I think it's important that the commission understand we're not talking about one project. We're talking about the neighboring project, 3 acres. It was sold
and that project has the same owner. And as we've been negotiating good faith, working hard, they've agreed moving forward that they're going to allow the product to stay in the city as long as we meet the same requirements in
regards to expediting their permit. So, this is called a negotiation. If not, they could just take their ball and go home and go to the county and go the RTZ route and avoid having to go through our standards. But at the end of the day, this is what happens when you negotiate in good faith.
Commissioner >> to the mayor. >> Commissioner would want to say something. >> This this is a question to the city manager. What are we giving them in exchange in comparison to RTZ? What what other benefit are we getting or informing more about the
negotiations? >> Uh I don't think we're giving them anything more than RTZ. I think we're giving them uh uh as a matter of fact, what I've been trying to ask through the mayor is to thank the the developer for working with us and uh and and providing
a better project than would have been done through the RTC process. Uh the uh the uh project will be more in line with what we what we expect in Coral Gables than than an RT than than what could have been done through through the RTZ. And we uh we have a commitment to make
that project work and we will make it work because this this project does not give more than RTZ. What it does is brings brings the project back into a more Coral Gables type project where whereas the the other project could have been simple box. This project brings it
back into into Mediterranean style uh project. It brings it back to slightly lower project. It it it gives us uh c certain setbacks. It's it's it's it's not giving them anything. It's it's it's getting I one of the things that that we
that a major uh thing that we've that we've done is speed up the project, which is one of the things that Commissioner Regalado is is uh asked for and we've we've complied. So, so have we given up have we given up anything to the RTZ? No, we've gained from the from
the RTZ and and I I think it's actually a better project for the developer. I think mayor and and commissioner, I think it's a better project for the developer. What with how this building is going to end up, I think it'll be a more successful project and we'll make sure that we deliver it on time and deliver a good a a good project for for
the for our residents in an effort >> in an effort to get the product delivered as quick as possible. And the director can speak to it is they have relinquished usage signage. When I say relinquished, they're meeting our standards. We're
getting art in public places. We're getting impact fees. We're getting the setbacks which are not required by the RTZ. They could have gone the RTZ route, circumvented the city and gotten a much bigger project, a much taller project with different setbacks. They could have
designed it not in a Mediterranean way. This at least how goes through the BOA. Didn't have to go through the BOA before. So, you will see it in the negotiation. It'll come for ratification here before the commission. And I'm just proud to say that we worked hard. We sat at the table with the developer on
multiple occasions. Ste and and staff had many many more meetings than that and we were able to bring this in and keep control of a project that next door will now have to go through the same process and not go to the RTZ of the county. And I think that goes to show
you that we're here to negotiate. We're not just here to vote no because at the end of the day, they could have gone through the RTZ and then you have a project that is not in line even with the way the city standards are. through the mayor. >> Yes. >> And uh mayor, this this this overlay can be applied through the RTZ through the
entire RTZ area. So So I I I think that we've not only brought back one project, I think we brought back multiple projects that uh to to back into Coral Gables instead of having basically a dead county building inside Coral Gables. >> Commissioner.
>> Yeah. So we find ourselves in these days uh very much in a football mind state of mind um with all the successes of the University of Miami and hopefully that continues. >> But right but um when when we were last discussing this at the previous commission meetings I think we were
referring to these efforts um ultimately successful efforts as being a Hail Mary a Hail Mary pass. And um I know that the vice mayor referred to it as a ship sailing. I agree with that but I think we were calling it a Hail Mary. So, uh, this Hail Mary seems to have connected
and I want to also thank all and congratulate all involved in a herculean effort to try and get something done that I really think was appropriately referred to as um, highly unlikely uh, to be charitable about it and amazing things have been done for the benefit of
the residents of the city. Beautiful. Um, I I wholeheartedly support this and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this ordinance granting this approval of the propos proposed amendments because we were able to take back uh what what I
believe was decidedly a fumble uh by the previously constituted P&Z and um fixed uh in um with very little time left on the clock. So, uh, a vote, uh, for this is a for a vote for the residents, a vote against this is a vote for what,
uh, I believe all those against overdevelopment, uh, stand for. I think the choice is clear. >> Um, I think the days of perfection are long gone. I think um the days when we
can dictate as a city this is what it's going to be regardless of what a developer wants to bring to the table have been changed by the dynamics in Tallahassee and in the county commission. And it's important for residents to
understand that it's a new game. It's new rules that have been brought to the table and municipalities are at the lower end of the totem pole and what our zoning code is is no longer the end all beall of what's going to happen.
Developers have a way to go to a different I guess the uh the next level up and say hey I didn't get this I want this and they can get it. And I think I echo the the sentiments of my colleagues and I commend the developer for coming back to the table in Coral Gables and
wanting to be a good partner with the city and finding a path forward where we will have a project that may not be exactly what we wanted, but it's more to the lines of what Coral Gables is, the identity of the city of Coral Gables, and now knowing what the mayor was
saying about the the the project next door also being uh in in line with uh with this legislation. Um, >> and if I may, if I may interrupt you, and the subsequent property, >> so it's three properties in a row now. The one the one in the on the waterway,
which if not, again, you know, sorry to say this, but this project's happening. >> Correct. >> It's happening. RTZ or Coral Gable Standards, let's keep it Coral Gable Standards. >> I agree. And I and I think that's that's the importance of of of getting this and
moving it forward. Ensuring that we have a say in this. We are able to get the resources that we need to provide the services for this project and ensuring that we still have an ability to say this is what it should be. Making sure it goes through the board of architects.
Uh which to me was one of the biggest concerns because it goes to the county. You don't know what the county is going to approve. You can have an ultramodern building that comes to that property. uh and whatever the C county standards are, going through the board of architects will ensure that we still have a say in what the design of that building is. And
bringing back those impact fees is extremely important, especially knowing what's going to be happening in Tallahassee in the next session with property val property taxes. These are revenues that we're going to have that are going to be able to provide the services residents in these buildings
are going to need. And if I may bring you inside to the negotiations which staff was in. One of the most contentious points discussed was whether the project will go through the BOA and we discussed timeline schedules. We
literally had to go back to a construction schedule to a deliverable schedule critical path. So that was an item that along with many other things if you go down the RTZ you don't get any impact fees you don't get any article of places
money your setbacks are completely different your building is not designed in a in a Mediterranean style called a negotiation so when you go vote no on a project like this cross the board and say no which should just adhere to coral standards
you're not living in the reality of the moment the reality of the moment is that the RTZ already exist. They came to us. It says, "We're moving forward as a result of what transpired at the planning and zoning board. We're done. We're moving." We sat down with
them halfozen times, had conversations and said, "Let's start this again. How can we meet somewhere in the middle?" Meeting somewhere in the middle is much better than going the RTZ route of Miami Day County. >> Through the mayor. >> Yes. uh mayor, the the project uh
instead of going through no architect is going through our city architect who does a fantastic job and uh and that's a huge plus uh for this project uh it's already been improved tremendously. I think uh it's a project that we can move
forward with and uh you know I think we have a commitment to to move forward with this a much better project than would have been done had it gone through no review and and and and basically we get a a box similar to what we see at some other across the street of some
other universities. And this is a completely different project and and we have a great city architect that will that will work with with their architect who's also a very good architect and and and get us a project that we can uh that will be much better and it'll be a corals project not a day county project. >> Thank you.
>> Mr. Mayor, can I just I just want to clarify that um this what is before you today is the um amendments to the the comprehensive plan. So some of what's been discussed is the process which is in the overlay um text amendment which will come back on second reading at a subsequent meeting. I just wanted to put
that out there so people understand the process of why we're talking about this today. Everything Everything while not here today in front of you is part of the recipe that we're trying to bake in regards to the alternative to the RTZ commissioner.
>> I have nothing to say. Thank you. >> Okay, perfect. Um, I'll entertain a motion. >> I'll move it. Second. >> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro? No. >> Commissioner Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Lada. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lago.
>> Can you do me a favor, Madam Director, through the manager, >> I want to make it very clear for the next time that we're here, cuz this has got to come back on second reading, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. I would like for you to provide, please, if we're not provided with this alternative
what we're facing right now on this project, what if it went straight to the county? What would it look like? What would the setbacks be? because I want people to know when you vote no on this what the options are because it's very simple to vote no in public and then go
out there and say hey I voted no voted no but if it didn't go to the city how would then RTZ project looked here so I want people to understand the depth and the breath of what a no vote and what that type of just lack of true understanding of what we're
trying to do here would would result in if I may my vote is yes Mr. manager. Yes. >> Uh, mayor, it would be a box with no setbacks. >> Okay. >> And and uh taller uh and with with uh with no architectural uh constraints.
And by the way, but with that also I would like to see how much of the impact fees we would lose. How much of the art and public places fees that we would lose? What are the uses that can be brought there? Gun stores, pet stores, uh litany of different things that are
allowed in Miami Day County, >> right? >> Versus what are allowed here in the city of Coral Gables. Uh and also the signage. what type of signage would be allowed there that are allowed in Miami date county that are significantly larger than was allowed in Coral Gables. We need to understand and
put it on the record what a no vote means and the work that we've done to bring this in. Okay. Please >> through the mayor. >> Yes. >> I'm going to add to that. >> I think it's important. I'm sorry to give you more work through the manager. I apologize, but I think it's important that people understand that because it's so easy to vote no and just say I voted no. But at the end of the day, you know,
you got to find compromises. Um, also, uh, I think it's important to to note the lack of green space. You're not going to have the 25- foot >> buffer between the neighborhood, the lack of parking requirement, you know, all those things, and the lack of
architectural review. City manager, you're right. It it was a box, and it was it was not just a box. It was an ugly box. >> Right. Um just want to state that I'm I'm disappointed in the um in the in the final uh tally
of the vote. So I just want to stay on the record that commissioner Castro your vote no on this item to me smacks of uh you're supportive of further home erosion, home rule erosion. You're you're in furtherance of the RTZ. It's likely you be f in furtherance of live
local. It's it it all smacks to me of being consistent that that which overdevelopment manifests and looks like is what a no vote today is encouraging. And the mayor's request that there be a visual
created to show what it would look like if this went to RTZ and not through the Coral Gable standards is uh is necessary because we're going to have this continuation, more discussion, more opportunities to express either your
four Coral Gable standards or your four overdevelopment and further home rule erosion. So I just want to express my disappointment because what I would want is unonymity in the vote to send a message that the
commission uh on the dis today speaks with one voice on something that stands for what supports what makes Coral Gables unique and in the best interest of the residents. >> Thank you. Uh moving on to item E4.
E4 is an ordinance of the city commission amending chapter 74 traffic and vehicles of the city code creating article 10 golf carts authorizing and regulating the operation of golf carts on designated city streets providing for severability clause repeal provision codification and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you very much uh as a sponsor of
this item. Uh thank you Mr. City attorney for being for being here and for working with me and obviously your team. Um I would love to take credit for this because it's something I've been meaning to do for a long time but I got to give credit where credit is due. This was brought to me by a gentleman by the name of JC Padong. Uh he lives very
close to my house. Um I don't own a golf cart. I own a moch. It's a little bit different. Uh very similar intent. Uh but I think that this is a great idea. I think it's a great idea to make our our community a a golf community, a community that is um that is uh again a
little friendlier, a little slower in pace u but adheres to safety. Uh, and I think that this could be potentially something that brings our community together. So, Mr. City Attorney, what do we got? >> Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners, uh, for the record,
assistant city attorney Gus Bios. So, as the, uh, title indicates, basically, this will allow for golf carts on designated roads. Designated roads as currently being proposed is any road that has a speed limit of 25 mph or less. So typically our residential
streets um as you indicated a moch or other LSVs are still treated by the state and those can drive on streets up to 35 mph. This is not in any way trying to change that. That is controlled by the state. This would create a
particular process for golf carts that you'd have to be inspected. We we're going to work on that process. We have a meeting coming up internally. We do need to iron out some specifics on how we're going to do that, whether how the label is going to look and the process of how we're going to inspect it. Uh, but these
golf carts will require all the safety equipment typically commonly found in LSVS, meaning uh turn signals, seat belts, uh, horns, signaling devices, things of that nature. Uh, pretty much everything you would find on
an LSV, but without the requirements of the state, and you don't need to put a license plate. you would need to go through the city through their process and you'd be issued a decal that you'd have to place on your on your vehicle. And once again, you are limited to the roads that we designate. If you have any
questions or comments, I'm happy to commission any changes >> as far as insurance. What is the requirement that we have on insurance? >> So, currently I haven't seen any insurance requirements. Um, the person that is driving does need to be a licensed individual. So, we're not going
to have, you know, 13, 14 year olds driving these. you do need to have a license. Um, I can look into it and see if there's any insurance requirements. Typically, the golf cart insurance for a golf cart is very economical because it's not
designed to be driven on the road. Um, so once you start driving on the road, I think it it it changes the type of insurance that you may require, but I can look into that prior to second reading and we can come back with some further additional information. >> Yeah, I'm not sure if Kiskane require I believe they do have an insurance
requirement in Kiskain. I'll make sure >> I just we don't want to I wouldn't want to give an approval for something if we don't have a method that should be required for some sort of protection for not just the person driving the passengers but also the other drivers
that are motorists that are on the road as well. >> Understood. >> Okay. Um again if you read through it obviously we've all read through the legislation. it. Everything that applies basically to a car applies to this, you know, in regards to signage, in regards to making sure that we abide by all the
laws that are in place. So, um, I want to thank you for allowing me to bring this forward and I think this is just again another another benefit in for the community. Uh, and hopefully people start using it. I see it. I see more and more people uh, engaging in in the use
of how do you call it? >> Not golf carts, >> low speed vehicles. lowspeed vehicles. >> I I typically drive one to work on most days. Whenever it's raining, I drive my truck, but if not, I >> I love it. >> I drive an LSV. >> I love it. >> That's why I drive today. >> Perfect. Good stuff.
>> I'll move it. >> Second. >> Mr. Clerk, any any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay, perfect. Murray Cruz. Good afternoon, Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. I've never been recently to Kisc to
Kibisk, so I don't know how they do it. But I can tell you that since I go down to Dixie and 144th at least two or three times a week because I pick up
the old bread to take to Camilo's house. I encounter a lot of golf carts, a lot of young children riding on golf carts and I think that if nothing else, we
need to have a requirement that they have to wear a helmet because I have seen many accidents almost happening because kids fall off. And I know that you're talking about seat belts, but if you have had young kids, there comes a
time when they know how to take it off. Okay? They know how to undo it. And when somebody, and you're talking about driver's license, a 17 uh year old has a driver's license and they get their friends on the golf cart. And I'm going
to tell you, it becomes really interesting when you're driving down there and seeing all this packed and you're telling me the numbers. They're going to be stopping people right and left because I've never seen a golf cart
that is not full of kids. And that's what happens down on uh what is it? Uh Palmetro Bay. Um all that area. I I witness that two three times a week. And my concern is we
should make sure that the kids are safe. And the fact that, you know, one of my granddaughters is is 17 and she drives, but she takes her sister with her and anybody else, nobody else because we don't allow friends, only sister
maximum. But kids are kids and I think it's up to us to make sure that they're protected. >> Mr. Clerk, >> that's it, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, we'll close. We have a motion and a second. >> Yes, sir. >> Commissioner Castro,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> yes. Uh, we have a time certain 12:00. Would you like to take a fiveminut break or would you like to go on to E6? Five minute break would be essential.
>> Yeah. >> Five minute break. It is item E6. Are we waiting for the city attorney? I think she would read the ordinance into the record. >> Yes. That's the last page.
>> You have the >> Okay. If maybe we want to take it off and give the floor to the city attorney so she could read the ordinance into the record, please. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Sorry, my apologies. Um, we are on E6. It's an ordinance of the city commission
amending chapter 2 administration article 5 conflict of interest and code of ethics of the Coral Gable city code to create section 2-309 anti- kickback and post approval transparency requirements providing supplemental local transparency obligations consistent with chapter 112 Florida
statutes and Miami day county code section 2-11.1 requiring disclosure and public posting of post approval business relationships financial benefits gifts and campaign political committee contributions connected to projects that appear before the city commission requiring sworn affidavit from developer applicants and
mandatory post certificate of occupancy sworn certifications by elected officials providing implementation requirements enforcement repeater provisions ofability clause codification and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you very much for reading the ordinance into the record. I have worked
on this for the last several months. I've made several revisions to it um that the city attorney's office requested that maybe they would feel a little more comfortable with the language on this ordinance. Also, to go ahead and make this a little simpler for my colleagues, I went ahead and I made a
presentation to clarify what this is and what this isn't. So, let's go ahead and start off with that anti- kickback and post approval transparency ordinance. Why this exists right now? Transparency effectively ends at the vote. What
happens after a project is approved while it is still active? It can visibly it could invisibly it could be invisible to residents. This is where influence can occur. This ordinance closes that gap.
Okay. The gap today the project appears the commission votes. Project is approved. Project moves into permitting and construction. Well, after that point, financial relationships can form, contracts can be issued, and contributions can be made.
The problem, this is a very simple example. An elected official can vote on a project today, later receive work, services, or contributions tied to that project. Even if the agreement was verbal, the benefit appears after the vote. Residents may never see the
connection. This is exactly the loophole. Okay. What this ordinance does, this ordinance extends transparency beyond the vote. It creates a disclosure window that covers a first commission
appearance, approval, permitting and construction and until certificate of of occupancy is achieved. If any financial ties arise during that period, they must be disclosed. Okay. how the process works. The project
appears. So then there's a covered project identified. Project approved. Disclosure obligations begin. Post approval financial tie occurs. Sworn disclosure required. Disclosure filed. Public and searchable.
Final CO is issued. Certification is required. Now when there is a final co to the project, every elected official that is serving at that time will get a disclosure certifying that at no point
of this project you had any financial ties to this project whether you voted for the project or not. That way we're closing any l loophole and we're providing as much transparency as possible to the people we serve, our
residents. What must be done and disclosed? Construction or development work, permitting and consulting services, legal or attorney services, professional contracts, gift or financial benefits, campaign or pack contributions. Nothing
is prohibited. Everything is visible. who it applies to, elected officials, developers, and applicants. Both sides need to disclose. Both are accountable. Well, this is not. This ordinance does not ban lawful work. It does not ban
contributions. And this is not accusing anyone. It simply adds transparency. Bottom line, transparency should not end at the vote. It benefits or money follows an approval. residents should
know. My ask this closes a real loophole. If we support accountability, this should be an easy yes. And that is the end of the presentation. Do my colleagues have any questions regarding this legislation?
Anyone? Okay. So then are we ready for public comment? >> Mr. Clerk, public comment. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. First speaker, Miss Maria Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz 1447 Miller wrote in
this age of transparency and uh what's the other word that we use? You know, I'm I'm not feeling well today. My mind is kind of confusing. Um
I think that this proposal, this um idea, if nothing else, will take away all the rumors, all the innuendos,
all the stuff that we hear. And we meaning the people, the residents, the voters after a project gets approved. And then the story begins.
Uh, did you know that even though he or she voted no, then they had a a contract to do something in the building? Did you know that they were hired for this or that? There's nothing wrong with getting hired. There's nothing wrong with
working with the developers, but people need to know to avoid the appearance of something being wrong. This is it. If there's nothing wrong, there's nothing wrong. There should be no issue saying it or or writing like we do the the
finance reports at the end of each year. You know, if you don't have anything to hide, what's wrong with going along with something like this to avoid the appearance that there's secrecy, that there's things being kept away from people knowing, etc., etc. That's my
point. There's nothing to hide. There's nothing wrong with doing what you're entitled to do in your professional life, but let the people know so there they don't think that you're doing it the sneaky way. That's it.
>> Barbara Kasanova. >> Good afternoon, Mayor Lago and commissioners. Um, my name is Barbara Kasanova. I'm national secretary uh and state chair of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. Um, I'm here today to
applaud Commissioner Castro for her uh her courage of conviction uh and character for introducing this ordinance. Um, I would like to ask you to support this. This uh Miami Dade County has been plagued and its uh
municipalities has been plagued with a culture of corruption uh and misinformation for decades. And this would be an incredible first step here in the city of Coral Gables to developing a first
step in developing trust, transparency, and uh reducing costs overall of development and livability in Coral Gables. Um I propose that I would ask that you all
vote in favor of this. This would uh make the city of Coral Gables a shining example to all other municipalities in the county of accountable and transparent good
governance. And I can't see any reason why any of you would have an objection to voting for this. Thank you very much. Jackson Holmes. Greetings. Uh, uh, Jackson Rip Homes, 35 Sidonia Avenue.
Uh, first of all, I I want to, uh, share with you, um, my good news of having just spoken with former city clerk, uh, Walt Fulman. Thanks, Um, Walt has had
some serious medical uh challenges. Uh, he's overcoming them and he wanted me to tell everyone hello. Um, I I I I really love him. So, I'm
going to suggest that we invite him to come see us. Um, now on on this uh ordinance, I think it's long overdue. I support it. Uh, we we need uh to raise
we we need to raise the ethics in our city. Thank you. Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> You're the mayor. I think I think the reality of life right here is that a lot
of things happen after a vote that a lot of residents are not aware of and it is not very simple to go ahead and make those connections. Some elected officials have packs, some elected officials get campaign contributions
after a vote, maybe. I don't know, and I'm not accusing anyone, but let's say you have um a verbal agreement, maybe before a project comes before you. Not accusing anyone. I'm just saying that's a great possibility. And then when the
construction phase starts or maybe permitting since it's my field, you get a contract awarded after the vote has already taken place. So I think it's extremely imperative that there is transparency especially in our website in the way that I propose
this um when it comes to contracts, compensation, um political contributions and um it should all be in one place for transparency purposes so that we see what elected official has what
connections with projects that we're voting on before or after right now that is not happening. So I I want to give like and it's not to pick on anyone honestly but I want to give live
examples to why I was encouraged to draft this ordinance. So Billy, if you please would do me the honor. There we go. Okay. So this right here comes from Coral Gable's first. This is
from 2022 and these are the developers for the thesis and the lifetime building. You can see how a resident would like to know that the mayor is receiving contributions from buildings that he has
approved or he has voted on. Next, this is still from Coral Gables first 2022 Garden of Our Lord. This is Sergio Pino. May he rest in peace. This is another attorney that represents
developments location ventures. This is Richie Kapoor. Multiple development controversies and again a $10,000 contribution to Coral Gable's first the pack of the
mayor. Not saying there's anything wrong with this at all. I'm just saying this is all a public record and it should be easy access to our residents. Let's continue. Agave the Plaza Coral gave us 2022.
I mean, you don't have to write it all down. It's it's it's on the record. 15,000. And trust me, these are just one transactions. But because if you really go down all the donations, it is repeated and repeated contributions
from projects that come before us. So my legislation in actuality has a 5-year limit after the CO has been obtained. Pon Park Residences, this is something that came before us. Funny enough, April
15, 2025, a $10,000 contribution. And I mean, there is so many more, but I did not even feel comfortable putting um more people up there. So,
a vote no to this would be continuing. No accountability. I hope my colleagues indulge me in voting yes and I will move this ordinance. Hopefully I will get a second.
>> I'll second. >> Anybody to say anything? >> I have a few comments. You know, sometimes what is written, what is not written as is as important as what is written. And what's not included in here
are measures where someone brings forth a piece of legislation that encourages more local in our community. There's not going to be a co on that type of legislation.
It will encourage more development in our city to the detriment of our residents. It helps a developer outside of the city that would never fall under the loophole of this particular thing, this particular stat uh ordinance.
Um the language is vague. Practicalitywise, it doesn't really work. I'll give you an example. The Bill Valencia project not far from
the city hall still doesn't have a CO. It was passed roughly 10 years ago, I think, when it was passed. Some of the members of that commission are in Portugal. They're retired. They're not sitting here. The
information is really useless for anybody, you know, as far as a resident. What is public record is what you showed. Anybody can access what was denote uh
donated to Coral Gables first. There's on a legal basis there's a lot of problems the way this is written. knowledge is not clearly in here. It says it shall be subject to prosecution.
That's a discretionary decision by the uh state attorney as to whether something is going to be subject to prosecution or the eth ethics board. um it just doesn't work the way it's written and it completely misses the
boat on legislation that will benefit um individuals in their businesses that are sitting here on the dis. So I don't think it uh accomplishes uh the purpose of transparency.
Um if there is something that uh the manager feels that we can do better on our website to make um donations uh readily available for the residents to access um we can do that
but after the vote no all the state legislation points to vote you know donations that impact a vote not something after the fact that may come in 5 years, 10 years, those COs
are are not even issued yet. There's TCOs pending, but no COS. So, I don't think this is the vehicle to to accomplish what you're doing or trying to accomplish. And in fact, I think it misses the majority of concerns. I mean,
and I I noted that, you know, although you you try to direct it at the commission, you also add the mayor. The mayor is part of the commission. So reading between these tea leaves, I I see mentions of high value watches and clocks and similar goods. Um
see screams more politics than it does of actually trying to provide residents the information they need. I think we can accomplish that through the city's website and making that an easy click for people to access what the donations are.
>> Anything else before I speak? I'll just say briefly that you know while the the goal of transparency is always going to be laudable commissioner this seems like a great solution to a problem I've never heard of a problem that after having campaigned for over a year and sitting
here since April I've never heard anybody say that we need to add more legislation add more uh legal burden or or or even costs onto uh businesses or additional requirements on to people
who are serving in a in a public service capacity. I just don't see the need for since we already have existing laws that cover uh things that you're concerned about which is enforcement and prevention of kickbacks. Right. So if what the real goal here is to make it
easier for people to see um exposacto a vote and whether there's some type of remuneration opportunity that comes the way of an elected official who sat in during a vote no matter which way I suppose they voted.
There's got to be a hundred ways that you can do that and the may the vice mayor just mentioned one you know that maybe we can make things a little bit easier. you went to um public records to create your slideshow. It's not that it's not out there for those who are interested, but I think
it's because it's available publicly that um there there's not an outcry or a need that I've been able to identify from anybody that would require us to enter into wade into this world where um
you're now requiring people to to swear that they did or that they did not receive something or an opportunity was presented to them. Um, it's burdensome to the elected official. I don't think it it advances in any real way
transparency. I don't think that it um is necessarily a smart idea to shift liability onto the individual when it's the government that's in the investigatory and in the enforcement stage with its existing laws to prevent
uh what I assume is the goal of of your proposed legislation uh to have a chilling effect on people who would be taking advantage of their elected position. So I don't feel there's a need to put it simply to fix something that ain't broke. So you don't have my
support on this, but I always commend you for for trying to think outside the box. But again, perfect solution to a problem that doesn't exist in my view >> through the mayor >> if I may. Would you like to say anything? >> You want to hear >> for me? >> Yeah.
