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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=9w9_rJgpTOA

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Well, good evening everyone and welcome. I'd like to call the city of Homestead Council presentation meeting to order. Uh we have just one presentation this evening initiated by Councilwoman Avala. Floor is yours,

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Councilwoman Thank you, Mayor and Council. It is my honor and privilege to recognize one of our officers of the Homestead Police Department, Officer George Valdez, which you can come up to the front with me now with your family if you'd like.

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And Chief Knap, if you can come up. So, George Valdez, he was um recognized as rookie of the year officer at the recent PBA gala which we attended and supported and it was one of the um most recent

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recognitions in a while, right? My understanding is we haven't had a PBA recognition for do we have a number? Years. So, I said we have to make sure we do this here in the chambers of our city hall. I have this beautiful plaque and it says, "City of Homestead

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Councilwoman Erica G. Avia proudly honors Rookie of the Year, Officer George Valdez, presented the second day of June, 2026. I will be presenting that and we wanted to share the video that was played at the PBA so you all can enjoy that. And I also wanted to give

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our uh amazing chief of police an opportunity to speak on behalf of department as well as our rookie. Thank you. >> Rookie police officer of the year, Homestead Police Department officer, George Valdez.

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It's always been one of my dreams. In this profession, you could do one thing and it could lead to a completely different situation in a blink of an eye. And it led from a simple stop for not having a light on their bike. He began acting very nervous with me and started looking around, which you kind

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of get that gut feeling that something's not really right. What was weird is that gave me a wallet and inside that wallet was a child of a little Hispanic male, but he was a black male. He also had other documentation of of other females or Hispanic females and Hispanic males.

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Throughout my investigation, I asked other officers to respond to her location to see maybe if they knew this individual and which in turn led to a burglary to a motorized vehicle, not just one, but multiple of them. Throughout the investigation, we were able to obtain CCTV footage or

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surveillance footage which actually depicted the male going into several uh vehicles uh burglarizing them, taking items. And the whole goal of this job is to try to prevent uh these crimes from happening and our city a better uh place to live in. Just from that one victim,

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there was about four or five other victims which were the family members also. So that was really good. Thank my for nominating me for this thinking about you know all the hard work that I put in for the for the

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department and for my for the community. I love this job. I wish I would have started my this earlier in my career. I said I will do the job for free. Thank you and all of the police officers of our wonderful police department. Thank you for all that you do, all the

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hard work, all the sacrifice. Thank you to the families and obviously our children. So, thank you for your support. So, I won't I won't talk about the incident because that was the incident that that started everything at least uh this snowball effect. But the reality is

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that uh George was hired in February of 2024. Uh he graduated the academy in August of 24 and this November 21st subject check, that's when that happened. That's just one snapshot of the job that he's been

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doing since he's been here. I mean, he there was that burglary. He uncovered two different burglaries that same night. Um, but he's taken 326 traffic stops. He's taken 245 subject checks, 97 arrests that year. And what's important

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about this recognition is yes, we uh proposed him for this, but this went through a board through the PBA of 34 municipalities, including the sheriff's office, and they chose you as the rookie of the year among from the Broward County line to the Monroe County line.

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So, I want to congratulate and I'd like to invite mayor and council to join us for a group picture. Thank you. and command staff, please come up and join us. That concludes the presentation uh ceremonies for this evening. Wait just a

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few moments. we will uh shift the recordkeeping and move into the community redevelopment agency meeting. Again, congratulations to our officer and his family and uh everyone who supports him and what he does for us each and every day.

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ready. Okay. All right. We'll give these guys a couple of seconds to get out. [snorts] Okay. Good evening everyone. I'd like to call to order the City of Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency meeting.

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Today is June 2nd, 2026 and it is now 5:15 p.m. Madam Clerk, if you could call the role, please. >> Board member Fletcher. Board member Cannibal >> here. >> Board member Ksky >> here. >> Board member Abula >> here. >> Board member Roth

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>> here. >> Vice Chairwoman Bailey >> here. >> Chairman Lawson >> here. Uh Mr. Beck, do you have any deletions or deferrals this evening? >> No, chair, I do not. >> Well, let's move into tab one, the car number 5014,

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presentation of proposal for Homestead Live. >> Yes. board. As you know, the Homestead Live concept has been contemplated at a vacant property that the CRA owns at 212 Southwest Third Court for some time as a a place of community activation and

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gathering. You all have had the overview for me. I know you've met with the proposer. What I would like to do at this time is uh invite the proposer to come up and give a brief presentation on uh essentially the uh proposal they have made to us to enter into a license

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agreement to do the development overall management operation of the homestead live component fairly similar to uh what we have contemplated from the uh last couple of years. So with that, I would like to invite the proposers to come up and state your name, your organization,

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and we can go straight into the presentation. >> Is the mic on? >> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um Arthur, >> Adriana, >> we're both with Homestead Live and um

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name of the company is Foodie Town Homestead Live. That's our name. So this is your ultimate public private partnership which we're here to speak about today um on a site that this board already and staff are already considering to move forward with the

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activation um 213 Southwest Third Court. And our vision is pretty much the same as what the board had in the past is to create this popup entertainment venue where people come out, hang out. We have food

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trucks, outdoor seating, very family familyfriendly atmosphere. And at the same time, we're creating economic impact. We're creating something in the area that's not going on right now. Uh we tend to have people coming and visiting areas. Some place that people aren't going right now or congregating.

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We're looking at that and feeling that is the best location for this project right now. It's not a big area, but it is there. And we have plans to get street frontage and also some of the surrounding areas as well. Project vision again curated food

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trucks, trailers, local cuisine, you know, other cuisine as well that we'll talk about and things, but mainly live entertainment, cultural festivals and community events, partnering with the city to put these things on, but it's being done on a private level that you know, you don't

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have to worry about time, staff, anything. We'll take care of everything. operation and oversight. We'll operate the site. Right now, it's just a blank site. We'll come in, bring our stuff. We're operating the site. We'll have security on the site. Site readiness.

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There's utilities that are around, but utilities we plan to tie into as well. And definitely, we go to the curated vendor selection, and that's bringing different food trucks in, different flavors, different things to Homestead while still having opportunities for your local vendors to join us and be a

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part of it as well. Again, this is lowrisk, professionally managed activation uh with full responsibility on us as the private operators. So, this isn't a thing that we're just coming making up. Um this is actually

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been tried and tested and we've been doing it in a couple places. Um one of the ones right now that's going on is Foodie Town in Coconut Grove. Um, you go smaller footprint than what we we have here in Homestead, but a nice home

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feeling. You go hang out, have a couple drinks. There's live music. And this is going, this isn't a, oh, it's going to be open three, four times the, you know, a month, every six months. No, we're going to be open every week. This is a 52- week operation, so we'll be open.

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Um, that one is going good. Edge and St. Petersburg was another one that, um, Adrien Lzaga put together. and actually was featured in Forbes there right now on that site has turned into a hotel. So this is community activation let people know people will go to this area your

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community and they will and spend money. So this is you know a kickoff you know will it be there forever? No it won't be but it's tend to be an economic stimulus to have people start moving in the area. The third one Nomi Village Nomi Village is in North Miami. Adrian and myself

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worked on that one back prior to CO. It's still going. Um, just recently the city invested another $1.2 million in Nomi Village, shade, structures, everything because it was going so well. The community appreciated. They invested

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the additional money and hopefully that redevelopment starts. There are a couple buildings been tore down in that area now. So, it's a proven track record. You know, you can look these up. You can go on Friday if you want and go to Foodie Town in Coconut Grove. It's going to be open. You can go to the Nomi Village

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over the weekend. It's going to be open. So, these things aren't, you know, just, you know, things we're making up. They're open and moving right now. Um, right now, I'll turn it over to Adrian to speak on the vendor curation and everything. >> So, these vendors that you see, the vendors that you see up there have been

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with us for a little while now. We have a German food truck, the only one in Miami. I feel really proud to say that all the time because they will be coming with us. Um, AHA, which is a Venezuelan food truck that we have already worked with them in the past and we know the

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quality is great. So, we also have unoccupied trailers that belong to us so that we can stimulate local uh businesses to come in and and try it out and see what they can do and maybe in the future move to a brick and mortar. Um, we're ready to go on day one. We

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have everything set to move in and and start immediately. Um, that's about it. We've done it for a while now and we feel really proud of our product. So again, um I just want to go again

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with what Adrian said is day one we're ready. That list of food trucks isn't food trucks that we're going to go recruit. We already have them once we get our temporary use permit. We set up immediately and we're operating. You're not looking recruiting vendors. We're going to be there. And then as Adrian said, we do

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have a couple trailers that are available for people to move into and we try to teach them the food truck business as well. So that's it. This is our initial hours of operation. What we've come up with will be Friday, Saturday, Sunday to start out. It'll go how the community demands it to go. If

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people are coming out and people are asking for more, then we will definitely give more. But starting initially on Fridays about 5:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, we have 12 p.m. But we anticipate farmers marketers, things like that, maybe being open 9 10 o'clock in the morning and doing programming

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that. But it's definitely designed to drive constant traffic. This is more of the what the proposed actual site layout will look like um almost to scale. Um you see the food trucks and definitely on the right hand side you see the kids play area. We're

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taking into account that families coming out on Sunday hanging out with their kids as well. Saturdays during the day your kids come out and hang out while you sit at the bar and maybe have a beer. So we've taken all of that into consideration um for this project. potential economic

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impact. We've seen these things where economic impact grows over the years. So at full scale, we figure by year three, we should be at 20 to 60,000 not 40 to 60,000 residents um not residents but visitors annually. 25 to 35 local

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vendors participating with us, $2 million in the area. You know, we feel that this is going to bring people to the area and other business owners are going to invest in the area and start doing things. You know, these outcomes will be from us doing this popup thing.

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Definitely true public partnership. What we're asking for is $175,000 from the CRA. And the one important thing with that ask is we don't want you to give us a check for $175,000. We don't want the money. We will work

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with the CRA director and these investments will be made in the infrastructure on the ground at the Homestead live site. It will be for the barrier. It'll be connect to electricity. It'll be for restrooms, that type of stuff. But again, everything stays on the ground. Your checks written directly to the vendor to

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pay for this stuff. It's on the ground. They're longtime investments for your community. Um we're asking for site access from the CRA to give us a site agreement with it. Um, and then again, we come in with all of our own stuff immediately, ready to set up day one. Over $100,000 worth of private

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investment that we have ready. We'll do the program and marketing. And this even comes with revenue sharing. Um, the revenue sharing, let me go back. Revenue sharing is starts year two 10%. Year three 20% or 25,000 whichever the

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greater. Um, that starts, like I said, year two and year three. We're not coming asking for anything for free. We're coming and we want to pay our dues and work with you to build this up. Our goal is we're figuring by year three, we're back here sitting at the table with you guys, negotiating a long-term

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deal to make a bigger place. Our ask is a five-year contract with two five-year renewals. Um, and again, like we say, by year three, we look at probably coming back and maybe expansion or doing another investment. Our ask tonight is

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that you, the board, approve $175,000 activation grant, that you give us an authorization or license agreement to use the site, and you approve this pilot program for Homestead Live. Our immediate steps upon approval is we'll

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negotiate with the Homestead live I mean with the Homestead CRA staff secure vendors which we have already but go and lock everybody in let them know we're moving forward and begin site preparation everything we'll be in your planning department tomorrow um we have here 60 to 90 days our goal

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is to hopefully be able to get open by the finals of the World Cup and that be our kickoff event. Thank you and we're prepared to answer any questions. >> Thank you. Appreciate the presentation. Anything to add, Mr. Beck, before I go

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to the board for comment? >> No, I think that they have covered everything very well. The, you know, a couple points that I would reiterate uh that was included within the presentation is that uh the activation grant that has been requested uh I think we probably should call it less of an

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activation grant and more of an investment. we have talked about uh everything that would go into the site whether it be the portable restrooms or other aspects of it the CRA would would pay directly for so we would own those assets they would be ours on our site our property it wouldn't be to them um

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and that we have talked about the opportunity that this may evolve or grow over time and that is a part of the reason for the semi-permanent aspect of it uh one other note that I would make or really two other notes is that um from the CRA side we do appreciate that this exists elsewhere and there's been

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that sort of proven model from it. Uh, and given that this is a project that has been discussed with the southwest neighborhood for some time, we've known that it's out there. Uh, I do appreciate that the cost investment for this is is really less than a tenth of what we had

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discussed a year ago in looking at what the overall buildout of that permanent site was. So, uh, something we see very favorably. With that, I will turn it back to the board for questions or any discussion with me or the proposers. >> Very good. So, vice chair, this is your

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district. I'll forward you the opportunity for first and last questions and comments. >> Thank you, chairman. So, I have been a big fan of this idea since day one. Um, just sometimes you can you can envision

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something and I really think that that you guys were on to something great when that idea came up. As far as the ask, you know, those are items that stay within the city. There's been talk that the stage and the restrooms could be used for bigger events at different

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parks for us. So, that of course is a win-win. Um, two weeks ago I two or three weeks ago I attended something that the seminal theater did. Um, kind of like those going around scavenger hunt type

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things and they had an amazing turnout. And that is the direction that we're going in. It is finally picking up and getting to that, you know, what we've we've always tried to work on that people will come visit and stay and buy

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and enjoy. Um, of course, not to mention opportunities for our residents. So, I think that shade is one of the biggest things that we really need to make sure we do a great job with shade or fans uh to make it as comfortable as

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possible. But I looked into the other projects and that is pretty much what we are looking for. So, thank you for coming out and for your presentation. That's all for now. >> Okay. Thank you, Vice Chair. Who would

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like to uh go next? Board member Avala. >> Thank you, mayor. I did have an opportunity to sit with the um the proposers and review the concept. And I was um you know, very excited to see

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what could come of activating that site. And I am excited to kind of see finally something come to fruition. We've been talking about Homestead Live for a while. So, thank you to our director, CRA director and staff. Um I one of my main concerns prior to even meeting with them is trying to make sure I had a

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grasp as to who are we going into business with and um you know what are some of the um proven concepts and so we did talk about that as well. One of the um the characteristics of your other other

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engagements with municipalities is to have a sixmonth renewal on your temporary use permit which I would like for us to be able to enjoy. So that would allow um staff to make sure we just have a benchmark to look at how is the operation of the site going and do

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we want to tweak here, make improvements. And also I would really caution for our agreement to have a um a termination clause that would allow us to pull out of the agreement if necessary. And so I do have a question for um for staff with regards to the

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grant. So this $175,000 is going to build out the concept and if there is a termination for any reason whether it's on your sides or or ours what would be the recourse I mean is there going to is there potentially a

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demand for having to repay for work performed to build out or are we taking on full responsibility so that if there is a sever and ties and we want to switch operators which is how I'm kind of understanding this is that we're hiring them to execute and operate and there will be a revenue

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share eventually but but we are funding the buildout and and the and maintaining and keeping the improvement of the property. So I need some more clarity as to >> to that. Thanks. >> The discussion and intent that we have at this point is that again they would be the operators and we would have an

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agreement with them. Any of the improvement that we make within the property as the CRA those are our improvements. everything that we invest in is ours to to hold on to and keep. Uh we've talked, for example, and I think the reference was used with the, you know, portable restrooms. The Homestead

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CRA will own that. Those items will will stay with us and that uh all we invest will stay with the property. Uh and so if for whatever reason the board chose not to renew or continue to extend or they decided at some point that this was not the project for them, the site as it

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is developed would stay with us and the the food trucks. >> Thank you. And and this isn't so much um specifically towards this operator. But I would assume that this is kind of setting a precedence for other parcels around the city that we may want to activate in a similar fashion. And so

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it's really important to me that we have that the city has those protections in place to be able to, you know, switch hands and switch operators seamlessly and with as minimal exposure as possible. But overall, great presentation and I appreciate the

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opportunity to um to enjoy Homestead Live soon. Thank you, >> Board Member Kowski. >> Thank you. I do not believe in coincidences. Uh last Wednesday I was invited to Coconut Grove, what was entitled to me

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as food truck park which now I have learned is foodie town. So I have experienced um this entity and the setup and I have to say it was simply stated u very comfortable. Javier, you were very

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hospitable. The concept was genius in my opinion. The the if I could elaborate on on my experience and how the setup was, there was food trucks of of various different uh flavors of food, internationals. So, there were no two that were competing together, which I

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valued that. There were two kiosks. You could order from every single food truck and every vendor there from one kiosk and then go pick up your food at different trucks, which I thought again was ingenious. Um, it was clean. And Javier, you were I mean you made your way around the to introduce yourself to

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everyone. Um it was a beautiful setup. The layout was impeccable. You were hosting an event. Um it was the regaton the gentleman who had created the style of music and the there was music and entertainment and then the information that came forward as well and and him

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giving his story which was very impressive. So it was a beautiful experience. So again, you know, the fact that I've already tasted what you are offering um and then here you come to Homestead and it was such a beautiful experience

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and and a very well organized uh facility. So I just wanted to add that that I have experience what they're offering and I was uh quite impressed. >> Thank you. Anyone else?

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Roth, board member Fletcher. >> Thank you. And sorry for my delay in getting here this evening. Uh it is still my understanding that we're just here to provide direction to the to the CRA director to enter into negotiations. Basically, we're not signing a deal for sure tonight

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>> to bring back an agreement >> to bring back agreement to us. Okay. which by necessity would include our commitment to provide that capital funding. >> Yes. >> Well, capital improvements not to exceed $175,000 that we would do. We would

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procure and we would do not handing money to anyone. >> Correct. >> Yeah. So, I had the opportunity to speak with with both of these gentlemen the other night. It was very informative and uh uh I may have some more questions as we move forward and I appreciate council

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those questions. Second Roths, you good? >> Uh, the only thing I would say is we don't have another meeting until July. So, that that delays their process. So, is there anything we can do to speed that up?

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>> I would think it would take that long to bat an agreement back and forth. Unfortunately, that's just the world we live in. But our target can it be the meeting for July 7th. Does that work? Yes, sir. >> Okay.

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>> Yeah. [clears throat] and they should the question was potentially not any uh World Cup activities. And while the proposers indicated to me that would have been really nice, it's not crucial to this

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and I don't know that we could even with another meeting this month anyway. All right. So, do we have a uh a motion support? Uh yes, Councilman or Okay. All right. So moved by uh count by board member

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Cannibal, second by board member Ksky. Let me ask if there's any public comment on this item. >> Good evening. Brandy Ramirez, 2231 Southeast First Street. Um

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boldness in city of Homestead today. Um, so I'm I would like for mayor and council to get clarification from deputy uh city manager Kamar Brown if Mr. Sor is the same city manager that she was working with for a few years that was terminated

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from North Miami. Um, that clarification is important to mayor and council before you vote. I think it's very important that mayor and council do bring great things for the city of Homestead. nothing against uh this personal gentleman here to my left. Um however,

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it's a lot of boldness going on in your city right in front of you tonight. And I think you guys need to take very serious action about that. Maybe even defer the item till you can get some more clarification. It's not about the concept. It's not about things that you want to bring for your residents here in

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City of Homestead, but an RFP should go to local businesses to your city of Homestead. uh residents that that can also do the same thing. But to come from North Miami through your deputy city manager, it's a ma it's a major issue, a

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major problem. So if we can get that clarification from deputy Kamar, that would be great. Is this the same person, Mr. Sur that you work with and was terminated? >> M Ramirez, I don't think you are really in a position to directly query any of our staff.

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>> Okay. No problem. And if it's something that we need to know prior to the meeting where we approve the agreement, we'll have those individual conversations privately with our esteemed staff member. >> Okay. But is there anybody on council that would like that answer tonight

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that wouldn't mind asking? >> I think you got your answer. >> Okay. Have you concluded your Okay. Because I >> on this item, yes. >> Yes. >> But on the record, it is the same person, city manager Sur that worked with your deputy direct director of city

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manager >> and is now here in Homestead from North Miami. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Sure. >> Thank you. I didn't want to cut [clears throat] into your your time clock, but um >> I will ask additional questions. the item will come back for us for um for

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confirmation of the contract. But I did ask during present during our briefing about this having gone out to 163. If you can just clarify the history on that and the results we got. Thank you. >> Sure. It's my understanding that this had not ever gone out to a 163 prior. Um

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I if it did, it was prior to my time coming here. I know at one point that had been uh drafted a more formal proposal, but that had not ever gone out. Um that's based on what we found in in our office and our findings. I do want to also add too that um this would

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not be the disposition of a property. This is as a homestead live a project that the CRA had contemplated on this site. And so just for clarification, this would be um moving into some type of an operating agreement. But more specifically, board member, we did not find a release on that.