>> Okay, perfect. All right. So, I wish our friends with the Republican party, I hope that before they leave, as a Republican, you read the memo that I put together. It'll give you a little bit more insight and definition of who you're here supporting.
What we have here is a Trojan horse. We've had it since the beginning, and it's a shame. I'm going to go through a few things. Madam City Attorney, how would you defend this legislation? >> What is in place?
>> So, mayor, you know, the we we've gone through this this latest version that we received um prior to this commission meeting um with the commissioner and we made given the time that we had, we made some suggestions to make it to clarify some of the definitions further. Um,
I've told the commissioner that if this were to be approved on first reading, I we would have to go through it again to kind of make sure that it's more clear because there's some areas that still require some further clarification. Um, I I think that this still addresses things that that are probably already
required in a different format. Um, even though it's it adds kind of like a local requirement, but in a different format they're already required such as diff gift disclosures, etc. Um, but really I think it's it's up to the commission to decide as a matter of policy whether it's something that you all need to do.
>> So, as you've heard, most of this already covered and required as per our standards today. Well, this is political theater over and over again. An effort to smear in an effort to run for office from the same person who doubled their
salary without having input from the residents. That's corruption. That vote was traded to get rid of the manager. That's a fact. Let's go over the um let's go over the
contributions again. If you'd be so kind, put them up. >> Lily >> cable TV, if you could put up the Let's start with go to the first one. There we go. >> Lifetime Building. I voted no on that
project. Okay, >> keep moving forward. >> What about the thesis? >> I voted in favor. I think it was a great project and it was and it's a much better project that would have been allowed there by the RTZ >> and and every I'm the I'm the one I'm I'm the one that's getting to speak. >> I'm not I'm not going to be I'm not
going to be cross-examined by you. >> Okay. >> Okay. I haven't voted on a project with the garden of our lord. There's no project. I can accept contributions. By the way, all this information you see here is 100% public record. So, moving forward,
>> an incredible attorney who does business here in the city and across the board. >> Go ahead. >> You want to talk about this one, >> ma'am? >> Yeah. I'm allowed to vote in favor or against any project. Location Ventures,
Rishi Kapoor, I voted no on this project. As a matter of fact, I recused myself four times on this project. That's so I do want to talk about it. I voted zero cuz I didn't vote. >> I leased this gentleman one of my office spaces
and I put that on the record that day and I said, "I can't vote for this product." That's what transparency is. I'm going to tell you now what transparency is not and that's what you're doing. Keep going. Agave, I voted no on this project.
That's the largest project in the city's in the city's history. Okay. And I voted in favor of this project. I think it's a great project for the city. I have no issues with it. Okay. Moving on. I have a quick question for you since we have a Republican party here.
>> Absolutely. One of the items that we have before you that we'll be hearing later is an inspector general. She voted against an inspector general. That is the ultimate form of transparency. When you have somebody who's here who could investigate not only an issue but a person, why would you vote against an
inspector general? I'm the sponsor of that legislation before that was voted down and I was and her reasoning was it just cost too much. But at the end of the day, she can raise salaries for the entire commission, not by 10 or 15%. But by 101%. >> Do you want
>> So I'm not I'm not done yet. >> These are all public record. This is clear. Okay. I don't have any issues whatsoever. The blogs, the Herald, you've thrown at me every single time. But let's talk about an example that would fall under what is
being proposed today. Um maybe one of the managers or the city attorney could help me. What was the name of the project in front of Nean Marcus? In front of Nean Marcus. >> Uh was that the Avenue or Aurora or the Aurora project?
>> Well, that project came before us. The Avenue is a project that required zero parking and they were going to lease parking from Merrick Park. You voted in favor of that project and your client is Merrick Park.
At that point, you voted in favor of that project and your client is Merrick Park. So that would be that would be Hold on. You're you're giving you're giving the avenue zero parking. Zero parking
from Merrick Park, which is a city-owned building, which you're doing business in. We own that facility. It's a lease with the city. That would be exactly what you're saying here right now, what you did. But let's go a step further. We all know what you do for a business.
To beat the ethics issue, you started ME Expediters of Coral Gables, which is still in the same office that you're in, same cell phone, same email, same everything. And you run permits in other cities with
the same situation here, the same thing. And you've done hundreds of permits. You've enriched yourself. As a matter of fact, your mother ran the Agave project and made over a million dollars on that project. and you were involved in that project as a permanent expediter. You're proposing legislation that is
only serves one purpose and that is political theater like everything else that you do in an effort to get elected. Should put the same effort in serving this community, not just doing political theater and wasting time. That's my that
my advice to you. And you should have voted in favor of an inspector general. You shouldn't have raised your salary. You shouldn't have given yourself a car allowance. You shouldn't have given yourself an expense account and you shouldn't have brought an individual here named Amos Roas that you paid $365,000 who is not only incompetent but is not
qualified to serve as a project manager. And you did it without a process in the middle of a commission meeting. You could have voted no and that would have put the city in a much better position, not in the position you are. You also approved the cola for $20 million which in debts the city to almost $2 million a
year for the next 10 years. Call it what you want, but at the end of the day, it is a massive albatross around the city's neck. So, this is absolutely ridiculous and I spent too much time on this. It's a waste of time and it's a waste of
effort. You've been here 3 years and the only piece of legislation you've written is door hanger legislation. Nothing of significant value or actual quality here in the city. So, um it's pretty clear. So, um, just
>> and I I appreciate I was able to hear everybody and kind of get where everybody's mind is. Um, one of the first items that I put on the agenda when I got elected was an item not close to as thorough as this, but it
was about just adding an extra layer of information and accessibility for the information. Yes, it is information that could be publicly available, but as a resident, you shouldn't have to go through 20 different steps, 20 different
websites, 20 different departments to try to get the information you're trying to get, especially if it is publicly available information. Now, to me, the back and forth is not necessary. My focus is on what we're trying to
accomplish. And I think what we're trying to accomplish is the transparency of the information. And I I I have to disagree with you, Commissioner. I have heard concerns about this issue. And that's the reason that I put it on the agenda 2 and a half years ago. And
that's the reason I'm supportive of this today. There is a concern about residents about what happens after the vote. Uh obviously before the vote it's a little more difficult, you know, but we've seen it not just in South Florida,
throughout the country where people are gaming the system. And the way that they're gaming the system is by getting the kickbacks after the vote when the eyes are no longer on them. And I think if the information is already out there,
there really is no reason why we shouldn't be supportive of legislation. I had discussed with the city attorney. I knew she had concerns and I think their concerns it could be worked out between first and second reading. Um yes my question m mayor you said that it's
not formulated correctly. What changes would you make to improve it? I guess would be my question to you. >> There are way too many flaws with this legislation to vote in favor of it. Number one, it
is publicly available information. that I believe our city can make it more accessible for folks by being able to click on it. Uh the timing uh to have provide something on a co basis is
useless information at that point. What matters is when people vote. Okay? such as disclosing that you have clientele that have live local projects and you do permitting for them. When you propose
legislation and it actually will help your clientele out, you should be telling the community about that. It's a dangerous dangerous tight rope that you walk when you're proposing something that endures to your benefit, but it's
outside the city, so no one gets to see it. So, this does not accomplish the transparency goal that people really want. I think we need to, you know, we have an ethics code. We have financial disclos disclosure laws that we have to
file thing things for. I mean, uh, access. What What's access? Okay, we have criminal laws that take care of knowledge and kickbacks and and so forth. And the US attorney's office does an excellent job of that. We have
historical cases in which you city of Halyia where somebody took a kickback and as a result, the United States Attorney's Office made a change to the legislation. So, it didn't have to be a quid proquo for a vote on an item.
There are existing laws. But on top of all that, you this semi useless information because it's going to be so dated it won't be really useful for the voters is the cost to the city. I know the memo says it's nothing, but let's be honest
with ourselves. How much taxpayer dollar time is going to have to be spent? contacting elected officials who are not even sitting anymore by the time the CO issues.
Bill Valencia is a good example of that. This anti-kickback measure doesn't accomplish the purpose that the title of the legislation states. I think before you do this,
okay, you first have to be aware of what laws exist in the books and the best way to draft things is by consulting with the city attorney ahead of time. Say, "Listen, I'm concerned about this issue. How can we accomplish
tightening up things?" And it might be just as simple as adding a button to the website for residents like I asked staff to do for development projects right after I was elected. Easy way. There you can see little pictures
of the development cuz I was frustrated. I couldn't do it anymore. Somehow it got eliminated off the city's website. And now you can see the building. You can look at the plans. You can look at all that kind of stuff because we added a button to the website. What was the cost
of adding that button to the website? Minimal for the IT department because the information already existed on the back end. You just couldn't find it. So that's that's part of my problem with the legislation. >> So I think that you're I also think you're also forgetting two things that we're not talking about enough.
You have an a sitting elected official to my right, Commissioner Castro, who has a huge amount of developer clients. And her biggest client, one of the biggest clients is the owner of Bar Harbor Shops.
So, she comes out in favor of Live Local, the only elected official in the entire state of Florida that's come out in favor of Live Local. Completely in favor of it. and she comes out in favor of it and says, "Hey, we should increase the median income so we make
development, you know, more accessible." The commission, which votes 4-1 against her, tries to explain to her and says, you know, that if you do that, you're only going to promote development in the city of Coral Gables, even more. She can't figure it out. She doesn't understand it. Three days later in the Miami Herald comes out an op-ed from
that developer who she has almost 60 permits with that she's making money on. By the way, they weren't permits of clients within. They were actually Bar Harbor shops stating that he supports her legislation to make to make it easier. It's a fact.
It's all there. You can shake your head. The Commission on Ethics says that you cannot do what you're doing with ME expediters and coral gables. What do you do? MEED. You know, you do you build me expediters of Coral Gables and you give it to your partner and now she runs it in the same office with the same phone number.
It's a shadow. When you look at when you look at what I've done here in the past, okay, everything is accessible. Everybody who gives me a donation, you go look at the pack. The pack has my name on it. Or you look at on you look it on at the county website. It's very simple. I took it one step further.
Every single item that you see on agenda has a lobbyist name on it. I wrote that piece of legislation. It requires you as a lobbyist to put your information there. So you know who the lobbyist is. You can easily look it up and say did that person donate to the to the
individual here or not. So we can go back and forth and argue about this. It's all political theater at the end of the day. It's not about it's not about any of this stuff. It's about as simple as just trying to smear another person in an effort to stop
them. But at the end of the day, it'll all be addressed at the ballot box like it's been addressed before >> through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Okay. Well, let's go ahead and start number one with the inspector general since you were bringing that up. The inspector general, I went ahead and I had concerns of how much it was going to
cost the city. Okay. And my recommendation to the inspector general was to send it to the charter review committee. So, no, I wasn't voting no for the inspector general, as much as you love to say that was the case. In fact, what I just did right now is that
I went ahead and I moved the recommendations of the charter review committee, which is supporting the inspector general at a limited capacity, having a lot of fiscal responsibility. That's what a good commissioner does. Number two, okay, permit expediter for
the plaza. Let me just inform you because you love to fill your mouth with I'm a permit expediter. I have practiced psychology my whole life mayor. Okay. While you said I was a permit expediter, I was treating children and young adults
with de developmental dem developmental disabilities for over 12 years. So no, I was not a permit expediter for the plaza. And please refrain from mentioning my mom. May she rest in peace. Don't mess with her.
Okay. Number two, me of Coral Gables is not mine. Okay. And it does not have the same phone number. And to put on the record, I have no indirect or direct financial implication or compensation for that
business. I know this is all in a measure to try to bring me down. I guess I'm a huge threat to you, which is such a shame. you should just focus on you instead of me. You wake up every day thinking about me and posting about me. Now, as far as um Ball Harbor,
that's very interesting because I haven't replied to that and I wasn't going to because I didn't think it was appropriate, but I really wish I really wish this video goes out to who is it that made that article, Matthew or or Michael? I don't know. Someone from the
Whitman family. I want to put on the record, I've never met the individual, number one. I've never spoken to the individual, number two. Okay? And shops at B Harbor, they were my client three years ago. Okay? So, if I know now you're looking to see what projects I
have because you're trying to attack my livelihood, which you've been doing since day one. Okay? The projects that I have in Ball Harbor are subpermits. You keep on writing notes. This is on the record. You don't have to write notes. Okay? They're from tenant
projects of a mall. Keep on looking for ways to attack me. You just have to understand one thing. I am nowhere close to being like you. Nowhere close. Okay? There's one huge difference. And I'm not even going to say it not to get censured honestly because that's
that's crazy. Now, I'm going to go ahead and address something Commissioner Lada mentioned and he said it's so easy to put on a website that he doesn't understand. I worked on this legislation. It's like seven pages. If you go down to the last pages, you're going to see that the whole point of
this is to put it on a website so that people have easier access to the contributions. I went through your contributions, but you know what? You've been here so little that you really haven't voted on projects, even though a lot of your contributions were from developers. So, I I wasn't even going to
put you on the spot, but it's really amazing that almost $800,000 come from developers. No correlation there, just an interesting point. Now, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, um, if you go through the legislation again, you will notice
that there's different points of disclosure that the last loophole to be closed is the CO. Okay? But during the whole process there's different points in which either the elected official or the developer or the applicant have to
fill out a affidavit or a disclosure so that there is no loophole to to transparency basically. But the whole point of this is to put all the information on our website. You could look it up by the developer. You
could look it up by the elected official. I see no reason whatsoever why this commission should object to that. This is just letting residents know, hey, I'm getting this much money from this project that is before the
commission. That's not a big deal. If you are an honest elected official, just vote yes. Stop putting excuses. This was very, very detailed. Very detailed. Now, if you have some concerns with some of the language, you I'll work
with you. I'll absolutely work with you. I'm open to working with you, but to vote no is is really shady. I'm sorry to say. >> If I may respond >> and I'll move it. Well, it's already moved. >> If I may respond, >> um I think we have a first here today
where the word shady has been used in a commission meeting by a person who voted against the inspector general, which is the ultimate measure the ultimate measure of of accountability. Um, let's talk about the inspector general to
remind you and the residents here. Um, when you and commissioner friend said that you didn't want the inspector general because of cost issues, remember commissioner said, "Why don't we go to the county? Let me come back and I'll go to the county." And I, Madam City attorney, do you remember when we went
and spoke to the county attorney and we asked him if we could if we could potentially use uh the county inspector general to lower costs and they came back and it was a fraction of the cost. >> Point of order. Return point of order. Return to the agenda and to the items being discussed. I call for a vote.
>> Ma'am. Ma'am. >> Point of order. >> With all due respect, I let you speak. I didn't interrupt you. >> This is out of the agenda. Okay. >> This is not about the agenda. >> This is this is this does not pertain this I know you want I know you want to get into an argument in an effort for the vlogs,
>> but Commissioner, >> let me finish my statement. This is not a dictatorship. >> Please follow Robert's rules. >> Commissioner, an inspector general. An inspector general. >> An inspector general is not part of the agenda. Point of order. I call >> Commissioner
>> I call for the previous question. >> Commissioner, an inspector general deals with transparency and corruption. you >> can you please explain to the mayor what I have just expressed. >> I think that the commissioner is making
a motion to call the question. So um >> but I'm allowed to finish my sentence. >> No, you're not. >> Yes, I am. >> I I think we need a little review of Robert's rules. I can go ahead and offer that for you. >> Point of order. I'm calling for the previous question. He
>> is out of the actual item agenda we are talking about. >> Yes. Commissioner Castro, let's try and move along, but wouldn't you say that you kicked the door down and off its hinges when you referenced the Inspector General and you said that you even voted
a few moments earlier in the meeting uh in support of what the CRC's proposal was when it came to things like the inspector general. It seems to me the mayor is only responding to the issue you placed squarely before us. I could be wrong, but I think this exactly what you did is you raised the issue of
Inspector General. >> Point of order. I asked for the previous question to be called. >> At the end of the day, let me finish. >> City attorney, can you please intervene? >> It requires a second. It's a motion. Requires a second. >> There's no second. Okay. >> Because I have I have comments myself
that I want to make. >> There's no second. Okay. So, let's just take a step back. Let's calm down and let's do things the right way. Okay, let's go down through the issues. In the inspector general that I profered when you voted no, you said it was cuz
too expensive after you had raised your salary by 101%. And the entire commission, the vice mayor, myself did not want our salaries raised. We voted against the budget and you later used it against us saying that we weren't in support of police and fire. Okay. So,
you're playing a lot of politics and I understand that's the way it works with you, but at the end of the day, you voted against an inspector general. Very clear. Mr. Commissioner Fernandez asked me, "Hey, from what I remember, let's see if we can find a better option." I went
with the city attorney. We spoke to the county. The county says, "You can use our inspector general, slashing the price by almost 50%." We brought it back. You were still against it. Okay, that's number one. In regards to Agave, MEED Expediters was the permit expediter
on that project and it was over a million dollars in fees. Okay. Now, while it may not have the same phone number, it has the same address, ME Expediters and ME Expediters of Coral Gables and it has the same website and it has the same email.
>> Why? >> It doesn't have the same email. >> Yes, it does. Okay. But so I'm I'm that's I'm not done yet. Okay. Now, when you talk about Bar Harbor and you say, "No, no, none of them have to do with the actual entity," that's a lie. They do have to do with the entity. The
majority of them, 95% of them are with the Bah Harbor Shops owner, which came out in support of your legislation for live local where you wanted to increase the reimbursement, which would have hurt our city, and this commission voted 4 to one against you. So, just because you
say something here doesn't mean it's the truth. The facts are the facts. you have a developer, which is your client, came out in support of your legislation. Don't be blind to that. At the end of the day, we may disagree on issues, but at the end of the day, you're you're basically lying on the commission floor. So, this is simple. Bottom line, there's
a there's there's a motion and a second. Commissioner, would you like to say your words? You have a few items you want to discuss. >> Um, just a couple of things. Uh, the inspector general, I spoke with the inspector general and he told me they did not have the bandwidth to take on any additional work. Um, and second, there was a point that was brought up
about not sponsoring enough ordinances and legislation, and I've heard it before. I'm a firm believer in Ronald Reagan's philosophy of the the government that governs best is the government that governs least. The more we overleled legislate our city, the more we over
create ordinances, the more restrictions we're putting on our residents to really affectuate their lives as residents of the city. So that's those are my two points. I would like to move forward just let's conclude this. Let's take a vote and move on to the next item of the agenda. >> So let me answer your question and your
statement about the inspector general. Number one, that's not correct because the city attorney and I spoke. They said they were they had a lot of work. They had a lot of work but that they would accommodate us because we didn't because we were not in a situation where at the end of the day we had an inspector general needing to work on the city
every single day. So it would be as required and that we would address it at that moment, but it was not an issue that they would not help us. Okay. Yeah. So that's number one. Number two, I take pride in the legislation that I write at the end of the day. And as you know,
let's use the let's use the the um the um low speed vehicles that was not brought to me first. That was brought to you. That's just one example. >> Was a conversation we had in your house for 10 years. >> Yeah. But you didn't do anything. But you didn't do anything about it for 3 years. So at the end of the day, I brought it forward and I and if you think that's over legislation, I don't
think it's over legislation. I think it's doing things that are in the benefit of the city. When I bring legislation forward, it serves a purpose. It serves a purpose. It's not about over legislating. I love Ronald Reagan and I appreciate that. And I'm happy that that you've turned and you leave because don't forget the last two years that you were here before there
was a change in administration here on what happened here and how and the behavior that was conducted here. So I'm excited about the fact that you're a peacemaker now and that you want to be a a consensus builder, a bridgebaker. And I love and I love it. I love it. I think it's great. I think it's great. Everybody should turn a new leaf. But at the end of the day, we all know the
beating that I took here and that it was at your hands. >> But we've all taken the beating. The beating went both ways. >> No. No. But the beating you love to give you love to handle. >> No. No. And so do you, >> commissioner. And so we'll agree. We'll agree to disagree on that one. >> Commissioner, we disagree. But at the end of the day, I'm proud that you're up here
>> and you're conducting yourself in a new way. I wish that your colleague that used to follow along with you would do the same thing instead of political theater in an effort to get elected. So, we have a we have a vote. We have a we have a motion and a second, Mr. Clerk. Um, can we have a vote on this, please?
>> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> no. So for the re reasons previously stated and I'm going through this legislation and uh I see many different issues with enforcement uh that this
would be challenged and challengeable and at a substantial cost to taxpayers to try to implement this. >> Commissioner Castro. >> Yes. >> Mayor Logo. >> No, wait. I haven't even finished talking. Give me one moment please.
>> Vice Mayor Ronda Anderson. There is no penalties that we would be implicating as a city. Okay? Everything nothing's being changed as far as that. It goes to the departments it generally goes to. If you keep on going down my legislation,
it clarifies that. Okay. Number two, once again, it's a point of clarification. So, please, Billy, city clerk, I want you to put this on the record and correct the record. Whoever he's talking about, the
developer of Bubble Harbor, is not my client. Number one. Number two, and I'm putting out on the record, I do not receive money from him indirectly or directly. So, if he's
watching this, I suggest since he's dirtying your name that you seek legal repercussion against this individual next to me to my left. My vote is yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> my vote is going to be before I vote cuz again my eyes are not that good. I'm
asking my colleague here. What does that say? Bar Harbor Shops, 420 Lincoln Road. What did I show you? Who owns that? The Whitman family. Correct. >> Who's my client? That is her contract. That is her you know that is stop to be in the construction I'm speaking I'm speaking I know I'm speaking too I'm speaking too you had your moment
construction industry and to try to dirty my name the way that you are doing it every single day you should be ashamed of yourself okay number one you know very well how the construction we'll take a little bit of recess for a break thank you very much we just take lunch >> yeah we take lunch sounds good to me
>> so I do I do have one question >> of the clerk >> who pays for the redaction of documents >> if you're obligated to redact documents the clerk's office >> if it's through a public records request the person requesting it
>> okay >> I think it would be in conjunction with with the requirements of this ordinance is what the the proposal >> in conjunction with it yeah the redaction obligation is upon the >> we would have to do it as part of our job right and it costs money >> all right we will be back in an hour
thank you very All right. Item E5. >> E5 is an ordinance to the city commission providing for text amendments to the city of Coral Gable's official zoning code by amending article 14 process section 14-200 procedures to amend section 14-213.11 adoption hearing to require a
supermajority vote of the city commission for adoption of comprehensive plan map amendments and providing for repeated provision severability clause codification and providing for an effective date. >> Commissioner. >> Yeah. Right. >> Thank you, city attorney for reading this ordinance into the record. This
ordinance is very simple. This is requiring a fourth fifth vote for most of land use um approvals. The this is basically about protecting neighborhoods and quality of life and from permanent land
use changes. Right now, as we speak, a 3-2 vote can go ahead and and change land use. But really, what I'm proposing here is, well, let me just put something into perspective of really what I'm proposing
here. Somebody buys a house, they know exactly that they are buying the house they are buying because of the zoning they are buying it as if they're buying a townhouse, right? But then they want to go ahead and apply for a benefit. What
do I call a benefit? An upzoning. That's not what they bought their house with. They're coming for something more to the city um to require to upzone that property. Now, it is my belief that's not something you're entitled to. That
is something that you apply to and that this commission um approves. So I don't believe that by approving this we are taking a benefit or we are taking rights away from any owner because this is not something you are entitled to. That being said
I believe that we should protect the character of our cities and a fourth fifth vote especially when it comes to development and this is not to make development disappear. This is actually to protect the character of our neighborhoods to make it a little harder
stringent, okay, to keep on upzoning um all our streets. This is just very simple. Hopefully my colleagues can indulge. >> Okay. Um Madam City attorney, before we we have the commission um have
discussion on this matter, what is your opinion on this matter? Um, mayor, as I've I've briefed each of you, I mean, I I have some concerns that it could subject us to a potential challenge and um and there could be an an interpretation that this would be an more restrictive or more burdensome
regulation in our um in our zoning code, which is, as we know, was there's recent legislation from the state that that you know prohibits that. >> Okay. Um do any other cities that you're aware have this sim similar type of legislation in place? Um we we are aware of I I believe it's Miami Beach has
different supermajority requirements for for various um specific um land use changes or changes to their land development regulations. I know city of South Miami also has a supermajority um requirement and and um I believe that one is in their charter. It's a forfeits requirement for changes to their land
development regulations. >> Mr. Manager, what is the what is your opinion of your office? Um, mayor, the administration, we don't support this this uh I I do believe the the commission has worked for many many years on a three fifth vote and I
believe that's that's more appropriate and more in line to what the majority of the cities uh have, which is three-fifths. So, let me tell you where I stand and I'll be very brief so the commission can have their discussion. I think that this is probably one of the most foolish,
ridiculous ideas I've ever heard in my life. And I think it's dangerous. It puts a city in a position where uh we will see legal challenge from every property owner cuz people have property rights. That's number one. Number two, to bring this up again is another
opportunity to grandstand and to political theater in an effort to get an article in one of the ridiculous media outlets that we have here. Why do I say that? Because how can you be in favor of live local and expanding live local
throughout the state of Florida knowing very well that once you bring that legislation forward that live that same legislation will apply to the city of Coral Gables. You cannot say carve Coral Gables out and put more development in other cities even though that was what
was said in the commission meeting. It's absolutely ridiculous and it shows no real understanding of the way that zoning works and and in the least case scenario it's absolute corruption in favor of of doing things for a client.
So at the end of the day at the end of the day uh this makes absolutely no sense. It's again more political grandstanding, more political theater, and it's gotten so tiresome over these past few years to have to deal with this when there's actually nothing positive
coming forward. Um, at the end of the day, >> through the mayor, >> yes, >> let me tell you my concerns u before we move further on this. We're in 2026.
year after I got elected that first year, we had RTC come forward. County doesn't care about what our zoning laws say, what our comprehensive plan says,
it gets resoned. Live local had amendments proposed in the last uh legislative session that would have allowed live local projects on multif
family and special use properties. I don't think that's something that we want to encourage to happen, but it very well could happen if we start making it more difficult
for people to be able to move forward on on projects. I'd rather deal with it in our zoning code as it's an MF uh uh property than have some exterior force that doesn't live
here or work here change our zoning to the point that we lose control of our city. Bert Harris is a much broader, stronger law, and I've distributed this
article during the last election cycle than ever existed in years past. So, at the time that the comprehensive plans were changed in South Miami and in other municipalities,
the strong Harris law that exists now didn't exist. So the legal interpretation is going to be based upon how we changed things from one point. So these are my property rights now. How has the city of Coral Gables taken them
away by making it so much more difficult for me be able to get a zoning change. So you have to look at these things in context. >> Commissioner, >> this is why I feel it's a bad idea. Commissioner, on that point, we've already had a Bert Harris case here in the city that the city attorney can can
address >> where we lost a few million dollars in that case, correct? >> Years ago, >> I think that was before my time though, mayor. >> It was, but we lost a Bird Harris case here u years ago. So, um again, >> and the zoning >> and look, >> zoning had to go up on that one.