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>> Thank you. And is it customary for us not to go out for an RFP as as uh suggested here for operating agreements? >> It would be an option to go out to an RFP. Um again, this being one that it's it was a project already established and

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this came to us. We are bringing it forward to you all. >> And when you say it came to us, it was unsolicited. >> Correct. Yes, ma'am. >> Understood. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. And if I may further clarify, Mr. Beck, it came to you. It did not

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come through the manager's office. >> Yes. >> It came to the CRA directly. >> It >> this wasn't I guess what I'm getting at is to your knowledge this was not filtered through the manager or the deputy prior to it

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coming to your attention? >> No, I don't. >> To your knowledge. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And just for the record, the there's cameras and there was a meeting. Everything was held. So just for the record. >> Okay. So we do have a Does that conclude

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the public comment? So I'll close the public hearing. There's nothing further from council. I'll ask for a roll call vote on the uh motion to move forward. >> Borman Hannibal. >> Yes. >> Board member Ksky. >> Yes. >> Board member Roth.

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>> Yes. >> Board member Abula. >> Yes. but with reservation to to continue discussing discussing at the next meeting. Thank you. >> Member Fletcher, >> yes. >> Vice Chairwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Chairman Lner, >> yes. >> Motion carries.

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>> Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Beck. Does that conclude uh any business you have for the CRA agenda this evening? >> That does. That is all that we have.

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>> Very good. Thank you. Uh council, any uh further CRA business that you would like or board any CRA business that you would like to uh touch on this evening? >> Board member. >> Thank you, Chair. I wanted to get an update regarding the negotiations um or

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the at least information fact finding and hopefully a timeline for when we could receive um items for discussion on that property in the southwest that we visited. >> Sure. So we have um I have discussed

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with the property owner or not the property owner but rather the uh broker representing the property owner. Uh they have provided us with their appraisal. Uh we have our value on that. We've had some general discussion on it. I'll be talking with the city manager in terms of where that may go uh in next steps

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but we have had those discussions with the entity. So, do you think that uh July's meeting will have a CR item on the agenda? >> I will confer with the the executive director. Uh but that would be the next meeting that we could bring it to to the board

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>> and that that item would be for um direction to negotiate or would there be an actual negotiation already conducted for our dire executive director Zary? Is that the plan? I've not seen the information he has. I

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can not be able in a position to opine on which direction to go until I've seen what he has. >> All right, I will wait. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, board member Al in that regard, is this the uh

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the Fourth Street and Chrome Avenue parcel you're referring to? >> The one that we'd held the Sunshine, >> right? Well, I think I consider that the Northwest. It's not the Southwest, but neither here nor there. That's what threw me. So, let me ask Mr. Beck. Has there been given that there is this

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insistence that we provide a third party property owner with some sort of access relief? Has there been any preliminary analysis about how access through that vacant lot, were the city to acquire it,

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how that would impact the construction of a parking lot? So I'll offer two two sort of responses and comments specific to the question in terms of uh the design of a parking lot. We have not laid out or detailed or

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studied any aspect of it. Uh the potential acquisition of that parcel has been evaluated on the basis of a potential acquisition of the parcel. We have on the other capacity looked at the alternatives for uh accessing the

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dumpster matter and there are three different alternatives that have been identified and also reviewed with development services. I think we previously discussed on the on-site meeting the opportunity to relocate that dumpster to southwest I'm sorry Northwest Fifth Street for direct access. In reviewing with the

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development services director, there's the ability to add a drive on either the west or the east side of the building uh between it and the property line which would allow a drive in for access and the potential turnaround. uh based on discussion with the solid waste director

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that may not be the ideal as as turning radi could be challenging or there's an opportunity to do the drive on both the west and the east side for a full loop that could also be provided by the the provide access for the residents. Uh we

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have not looked at these together though as one project. We've been looking at these individually if that's a I hope >> that that that answers the question. I mean, there seems to be this drive toward giving this third party property

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owner access across city property with no basis in law or fact. And uh I you know I want to be real clear that if we go down the road of acquiring that parcel for parking or whatever it may be that implicit in that I would certainly

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not support any any grant of access or right of way that would infringe upon the ability to maximize the use of that parcel by the CRA for public use. Okay,

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>> understood. Thank you. All right. Anything further for the CRA? Right. Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to adjourn the community redevelopment agency meeting. Okay, it's been moved and seconded. All in favor? >> Any opposed?

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Okay. So, as soon as the uh clerk signals that uh their office is ready to go with the recording of this meeting, we will uh open the uh the regular council meeting.

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Very good. All right. Again, good evening and welcome everyone. I'd like to call the city of Homestead regular city council meeting to order. Today is Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026, and it is now 5:46

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p.m. Um, the invocation this evening will be given by Pastor Alfonso Bryant of St. John Missionary Baptist Church of Howard with the pledge of allegiance led by Vice Mayor Bailey and the Homestead Police Explorers. Could you all rise, please?

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Shall we pray? Kind father in Jesus name. God, how we love you, how we place no one above you. God, I pray now, God, that you will give us clarity and our thoughts on tonight as we discuss business. God, I ask right

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now, God, that you will bless this our city of Homestead, the cabinet, oh God, the mayor. God, I pray now, God, that you would have your way into our city. God, help us to be a blessing to our city, our community. God, I ask right now, God, that you will bless each one

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that is represented here on tonight. It is in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Pledge of allegiance. left Right. Order. forward. >> Councilwoman Aba >> here.

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>> Councilman Hannibal >> here. Councilman Roth >> here. >> Councilwoman Ksky >> here. >> Councilman Fletcher >> here. >> Vice Mayor Bailey >> here. >> Mayor Lawson >> here. >> Okay, we're now at the portion of the agenda where we entertain public comment

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on any and all subjects including those on the agenda. Um I'll first take those who have pre-registered followed by those who are present who wish to speak but are not registered and then we'll go to anyone

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online. Okay. The first registrants are uh this is a duo of is it Arthur Sori and Adrien Lazar. >> Oh okay okay. I'm sorry.

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All right. So the last registrant is Brandy Ramirez. >> Thank you, Mayor Randy Rome's 2231 Southeast First Street. Um I just wanted some clarification on the one item. It was a code item in regards to two

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properties that were I guess some money was going to be um red like a reduction. I thought uh when an item goes to a hearing in front of the magistrate, that's like the final decision and then they take any more actions if they need to. So, I

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just wanted a clarification on that one item. And also wanted to support the interfaith advisory board. I'm not sure which um council person um brought that up, but whoever it was, if it was Miss Aila,

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thank you. We need that back. Um like the sign up here says in God we trust and it's great to have this interfaith advisory board back in Homestead. Um and I just want to tell the mayor and council, thank you for the community

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events that are going on um for Homestead. However, we need um more advanced dates and information put out there. a lot of uh public uh community is mentioning that that they would love to have attended. They weren't aware.

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So, if we can get some of that information just pushed out a little bit faster, it would be greatly appreciated to the community. They're great events that you guys are putting on, but it's got to get more information. That's all. Thank you. >> Okay. A couple of things to your inquiry.

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>> The code reduction, I understand, has requested a deferral for tonight. that will not be >> going forward tonight. But you did have a bigger p picture question and maybe you've been attend in attendance or watching online over the last several

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months where other property owners have come in and asked for additional reductions. We do the council does have that discretion. It does not end with the the special magistrate or special master here. Um

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>> thank you. you know, that's solely in council discretion. >> That's good news because that's what we we want is to have that availability for all. So, that was just only my clarification question that it just wasn't for one individual that it would be offered to all. So, thank you, Mayor. And finally, as to events, and I don't

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know which ones you're specifically, you know, referring to. I've received a lot of comments on some of my posts lately where I have been to privately organized events where we are just the invitees. The city is is is just there as a guest

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and I've received comments, oh, I wish I had known. you know, understand that many times, >> you know, every time you see one of us or hear about one of us somewhere, it's not necessarily a city sponsored event. And there have been several private

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ground bakings, ribbon cutings, openings recently where we were there at the request of of the parties uh putting it on. You know, I I have received those those comments as well. >> Oh, I didn't know. Thank Thank you so much for clearing that, mayor. And I

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just want to say that, you know, Dr. Zuri, the city manager, yourself and and council are doing an amazing job in this community when it comes to supporting the small businesses and going to the community for supporting our residents. So, thank you and keep up that that great work there. Okay. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. All right. Is there anyone here in the audience who would like to make a public comment this evening? Come on down. >> Are you here for the street naming? Well, we're we're going to bring that to the head of the agenda. So, if you just

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want to wait a few minutes, anyone else? Yes. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. Oh my lord. Okay, there we go. My name is Robert Hazard and I own Quaazar Computers located at 2012 Southeast 27th Drive, just three blocks

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uh that way actually. Um, and I've I've operated the business for about 16 years, all the way from internship to owner. The past 15 years, my morning routine was relatively the same. I woke up, went to work, turned on the lights when I got inside, grabbed an Arizona sweet tea, and took my sign to the side

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of the street so that way people would know where my parking lot was. About a year ago, roughly February, I was unfortunately stopped in that long tradition of mine. Um, when I came to my shop one day after an on-site appointment, I was given a citation for

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my sign being on a rightaway with a threat of up to $1,000 a day for not fixing it. I went ahead and spoke with the city immediately, started resolving the issue, and moved the sign over to my private property, and I was assured that that would not be a problem from this point forward. About six months later, I

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was again cited for the same sign, now located on my private property. I was unfortunately then given a citation of the same size thousand dollars every day in which my business did not comply. And when I tried speaking to code enforcement, they cited chapter 23 and

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Miami Dade County codes. I was then visited by assistant city manager and that assistant city manager promised me that my sign could stay out until October of last year. I could keep it out and I could do all of my Halloween events with no issue. That was on a Sunday. That following Monday, I was

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then given another citation for $1,000 every day that my sign was out. Immediately afterwards, I began closing my business for the day and began going ahead and perusing the sign code just to later then be told by my landlord that he was given a similar citation for

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$5,000 a day. Unfortunately, putting an indelible mark on my 10-year relationship with my landlord. Small businesses like mine have helped Homestead grow to what it is today. We are the people who have helped build this city and frankly I feel as though sometimes the city may not treat us as

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well as other large businesses. I hope that my business would be able to get the same benefits of a company like Flanigans, Chick-fil-A, or even one of the large highrises that comes up in this city ever so often and ever so present. Um, unfortunately, I don't get

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those benefits. I don't get the benefits of Miami Dade City College right next door who is allowed to put their signs for their company and for their students to not park in these parking lots for the city. I don't get to put a sign here for my business, but the college across

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the street is allowed to do that for them. Unfortunately, the vote for chapter 23 that'll be going on later tonight, I do not believe that a one-year delay is enough. I believe that a more permanent solution and an indefinite delay is requested and best

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for the community until an actual solution is proposed. Unfortunately, I do not believe that kicking the can down the road is a a good solution. >> You finish your thought. >> Okay. And that I apologize. I lost my my

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thought. Um and at this point I I don't know what else to do. I I'm just a small business owner trying to do my part. I've been here since before Best Buy was here just fixing computers and doing everything I can for everyone in the community. And that's just my piece. I apologize. And thank

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>> So help us get a couple of facts and we're we're not going to litigate or negotiate your issue tonight, but just so we understand. >> Was your offense having a sandwich type sign? >> What What was the A-frame? A-frame sign. >> Yes. >> A frame.

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And um [snorts] and that that provides a lot of a lot of clarification. Um secondly, what we are addressing tonight is a small segment of the sign code that deals with window signage. This does not

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address your issue. I hope that before I leave here at the end of next year, we will have overhauled the sign code to to uh to be more with it. I'm not saying

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that a uh an A-frame sign. You know, we're constrained by county rules. May not be in our code, but we are constrained to a certain extent by by county rules. And what I what I would would like

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the assistant city manager who oversees code enforcement to do >> is sometime in the next few days. If you could give us each individually a breakdown of of your individual situation so that we all understand what

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uh what the issues are there. >> Okay. Can I ask another question there? >> Sure. >> So, okay. Um, then outside of giving you guys that information, what is the plan of action that I can take for my business to still be able to utilize my

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signs? And the only reason I asked that is because of the location of my business. I am right off of US1, three blocks down the road on the line of Florida City, my competitors right there. And Florida City allows them to put their A-frames, allows them to put their banners, allows them to put

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everything. So, I have competitors three blocks from me that can do things in their city that we can't that I can't in mine. Of course, >> allowing and overlooking are two entirely different things. Um, let me ask real quick and not to get too far out in the weeds.

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I know clearly no signage is allowed on the right of way. >> Yes, it's on private property. >> So, let's jump to the claim of the second citation. Are A-frame type signs a prohibited sign

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when placed on private property, let's say during business hours? >> If I recall the the type of sign, it was a fixed to the ground and it was less than 10 feet away close to the property line. So it wasn't there was no

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allowance that could be provided. >> We we required 10 foot setback, >> right? As far as for if they had a temporary while you were open, you put it by your door, things like that. It was the sidewalk was here, the property line is here. The sign was right there. Um, I did go to the business. I uh

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confirmed with development services because they did have a a poll sign, you know, a non-conforming pole sign if anything could be done with that. Um, and also I know that the property owner is a recipient of a grant. So, I suggested that the tenant speak with the property owner for proper window

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advertising that after the new windows are installed, they could probably have something there, but they would need to apply for a permit. >> Morning. Okay, council. Any any other questions? Yes, council woman. >> Thank you. This gentleman has brought

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this item to us for discussion a few times. It's nothing new. Unfortunately, we've have not found a solution to this. And I know that there are some opinions that we should not have A-frame signs for the businesses in the city. And it

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it really isn't, you know, fitting of the molds in terms of what is traditionally allowed in plenty of areas around Miami Date County and specifically like for restaurants or downtown type areas. um we have to come up with a solution and I do appreciate that there is something later on in the

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agenda for us to talk about that speaks to a piece of this the bigger puzzle. Um but I think similar to uh the discussions we've had with um our city attorneys, we we can't just pause enforcement. If we if we if that was an option, we could have done that for the

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boats and the trailer storage item discussion. We have to come up with a solution. And so maybe we should include that as part of the workshop discussion items that I'm going to bring back uh sometime early July. Um so we can talk about signage, the A-frame signage. And

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I have been working with James White to try to find um some type of legislation that we could pass as a code amendment, but he is having an issue with the county um the county code. But he has found caveats where other municipalities

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have codified usage of these types of um A-frame signs. How they get away with doing it is stuff that he's um >> but never in the right way and never violating the setback. >> But we don't have an option for either of those, you know, for any kind of

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A-frame signage. Uh so what the setbacks are in those scenario in those um examples we'll we'll discuss but I'm still committed to trying to find a solution for our business owners because this is this is affecting their ability to pay their rent. It is co it

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is costing money for them um for for someone who's been in their their that pos in that in that uh spot. How many years? >> The business has been there for 16. I've been working there or the business has been there for 19. and I've been working there for 16. >> For him to be spending his time sitting here when he obviously has business to

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attend to to repeatedly bring this problem forward. It's not because he's got nothing else to do. This is a real situation for a lot of um businesses in our downtown and we should be u making it a priority. So you have my commitment to try to maybe pass a resolution urging the county to change the rules to make

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it allowable so that it then trickles down and we don't have the excuse anymore. But um for for right now there's no answer we can give you tonight. But for my colleagues, I'd like for us to continue working. Thank you. May >> your benefit here tonight is we've all

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heard the same thing at the same time >> and that's important. That's very helpful for us. >> And may I ask one f I apologize. May I ask one final the back and forth, but one final question. What is the actual fine or punishment that the city has gotten from not implementing or enforcing the sign codes

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from the county? >> From >> from the county? What? What punishment or or fines has the has the county put on the city for not following their sign codes? >> Okay, just double checking that. Thank you so much. >> So, you're just encouraging us to ignore

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county code. >> I'm simply stating that at the end of the day, my business is being >> I'm good at reading between the lines. >> Thank you. >> That's fine. You can go ahead with your eraser all you would like. >> Thank you. Anyone

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else in person? Okay. Is there anyone online? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Hello, good evening. Thank you for having us here today, Mr. Mayor, City Council, and members of the audience. I'm Savannah School, and I live at 2823

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Southwest 36th Place. And I'm also joined tonight by McKenzie, Tori, Ayana, and Amber. We are members of Airbase K through8 Girl Scout Troop 2311. We are currently working to complete our bronze award which is the highest award that

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fourth and fifth graders can earn. We ch we chose to help stray animals as our ser service project and we are currently working with this is the dog. Now McKenzie is going to share some additional information on how we are trying to help stray animals in our

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community that need homes. Thank you, Savannah. First, it's an honor to be here. Thank you. We are asking for your support in making our goal possible for This is the dog. Stray animals are a big problem in our community. They get abandoned or

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surrendered. That's why we are fundraising to help get as much food as we can for dogs and cats so they don't go hungry. We are politely asking the city of Homestead if they would allow us to place a pet food donation box at the

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city community center. The food we will collect will be given to families who need it so pets can stay with their owners. We hope our goal will be surpassed because no one likes seeing stray animals on the road. Thank you for letting us be

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here tonight and I'm passing it to Tori. Hello. As a dedicated member of our community, I want where we call home to be a home. And I believe and believe it or not, it starts with the smaller things like our pets. That is why I firmly support adding a donation box for

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the lucky animals that were rescued and taken in by This is the dog nonprofit organization. Because it is nonprofit, everything for the dogs is paid out paid for out of pocket. Something like dog food is highly appreciated. Let's make never stop improving start with our pets

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now. >> Thank you, Tori. As a Girl Scout, giving back to animals is important because they need our help to stay safe, healthy, and happy. We need help. We need help them giving back food to eat,

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clean water to drink, and shelter to stay safe, and a lot of care to make them happy, place for them. And that is why we are doing this for these animals. Thank you. We want to help. This is the dog because

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dogs and cats can provide companionship, comfort, and emotional support to people in need. We believe every pet deserves a loving home. And we want to support an organi an organization that helps animals while making a positive

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difference in the community. So in case any of you on the council have any questions, we can be certainly um available to answer those questions. Ultimately, uh what the girls are asking is that um maybe whether it's the Dickinson's um senior center or another another location that you all would be

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um immutable to that might be a hightra location to have a box. we would come and on a regular basis um pick up anything that was donated so that it is doesn't become an imposition for sta city staff or people at that location and if we have the luxury of being able

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to potentially have the city's um public information officer or social media team maybe amplify that message and and create some um create some uh traffic for people to actually come and make those donations. So that's pretty much what Troop 2311 is asking for and uh we

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appreciate your time. Thank you. While you're here, Mr. Manager, let me ask you, do is there any process or procedure in place? Because while everybody can support this cause that's just going to throw open the door

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to anything and anybody to want to do some kind of drop off, you know, at any number of locations through throughout the city. And is this the first you've heard of this request? Yeah, actually this is the first I'm hearing of this. However, it appears to

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have a public purpose component to it. Uh just for the record, we've done something similar for the hurricane uh victims in other places. We've placed their donation boxes here at city hall as well as the community centers and other places. So if is the will of coun

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mayor and council um I'm going to ask uh my parks and recreation director to explore opportunities for whether this is a suitable place if the council and mayor wants us to proceed in that regards. >> I would think that uh you wouldn't find

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anyone here tonight in opposition to uh to enabling that. Yes, certainly. Council, >> you're gonna have that my >> put you in touch. >> And Councilwoman Abala has a comment. >> Thank you. As a fellow Girl Scout leader, thank you for everything that

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you're doing to um lead these girls into service. And I'm curious, this is so that you can earn your which award is it? >> Your bronze award. So, as juniors, you have to strive to solve a problem, right? So, that's very good of you to do

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that. And um whose idea was it to get food for the animals? >> Was it a collective idea? Okay. Well, I love the team effort. I absolutely support the box being placed at the community at the Dickinson Center. There's plenty of space in the lobby. Is

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would be one of those rectangular boxes, I assume, similar to like when you're collecting toys or school supplies. um definitely um a hightraic area that I think would bring a lot of pleasure for the attendees that visit there to be able to bring those kinds of donations

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and impact and give back and participate with a Girl Scout initiative like this. So, thank you for bringing it to us. >> And just for the record, also any of the food that was collected, it is for the South Dade community. Um so uh the organizers from this is a dog would um

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make announcements and promote when they have enough like at the end of the summer um you know if we're going to be you know super successful which I know the partnership with city of Homestead I know we will be um they will have announcements and they will pick a location whether maybe it's at um at the

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park on on Campbell or what have you and they would promote it so that community members from homestead that are in need of this dog food or cat food would come and get um first come first serve to help their uh their situation to keep their pets in their home. >> Thank you. And I I hope that you young

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ladies are getting some kind of points or credit for sitting in a public government meeting this evening, too. >> We're going to actually have this go towards our democracy badge. >> Very good. >> Thank you for being here. >> Thank [applause] you. Have a good evening.

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Okay. >> Is there anyone else in the house that would like to make a public comment? Seeing none, is there anyone online? No one online. So, I will close the public hearing.

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Mr. Manager, are there any additions, deletions, or deferrals? Mayor and Council, the administration would like to defer the first item on the agenda tonight. Tab number one, car number 5051

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on the LIN mitigation uh based on the request of the representative attorney for the applicant. So that item will be deferred to the meeting in July. >> Right. So do we have a motion to defer to July 7? Moved by Vice Mayor Bailey,

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second by Councilman Cannibal. All in favor? Any opposed? Right. Right. So, next we have uh I don't believe there are any uh quasi

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judicial hearings. That takes us to tab two. Mr. Pearl. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Tab two is the first reading of an ordinance of the city of Homestead, Florida, amending chapter 19, article two of the city code entitled noise to establish objective decibel based standards, provide standardized

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meas measurement procedures and define exemptions for certain activities, providing for inclusion in the code, providing for severability, providing for conflicts, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Um, everyone comfortable waving the the

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staff report. Moving right into uh questions or comments. Who would like to open the discussion? >> Councilwoman. >> Thank you, mayor. This item um I did have a briefing on it. Um and while on the surface it seems like it's you know providing um you know clarity and giving

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uh some tools to our code and PD to you know conduct and solve noise noise complaint issues. I do think that this is and I'll use the mayor's example a solution in search of a problem. uh we don't have an issue with our officers being able to handle noise complaint uh

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calls. And by passing this ordinance, you're going to require our police officers to have this this sensing tool. You're going to the decibel reader rather. You're going to be requiring uh additional standards and steps for them to be responsible to ensure that they took before resolving the issue. And it

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just it eliminates the the the reasonability that currently exists that currently is on the the county level. So, we're just adding extra layers of of of challenges in my in my opinion. So, I I would not be supporting this item tonight, but I am interested in hearing,

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you know, if you're in favor for it, why. Thank you. >> Okay. Council, any any response or or commentary regarding that? Um any input from the police department one way or the other?

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>> Yeah. So, we we have already ordered decibel readers. We're doing that for the uh the drag racing that that we had gotten complaints of. >> Um we've obviously uh enforced several uh noise ordinance and and decibel

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related traffic infractions, but that's the extent of it. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Vice Mayor. >> Thank you, mayor. I think that would Oh, sorry. Go ahead. And I just wanted to add that the code department is ready to procure uh decibel readers as well as uh the

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calibrators uh for the decibel readers to ensure they were compliant with ANSI um standards as well. >> Very good. Thank you. Go ahead. >> Thank I was just going to add the way that I that I understood it was I can imagine PD getting called out for

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a noise complaint and not having anything to base it on. So sometimes that could be right. um and that this would maybe provide a little more standard across the board that it had to be at a certain number to

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qualify as a violation. That's how I saw it. Thank you, Mayor. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. Councilman, >> who's going to do the calibration of the decimal readers? >> So, the calibration is done with a device that goes over the

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>> Who's going to do it? Are we are we going to do it or we're gonna have a company that's going to do it? >> It's it's a certified device that you put on top and you you would calibrate it on the spot before taking the measurements >> in house. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Any further?

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>> I'd like to also add Sorry, mayor. Thank you. This request, did it come through Homestead Police Department? So this was something that we discussed in one of our executive meetings on um the director level um where we were

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discussing the concerns that were coming in through uh the loud vehicles as well as the noise complaints that were coming in. >> So that's no this was not a request made by the Homestead Police Department for us to add these tools to their toolkit.

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This was a code enforcementdriven initiative. Correct. >> So no that just for clarification the director of code compliance is mentioning an executive management meetings which comprises of PD code and every director in the city where we look

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at process improvements. Uh the subjectivity of what we were doing before is open to challenge where people were using their subjective personal experience as what constitutes noise and what does not constitute noise. So you don't have any parameter or any metric

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that is reproducible or that is defensive if you were to be challenged. So this is one of the tools in the toolbox. Uh like the chief had said that they've already gone ahead to procure the uh the noise uh mirrors and the code compliance is in a position to do the

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same. So I highly recommend that we proceed with this item. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Um and I did forget we're going to go to street naming next. I got ahead of myself. Um, I'm going to support this. I think it's

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necessary. As someone who doesn't have the protection of a gated community, I think this objective means of of measuring noise, whatever it is, loud mufflers, loud car

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stereoss, or music playing three blocks away that sounds like it's in my backyard. I think it's it's a much needed tool in the uh in the toolkit. And it's interesting that on the one hand, uh, general noise isn't a concern,

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but you know, I was inadvertently in the loops of of emails of of residents who were compl to some of my colleagues and, you know, somebody hit the reply all and I might very hypocritical that the

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one who's not supportive of this is the one that was just insistent that the police department go out and start chasing kids with and and detecting kids with with loud mufflers. And that is, you know, no more or no

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less of a concern to me than than any other noise violation. So, if that ends the discussion from council, do we have a motion to approve this item? Moved by Councilman Cannibal.

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Okay, we have a second by Vice Mayor Bailey. Let's have a roll call vote. >> Councilwoman Abula, >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilman Fletcher, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey,

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>> yes. >> Mayor Lawner, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> All right. So, if there's no objection, let's move to tab 10 regarding the street naming. Mr. Pearl. Tab 10 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, co-desating

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Northeast 2nd Road, Northeast 1st Road between Northeast 6th Avenue and Northeast Fifth Drive as Marine Lance Corporal One East Agarero Road, directing the city manager to take all action necessary to effectuate the code designation, waving formal procedures, providing for implementation, providing

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for transmitt, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. I know that we've all been briefed and we have the letter from the Aaron Smith Post of the VFW making the request to honor a hometown kid, hometown young man who lost his life uh

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in 2004. >> That's correct. >> Please. >> So, introduce yourself. >> My name is Matthewsky. I'm the commander of the VFW 4127 here in Homestead, 601 Northeast Second Road. Marine Lance Corporal Juan E. Sugara was a Homestead

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native, born and raised, felt the the drive to raise his right hand and swear to uphold the Constitution, and he was sent to California for uh Camp Pendleton with

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the Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, First Marine Expeditionary Force. He was in Fallujah where he took several rounds and he succumbed to his wounds

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right before he got home for Christmas November 9th, 2004. It's been on the VFW's radar. It's been on friends radar for the last 11 years. Unfortunately, the family went into

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basically hiding, you would say. As a gold star family, it is hard to lose friends and family and they don't want to keep remembering. It took five years to find the family and speak with them. This was spearheaded by Azie Perez, which is now our district commander. He has been

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pushing. I finally got told about it as commander and I've pushed it through and I would love for this resolution to pass. It will show that we don't forget our veterans. As mo as some of you were at our

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Memorial Day c ceremony, he is laid to rest in that cemetery, Palms Woodland South. This gentleman gave his life so we could stand here and have the democracy and

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the republic that we have now. And this would be an honor to him and his family. I want to thank you and commend all of you who who picked up the mantle and brought that forward. I think it was just a well enough days ago, but barely

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that you contacted both myself and and Vice Mayor Bailey and asked for this and it's something that we jumped through our backsides to uh to get on the agenda and get done. I understand that, you know, the family will be in the area in

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January around the time of uh uh Lance Corporal Sigura's birthday, January 17th. And then we'll help you coordinate a formal unveiling and ceremony and so we do have have plenty of time to um

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>> to get the signage. You know, the county controls that and manufactures it and uh coordinating it, getting it done. >> Yes, mayor. And I received a uh email from Azie Perez, our district commander. Eddie Sigura, his brother said, "My

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brother died in Fallujah nearly 22 years ago and is being honored with the street named after him. Marines never forget one another. He is so grateful and he thanks the city council for this >> if it goes through." >> Okay. >> Thank you.

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>> Questions, comments? Have a motion? Moved by Vice Mayor, seconded by Councilman Roth. Let's have a roll call vote on the street naming. >> Councilwoman Abigail, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes.

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>> Councilman Cannibal, >> Councilman Fletcher, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey, >> yes. >> Mayor Loster, >> absolutely. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. >> And we'll keep coordinating. Okay. So, I think that takes us to tab three, Mr. Pearl. >> Tab three is the first reading of an

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ordinance of the city of Homestead, Florida establishing a temporary extended compliance program for certain existing window sign violations of section 23-85D of the city code. Providing for continued enforcement through the issuance of notices of violation. Providing for a one-year compliance

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period before referral to the special magistrate for qualifying existing violations. Providing for exemptions, providing for administration, providing that underlying code requirements remain in full force in effect, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for non-conification, and

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providing for an effective date. >> Thank you, Mr. Pearl. Is there any objection to waving the staff report? I know we've all been briefed. Any questions or comments from council on this this item? Yes, vice mayor. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, just as we were

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speaking earlier that, you know, I hear the 25% of the window and it brings me back to the murals. Um, that's not a mural if it's on 25% of your wall. And I know the look we are trying to get away from. But

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at the same time, I think there are a lot of tasteful ways for businesses to be able to advert to advertise and 25% of your window isn't the best um for advertising. So, for me, I'm just

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curious what other areas are doing um and if there is maybe a want to look at different areas within our city to see if we do want to section out carve out some areas that would allow for more

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more space being utilized for advertising. >> Okay, Mr. Manager, I think I Mr. Rios did some research on >> actually is the assistant city manager Crystal. She compiled a list of

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>> regulations in others municipalities in the county. I believe it's in the package. You want to brief us some more Crystal? >> Sure. Let's just put it on the record. >> Code provided several cities. >> Pull your mic down. So >> I'm sorry. Code provided several code compliance provided several cities and

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examples of what they do. 25% if you remember years past it used to be 10% in the city and then with this with one advent code change it was raised to 25%. So there are it goes from the range between uh 10% to ours is on the more

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generous side to have 25%. Do you want me to read off the individual cities or >> I'm fine I think if it's in our package unless anyone wants it. Um, also I I I know in past years and maybe this time too, there's always been

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discussion about safety of law enforcement officers where the the big issue is today, as I understand it, window decals, for lack of better expression, >> right? the wraps. >> The wraps wrap type for for windows

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where perhaps the bad guys inside can see out but officers can't see in just as we don't permit dark window glazing. Um, you know, that that higher percentage could put some of our

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officers at risk. Is there any anything further you'd like to add, Chief Knap? >> Uh, no, sir. I I uh it's actually something I've never really considered. Um, but it it does prevent or present an officer safety issue, but it's not

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something that I really seriously have considered. >> Thank you. Oh, and Vice Mayor, to your point, what this does is that provides an amortization period or an end date for folks to come into compliance, helps them, you know, not have to take

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down something they've recently installed. And again my you know my my my comment to to Mr. Hazard earlier is it that whatever it was you know not not enforcing

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is really no excuse on on our side and that one-year period gives this council the opportunity to address some of your concerns. But we need to go ahead and and you know we folks are now on notice

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that anything more right now anything more than 25% window coverage is in violation. I'm assuming we're going to continue to give those warning notices. >> Yes. >> Providing information about this ordinance and that a year from the final

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effective date uh they've got to be in compliance. That's not to say that we can't you know create micro areas. so to speak. >> No, I appreciate that. I think my my argument because that came up before was safety of officers. Obviously, not all

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businesses have windows. So, um yeah, just something for for thinking if we are trying to keep those A-frames off the road, would we not then prefer a tasteful um full window coverage if it's helping our small businesses thrive? I

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appreciate having the year for people to comply. Um but we're having these discussions. Good for that. >> And I I appreciate your use of the word tasteful and I agree with that, but we don't get to legislate what's tasteful and not kind of like arts, you know, beauties in the eye of the beholder,

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right? And uh I know some pretty bad examples were were circulated over the last few weeks from from other folks. Council Fletcher. >> And I just want to point out as well uh we have some city-owned sites that also have full window coverings. So, we need

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to make sure we're policing ourselves first before we're set the standard for everyone else. >> Absolutely. So, to my right, Councilwoman. >> Thank you, mayor. I I would be more in favor of of committing to having the workshops to start working on a sign

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code revision and putting a moratorum on sign u enforcement or something soft that allows us to prioritize this as soon as possible. Since I've been on here in 2020, we've been talking about rewriting the code. The sign code was

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not enforced for probably 20 years. We have, you know, a robust uh code enforcement department that is enforcing everything, which that's their job. It's in our code. They have to enforce it. We have to respond to these issues and these challenges and act on actually

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making the code improvements that are required that fit the community, the business needs and the reality. 25% window signage is it's it's ridiculous. Uh no A-frames anywhere. That's ridiculous. I'd like

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for us to sit down and do an actual workshop and work on the sign code and maybe we'll add it to the same conversation with the boats and parking. So, can I make a motion to defer this item because as long as you're continuing to site people and even if

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you're giving them a year, you're pushing them to have to make financial investments into fixing their sign issue and they could actually be throwing away hundreds if not thousands of dollars in investments they've already made on their businesses. So,

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>> but with without enacting this, you must give them a shorter window of compliance. In effect, the adoption of this ordinance creates a one-year moratorum >> or or we could put in oayance all existing um violations. That's an

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option, too. >> You mean just ignore them? >> It putting it in obeyance until we >> But what's the difference? We need to put people on notice that they're not in compliance. I'll say it before and I've said it again. Desirable,

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affluent communities don't allow the stuff that we have been ignoring for two or three decades. And we need to decide if we're going to be the future homestead or we're going to be hyaliyah and Florida City. You choose. That's not

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cultural revolution. That's just basic community aesthetics. >> I'm profering to actually resolve the problem with coming up with a code. we all agree with because the rhetoric has been that we don't agree with our sign code and maybe one of us does, you know,

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and that's obvious, but I don't think uh the majority is in favor of the sign code that exists and the people that um actually live here, work here, the majority of them probably need to have this relief sooner than later. Look, >> you know what? Signs aren't on

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buildings. Signs are right here in your iPhone. End of story. signs, you know, and look, a lot of things these people are calling signs are window decor, and we have to treat it as a sign. I think

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it's trashy. Drive up and down Chrome Avenue from 15th Street all the way south down to the southern city limits. Go out to to Ottabon Plaza and you tell me if you think that's an acceptable look for the community. I think we need

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to adopt this so that we can continue to let violators know that there is an issue and that there is a year to comply which I happen to believe is a fair amortization period. And again, my comments and conversation with the vice

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mayor was that doesn't preclude us from providing some other kind of of relief in that that one-year interim. And if you look at the package, you know, the majority of cities are at 25% or below.

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So, you can make all the motions you want. Yes, Councilman Roth. >> Thank you. So, you bring up Ottabbon >> Plaza and and I agree with you, it's a little overkill there, but during during

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my briefing, I started questioning different scenarios uh the life safety issues with police officers and and and holdups and burglaries in progress and not being able to see inside. And as we debated some of the the

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information, there's nothing in our code that keeps anybody from hanging curtains on the inside of their windows, taking out and blocking visual uh visualization inside of a property. Um,

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and I went to the extreme is what if they bought curtains or blinds and had advertisement placed on those? They're no longer in violation of the code because they're not affixed to a window. So, we kind of have to

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figure out, you know, what is it we're we're trying to actually do and are we being business friendly when we take away some of their ability to market at their property or not. Um, I went into one of the businesses at Audabon with

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one of the people that were uh cited and we were standing at the counter and it happened to be the um uh I think the driver's license or the school there and I turned around and looked outside

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and it was perfect visual of the parking lot but from the parking lot you had no visual of what was going on inside. So if there was a a hold up, burglary, or whatever in progress, whoever was in there could see all the activities that

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police may be doing on the outside without seeing what was going on on the inside. So and and that's what that's triggered some of those questions about, well, can they hang curtains or blinds

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to provide uh privacy? There's also a daycare center in that center where you have children that are in there from whatever time to whatever time and if they don't protect the windows then you

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could have people sitting in the parking lot watching what's going on with the children inside that business. So I think we have to >> but that can be dealt with with window treatments >> that could in that specific situation could be dealt with with curtains or blinds. And I think that's the other

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part of this this this this exercise is that we have to allow or let them know what they're capable of doing to protect certain things. Buildings that have no windows, as the vice mayor brought up that elect

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to put murals on their walls, are allowed to cover those walls 100%. But there's no life safety issue there because you you can you can't see through the wall to what's going on inside there. So, >> and a mural is not a sign. >> And a mural, it could be it could

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advertise something. You know, like you said, we can't control what they put on it for the most part. So I think doing this ext doing this and extending it for the year is good. Gives us time to come up with a new code of some sort or

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evaluating our code and if we can't solve it within the year we could always extend it if we needed to. But I I agree that some of the signage is a little uh too aggressive. And I think I mentioned that early in my

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council career >> with the properties that are on Chrome Avenue just to the uh south of 15th Street as well where that whole strip center is basically an advertising um you know billboard basically. So, but I think we need to have some more

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discussion and and actually sit down and and and interpret the code. I think, you know, 25% may be too little, although other cities have less than what we have. Um, if it's not a life safety issue thing, and I think the chief mentioned he doesn't really think about

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it very often when it comes to that, then maybe we need to sit with the police department as well and find out what what are they happy with as well, you know, because I just think uh and I thought we talked about this several years ago and put a time frame in place

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that was supposed to be enacted and I don't remember >> we've had those discussions. >> Yeah, I thought we did and here we are again five years later and we're in the same situation. So, >> or or more five years or more. >> So, I'll make the motion to move this forward. >> This item forward. Okay,

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>> I'll second it. >> Go ahead. Yeah. I just I just I just think we need to sit down and have a meeting or workshop to come up with what we can do to eventually come to a happy medium with with everybody.

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>> Thank you, mayor. >> No, I think she had for her second. >> Yeah, it was just a second with directions to schedule the workshop on the sign code. >> Yes, vice mayor. And just one last thing to think about, you know, you mentioned the blinds inside and I've been trying

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to find like the right way to describe it. You think of department stores and you think of their window setups, right? Their window displays. This is in essence the same thing. I think you were referring our downtown business, our building, right? That's what we we put that on there because that's that's what

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we want to see when we look into the window, right? Um, >> one of them where we have the mannequins talking to each other >> at the bar. Um, [laughter] >> can we can we go? >> I thought I thought it would be so funny if they like put little Easter eggs of

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us in there, you know, doing But anyway, that is that is how I envision it. I see it as like a modern way to dress up your windows and advertise what you have. And like I said, it does have to be in a tasteful just like our signage can't just be neon on Chrome Avenue, right?

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there's still a a color um thing that we need to follow. So, if there is a way to have these window treatments fall within the requirements of the actual signage, no bright lights, right, no neon, um that it still was

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tasteful and fit the downtown. I think that we can definitely come up with >> and let's recognize there is tasteful neon. A little bit of red would not be bad downtown. I'm not the one to ask about how color things but no I think we need to sit down soon.

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>> Okay. All right. So we have a motion and a second you know with the you know the implicit request I think from all of us to let's let's have some further you know off the dis discussion in a a less formal setting. So if that conclude does that conclude

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comments? All right. So let's have a roll call vote. >> Councilwoman Ksky. >> Councilman Connival. >> Yes. Councilwoman Abila, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilman Fletcher, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey, >> yes. >> Mayor Lawner, >> yes. >> Motion carries.

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>> All right, that takes us to tab uh >> four. >> Four. Tab four is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, authorizing the city manager or designate to execute governmental roadway lighting agreements with Miami Date County and other governmental entities for street lighting facilities

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and services provided by Homestead Energy Services within its electric service area providing for implementation and providing for an effective date. >> Any objection to waving the staff report? Questions or comments from council? Do we have a motion to approve?

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>> Moved by council Fletcher. Second by Councilman Cannibal. Let's have a roll call vote. >> Councilman Roth. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Ksky. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Avula. >> Yes. >> Councilman Fletcher. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cannibal. >> Yes.