>> But look what we've seen. Look what we've seen right now in regards to preeemption. We saw preeemption in regards to historic properties in the flood zone. you saw preeemption in regards to trees in your own not in the cities right away
in your own property where now it's been significantly reduced the ability for the city to control whether you can cut a tree down or not. So, it's just very simple to say, "Hey, let's just pass this law and then when you're marred in litigation
and when you're preempted like we were with Live Local, why was why were we preempted with Live Local? What was the point of Live Local was to make it easier to develop projects? I mean, am I is can we can do we have consensus in that or no?"
Absolutely. Right. So when we have one member of this commission advocating for live local saying we need more live local. We need to increase the reimbursement. What's going to happen is more live local in our community. That's the fact. That's those are facts.
Those are I mean you can dispute it all you want but those are facts. You can giggle. You can laugh. You can do all but those are facts. I received innumerable amount of phone calls from people that could not believe that that was even proposed from the city corables.
So my point is that live logo and the RTZ are preeemptions that take away our powers to be able to control our future in regards to zoning. Let me give you an example. The Codina building here, it's 17 ft
taller than what's allowed by the code. What did we negotiate? We slashed the density by 50%. Is that fair, Mr. Manager? >> Yes. >> Madam Zoning Director? >> Yes. >> 50%. >> That's correct. >> So about >> about And we got a park out of it in the
corner, >> right? >> Yes. 10,000 ft. >> 10,000 foot park in the corner. We made a negotiation. So the unit count was slashed by half. They didn't get any additional F or square footage, but they needed those 17 ft one one foot per
floor to give a more amenatized in the sense of a more beautiful product to to hopefully be more appealing to renters in that building. You know what? We decided that was a good idea for the city. We want a higherend building, less units, higherend building with a park in
the corner. What have we done over the last four years, 5 years? We've grown from having one open space in the downtown to having now almost seven open spaces that are forthcoming. But we control the zoning code so that we can have a negotiation. When it comes
to the RTZ and the live logo, we don't control anything. So this is the type of situation that comes in and pushes that type of preeemption even further where people come together, they go to Tallahassee and they preempt this type of
legislation. not thoughtful legislation. I think it's actually in my opinion legislation that hurts the city because it exposes us to litigation. >> Mr. Manager, >> um the local mayor goes to the highest
highest uh the height that the city can go to, which is 190.5. It also inc has unlimited density and and it also has an F of of five or more. Uh my concern is that as we as
municipalities get more and more restrictive, the state is going to preempt more and more and we have to be very very careful that we don't have we don't have more RTZ from the county. We don't have expand it could be expanded RTZ because right now it's a quarter mile. It's quarter mile to half a mile
depending on on it. They could expand it to a mile. They can expand to two miles. Um, and also the the live local can be uh even made even more restrictive as far as what the cities can do. So, it's a I have a a concern that if we if the
municipalities overdue some of these issues that we we're going to and generally what happens with with the state, it doesn't go to the middle. It goes way to the other side. and and and that's that's a big concern that I have with with uh with uh going too far as
far as uh the uh the zoning is concerned. having a four-fifths would be a supermajority for that and and it's it's it's concerning as to what's happening now and what can come out of Tallahassee this year and and and in the following years
>> through the mayor >> before would you like to say anything commissioner commissioner lot anything else where we like to speak >> okay commissioner lot anything >> sure sure um you know and I I think this
one is is uh is is somewhat easy, you know, to come down on to to to oppose. And the mayor said it, the vice mayor said it very very well. Um I'm going to I'm going to try maybe spin it around a
little bit because it seems like it's the same theme and it's playing itself out over and over again. This is somewhat like a Chinese finger trap, right? you know, like the more you pull, the tighter it gets on its face. You you
said this is something that will I think you said something to the effect of like this will protect against land use um zoning changes by making it a super majority as if the premise is any land use change is bad and any land use
change must be stopped. That's kind of what I think I heard from the earlier version of the P&Z in delaying the process in opposing anything that's seemingly development but the result of such efforts is to
actually open the door to out of control development certainly to remove Coral Gable's standards from a project which only now we've been made aware in the case of uh the mark that We pulled it back from the abyss, right? I mean, it
was a Hail Mary that was connected, but that's where we were heading. And this kind of legislation, similar to the other one that you had proposed, makes it more attractive for the developer because you just keep showing
the developer there's an easier and cheaper way to buy Coral Gables. This may be inadvertent at best and that's why I'm trying to sort of take the time to explain this to you the the the movement here and I certainly hope it's
not something that's deliberate because that would be decidedly in favor of the interests of the developers whether they be in the city or outside of the city because it won't make a difference. The RTZ won't discriminate. Live local won't discriminate. That's preeemption and
that's erosion of home rule. And we can't show the door to those two avenues by making it more difficult to do, which is much more adequately and appropriately governed by our existing zoning standards and a and a majority of
our commissioners voting on any particular project. I think that at four fifths, you're giving at that point one commissioner the ability to dictate the outcome. uh in a dangerous way in
favor of a developer's uh uh intended plan. If that developer's intended plan is to maximize profits and uh speed up a project and eliminate the red tape, which is precisely what is behind live
local and RTZ. So, um I I don't see what you're selling as being delivered in this uh proposed legislation that this will be somehow protecting
um the residents because it deprivives them in the first instance of an ability to change the land use designation by making it very difficult. and the character and the nature of an entire uh neighborhood could change
because it's easier if it falls within the RTZ and in the uh live local ambit which I believe this would be if if uh if passed achieving my thoughts >> I've been torn on this one and the
reason I've been torn is the live lo the um the preeemption uh situation Um, I think had this legislation come up when we both got elected, I would have voted 100% for it. I'm just
concerned now that taking that step will just make us a target in Tallahassee and in in Miami date county. Um, do I see the benefit? I do see the benefit. Um, I still think every project
that has come before the commission since you and I got elected would have would have passed because what we have seen over the last two years and we're still seeing today is developers have realized that there's a different way of doing business in Coral Gables and that is residents need to be
included in the equation. And we're even seeing it in the mark where now they're back on on board trying to find something that works more towards the needs of the city uh and not so much maximizing what they can do with Miami date county and the RTZ. So the question
is, do we want to add another target on Coral Gables um going into this legislative session? Um or do we just continue to vote our consciences and try to make sure that we
hold the developers feet to the fire on these on these bills on these uh these designations that come before us? Um the question always is what happens the day that the five of us are gone? you know what happens with the next commission. But I guess that'll fall down to
residents. And if I'm going to make a decision today, I would have to make a decision based on my votes on prior four-fifths majority uh supermajority votes that we've taken on the commission and I would have to vote against it because I voted against all the other uh
requirements of a four-fifth majority that have come before us. Um the other option obviously is to send it to voters, but at the same time we're even even adding a larger target on ourselves on whether we want to to continue to push this item cuz even if
our charter is changed that doesn't remove the ability of Tallahassee and Miami date county to preempt this. Um the only thing that would is the con the the state constitution. So, um it's just how things have changed over
the last 2 years. Um with the level of preeemption that has started coming our way, the way that they're thinking now is no longer, well, Coral Gables has done this for many years. They've been here for 100 years. They're protecting their city. No, it's, you know, you live in the state of Florida and you're going
to do things the way that Florida does it. And um it puts us in a tough situation cuz I think the sentiment that you and I gathered when we were knocking on doors 2 years ago was that residents wanted something like this. The question is whether we are hurting them more by
passing this legislation today than if we were to continue to vote our consciences and hold developers feet to the fire on every project comes before us. uh ensuring that we get the best product for the city and for the residents and the in the neighbors neighborhoods.
>> Commissioner. >> Okay. A fourth fifth super majority I believe raises the bar for irrever irreversible decisions. And what do I mean by that? I mean that when somebody comes before the commission and I'm I'm
referring back to the B Harris, they're not entitled for us to go ahead and upzone. So no there would be no legal repercussion because this would be a benefit they are receiving. Now let's consider something else right after we
approve that how are we going to take it away we can't take it away because that's when the B Harris kicks in. Okay. So I'm trying to protect us as a city before it actually happens. Remember,
a property owner is not entitled to be upzoned, and they were very aware of the zoning they bought before they bought it if they did their due diligence. And that's to the point that I'm getting to. It should be a little more stringent when it comes before us. And I think as
a commission we should all be on the same page or at least a super majority should be on the same page. If you know that parcel or that um neighborhood needs more noise, needs more traffic, has enough infrastructure, I think this is something that has to be has a little
more time and it shouldn't be approved so fast. That's the that's the logic behind this. protecting the character of our neighborhoods and curbing the speed in which development is happening. Basically,
>> I think I understand your >> Let's go through the mirror. >> Yeah, if I may, just to to I think I understand what what the the argument behind it, but my concern isn't really bird hairs. And I think that if that was my concern, you know, then, you know, it would be a completely different argument. My concern is more preeemption
from Tallahassee because the minute that we open the door on making it stricter, you're opening yourselves up to what else can we change? What else can we target Coral Gables for? And we've seen it with other
municipalities and other counties that are being targeted uh in Tallahassee because they're going against um the will uh and the sentiment that they're trying to move as part of the agenda in Tallahassee. I don't think that we should put
ourselves in a situation where we are becoming a larger target. I don't know if I'm I'm making myself clear. >> Yeah. So, if I may, I just add a few things just just for the record. You've been here three years. In April will be three years.
3 years ago, we didn't have Live local. >> Mhm. >> This was a priority and this is what you heard when you were walking door to door. You should have brought it at that moment. You didn't. So, here's the two issues. This is the way I'd interpret it. Okay?
Either you don't understand, which is perfectly fine. Okay? what people are trying to explain to you. Same thing as when you brought the live local uh legislation. I completely understand if you don't understand. It's okay. Or this is intentional
just like the live local was. Let me tell you what I mean by about intentional. It's reckless and it sends a message that we're making it like Commissioner Fernandez said, Commissioner Lada said, we're going to make it even more stringent. Kind of like what happened to us with the trees
trees on properties. where now it's a lot less stringent to remove a live oak specimen tree from your own property. Case in point, you had never heard in the history of the city of Coral Gables that a historic home in the flood
district could be knocked down. You had a historic gem, one of the probably one of the most significant homes in the city knocked down in Gable's estates because it was preempted by the state of Florida. So either you don't understand
or you have some sort of reason to push this forward to make the city look more stringent in turn having us be preempted even further. And I'll give you an example.
The commission voted 4 to one on 760 pon. All the residents were here right where Mrs. Cruz is. They were all there and they all were saying, "Please, please vote in favor. Vote in favor. Vote in favor."
Why? Because across the street was the new Shoma project that was being proposed that was using live local, which would give a 5.0 F. So, we can play the game of politics or we can play what's in the best interest of the residents. But the idea is it's either
you don't understand or you're intentionally doing this to push live local. And I don't understand why you're doing that because it only hurts the city and it puts us at risk for litigation and it puts us at risk to be even further preempted. Madame Vice Mayor,
>> so you know, and I and I know there's residents concerned about particular applications that are pending, but I'm going to remind you, and I know you weren't here, but RTZ at one point was going up Pon Deleó Boulevard.
>> Yep. >> Okay. We had a um planning and zoning meeting before the last November election of the county commission. And at that planning and zoning meeting,
the developer got tired of being berated in the process being delayed. The vote was deferred. And with delays and more obstacles that you put in into place for a developer, they made a choice. made a choice to
wait till after the November election of the county commission and they went forward with the RTZ. By May after that election, May, months later, a very short period of time really, they had already
had the legislation in place and the county commissioner was here preempting our zoning in the area. And I think you know the rest of the story there. So I don't need to repeat it. But we don't want to have another
repeat of this where we purposely try to make it much more difficult for the process to happen because the process needs to happen. We need to get these items here and vote on them. Is that same project that PNZ
had delayed. I had met with the residents after before before that. And a lot of them once I explained to them, well, you know, I can ask for this, I can ask for that, and we can add some trees and we can expand the sidewalks. Do you need any drainage fixed? Do you need all those community benefits done? And I
explained to them some of the things that we could ask for. And I said, "Oh, in that case, I'm in favor of it." But the but the water had already flowed past the dam. The damage had been done by the planning and zoning board and there was no
bringing that one back other than the Hail Mary that magically worked and connected. So, thank you again, city manager, for your hard work on that. I I didn't think we had a prayer on bringing that back.
So, again, I just I just want you to know the story so that you can think about these things when you're drafting legislation. Because you need to think of the re repercussions. A lot of what you do sometimes is a chess game. So if you move this piece
here, what's going to happen as a result? What are we going to lose as a result of doing this? You always have to think about that. What is the downside? You must think of the downside. And there's there's downside. There's a lot of downside. Then you add live local on
top of it. We're going to end up with a highly dense city. with not enough parking and too much traffic. And don't forget, live local projects don't contribute to our tax base in the same way as others because
they get a property tax reduction. So the rest of the residents of the city of Coral Gables end up paying for a lot of the services that we need to take care of, the roads, the sidewalks, etc. on their dime as opposed to the live
local project carrying the water that it should for the amount of burden that it puts on our city >> through the mayor. Yeah, through the mayor. Um, number one, I demand respect from you.
Okay. To say that I don't understand or to insinuate that I'm stupid is far beyond number one. Number two, I want to go ahead and clarify because you've spent I
don't know how much money every day on sponsored ads changing the narrative of what I proposed about Live Local. So, let me go ahead and clear the the air here a little bit, okay? Because I don't spend the money you do and I'm not stalking me and cyberbullying me the
whole time. The whole purpose of the live local proposal that I did was to go ahead and push live local projects out of Coral Gables because maybe you might not understand but there's something called
supply and demand. Okay? When people are only building in places like Coral Gables, that's where the developers are going to keep on coming. Developers are interested in making a profit. It is a business. And if we give them other
opportunities to go ahead and build somewhere else and make a bigger profit, what do you think's going to happen? That's a little a little common sense right there. So, um, they're going to feel the imbalance of of supply and demand. As easy as that. That's my
clarification of that. Stop changing everything around. It's more than apparent that I'm a threat to you. I don't even know why. I haven't I'm not even filing to run. I have no idea why you keep on harassing me every single day. Just once again, go worry about
your family. Good, >> mayor. >> Okay. I'd like to respond if I may. >> I I I know I >> I like to respond cuz I want to >> Yeah. Perfect. Okay. So, number one, in regards to live local,
I'm going to try to explain to this one more time. Okay. See if you understand this. >> Yeah. I'm going to use the restroom. I'm sorry. >> There is no projects there's no projects currently that are live local being built in the city except for one that's being proposed on a street. Why? Because
the formula doesn't work. If you were to adopt Melissa Castro's formula, it would require it would require it would require that an increase in the amount of reimbursement from the state that would make it more
appealing to do live local projects in the city of Coral Gables. Live local is not applied by county or by city. It is applied throughout the entire state. She doesn't understand it. if you were to increase it by 20% the reimbursement rate it would be more
attractive to do live local projects here in the city everybody says it and I don't know what it is you talk about this this absolute infatuation I don't know why she keeps bringing up my family continuously in politics and
in service keep your family out of it and it's constant so I'm going to make a move to censure Commissioner Castro, do I have a second? >> So, everybody's family's available now on board. Yes or no?
>> No. But >> say I'm asking now. This is the third time it happens. Is everybody's family available right now? Yes or no? >> Yes or no? >> No family should be on the table. >> This is the third or fourth time this happened. Are we going to do this again? Yes or no? We should not have any
>> You're the one that says you want to be a peacemaker. >> I'm the first one to tell you. We should not have any involvement of anybody's family. >> You want to do this again? Yes or no? So then make a motion. Second the motion. >> Do what again? >> The continued denial of what's being done here. Yes or no? Are you going to make a second of the motion? Yes or no?
You want to show leadership? You want to show your change? You want to change? Then second the motion. >> Have her come in and address it. >> Give her an opportunity to address it. No. give her an opportunity to address it. >> Not a problem. >> I think >> we need to move past things and I think just give me a couple seconds.
>> No, no, stop. Because it has nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with you. >> We're not moving past anything. >> We're not moving past anything at all. When you talk about someone's family, there's no discussion. As Maria Cruz giggles and laughs and wears ridiculous shirts and heckles and it's constant and
constant and constant, it will end here. You want to talk about policy, you want to talk about things, everything, it's constant enough. You will show respect to employees and you will show respect to the com to to commission family and and employees families at the end of the
day. Enough. If I don't have support for my commission, that's fine. At the end of day, it's okay. No problem. That is what it is. But it's very simple. Very simple. No one's going to tell me that a live local project is not going to come to the Gables when you increase the reimbursement by 20%. It's just simple
math. You can continue to lie and say that's why we all voted 4 to1 against it. It's obvious. And I would appreciate if we stop the charade about the live local process, especially when 3 days later when her client comes out in favor of it in the Miami Herald Oped. >> Not my client. >> Pretty ridiculous.
>> Not my client. >> Commissioner, you want to speak? >> Please correct the record. He is not my client. >> So I think I need to step in. >> I'm not in favor. I'm Thank you. I'm not in favor of resorting to censure without
at least trying to address the issue with the individual here present. Right. So, commissioner, I was unaware if you were aware when you stepped out that uh the mayor moved for
to censure you for making references to his family in your commentary during the discussion on your ordinance. I I did not second it, but I don't think it was appropriate for you to do so. So,
I think the appropriate thing to do is to say to you, do you think that was appropriate and do you wish to take it back? >> Okay. Thank you for giving me a chance to respond. Okay. No, I do not believe anybody's family, but you know what? I
don't think it was in a derogatory form. Okay. I said take care of your family. Okay. I know that that might have just is this not in a positive way. It's not in a negative way. It's a neutral way. I'm just asking you stop harassing me. Stop and worry about your own things.
>> Okay, commissioner, but >> number two, hold on. No, >> he is in I'm sorry. Number two, this >> is unacceptable. >> Number two, he is >> Listen, we're taking a 1 hour break. >> No. >> You ready? >> Yes, sir. >> Perfect. Madam city attorney. >> Yes, mayor. Um, as as you requested, um,
I've asked a deputy city attorney to please, um, just kind of give us a summary of our rules of debate, um, and some of our procedural rules for for meetings and the various different, um, procedural matters that sometimes come before you all. So, thank you, >> Deputy City Attorney. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Madam City Attorney. Uh, Mr. Mayor, as requested, just a very brief overview about the rules of our code and um a few points of um Robert's rules of order just for clarification for everybody as we move forward with the rest of the meeting. Just as a note that the mayor serves as the chairperson of
the meeting, the mayor's duties include announcing the business to come before the commission in um in accordance with the prescribed order of business to recognize all commissioners, the manager, the attorney, and the clerk, and everyone who seeks the floor under correct procedures. All questions and comments are to be directed through the
chairperson and restated by the chairperson. Um and finally that the chairperson has the duty to expedite business in every way compatible with the rights of the members. Separately, our code provision section 281, the rules of debate sets forth that every commissioner desiring
to speak should address the chairperson and upon recognition should confine discussion to the question under debate. That a member once recognized shouldn't be interrupted unless being called to order. that any member shall be deemed to have yielded the floor when the member has finished speaking and it returns to the chair as the chairperson of the meeting and a member may only
claim the floor when recognized by the chairperson. That all motions shall be made and seconded before we have debate and that any commissioner can move to close debate and call the question, but that's a motion that must be seconded and voted on by the members. Um, we have established in our code and through
practice here that when we have items called before the city commission for consideration, as you know, the city attorney reads the title. We then have a presentation by either the sponsor or staff followed by public comment. After public comment, we should have a motion and a second before we have debate among the commission. Every member of the
commission should be recognized by the chair and then once everyone has had a chance to debate, um the question is normally called by the chairperson. So happy to answer any specific questions as we move forward. Um as previously shared, a point of order is when you think something has been done procedurally incorrect. Your vote was
skipped. There was not a second. You can interrupt the speaker. There is no second needed and the chair as chairperson rules on a point of order. A point of privile point of personal privilege is generally to ask for something specific perhaps an a time to speak, a time to get a copy of something, a time for a brief recess.
Same thing that's ruled on by the chair. There is no second needed. Um points of parliamentary parliamentary inquiry are made by the chair to the city attorney acting as parliamentarian. So if there is a specific question, the chair working with the city attorney rules on those items. So again, happy to answer
any specific questions as we move through, but generally that's the um order of business that we have prescribed for public hearing items and all commission items. >> Uh thank you very much. Uh to be very clear, I served on on the commission for 10 years. Uh it was an impeccable
commission with multiple different members. It was flawless. We had many different views, but it was done respectfully. Uh I've been left with no resort. uh after uh the circus that we had before uh almost as bad probably worse than than what we had during Amos
Roas's time um that I will have no other choice but to conduct it in a way that follow parliamentary rules to there will be no debate. It will be 1 2 3 for the mayor and it comes to an end and we'll be voting. Mr. Clerk, we have a motion
and a second. Uh >> no, Mr. Mayor, we do not have a motion and a second. >> We have a motion and a second >> for agenda item E5. I do not. Give me a motion. >> I'm not going to move it. I don't have the support. >> Okay, >> done. Moving on to the next item. >> Is there any time limits?
>> I'm sorry, ma'am. >> F3. No, no, the >> I'm asking the chair >> again. We're moving on. Item F3. F3 is a resolution of the city commission amending resolution number 2025-301 to amend certain language and calling a special election on the proposed ballot question and city charter amendment to
be held on April 21st 2026 providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking if the charter should be amended to change the city's general election from April of oddnumbered years to coincide with the general election held in November of even numbered years and adjusting the associated qualifying and runoff dates and changing all subsequent
elections providing for a male ballot election providing for inclusion in the city charter providing providing for related matters, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. So now the deputy city attorney will present this item. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. Um, this is not déja vu. I know this was before you earlier, but
this is coming back to you. This is the resolution calling for the special mail ballot election to be held on April 21st, 2026. This is the question about moving the election date from April of oddnumbered years to November of evenumbered years. You will note that there has only been a few small changes to the ballot question title and
question itself. That's to comply with all requirements of state law regarding the 15word title and the 75word question. You will note that for this one specifically, there were two small changes that we added the word approximately to note that it's an approximately four-month reduction of current elected officials terms since
this item be should this item be adopted and clarifying that the um runoff and um the associated dates would also be changed with that. The strike through to the charter itself is also included in the question and as I noted it's already set for the April 21st. This is just a
small change in the language of the question. >> Thank you very much. May I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Clerk, do you have any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. First speaker, Mrs. Maria Cruz. >> But hold on one second, sir. Remember, we have very clear rules. If you spoke on this issue already during the day, you cannot take a second bite of the
apple. Correct, Madam City attorney. >> If you spoke on this during public comment, correct? on this particular item. >> Okay. Miss Mary Cruz, Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. I have not spoken about
this F3 uh item. So I get to talk about it and I get to express once again like other people did the issue of the mail followed by mail because not everyone
that lives in Coral Gables likes to vote by mail. And as you all may know, if you receive uh US mail, sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. So, having said
that, I object to this uh continuous event trying to push somebody's will as opposed to the will of the people. And um I um really am um trying to remember
what uh the charter committee suggested because I thought it was very good in reference to this. That's all I have to say. We know that um respect gets respect. So since I want to
be respected, I will respect Jackson Holmes. Greetings. My name is Jackson Holmes. I live at uh remember where I live. 35 Sidonia
here in Coral Gables. Um this is an extremely important uh issue and uh I I concur with the great recommendations made by the
um charter review committee. I didn't even realize they were performing all these miracles. But so it makes it easier for me to focus on my one uh issue which is we need to remove the
clause uh in what's being presented to voters of with the intention of um increasing voter turnout and reducing the cost of the election. I think
honestly well I I should defer to the language used by uh Mayor former mayor uh Slesnik. It's it's it's taking an advocacy position. It's promoting
uh that people and but secondly I'm sorry but I I focus very closely on whether or not it's things are honest and it's not honest. We know uh that the real motive or the intention here is to
make the election purchasable by the money people namely developers. Uh it's this is a it's it's a yet another deceit of the voters who are anti-development
uh and trying to trick them into giving uh total power over the US no over the Coral Gables excuse me uh government for developers.
It's dishonest. It takes sides and we need to strike it and I'm actively involved in finding the right lawyers to take this to court. Um, this is the wrong language. It needs to be stricken. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
>> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. Please close the comment. Commissioner Castro. >> Yes. So, I'm going to go ahead and uh since there's already a motion and a second on the table, I'm going to go ahead and offer a friendly amendment. of amendment would be to go ahead and consider the language that the charter
review committee suggested um regarding this ballot question. This ballot question exactly was asked was kind of what they were referring to was that it's kind of biased and I think we would be in a circumstance that we could
legally be um pursued. So I think just to not waste time, I think we should consider the recommendation. If the sponsor would accept my amendment, that would be great. And if not, then I guess we know what repercussions we can
um come into. And that would be it. >> You done? Uh the answer is no. Commissioner Fernandez, >> the motion was made by the vice mayor. >> Again, so she would have to answer. >> I am the sponsor. I'm the sponsor of the bill, >> right? >> Telling you, >> but the motion wasn't made by you. It
was made by the vice mayor. >> Go ahead, madam city attorney. >> So I I think that the commissioner offered a friendly amendment, which yes, typically then the the movement could accept the friendly amendment to the motion, but you also asked if the sponsor would be willing to agree to it. And so I think there was a little bit of a mix of both there.
>> So I said no. >> I said no. Okay. But we're we're we're moving on. We're moving on from that. >> The the attorney is correcting the record. I'm sorry. And I think she's a parliamentary. >> You can't you cannot run a meeting. All right, guys. Guys, listen. >> You corrected it. >> Another hour.