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>> Vice Mayor Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mayor Losner. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Moving on to tab five. Mr. Pearl. AB five is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, authorizing the utilization of competitively bid contracts such as

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Florida Department of Management Services, National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance, GSA contracts, governmental contract, or other properly procured contracts for the purchase of the city's information technology, hardware, software, and maintenance and related services in an amount not to

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exceed $3,641,50 authorizing the city manager designate to do all things necessary to effectuate this resolution. olution subject to budget appropriation and availability of funds, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for implementation, and providing for an effective date.

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>> Thank you, Mr. Pearl. Any objection to waving the staff report? And do we have any questions or comments from council on this item? Anything to add, Mr. Manager? Nothing new. >> Okay. Moved by Councilman Cannibal. We have a second.

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Second by Councilman Fletcher. Any final comment or question from council? Let's have a roll call vote on tab five. >> Councilwoman Abula, >> yes. >> Counciloman Fletcher, >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> yes.

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>> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> And tab six. >> Six. Mr. P. >> Yes. Tab six is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, declaring certain personal

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property owned by the city of Homestead to be surplus property and authorizing the city manager to provide for the sale or disposition of such property in accord ordinance of section 2-440 of the city code providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Any objection to waving a staff report? Moved by Vice Mayor

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Bailey. >> Second by Councilman Cannibal. Anything further from council? None appearing. Let's have a roll call vote on tab six. >> Councilwoman Avenue, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilman Fletcher,

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>> yes. >> Councilman Canal, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> And for our packed house tonight, there's a lot of neat stuff we're going to auction off. Cars, trucks, generators, telephones, all kinds of neat things. Check out the uh check out

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the list. Okay. Tab seven. Mr. Pearl. >> Yes, sir. Mayor Tab 7 is the first reading of an ordinance of the city of Homestead, Florida, amending the City of Homestead code of ordinances by creating division three interfaith advisory board of article 3 boards and committees, commissions of chapter 2, administration, providing for purpose

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and intent, establishing powers and duties, providing for codification, severability, and an effective date. >> Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman, this is your item. >> Thank you. Thank you. It's my honor to bring back for consideration the interfaith advisory board and uh this

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ordinance would provide for a seven member voting board with each member of city council appointing one members uh would be should be active within the faith-based community and reflect a cross-section of faiths within the community. The board would serve strictly as an advisory capacity to the

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city council with responsibilities including advising mayor and council, city manager on relevant community matters, serving as a liaison with faith-based and spir spiritual communities, recommending cooperative service programming initiatives, and providing at least one written or annual

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report to the city council. So with that, I'll rest and provide an invitation to the past advisory boards members that are present to come up and share about your um experience when we had it previously. Um talk about your

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success and um your goals for the future. >> Good evening and welcome. Good evening. How's everyone doing? Uh good evening, mayor, council, vice mayor. Uh my name is Looney Cell. I served as pastor and

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vice chair for the faith uh advisory board. And during my tenure for the year, it was an amazing experience. We were able to gap a bridge uh between council and uh other churches and pastors from different denominations

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that are within the city of Homestead. we were able to um host an event which was the uh good neighbor day uh homestead event which we did at the sports complex. We had an outpour of 200 people show up where we did food

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distributions. We had nonprofits attend the event and give out resources that are here in the city of Homestead and we had the presence of our uh board leazison which is Councilman Countibball and which I would like to thank you for the service that you did. you did an amazing job um not only coming to every

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meeting but also helping us direct the meetings and be able to have pastors come in through our uh monthly meetings and give out their um suggestions, advice, speak on things they were going through. Um in addition to the uh good neighbor day event that we hosted, we

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also had uh an event where we actually invited over 30 pastors from different denominations that are within the city of Homestead. We had a dinner for them and we had a moment where they were able to speak to us as a advisory board on things that they were going through through their churches um and just

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giving us uh advice or giving us um different um uh notes or just different things that h that were going on in the city um that they wanted to see an improvement on or that they wanted to congratulate saying that it was being improved. Um obviously we do a great job

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um in being part of the uh faith uh national day of prayer uh which it was something amazing the year that we had the board because we had a diverse group of pastors not only pray but also come and be part of the national day of prayer with us. Um and that's a bit of

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what we were able to accomplish by being a board that was only there for a year. Again, I was a vice chair, which I served with chairman, pastor Benji, and it was something that every time we go out in the community, we get asked by pastors who are in the community, saying, "When are we going to have a

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faith board again? When are we going to be able to um go to the monthly meetings and be able to speak to you guys about what we're going through in the community, things that are happening, and just, you know, being able to have a space where they can speak as pastors and be able to be heard." Um, so that's

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a bit of what we were able to accomplish, a bit of what's going on now. Um, the biggest event was now May 16. We actually hosted a good neighbor day, a murky event through an organization called Love has no limits. And it was a bit tough this year because we actually had to call every pastor

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individually to let them know that, hey, there's over $1.2 million of grant funding just for your church so you can leave the uh church walls and be able to serve your community. Um, when we had the faith board, we were just able to just have one meeting where they actually all came and we were able to give them the details. So, by us having

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the faith board reactivated again, we're able to disseminate information easier um and be able to gather the pastors frequently so we can gather as pastors and be able to um just speak to one another on things that are going on. So, thank you and I hope you guys consider

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reestablishing the board. Who's next? Sure. Go ahead. >> Howard Harden, uh, pastor of First Baptist Church of Homestead. I was blessed to be able to serve on this committee. Thank you for that privilege. Um, I feel that the biggest benefit for me was being able to help those

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congregations that are trying to get on their feet, uh, that sometimes run into issues. And I realize you can't use every building for every purpose. Uh but I believe homestead is stronger when we have vibrant houses of worship, communities of faith, and sometimes they

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need a liazison. They need someone that they can go to uh that can help them with those issues and finding a good location where they can meet. Uh there's not hardly a week that goes by that I don't get a phone call from someone trying to navigate these issues, trying

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to find a place where they can meet. Uh we have at times lent our own facility to other churches helping them get on the ground. There's one church that's doing pretty well. Uh in Florida City that started off for three years in our church and we were able to help them but that's hard to come by. We have five

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services at our church so we have very limited uh availability. And so I I I picked up on the words uh strictly advisory. I would say that is absolutely what a committee like this should be. Advisory not necessarily operational. The good news about what I have described is I don't think it would cost

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anything. I don't think there's any budget that would be needed for that, but it would be very beneficial uh for congregations that are trying to get on their feet to have someone that they can go to when they're dealing with issues with the city to help them uh get established. So, that was the main benefit to me and I think that that's

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something that is worthwhile. >> Thank you. >> Let me let Vice Mayor >> interject very quickly and then we'll go to you. You want me to think? No, no, no. >> It's really quick. I didn't know I didn't know more than one pastor was getting up. All I wanted to say was

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thank all of you pastors. Um I know most of you personally. Thank you for all that you do in the community. Um and you had mentioned the National Day of Prayer. I just wanted to ask and throw it out there that as you're considering your board to just make sure as I know you always do that you do include all of

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our denominations. the last two years we failed to have any Haitian pastors be part of the National Day of Prayer. I know when you your board was there, you did do that. So, I just wanted to put it out there to please be mindful of that. Sometimes it just falls through through

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the cracks, but that we're make sure that we're open to all. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Well, thank you, Mayor Lawler, Vice Mayor Bailey, and the council for this opportunity. Um I've served as a as a former chair for the past the past year

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when the inter a advisory board was established and like Looney Cell and Pastor Howard had mentioned it created a great a great relationship not only um that point of contact but it created more of a bridge

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between the interfaith and the the faith community. So [clears throat] one thing that I just want to clarify it's that by no reason um this interfaith advisory board it's to pursue or implement a

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doctrine. Okay. So we are amongst different faith believers here and I can assure you that between a Baptist and a Pentecostal we have a lot of things in that we can discuss for for a long time and we don't go we don't talk about

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doctrine. So our our our our goal is to serve as you all serve our beautiful city of Homestead. So there's many ways that we can do this, right? One of them it's create being that bridge between the city and the faith uh based organization creating a reliable a

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reliable channel for sharing information. I I I'm very grateful to Chief Nap because when all this commotion of immigration happened, remember that in in Homestead, he gave us a call

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and we showed up at the at his meeting and he asked he asked me if he we could deliver a message, not to be feared to call 911 if there was an emergency, not to be, you know, not to be threatened that the city of Volunteer was here to serve. I immediately took those words

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and guess what we did? We delivered the message. So this interfaith board, it's more of a of a messenger of you guys. We could serve as the turistan of how the city is going, what message

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we would you love for us to deliver to our congregants. Second, it will be the collaboration. Guess what? Uh we are in hurricane season, right? The churches of Homestead might not have the resources,

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but we have the volunteers that will do will volunteer and help out if a disaster comes into place. We've done it many times in the past, and we're willing to do it. We have thousands of members of our churches that are willing to collaborate with the city as volunteers in case of an event that

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could happen. We're here for that. And third, our community services. Whether through food distribution, youth mentoring, support for families, assisting during emergencies, or outreach to vulnerable populations, the faith-based organizations have a long

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history of serving our community. And I'm so happy to see new faces like like Councilwoman Kimberly that um is it's part of it. Um but the church is going nowhere. We've been here for more than 100 years. and we will continue to serve along you guys or along new a new mayor

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that will come or along a new council that will be here or maybe it's not us that are going to be here but the church will continue to be here and we love this city as much as you guys love the city and we want to partner and and serve along the sides with you guys. So with this all close say thank you

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because there's other cities that they don't even consider us to come up to the podium and speak about considering having an interfaith advisory board. So that's for us is it's already a winning here. So thank you so much and thank you for the opportunity.

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Anyone else? Oh, look it out in the audience first. Anyone else? Okay, Council Fletcher. >> Yeah, just a a quick question as to I know we created this board a couple years ago and how did it fall through the cracks that we have to recreate and and do it again?

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>> It's unsetted. We we put a >> date on it at the time. >> So, are we going to do that for this or are we going to leave it open opened? >> It's not built in. >> Perfect. >> That way it doesn't fall through the cracks. >> It Okay.

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>> Yes, Councilwoman. >> Thank you. Yeah, great question. The the original uh board was set up as an ad hoc, so it comes with a sunset. This is codified like our other committees now. And um we're not discussing budgets or anything at this time. That'll come

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during budget uh planning and whatnot, but um certainly to be a thermostat or being able to have meetings and and um promote attendance, etc. You know, there would be costs. I mean, the National Day

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of Prayer has been put on without us financially um covering those those expenses and through volunteerism and whatnot. And I would expect that those services would continue but we have to be realistic and um those would come for consideration in

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the future. Okay. But we also have another um another committee for consideration. So same situation. It would not be an ad hoc. It would be an actual formal committee form. [snorts] But I appreciate everyone here in attendance and for your service to the

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community whether a committee exists or not. um what you do is very valuable and um being an extension of us and helping to bridge as you mentioned information and um you know relieve stress and anxiety within the the groups that you

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serve is is essential in my opinion. So I appreciate the support on this item. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. So, I come to this tonight very reluctantly because I'll be very candid with you.

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When this was brought by one of our former colleagues, I viewed it as a political stunt and the fact that it kind of and that's why I asked for a a sunset to be to be put on it because who's going to be perceived as the one

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who votes against God, right, Clemente? This is not a political stunt right now. >> No, it it is. >> This is as well. I view this as as a campaign stunt. But I want to be real clear.

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It's I understand that the other than the way it's formed, ad hoc versus permanent this time, there's no real difference in the commission that's given to you. and your fir your first speaker talked about all of the events

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you put on and I need some clarification or for everybody to be really clear that you are advisory, you're a liaison, um receive the inputs of the needs of the community,

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recommend activities or programming, not take it on and go out as an independent committee. and do that. Those those efforts would have to come back to council for approval to be spearheaded by the IAB.

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You just can't on your own. As I read this the the commissioning document, you do not have the ability to go out and and do these, you know, to initiate these food drives. you can participate,

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but I don't see that you are uh ordained, so to speak, to to take on those kinds of of events. And it's interesting the the can of worms about the budget has kind of been opened a little bit. And I understand out there, you know, word on the streets pretty

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loud that you all have already been promised a $10,000 budget. Well, if you're a recommending body, why do you need a blanket budget upfront? And we'll have that discussion later. I would

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envision that you bring back a proposal and a fix dollars to that and we'll consider it at that time. But there is no guarantee and certainly no promise from me for

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blanket funding for you all to go off and do as you see fit without counsel or approval or delegation to the manager or his staff for approval. And I just want you all to understand that that I think

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in the last iteration things kind of went far a field and you got beyond what you were commissioned to do. And before I vote on this tonight, I I just wanted to say my piece that we we need to be

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really clear what the confines of this committee uh are if if this goes forward and is passed. >> Councilwoman, >> thank you, mayor. The intentions was to um create the confines of this committee

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as as we have with all the other committees which are all advisory in nature and there is an a liaison assigned from council to work with them and any events especially it's starting back up again would be put together as a proposal as was intended for us to come

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back for um approval and and discussion on. There's no budget in this document. >> And I wanted to be clear on that. >> There's no budget in this document and that's what I but but there was >> but you raised the issue. >> Well, it was mentioned >> by one of the speakers in support of the

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item that making a clarification and I'm making a further clarification that there there could be and should be a budget assigned to this committee so that they can serve in the capacities that this body sees fit. how they proposed their work and and what what items and their plan and all that is yet

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to be seen but and not to be debated tonight. But the goal is to form the committee for it to be a branch of the city just like the agricultural committee will be just like uh CRB and uh SWAC and the um several other

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committees that we have. So not asking for any different treatment. Mayor, thank you. >> Well, but we just need to be clear that as a recommend recommend Dory committee. There is no authority in this document

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to initiate any event or spend any money without council approval for the specific official event of the IAB. just I want I want you all to be clear on that that again as I said a few

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minutes ago kind of went far a field last time and and I think we need to stay within in those rails and you know what happened today in Tallahassee changes everything. There is the great

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unknown out there as to what we will be able to continue to do to even provide some basic services as a city. There's just it's it's chaos and real uncertainty and real risk for every city

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in this uh in this state. >> So I was going to say, do we have a motion by Councilman Ross, second by Councilwoman Avala? Let's have a roll call vote. We took all that up front. Then we have

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Well, we took public comment up front on all items. Well, I'm going to give you leeway this time, but understand that in the future, and we've been announcing this, other than certain very limited issues,

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you got to make your comments upfront. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Appreciate the the moment. Randy Ramirez, 2231 Southeast First Street. Um I did go at the very beginning of the city to support this item at the beginning of of the CRA meeting. I just wanted to come up and

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say that the community does support the respected pastors that are in the room today. And I believe some of these churches also um have funding that they would put towards helping the community. They've been doing it for many years. Um, so I would also ask that the committee, the council take that into

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consideration that they have been pouring funds into city of Homestead and as the city moves forward and these terrible times that are going on, like you just mentioned, we do need this faith-based committee in Homestead and I

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know a lot of of our council go to local churches. So, please tonight support our local churches so they can continue to support our committee. Thank you. Okay. Is there any other public comment? Is there anyone online as long as we've open the gate?

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Okay. So, we'll close the public hearing and we'll have a roll call vote on this item. >> Councilman Fletcher, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Abila, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey,

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>> yes. Mayor Lawner >> reluctantly. Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. Something I should have done earlier. Um I'd like to jump to tab 12 very quickly on the uh sports hub item.

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Mr. Pearl. Tab 12 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, authorizing the city manager to pay or reimburse 50% of eligible building permit fees in current connection with construction of sports, field, and recreational improvements on the fields parcel to which the city has

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access pursuant to a ground lease and development agreement with BSGS Facilities LLC. Authorizing the city manager to execute any necessary documents, take all actions necessary to implement the payment authorization, providing for implementation, providing for an effective date,

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Thank you, Mr. Pearl. Okay, I know we've all been briefed. Are there any questions or comments with respect to this item? >> Councilwoman? No. >> Thank you, Mayor. I I see that um proposed this item was proposed by a council member, but I just wanted to get

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clarification. They they're requesting this these funds because I thought this was negotiated part of the contract. It feels like a slippery slope slope of changes being made and there was profering of the scholarships. My understanding is that's not happening.

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There was um now we're being proposed a residential community. So it's like now I'm seeing they want us to pay for development fees when it was all part of the agreement to or did did our attorney make an a mistake in how we negotiated

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the contract? Like this is foreseeable for there to be development and for us to have for them to have to pay development fees. Why would we have to why would we foot this bill? Mr. Mayor, if I may, Mr. Fletcher. Yeah, you know, based on just different

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conversations I've had since we initially performed this this contract, yes, this was something that uh we I had discussed with the SPH folks that uh you know, I think it's only natural for us

426
02:03:58.080 --> 02:04:16.000
to to look at offsetting some of these costs for somebody who's who's basically placing $250 million worth of infrastructure in in our in our and we're going to have public use of that facility.

427
02:04:16.000 --> 02:04:32.000
It's part of being a a public private partnership. You know, instead we're going to ask them to spend the $250 million and also pay the the the 28 or 30 or $50,000 worth of impact fees for permits that if

428
02:04:32.000 --> 02:04:47.280
we were doing the work ourselves, we wouldn't we wouldn't charge ourselves for that. and they're giving us a facility that's going to be public use and available. That's the reason I brought it. I would actually suggest that we give 100% because of the the size of the investment, but you know,

429
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based off of discussion, I believe 50% is more than adequate and uh I strongly support this and I think the community would as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Fletcher. And to that end, let's be really clear. Let's not be misled. This has to do solely

430
02:05:03.360 --> 02:05:19.360
with the green field portion of the project. This has nothing to do with the arena. It has nothing to do with the academic village or some ambiguous other project that may or may not ever come to

431
02:05:19.360 --> 02:05:36.560
bear. Now, you ask about the negotiation. I was there in the room most if not all the time as was our our team of attorneys and the city manager and and their able team of attorneys and it's something that was just overlooked on

432
02:05:36.560 --> 02:05:54.000
both sides. But again, to Councilman Fletcher's point, if we were doing it ourselves, we wouldn't pay permit fees. they, you know, and now they're coming in. They're giving us the greens fields

433
02:05:54.000 --> 02:06:09.440
far in excess of a hundred million dollars just for the development of the fields and have offered to, you know, that we're going to use more than 50% of the time. If you look at the schedule, the public uses the greens fields at

434
02:06:09.440 --> 02:06:25.360
least and I believe more than 50% of the time and they're coming in and agreeing to pay half of the permit fees and cost recovery again limited solely

435
02:06:25.360 --> 02:06:41.599
to the green fields. >> Thank you, Mayor. I I appreciate the explanation. I I don't think it was something that was overlooked. I I recall the briefings and they were going to pay 100% for the build. I will support this item tonight only and purely out of support for you,

436
02:06:41.599 --> 02:06:58.159
Councilman Fletcher. We need the money. It's already been expressed. We are We don't know what's coming and we could use the dollars in our account. But I'll rest there and I will support this item for you tonight. Thank you. >> Or they could go away and we'll have to find $120 million to do the greens fields. Is that what you suggest?

437
02:06:58.159 --> 02:07:13.840
>> Are you suggesting they're not committed to complete the project if they don't? Not not not at all. Not not not in the the least. But supporting Councilman Fletcher because he brought it implicitly says you don't support the

438
02:07:13.840 --> 02:07:28.480
project. >> I don't support the development. >> I think we're overreaching at all comments. We aren't. We aren't. Not at all. >> Um >> I think everybody is very well aware how excited we've been about this project.

439
02:07:28.480 --> 02:07:46.560
But I'll tell you, I was also I was also surprised by it because it does seem like such a small percentage of such a huge project and it's it's alarming. So, I understand your concerns. I appreciate your explanation. Um, but let's not

440
02:07:46.560 --> 02:08:04.000
let's not kid ourselves that it does feel like it is, no pun intended, coming out of left field. Um, and my other concern was when asking staff, what does that mean dollar amount-wise for us? And we have absolutely no no idea.

441
02:08:04.000 --> 02:08:21.280
>> So there there are valid concerns and there were questions that were asked that I I just also feel um, you know, now that we don't have the cow that we have an opportunity to hear something and get a little more information.

442
02:08:21.280 --> 02:08:40.239
We can't come up with any. Is there maybe someone in the audience that could give us an idea having done similar projects? >> Um as at this time we don't really have any measures of mirror from the

443
02:08:40.239 --> 02:08:57.360
developing team. Uh the only project request for reviews and approval and permits that we have to date is simply an early start request which doesn't have any permit fee. The [clears throat] demolition permit is very minute. It's

444
02:08:57.360 --> 02:09:13.920
about $1,600. So it's not really a major cost. I believe where they're going to see significant cost impact will be in terms of the cost recovery items. which obviously this item doesn't address.