>> Mr. Clerk, we on. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. Item F3. Uh, we have a motion, a second. We've had public comment. Public comment is closed. Uh, we heard from Commissioner Castro. Uh, we had a
we had a friendly uh friendly amendment request that was made to the vice mayor. The vice mayor, where do you stand on that position? Um, no. >> Commissioner Fernandez, the floor is yours. >> I'm not sure exactly where my train of
thought was, but um I think the reason we have a charter review committee is to take their advice. Uh, it was a unanimous uh vote by the charter review committee, which is made up from a diverse group of members of our
community. Um, I believe the language should be uh consistent with their recommendation. Um, so I I would stand by Commissioner Castro's recommendation for the friendly amendment. >> Commissioner Lada,
>> we're ready to I'm ready to vote. Okay, Vice Mayor, >> I'm ready to vote as well. >> Okay, perfect. Um, first and foremost, when we talk about taking advice, the previous charter reviews were seven individuals. Uh, through the leadership
of Commissioner Castro Fernandez, it was knocked down to five. Uh, thank God we went back to the previous recommendations which was be at seven. Um, this is not the first time that language has been used. U Madam City Attorney, correct me if I'm wrong. >> Correct. This is a language that used by South Miami >> by South Miami and they were not
challenged legally. >> Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and a second. >> Yes, Mr. Call for the vote. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> no. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> no. >> Mayor Loggo, >> yes. >> Moving on to F4. >> F4 is a resolution of the city
commission amending resolution number 2025-163 to change the date of the special election and calling for a special election on the proposed ballot question and city charter amendment to be held on April 21st, 2026, providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking if the charter should be amended to include a prohibition on amending the
date of the election via ordinance. in so far as that prohibition is not in conflict with state law. Providing for mail ballot, providing for notice, providing for inclusion in the city charter, providing for related matters, and providing for an effective date. Good afternoon again, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. If you recall, in May of 20 of 2025, this commission set forth
this question to be sent to the voters in November of 2026. The resolution before you today moves that item to the special mail ballot of April 21st, 2026, provides for all the provisions for mail ballot pursuant to state law and makes two minor tweaks or a few minor tweaks,
excuse me, to the question just to make sure that the title complies with uh state law. There have been no substantive changes to the question and really this is just a formality today to make sure that this gets put placed on the April 21st mail ballot rather than the November 2026 general election that
was previously called for. Thank you. Uh, may I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> Have a motion. A second. Mr. Clerk, any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Close the public comment. Commissioner Castro, >> I um I have nothing to say about this.
Commissioner Fernandez. >> Um I still think that uh it should not be a mail only ballot because of all the questions and the uh um issues that arise from voters uh potentially being disenfranchised. Um that's all I had to say.
>> Commissioner, >> I'm ready to vote. >> Vice Mayor, >> I'm ready to vote. >> Mr. Kirk, please call the role. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> no. Commissioner Fernandez, >> no. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Mayor Logos,
>> yes. >> Moving on to F5. >> F5 is a resolution of the city commission amending resolution number 2025-211 to change the date of the special election and calling for a special election on the proposed ballot question and city charter amendment to be held on April 21st, 2026. Providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot
question asking if the charter should be amended to allow the appointing commissioner or appointed official to remove a board member from that position prior to the expiration of their term. Providing for mail ballot, providing for notice. providing for inclusion in the city charter, providing for related matters, and providing for an effective date. >> Hello again. Um, this is the question
regarding removal of board members prior to the expiration of their term. There have been no substantive changes to the question or the title. There may have been one or two words moved around to comply with the state statute requirements. Mainly, as I mentioned before, this moves the election for this question from the November 2026 general
election to the special mail ballot being held April 21st, 2026 and provides for mail ballot, canvasing of the votes, etc. All in compliance with state law regard regarding mail ballots. >> Thank you. May I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Clerk, any public comment?
>> No. Mr. Mayor, >> close the public comment. Commissioner Castro, >> I disagree with this. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> ready to vote. >> Commissioner Lada, >> ready to vote. >> Vice Mayor,
>> ready to vote. >> Perfect. Thank you very much. Mr. Clerk, call the role. Commissioner Castro, >> no. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> yes. >> F6. F6 is a resolution of the city
commission amending resolution number 2025-87 to change the date of the special election calling for a special election on the proposed ballot question and city charter amendment to be held on April 21st 2026 providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking whether the city charter should be amended to require the convening of a
charter review committee every 10 years and outlining the composition of that committee providing for a me ballot election providing for notice providing for inclusion in the city charter providing for related matters and providing for an effective date >> madam city attorney >> there have been no changes to this question as a reminder this question about putting in the charter, the requirement for a charter review
committee every 10 years and the composition of that um charter review committee. The only changes are to move this question from the November 3rd, 2026 general election to the April 21st, 2026 special mail ballot election. >> Thank you. May I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> Second it.
>> Mr. Clerk, any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Close the public comment. Commissioner Castro, >> Stephanie, was there what was the recommendation of the charter committee review regarding this question? Um, Mr. Mayor, there was no official recommendation of the charter review committee as U. Mayor Celestic
mentioned, they discussed whether or not the city attorney's appointee should or should not be a resident. As noted, our current city attorney appointee is a resident. Um the discussion was about whether or not that be required in the charter that the city attorney's appointee be a resident or merely not merely or a uh city attorney or former
city attorney or county attorney. Um always the anticipation is that if there was a resident it would be a resident but um the discussion is about whether or not that need to be required in the charter but there was no formal recommendation. That was just the discussion of the charter review. So I
so I would I would move to offer a friendly amendment to please consider the recommendation of the charter review committee. >> Vice Mayor, do you uh support that friendly amendment? >> No. >> Perfect. Moving on to Commissioner Fernandez.
>> Ready to vote. >> Commissioner Lada, >> ready to vote. >> Vice Mayor, >> ready to vote. >> Call the role. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago,
>> yes. This item was placed on the agenda after we jumped the gun and we over two and a half, three years ahead of schedule to call a um a special obviously a uh a new charter review which is standard
protocol from my understanding was that we had done it every 10 years and it was done like that way for the last 30 years from my understanding. Uh so again this will hopefully solidify it with the voters. Moving on to item F7. F7 is a resolution of the city commission amending resolution number 2025-161 to
change the date of the special election calling for a special election on the proposed ballot question and city charter amendment to be held on April 21st, 2026 providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking whether the city charter should be should incorporate the city's fund balance and reserve policy adopted in ordinance
number 2025-05 and be amended to require approval of the electors prior to the amendment of that fund balance and reserve policy or the expenditure of funds from the general reserve except for those funds authorized to be spent pursuant to the emergency powers or is authorized by the charter, city code, declaration of emergency or other applicable law, providing for a meal ballot, providing for notice, providing
for inclusion in the city charter, providing for related matters, and providing for an effective date. >> Madam City attorney, >> thank you, mayor. If you recall, in May of 2025, the city commission adopted an ordinance that codified the city's fund balance and reserve policy, that's the 25% um requirement, and also adopted a requirement that any changes to that
policy or any expenditures of those funds beyond those certain emergency situations require a four-fifths vote of the commission. This question puts that into the charter but also requires that any changes to that policy and or expenditure of that funds not only require a four-fifth vote but also
require a vote of the electors. There have been a few small changes to the title and the question as mentioned only to comply with the title requirement. If you'll notice it much had a much lengthier title before. It's still a long one. It's a hard title to fit in there but um we had to move some words around to comply with those
requirements. And most importantly, this ch this resolution changes it from the November 3rd, 2026 general election to the April 21st special mail ballot election and provides for that special mail ballot election. >> Thank you. Uh may I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> May I have a second?
>> A second. >> Mr. Clear, do you have any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you very much, >> Miss Maria Cruz. Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. for the same reasons that um I said before,
I object to the mail ballot and I um believe that we should accept the reasoning from the shadow review as presented by Mayor Slesnik and Jane Moscowitz. Mr.
Jackson Holmes. >> Thank you all. Uh Jackson Palms, uh 35 Sedonia, Coral Gables. Um, I am u grateful to uh the charter review committee uh former mayor Slesnik for
pointing out this rather startling information that Governor Dantis may actually lower or abolish the uh residential property tax, which would be
a radical uh uh factor in the city's income. And let's assume for a second that such happens and maybe it's a they cut it in half, let's say. Well, guess who suffers
then? Uh uh the commercial owners of which I am uh a mom and pop owner. So, um I uh I am worried about that and I urge you to uh
take this off the boat because if if if we set this in stone then uh the city's hands are tied and if if if we get saddled with half of uh losing half of
or even all of the property tax from residences I don't want to be the one uh that gets taxed, you know, beyond measure. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> That's it, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, we'll close with a comment.
Uh we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Castro. >> Yes. So, the recommendation of the charter review committee, if you could please reiterate that. I believe it was that there's a lot of changes happening at the state level and that they trust
this commission and they don't believe that it's in our best um interest as a city to go ahead and pass this. Is that accurate? >> The charter review committee's recommendation was that the city commission not present this question to the voters at this time um with a discussion about waiting to see what
happens at the state legislature. I believe there's already a motion and a second on the table, but after that, I will be moving to go ahead and accept the recommendation of the charter review committee. >> Afterwards, >> so that may be inconsistent with the motion that's adopted. So, I'm not sure if it's a motion to amend.
>> Well, >> yes. So, um, Madam Secretary, will you clarify that request? >> So, so I'm sorry, mayor, can you say that again? >> Commissioner Castro is making a request. I'd like for you to clarify as our city attorney. So yeah, I think this is not
right now. There is a motion in a second and that's the motion that's being considered and and that's under debate currently. >> Okay. >> So then if that gets voted on, I'm going to have to ask to amend it. >> Right. >> So you should amend a motion while it's pending, not after it's been voted on.
If you want to make an amendment to the motion on >> Okay, understood. >> I'm amending the motion. >> You're making a request to amend the motion. >> So you're making a motion to amend. >> Correct. >> So mayor, I think we're hearing that there's a motion to amend. We would need a second for that. Yes. Do we have a
second? >> Would we be able to have two concurring motions? >> Excuse me. Through the mayor, please through the mayor. >> Through the mayor have asked the question already. >> No. No, you have not. We're going to follow Robert's rules and we're going to do it the right way. I think it's key.
>> I believe we need a second for discussion. Mayor, >> would you like a second? So, I'll second for discussion. >> Perfect. All right. So my motion was to go ahead and accept >> through the mayor >> through the wonderful mayor sitting right next to my left that I cannot
adore anymore. Commissioner Fernandez, my the way I'm amending this motion is to consider the recommendation of the charter review committee since they put in so much work and I'm I mean we have great
representation. Mayor Don Slesnik Fley, Mayor Fley, Jane Mosquitz, I mean the amount of experience and representation in that charter review committee really merits that we put or at least acknowledge all the work they put into this. So I would it would be to my best
recommendation that we at least consider their recommendation. >> So can you clarify your motion >> amending the motion to do what? >> Excuse me. >> Yeah, one second. >> Sorry, >> madam city attorney. >> Okay, mayor. So right now the motion and the second that's on the floor, there's a motion to approve the resolution which
is on the agenda which is which is an a resolution um as you know approving the the resolution as drafted. >> Yes, >> if I'm understanding correctly, it's a motion to amend the motion to approve the resolution to consider the charter review committee's recommendation. I don't know
that those two are in sync. >> They're not. Um, and so I, you know, I just, you all can decide, you know, when you vote on on the motion to amend, but >> they're not in sync. Okay. So, moving forward, Commissioner Fernandez, you the floor is yours. >> So, where do we stand on the motions? Cuz now, my understanding is there can
only be one motion on the floor at a time. >> Mayor, do you want me to do you want me to answer? What do you >> Of course. You're the one you're following Robert's rules and I'm grateful for that. Thank you. >> Okay. So, um, there is a motion to amend that has been seconded. So, we should address that first. It's a secondary
motion to be considered before we can rule on the primary motion. >> As a sponsor of the item, >> I think we should move forward. >> Do we take a vote on it? >> We should take a vote. Yes, >> Mr. Clerk. >> This is on the motion. Mayor, I'm sorry
to to interrupt. Is on the motion to amend? >> Yes. >> The the motion to approve the resolution. >> Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and a second to amend. >> Commissioner Lada. >> On the amend, this is the motion to amend. Yes. No. >> Vice Mayor Anderson?
>> No. >> Commissioner Castro? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez? >> Yes. >> Mayor Lago? >> No. >> Commissioner Fernandez, back to you. You have the floor. In regards to the amend
the motion F17, which I'm the sponsor of. >> I I think that we should uh adhere to the recommendation made by the uh charter review committee. Can I vote? Commissioner Lada, >> ready to vote. >> Vice Mayor, >> ready to vote.
>> Okay, so before we vote, I'd like to put on the record just a little bit of history. The word trust was used by my colleagues to the left and to the right. The reason why I proposed this piece of legislation was because when I started as an elected official here, we had $15
million in restricted reserves. Over the last 13 years, over the last 13 years, we have done ex extensive belt tightening with our finance director and her team and the city manager. And we've taken in close to about $60 million, correct? From 15 million. Let me tell you why
that's important. Because when we had a hurricane and we were one of the first out of the gate to be able to address our needs like cleaning up the streets, it took us and if I may get a correct answer from our
city finance director, it took us close to seven or eight years to get paid back by the state. Is that correct? >> She's waving her head as yes, >> that's correct, mayor. >> So, this is why you need to have a robust a robust uh restricted reserves. That's number
one. Number two, when I started here, we had a double A rated. We were a double A rated city. After installing legislation that requires 25% of our of our budget to be in restricted reserves, we climbed and we continue to climb through belt
tightening. That allowed us to get a triple triple bond rating. We're one of three cities currently, if I'm still correct, in the in the state of Florida that have that. That is a point of distinction. That is a point of respect, and that sets us apart from everyone else. But the real reason why I brought this up was because
Commissioner Fernandez one day said when Amos Roas was here, let's move forward and start accessing our restricted reserves for sidewalks um for other issues that we can do right now. We shouldn't wait. We should take care of those issues right now. And I
think that that is again shooting ourselves in the foot. And it is incredibly treacherous and it shows a lack of fiscal restraint and responsibility. So that's why this is brought forward. After speaking with many many residents, they all told me Vince, we got to protect our restricted
reserve. It's a sense of pride for the city and at the end of the day allows us to borrow if we were to borrow cheaper and our as our city should maintain the highest standards in regards to fiscal responsibility. So moving forward, this is critically important to setting a
benchmark and making sure that we adhere to our fiscal responsibility. the manager during states of emergency has access to our restricted reserves. Don't let them tell you that he does not. It has to be an emergency like a hurricane
to be able to tip into it. Mr. Clerk, we have a motion, a second >> through the mayor. >> Through the vote, >> if I may. >> Yes. >> Question to maybe the city manager. If um if the worst case of worst cases with respect to what may happen coming out of
Tallahassee occurs and all property tax is um rescended and the and the city should find itself in a uh in a shortfall of a magnitude that we've never seen before. Would that
constitute an emergency? >> Uh yes it would through through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Thank thank you mayor. Uh yes, it would. However, I think one and furthermore, um it certainly would constitute an an emergency, but the the uh our our fund
is at $64 million right now. That fund is not a reoccurring fund and people and sometimes people think it is. Whereas if we lose real estate taxes, it would be a reoccurring cost. So we would be we would be taking money from something that we could not replace. And that is a
real problem because if we have a hurricane then how could we replace that money and act appropriately for our residents. So it makes it even even even even a even a bigger issue. >> Right. And through the mayor the the the the I guess the the point and you're
helping me get to it is that we don't know what Tallahassee is going to do. But if Tallahassee were to do something insane and cut off in a radical move all property tax, you would be able at least to access reserves
should this gets carried in April's uh referendum, right? You still have the ability to access on an emergency basis the money as we then navigate going forward. >> Yes. that new scenario which is as I described it the worst case scenario
and we don't know what Tallahassee is going to do but let's assume that we will have an appropriate rollin period appropriate time to adapt and whatever that comes from Tallahassee
this would ensure that under under only at this point the highest level of uh obstacles before we dip into the reserves. That's the point. >> Yes, Commissioner. So, moving forward,
it's pretty simple. This is a safety net and ensuring that we protect the hard work of our employees and past commissions and our triple bond rating. Mr. Clerk, we have a motion, a second. Can I have a vote?
>> Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Castro? >> No. for the reasons stated below that we should be following the charter review committee's recommendation. That's what they're there for. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> no. For the reasons prior stated. >> Commissioner Lada,
>> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> yes. Thank you. Uh, moving on to F8. F8 is a resolution of the city commission amending resolution number 2025-88 to change the date of the special election calling for a special election on the proposed ballot question and city charter amendment to be held on
April 21st, 2026 providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking whether the city charter should be amended to authorize a contract with Miami date county or private entity to provide inspector general services with certain powers including the power to subpoena witnesses provided that such appointment term functions and powers
shall be further established by ordinance providing for requisite ballot language providing ing for procedures for balloting, providing for mail ballot, providing for notice, providing for inclusion in the city charter, providing for related matters, and providing for an effective date. >> Madam city attorney, >> um good evening. There have been a few changes to this question that were made
by our office in consultation with outside council to make sure that we were making the required 15 and 75word letters and making sure that the title accurately reflected the question um as um proposed and amended by the vice mayor during the last discussion. So, the title has been changed to be clear
that it's authorizing a contracted inspector general as needed. It is similar to the recommendation of the charter review committee, though not identical. Um, but it does add the as needed language. That was something that the charter review committee also mentioned. There's also been a small change in the question itself to um just
move a few words around to make sure we complied with the 75, but nothing substantive in the question itself. Again, the primary reason this is back is to move it from the November 3rd, 2026 general election to the April 2020 April 21st, 2026 special mail ballot
election and providing those procedures for a special mail ballot. >> Thank you very much. May I have a motion? >> I'll move it. >> I'll second. We have a motion, a second. Um, any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, Mr. Mary Cruz.
Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. I'm glad that the the words as needed were added, but I'm here to once again uh not agree to a mail ballot because not
everyone, every voter, every resident of Coral Gables would like to vote by mail only. Jackson Holmes I may have uh signed up for this one by
mistake, but since I'm here, um yes, we we need uh I I'd be in favor of a full-time inspector general. We need to raise this is just my opinion, of course, uh the ethics uh in Coral
Gables. And um it's it's my understanding, I probably shouldn't say this, but earlier objections to rushing into an inspector general. I I spoke with um the inspector
general on Miami Beach um uh Joe Senorino and and what he told me is that the the inspector general has to have I guess by charter uh independence.
uh that you you can't just hire an inspector general and not give him codified independence, which I'm guessing is why uh Commissioner Castro objected early. I don't know if that's correct or not, but anyways, I'm for it.
Let's do it full time. >> Mr. Clerk, that's it, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, Commissioner Castro. Yeah, given number one, to clear the record, the first time I voted for this, I thought it was a little overpriced, I
didn't think that the it was in the best fiscal fiscally responsible for the city and I thought that we should refer this back to the charter review committee and they should ultimately make this decision. now reconsidering it and um seeing how
this commission has moved forward, I definitely think that we do need an inspector general. So, my vote will most probably be yes. >> Mr. Fernandez, >> ready to vote. >> Ready to vote. >> Vice Mayor, >> ready to vote.
>> Uh before we vote on this issue, um I'm very proud to have been the sponsor of this since the beginning. Commissioner Castro and Erie Fernandez both voted against it. Uh they said it was uh too rich, too expensive. Uh you cannot put a price on stamping out
corruption. Zero price on that. Um but you can't put a price on raising your salary by 101%. So I'm very happy that they came around uh to the IG. Uh there's a different season now obviously and at the end of day it makes sense politically, but I've
been my vote has not changed on this. this is exactly what the city needs and I think it's important uh to have an outside IG. I did go and speak with the county um and request to see how we could do it and use them in a consultant basis. They were more than amicable to
do it. I spoke to elected officials and at the end of the day we have found a solution. So I'm happy that my colleagues came around and uh we're moving forward for this. This is in the benefit of transparency and it's in the best interest of the city of Coral Gables. Mr. Clerk, call the role.
>> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> voting consistently with my prior vote to listen to the charter review committee, I'm voting in favor of this. >> Yes, >> Commissioner Lada. No, I just want to say that for the love of me, I'll never
fully comprehend how at one time from this disas a commissioner was uh decrying that the city of Corables was a drift and a cesspool of corruption and that he was going to lead this beloved city out of the muck. But when given an
opportunity to vote for an inspector general, the majority said no. And at the same time, there was never any um identifiable corruption uh offered or followed up on. And it may have even
been the bassy's offered uh specious as it was offered for why the city manager Amos Rohos was hired given his um stellar law enforcement career uh predating his 8-year
retirement before he came to work at the city as the city manager with on the job training. But I'm glad that we've called we've all come around. I do believe that um we we can benefit from a uh the services
as needed of an inspector general. So yes, Vice Mayor Anderson, >> I'm glad we're finally getting to this day. This is, I think, the most efficient way to have an inspector general that we have the trust and the
safeguards in place so the public can understand that um if there's a need for an inspector general to look at an issue just like we can call for an IIA investigation. we can refer things out and not have,
you know, somebody as an additional individual in our city who would not be as unbiased as somebody that's independent. So, my vote is yes, >> Mayor Lago. >> So, uh just to make sure we put on the record because it was brought up and I
think it's um a lot is a lot nicer than I am. The reason why you got a salary increase of 101%. And the and the reason why the manager Peter Glaciius was fired on the dis was because it was basically a qu proquo. Commissioner Mendez wanted a salary
raise and Commissioner Fernandez wanted the the manager out. So that was the trade that occurred in the back room in an effort. Um they denied wanting to have an inspector general. I brought it to the commission as a sponsor. They
said no. Said it was too expensive. I proceeded to go and meet with a county, meet with county commissioners. They said, "We'll help you. You're in your city's in a moment of need. They're screaming from the mountaintops. It's a cesspool of corruption." So, there's a
cesspool of corruption, but they deny an Inspector General. I think that speaks volumes. But thank God this will go before the residents and the residents will make the decision. Mr. Clerk, please call the role. >> We just did. Mr. Mayor, your vote. Yes.
Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Point of personal privilege. >> I continue to hear >> So, mayor, a point of personal privilege is like a request of like for a break or or something to that effect. I don't think it's an appropriate, you know, way to interrupt without having the floor. >> So,
>> so that's not the interpretation I have for the League of Cities, but okay, that's fine. I'll address it at the end. >> Can I write to him? I don't know if I can talk. So, I'm in the middle I'm in the middle of going through the agenda. >> All right, >> let's go through the agenda. Uh, moving moving on to F9. Thank you, Madam City
Attorney. F9. >> So, F8, I'm sorry. F9 is a resolution of the city commission amending resolution number 2025-160 to change the date of the special election and calling for a special >> Can I can I madam city attorney again
when we just got off IG and we have one commissioner to my right sending a note to another another commissioner to my left and it's right here. >> Um I I think it's ridiculous. There should be a little bit more respect. I think there should be a little bit more respect on the commission and I'm asking
you to please don't do that. At the end of the day, you're only disrespecting the position and the city. Let's take this seriously. Okay. I apologize for interrupting you. Excuse me. F9 is a resolution of the city commission amending resolution number 2025-160 to change the date of the
special election calling for a special election on the proposed ballot question and city charter amendment to be held on April 21st, 2026, providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking whether the city charter should be amended to include a requirement that any changes to the compensation of the elected officials beyond that regular consumer price in index increase
detailed the city code be submitted to a vote of the electors providing for a mail ballot providing for notice providing for inclusion in the city charter providing for related matters and providing for an effective date. Thank you very much, Adam. City attorney. >> Mayor, again, I think there have been a few small tweaks to the title of this, not to the question itself, which just requires that any change to the
compensation of the elected officials beyond the annual adjustment to CPI that's set forth in the code require an affirmative vote of the electors prior to adoption. Mainly, this resolution is here today to move that question from the November 3rd, 2026 general election to the special mail ballot election set
for April 21st, 2026 and providing for um that mail ballot. >> Thank you very much. May I have a motion? I move it. >> May I have a second? >> Second. Mr. Clerk, any public comment? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, >> Jackson Holmes. >> Yes, sir.
>> Thank you. Um, so my name is Jackson Holmes. I live at 35 Sidonia Avenue. Um, I want to um mention something about uh >> Yes, ma'am.
>> I I wonder I'm I'm 74 years old, so maybe you all do. I'll bet you do. Um remember public financing of presidential campaigns. Um they may still have that even now.
And I think that the spirit uh I'm very confident that the spirit of the commissioner the raising the commissioner salaries uh is that of getting independence from developer money.
Um, and I think um, Mayor Slesnik even mentioned it this morning uh, that um, the reason they kept pushing for greater salaries for the county commissioners is to make them independent. It's the same thing as the
public financing of presidential elections. Uh, so I I don't really appreciate people disparaging uh, that uh, undertaking. Um, it's interesting to me. I haven't
studied it that closely, but I believe that the increase in the salaries uh that was passed in the last commission um was really basically cola.
Uh I I don't know the answer. Somebody wants to answer that fine, please do. Um, and I do I actually oppose then this thing going on the ballot because
I think that the the biggest issue in the electorate is that they oppose overdevelopment. And uh I think that if the
language were uh stated honestly uh people would reject this if if they said do you want to give commissioners enough money so they're independent of developer influence then they would say
yes let them vote themselves raises because we hate developers. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> That's it. Mr. Mayor. >> All right, Mr. Clerk. Um, if you may, I don't want to I don't want to touch the paper. I think it should be part of the public record since you have a commissioner passing another commissioner note. Um, would you like to
please make that part of the public record? >> Thank you. >> Um, all right. So, so we have a motion and a second. Commissioner Castro.
Um, just so everybody knows, what was on that paper was from Robert's rules. I have the book right here. Since the city attorney did not go ahead and advise the commissioner what the correction of what
he had to say was, I was actually offering him some help. And that's what the paper said. Right. Since I'm not allowed to talk, but moving forward, you were the one who gave me this book. I think we need to maybe the whole commission read it a
little better because I think some of us are oblivious to what Robert's rules are. Um I don't have anything else to say. >> Commissioner Fernandez. So through the mayor, point of personal privilege is a formal
parliamentary procedure used in legislatures and formal meetings allowing a member to address the body about matters affecting their integrity, rights, and reputation. I was correct in the motion that I made. Madam City attorney, >> Madam City attorney, will you explain to
the commissioner? >> Yes. So um point of personal privilege first of all as as you all know it's not addressed in our code. So of course when something is not addressed in our code we do revert to Robert's rules and I will tell you that it's the first time that I've ever heard anyone raise a point of personal privilege here in the
commission in that fashion. Um and so that it really addresses someone something that affects the member's ability to conduct you know the business that they're doing here. So we typically learn about it in the sense of point of personal privilege. You know it's very cold in the room. Can someone adjust the temperature? Point of personal
privilege. Can we take a 5-minute break to use the restroom? I think it can also be used to correct a misstatement on the record or or something about the member's conduct and um so so that is the case, but I think the the mayor as as the chair can also kind of has the authority to rule on that and say not now, later, etc. So,
>> thank you very much. Moving on. So, um I think we continue to bring up these items and put them on a ballot that is going to be mailed out to people. And I think that's the biggest concern that I have about
all of these items that we continue to bring up. And this is the last one. Um, we are mailing out a ballot which follows different rules than your regular vote by mail ballot.