445
02:09:13.920 --> 02:09:29.679
This is strictly about permit fees which is very minute. So I think what they asking for the city to do is to put a skin in the game and for the commitment of collaboration by the way by the way the agreement calls for collaboration

446
02:09:29.679 --> 02:09:46.320
between the city and the developer. So it wasn't totally silent. He said that the city is committed to collaboration with them. uh to me this is not really a big big amount in term if you compare to the total development cost when that

447
02:09:46.320 --> 02:10:01.599
deal was negotiated we're talking about $275 million investment but I think it's way beyond that as we speak and it's going to continue to grow because of time and because of custom construction materials things are changing so to that

448
02:10:01.599 --> 02:10:17.280
extent I fully endorse the submitter by Councilman Fletcher to move forward with this. >> Thank you, Mr. Manager. >> I appreciate that. I think um if you look at it in a way that we're

449
02:10:17.280 --> 02:10:34.480
really waving fees and not footing bills, it also makes it easier. But yeah, we we are we are equally committed. We want to see this happen. Um so, thank you for the clarifications. Council Fletcher, if you'll move it,

450
02:10:34.480 --> 02:10:52.040
I'll second it. >> Second. >> Co- second. Co- second. Okay. Any further from council? Right. Seeing none, let's have a roll call vote on this item.

451
02:10:52.960 --> 02:11:15.040
>> Councilwoman Avida, >> yes. >> Councilman Fletcher, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> Vice Mayor Bailey, >> yes. Mayor Losner. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> That takes us back to tab eight.

452
02:11:15.040 --> 02:11:32.159
>> Yes, Mr. Pearl. Tab eight is the first reading of an ordinance of the city council of the city of Homestead Florida amending chapter 2 administration article 3 boards committees commissions of the city code by creating division 1.5 agricultural committee to establish agricultural committee as a standing advisory committee of the city providing

453
02:11:32.159 --> 02:11:47.679
for conflict severability codification and an effective date. >> Thank you councilwoman. >> Thank you mayor. This is about getting serious about our commitment to preserving the agricultural roots of the city of Homestead. If we're going to have a field and a tractor and our logo, we might as well have an agricultural

454
02:11:47.679 --> 02:12:02.960
committee and all the comments made prior to this item with relation to the other committee all stand. So, I do hope that there are plenty of events and plenty of engagement uh forums and uh and I do hope for us to be able to

455
02:12:02.960 --> 02:12:20.079
assign a a budgetary allocation for it to be able to function efficiently in the future. But for right now, those are not up for debate. This is just to pass the committee creation. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Mr. Pearl, this seems to have additional language other than the last one. Is

456
02:12:20.079 --> 02:12:36.880
there really any any difference or does this give this committee any different stature or standing in terms of of budgeting or or authority? No. >> No, no standing committee will ever in an ordinance will ever have money

457
02:12:36.880 --> 02:12:52.880
allocated to it. That's a budgetary decision. if the the ad hoc ones will occasionally because it's the only time you see it and sometimes you'll want to limit that. So, but the ordinances that establish these uh these committees do not have a budget associated with it. When you discuss the budget, if you

458
02:12:52.880 --> 02:13:06.880
choose to appropriate money >> for anything that this they recommend, that's at your discretion. >> Okay. So, and again since you know like Mr. Pearl, I I word smith for a living.

459
02:13:06.880 --> 02:13:24.639
Let's look at the third whereas the last line where it says to preserve and promote the city's agricultural identity. I think it would be more accurate to say and again starting at the beginning of

460
02:13:24.639 --> 02:13:40.800
the last line initiatives intended to recognize the city's agricultural heritage. We're not preserving and promoting any agriculture by the the establishment of

461
02:13:40.800 --> 02:13:56.400
this committee. Let's let's get real about that. That's that's that's out of our control. And I I don't want this to be used in the future to springboard into something more than it was ever intended to be.

462
02:13:56.400 --> 02:14:14.719
I don't I don't understand the um the challenge because preserving and promoting the city's agg are you are you referencing that the city currently does not have an agricultural identity? >> Well, that's your position. People don't know where homestead begins and ends.

463
02:14:14.719 --> 02:14:30.400
And the theory of homestead still being agriculture is misplaced because of a general public knowledge uh or misunderstanding of where the the boundary lines of Homestead are. We have

464
02:14:30.400 --> 02:14:47.440
a heritage, which means in the past, we have a past agricultural heritage and we're going to recognize that and we're going to promote that. But any, you know, the word preserve

465
02:14:47.440 --> 02:15:03.360
to me has a whole different meaning. >> Okay. Well, there are existing um community gardens that exist within the city of Homestead right here off of u I think it's Flaggler. We just talked about the other day of a site that we

466
02:15:03.360 --> 02:15:19.199
are um conveying to a developer to include programming for community garden experiences within the city of Homestead. That's well within our borders of what this is meant to preserve and promote. So, while I appreciate that there is that um

467
02:15:19.199 --> 02:15:36.320
perception that the city of Homestead is not the Redlands and the city of Homestead is is no longer or is is eliminating farming communities, I don't agree with that. I don't I want to try to reverse that as much as possible. I want to actively preserve and promote the city's agricultural identity. So, I

468
02:15:36.320 --> 02:15:51.360
I appreciate the recommendation, but I am going to stick to the verbiage in the resolution on that item as is. and that's all good and we're going to spend the next year and a half spitting at each other anyway. But as Miss Consky, I think if she were honest about it

469
02:15:51.360 --> 02:16:09.599
>> would tell you that a backyard garden and a community garden is not agriculture. Agriculture is putting millions of dollars at risk, buying millions of dollars in equipment, being subject to markets and weather and you

470
02:16:09.599 --> 02:16:26.239
know the the the wrath of God or the the uh the blessing of God on on your crop. Backyard gardens do not create an agricultural community. Neither do community gardens, >> which please point me to that garden.

471
02:16:26.239 --> 02:16:42.880
I've never seen it. Well, maybe not. Maybe it's I don't want codes being stuck stuck on them. So, the challenge that I hear you saying is that um you're want I don't think anyone um has any less respect for the true true

472
02:16:42.880 --> 02:16:59.519
farmers that were here or that still exist within the greater the greater homestead area. And I think the state has um expanded the definition of agriculture to also include agurism. And there I think you're nitpicking here, but you

473
02:16:59.519 --> 02:17:15.599
did you did mention there was some other verbiage that was not consistent with the creation of the committee. Is this the only example? >> It did no different in terms of the the thoroughess of of the language. Got it >> which you know the attorneys represented

474
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that you know no difference you know two different sides of the same quarter. >> Okay. It's just that, you know, >> and I would like >> we're really kidding ourselves if we think we're going to preserve agriculture by any action we take here.

475
02:17:32.559 --> 02:17:50.800
I I I can I can understand that um lack of faith uh mayor and I appreciate Councilwoman Ksk's um support and uh her um participation in the Sunshine meetings that we've had leading up to this and for her

476
02:17:50.800 --> 02:18:08.399
commitment to do what she can with her um her passion, her experience, and her her connections within this community to um revive what little agricultural flame may exist that that you perceive. I think that um

477
02:18:08.399 --> 02:18:24.319
agriculture is still a big part of our identity and I'd like to preserve it. I'll leave that. Thank you. >> Okay. So, would you like to make a motion on the item? >> Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. Seconded by the farmer's daughter.

478
02:18:24.319 --> 02:18:39.040
>> That's right. The farmer's daughter. May I [clears throat] >> wear it proudly? >> May I speak? >> Sure. Um though farming is not done in the city limits of Homestead. You're absolutely correct. Not on the scale that we are

479
02:18:39.040 --> 02:18:55.519
known for and depicted in our logo. I would say that many of the farmers are homestead residents though the farming is done in the Redlands. as and as a farmer there are many resources that they contribute

480
02:18:55.519 --> 02:19:13.840
financially out of their need for the resources to the city of Homestead. So they're drivers um for employment and out of necessity for um provisions and services resources. So um yes, can we

481
02:19:13.840 --> 02:19:29.599
revitalize agriculture? We don't know, you know, probably not to be honest with what's happening. However, bringing more awareness, the fact that many people know that Homestead to be an agriculture community in stop. That's it. They don't know

482
02:19:29.599 --> 02:19:45.359
anything more than that. So, if we can bring more awareness, education um to the found the founders of Homestead through agriculture and other means currently to what we have in agriculture as well. It may, who knows? It could

483
02:19:45.359 --> 02:20:00.720
revitalize or spark a a young farmer's son or daughter to maybe take on the torch when they wanted to sell the farm. We don't know. Maybe it could, maybe it couldn't. So, but to bring awareness, uh, yes, I'm very excited about that and other opportunities that it could bring

484
02:20:00.720 --> 02:20:16.720
to the community. Um, so I'm I'm excited. We don't know what the future may hold and what it could or could not do, but I am more I am very excited about this committee and what it could do in the community. Thank you. >> Good. Thank you, Mayor. >> Yes, Council Roth.

485
02:20:16.720 --> 02:20:32.479
>> Real quick, um just some historical heritage things and um all of the East Side Waterstone, Malibu Bay, Oasis, Vineyards, >> even the villages

486
02:20:32.479 --> 02:20:47.600
>> and the villages. before 1980 whatever it was they were built >> um was all farmland and I shared a little story with in my my meeting that when I had the

487
02:20:47.600 --> 02:21:03.920
restaurants uh the ro palm and there's all American they used to come to my back door with sacks of potatoes >> for $5 for 50 pound bag of potatoes and um that kind

488
02:21:03.920 --> 02:21:22.800
went away. And so there is a lot of heritage to what Homestead [snorts] was. Um, and I'm thinking as you guys are talking, the fact that we asked a developer to put fruit trees in people's backyards

489
02:21:22.800 --> 02:21:39.600
is a testament to heritage, right? We may not get the groves that we had in the past, but we can still remember where we came from. And I think that's the legacy that this board can

490
02:21:39.600 --> 02:21:55.200
potentially uh promote is what what we were and what we still uh in some ways stand for. Um there is still a farm here in the city. It happens to be outside the UDB, but it's

491
02:21:55.200 --> 02:22:11.359
inside the city limits, which is 137 Avenue in and Campbell Drive. The uh old um uh I forget the guy's name, uh Diaz Farms with all those palm trees and stuff like that, which um I hope will never be developed and it's outside the

492
02:22:11.359 --> 02:22:28.800
UDB, so there's not going to be a lot of interest in doing anything with that. So, uh, I think heritage is is is is is crucial in in just remembering where we came from as a city. >> That's all. Thanks, Mayor. >> Thank you. Any further? We have a motion

493
02:22:28.800 --> 02:22:43.920
and a second. So, let's have a roll call vote. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Abila, yes. >> Counciloman Fletcher. >> Vice Mayor Bailey. Mayor Lawner, yes.

494
02:22:43.920 --> 02:23:01.840
Motion carries. Did you vote, council? >> I wasn't sure what tab we were on. >> We're on the ad for a moment. >> The ad committee. >> Uh, it's a yes. Good. >> So, record council pleasure as a yes. Okay. Moving on to tab nine.

495
02:23:01.840 --> 02:23:17.280
>> Right. Yes. Tab nine. Tab nine is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, directing the city manager to take the actions necessary to prepare a formal request to Miami Dade County for a municipal boundary change pursuant to chapter 20 of the code of Miami Dade County, Florida for the annexation of certain

496
02:23:17.280 --> 02:23:33.600
uninorporated properties, providing for transmitt providing for implementation, providing for an effective date. >> Thank you, Mr. Pearl. So, um this I guess item is subscribed to me. Um we give you some quick background. And we've recently, well,

497
02:23:33.600 --> 02:23:48.960
within the last couple of years, we've had two approvals that abudded the boundary lines of the city of Homestead where a subdivision essentially was in the city and just outside the city. Uh the one was Aspen

498
02:23:48.960 --> 02:24:04.399
West probably three years ago. And then the more recent uh LAR project also contained uh a few homes outside the uh the city limits. So it it occurred to me

499
02:24:04.399 --> 02:24:21.840
it really makes no sense for neighbors backing up to each other. One calls a Homestead Police Department, the other calls um Miami Dade Sheriff's Office. They're all on Homestead Water. They're

500
02:24:21.840 --> 02:24:38.560
all on City of Homestead utilities. Their driver's licenses all say Homestead. It kind of squares squares things off within the limitations that now exist at the county for annexing property. There are other commercial

501
02:24:38.560 --> 02:24:56.399
properties and agriculturally zoned properties adjacent to those, but we're we're not permitted to bring those in under the the current moratorum. Uh this also includes uh another parcel that pretty much rounds out a a block um in

502
02:24:56.399 --> 02:25:12.000
Northwest Homestead to bring that in to kind of uh square off the block. And I understand that uh just generally in the briefings there was some suggestion that maybe there are three other parcels that have joined that that we should consider bringing in

503
02:25:12.000 --> 02:25:29.280
and I certainly don't don't oppose that. But this is just giving the manager authority to begin the process. Uh as an aside, uh both Dr. Horton and Lonar have signaled their consent to to this

504
02:25:29.280 --> 02:25:45.840
going forward. Uh there's no one there in a home who uh you know irregardless of today's action in Tallahassee. No one there is no potential owner or pending owner who doesn't expect to pay or has an expectation that they would not pay

505
02:25:45.840 --> 02:26:02.880
city of Homestead taxes to the extent they're they're not applicable. So the ask is here for the manager to go forward and at least on on those three parcels and certainly um if anyone has you know few little proposed additions

506
02:26:02.880 --> 02:26:18.160
to finish out that one block in the northwest love to hear it. Councilman R, you look like you needed to talk. Okay, Councilwoman

507
02:26:18.160 --> 02:26:34.640
>> Mayor, thank you. Um I I see that says it says exhibit one, exhibit 2, exhibit 3. And during briefing, just trying to get through it all. Um I did not notice there were not actual exhibits like so I'm familiar with the Penco West property. That's the LAR project we

508
02:26:34.640 --> 02:26:49.680
approved and the >> Dr. Horton Aspen estate estates, but the Miami Day County property area there, that little piece of that carve out. Sure. >> I'm not familiar with that one. So, is there an exhibit that's supposed to be part of this packet that showcases what

509
02:26:49.680 --> 02:27:06.399
it is? And then with regards to the taxes, I mean, this is Councilman Consky is in your district. Um, I'm really interested to hearing if you if Council W Konsy thinks that this is um, you know, good for for her district, but

510
02:27:06.399 --> 02:27:21.200
>> do we really want to add more potential non- taxpayers to our list of people we have to >> service? Well, >> potentially they may not pay the taxes, but now we're adding them to us to serve. That's my question. >> Yeah. In reality, these these houses,

511
02:27:21.200 --> 02:27:37.200
let's let's say because irrespective of the height that's out there, there's only something definite that exempts the first 250 any $250,000. Anything beyond that has not really been

512
02:27:37.200 --> 02:27:54.479
jailed. It is not in this. And Mr. Pearl, last I saw it seems to kind of leave it to municipalities. The actual mechanism is unclear today. Okay. We have to see. >> But but what we know is there's a phasing in of up to 250. So to answer

513
02:27:54.479 --> 02:28:12.319
your immediate question, those homes in those subdivisions are going to be selling at a lot more than $500 or $600,000. So, if they're exempted for their first 250 of value,

514
02:28:12.319 --> 02:28:28.240
there's still taxable value there. And we're talking about, I think, 24 houses that in in those two subdivisions. Um, the other the other parcel further to the east, uh, constitutes one home on a

515
02:28:28.240 --> 02:28:45.120
very large piece of property. If you're familiar with the home of former mayor Fred Rhodess on 21st Street, the big house with a with a high uh pointy blue tile roof. >> Um they can object and and the county

516
02:28:45.120 --> 02:29:02.560
may or may not uh >> may or may not accept it. Uh there's no requirement for voter approval for less than 250 units or 250 voters, I'm sorry, 250 voters

517
02:29:02.560 --> 02:29:17.760
in in the area. So right now, while while the westerly ones are under construction, there are no voters there. Uh is there any any thought of any addition? Councilwoman,

518
02:29:17.760 --> 02:29:35.840
>> thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I question a few things. One, why one parcel and as exhibit three versus, you know, we've talked about how irregular our district is. If this is an asset

519
02:29:35.840 --> 02:29:50.720
way, if there are no changes to the property taxes, and it would be an asset to this, >> and there will be, but >> um why not square it out because these are all residential properties. >> And you're speaking of the four immediately to the north of of that parcel

520
02:29:50.720 --> 02:30:07.200
>> that there's four um there's even one property to the east of Fred Road's house that's on the corner on >> Well, but that's a whole block of homes. >> Well, there's just only one to the to the north. Sorry. To the north of Fred Road's house. >> That's in the city. >> That's it. That the one to the north. I

521
02:30:07.200 --> 02:30:21.600
think >> the one to the north of of Fred Roads is for all the way to >> is in the city. Absolutely. >> Why would we not? >> So those four would bring in 296 frontage. >> Correct. Correct. So if we were to square it up, if this was an asset to the city, why not take the whole block

522
02:30:21.600 --> 02:30:38.160
of 296, square it all the way down? >> Well, you know, we could I think we probably need to, you know, in terms of and and it makes sense on one hand to square it up. They already use our electricity. They use our water. I don't know if they're on sewer there. I don't think they are. So, we're already

523
02:30:38.160 --> 02:30:55.439
deriving income from from those properties. Probably going to be a policy decision. I don't know what each one of those are assessed at. Some may continue to produce tax revenue, some some may not. >> And then I question on the other side,

524
02:30:55.439 --> 02:31:12.000
the flip side, will it become a liability? you know, if depending [snorts] on what happens with property taxes. So, are we assuming >> Well, again, the new houses are going to be beyond that cap, >> they would still produce revenue, >> right?

525
02:31:12.000 --> 02:31:28.399
>> And the valuation of the of the one on 21st Street, its taxable value is in excess of a million dollars. Now, so again, if you bring that in and the tax exemption is even a half a million dollars, you're still

526
02:31:28.399 --> 02:31:44.240
deriving revenue on the difference between a half a million and a million plus. >> Okay. >> Right. Thank you. >> I I don't really see, you know, what we're proposing I don't really see as a drain given the math right now. Yes, council woman. Thank you. Mayor, I I

527
02:31:44.240 --> 02:31:59.920
would not want to subject city secondary levels of regulation on top of any existing property owner. Um, so exhibit three, unless you're seeing it as a potential sale to a developer in the future and it gives us the ability to

528
02:31:59.920 --> 02:32:18.399
then curate the property development. >> I believe that based on that very same thing that city of Homestead could do it better than what may be permitted under the county rules right now and it faces and abuts a lot of city properties.

529
02:32:18.399 --> 02:32:33.040
From that perspective, I can understand the benefit of having at least a regul regulatory developmental control. Um, but as long as >> and I think that's important. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you.

530
02:32:33.040 --> 02:32:50.880
>> Okay. So, um, do we have a motion and perhaps include those other those four residences to the north? >> I just wanted clarity on whether we were including those additional lots as as we move forward. Well, let's that's I'm ask for the mo. Counciloman Kinsky, would

531
02:32:50.880 --> 02:33:07.200
you like to make the motion and also, you know, amend this item to include those four residences north of the smaller parcel? >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Yes, I would make that motion to include those four properties. >> Right. There's four single family residences that would round out that

532
02:33:07.200 --> 02:33:22.800
block. >> Yes, sir. >> Square out the block. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Is there anything further? Yes, council. >> Sorry, one more question for clarification. Would this have a second reading where it gives those property owners an opportunity to come and object and vocalize? >> Well, there's a huge annexation process.