We have problems with the mail service in our city. We've discussed it here before. So, we're placing items on a ballot in April and instead of doing a real election, we're just mailing out ballots
and hoping that people get them and are able to return them in time without any errors so that their votes count. I think we're doing a disservice to our residents. I'm ready to vote. >> Where's your letter?
>> Right. So, let me just address that briefly. Um, you may be right, but I I believe you're wrong. And what I predict is that we're going to have a much larger number of participants via the mail-in this April
than we do in the normal course of an in-person uh April odd year election. But the voters will decide. with respect to this item. This one is um it's easy for me because
one of the bases for why I decided to run is that I thought that it was um fundamentally uh wrong and in need of change uh for the commissioners themselves to award themselves raises. Even though that's
permissible, I believe that what occurred was was abusive. um in the last goround um abuse of the um of the of the of the authority. I uh firmly believe that we as the
commissioners are not our own bosses. We are servants of the public. The residents of Coral Gables are our boss. And I believe that the boss determines how much our
compensation should be uh fairly tied to the work that we do and the service that we provide part-time as it is. It is a full-time commitment from all of us here I'm sure on the dis. So it's a campaign promise I
ran on. I'm not going to turn my back on that promise. So my vote is yes. >> Vice Mayor I'm going to second your comments and add a little more context. Our state legislators dedicate themselves
full-time to their job yet get paid 25 $26,000 per year. And I've always felt that it is improper for an elected official to give themselves raises, especially with the
way it was done by this commission, this prior commission. We lost a lot of respect in Tallahassee. We regained it by lowering it and putting in these safeguards unfortunately are necessary now,
although that was not necessary in past decades. So I'm a yes. Um, in regards to the comments that were made, uh, just want to put on the record how we got here. We got here because there was a raise that was put into the
budget by three members of the commission. I spoke to the manager when we found this and he said, "The following three colleagues of yours wanted this on the comm on the on the budget and it was put
there. I have no choice. That's not the way that we lead in Miami Day County. If you're going to receive a raise as an elected official, it has to go before the voters whether you like it or not. I'm not against a
raise. I've said that. But there's a way of doing things ethically, not in the cover of darkness hitting in a hidden in a budget. That's why I was forced along with the vice mayor to vote against the budget. And later it was used politically saying that I opposed
and did not support police and fire. Again, there's no perfect tool, but to say that our mail service doesn't work. I mean, we live in a first class country. I mean, this is not a third world country. The mail may be delayed one day, but to
say it doesn't work is pretty ridiculous as an excuse. But what I think is truly disingenuous is to stand up here and say after raising your salary 101% giving yourself a almost thousand car allowance and
almost thousand expense account and say that the residents shouldn't be in control to decide whether we deserve to raise our own salary. Just think about that. That to me is the ultimate disrespect to the residents. And I was on the
ballot last election along with the vice mayor and commissioner lot. I walked door to door. I pulled these facts. Two things that were over 70%. Two things that were over 70% on those polls was number one changing
the elections in November and number two was that the residents should be in control to make the decision on whether we deserve to raise our salaries. Do I believe that this commission deserves a salary increase? Wholeheartedly. But that's not the way to deliver a
salary increase. To me, I think that's unethical. And as I said before, and I stand by my statement, that was a basic quid proquo between multiple commissioners on the dis. One wanted one thing and another wanted another. And that's how you ended up having that deal
be cut. in regards to the residents not coming out to vote and not understanding on how to vote and not figuring out how to vote on an absentee ballot at home, which is nothing new. It's been done for decades. I have full faith and confidence in the intellect and the
capability of our community. And that's why we're going to spend the amount of money that we're going to spend and time in a full-fledged education campaign, whether it's in writing, whether it's in email, whether it's on TV, and we're going to
be incorporating Alina Garcia to ensure that she properly provides on a video instructions on how to handle these absentee ballots. So, I have full faith and confidence in our residents. We have one of the most educated residents bases in Miami Day
County, if not the most educated. And when I went door to door, thousands of doors, they all told me, Vince, we got to move elections and we got to make sure that we control because these salaries 101% increase is absolutely a slap in the face to the residents. So,
clerk, Mr. Clerk, my vote is yes. >> We haven't called the role yet, Mr. Mayor. >> Go ahead. Call the role. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes. >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago,
>> yes. I'd love to have my colleagues with me. 50. We got it. >> So, I do I do have a point personal point of privilege. I need um 3 minutes to make a call. >> Okay, perfect. Then we have 3 minutes. We'll be back, let's say, at 6:00 on the dot and we will continue and move on to
the time certain item at 6:00. Thank you for being here. All right. Uh welcome back. I want to thank everyone for being here. It's great to see such a big crowd, especially since we're talking about dogs and dog parks. It's amazing. I'm happy to see all of you here. Thank you. Uh we're going to
be talking about issue F1 and F11, which are time certain for 6:00. Mr. Clerk, >> do you want me to read F1, Mayor? >> Yes. >> Okay. So F1 is a resolution of the city commission rescending resolution number 2025-452 which authorized city staff to move forward with the development of a dog
park on the city owned parcel located at 520 University Drive directing city manager to direct city staff to gather community input on the proposed dog park and providing for an effective date. And then F11 is a discussion item mayor um through through the
>> Yes, through the mayor. It's a presentation by our esteemed staff which I think would be helpful. >> I think would be helpful for the community to see. >> Okay. So, I'd like to bring up staff and have them give the presentation. >> Thank you.
>> Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the commission. I'm Dina Bellan, assistant public works director for green space management the city. I'm also a licensed landscape architect and we have put together this presentation
um the concept of what the University Drive Dog Park could look like. So these are conceptual renderings that will show you our concept. Okay, next slide. I think I can do it with this. Okay, so the location for the University Drive
Dog Park is right across from the Coral Gables Library. It's um along University Drive. To the east side is Riviera Drive and to the west side, I guess, is Kadima.
On the right side, you'll see photographs of the existing conditions. On University Drive are large existing banyan trees that are all going to be maintained. And on the side streets, Riviera, you've got some live oaks. And on Kadima, you
have some black olive trees. These will all be maintained. Here is the site plan rendering. And just to orient you, this is the library. On the top left of the rendering, you will see that it's um a large site. It's
all going to be split into two sections. One section is going to be for the large dogs, which is the light color green. And at the bottom of the screen is the small dog area which will be artificial
turf. The the trees that I mentioned are existing are all going to be maintained around the perimeters to really screen off the area. On the right side of the drawing, um, fronting the residential homes, you're going to have a 25- ft
native tree and landscape buffer, very thick, so you will not, um, see from the residential homes into the dog park. Just to give you an idea, 25 ft is the width of a threelane road. It's um, a very wide and generous
buffer. Around the the perimeter of the dog park is a 5-ft wide landscape perimeter with thick native hedges of cocoa plums and stoppers um to really nestle this in. And just our concept of the trees, we're going to
have pink shower trees for color. Um you're going to have some benches um scattered around in the shady areas for people to sit. You're going to have some gumbo limbo trees. You're going to have some tamarind trees and other
native plants. Here's a rendering that gives you an idea of what it could look like from the Riviera Drive corner. As you enter the site, the fencing will be our our black metal fencing just like as at the dog park in
the underline. And it'll be 5t tall. So, I'm 52, not very tall, but the fencing will not be taller than me. It'll be completely nestled in in shrubbery that we'll let grow up and pretty much um screen the fencing. Anyway,
the the rest of the renderings are the development of a landscape plan with the same plant materials I've already mentioned just um simplified so you can see the size of the area. I believe the large dog area is about 250 ft long by 90 ft
wide and the small dog area is 70 ft by 90 ft just to give you an idea of size. Technical drawings and pictures of most of the proposed trees and plants. lysolomas, gumbo
limbos, cassas, uh cocoa plum hedges, counti, uh wild coffee, laria, and our beach sunflower. We can have the opportunity to have a pollinator patch around the swale in the sunny areas. So, that's the
concept. Um, and I'll offer, you know, to accept any questions you have. Uh, >> before we before we get into that, I'd like to get some public comment. Mr. clerk. >> Okay, first speaker, Maria Cruz.
>> Thank you, by the way. Thank you, Dina. That was great. >> Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. Obviously, I don't live in that neighborhood, but I've made it very clear many times in all the years that I've been coming here that anything that
affects anything in Coravos is my problem because if something happens there, it could happen in our area, too. And uh I'm here to support the group, the neighbors that live there. And uh I
think it's time to listen to the residents. I took the time to speak to a friend who happens to be a vet and I asked him, he has three dogs, and I asked him, "Would you take your dogs to
a dog park?" And he said, "No, because unless you can assure me that all the dogs that go there do not have any contagious disease, I wouldn't expose my dogs to that." So that's my answer. If I had a dog, I have a cat. If I had a dog,
I would not take him to a dog park. >> David Guzman. >> Christopher King, can you do it, Mr. Clerk? >> Yes, sir. >> Can you do me a favor? If individuals are not here, maybe they left a note. You can just read what what they said. >> Okay. >> Just one second. I just wanted to
>> So, David Guzman, um, he said he's proponent and I'm I am in support. Thanks. Okay, that's all you say. >> Good evening, sir. >> Yeah, good evening to everybody. My name is Chris King. Uh, I live at 3617 Street. >> Sorry.
>> I am a lawyer for the law firm of Homer Bonner. Uh I see one familiar face was my co co-consel and uh I represent uh the university green group that you see my clients behind me and we are
uniformly opposed to this and uh just so you know who we are. Uh we are from Harlano Street, Kadeima Wood, Riviera on what you just uh were presented. Those are the streets where uh this would be
located. And look, we think that we've been excluded from this process in the previous um uh vote. And you should know that the overwhelming number of people who live in this area are against it.
And if nobody is for this project, that should tell you that it doesn't belong here. Now, let me talk about uh two things. Shouldn't go here and it cannot go here. And since I'm the lawyer, I'll tell you why I think it can't go here. Number one, it's not zoned for this.
It's zoned for o overflow parking uh since 1972. There's an ordinance, ordinance number 1952 that that uh restricts this to overflow parking. When the need is gone for overflow parking, then it reverts to single family
housing. And so it would violate that. And you talk about need, you can drive by there to right now and the uh library is swarming with cars. There's no way that we could have a dog park here. Second, even if you took away uh that
restriction, um there's no provision for a standalone off leash dog park in Miami Dade County under their ordinance or the Coral Gables ordinances. Uh dogs aren't allowed in parks and that's the way the
ordinances are uh written. There's an exception for an area in a park, but you can't make the whole area of the park. um the the uh bark park. Then we have so it violates that as well. There's no
zoning for this. Third, a bark park is going to violate noise ordinance. You just saw the map. This thing goes up against three residences. One of them has been there since 1925. It's going to violate that ordinance. Uh so look, and then there's the master
plan. We're guaranteed the right to uh be able to walk to open space uh within five minutes uh within a quarter mile. That is impossible with this dog park. This structure doesn't belong here. And look, there's a whole
bunch of reasons that you'll hear uh from my clients about what why it should not go here. This is a very very special area of town. It has his historical importance and we believe it's been taken away from us.
>> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Clerk. Sarah Cortez. >> Good evening. >> Yes. >> I believe it's supposed to be with F1, correct? >> Yes, ma'am. It's It's all being heard as
one item. >> Thank you so much. Just wanted to make sure. I'm might have to lower this down again. Oh my god. Make that. >> Hello commission. Thank you so much for having us and for hearing from us um on this issue. I hope I can show my
graphic. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you so much. Um when we heard about this without our knowledge, we did as a a community start to ask our neighbors. So, thank you for this opportunity to get to know my
neighbors. It's really been something amazing and wonderful over this holiday and as you can see we've gotten some great neighborhood feedback. Um I'm Sarah Cortez. I am at 511 Kadima Avenue for the last 10 years. That is the
historic home. It is the 1925. Um and this would very much impact me personally, but I'm here more to talk about what the impact to my neighborhood would be. I am a pediatric emergency
medicine physician. So health is really important to me. Mental health, childhood mental health is absolutely of the utmost value. And what I've seen over my years in practice
so far is that our mental health has deteriorated. And these open spaces absolutely are crucial. They were crucial when George Merrick decided to plan them out. They've been crucial since and since co
they've been even more crucial. That being said, that's not only for kids, that's for adults, that's for seniors, that's for people with neurodeivergent disorders as well as our uh differently aabled community. All of
us can use that open space. Right now, we know studies have shown that just looking at an open space, not with fences, not with beautiful landscaping, but just natural open spaces,
can absolutely in within five minutes calm someone. Now, if we can do that without actually using any medication, with getting people out and being able to use this space, what a brilliant use of space that we
don't have to spend a dime on. >> Yes. >> Now, on the other side, dog parks can only be used by a subset of our community. I'm a dog owner and I know that I would be doing
something against my neighbors because I'd be taking away a space that they use and I don't think that's fair. Also, the dog parks, parks with dogs, uh, have different diseases and as we have feral
cats, we also have diseases that come with them in the dog parks. So we would be bringing on more problems rather than actually improving the lives of our citizens. Thank you again so much for your time. >> Thank you very much
>> Miguel Cortez. Who's next after me go? >> Jeffrey Wright would be next. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> I am Miguel Cortez, a resable for over 10 years and also a husband, a fire and
a dog owner who loves living in Kora Gables because of its open green spaces, native plants, trees, and natural habitats they support. The field at 520 University Drive is Kora Gables at its
core. 520 University Drive is currently enjoyed by the enjoyed by all kinds of residents including adults, children, and their dogs. This fuel was also a safe outdoor place
for residents during COVID. Limiting its use and taking away is untouched natural beauty goes against the core of our city. I'd like to read the first sentence from Kora Gables, a guide to
the city beautiful. It says Kora Gables founder George Merritt imagine both a city beautiful and a garden city with lush green avenues with winding through
a residential city punctuated by civic landmarks and embellished with detail and playful architecture features. I'm here today to ask you ask you please help us preserve our city.
Please help us preserve what makes our city beautiful. Please help us preserve the city we love. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Jeffrey Wright >> and Lyn War part will be next. >> Thank you.
>> Good evening. I'm Jeff Wright. I live at 3501 Riviera Drive. I've been a resident here for 26 years. I appreciate you all listening to us tonight. Um, first let me say I'm a dog owner and a responsible dog owner. Um, I question the reasoning
behind us restricting the uses of of this widely used park now. Why are we restricting it so it can only be used by dog owners? Why can it not be used by children and families as it's being used now? If I want to go over there and have a
picnic right now, I can lay a blanket down. I've got an open space. It's wellmaintained and we can have a picnic. If we're going to restrict it to dogs only and dog owners only, you're taking away part of my freedom. I've been here 26 years. I'm not understanding the
reasoning here. Why is this being done? I question the sanitary and health of this dog park. I could question how it's going to be maintained. Again, there are three, at least three single
family homes that are very adjacent to this park. I want to know how it's going to be maintained to ensure those families are not impacted directly. And as a dog owner, I want to make sure my animals are not impacted. I'm also curious, you know, I hear about
transparency in the city council. I can't understand why none of the residents here were informed before this thing came to a petition and vote to the city commission were any of us asked if we wanted a dog park in our
neighborhood. I understand you all have the right to do so maybe legally, but I do not understand why it was put to vote before questioning anyone who lives within even 500 meters of this park. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you. >> Lyn Warch Partardo Jose Aal will be next. >> Mr. Partardo, good evening. >> Good evening, Miss Partardo. How are you? >> I'm fine. How are you? >> Thank you for being here with us.
>> My name is Lin Guardo. I live at 421 Kadima Avenue. I've lived there for 30 almost 36 years. I'd like to raise a few concerns regarding the November 18th petition which was submitted to the Coral Gable City Commission in support of off le off
leash dog parks. The November 18th petition was submitted titled petition to the city of Coral Gables city commission in support of an off leash dog park. It should best be viewed as an expression of community enthusiasm for another dog off leash dog park in Coral
Gables as no location was specified on the petition pages. If it was intended to be spi sight specific to 520 University Drive, why weren't the neighbors immediately abuing the proposed bark park which are 511 Kadima,
3510 Riviera, or 3,500 Riviera, or the homeowners directly across on Kadima, 520 Kadima, 510 Kadima, and 570 University given the petition to sign or residents on Harlano which are 500 ft
off of of the proposed location. If the proposed bark park was going to be for patrons within walking distance, why did people sign that live two or three miles south on Santona on San Vicente or in Coco Plum or north by
Southwest 8th Street or west on County Club County Country Club Prao or North Pawns? Where would they park if it was a formal petition rather than expression of support? Why did six entries include
first names only? Why were 23 addresses redacted? And why was one family member allowed to sign on behalf of three others? If it was more than an enthusiastic expression of community interest, why did people sign who don't have dogs? If it was sightsp specific
location in Coral Gables for Coral Gables, why were signatures included with addresses outside of our city limits like Bickl Bay Road, Southwest 27th Street, Southwest 79th Avenue, and Southwest 7th Street. When the commission received the November
petition, we know that you were impressed by the number of signatures in support of another off leash dog park, unaware that it was not sight specific. It included signatures outside of Coral Gables and many entries were incomplete. As you review our neighborhood petition
opposing a fence dog park at 520 University, please know that our petition includes almost 100 residents abudding across or proximate to the proposed dog park. We are united in our opposition and our petition outlines
why. We recognize that there is enthusiasm for another off leash dog park, but please don't force it on a small single family neighborhood that clearly doesn't want it. As city leaders, we implore you to find a better community solution that works for
everyone. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, >> Jose Aval Cohen. Maria Roas will be next. >> Good evening. Thank you for being here. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Jose Val. I live in 520
Kadima Avenue right across the green space uh where the dog park was proposed. Let me start with something very important. No one asked the neighbors who are directly impacted. There was no
notice, no flyer, no neighborhood meeting. We found out after the approval. So that for me is weird, suspicious because I I receive mail from the city every week. You know, they're going to do this, they're going to do
that, and we didn't receive anything for this dog park that is going to be right on front of my house. Nobody knocked my door, nothing. So, I work in real estate and development for 20 years. I specialize in commercial and residential
real estate and I've been doing it and I know how the process is to build. To build is not easy. You have to go through a process. You go through a board of architectures and as you know building Cora Gables is one of the hardest cities. Why? Because there's a
lot of rules and I love that. I love that because it keeps the city green with open spaces. not not any developer can come in and just build uh whatever they want. So when they approve this without uh the
notice and without the input of the people that lives right across of it for me was a no-go. I start knocking on doors. I move I I moved to from downtown Miami to Coral Gables because I don't
like the traffic anymore, the congestion, the overdevelopment that is going on there. And that's what I moved to Corables. This space, this open green space, I use it with my kids. I have uh two daughters and a son that is going to be born in a
couple months. So, I use it for picnics. I use it to play bowl. I use it. It's right on front of my house. And not only me, my neighbors here, if if you can see us, we are all all in the green shirt because we're trying to defend, you
know, this we're opposed to to this dog park. We love dogs, don't get me wrong, we have dogs. And uh what happened is that one day my neighbor came to me and asked, "Do you know about this dog park?" I said, "No." And the next day I start knocking on
doors and uh everybody was on the same situation as me. So we oppose to the dog park. We are I am amazed that why they're doing this. But what I saw is that there's a lot of buildings coming up. That is strange in
Gables. You know some it's weird why all these big developments are coming up. So I guess we need more amenities and that's uh the reason I'm here to oppose for this amenity. Look for another location, please. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you.
>> Maria Roas, David Hayes will be next. >> Good evening. >> Hello. Um, I live at 410 Kadima Avenue. Um, dear honorable members of the city
commission, I am speaking to share my passion for a hidden gem in Coral Gables, a natural thicket with native native plants that is home to many birds and animals. This passive green space brings serenity and is a healing spot
for me. I am sure many other residents as well, and I love to see it preserved. Compared to downtown Bickl, where green spaces are scarce and fence dog parks are needed, Coral Gables has always been
a place where open green spaces with native plants and animals make it attractive to move here. Residents near this area enjoy the gift of sighting North American kestrels, paragine
falcons, macaw, red build parrots, eastern screech owls, and our mascot, the glossy ibis, the endangered scrubj, raccoons, possums, redtailed foxes, and
even more. Let's preserve these wild native mini habitat areas for our native species so future generations can also have the gift of this experience. I urge you to consider preserving this natural area
area, keeping George Merik's dream of harmony between architecture and nature intact. Bulldozing and fencing would disrupt this natural flow in our landscape. Let's keep this hidden gem alive. Allow
the little red foxes to have a place to to hide. Thank you for your attention to this heartfelt request and just think of our children and our grandchildren. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> David Hayes. Mary Powell will be next.
>> Hello and good evening everyone. Uh David Hayes. I live at 300 Fluia Avenue which is is close to this location. I've lived here for over 20 years now and have often driven through this area and marveled at this little gem of an area,
especially all the vegeta vegetation and and growth thicket area that is behind the uh the one house uh which I guess is the old Spanish. It's been there since 1925. I can't imagine taking that away.
Uh it's very beautiful the way it is. Um um the the thing that really struck me on this is um I happen to know people that live in the area and I heard about this that that that they said this dog park was planned and that they didn't know
anything about it. Um I happened to have been involved uh they put in a park at uh on Salo in Sto and I remember everyone in the area was noticed on that and they had a a meeting. I remember I went to the meeting and they had the the
uh all the surrounding residents and the immediate residents were there had a lot of input into uh the amenities and the design and so forth. Uh I think they even they even gave more votes to the people that lived closer to us. So anyway, it was it was a process in which
the um the neighbors were uh very involved uh in in in the development or what was done with that area as as a park. So I you know I really think you need to uh you know include the the residents a lot more there and uh
appreciate your time. >> Thank you sir. >> Mary Powell Hillary Rodriguez will be next. >> Good evening. >> I did also I provided this to the city clerk but I'm just going to give you guys a map.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um I do have one question. I know I have three minutes to give my statement. There was one thing said by someone else and I wanted to be able to address it, but it was just a quick thing. There seems to be a misunderstanding about
whether people were told when signing the petition since I'm the one that got all the signatures. A map was shown to each individual signature person. So, I can commit to that and I can do an affidavit if need be. But that 100% was the case everywhere. >> Thank you for clarifying.
>> So, that's but that's not part of my statement. I just want to address that. So, good evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, city manager, city attorney. My name is Mary Powell, and I live at 3267 Riviera Drive. I'm here
tonight for one simple reason, to reaffirm that the resolution this commission passed in November should stand and move forward. Support for dog parks in Coral Gables is broad, documented, and citywide. More than 485
residents from every part of the city have formerly have formally expressed support for the off leash dog parks. It's on the map in front of you all. This support includes residents living near the proposed site as well as residents from neighborhoods throughout Coral Gables. This effort followed the
process. Residents engaged. Petitions were submitted. Public comment was given. The item was properly noticed, debated, and ultimately approved by this commission. That vote was not rushed,
informal, or incomplete. It was the result of sustained public input and deliberation. It's important to acknowledge that in any city project, there will always be some residents who disagree. That is
normal, and their voices deserve respect. But disagreement after the fact does not negate the process, nor does it outweigh the demonstrated documented support that led to this commission's decision. What
does matter is consistency, predictability, and trust. Residents engaged in good faith, relied on this commission's vote, and now reasonably expect the city to follow through. Reopening a duly approved resolution
based on a handful of late objections sends the wrong message to residents who participate constructively and transparently in civic life. This dog park is a quality of life investment. It activates underutilized public land and
it reflects the will of a broad cross-section of Coral Gable's residents. I respectfully ask this commission to honor its November vote, keep the resolution in place, and allow this project to proceed. Thank you for your time and consideration.
>> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. >> Hillary Rodriguez. Raul Mas will be next. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Hillary Rodriguez. I live at 510 Kadima Avenue
and I've lived there for over 23 years and I'm directly across from the proposed site of the dog park and my everybody's stated a lot of their views, opinions and and you know feelings you know feelings about the situation but my
main concern that I want to express is that I live as as Jose said directly across the street. I never got any notice. No one asked anything about our opinion about having a dog park right in front of my house. And I just think that that's contrary to all of the mail
notices and outreach that we've received as citizens with regard to other important issues in the city. And I think we really need to go back, look at the process, and do this the right way. Engaging in the neighborhood just like everyone in in the I live across the youth center. I feel like we're engaged
in community and youth and war memorial and and remembering all the important things about our city and I think we need to include all of that in the process before we take away this open passive green space right in front of our homes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much.
>> Raul Mas. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Raul Mas. I live at 610 Vabella Avenue. Um, I have grown up in the city of Coral Gables practically my entire life except for a 10-year period going off to college and
getting my career started, etc., etc. I am extremely familiar with the Coral Gables library, with the youth center, with University Drive. I actually lived on University Drive for a while. I drive on University Drive. I drive up Siggoia.
I drive to what was then, you know, called um, you know, what's the the big church there. I mean, I've been, you know, Riviera back and forth. I know that area intimately. Um, I want to echo the comments of uh,
previous speaker here. Um, I love the green spaces of Coral Gables. Okay. Um, I where I live, I don't have any sidewalks. you know, for me to walk my dog in my neighborhood can be sometimes dangerous because there's a lot of tra
of traffic and there are no sort of safe spaces around where where I can walk him. Um, I ordinarily need to put my dog in my car and take him someplace that I can walk him freely or let him run freely. Um, and there has been an incredible absence of dog parks in this
city quite frankly until Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson came around and made it an issue. and I'm delighted for it. My only problem with dog parks now is that when I take my dog there, he doesn't want to leave. He's thrilled. I mean, literally, you know, I remember being there at the dog park at 8:00 in the
evening, and there was no way I could get my 100 pound dog out of the park. Okay, dogs. And I I became a dog owner late in life. Dog owners aren't just dogs, they're family members, just like we have parks for for children uh and and the youth center, which is
phenomenal. And I'm a little bit confused because I've driven by this property numerous times and you would think from listening to the people here that there are constantly picnics going on there and people playing softball and running around with balls and the dogs are are free roaming around the park. I
don't see that. I've seen a yes a nice open space. Okay. Um a green space but you know there is this mentality. It's a phrase called nimi not in my backyard. It's very it's very understandable. You want city services, you want all these
things, but once it interferes with your life, then suddenly it's a big issue. I can't address the issue of whether you were notified or not. I know that recently there's a park opening up the the the uh University Drive park there uh where the canal is right in my neighborhood. It's going to be a small
park for for children, etc., etc. I got tons of notice that that uh the city was going to build something there. Um, my message to my neighbors is listen, um, I don't see what the objection is. You have an enormous youth center. You have an incredible lights all over there at
at, you know, especially during the soccer season to all hours of the night. You've got traffic. You've got the library there. There's plenty of parking. You know, dog parks normally close at 6:00. This is a I think a a a reasonable compromise for dog dog owners.