533
02:33:22.800 --> 02:33:38.560
>> They would be notified and everything, right? >> And at some point, it's it's out of our hands and is in the hands of the county >> before we would proceed to move forward. Is there a secondary hearing to this? >> Yes. What we'll have this there's information that needs to be compiled in order to submit a complete application

534
02:33:38.560 --> 02:33:55.840
to the county. Among those things is a resolution that requires a written notice to anyone with 600 ft of the boundary of what we're doing and then we'll come back and you'll adopt that resolution with a complete package and that will ultimately be the application

535
02:33:55.840 --> 02:34:12.240
that's transmitted to the county for the annexation. >> Thank you. >> Sure answer. Yes. We're not sneaking it in on anyone and again Lenar and DR have already signal their their concern. There's nothing there yet. >> So, Mr. Mayor, >> yes. >> Just a point of clarification. Uh this

536
02:34:12.240 --> 02:34:29.200
afternoon I received a letter from Miss Melissa Tapanes on behalf of Dr. Horton which is for I think is the property on the west side the SB2 >> Aspen West >> Aspen West stating that uh they already

537
02:34:29.200 --> 02:34:44.880
do have in full entitlement and permits by Mid County. They simply want to make sure that their rights are preserved going forward as we move forward. I don't see any challenge to that or any inhibition. For example, if you're doing development

538
02:34:44.880 --> 02:35:00.479
within the RTZ, you go through the county, you don't go through the local city. So, I don't think this going to impact their process uh in terms of inspections once they get to the construction phase. And also, the annexation will have a positive impact

539
02:35:00.479 --> 02:35:17.840
on the city of Homestead. Currently, we are still battling with the challenge of processing additional 25% fees for water and sewer services outside the city limits. That issue is still unresolved. So, the state statute

540
02:35:17.840 --> 02:35:32.720
allows us to charge additional 25% for services we rent outside the city limits. By bringing some of these homes inside the city, that preserves our rights to move forward. So, that's additional positive. Thanks.

541
02:35:32.720 --> 02:35:48.160
>> And and in reality to the concerns of expressed by the representative of of Dr. Horton, the reality is is that annexation is such a protracted process, they will very likely be completed,

542
02:35:48.160 --> 02:36:05.359
nearly completed, inspected with cos before the annexation is is ever finished and clear, you know, and whatever the the final plat would be. Yes, Councilwoman. >> Sorry, one more question. How much is this going to cost us this process? It's a whole we have to go through a whole

543
02:36:05.359 --> 02:36:21.280
bunch of hoops. >> Well, again, that's part of our final approval of the package that we're going to send to the county. >> The the cost that we're paying >> the cost of the submission would be included in our next vote

544
02:36:21.280 --> 02:36:38.800
when the whole package is brought to us for approval. >> So, the preparation is minimal. all the of the things that you'll need to do. There's a mailing of a notice, which shouldn't be terribly expensive, and we'll need an accurate legal description of the the the land that we're seeking

545
02:36:38.800 --> 02:36:54.479
to encompass. And that's the front end piece. So, it should be a large >> not very intensive info. >> Okay. All right. So, we do have a motion and a second subject with the amended uh issue of bringing in those additional

546
02:36:54.479 --> 02:37:11.439
four existing residences. So, let's have a roll call vote on the uh taking the first step for annexation. >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Abila, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilman Fletcher, >> yes. Councilman Cannibal, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey,

547
02:37:11.439 --> 02:37:31.040
>> yes. >> Mayor Lawler, >> yes. >> Motion carries. So that takes us to um 11. >> Okay, Mr. Pearl. >> Tab 11 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida providing for the submission to

548
02:37:31.040 --> 02:37:46.479
the city electors of proposed amendments to city charter in accordance with section 6.03 of the Miami date code charter providing requisite ballot language for submission to the electorate. Calling an election on the proposed amendments to the city charter to be held on November 3rd, 2026.

549
02:37:46.479 --> 02:38:06.240
Providing notice of election, providing for balloting, providing for inclusion in the charter, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, there is a revised verbiage for the question for number

550
02:38:06.240 --> 02:38:21.520
one, the mayoral term limit that's been distributed. this um more accurately reflects the intent and gives clarity as to um you know why this why this is being proposed and um I I did not get

551
02:38:21.520 --> 02:38:38.000
any updates during our briefings with regards to any research or paperwork consultants and costs involved with the boundaries related to the um single member voting district item. So I was curious if we could get an update on

552
02:38:38.000 --> 02:38:56.240
that. staff was supposed to do some research and talk about it between last council meeting and now. >> Do we have any of that? >> Uh I'm not I don't have any information

553
02:38:56.240 --> 02:39:12.800
on that. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, um, you know, while that was very much a significant item of interest from voters that I had engaged with during the last election, um, I do recognize the

554
02:39:12.800 --> 02:39:29.040
importance of needing to have that data and for us to be able to continue the conversation in a in a responsible manner. Um I have also had time to consider um the the charter review committee and I I would suspect that this would be an item of discussion for

555
02:39:29.040 --> 02:39:45.439
them as well. Um but you know I I I am going to v you know voice my my disappointment that there really hasn't been any update with regards to even costs of what a consultant would be or do we have any you know maps that we can look at or or what have you. So, you

556
02:39:45.439 --> 02:40:02.800
know, we can discuss that further um in future briefings, but um I do respectfully request that we approve to put on the ballot and let the voters decide with regards to the appointed service time and the mayoral term limit.

557
02:40:02.800 --> 02:40:18.800
So, I'll read into the record this revision for the question. It says, "The city charter currently provides that the mayor is elected to a four-year term. Consequently, council members representing three of the city six residential areas must resign their office to run for mayor. Shall the

558
02:40:18.800 --> 02:40:34.479
charter be amended to reduce the mayor's term from four years to two years, allowing council members representing all residential areas to run for mayor without forfeiting a portion of their council term. So that is the suggested verbiage that I am presenting to you all

559
02:40:34.479 --> 02:40:50.640
for that question. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, let me jump out there first. And, you know, we we had some discussion last time you brought this up, and you know, I'm I'm certainly not at this point one one four-year term in,

560
02:40:50.640 --> 02:41:05.280
I I think we need to let it play out. But the language that you propose is very misleading. probably unintentionally so, but it's very misleading because

561
02:41:05.280 --> 02:41:23.120
anytime the mayor has to run, whether it be a four-year term or a two-year term as mayor, there are three council members who are not up for election. Therefore, if any one of those three who

562
02:41:23.120 --> 02:41:38.560
were not up for election wished to run for mayor, they would have to resign. So, you know, you're you're you're stating something and and you're th this

563
02:41:38.560 --> 02:41:55.760
language is is engineered to to to engender support for reducing the mayor's term when you are representing a situation that already exists. I guess what I'm saying is reducing the mayor's

564
02:41:55.760 --> 02:42:12.960
term from four to two [clears throat] does does not solve that problem. It solves the problem for a different three seats, but it doesn't solve the problem that

565
02:42:12.960 --> 02:42:28.560
if one or more of the three who are not up for election want to to give up their seat and run for mayor, that that's that's still exist. >> I can see that. But they would still have the opportunity to run for mayor without having to vacate their seat on

566
02:42:28.560 --> 02:42:43.040
the next cycle. >> Okay. But that's not really what this says. Well, I mean the the challenge we have is that we have to fit it all within 73 words. And so with trying to, you know, being tasked with trying to be as transparent as possible and stay

567
02:42:43.040 --> 02:43:00.000
within 70 or 73, whatever the cap is, this is the best way that I could express that we are fixing a problem. There is a permanent dis uh disparit treatment that exists under the current election. three council members will in

568
02:43:00.000 --> 02:43:15.920
perpetuity would always have to forfeit their term time in order to be able to run for any mayor election >> that they do anyway even under a two-year term. No, >> they would run two years after. >> Correct. They have the opport this

569
02:43:15.920 --> 02:43:30.160
balances and creates the same opportunity across the board. So, this is not misleading. What you're trying to say is misleading. You're saying that what we have now is balance and this would unbalance imbalance. I didn't say balanced. There's a That's a whole And

570
02:43:30.160 --> 02:43:47.359
look, I know what's going on here, >> but but let's cut through this. >> Do you have a suggestion to adding the word balance if [snorts] it is? >> No. I >> I mean, I >> I I think if if you're going to do this, and I don't support this, and I hope three of you will join me and see it for

571
02:43:47.359 --> 02:44:03.840
what it is and and allow at least one more cycle of the mayor having a four-year term. Okay. So, you know, how about the the city charter per currently provides the mayors elected to a four-year term. Shall the mayor oral

572
02:44:03.840 --> 02:44:20.479
term be reduced for 2 years? Period. This shall not reduce the mayor's overall term limit of eight years. That's transparent. That's to the point.

573
02:44:20.479 --> 02:44:37.840
All of the rest of this stuff is And look, we have brilliant and well- paid attorneys, and I'm assuming that this is something you drafted without the benefit of legal counsel. >> Um, this is a combination of multiple draftings, and this was reviewed. Thank you.

574
02:44:37.840 --> 02:44:53.920
>> Well, it may have been reviewed, but it's it's >> now >> it's not well written, but >> this this would not be this any any verbiage can be challenged, but this is factbased. This is fact-based. >> It's misleading. It absolutely is

575
02:44:53.920 --> 02:45:10.080
misleading. Council members representing three of the city's six residential seats must resign their office to run for mayor. That is misleading because the 4-year term does not create that

576
02:45:10.080 --> 02:45:28.479
issue. The staggered terms of council members create that issue. The four-year term intersects with the other staggered terms. We didn't have this problem before. We have it now only

577
02:45:28.479 --> 02:45:45.439
because of the change of the four-year mayor term limit or term. >> Are you kidding me? So, when I had a two-year term or when any mayor had a two-year term, there were always three members who were not up for election.

578
02:45:45.439 --> 02:46:00.560
And if one of those members wanted to run for mayor, >> they would have to resign to run. >> That's correct. That has always existed. >> I'm not saying that doesn't exist. What I'm saying is now is those other three members are perpetually now having to

579
02:46:00.560 --> 02:46:16.319
forfeit to run and cannot wait till a mayor a cycle where the mayor is on their ballot to run. >> Okay, I get what you're saying, but that's not what it says here. This make it makes it seem nefarious and unfair. and we can go back and get the the

580
02:46:16.319 --> 02:46:30.240
records and see who voted to put the four-year mayoral term on on the ballot. And if y'all hadn't been so Never mind, vice mayor. >> Thank you, mayor. I also

581
02:46:30.240 --> 02:46:48.240
thought about that to recall my notes and words. Um, obviously these charter decisions, they're huge. I remember our very lengthy conversations. I, you know, I feel pressure obviously on all of our decisions, but these are

582
02:46:48.240 --> 02:47:03.840
just even more. Um, and not because I don't trust our residents to vote for what they want. >> But the truth is that there are many times, especially this this upcoming ballot, which is supposed to have a lot

583
02:47:03.840 --> 02:47:20.800
of items on it. How many people I have personally heard just say that they do a little picture or do a I'll do this here and this there without really understanding what's happening. Um I am sure that there are things that came

584
02:47:20.800 --> 02:47:36.880
into play after changing it to the four years. The pros at the time were it is difficult to run. It is difficult to have two years in and have to run. I would really like us to have a lengthy

585
02:47:36.880 --> 02:47:53.439
conversation about what it would look like with all all of the seats running at the same time for four years. Conversation came up today. The the idea that we had for vice mayor is potentially not able to happen because

586
02:47:53.439 --> 02:48:10.160
those candidates are not on the ballot. So, >> we take that to committee and kind of work through that. But I every time we have another discussion, I just can't help but think it is going to take some time. We need to figure out how it happens.

587
02:48:10.160 --> 02:48:25.359
But don't you think that as that every seat being on the same schedule would really alleviate so many of our issues? I can't help but think so. There have been crazier ideas. >> It would probably create as many as it

588
02:48:25.359 --> 02:48:41.920
would alleviate. So, out of curiosity, what are some what are some issues >> in terms of >> that come that come to mind first? >> Figuring out how to get to that point where someone's not losing a couple years or gaining a couple years. >> Well, I don't think there's any way to

589
02:48:41.920 --> 02:48:58.720
do that transition. Either you're going to have to add to somebody or take away to somebody from someone to get to the point in the future where everyone is up for election. That is not to say it can't be done.

590
02:48:58.720 --> 02:49:14.560
>> Vice Mayor, if I may on that on your suggestion, I I I find a lot of value in the staggered because where would I be without you having been here for me to learn from when I came in? Um, so if if you if you do the full and maybe I'm misunderstanding, but if you did the

591
02:49:14.560 --> 02:49:31.760
full ballot election with everyone on it, you could have a total wipeout. >> And then zero experience on the deis. And >> Florida City, >> I mean, that's interesting. >> And Florida City's experiencing that now where they only have one veteran member.

592
02:49:31.760 --> 02:49:48.880
And I came to realize this weekend at the uh League of Cities Gayla that due to term limits in Palmetto Bay, only two of the five will be returning

593
02:49:48.880 --> 02:50:05.600
and one is a brand new member and the other one is very controversial. So, you know, those will be the only two with any level of experience and you'll have a lot of new new folks. Now, look, I think right now if you threw that out there to the public and said, should we

594
02:50:05.600 --> 02:50:21.680
throw them all out, they'd probably say yes. >> I would like for for that item to be discussed with the charter review with along with the single member voting district because that could, you know, that could be a a fresh start for the whole city in that kind of scenario.

595
02:50:21.680 --> 02:50:38.080
>> So, okay. We'll table we'll table that. >> Well, we >> I agree. I agree completely. I was I was trying to come up with some really bad reasons for it and that in itself was enough. Yeah. Um I feel the same if I

596
02:50:38.080 --> 02:50:53.680
didn't have somebody on there before. So for the mayoral term, the reason that I believe I was a yes in the the first time off and again it was a it was a trying to balance pros and cons. There is there's not a very clear black and

597
02:50:53.680 --> 02:51:10.080
white for me on this one. Um I can see how both of you are when I first read this I thought no someone is always going to have to resign to run but that if they're that's if they're deciding to do it that year >> right but it is a very big

598
02:51:10.080 --> 02:51:25.920
inconvenience. Um whoever is in these three seats would always have to resign to run. Um so how do we fix that? I am not sure. Um, that would be my biggest pro to going back to two years. But

599
02:51:25.920 --> 02:51:41.920
again, I really hope that we could have that charter committee and be able to discuss it a little more. Um, because for this one, I'm still I'm still turn I'm still very torn. Pros and cons on either side. >> I'd like to hear from [laughter]

600
02:51:41.920 --> 02:51:57.520
we live in a bubble. We we really, as much as we'd like to deny it, we to a certain extent live in a political bubble. And I know that probably more so than a lot of prior councils, we're out and we're we're conversing with with

601
02:51:57.520 --> 02:52:12.880
people, but I I would tend to agree that, you know, I don't know what the hurry is here on this one. We could put it on the the ballot next year, but you know, you you've brought this and >> I can clarify >> and it deserves a vote to go a vote to go forward.

602
02:52:12.880 --> 02:52:30.560
>> Well, I can clarify that by by voting to add this on this November's ballot. the people would have the opportunity to shape the future of the leadership of the city four years into the future. So they would vote no they would vote on this

603
02:52:30.560 --> 02:52:45.760
year's ballot to make the change. If they do want the change then next year 2027 the mayoral candidates would be running for a two-year term not a four-year term. So it is it is very very

604
02:52:45.760 --> 02:53:02.000
impactful on on the the future of the city and the voters in my opinion should have the choice after um you know we've already gone through it uh through a couple election cycles. We just had the uh mayor's uh election for four more years. We had this other election

605
02:53:02.000 --> 02:53:18.319
without the mayor on it. We've had a taste of it both ways now and we have our history and our knowledge of what it would be like with two years terms. So that's that's why I'm pushing for it to be on this November's ballot so that the people can choose how they want the mayors to uh represent the city going

606
02:53:18.319 --> 02:53:33.040
forward. >> You know, it's interestingly and I'm sure you could go find some minutes or somebody's probably given you some minutes where many years ago and charter committee when the city was much smaller and had much less going on, I was a

607
02:53:33.040 --> 02:53:52.080
proponent of two years for mayor. But with the ability of hindsight now as we have more than doubled in size since the first time I left office and the things we have going on like Sports Hub and these industrial projects

608
02:53:52.080 --> 02:54:07.359
um you know the distraction of the perpetual you know and that was a big I think a big part of our discussion when the you know and that was a big I think a big part of our discussion when the four-year term for mayor was put on

609
02:54:07.359 --> 02:54:21.520
about the ballot finally passed that you're equalizing the face and voice of the city with everyone else. You know, you're asking the mayor to run citywide

610
02:54:21.520 --> 02:54:37.680
every two years. Now, think about this, and let's don't make the comparison to the county. If at some time if the mayoral two-year term was passed and if single member districts were passed in

611
02:54:37.680 --> 02:54:54.880
the future, you're asking a mayor to run a citywide election every two years while council members only have to run in a very limited area that I think I think there's some

612
02:54:54.880 --> 02:55:12.080
real imbalance and unfairness there. mayor if I can that would be in the scenario of a single member voting district. So that would be for charter review committee to con fully consider and make any extra changes but you know >> it's it is hypocritical for you to sit

613
02:55:12.080 --> 02:55:27.120
there and say that the burden of running an election is you know so burdensome but yet you you you in your example you ran three campaigns and you were not on the ballot. So, you know, while the intention absolutely was there for that

614
02:55:27.120 --> 02:55:44.720
to be a relief to a sitting mayor, that's not the case all the time. >> Okay, >> obviously in practice, but it but aside from that, this is correcting this change is correcting a problem. It proposes to correct a problem and it puts the the voters in the in the

615
02:55:44.720 --> 02:56:00.720
driver's seat as to what they want to see. Do they want to reaffirm their choice or do they not? And that's what I'm asking. >> And that's fine. But this language and and look, I'm not going to vote for putting this on the ballot. But if y'all do, you need some better language, some

616
02:56:00.720 --> 02:56:15.920
legally drawn language. But councilwoman, you just hold on yourself. This is punitive to me. A mayor who is in the last 16, 18 months of a term. This doesn't affect >> and you're saying it's not fair that I

617
02:56:15.920 --> 02:56:33.040
ran campaigns that you didn't agree with when I wasn't on the ballot. So, what you're really after is you're trying to handcuff a mayor from building his or her team in the future. That's what this is all about. This is punitive. It's

618
02:56:33.040 --> 02:56:51.279
retribution. Your motives aren't pure. This is not brought forward in good faith. >> Mayor, everything I said now, I said it the last time we discussed this. This does not affect you in any way. This change, you're you're termed. So, that is an example of Your math is

619
02:56:51.279 --> 02:57:06.800
>> this is an example. >> You aspire to sit here. >> That's what this is all about. >> Mayor, this is an example based on the comments you made. So while this is a strong council leadership

620
02:57:06.800 --> 02:57:22.720
and that is what I seek to preserve is for this to for our city to have strong council member leadership. Okay. This this has nothing to do with with you or punitive dam retribution or anything like that. This is

621
02:57:22.720 --> 02:57:39.040
>> what's this strong council stuff? I've never heard of that form of government. >> So you want to diminish the mayor. You're going to make the mayor work twice as hard and twice as long. >> No, my point is you're diminishing the

622
02:57:39.040 --> 02:57:54.800
position of the mayor. >> The mayor should be working collaboratively with every single council member. And if that's being done, then you wouldn't have uh you know, people wouldn't be voting you out. >> Agreeing all the time is not democracy either, is it? >> And a lot of people were against what

623
02:57:54.800 --> 02:58:08.960
you were comp >> first four years you were here. You weren't very collaborative, were you? So it's calling the kettle black. >> So, >> okay. So, we we've got the other issue of

624
02:58:08.960 --> 02:58:26.600
that you brought before asking the voters to give you a free ride for the first 20 months of your service on council because that amendment if passed would apply to no one else ever in the history of the world.

625
02:58:28.240 --> 02:58:45.040
Mayor, if anybody comes in to serve in a vacancy for six months, they would lose their term completely based on >> the retroactivity benefits you rather than going forward. >> And and you asked for four more years without any retroactive carveout. Yeah,

626
02:58:45.040 --> 02:59:02.080
I already said this would allow me to serve a full fourth a full third term. Okay, this is I I volunteered to serve in a vacancy. I didn't run an election. And that's just it. You got a free ride and you haven't provided for people who

627
02:59:02.080 --> 02:59:17.200
get elected to a partial term to get the benefit that you're going to get. Now >> the people will vote to decide whether that the person should continue to serve a third term or not. That's what this will do. It'll allow them to vote whether or not someone with an appointed time should count or not count.

628
02:59:17.200 --> 02:59:33.760
>> Well, we've got to give her her time. >> Okay. So, >> we're not we're not changing the charter here, guys. We're just asking to put it on the ballot. >> Well, >> and I think people will be reading the ballot this November. I think that is one of the the the the spe the

629
02:59:33.760 --> 02:59:50.319
specialties of this election with the whole tax thing. People will be reading the ballot and paying very close attention and coming out to vote. >> Well, let's So, we have you're you're withdrawing the single member district question. >> I have no documentation to discuss on

630
02:59:50.319 --> 03:00:05.359
it. >> All right. Now, so if either one of these two questions, either exempting appointed service from the calculation of term limits and

631
03:00:05.359 --> 03:00:20.960
changing the mayor's term back to two years. Affirmative action on either or both tonight is merely a direction to the attorney to bring back final ballot language at our July 7th meeting for

632
03:00:20.960 --> 03:00:37.200
approval for placement on the ballot. So we're not necessarily approving this this language. >> What I what I would like tonight because we have a deadline to submit in by the third week of July,

633
03:00:37.200 --> 03:00:53.840
>> right? So, if I could tonight get a motion on the individual issues and questions, I will come back to you with if if I have four votes to move forward on any of them. Then at the July 7th meeting, you'll have a final resolution

634
03:00:53.840 --> 03:01:10.640
to vote on for adoption. If there's concerns about the ballot language, you can address them and I will try you can let me know and I will try to incorporate anything that you're looking for for placement on the July 7th >> July 7th agenda >> agenda. >> Okay. And then after we dispense with

635
03:01:10.640 --> 03:01:28.399
these two, I'd like to talk about a third concept that I believe needs to go on the ballot and and we can dispense with with that. So the first item would be the concept of reducing the mayor's

636
03:01:28.399 --> 03:01:47.200
term, not term limit but term from four years to two years commencing with the 2027 election. Correct? >> Yeah. Yes. The fir the first question dealt with the reduction of the mayor's >> right

637
03:01:47.200 --> 03:02:03.680
>> term not term limit reducing it from four years to two years commencing with the 2027 election. So 2027 the mayor would be running for a two-year term. >> Two-year term. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mayor from >> Yes. Mr. Council Ledger. >> Yeah. So I mean

638
03:02:03.680 --> 03:02:21.680
>> tonight this sounds pretty two-sided. It's it seems like it's it's you against the council woman or vice versa. And in my view, uh, let let's talk about the mayoral term. This was approved an election and a half ago to increase to four years based on

639
03:02:21.680 --> 03:02:40.279
the information that basically if you're a mayor of a city and having to run every year and a half, you don't have time to build any momentum and and work towards the same items that we each have that ability to >> during that four-year ter.

640
03:02:40.399 --> 03:02:56.800
I think if we're going to move forward with something like this, it's important for the community to provide input. And I think that's where the charter review committee comes into place. Um, I received a call today from an individual who I was planning on appointing anyway because he's been involved in four

641
03:02:56.800 --> 03:03:11.920
different charter review committees. So, he has a lot more detail available to him than even us we have up here. I I happened to be on a charter review committee about 15 years ago and all I can tell you is that our charter is

642
03:03:11.920 --> 03:03:28.000
still kind of archaic and we all need to read it every once in a while to understand what our our positions are. But I I think all of these questions need to go to the charter review committee to let them have the discussions by each of our appointees uh and and and frame the language that's

643
03:03:28.000 --> 03:03:43.439
going to work right to move forward. So I will not be supporting any of these items. >> Thank you. Councilman. >> Mayor Fe. >> Yes. >> Just just as a response, um it's a coincidence you mentioned that, but and maybe not because we have the charter review resolution on here. We've been

644
03:03:43.439 --> 03:03:59.520
making calls to discuss appointees and whatnot. And I too also spoke with somebody who had served previously on charter review. And this specific question, the mayoral term limit, they had voiced that they were in favor of the item back then when it passed and that they really are encouraging me to p push forward because they did not

645
03:03:59.520 --> 03:04:17.040
foresee the uh the the consequences of it. So, um they'll remain nameless for the purposes of this conversation, but um I I do agree that public um uh input is is is necessary and the ballot box is the best form of public input and the

646
03:04:17.040 --> 03:04:32.800
charter review is advisory in nature. We we have the the um responsibility, the right, the um the benefit of being able to see and make policy decisions and we are able to put items on any election

647
03:04:32.800 --> 03:04:48.479
any year uh without having to establish the otherwise we'd have to wait every five years to put anything on a ballot because the well according to the charter the only time it's uh mandated is every five years. That's why we didn't have a charter review last year, the year before, the year before that.

648
03:04:48.479 --> 03:05:04.880
So we can put items on the election any year. Me proposing these items is not outside of protocol or outside of process. We are able to put item we did it the last the last election. There were items brought forward by council members

649
03:05:04.880 --> 03:05:20.479
to put on the election. So I really don't want to be villainized for coming up with ideas to put on the ballot. This is part of our job as policy makers. And um you know yes there will be several items that the the the the charter review committee can really take a long

650
03:05:20.479 --> 03:05:35.200
time discussing and I think the single member district will exhaust a lot of their time in discussing and reviewing and even the all of us being on one ballot alto together. Um as well um having these items go forward will reduce the work that they will have to

651
03:05:35.200 --> 03:05:50.960
be burdened with for for discussion and will allow the people to vote sooner than later. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. So, let's get a motion on the floor with respect to the concept of the mayoral term limit. Vice Mayor Bailey, >> did you? >> May I? >> Yes.

652
03:05:50.960 --> 03:06:08.319
>> I didn't know if we said may I or >> Well, >> okay. >> The single member district definitely for the for the committee and again every you just you think through these things and you think of

653
03:06:08.319 --> 03:06:24.960
different different scenarios. I have no interest in becoming mayor, but the way that it is stated right now, anyone on the west side, anyone on the northwest or the southwest would always have to resign their seat. I know, but I'm

654
03:06:24.960 --> 03:06:40.960
thinking of the west side. Um, you guys still have other chairs, other seats in the in the east, >> and that was just the draw when that was passed, >> right? And that's very unlucky for us. Um it is a completely different

655
03:06:40.960 --> 03:06:57.600
city the east and the west. >> Um >> so another another idea another piece that came out >> um going towards um pros and cons. I just wanted to voice that as far as the appointments

656
03:06:57.600 --> 03:07:13.120
you're volunteering for less than a year. That shouldn't take away a four-year term. I don't think we should have an issue with that one. Well, I agree going forward, but it's retroactive to also include the council woman's free 20. >> During our during our sunshine meeting,

657
03:07:13.120 --> 03:07:29.840
I made it clear and I would expect the same from all of you is we're we're voting on something for the good of the city. Whether it it serves one of us right now, we need to consciously be making that call for the city and if it happens to affect us, so be it knowing that the intention is there. Well, but

658
03:07:29.840 --> 03:07:43.840
we can do it for the good of the city by adopting it prospectively rather than pro retroactively also. But let's get a motion on the table to have the city attorney bring back ballot language

659
03:07:43.840 --> 03:08:00.479
reducing the mayor's term from 4 to two, not the term limit. >> Moved by Councilman Roth, second by Councilman Cannibal. If there's nothing further, let's have a roll call vote on that concept coming back.

660
03:08:00.479 --> 03:08:15.760
>> Councilman Fletcher, >> no. >> Councilwoman Abilo, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> no. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey, >> yes. >> Mayor Lawner,

661
03:08:15.760 --> 03:08:32.640
>> no. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. And then the next one would be the uh the exemption of the uh period of appointment >> move by council raw a second by counciloman Bailey.

662
03:08:32.640 --> 03:08:49.279
>> Roll call please madam clerk. >> Councilwoman Ksky. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Councilman Roth. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Avala. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cannibal. >> No. >> Councilman Fletcher. >> No. >> Vice Mayor Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mayor Losner. No

663
03:08:49.279 --> 03:09:06.720
>> motion carries. >> Now, if I might, the the other concept and I and I think this is very this is timesensitive and appropriate to go on the uh the ballot. My opinion is that um and this would not apply to

664
03:09:06.720 --> 03:09:24.640
anyone who is in office now, but for those who are elected to a fresh term for the first time commencing in 27 as to council members that they are limited to an 8-year term

665
03:09:24.640 --> 03:09:40.080
rather than 12 on council. There's a little nuance. This does not change the 12 consecutive year limit that we have now. That would

666
03:09:40.080 --> 03:09:55.680
not prevent a council member from jumping from council to mayor so long as they're within that 12-year limit, consecutive limit. Nor would it permit a mayor from jumping from mayor to a

667
03:09:55.680 --> 03:10:12.319
council race. Recall, we we now have a 12-year consecutive limit, whatever the mix is, between mayor and council. I'm simply stating my opinion that 12 consecutive year potential for council

668
03:10:12.319 --> 03:10:29.920
member is too long and that we enact legislation that equalizes council members term overall terms of eight years with the mayor's 8-year term limit. Councilwoman, >> before you say anything, because I think

669
03:10:29.920 --> 03:10:46.960
it was your idea, um I see so much value in having tenure in Councilman Roth's position, Council Councilwoman or Vice Mayor Bailey's position. Um

670
03:10:46.960 --> 03:11:04.960
I think uh Councilman Fletcher's been in and out of office for a while as well. and you're but you're on your second term council. I can't imagine not having you up here for your third term with us. I'm assuming you're running. I hope you run

671
03:11:04.960 --> 03:11:20.479
>> of course. But the the amount of you know historical knowledge that you have and that you bring and this will be a sound bite I'm assuming in your campaign. Um, I I don't I don't see I I don't see value in restricting and forcing uh you know, council members to

672
03:11:20.479 --> 03:11:35.200
then have to compete with each other at that eight-year mark, which you I guess you do get an itch after your eight years to want to run for mayor, right? >> Well, you could at any time. >> You could at any time, right? But, um I I wouldn't support that item. I see the, you know, I see the the intention and

673
03:11:35.200 --> 03:11:54.560
the um, you know, the desire to, I don't know, I guess get fresh blood into the mix, but the way we stagger accomplishes that. So, I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Appreciate it, >> Councilman. >> Yeah. The the only scenario that um you

674
03:11:54.560 --> 03:12:12.479
brought up for the 12-year continual, >> which exists now, >> right? If we don't change the two-year term for the mayor, that penalizes somebody in their sixth year because if they don't get elected

675
03:12:12.479 --> 03:12:30.640
because they can they run for mayor after their eighth eighth year. >> Yeah, because you can do one you can do two twos or one four and to get to a total 12 years of service. >> But if the way it is now, >> the way it is now, you could leave that

676
03:12:30.640 --> 03:12:48.960
that can't run for mayor right now that have to re leave their seat >> would have to sit out the two years and then wait for that mayor's race to come back the way it is now. So they couldn't run 12 consecutive the way

677
03:12:48.960 --> 03:13:04.000
>> well they get to reset their clock too. >> Well then they could then they could run 12 years yeah >> as mayor as well. So, I mean, that's just one of the things when you look down the road, what did we do? And we restricted somebody from being able to

678
03:13:04.000 --> 03:13:25.439
actually do 12 consecutive um as they can today. Um, >> can I say >> I'm okay for the 8-year term, but I think we have to think about

679
03:13:25.439 --> 03:13:41.120
a lifetime limit as well of time served. I think 12 is a long time. Some of them are younger than we are and I know I'm not coming back. So um because in the current situation if I

680
03:13:41.120 --> 03:13:58.399
even wanted to and come back as councelor mayor it have to be four years. >> True. >> No but there wouldn't be an election for my seat in the villages for four years. >> True. But there would be >> and the mayor's same thing would be four

681
03:13:58.399 --> 03:14:14.319
years unless I move to the southwest section >> and Bailey's termed out. So I could do that. >> That's right. take her seat when she's turned out. >> But that ain't happening. So, just some stuff to think about, right? I'm all with you on that. But the other thing >> your your partner says, "No way." Right. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's just like mine.

682
03:14:14.319 --> 03:14:29.680
>> There's no chance. >> But as a side note to that as we conclude this one, I'd like to talk about the vice mayor spot as well. >> Um because I think we I spoke to somebody in my briefing about it. How other cities do it and most of them do

683
03:14:29.680 --> 03:14:47.359
it from the dis, right? we vote for who we want us to represent us on the dis as the vice mayor as well. So, we'll have that conversation I think after this one because I think we can figure that out too. I think it's confusing to be on the ballot in two

684
03:14:47.359 --> 03:15:02.880
spots and um I think we can figure that part out. So, we we'll talk about the eight years now and we'll go on to that. Well, if if you want, you'll need to bring that up. And that that may be something that we need to work through

685
03:15:02.880 --> 03:15:20.720
the committee to implement in in 29 because we're we're bumping up against an election this year to be effective in 27. >> But would that be an actual charter change? >> Yeah. >> It's the charter. >> The charter controls how the vice mayor title Okay. is bestowed. Yes.

686
03:15:20.720 --> 03:15:36.479
>> Yeah, we can do it, but as long as we get a plan in place. >> Oh, yeah. >> Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, Councilman Fletcher. So, I appreciate the the comments from all the colleagues up here and I've always been a proponent of less time, you know,

687
03:15:36.479 --> 03:15:52.160
submitting and and I look at our national elections to see that uh that people are in these positions for way too long. But again, the voters chose to put them there. But I I think by limiting that, I still think as a

688
03:15:52.160 --> 03:16:08.080
council member or a former council member, it's our duty to provide insights to the new council who might be here and provide that perspective whether or not we're elected or not. Uh that's just something we need to do. And I haven't seen that in the past with previous councils a lot, but I have seen

689
03:16:08.080 --> 03:16:23.760
it of course with with Councilman Roth. You know, 12 12 years is a lot long time to serve. And Vice Mayor Bailey as well. Thank you again. Uh you want to do it again in four years. You know, it's a it's a it's a big task that we all do. But I think limiting and

690
03:16:23.760 --> 03:16:39.439
trying to get new people involved and engaged in our city. Uh at the beginning of our meeting, this this council chamber was packed. Now it's not. And I I venture to say there's not a whole lot of people watching online.

691
03:16:39.439 --> 03:16:54.960
I'm sorry. Um, so, uh, again, I think this is a all of this is is is good information that needs to be looked at by the charter review committee. I think they provide us with with an indepth look that we may

692
03:16:54.960 --> 03:17:11.040
not have done previously. Um, there are things that were mentioned here tonight that I had not thought of previously. So uh I think having that opportunity to run that through those uh that organization and then have it those advisory opinions brought to us that we

693
03:17:11.040 --> 03:17:27.920
can deliberate at that time I think is the best way of doing this. So I will not be supporting this item either tonight. Thank you. >> Not supporting the reduction. >> Not tonight. I think it has to go through the charter review committee to get all the information. And and just to be clear though, if it goes to the

694
03:17:27.920 --> 03:17:46.800
committee, the earliest it will be effective is 29. Because I see, you know, and look, not not casting curses on on anybody who's up for election next year, but I see the

695
03:17:46.800 --> 03:18:02.960
potential in an election blowout. There will probably be there will be a new mayor and potentially four new council members because if the

696
03:18:02.960 --> 03:18:22.399
mayor's 2year term change doesn't pass, I think we're going to see a resign to run. So, we're going to have four potentially. You have to you have to run like you're always losing. In 27 there could be as many as four new

697
03:18:22.399 --> 03:18:40.800
members. Those four new members would enjoy the benefit of 12 years if we don't go forward for this cycle reducing it to eight. It would be those who were first elected

698
03:18:40.800 --> 03:18:59.120
in 29 would be limited to the eight years of council service. >> Get your point. But okay. Again, I think it's up to the community. >> All right. So, if there's anything else on that concept, if we could have a

699
03:18:59.120 --> 03:19:16.319
motion on the concept of eight-year council terms commencing for new folks coming to council in 27. Do we have a motion for that? Okay. Moved by Councilman Cannibal. Yes,

700
03:19:16.319 --> 03:19:31.760
vice mayor. >> May. So, I wish that this would have passed last year and that I didn't I wouldn't. But at the same time, >> say now, >> listen, it would have been one of those bittersweet things. Um, and watching you

701
03:19:31.760 --> 03:19:49.760
guys on the video tonight, I would have said this is one of the sweets ones to miss. Um, I see the benefit, but now in case the mayor's term is changing to two, I feel like I need to wrap my head around this

702
03:19:49.760 --> 03:20:06.399
piece and plan out some scenarios in my head. Also, um what is coming back to us in July is to approve it as a second reading or just >> it's one reading for resolution, but July is our last opportunity to have

703
03:20:06.399 --> 03:20:22.880
that because to adopt what will go on the ballot because we have a deadline for submission to the supervisor of elections >> and it's like the day after our last meeting. I just wanted to clarify that this was a vote to put it on the ballot

704
03:20:22.880 --> 03:20:38.080
with the pending verbage. >> No, this is not look at it one more time. >> I will bring back the final resolution. What I'm looking for tonight is the direction on which items you would like to see on that final resolution. >> So, is there an opportunity to say that

705
03:20:38.080 --> 03:20:53.840
this one goes on, but it then we have another chance? >> Yes. >> Well, well, let me be clear. you will vote what I the vote that you're taking tonight is to have me prepare one by one each of the items. So

706
03:20:53.840 --> 03:21:09.279
you thus far you've approved the four-year and the counting of the appointment term. If you elect to vote yes tonight on the reduction of the term limit, what will come back to you for final approval on July 7th or placement

707
03:21:09.279 --> 03:21:27.600
on the ballot in November will include each thing that you approve tonight inclusive of this last one if there are four votes for it for the reduction of the term limit for council members from 12 from 12 years to eight years commencing with those elected in 2027.

708
03:21:27.600 --> 03:21:44.000
Did I Mayor did I have that >> correct? Okay. >> Not applicable to in this case Cannibal and Fletcher. >> Yes. >> They're grandfathered with the 12. >> It would be prospective not to touch anybody on the day today. >> But again to to I think to your

709
03:21:44.000 --> 03:22:01.120
question, we will see this one more time. If it dies tonight, you won't. If it lives to fight another day as the first two have, we'll see it again. we'll see these first two again.

710
03:22:01.120 --> 03:22:18.560
>> So, after thinking this one specifically through, at the next time, if the verbiage comes back and we do not agree with it, we would vote that down and it would >> you can make you can make a motion on the floor to amend the resolution to remove that particular item if that's

711
03:22:18.560 --> 03:22:34.479
something that you wanted to do. >> Okay. >> Tonight's not a final disposition. I feel like I need to wrap my head around that one a little more. Thank you. >> Okay. >> So, mayor, if I may, I just want to say, Vice Mayor, I'm so happy that you can be

712
03:22:34.479 --> 03:22:51.840
here serving a third term. >> I really am. And I think the only people I've ever heard and the all the time I've served and throughout the campaign that anyone has ever complained about the 12 years is us because we feel burdened and obligated to continue serving if we have the ability to serve.

713
03:22:51.840 --> 03:23:08.880
And those are the servant hearts that we have, you know, but um I I think there's so much value in in us being at 12. Thank you. >> Yeah. You never heard the phrase burden of service come out of my mouth. Okay. So, Councilman Cannibal moved to

714
03:23:08.880 --> 03:23:24.319
direct the attorneys to draft language reducing future council terms limits from 12 years to eight years. We don't have a second yet. Nobody else wants to second it. I will >> second.

715
03:23:24.319 --> 03:23:40.479
>> Okay. So, second by the vice mayor. Any final comments before we vote on the reduction of council term limits? >> Hey, let's have a roll call. Madam clerk, >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> no.

716
03:23:40.479 --> 03:23:56.479
>> Councilman Roth, yes. >> Councilwoman Abula, >> Councilman Cannibal, >> yes. >> Councilman Fletcher, no. Vice Mayor Bailey. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lner. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> It carried.

717
03:23:56.479 --> 03:24:14.279
>> It carried. Okay. >> So, I have my direction for July to bring it >> for those three questions. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. So, we have dealt with tab 12.

718
03:24:15.040 --> 03:24:31.520
>> Okay. It takes us to 13. >> All right. Mr. Pearl. Tab 13 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, authorizing the city manager to develop a scope of services and obtain quotes, proposals, or other procurement responses for preparation of a citywide transit needs and mobility survey providing for

719
03:24:31.520 --> 03:24:50.080
implementation, providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. background and this came out of my angst and I'm sure the angst that all of you share with the BRT chaos. It occurred to me again that the

720
03:24:50.080 --> 03:25:06.239
straight linear mass transit whether it be BRT whether it be elevated rail does not really serve the majority of our community. I think it's fair to say folks who live on

721
03:25:06.239 --> 03:25:21.600
the east side, who represent the majority of our population, who have to get on the turnpike every morning to go to their place of employment, even if elevated rail came all the way to Homestead, would probably not make

722
03:25:21.600 --> 03:25:41.840
that drive back across town. So, in thinking without putting the cart before the horse and and just saying we need to advocate for transit up Speedway

723
03:25:41.840 --> 03:25:59.359
Boulevard or on the median of the turnpike with gondilas or elevated rail, whatever it may be. We don't know where our folks go to work when they get on the turnpike. And in

724
03:25:59.359 --> 03:26:15.520
order to do long and at and my ultimate goal is to take this to the TPO and we have a very long meeting scheduled the manager and I do for later this week with the TPO director. My thinking

725
03:26:15.520 --> 03:26:31.120
concept is is that we make the case for wiping out all thinking that exists and recognizing that the location of the current line, whether it be BRT

726
03:26:31.120 --> 03:26:49.279
or rail, does not serve tens, if not scores and hundreds of thousands of folks who now live in Homestead and Points Northwest. word east of US1 or east of of the turnpike. And in order to

727
03:26:49.279 --> 03:27:07.120
lay that groundwork, we need to know where our people are going. And that doesn't change my philosophy that over a long period of time, we need to create more job centers here. And I think this week, we took a big step toward that with the ribbon cutting out in uh the park of commerce.