>> Thank you, sir. That's it, Mr. Mayor. All right. Thank you very much, colleagues. U Commissioner Castro. >> Yeah. So, thank you very much. I'm the sponsor of item F1 and I sponsored F1.
This originally wasn't my item. So I I apologize vice mayor to be presenting this but it is my responsibility also when I have this amount of residents approaching me with the dissatisfaction of a dog park to do something about it.
I can't just turn my face even though it is not my item. So no disrespect to to your item at all. I just I had to act upon it. Um, I invited Chris King as my special guest and I know that he was time limited. So, I do want to give you
the opportunity to go ahead and finish what you could not finish. And the other thing after he's done is that I want to go ahead and I want to present. I want to go ahead and put again on on the screen the map that was attached to
to the item after he's done he's done talking. Um, and I'll continue what I have to say. >> Sir, how are you? >> Good. Thank you very much. >> Uh, how many minutes do you need to speak? >> Uh, if you just give me five minutes, I think I can wrap it up. I know you guys
have heard a lot of arguments. I can I can be quick. >> Thank you very much. >> Mr. Kirk, will you give me five minutes on the clock, please? Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. And I I just want to, you know, hit a couple of things about the law and then I want to hit something about the the
history of this, which is um, you know, we have these ordinances and the this is the law. We have noise ordinances that are going to be violated every single day that this park is used and every single day that it's going to be in
existence. We have historic homes that are right up against uh where there's going to be a bark park. And that's what they call it, a bark park because that's what dogs do. They they get together, they get excited, they bark. We know that. And
that is going to violate the uh the noise ordinance that we have against repeated uh repetitive and continual barking from dogs. and the folks who were on ground zero of this, you've
heard from them. They're uniformly opposed. Now, let me talk about the history of this because one of the one of the speakers you heard uh lives in a house built in 1925 and um it was designed by uh one of the
preeminent uh architects in the world at that time, which uh was John and his brother Colton Skinner. And across the street we have a a house that was uh designed by George Fank. These are historic homes. This is
a very special house. I know when I bought my house in 2004, I was sold on the idea that this is a special street. It is a historic uh street and the open spaces go along with that. If you start intruding on that,
uh, if you take that away, the city is going down a path where there's going to be liability here. There's the city is going to be exposed. People are going to have want compensation for taking that away. Uh, and look, I quote the the
master plan, Merrick's vision of a place where people could live in a great garden set with houses and a park where all people can live to their best capacities. ensured that parks and open spaces would be essential to the framing
of the future of the city. This isn't some trivial concern that we're losing an empty space. These are important uh uh areas that are critical to the the history of this and lots of folks have
been uh uh excluded from this process. You heard from the residents. This was the really the first time that people learned of this, had the opportunity to show up. You have not heard necessarily from the patrons of the library, people who use the library all the time, every
single day, who need that quietude. Commuters, we know that this is a high density traffic area throughout the year. It is probably right now when it's raining, it's overflowing with cars, voters. The library is key for for
voting in elections. Uh you know throughout the year every year we have off-year elections, we have presidential elections. That thing was swarming last year and that's an early voting area. All that's going to be taken away for a
bark park. And then we have the naturalist and you heard, you know, uh one of the speakers talk about um the the importance of having this habitat. We think that um the there may be endangered species who who may use that
area as well. There is vegetation. There's huh trees that have been there for 100 years that under the the uh ordinance that we think that is still in effect since 1972. Those can't be removed and it would be a
shame to remove them. And look um I understand the need. I understand the passion that a lot of people have for this uh which is um they want to have a dog part and there's a solution for this
and it's in the private sector. This should be commercial property. It should be privately owned. It shouldn't be run by the government. And maybe these are my Republican colors showing, but you know, this is better run by the private
sector that can better absorb uh the risks and or much better uh to offset the risk with insurance. The government is not the solution here and uh this should not be taking place in this
particular area. Makes no logical sense. So that's why we're opposed to it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. >> So now I I believe I still have the floor. So now, Billy, I'm going to go ahead and ask you to go ahead to go ahead and put the map on on the screen.
>> Yes, ma'am. Just give me one second, please. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Cable TV could share my screen, please. Thank you. >> Okay. I want to go ahead and I want to explain this map right here. There was two petitions that were out there and I believe this is one of them that they
brought up here, but it's missing actually the little red dots. The red circle right there is a 500 meter radius from where the park is right there. The people who signed the petition, there is
14 people that are for the park surrounding a 500 meter radius and there is 41 against the park. Now, I think what I want to do is come into a fair conclusion resending the previous vote, but take it
as far as having the city do an outreach of the area. Maybe 1,000 meter. I don't know what the the custom is right. What is it a 1500 1,000 meters? What is it >> for parks that I defer to the manager on but we typically would >> generally one quarter mile within walking distance. >> One quarter mile.
>> That's what we use for for walking distance. >> So what I would suggest if we resend the vote to go ahead and do the outreach and ask especially the immediate neighbors that are really going to affect their quality of life if they want a dog park or not. Um, I think we are leading a
resident first government. Everybody here says residents first. Um, I think that's a healthy medium. I'm not saying not a dog park, but I'm saying let's do some outreach. If people want it, they want it. We'll give it to them. Whatever the majority wants, and if they don't,
then we won't get it. I will move to go ahead and that would be I would move my resolution to that. >> We're in the middle of of uh of discussion. So, first and foremost, um, having been here the longest, I remember that
Commissioner Slesnick was the was the commissioner who passed a legislation in regards to expanding the outreach effort to homes. I think it was about 1,500 u meters. We could we should have staff affirm that.
>> Mayor, do you want me to address that? >> Yes. >> So, so I think we're talking about two different things. There's the outreach that we do per our zoning code which is the mail notice requirements and we have 1,000 ft for certain things and 1500 feet we do have like you said 1500 ft for other things but then when it comes
to um outreach for park designs and so forth I don't know what our standard is uh and that on that I would mayor defer to the manager. >> So the mayor 1500 ft is about a quarter mile that's about that's about point is that um >> let's not pin
homeowners against homeowners. That's what I believe. Let's not politicize this and make this about politics. That's not what we should do. Well, you know, you have 40 people that are in favor of it within 500 and then you have 14 that are against it. That that's not going to work cuz guess what? Someone's going to
be unhappy at the end of the day. So, let's move on from that. Uh we're not here to we're here to find a solution. Okay. So, quick question if I may before I pass it on to to uh to the vice mayor. In fact, just reserving my comments for after. Mr. Clerk, have we also heard
individuals from who who maybe are in favor of the park? I know we had one individual that spoke or two two or three. >> We've listen to everyone. >> Make sure we we cover everything. So, I'm going to close the public comment now. Okay. >> And and yes, >> sorry, mayor. I apologize for interrupting, but I believe this was all public comment. Um, all speaker cars had
asked for to speak on items F1 and F11. >> Yes. Just want to make sure we covered everything. I don't want to hear later that we we didn't give anybody the opportunity to speak. Okay. Madam Vice Mayor, >> so um before we begin, I know that the
more recent uh petition that Mary Powell submitted, uh it was submitted to the clerk and um Mr. Clerk, can you please state for the record how many signatures were collected? >> I will give me one second, Vice Mayor, please. Okay.
>> And just to just to make sure the question should go through the the mayor as chair. Yeah. So, Vice Mayor, just on average, I have a 13page document with four uh four signatures per page on average. So, about 50 signatures on this document,
maybe five signatures. Yeah. So, let's do 50 signatures on this document. >> Okay. Which which document are you referring to? the one that I just received now that says uh petition to the city of Coral Gable city commission in support of an off leash
stop park. >> Okay. I believe that the actual number is about 470 some through the mayor. >> Yes. >> May Powell clarify how many signatures she collected. >> Okay. Sorry. So on three separate
occasions there were tranches of signatures that have been provided to our city clerk. So there was a time when we had uh Catalini dog park. We had for that 200 and something 200 signatures at
the time in supporters in that neighborhood, my neighborhood, my street. And then the second trunch was the 20 and uh I was 225 that we presented that got tagged to that item when you all voted in November. And then
additionally 50 were submitted tonight. So they are all in your records. They are not all in one document in your records. I am happy to combine them into one document and resubmit them to him. I don't have the ability to do that from this room right in this moment, but I would be happy to compile that all
together for you. But it that map that I gave out represents every signature that we've gotten in support of an off leash dog park because Melissa Castro and these other lovely neighbors did not send me I I mean nobody gave me their
addresses so I didn't I don't have a way to put them on my map. But it's >> But no, no, I'm just saying like there was a She said specific this it's not intended to be contentious, guys. I'm just saying she said that my map does not reflect your addresses. It doesn't
because I didn't know you. I didn't know any of this. And so therefore, it's kind of a little bit of a misnomer. >> But let's do this. Let's do this. Okay. This is Let me make a request. Okay. >> Of course. >> Cuz we want to move on and and allow the vice >> I'm not in charge. If I may. >> I'm not in charge of
>> If I may. If I may. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> I'm just >> I just All right. If I may. If I may. Thank you. Okay. We want to move forward through the process and limit the outburst and and get to get to some consensus here. That's the the the goal
here. Mr. Clerk, if you would please help me with both sides and the petitions here. You have certain pages that have 50 signatures and certain pages that have one signature. For example, I'll show you two signatures.
You understand? So, if we could if we could potentially put together these documents so that for the record appropriately so there's no duplication and you're not saying that one one one has 200 then 250 then 50 then all this kind. I just want to make it very clear. here. It doesn't have to be done today.
Okay. All right. And by the way, a decision has to be made here. Somebody's going to be happy. Somebody's not going to be happy. But we can build consensus. All right. So, let's let's go through the process. Everybody spoke. We closed the public comment. We clarified the issue of the signatures. Madam Vice Mayor, >> sorry,
>> but we can't but but we can't but we >> sir, but we can't do this. We can't do this. And I if I may, if I may, >> we may if I may. Just for the record. I met with you. I sat down with you. We had a long conversation. We're here to listen, but we have to follow a process.
We can't be bursting from the grand stands. It just no other city allows that. I know that was the common here before, but it's not. We can't do that. There has to be rules. There has to be rules. For example, your lawyer had 3 minutes. He wanted additional time. I asked him, "How much do you want?" He
said, "Five." I gave him the full five. Right? >> I just want two. That's it. just so we can be transparent and we can do things the right way. That's it. Okay. Thank you very much. Now, Madam Vice Mayor, >> so I'm going to walk you all through the process because not every one of you um
I've spoken to. I did a dog park item over near Salvador Park. It was led by me. This one was not led by me. I went door to door and the people that across the street from that
park now are thrilled with it. There was drawing that was submitted. There was some people that didn't want it. It was built. They provided input on what was going to go into the park.
And as I've gone over there more recently, the individuals that are directly across from the park are absolutely thrilled because they had input in the design. Now, I see you shaking your head and
stuff, but I've also told every single one of you, I hold office hours on Fridays. None of you came to provide input. If you want to provide input, you need to come and provide input and none of you came.
So, 475 of your neighbors around the area and there's three green spaces along University Drive there that belong to the city of Coral Gables and have
dogs running off leash at this time. A very dangerous situation that can happen in any neighborhood. It's not a safe place for them to run off leash because there's no fence. We made made some statements that
neither here nor there, but native plants are not there. You have invasive snake plants. 100-year-old trees, the banyons are not going to be touched. You have poinsiiana
trees, some which need trim back. There is broad support for this. People that walk by through and around our neighborhoods that have to walk their dogs lengthy periods because number one,
they can't get sufficient exercise. And it is important not only for the mental health of the people, but the mental health of the animals to have this time together. One of the things that I comments I got in from residents that do go to these dog parks is it's good for
community, it's good for mental health, and it builds community. A 25- ft buffer is wider than a street. A 25- ft buffer loaded with plants and green greenery that is native does
provide a sound buffer. When I had the opportunity to go down to um an area that was filled with rock pineland and you couldn't even hear the traffic from the turnpike because
there was so much underbrush and that's what plant material does. Microfors do that. They reduce the amount of pollution. They reduce the amount of noise. And 25 ft of width of planted material does do quite a bit.
No matter what decision we make here today, there are going to be people walking out unhappy. It happens with every single decision that is made. We have a large community that has been
wanting a dog park in this walkable area between Bird Road and Coral Way, Lleon Road, and Granada. So, they could be able to walk to take their dogs as opposed to having
to put them in the car. Now, public comment can be made as to what to put into the park. There's a five-foot buffer all the way around the edge with a hedge. And the comment that I had provided the staff is let it grow up to
the tight of the fence so that it's not visible for people driving through that don't live here because it's supposed to be something you walk to, not something you drive to. I made the same comments for the folks over at Salvador Park when we cut the
ribbon there. I asked people to be respectful of the neighbors and I told the neighbors that you know we can provide them uh residential parking permits if parking becomes an issue. It never became an issue. So therefore they
didn't need to take that exercise. But we need to work together as a community. Pitting wars against each other is not uh a great way to do make community and and build community.
The residents gathered the signatures to support the placing of an off leash dog park in this area and this was one of the best locations because um the other location is used for the parking. The other green space which is
available for picnicking if you want um is smaller and it would be too concentrated an area and this one is the largest and offers the greatest opportunity to create the 25- ft barrier between the residences
and uh the park itself so that you have essentially a city street width between your homes and that I can't ignore what the majority of folks have wanted.
Those are my comments. >> Thank you. Uh, Commissioner Fernandez. >> Much like much like you, I wasn't informed about this either. >> In fact, I showed up at that commission meeting and found out that day that there was a 6 p.m. time certain to address a resolution to create a dog
park at that location. um without any prior notification. Yet, the room was full of people. So, I'm sure a lot of people are informed that there was a 6 p.m. time certain to address that issue that day. Yet, a member of this commission was not informed uh about
that item being discussed. As I've spoken to many of you uh over the last uh few weeks, I am concerned about the fact that only those who supported this park were informed. those who were
against it somehow just didn't find out. And from what you have shared with me, it wasn't that members of this commission did not know you were opposed to a dog park because this is not the first time this issue comes up. And I covered it in Gable's Insider back in the day about the discussions that there
were at the time about creating a dog park at that location. The community, the neighborhood was totally against creating a dog park at that location. There's a lot of talk and if you watch today's meeting, you'll hear about, you know, things done in the cover of night. This was done in the cover of night. You
were excluded from the process. The neighborhood neighbors in this neighborhood. And of course, we hear now, well, you know, we don't want to pin people against each other. It's very easy to say it now. And what you're being told here today is you'll have the opportunity to select the trees that
you're going to get or the flowers that you get, but you're going to have to deal with a dog park in front of your house or adjacent to your house, the dogs barking at all times all the time. I'm going to second Commissioner Castro's motion to resend this. I think
that a process needs to be laid out and followed where a solution is found. I'm not saying a dog park is not something that we can do, but there has to be a process where both sides are able to come to the table and find a
solution that works for everybody. And I know if there's any place where we can do that, it's here in Coral Gables. So, I will second Commissioner Castro's motion. Um, and I'm ready to vote. Commissioner Lada, >> I'm really happy that everybody came uh
this afternoon at 6 o'clock to express their views. Um we're always open. All of us are available at all times to hear everyone's concerns on matters especially that involve um them personally and I have met with some of
you that you have come to to my office hours and you've expressed your concerns. The concerns you've expressed though were after the vote was taken naturally and you've said to me and I I have no reason to doubt that you were unaware that um this process was ongoing.
But perhaps more to the point and maybe to put a finer point on it, some of you expressed to me that you were under the belief that it wasn't proceeding. Not that you were unaware that a dog park was being contemplated, but that you
were under the belief that it wasn't going to be going forward. So, I have no idea what the disconnect was, if there was a disconnect or how it came about. Um, you know, but but that's what was expressed to me by by some of the residents is that they understood one
thing and then when they spoke with other residents, they said, "No, don't worry. This is not going forward." I was made to understand it's not going forward. Well, with respect to the vote that was taken in November, you know, so my colleague here to my right said that he was
unaware of a time certain 6:00. Well, I don't know how that's the case because we we all received the agenda. We all were given an opportunity to attend an agenda review and it is not uncommon. In
fact, it's it's after 7:00 and we've been here at commission meetings until 9:00 at night, a full 12 hours in a row. So, I have no idea, nor have I asked why Commissioner Castro and Commissioner
Fernandez were absent at the 6:00 agenda meeting, time certain that was heard in November. But in any event, this room was packed. This room was packed with individuals more so than we had during the entire
day of regularly scheduled commission meeting. All that I know is that a great deal of people showed up enthusiastic for this project and I am unaware and if the city
manager, parks and wreck or the city attorney could clarify for me if there was anything that was required to be done in providing notice to the affected residents and the residents at large because this
is not a project that is just for the people that live in the immediate area, but this is a city-wide or at least walkable distance. Is is there any I'm going to ask that question now. Is there any failure to provide what's required in terms of notice leading up to the
vote that was taken in November through the through the mayor? item to the attorney. >> Mayor, so um there's no uh requirement in our code or in our zoning code, no legal requirement for such mailed notice. Um obviously the posting of the agenda is is is notice in and of itself
of an item that's going to be considered by the commission. Um, it is my understanding that staff has its typical practice when it comes to reviewing, you know, uh, park sites and and designing park sites, but my I'll defer to the manager on that, but my understanding is that there is usually an input process
for the design of a park. So, once we we know we want, uh, you know, staff has identified a particular site, there is input that's ascertained from the community um, for the design of that particular park. Commissioner >> through the mayor to the office of the
city manager if I may or to parks. What what is the sequence that the city follows typically if not policy practice in terms of how these things go about in terms of of the resident input at the earliest and
through the end state? >> Uh through the mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> Uh commissioner, this was already a park site. This is across from the youth center. This is used for parking. This is a zoned S. So, this is already a park site. It's not a site that we are
acquiring for something. And so, what we would normally do is is is is meet with the residents to show the the the proposed park. So, we are going to be uh meeting with it with the residents to show what the proposed uh layout is. As
you saw, those kind those are the kind of drawings that we showed here earlier are the kind of drawings that that we showed to the uh to the to the residents at large. However, this was not this site was not acquired for park. This site is is across from the youth center
across from from from the uh library which is by the way our library. We own that that site also. So the fact that that this site was already uh used for park space generated the the uh the took care of that initial site acquisition.
The next step would be to meet with the residents to show them the uh the the proposed project which would be similar to what was shown here by our city landscape architects. So it it sounds to me that since the site was already a
park, then determining what shape or use that park would take typically is at the design stage. The design stage when you seek the input
from the residents who are most impacted by that design. Is that correct? >> That is correct. Commissioner I think the uh the vice mayor is correct that there's no way that you can have a decision rendered today that will make everybody that was here in November and everybody that's sitting here today in
January feel good or satisfied. It's impossible because there's obviously a a a discrepancy or a a split of opinion on how the park space should be used or
what its design would be. It it is quite another thing though to say that as one of my colleagues just said that it was an exclusion of you all. There there
there is no basis in fact to say that there was a decision made a conscious decision to exclude your views or your input. Um and and frankly I I I take offense at that because that would be something that
would be trying to take so far what is a civil conversation and possibly try and inflame it. We've seen enough of that uh today. The the the fact remains I am sitting here unaware of any failure to provide
any notice. not only required because apparently there is none at that point required but that we're actually following the way uh the practice has been in the city with respect to space that's already been designated as a park park space. So what
we're looking at it seems to me is the design use of that particular park space. There's an input state for that, an input stage, and we're still in it now. And I think the vice mayor made that point perfectly clear that we want that input from you
all. We want to know how it will best be utilized in your collective views. And for that, it's a process that we're going to need to follow. But be assured, I wouldn't stand for anybody trying to
pull the wool over your eyes, exclude you as residents from the input or from what you are required and lawfully entitled as a say at the table. For the love of me, I have no idea how so many people appeared in November to a
packed room and none of you were aware of it. But such is the case. >> Such was the case. And where we are right now is that we're all ears. And
we're going to take to heart whatever your views and your thoughts are with respect to the design of this of this space which has already been designated a park. >> Mr. Mayor, Commissioner, I've I've requested that the clerk
look up the agenda for that day and he has some other information. Just wait a second. I want to be very clear. >> So, I've asked the clerk to look up the agenda from that commission meeting and to give us background to how we got to where we are today.
>> So, Mr. If I may, on when we published the agenda for the November 18th meeting on Thursday, November 13th, this item was on the agenda with a 12 noon time certain. The day before the meeting on November 17th, the commission decided to attend
the funeral of Officer Haramu the following day. Therefore, we changed the time certain of this item to 6:00 p.m. the day before the meeting. But the item had been on the agenda since the agenda had been published the week before with a time certain on it.
>> You have a a copy of that please. If cable TV can share my screen, as you can see, F3, it's agenda item F4. I apologize. >> F4. I'm sorry, my eyesight's a little bad. F4 clearly delineates a time certain at 6 p.m.
But that's not the only issue we're ahead. Okay. It is a responsibility and is incumbent of the elected official who's elected by you to be at every meeting. The vote was 30-0. Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner
Castro did not come back after the funeral. Right? Again, at the end of the day, that's their decision. No excuse was given in regards to why they couldn't be here, but at the end of the day, they were not here. So, my point is this.
I was not aware that you were upset or potentially I was not aware that you were not that you were not in favor of this. I a process was followed and we did not circumvent a process to make sure that your voice was not heard. Many of you came to see me at open office
hours that I've been doing every Friday for 13 years and we came and we had a conversation and I said I need to find out more information what happened. So there was no process where you were excluded from. Okay. Now, a few issues that I think we
need to put on the record that your esteemed attorney mentioned. The noise ordinance issue. We have rules here in the city. If an or noise ordinance is violated for one reason or another, we will we will force individuals to
comply. That's number one. Number two, if it becomes a habit, I give you my word that the park, the dog park or bark park, whatever you want to call it, is going to have a problem because you're not going to have somebody living next to that park and a
violation of the noise ordinance. I'd like to find out from the manager if possible, please. Have we had any issues? Because we already have one, we have dog parks in the city adjacent to residential homes. Have we had any complaints in regards to those dog parks? Mayor, we've had no complaints concerning noise on those dog
works. >> So, we don't have any code enforcement, proof of code enforcement violations or anything like that where the neighbor has said, "I I can't sleep at night. There's a dog. Obviously, you can't use the parks from from dust to dawn." Correct. >> That's correct, ma'am. >> So, there's limitations in regards to
the uses of those parks. So, I think we need to be very careful about that. Okay. Uh, also, there was a mention about historic homes. We value our historic homes. Critically important to who we are as a community. I don't know how that would affect a dog would affect a historic home. Um, but I'm more than
willing to learn on that front. And by the way, I don't own a dog. So, I want to put that on the record. My daughters are killing me for a dog, but I don't own a dog. I don't own a dog. And, um, I'm not in I'm at this present moment, I got my hands full, as you can tell by this commission meeting. Um, so
to me, you had a meeting. We followed the rules. Okay. I don't want to be put in a position which is what I am right now, which is what I said in the beginning. And I know that having the privilege to be an elected official, sometimes you got to make decisions that doesn't make people happy.
But if you told me there was a there was a glitch in the matrix in regards to the process. We didn't follow the rules and someone dis disenfranchised, I would say to myself, okay, we got to we got to fix this. We got to back this out. But if I make you happy,
I make them happy. What I think is better to do in my opinion is I think that we need to have both sponsors select one or two individuals each
and and start to build consensus to have a conversation with the manager, the city attorney, and the city clerk. sit down in a room, call a sunshine meeting and have the four people, the two elected officials and say, "Okay,
what can we do to build consensus?" Because at the end of the day, you're going to run into your neighbor at Publix. You're going to run into your neighbor at the UN basketball game. You're going to run into your neighbor at the library. You're going to run in and that's not who we are. It's not who we are. So, we got to find a way to
bridge the gap. Does that mean that you cut a certain area of the park? Does that mean so it's not next to the nice lady, the physician? By the way, I know what a physician has to do every day. My father's a physician who works non-stop every single day. So I know, especially being in the
emergency room, what she has to do and how she needs to sleep. So we got to take a step back here, okay? We've had two meetings, pro against. Let's take a step back. Let's schedule some time with the manager, city
attorney, city clerk. Both of these both of my colleagues select two individuals from each group from each side and we build some consensus here. We find a way to bridge the gap. Okay, I've already told you there's no noise ordinance issues. I don't know personally and I want to be educated. Okay, I want to be
educated in regards to how this may affect a historic home. I'm not saying it may not. Maybe you teach me. You know, property values go down. I need to find out what are issues that would affect us. Um but right now as we are right now I I I feel I would be doing a disservice to
myself as an elected official if I voted in favor for them and then I voted against. So um I think that we need to be very very careful about how we move forward. Not only on delivering the part but also on how we vote today. I don't
think we should vote except for designating two individuals on each side to start having real conversations about these issues. So, um I know that we have Blue Road, we have the Blue Road, uh open space that was done, that was an existing park that after 20 plus years was finally
delivered. It's going to be about to open and we had the Salvador park which was existing and we put in a dog park there. Those are examples that I think we need to look at in regards to notice and what we did in those parks and what we did there. Those are examples of existing pieces of land that we owned and then they later transitioned after,
you know, decades into a different use. Even though Blue Road is not a different use, it's always been an open space, but we we it's now it's a park. Now it looks beautiful. So, I think that that's something that I'd like to see the manager uh and and the city attorney and the city clerk work on my colleagues to say, "Okay, what are the notice
requirements? How do we handle it in that point? What do we do in Salvador Park when we put a dog park in?" Okay. So, um I think we've had some pretty robust discussion. What I would like to see, and I hope my colleagues would support me, you have something you'd like to say >> through the mayor. >> Yes, sir.