728
03:27:07.120 --> 03:27:22.640
But this is solely to authorize the manager to go get proposals and price tags for doing this. This, you know, some of you may remember we did the online survey for the parks master plan.

729
03:27:22.640 --> 03:27:39.920
I kind of envision something like that. Not talking about sending people canvasing doortodoor or even calling. There are far more economical ways of of doing this. But this is just that first step of a thousand miles authorizing the

730
03:27:39.920 --> 03:27:57.439
manager to see what the thought process is out there and what it would cost. Quite frankly, we have to take the lead. The TPO is not. The TPO is controlled by the members of the board of county commissioners. They meet

731
03:27:57.439 --> 03:28:13.600
once a month at best. Many times meetings are are cancelled. The only way this is going to happen in our lifetimes is that if we take the initiative to to take those steps. And again, we're this is not committing to spend any money or

732
03:28:13.600 --> 03:28:29.520
conduct a survey. It's an authorization to find out what it would cost and how long it would take. >> Council, yeah, >> thank you. >> I'll second the motion. >> So, moved by Vice Mayor, second by Councilwoman Alvo with a comment. Yeah, I was surprised that this I thought we

733
03:28:29.520 --> 03:28:44.160
had a study and I learned we didn't have a study. I was like, but we have all these transportation planning meetings, but this is transit, right? It's different. So, um >> rethinking mass transit. >> Yeah. Um with regards to the TPO, um

734
03:28:44.160 --> 03:28:59.520
Waterstone Boulevard and 137th Avenue still does not have a clear answer with regards to the traffic light. So, I would like for you to ask I I thought you had already put it on there, but I guess that was a different list. There's like two lists. One's a TPO list, one's

735
03:28:59.520 --> 03:29:14.960
a county list, but um I'm told by our public works department that funding is approved. Then I ask the county and they're saying no. So, people departments are not speaking to each other. department directors are I'm

736
03:29:14.960 --> 03:29:30.880
getting conflicting information and the reality is is that there is no traffic light in sight for Waterstone Boulevard and 137th Avenue and this is this is a um very very very important improvement that needs to be done. The other day we

737
03:29:30.880 --> 03:29:46.239
we I saw an email where it was confirmed about the light at um is it North Canal >> in Kingman that we had been advocating for and so that's now approved by the TPO. So if it's a matter of just making the ask, please make the ask.

738
03:29:46.239 --> 03:30:01.920
>> We will and and I know there are a lot of different clarifications of which agency has its hands in the pot. >> Yeah, but the the people need a straight answer and I don't have one. I don't have I mean if there's one today >> candidly it's hard to get one. >> Okay. I mean, if the if if staff can give me an answer now if there's been

739
03:30:01.920 --> 03:30:17.520
any further information, updates, what is the status with the light? If not, I will rest and hope to see it approved soon. Thank you. >> Again, we have a meeting with the director later this week and certainly that will be on the uh on the list.

740
03:30:17.520 --> 03:30:33.840
Councilman Roth, >> this is just to figure out where people are going, right? >> Correct. So, because we also have a large cons uh contingent of people that go south to Monroe County for work, too. So,

741
03:30:33.840 --> 03:30:48.160
>> um >> which is where do you go? >> Yeah. Where do you go and how can we better >> get you somewhere else? Because >> Yeah. Because I when they mentioned it to to me in my briefing, I was like, well, we have so many modes of transportation that take people around

742
03:30:48.160 --> 03:31:03.439
the city. We got freebie, we've got trolley, we've got Miami Day County buses. Somebody mentioned STS, which is all over the place, too, but that's a little bit more challenging. >> Um, even Uber, but it's not a free service. So, >> but

743
03:31:03.439 --> 03:31:19.200
>> our folks are on the turnpike going somewhere at 5:30 in the morning. >> Yeah. So, yeah, I'd be curious to see if people actually respond and tell us where they go for for work and stuff like that >> to see where the employment hotspots are. >> I think it would be very enlightening. >> Great.

744
03:31:19.200 --> 03:31:35.040
>> All right. Thanks. >> Yeah. And we ask specific questions like 10 to 20 miles, 20 to, you know, to try and dive into what those details are. Well, you know, if they if we ask him, for example, give us the closest intersection to your job,

745
03:31:35.040 --> 03:31:51.200
>> wherever that is kind of that that hotspot map. >> Yeah. How do you get there? Yeah. Where do you live? Do you live east of US1 or east of the turnpike or west or west of US1? Where do you go and how do you get there?

746
03:31:51.200 --> 03:32:07.520
>> Mayor, sorry. I mean, have we This would also This would also include staff working with um economic development council, the EDC, Chamber of Commerce. They might have studies. I mean, >> I don't know that they do, but maybe they could help fund it.

747
03:32:07.520 --> 03:32:23.279
>> Maybe. I mean, we give them funding. But >> yeah, >> the point is is let's let's ask what already exists. It may be supplementary in nature, but let's not ignore the data that may be out there. Thank you. Let's be collaborative with the effort. >> You know, and I I I filled in the

748
03:32:23.279 --> 03:32:40.479
mayor's coalition last week with you where we were going and what my thought process were and the EDC was there and and you know, there was no mention that they had that data either. You know, for me it's kind of like one of those wow, I could have had a V8 moments. We're

749
03:32:40.479 --> 03:32:57.520
ringing our hands kind of over the BRT. that the BRT is not the silver bullet for solving our mass transit problems. No, I'm sorry. That corridor is not the no longer the silver silver bullets. So, I think we have a motion in a second.

750
03:32:57.520 --> 03:33:13.520
Let's do a roll call. >> Councilwoman Abula, >> yes. >> Councilman Fletcher, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ksky, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Bailey, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes. Motion carries.

751
03:33:13.520 --> 03:33:30.720
>> All right, so we're almost at the end, but let's tidy things up and have a motion to extend to 9:00. >> 9:00. >> We're going to be out of here before then. That's 21 minutes. Okay, it's been moved and seconded to 9:00. All in favor? All right, Councilman Cannibal,

752
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you're first on my list. >> You going to save us time? Got anything tonight? >> No. Okay, Councilwoman Alva. >> Okay. See, I'm in such a hurry. Mr. Manager, >> thank you. Mayor and Council >> Shocker over here,

753
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>> just for information of mayor and council, uh since I've not taken any vacation in the last one year and a few months, I will graciously request your understanding that I take this coming Thursday, Friday, and Monday, June 4th,

754
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5th, and 8th to go on a well-deserved rest with my life with my wife. just to celebrate our 30 years of marriage. >> Yes. >> Couple weeks ago. >> You had it right the first time with your life, you know, take your life.

755
03:34:21.359 --> 03:34:35.359
Yes. >> Exactly. So, I've been married to the lady for in fact I've been married to her three times just to demonstrate fidelity and uh on June

756
03:34:35.359 --> 03:34:54.479
on June 14th is Junth celebration. is going to be at my media college here at 6:00. Junth celebration June 14th at 6:00. No, June 13th. I I mistake I think I missed

757
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it by one day. June 13th June June Junth is a city holiday. >> Yeah, that's a June 9th. So, hurricane distribution will be this Saturday at Harrisfield. We are making efforts to augment what we hope to get from GEM

758
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which is the entity that's uh coordinating this distribution. Unfortunately this year we are getting half of the inventory we got last year but yesterday we reach out to some other entities for donation and hoping to augment it to up to I think a thousand

759
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that we got last year. And then there is also some what I consider extraordinary measure based on recommendation of the vice mayor to retain some of those resources for the elderly folks in our community. Uh we will work with the office of the vice mayor to ensure

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distribution to those elderly folks. Um, in terms of water and the rest of the great stuff, uh, Councilman Aila is scheduling a sunshine uh, visit to DA Central Park, I believe on Monday, June 8th. Unfortunately, I won't be here. The

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staff is going to be there as well. Uh, good news, based on the recommendation of Councilman Fletcher, we was able to reach out to Amazon facility. The facility they have in Homestead has never been opened. They are proposing to

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reopen it on June 17th. Yes. So this is going to be their what they consider a last mile delivery facility. So from there they're going to reach out to residents in Homestead especially and the surrounding areas. Uh

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Councilman Fletcher has indicated his interest to go on a visit there and he has been approved. In case any other council member wants to join, we can create it into a sunshine meeting and we'll go out there. It's going to be after the opening ceremony. The opening

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is on June 17th. The visit has to come after the opening. Uh and next week is Leadership Florida meeting in Orlando. So I'll be attending the Leadership Florida meeting from June 10th to June 12th.

765
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Uh no, there's a lot of stuff that is going on. By the way, thank you to the mayor and also Councilwoman Kski for being at the Miami date candy league of cities last Saturday. Some of the if you look at the the the what happened in Tanahasi today, there was a lot of

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cities that went up there to speak, council members, elected officials in objection to the tax item that heard today. So I would highly recommend as you develop interest in joining the League of Cities, offer to be sponsored to go to some of these

767
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events to speak on behalf of the city either in support or objection of some of these uh big ticket items that come up from time to time. Uh I think that's all I have for now and more especially on I'm going to leave it for the councilman to announce the senior prom.

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Uh we are hoping to host a task slash revenue workshop sometime in early July, first week in July because our finance director will be out during the last weekend and in June to explore any and all options in terms of augmenting our

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revenue stream and ensure we're able to absorb the shock of what happened in Tallahassee today. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Manager. Mr. Attorney, nothing. Council Cannibal already declined. Councilwoman Avala,

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>> thank you. Um I did want to bring up for um discussion. Let me No, no discussion. I just wanted to know, are we bringing a curfew item for for our youth that are tormenting Hookie? >> I I had brought it up after I did my

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ride along. I think I saw an email circulate. Do we have to do any formal passing of anything? And if so, do we need to have it a special call on it? >> So >> support the police department in enforcing >> you want to take that. Did you see the

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memo he circulated? >> I saw the memo. I didn't get to read it all the way to the end. So I wasn't sure if actual formal action of the board was was needed or not. I mean, are you comfortable with with the way things are or do you need an action of city council? >> So we have a a existing a curfew from

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the state and one from the county. >> The existing curfew if you can the time frame for the curfew, the hours. >> I have to look at it. I I'm I don't remember exactly what the uh what the time frame is, but but it would satisfy

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what we need. Um we can we we are obviously from the memo that I sent you guys, we are leaning towards it. We're in communications with the the Hooki people uh and the project man or the building manager for the parking garage. So, they're in the process right now of

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uh of determining whether the new manager of the movie theater is willing to pay. There is no clause in their lease agreement that would force them to have offduty or security, but she did mention that there is security that they

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use in the parking garage that they can extend out. It's actually part of their responsibility that they haven't really been satisfying. So, we are in communication with them, but we do have tools available as of right now that we can employ for that. >> Okay, perfect. So, you just let us know if you need something and we'll pass it,

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I'm sure. Um, with regards to our activities, thank you very much for putting on military appreciation day. I was not able to go as a military wife, unfortunately, because I was attending my daughter's recital, but I do appreciate the representation at the event. And, um, also Wild Fork, they

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opened and did a ribbon cutting. Congratulations to them. Thank you to staff for facilitating their grand opening event and for everyone um who was able to attend to support that new business in my district. I did not go to that either. Same reason recital weekend, but my husband has been shopping there multiple times the last

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couple of weeks. So, we have been enjoying Wild Fork Stakes and um the gala is coming up. Thank you for all the collaboration with city staff in conjunction with um Commissioner Kun McGee's office. It is a suare, the grand

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suare senior prom for our senior citizens. Um it is u open to the public but it is sold out guys. Tickets are gone. Um and this event is to um really honor our our seniors and provide a

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really really high value quality event recognizing them giving them a safe space to enjoy and um and have festivities and fellowship of course. So, please be in attendance if you're able to. It is going to be June 12th,

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Friday night, 5 to 10 p.m. And on Junth, that is my daughter's birthday. She has a perpetual holiday now. So, happy birthday to Violet when that comes up, but I won't be in attendance to the Juneenth event. And June 17th is my son's birthday. So, I don't know if we're supposed to be at

783
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Amazon for that ribbon cutting. Will it'll be invited? He's turning 18. I don't think he cares if he's got a party for me, but The Amazon event is going to be a private corporate event. >> Okay. So then the the invite will be later. >> So they're going to schedule a more public facing event sometime in August.

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>> Okay. And happy anniversary to my husband as well. We will be celebrating 14 years of marriage on June 26. So June is packed packed packed for for us and I do appreciate the break with no council meeting this month. So thank you. that it council flesher

785
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>> just quickly a great event on Saturday out at the Homestead Regional Park with uh the Kony McGee sponsored the uh the youth soccer clinic and uh there was about 130 kids showed up. Councilman Cannibal was there with his kids. Uh great event for the community. Uh it'll

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be bigger and better next year and uh more good news to come out out at the Homestead Sports Complex area. Uh with that, I'll I'll let everybody go home early tonight. relatively. Thank you, Council Roth. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh,

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no one's mentioned it yet, so we don't have another meeting this month, so I'd like to invite the public out to our 250th Fourth of July celebration, right? We don't have another meeting, so we got to talk about it now. Um,

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somebody give me details, times. >> We're going to have like a 45minute fireworks show this year, right? Not a threeminute fireworks show >> higher and longer. >> Yeah, they could just slow it down a little bit. >> Yeah. >> Uh, Councilman Roth. So, the time July

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4th, uh, Homestead Speedway from 5:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. Um, a lot of activations this year. Uh, it'll be the first year at least that I've been told that we will have a 20 minutes uh, drone show.

790
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We will also have a 20 minutes not 17 not 19 and a half but 20 minutes fireworks show um and a lot a lot a lot of activities for the family to enjoy. So we hope we hope the community comes out.

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>> Awesome. Thank you. And do we have any uh VIP areas tickets for sale? We've done it in the past in the Champions Club. Are we doing any of that this year? So we we we ha we will have different tiers of tickets. >> Okay. >> Um nothing is there is not a monetary

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contribution because we're working um in close collaboration with the the speedway as they're doing renovations. So we're not it all depends on where we will have access to um that would trigger the potential for us to do a

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ticketed um component of the event. But nothing is there's no there's no fee for this year's event. >> When you say tiered access to specific areas or different areas. >> Yes, sir. >> So, how would people obtain access or tickets?

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>> So, when they enter the event, well, two things. One, we will have um elected officials will they will have a specific band. >> I'm not speaking about us. I'm speaking about the public that may want to. >> So, so there's there's that tier. There

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is there is going to be the tier of volunteers. Um and then you will have a general admission. Uh we also will have a portion uh we're trying to incorporate a soccer activation element um as a part of the

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July 4th. So you'll have a portion that allows you that access. So we are we are working through the tiered structure. >> Okay. So it's free to everybody basically. >> It is free to everyone. >> Okay. Good. Great. And I'd like to also

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congratulate all of our students who I think graduate sometime this week, right? They leave school. Uh some going off to college. Uh some just getting out of the grade they're in now and moving on to the next grade. And hopefully some haven't been held back because they

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didn't perform well. So uh wish them all the best of luck in everything they're doing. The seminal theater is having a bingo night uh June the 12th, the same night as a suare. Uh tickets are available at seinaltheater.org

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and that's seminal t h e r.org. And my last thing is did the spay and neuter clinic open up yet? >> Uh not yet. I think there was a communication between the city and the county today on this. uh they're pending

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approval from durm sorry from the county attorney's office we as legal team has already drafted the revocable license agreement same I think within 48 hours council passed the item matt was able to pull it off it was trans transmitted to

801
03:46:49.840 --> 03:47:05.359
the county the same day so we're pending on the county attorney's office to give the county the green light to move on >> okay so a week more the 15th by June And >> well, we can't speak on behalf of the county. We have to wait for them to give us approval.

802
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>> If I may, um, Councilman, the county responded that they would hope to have an answer from their legal review team this week. So, >> we're I expect that there will be another update this week. >> We've done what we needed to do. >> Got it. That's all, mayor. Thank you.

803
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>> Thank you, Councilwoman Kowski. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. A couple things. Um, Friday and Saturday I will be attending the League of CI cities conference which I am super excited about. Um, maybe I won't be so green

804
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when I come back. Um, I also the Homestead Commerce Park yesterday that was exciting. There was some public comment about more building more traffic. I don't see it that way. I see um that building as businesses here.

805
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So, we're getting closer to live here, work here, play here. So, that's very exciting. And lastly, I am uh sponsoring an event that I invite you to attend, which is the first annual Havana Nights Benefit dinner, and it's bringing

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together passion and purpose to uplift children and families in need. This beautiful evening is a collaboration between Young Dreams, Community Outreach, Cloit of Living Hope, and One World, One Heart. three organizations united in service, love, and impact. And

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so through their work, they are feeding families, supporting youth, providing essential resources, and creating opportunities that truly change lives. And that event is July 11th. Thank you. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor.

808
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>> Thank you, Mayor. Just kudos to staff for a very nice event this last Saturday. What was it? [laughter] military appreciation. Um, we honored this man named Gunther who I've had the pleasure of meeting

809
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before and just such amazing stories come from so many of our vets. So, I uh I proudly stood there for you guys and apologized for you, but kudos to staff. was a really nice really nice setup and

810
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um the music just we are we are doing so good with our events. I'm really proud of us. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Yeah. Only got six minutes. Y'all burned up my time on purpose, didn't you? Okay. So, Councilman Fletcher, I

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know several weeks ago we had a meeting, a sunshine meeting. it that was initiated by you to talk about putting some guard rails in place for the use of council discretionary funds. So assuming that's not out the window >> not out the window and I'll be bringing

812
03:49:50.399 --> 03:50:06.080
up during our budget discussions budget discussions to to establish some guidelines and to the manager I believe this is in your purview. I'd really like some policy and direction distributed to council and council assistants,

813
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present and future as to what's appropriate and what's not an appropriate use or request by council of our assistance. I think we need some real real clarity on uh on where those those lines are. And again, that's

814
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something that, you know, is in house between your office and HR that uh you'll mandate to uh to us. And lastly, I want to compliment whoever on staff came up with the idea of placing the

815
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flags over there on the windows rather than all of them back here. I think they uh they show off much better uh here. the new flags that all have a connection to heritage and events in our community,

816
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the racetrack, all branches of the service. I think there's uh something for the uh the old strategic air command from when the B-52s were stationed at at Homestead

817
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um racetrack. So, you know, we're we're really uh doing well in uh putting our best foot forward in this building and throughout the city. I see the Fourth of July banners are back. I guess the rest of them will be deployed shortly. We

818
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still have a month. Um I'm just in relation to the uh just spay and neuter clinic. It's come to my attention both before and after um the discussion we had a few weeks ago

819
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that there's really there is a demand for more veterary office clinic and hospital space in Homestead but a shortage of suitably zoned locations.

820
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So, I'm working with development services and the attorneys to bring an ordinance to potentially expand the opportunities for veterinarians to locate new practices or expand their

821
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practices here in town. I'm I've heard from from a handful of veterinarians and others who are in the know that uh it's very difficult to find suitable space due to our code. So, we're going to expand that. And with that, do we have a motion to

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adjurnn? >> Move it. >> Move in a second with a comment. Thank you, Barbara, for keeping the lights on in Homestead. I'll leave that there. >> As you're discussing with the spay neuter, don't forget the comments, the plenty comments about being able to

823
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serve and help with the larger dogs, >> right? >> If that comes in. >> Well, but no, this is private practice. This this has nothing to do with the county services and and we haven't forgotten that but that would be the opportunity to locate offices in spaces

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that are no longer that not now permitted >> for new >> for new veterinarians. Yes. >> All right. Thank you all. Good night.