>> When you're done. I'm done. Well, I I just want to borrow and and jump off that last point you were making. It's at the risk of being repetitive, it's already designated for park use. Do not underestimate, assuming
um the vote is that we're going to be ultimately going forward with this particular use of the park. Do not underestimate the the power and the influence and the reach you have as residents to work with the city to reach
the consensus that the mayor is talking about. I have seen miraculous well near miraculous changes in all kinds of developments. One one that recently comes to mind is a development at 760 punts. It it went
years and the the the developer and the residents were like this far apart for a very very long time. But they were passionate and they were clear and direct about what they wanted to see since they are the ones most affected by
that development. So don't underestimate yourselves in getting what you want as part of an overall consensus because I've seen mountains get moved when people care enough. So you may be very very surprised, I would not, that
you end up with something you really will treasure if we all work together and try and find that consensus. >> And by the way, the layout that you see there may not be the layout. >> Again, this is very preliminary. very preliminaries. It may not be the whole size. It may be half the size. Maybe I
don't know at the end of the day. So, I think that I'd like to have the sponsors of of both of these pieces of legislation u tell me if they agree with what I'm trying to build here. Yes, Madam Vice Mayor. So, um, for the people that did come to see me or I did get the
opportunity to meet with, I was able to show them the various iterations of what happened at the Salvador Dog Park and they saw that it started with one idea from staff, then it transformed into another idea, and then it went into
a third idea where the sidewalk was moved. The neighborhood is thrilled with the park. Even those who thought they wouldn't like it. They like it now. They use it now. And they use it daily themselves, even
though they live right across the street. We do need to build consensus, but we cannot build consensus if you're unwilling to meet, if you're unwilling to talk, if you're not willing to look at the drawings and make comments on them. I did it with some of your
neighbors then the rest of you refused to meet. So you cannot build consensus that way. Um yes I do think the idea that you have for having the meetings is exactly where we're
heading anyway with uh the dog park design. This is why I had staff's first iteration presented so we can start that discussion. and move forward >> through the mayor.
>> Yes, commissioner. >> Yes. Okay. So, um they don't want I number one, I think having a a sunshine meeting is a great idea, but I'm pretty sure, and they've reiterated to me a thousand times, they don't want to talk about the design of
the park. What they want to talk about is that they don't want a dog park. That's the conversation they want to have. Okay? And I also understand that there's other residents that do want a dog park. So yes, I think a sunshine meeting would be beneficial,
maybe with both of us in there with all parties available as well, as many residents as we can get there in the area affected. But I also think that moving that moving forward, we need a process of how we determine and maybe
through the mayor, city attorney, if you can go ahead and work on legislation to go ahead and um build a process, especially the neighbors that are being affected immediately or 1,000 ft radius. when we're going to propose a park, we
need something like legitimate that we can follow through. And um I was also unaware that it was at 6 p.m. I was told probably 3 hours before that I was it's at 6:00 p.m. the the dog
park. That's why I wasn't here. Um I do feel that for some reason you guys were excluded. I don't know. I know that the city attorney here says that because it's on the agenda, you guys were notified, but the reality of life is
that people that are not following politics every day are not reading an agenda every single day. And I understand that. Okay. So, I think that there has to be another method of communication, especially when there's a dog park being proposed in your backyard
or in your front yard. So, um, I want to go ahead and I also want to go ahead and put on the record some of the text messages I've been getting. Um, one of them say they want to change the green area to real grass for fake grass with a fence. Is that accurate? Is
is that the proposal? Do we know? No. >> First and foremost, through the mayor, we got to have an order. I'm sorry. I apologize. It's got to work. It's the way democracy works. Um, again, if you'd like to speak with staff, ask me and I'll bring staff up.
>> Okay. Through the mayor. That's a question I will continue to ask different questions that I have here on on on my on my phone >> through the mayor. >> Yes. >> The large area would be grass. The small area for small dogs would be artificial turf. That's what was proposed on the
plan. >> Okay. Thank you, Dina. I'm sorry. I think the answer the the question was answered. Okay. So then the second one is that um Vice Mayor Anderson speaks with the neighbors next to the park, but she hasn't given us a chance for a
neighborhood meeting. All she wants to do is do one-on-one meetings. I think moving forward, and I'm not going to answer for her, but I think she's open to having a sunshine meeting with all residents if we can come into some type of agreement that would make everybody happy at the same time.
>> Through the mayor. >> Yes, ma'am. The emails I received requested a meeting within hours, you know, the within the next day on a Saturday on on a at the Coral Gables Library. I said it's too short a notice.
We we don't own the library. I mean, we own the library. We don't can't dictate the uses there. Okay. I offered to meet with each people one-on-one. I also offered my office hours to meet. Same process happened with the Salvador
dog park. Okay, people came in. They came in as a group. They requested certain things. They brought in samples of what they wanted. I handed it off to staff and staff obliged and staff has been done an amazingly good job of maintaining that
park and they clean it as well. So, thank you. >> If if I can continue to the mayor. Yes. Another resident has some concerns that the petition has signatures that are not even residents of Coral Gables. I think
it would be and and I I love petitions, but at the same time, when it comes to a park like this, I think the city should take a little more hold and ask ourselves and me going door todoor or ballot questions when it comes to this or verify these these petitions. Um,
parks and recreation review for park change. What is the process behind that? That's one of the questions from one of the residents. >> The process through the mayor. >> Through the mayor. >> Through the mayor. >> Yes. Thank you, mayor. Uh the park
process it would be now uh we we the normal the process for a new piece of property is is the commission decides to purchase that piece of property for parkland and then we look at different alternatives for what that what that park is going to be. In this case, it
would be a dog park and and in this case, we would we would present to the residents what what the proposal is and get feedback from from those residents just like uh we presented here today uh through our city landscape architect
>> through the mayor. This is a question for the city attorney. There's an ordinance and please correct me if I'm wrong about walking dogs off leash. One of the residents is asking why are we not enforcing that? Mayor. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um,
so my understanding is that we enforce our ordinances, but the if this is a dog park, then that is allowed in the dog park. Okay. Okay. And one of the other questions here also is point of clarification, nearby residents were never asked to
sign a petition in favor of the dog park. So, why are we in fact excluded? Maybe not intentionally. Um, I'm not sure why none of the residents that were really close to the dog park were not asked. I think we
should probably follow up a fair process. I know that there's like 400 and something people that signed the petition, but if maybe the city can go ahead and take a hold of that, I I mean, I think it would be the most fair thing to do. Maybe at the end of the day, we will get a dog park.
But in a in a fair manner, I would say and and that is that is it. Um, I have a few questions I I want to answer, but Commissioner Lada, you like >> Well, I I I just want to say that, you know, um, thank you, Mayor, for for being indulgent with the questions
because that's just another form of public commentary and colloqui and which was already covered uh at the beginning, but you've been indulgent in having the questions asked answered in real time. Uh I'm not sure when the appropriate
moment would be, but it is my belief that since what's being asked, and I just don't even recall that there was a motion made and seconded on Commissioners Castro, Commissioner Castro's F1, but if that's the case, I would strongly
urge us to to to to call the vote on that because what we've already voted on is uh to allow city staff to move forward with the design and development and the implementation through public input of a dog park. I think that we are
going to be losing the thread of moving towards a consensus if we don't answer first the question of whether or not there was something unourred, illegal, inappropriate in the vote that was taken
back in November. I'd like that motion voted on. Commissioner, you have anything else you'd like to add for the record? >> Um, I do actually. Um, I think if if both sides are willing to have a conversation, I think that goes
to what I was saying earlier. If we can find a solution, Coral Gables would be able to find a solution. Um, I I think trying to understand what Commissioner Lara was just saying, I think it would go a lot further for
those who are concerned to maybe instead of voting on the question at hand, voting on an item that would just put a hold on moving forward with the plans until this meeting has taken place and until there is a meeting of the minds
and that comes back to commission At that point, we can reconsider whether it moves forward or uh there's a change in the plan >> through the mayor on that question. So that is exactly and precisely what I'm trying to get clarity on. Not on
anything that would derail consensus on what a dog part may ultimately look like, but rather to call the question and vote on whether or not we need to resend what was a lawful vote taken back in November. because that can be
distracting at best as people try to discuss the future if they're still perhaps holding out hope that there will be no dog park. There may be, there may not be, but we need to have a vote on the motion if it hasn't been seconded concerning F1 today.
>> If I may, just one second. Okay, we're going to do the vote right when I'm done. Okay, a few points of clarification. Okay. Commissioner Castro mentioned 1,000 ft notification. Let's correct the record. It's 1500. Correct, Mr. Manager. You said that on the record.
>> That is correct, Mayor. >> Okay. So, we got to be careful what we say because again, we got to be got to say the correct thing. Um, so 1,500 ft for future notifications on on these issues. Okay. Let's also I also heard that we weren't notified of the meeting
as elected officials. I'm I'm sorry. Even when I didn't have a manager that I trusted and believed in, I still knew how to find the agenda online.
Even when the manager wouldn't meet with me for 8 months, which he didn't, I still knew how to find the agenda. And Mr. Mr. Clerk, just for the record, because I think you you we can't we have to be incredibly cognizant and careful
we make when we make statements like that because then it's it makes it seem as if you know elected officials are being misled. That happens in like third world countries in South and South, you know, South and Central America. Doesn't happen here. Okay. Um you know, at the
end of the day, Mr. clerk. That was when we changed from 12 to 6:00. The decision was made because the commission requested to attend this incredibly important funeral for an ex police officer that worked for the city of Corables. >> That is correct, sir.
>> And the commissioners were made aware that we were obviously going to push the items from the agenda and come back and address issues. Correct. We did not call each commissioner individually and told them of the time. We provided them. We
posted a new agenda and we provided a new agenda. >> But at the end of the day, you have items on the agenda. >> It's as a responsible person, you know, you've got to address those items on the agenda. We're not leaving here until the agenda gets finished. I've been doing
this for 13 years and we just I've never not showed up for a meeting and said, "Oh, I guess it'll be addressed later." That's not the way it works. It's just common sense and a sense of responsibility for the job at hand. So,
Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and a second. I'd like to have a roll call vote on that. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. We have a motion on a second on agenda item F1, rescending the previously adopted resolution. Commissioner Lada, >> for the reason stated, and in the
interest of moving forward and seeking consensus, no. >> Vice Mayor Anderson. And before I vote, I'll just go over um and and note for the record that Commissioner Castro did ask for a dog park without notice in the North Gables
at a location three blocks away from another park that we already have in the North Gables. So, if we want to go over process, that's something that we we have to be consistent about. And there was no petition by any resident for a
dog park in that area. The dog park plan is to have dog parks within walking distance of residents throughout our city. They don't need to
be three blocks away from each other. But the design stage is only fruitful if you're able to engage with staff and be able to sit down with staff and look at the design and give feedback.
So for that reason, we do need to move forward with design and get input from residents. And you can't provide input unless you have a design to even look at. So my vote is on the resolution is no. >> Commissioner Castro. >> Okay. Once again, I'm going to go ahead
and clarify my motion just in case there's any mistake in what my motion was. And it was to go ahead and resend the previous vote. Not only to resend the previous vote as the city clerk just said, but it's also to go ahead and reconsider and ask the neighbors,
especially the ones not 1,000 ft, but 1500 ft if this is what they want. Maybe they want a passive park. Maybe we'll have a park. Maybe we'll have a a playground. But we need to ask the
people. We cannot just sit here and decide from a petition that we do not know if everybody even lives in the city. I understand very well that my colleagues don't agree with me, but I think the grand majority of the residents that
live around this park do, and that's what's important. I am sorry that this motion is going to have to go ahead and fail, but with a lot of more resident input, maybe who knows, maybe there will be a miracle in this in this dest. My my vote is yes.
>> Commissioner Fernandez. >> Um, Mr. Clerk, thank you for clarifying the point on uh the November uh meeting and the fact that we were not notified of a 6 p.m. time certain until the day of the commission meeting. And Mr.
Mayor, I don't have the luxury of leaving my son at school unattended. I I unfortunately cannot do that for a 6:00 p.m. time certain or a meeting that will go past 5:30. I have to make arrangements prior to the meeting. Unfortunately, at that moment, just a
few hours before, I was not able to find anybody to take care of my son, pick him up at school, and bring him home. So um it is unfortunate that you were excluded. You were excluded. Um
I think it has been made very abundantly clear here today. Um and that this commission has no interest in revisiting it. It's just about having a meeting so that you can figure out what the best design is going to be. My vote is a yes
because I stand with you the residents. Mayor Lago. So, let's give an explanation. We'll give an explanation on the vote. Number two, number one, you know what? We're paid to
do a job. No excuses. I was in the hospital this weekend. I'm here. I don't feel well. I'm here. You know, so at the end of the day, we
have a job to do. In almost 14 years, I never missed a meeting. I have a responsibility to this commission and to this city. I respect that people have children,
elderly, they're sick. I understand. But I have a responsibility to be here. We were noticed. It's personal responsibility. This is a commission meeting. Accept their personal responsibility.
Stop blaming other people for not addressing issues here. It is the story that never ends. Blaming others, blaming others, blaming others for a lack of success. So, at the end of the day, what we've done here today is exactly
what I hate doing and what I've tried to not do in 14 years of public service is pin residents against each other for politics. That is the problem. And that's what I hope the residents see here because we voted in favor of a of a dog park that had 400 something signatures and now you
vote in against a a dog park resending a dog park that has 390 signatures or 500 signatures. You know, it just doesn't make sense. Accusing people that they don't live in the city and that the the petition wasn't done correctly, just not the right way of doing things. I'm a
believer of getting people in a room, build consensus, figure out a way to get this to the finish line. Like I said before, you don't know what could happen, but don't blame other people and take the blame off you. At the end of the day, I take
a file home that I put together right before a commission meeting here and it has everything. It has my notes. I review it days in advance and I add notes on every single issue. I take this job seriously. Whether you agree or you disagree with me, I think it's a disservice to this
community if you don't work as hard as the employees work. So, and it's very clear if you look at the agenda, I take great pride in doing this even in disagreement.
So, I'm going to be voting no. Okay? But what I'm asking is that we schedule a meeting immediately next week. We put this together. Leave the politics at the door. Find an answer.
Whether it's a dog park, whether it's half a dog park, whether it's a quarter, whether it's a reposition repositioning of the asset, whether it's more uh uh trees that makes the residents happy, whatever that is, I leave it up to you, both of you, all of you. Because it shouldn't just be one side that has say
in this. It should be both sides. So, I am sorry that it even came down to a vote. I tried to avoid a vote at all costs because I was hoping that we could beat Coral Gables and we could say, "Hey, we're gonna try to figure this out, but it took a vote at the end of the day, which I I don't think it's the
right thing to do." It shouldn't have even been on the agenda today. It shouldn't have been because it pins the residents against each other. And in my in my opinion, that's distasteful. It's not the right way of doing things because you're going to run into the neighbors and you're going to be that person who makes a comment, you know, on
a on a political blog opposing somebody else or disrespecting somebody else. And that to me is just not who we are cuz guess what? I bear the brunt of that constantly constantly from people in this community. Thank God I have thick skin. But some of you shouldn't have to deal
with that because you shouldn't pin neighborhoods against each other. So that's just my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've also been in this city for decades and decades and decades. So, moving on. Um, thank you for being here very much. Your voice has been
heard. We will, Mr. Manager, please put together with my colleagues, the people that are going to be designated uh to be to meet in the Sunshine meeting and let's move forward. I look forward to coming back to the commission. to the mayor. Uh mayor, uh we will have a meeting uh a parks meeting uh that
will be uh that will be sunshined uh on this particular on on this particular uh proposal. >> Thank you very much. All right, moving on to F10. We have a few items left on the agenda. >> F10 is a resolution of the city
commission accepting a donation from Friends of the Underline, Inc. and authorizing the city manager and city attorney to negotiate and execute funding and sponsorship agreement with friends of the underlying inc regarding the underlying dog park and naming the dog naming the park Chewy Bark Park for a certain period of time. Um the um
assistant city manager will present the item. Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission, city attorney, and city clerk. Uh the item before you has uh three basic points. There is a waiver of the park naming policy within this
item. Um it's also allowing the city manager and city attorney to directly negotiate with the underline and it's also still um pending a separate approval for the naming with the county which the underline is working towards. So this would be a temporary naming of
conditionally up to three to five years for a sponsor that would allocate funding towards uh maintenance of the park as well as maintenance from the underlines. Uh we do have a representative of the underline here as well. So I'm not sure if he would like
to come up. >> Thank you sir. Good to see you again. Thank you for being >> uh good evening uh mayor, vice mayor, uh city manager, and members of the commission. I'm I'm Yulus Kley, CEO of Friends of the Underline, and uh we
truly appreciate the opportunity to work with the city of Coral Gables as well as with the county uh to bring this fantastic asset to the community here for Coral Gables. This dog park is something that's of extreme interest to the community that uh folks ask every single day when it's going to open. Um,
and at the same time, what we've done over the past uh several months is identify a fantastic corporate sponsor uh that will not only provide fantastic programming for the community, but also we'll be able to chip in to cover some of the operations and maintenance of the park. So, it's at no cost no cost to the
city uh and is uh emblematic of the partnership that we have here at the Friends of the Underline with the city and the county and we look forward uh to moving forward with with this item and and ask for your approval tonight. >> Thank you. Uh may I have a motion? I'll move it.
>> Mr. Clerk, do we have any public comment? >> No, Mr. Mayor, and I apologize. Who second it? >> I did. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Okay. Uh, no public comment. Do my colleagues have any other uh comments they'd like to make? >> No. >> It's exciting to see this finally come
to fruition. I've been working on this project for years, years, and uh I want to thank the vice mayor for really stepping up on this front. It's all hands on deck right now. So send my best everybody in the underlying. Thank you so much. And this is going to be again another beautiful amenity for for the
city corables. We got a lot of work to do, but those are things that we'll talk about another day. We're taking small steps. We're here finally. The underline is about to open up. >> Anything else, Madam Vice Mayor? >> Uh I think the uh the time the ribbon
cutting has been set by staff. >> So we are coordinating together with the underline and the county to have a collaborative opening event of the bark park. Uh right now it is scheduled for January 31st. It is a Saturday and for 10 a.m. So you will be receiving a save the date and a formal invite as soon as
uh we all meet all three parties to do a joint announcement of the invite. >> Beautiful. >> Thank you. Thank you staff for your hard work on this one. I know it was uh >> there's a lot more uh detail in this than appears on this two-page document. >> So all right. Thank you.
>> Thank you. We have a motion a second. >> Yes, sir. Vice Mayor Anderson? >> Yes. Commissioner Castro, >> yes. >> Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Mayor Lago, >> yes. >> Moving on to F12. >> This is discussion regarding media
credentials. So, one of the things that I think and I'm happy we have Martha here with us. You'd like to join us? Please come up. Thank you. Thank you. yours. >> Uh so regarding media policy, uh we
worked with the city manager to establish an administrative order and uh regarding media policy. We haven't published this administrative policy. We wanted uh the input uh the manager wanted the input from this commission. But the purpose is to support accurate
and orderly coverage of city of Coral Gable's events. Media credentials would be issued to organizations and individuals who meet the criteria outlined be outlined and below in what you have. Uh I do want to stress that public events are always open to
everyone. Uh there and and credentials only apply to press specific uh media areas. Suppose if we had a parade and there were like risers or restricted zones or you know interviews etc. But not for general attendance. Everything
is open to everyone. I have always had a very open door policy. Uh when anyone calls me I always uh work to respond uh quickly and accurately. >> Thank you. Uh and if I may, I'm going to
tell you why I put this on the agenda. I think it's important uh when you have entities whether I agree or disagree for example with the Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, uh entities that are serious uh media outlets who have industry standards for independent objective
newspapers with real reporters. Uh you know, now we're being overrun with AI. You're seeing all these blogs that are constantly using AI. You know, we have one here in the Gables that makes the simplest mistakes. I mean, can't even get the current staff correct. staff that hasn't even been here in five or six years uh is being used in certain
cases. And that goes to show you that again it's not a real person writing. Um it's actually pretty humorous when you look at this. Uh there's no correction policy. There's no editorial board. No member names are given. There's no mass head identifying staff, editors, and
ownership. So basically, it's a wild wild west. It's a free-for-all. We all know what we're talking about here. Uh blogs. So, if you're going to be invited to an event that's a paid event, case in point, a centennial concert, and you come,
I can do the same thing. I can build a website, call it, you know, Vlog Blog or Vlog Gables, ask the clerk for all our contacts, tens of thousands of contacts, and then just start hammering away using AI. You know, what I believe is
important. But again, to me, I think it's a privilege. If you're going to go to an event and you have a responsibility as a media outlet, agree or disagree with me, you have a responsibility to provide simple things that true independent media provides.
Mass head identifying staff, editors, and ownership, editorial board, member names, correction policy, human reports, human reporters, not AI. So, at the end of the day, at the end of the day, uh this is just about truly having
accountability and transparency. And I think it's important. Anyone else? So without being I guess everyone agrees. U Mr. Mr. Manager, will you will you uh proceed um and provide the information? >> Yes, ma'am. We're writing an ad uh we're
writing an administrative order to to take care of this issue. >> And and be consistent throughout the city. >> Uh Miss Ponting, very grateful for your meetings with me. Thank you for your hard work. Amazing work. Thank you. Uh moving on to F-13 discussion
regarding business tax licenses. So this is something important to me and um uh I was speaking with our tax collector uh just recently and uh I was I wish I could have made it to to uh the mayor Hay Aliyah's swearing in yesterday but I
wasn't feeling well. U but he's taken action today in a very similar vein. Uh Miami Dade Ordinance 9345 says local authorities can revoke licenses if a company does business with Cuba in violation of federal law. State
law says that local authorities may revoke business licenses if the business is doing business with Cuba. Florida statute 205032. Federal law says international trade with Cuba by a US person is restricted.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control, the OFAC, issues general licenses for certain transactions, air carrier services, travel services, and the collection or forwarding of remittance. Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by case basis. In regards to
Venezuela, the US has imposed sanction sanctions and restrictions mainly related to doing business with criminal or anti-democratic organizations. So I think we as a city should follow the law as son of Cubans who came to this great
country Peter Pan to nothing. I think it's time that we follow the law. I try to do everything in my household to not buy Chinese products to make sure we support Americanmade products. I passed the legislation here at the city and I know sometimes maybe these pieces of legislation are more ceremonial than
anything. What I ask is that our staff, which is amazing, ACM, DCM manager, city attorney, city clerk, our finance director, get in a room and figure out what is the tax collector doing? What is the governor doing? What are we doing to make sure that we don't have people who
are getting business licenses here in the city that are doing business with Cuba? Let's be honest with ourselves, okay? When Maduro when Maduro was removed from Venezuela, whether you agree or disagree, he was surrounded by Cubans that were providing intelligence and
were providing safety. Okay? Cuba is the number one destabilizing force in this hemisphere. I'm not going to argue with you whether there's elections and human rights or any of that stuff. There's nothing to argue. Don't waste your time with me.
Don't I'm a car carrying member of Kua and I'm a car carrying member of El Diretorio and I'm very proud to say that I will not visit Cuba and I will not have dialogue with Cuba under no circumstances. I will never change. And
I have done things here in this city that has gotten a lot of fire because of my view on Cuba where we did not give taxpayer money to artists who live in Miami and in Coral Gables but have their tier or have their shops in Cuba where slave labor makes the art and then sells
it to Europe. That is gross, disgusting, and I will not be part of that. And I voted against it. The herald went against me because I did not support Sandra Ramos. I will not change. I am intrigent in regards to that issue. So I think that we need to come together
and we need to support the tax collector and we need to support the governor on this issue and we need to support the president of the United States on this issue because this is not about Republican or Democrat. This is about human rights. This is about democracy. This is about protecting American interests in our hemisphere.
So I ask you for your support. I ask you for your input. Give me your input. Give it to the manager. And I would like to have and by the way you have more than enough knowledge more knowledge than I do in regards to this issue. So, I would love for your legal mind and expertise in regards to what you've been involved with uh to see how we can craft
something that again sent a strong message to people who are doing business here in the city of Coral Gables that are also doing business in Cuba where it's a it's a drug trafficking agency, a human trafficking agency where people are put in prison for just
speaking their mind and opposing the regime. So, uh, madame vice mayor, >> and I know the seriousness of what you're talking about because we've in the case against Lewis Potatoes, u dealt with individuals who were um, and came
to testify at that trial for speaking their mind. Um I've also engaged in collection of uh judgment on behalf of a individual who was a um a victim of state sponsored
terrorism by the government of Cuba. also have done dealt with OFAC blocked assets before and and trying to you know make sure that my clients do not run a foul of those uh restrictions
and um it's easy to you know a lot of people don't realize just how powerful the blocked assets laws are. Uh but we are because it is a identified as a state sponsor of terrorism both in civil
and criminal penalties can be applied to folks uh naroterrorism uh involvement as well as u the type of of torture. We should not be encouraging businesses in our community that engage with a state sponsor of terrorism by
issuing them license. So, mayor, I'm in favor of this. Strongly in favor of this. I think it sends a a strong message that we are not going to tolerate that type of business relationship in our community and uh need to protect our community as well.
Plus, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near blocked assets and touch them. >> Although, though I love to collect them on behalf of my clients that have been victims of state sponsored terrorism, do a good job. Um I I think we need to move forward with
this. >> So I ask is obviously we're not taking action here today. I just ask you to please have this madam city attorney. I want this on the next agenda. Please. >> Okay. >> Um and I would like to build a resolution. I need to talk to the tax collector. Maybe we know somebody here
who can talk to the tax collector. Um and also speak with our finance director. Uh we need to have a conversation obviously about CUS, all those kind of things. And then I need to speak to the governor. Um we can use um uh Chelsea to speak with our three
lobbying teams and really get an understanding of how much teeth we have and what we can do to send a strong message because I would love other cities to come in behind us and say, "Hey, listen. We support the tax collector. We support the city of Coral Gables. This is the right thing to do on behalf of Venezuela, behalf of Cuba."
Look at the changes that are happening across this hemisphere right now. You know, you could see a real change in Colombia right now. You could, you just saw a serious change in Chile. You're talking about Mexico could be next. Cuba, you know, again, the more democracy, the better. And the more we
can help people in this in this moment to send a message that we're with them, I'm 110%. So, I just ask you to help me on that. And I'd like to have this Mr. Clerk on the next agenda, please. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. Um, this is quick F-14 discussion regarding tree protection at
construction sites. So, I'd like to show you a video, sir. Come on up. Come on up. All right. This is This is a goodie. This is the goodie. All right. So, I have people who drive
by my house all the time and are constantly looking into my backyard and constantly monitoring my actions. I'm not saying that person here is in this room, but that person could be in the room. Um, with that being said, with that
being said, um, please roll the please roll the tape. This is our city. This is our city. Stop there. What do you think that is? See the difference? See how pretty that
is? How beautiful? See the added expense? the better 2x4s, the maintenance. There's no garbage inside of the tree protection. The tree the the grass is not growing recklessly out of control. You see that?
I know that guy. That's my house. So, my point is this. This is simple. Inspectors are doing an amazing job. through the manager. I ask that please
we have some sort of order from the manager stating when you park your car you look at a few things. Number one, is the fence orderly? Right? Is the fence torn? Why is that important? If you don't have a good silt fence up, at the end of the day, the dust in the construction is going to go everywhere.
And you can assess this in seconds. Is there graffiti? Is the signage wrong? And also, is the tree protection in good condition? Why is this important? Because aesthetically, if we go back, it just looks terrible. And number two, the intent is to protect the trees. And if the tree protection is broken, it's not
going to protect the trees. I know that you're not going to stop this from a car going 50 m an hour, going to blow right through it. But at the end of the day, the intent is somebody backing up or a concrete truck or a worker's truck just by mistake touching it and then, you know, they realize it or the sensor goes
off. That's the intent. The these new cars all have sensors. It gives you a beep, shine some lights. Oh, let me stop. Yeah, maybe they hit the tree protection, but they don't hit the tree, which is our asset. So, this is something that I I brought up. I know you guys are overwhelmed. You got a lot
of stuff going on, but I ask you to please um make sure that this is this is taken care of because if you drive through our city, you'll see the tree protections are slacking. And I don't want to hit people with fines. They tried that already in the last
campaign with me. Didn't work. Okay. When I send when I send the DCM every day 20 30 items, I always tell them, "Let's educate. Let's educate. Let's educate. Let's educate." That's the intent is to educate. Look at this. We can do better.
We want people just to say, "Hey, listen. You got two weeks to fix it. Change the screen to fix the wood." Okay? I think it's important. >> Through the mayor, I've been I actually have been derelct. I meant to put this on the agenda as well. Not just for this reason. >> You got it. Go ahead. Seriously. Not not
just for this but for >> more impactful issue. >> What >> particular particular contractors we've been having a little more have to work a little harder on. >> So we start off with the tree protection. The trees in the middle. >> Yeah.
>> Well, you know, we need to we need to we need to do something different. >> Moving the tree protection. >> It's all the way over here. So it's protecting nothing. >> It's protecting nothing. Yeah. >> So I did speak to the manager about this. You need some rebar and error. >> It's got to be tied down to that and not
this game of moving it back and forth. >> So, can we do something you and I? >> Yeah, we can. >> Let's work you and I through this through staff through the manager and we'll revamp we'll revamp the tree protection. Maybe do a one pager. So, when the contractor when the contractor gets his permit, this is the way it's
supposed to look and it clearly states. We're going to check every time we do an inspection. We're going to check on a monthly basis. This is what we ask you. You're going to get one warning and then the next time is a fine. Are you interested in doing a bring? >> Yeah. Yeah. What is the fine right now? >> I wouldn't know off the top of my head, but >> Well, well, let's have a discussion.
Typically, we educate because if it's 10 bucks, it's not going to do any good. You'll pay 10 bucks all day long. >> Well, the other issue is is if it's a construction inspection, we simply tell them, "You need to fix this. We're not going to pass your inspection." Right? It's not even something that we would charge for necessarily. >> But but if I may, gentlemen, hold on.
Wait. Let's go through the mayor. Let's go through the mayor. Okay. Just one thing and the manager going to speak now. I want to put to together I want to delineate tasks and rules and design. Case in point that's a beautiful idea.
You know, you hit somebody, you don't find them. You say, "I'm not going to I'm not going to pass your inspection until you fix this." Done. Your silk fence is broken. There's dust going all over your neighbor's house. I'm not going to pass you your inspection until
you find until you change the fencing to make it look appropriate. Those are examples that we can do. And I think that I'd like to put something in writing. So like what we did with dumpsters and we do other things that when you get your permit, your permit expediter pulls your permit or you pull your permit, you then have to abide by
this and you have to sign the document. You have to sign the document and say, "I abide by this and I I will make sure that again it goes into your file and you know you you tell them you're going to get one warning and the next time you're going to get uh a fine or we're not going to pass your inspection." Mr. Manager.
>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. I think they start off well, but it's not maintained. And that's the biggest issue. And so, but uh so we have we have as many inspectors as we have, we're going to uh uh instruct the inspectors to check construction fencing and tree protection
as part of every in of every inspection that's done at these job sites so that it's maintained because it starts off well, but it's been hit. It's been doing this and it's not repaired. Fencing is not repaired. And that's one of the one of the big issues. And we can certainly handle this through the inspection process. As you mentioned, mayor, uh
providing a a rejection is a is a big is a big hammer. So, go ahead >> through the mayor. Um, since you put this item on the agenda, uh, I've actually been looking more at the ones that I've been driving past. I saw one this week that just has barricades. Uh, it's not it's mo completely movable. Um,
so that that should be easy to pick up when they're doing the the rounds. Uh, I will try to drive around again and get you the the address. Um, but that's totally unacceptable. Uh, and it was three barricades. There wasn't even four that would give a true uh zone. They
were just stacked against the tree. So, >> we need to address it. So, I would like for the vice mayor and myself to sponsor legislation in the next commission. Uh maybe we'll do it in in in a month. Maybe it doesn't have to be the next commission, but in in in February, uh we bring forward an item that talks about
how to properly install, how to maintain, and what are expectations and what happens if you don't meet our expectations. Whether I leave that up to you whether it's not passing inspections or giving them a fine, warning them a fine. I leave that up to you and we can flush that out here on the commission
floor. Okay, Mr. Clerk. So, in February. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Thank you. I appreciate you. >> All right. F15 newspaper stands. This has been an ongoing heartburn for
me for years. Okay. We remodeled. We got them all refreshed in the downtown after years and years of hitting them with code of enforcement. Now they're slipping again. Can we see a video, please? Here we go. This the city. By the way,
this looks good. This one has been cleaned up. This one was cleaned up as the DCM will tell you. I sent them this picture as a matter of fact. And uh it was um you can see it's multiple issues, you know. Here you go.
There's no newspapers in there. It's gone. It's the one. This is the vi the favor for the vice mayor. She's going to love this. This is an 88 nightmare. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> It is. >> It's an 88 nightmare. It's and and this one's not that bad,
but in certain areas, you have a garbage can, you have this, you have obviously the the the the light box in the back, and you now you have the scooter next to it. It's a problem. So, I'd like to go on record and say it's time to remove
them. They don't serve a purpose. There's no newspapers inside of them. They're not maintained. And I know that there's state preeemption law. I get it. But we need to start removing the ones that are not receiving the necessary TLC. If they do not respond by a certain
time, we can remove them, send them to code enforcement, and get them out. Mr. Director, what do you think? >> Mr. Uh, mayor, we we are already acting on this uh in accordance to direction uh that the manager has given us and we are
moving forward with following the due process using the assistance of our legal department to get them to code enforcement so that ultimately uh if they're not brought up to the standards we will take the appropriate action. >> Okay. So I would like a list Mr. Manager
if possible to be provided in March. I want to give you two months to show me which ones are not in compliance, where their locations are, and I want to see what the New Times has done. We've been battling this for years. Our city's
better than that. We don't allow our garbage cans and our street signs to be this derelict. Our city deserves better. Okay. So, I ask you, uh, Mr. Clerk, we can put this in the March agenda. >> Yes, sir. And I'd like to have the manager uh brief my colleagues with the
help of the director uh to to see where we're at and to push the Miami New Times. Again, there there's no newspapers in there. And if you read the newspaper, it's five pages long. They'll probably write a bad article about me now. It's all right. It's all good. Six pages. It's okay.
>> They'll hit me again. It's no big deal. But at the end of the day, it's just trying to uphold the standards of the city. Just trying to do our small part. Thank you, Mr. Director. I appreciate your efforts. Item F-16, discussion item regarding the mobility hub mural art design proposal. I'd like
to bring to your attention if possible, and I want to thank my staff, uh, Nicole and Laura, for putting this together. U, I have an idea of proposing an artist, one of the artists for this incredible project. We don't have a location, but I think it would be nice to do a wall
relief because this is a painter, not a sculptor. Even though I think he's done sculpture before, sculpture before, but he's really known as a painter. He is the most important artist to come out of Miami in the last 100 years. Um, he's he just had a retrospective show at the Bass
Museum in Miami Beach. And I'd like to see show you some of his works. He hangs in every major museum. He has five galleries that represent him. And I'd like to see we have a video I think that I wanna I want to see if I can show you. And I have a proposed similar
uh delivery. Here's the artist. >> Beautiful works. What medium is used? >> Oil on canvas, paper. So, I'd like to show you a video now of what I think would be great for the city. It wouldn't be in color. We would do something like
a bronze, a beautiful bronze would be a relief on the wall. This is a building that I drove by the other day on the way to get a haircut. And on 87th Avenue, I think it's 87th Avenue. This is the ore building where we get the water. If you see, they have a wall relief that's been there for years. That was an artist who
put together a work of art. And uh thank God for Nicole and Laura who just put that together because I wouldn't be able to do that. So if you see there, I think that's something that we could do. A beautiful tropical scene representative of the Everglades in bronze. And this is an artist that I want you to learn a little bit about because he's Miami
through and through. He went to Miami new school. Um sorry, >> New World. >> New World. Thank you. He went to New World and uh he's just amazing amazing artist. Um, and I think it would be something beautiful. I wanted to educate you on just to consider him as the
possibility. I know that the our arts boards uh are going to love his artwork uh because they all either collect, own or highly respect him. Um, and I think it will be something exceptional for our community to bring an artist home like that uh who's represented by artists
like Leman Malin, Fred Snitzer, Victoria Maro um major gallery. He's all he's in our Basel with multiple different galleries. uh his work is incredible. So, I just wanted to bring that to your attention and as we move forward, I think it would be something beautiful uh to consider and it would be something
very highly respected, very respected in the community. >> Um >> yeah, maybe you could do something with the landscape of Coral Gables in 19. >> Amazing. Amazing. >> I think that would really >> amazing. The the pine trees, the, you know, the pine rocklands, all that kind of stuff. I think it would be something exceptional. >> Mr. Clerk, what did I miss? I know we
have H2. Did I miss another F? >> F2. >> F2. Uh, Mayor, I'd like to defer H2. It's relate. Uh, I like to I would like to defer H2 if >> H2. Okay, we'll defer H2. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. >> Mine. >> So, F2. Mayor, would you like me to to read it?
>> Yes. >> So, the title um the the sponsor has updated the item and so there's a new title. I'll read the updated title. I provided each of you with a paper copy of the updated draft resolution. The title now reads, "A resolution of the city commission directing city staff to extend the resident parking rate pilot
program for an additional six months to collect additional data in order to better determine the long-term feasibility of a resident parking rate. >> Thank you for reading Thank you for reading that into the record, city attorney. The reason um I was ready to go ahead and make this program permanent
as we had discussed um the previous year. However, when I was in my pre-aggenda meeting, administration did suggest that because of the the changes that are being proposed um as far as homestead exemption in the
state level that we would feel that it would be more fiscally responsible to hold off and cut and continue to collect data for the next six months. I agreed to the recommendation. I think there's no harm in that. Therefore, everyone has the new resolution in front of them.
what you would be voting on is an extra six months to give um us sufficient time to see the impact of what's going to happen up in Tallahassee. >> I'll second if you move it. >> I'll move it. >> Mr. B, we have a motion, a second. Do you have any public comment?
>> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay, >> Mr. Murray Cruz. >> No public comment, Mr. Mayor. >> Uh, can we have a vote, please? >> Commissioner Castro, >> yes. Commissioner Fernandez, >> yes. >> Commissioner Lada, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Anderson, >> yes.
>> Mayor Log, >> yes. Uh, Mr. Clerk, do I have any Did I Did I miss anything on the agenda? >> No, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. Commissioner Castro, >> um, number one, happy new year. Happy New Year. Um,
number two, city clerk. Ma'am, >> I have a flyer that I want to go ahead and put up there. >> Uh, cable TV should have your flyer, ma'am. >> Okay. if you could please put it on. >> If not, I will share your phone. >> And this is going to come as a surprise
cuz this is actually about dogs. Um, the packw walk dog is going to be on Saturday, January 31st at 11:45 in the morning. Pet supermarket it joined us.
They're very interested in promoting dogs that are up for adoption. So, they're going to be one of the partners for um helping promote these these dogs that are up for adoption, which I'm very very happy with. So, once again, if you guys are not if you guys are not busy, I
would love for my colleagues to go ahead and join if possible. Besides that, I will see you well, actually, I won't see you during next commission meeting. I will send this commission a memo explaining why I will be in Tallahassee.
The days they gave me were probably three weeks ago, a month ago, and I was not able to correct the record when the city clerk gave the dates um when he did. I'll see you next Well, I'll see you the following commission meeting.
Vice Mayor, >> uh, this weekend we opened the farmers market and there is also a garden talk by people I can't remember the names of, but staff does know it and and I've asked them to post it. Uh, so that start that happens at 10:00 cuz I told uh
staff that no one wants to get up on a Saturday morning for a garden talk. I think we were starting at 8 at one time and then I got it bumped to to 9. Now we have it at 10:00. Um, so hope you enjoy the farmers market and uh, happy new year.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez. >> Um, we had a uh, discussion um, a couple of months ago when we had the folks from the Guetta place here uh, about potentially wearing Guyasa during the commission meeting that was closest to Jose Marty's birthday, which is our next
commission meeting. So, wanted to see if you all still wanted to do that or if we just uh >> Are there waivers for women? >> Sorry. >> Are there ga for women? >> Of course, there are. >> They even have dresses. >> Dresses. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. >> So, it lands on the day before his
birthday. >> Okay. >> Sounds good. Sounds good. >> Okay. >> That does sound good. Commissioner L. >> Right. So, I echo the vice mayor's uh excitement for the farmers market. I don't know why. That just brings me a ton of joy. especially in an off an off
campaign year, you know, I could just walk around and just soak it all in. >> Uh so I hope to see all the residents out there in full force because it's going to be one and I think the weather's going to be a bit cooler so you guys can break out all of your your spring or winter gear depending on what
you call it here in Miami. And and also I just want to remind everyone, it's been a while since I've said it, but if you want to catch up with me, you can always come by city hall 8:30 through 11 on Mondays. Mondays are my office hours here at city hall.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Uh few points I'd like to make. Uh first and foremost, I'd like to thank Willie Romeo and the entire team uh who put together the LEAF event this weekend. Uh I want to thank u the vice mayor and commissioner Lada for covering for me. We also had the lieutenant governor there. 200 guests
showed up. A lot of money was raised for our police and firefighters. I personally sponsored a table and I know that my colleagues also sponsored, so I want to thank them for that. Uh thank you for being there and thank you for doing such a great job. Uh we'll be heading to Tallahassee on February 2nd to the 4th. Uh it's going to be a great
event. Continue uh raising money obviously on behalf of the city uh and and addressing our legislative priorities. I also want to talk about a video that I want to make sure it was not talked about in the public square. Uh I didn't see it.
This happened in Miami Day County. This is unacceptable. I don't need to tell you that this is a manora that was put forth by the tax collector. We did the same thing which again I say with pride. My family donated the manora that was here in the
city. This was not covered. I didn't see it in the news. I didn't see it anywhere. What was most impressive about it was that immediately when this happened, someone came right behind and picked it up. Immediately restoring faith in this
community. And I put that up there because when I found out about it, I'm a Catholic, but at the end of the day, that type of behavior, I don't need to say it, is just unacceptable. It's barbaric. It's inhumane, and it doesn't represent who we are as a community.
Well, it didn't happen in Coral Gables. It happened in Miami Day County. To me, we need to be vocal and be very clear that this is unacceptable, just like we said with the issue of Cuba and Venezuela. So, I wanted to bring that to your
attention and make sure that when things like this happen, we as a community stand up and we're vocal on it. Uh, I'm looking forward to March 9th, my town hall. Uh, we're going to have the supervisor of elections there, Alina Garcia. She will speak on the process to
ensure that every vote counts in regards to our referendums. She's going to be there as long as it takes to meet with residents, explain the issue, and uh through Martha's help and the manager, uh we're we're going to do several takes with her so we can use it on social
media and we can use it on email to make sure that we're properly educating people in regards to how to make sure that their vote counts. Uh so please join me on March 9th at my town hall where we'll have the supervisor election. And I want to thank Alina Garcia in advance for being there.
I want to thank staff, the manager, the entire team for being there. Everyone is welcome. I also want to mention that McBride Plaza music event begins at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15th at the McBride Plaza on Miracle Mile. Events like this are extreme are exactly what
we love to see in our downtown Coral Gables. People coming out after work, enjoying music, supporting our local businesses, and experiencing all our city has to offer. So, please go to McBride this Thursday to enjoy what makes Coral Gables special. And the last point I want to mention, I met with the
manager, uh, the ACM and the DCM. I think the ACM's going to come up here if you can. Um, I had an idea about celebrating, if you know me, you know I'm a diehard M fan. Die hard fan. This is 24 years in
the making since we've been relevant and we made it to the national championship. You know, now is the time to make a statement. So, I would love nothing more than for my colleagues to come up with ideas. What can we do to celebrate this moment?
We have six days before the national championship game here in Miami. One of the things that I thought about was after speaking with with with the ACM, let's put an inflatable an inflatable screen in Ponds Park. Thank you to the manager for coming up with that idea. Ponds Park. I was thinking about Merrick
Park across the street, but he said, "Let's do it in Ponds Park and let's bring in four or five um you know um food trucks. We don't have to pay for it. Let people pay for it. One maybe that serves beer, one that serves pizza, one that serves, you know, hamburgers and get people to come out. We don't
need to put chairs out there. Let people bring their own chairs. Put the game out so that people can come out and have a good time. All you hear is the the buzz going on right now. How tickets are insanely overpriced and what the numbers are. families want to go out. They want to have a good time. They want to experience it. They want to they want to
be part of it. So, what can we do? That's one thing that I want to do. Second thing is maybe put some ribbons, you know, throughout the city in orange and green. Obviously, we're lighting the city orange and green. Maybe we can do something else. Maybe we can, you know, I don't know. I'm just trying to figure out my colleagues and see what they can
think of over the next 5 days that are again are not super costly. Remember, I think we said that the we already own the screen, right? So obviously staff quickly moved to come up with some scenarios and we want to do a worldclass event. This is a big deal. You know this is not something that
happens every day. So I know the parks director >> that's not what I talked about though. >> That's not what I talked about. I just don't want to spend money. >> We can we can do >> and I don't want staff to be overworked because staff, you know, staff's going to want to spend that. >> Sorry. >> You don't need me.
>> No, just you were giggling. Um, so I was saying I don't want staff to be overworked because probably staff wants to watch it with their family, you know. So I'm just that's why I said don't bring in chairs, don't bring in food. Let the trucks come. We set it up and they leave after or they leave at halftime or they leave at a certain
time. That's just my thought. But >> what do you got? >> So I'll let our parks director propose what he's proposed to the manager, myself and the DCM. >> Yeah. So, we looked at and and we tried to mirror what we did when we did the World Cup and we were looking for I mean
the the inflatable screen while we have one. It's not super big. Um we use it for small movie days. Um we were looking at if we would bring a screen in it would be an LED screen which is a little nicer. >> Can I ask you a question? >> Yeah.
>> Sorry. I know you guys say it's all about I I I did I know about this or no? >> About the LED screen? No. >> Okay. Who paid for the LED screen for the World Cup? >> You did. >> Out of my own pocket. >> Sorry guys. I know it bothers you, but I got to do it. >> Um, it was in benefit of the community.
>> That's why I paid for it. It was $5,000. >> Wow. >> But let me explain to you. >> I'm not paying for it. >> Okay. I got you. >> Not this time. Okay. So, my point is that uh I love the idea because the game
is really crisp and it's awesome, but what is the cost? >> We're I wish I had a direct number yet. I don't have a number yet because what we're looking at is even if we use the inflatable screen, one of the things that we're working I'm working with it on is how we get the broadcast so
there's no lag. >> Yeah. So, um, what, um, our IT director said is we'd have to look at a couple of these companies that have these like live trucks that come in in order to get the the broadcast. So, I I don't know yet. Um, we've been on the phone with a couple companies. Hopefully, I get an
estimate coming in the next morning, I hope, but that's where we are. >> And also, the ACM said, again, not throwing anybody in the bus, you know, uh, remember one of those people that gave me a big donation that the commissioner Castro put up. we would like to since since there's a couple of
organizations benefiting >> to the plaza maybe they're willing to cut a check to sponsor the event I mean I can talk to them you know if you'd like and maybe they're willing to do that or maybe one of my colleagues is willing to pay for it like I've paid for it in the past but maybe that's not
the case but my point is that uh I just want to be careful with the money because you know I don't want to have an event that spends 105 $20,000 and I want to make sure people go out there I want the I want it to be about families and I want people to be able to have a good time and watch the game.
>> So, I just thinking out loud, we have cable connection here at city hall. So, if we were doing it maybe across the street, >> we would be able to have the cable connection and there's no lag cuz you have cable service from Exfinity here. Um, >> the here you mean here way.
>> Yeah. >> To show it here. >> Saying to show it here. >> Oh, well, yeah. I mean, >> cuz that that way you have the cable connection and you don't have to worry about any lag. You just literally >> all we need to do is run a a long enough connection from the the cable connection in in here straight over.
>> The location would would would affect that. Yeah, there you wouldn't necessarily need a truck if you had the the fiber. There's just no fiber at the park. >> You have the parking, you have everything here. I This was my first choice, but I like obviously Pon Circle Park more, but I want to limit costs. I
want to limit costs so we can have a nice event, you know, get the food trucks here and just really I want to start already announcing that we're doing this. So, we got to come up with a decision by tomorrow and to start getting the word out and telling people to RSVP so we know how many people are going to come out here.
>> Well, if we close the um the street down just talking out loud again, right? Then there's your food trucks. You're just lining up right there like farmers market style and then you've got the cable that he was saying. >> Yes, >> I think it's a great idea. I mean, I I I all these ideas, but besides that, we
got to get on we got to get Martha and her team to get out there and start sending it out to people. Hey, come and watch it with us. >> Any ideas? Something as simple as ribbons on trees on Miracle Mile. You know, I don't know if maybe we can get um >> through the mayor. Yeah. >> Do we have a spending limit where you
think that would be just just to get some idea as to as to be because it's going to be hard, I guess. Uh uh what can we do across the street? Uh >> well, I mean obviously we could we could
close the street off as commissioner >> this location from from an event logistical perspective. This location does reduce cost. You won't need as many police as you would at Pawn Circle because of the street and the four crossings. So here's it's better access.
Um, in terms of of police, you're still I mean, to me, the the b biggest expense is going to be the the the screen and the licensing to show the game and whatever that cost is, which is what we're trying to find out. Um, there are certain ways that if you already have
cable, we've been working with the city attorney's office on this to make sure that it's okay, but there's some NCA regulations, so you might have to still buy a license in order to have food trucks there and all that. So, we're we're working on all that. >> And we partner with M. M may have a license already and we can be an official spot for them to to showcase
the game. >> Uh we can be the other way to do it. >> We can look at other >> that saves cost. >> The other location just to throw out there that was proposed by our IT director because there's already infrastructure is the youth center. >> So um we I know we did it last time on the courts maybe it's the field but just
as we finalize locations just want to throw that one out as well. Also because it's short notice and we have to move quickly. Um, and I know we're still finalizing the budget, but we would need a procurement waiver uh because this is just too short notice. >> So, I think the fields work because there's bathrooms there, there's
parking, it's safe. >> Um, and I think there's an opportunity to do something there because it makes it easy on staff. Um, we need to make a motion for a procurement waiver for this. Will anybody make a motion? I >> I'll I'll make the motion. I'll
>> second. >> All in favor? I I >> Thank you. really quick. If Agave comes through, you came up with that idea, and they're willing to give a donation. Thank you for that. That's great. And they're willing to get engaged, they always get engaged. They they sponsor everything. I mean, everything's about
activating their area. >> Mhm. >> We obviously got to do it in Pound Circle Park, >> correct? >> Obviously, cuz they're not going to do it over there. They're partners, but they want to have people watch the game and then go buy a drink at the Lowe's or buy food at, you know, at at Fogo or Sangueri or or something like that, you know? So, their plan, that's what they
want to do. So, I know it's short notice. I know you guys are working hard. I just want to say thank you. Whatever the outcome is, we're going to be happy. It's just about taking advantage of this opportunity and showing some UN pride. That's it. That's all it's about. >> Mayor, I think we could partner with see if we can partner with Agave to show Pon
Circle Park. If the cost come become too high, we can show it next across. We can close the area up and use this use the use the uh holiday park as as as the event place. >> I just don't want to waste too much time. We should we got to do things by Friday so we can start announcing and sending it out to all the residents,
sending it out to the school boards, sending, you know, I want it to be about families coming and having a good time, you know? So, >> we'll start working on it tomorrow morning. >> I mean, even if we have a procurement waiver, for example, like I know this is crazy, but let's say we have 100 people show up, right? 200 people show up and
the food for a hamburger is $10 and you know, we've been very tight with our spending. Maybe we give 50% off and the city covers the other half. You understand? So people can enjoy it. I want it to be about kids. Listen, I grew up on this. This to me is like my World
Series. This is huge for us who have not ever had this opportunity to see a University of Miami football game in 25 years, almost a quarter century since we've been relevant. >> So, I think it'd be cool to bring the community out there and do something that again just shows some spirit.
>> And mayor, we have a coach from from from Columbus and we have a Heisman Trophy winner at the Corables residence. So this is and the and the game is in the orange bowl. This is almost almost impossible to happen again. >> Yeah. So um anything else to go to the order?
>> No. Okay. Fabous idea. So the the trip you've designated who's going to be going to Tallahassee. >> Yes. You >> Commissioner L myself. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um thank you very much. I appreciate all of you. God bless. Have a wonderful evening and I look forward to
the next meeting. Thank you. continue.