And for the record, today is Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025. I'll lead off the presentations tonight. And uh you know, while we we honor and recognize the folks that
I'm going to talk about, our city is is certainly uh diminished just with uh the dedication of this couple over the last 30 years together to our community and generations and decades of of service to
uh to this community by the Harris family uh as they you know move on to the next phase of their lives and uh leave our community. We are uh really diminished here. So, a couple of weeks ago,
150 200 or so friends and family of Jim and Carol Harris came together with a uh with a farewell party from all over this country. Folks came here to pay honor and tribute and and and celebrate Jim
and Carol Harris. and I uh I was not able to attend but I uh presented a proclamation and also in my tenure only the second key to the city that I have uh have ever presented. I think that
those are reserved for very special occasions and and special people and if anyone in our community today deserves a key to the city it's Jim and Carol Harris. So like them to to come up and I want to read the uh a lot of times I
kind of abbreviate these proclamations but but tonight I uh I won't whereas for over 100 years the Harris family has been an integral part of our community and for decades Jim and Carol
Harris have embodied the very essence of excellence. ex ethics and faith not only in their construction work but their service to others and the Homestead Redlands area. There have been few community events
where Carol has not been involved. We're reminded that the Red Cross ball, the Homestead Hospital Pineapple Ga Pineapple Gayla, and her leadership of cultivating dreams, plus her mentoring of breast cancer patients and acting as
a caretaker for longtime family, friends, and employees of of their business. So Jim can now retire his event tuxedo and enjoy more time either in the air or talking airplane with
anyone who will uh will listen. And those of you who don't know Jim, he's probably got as much time in the air as uh anybody. Uh there are very few people in this world that I would sit that I've sat in a private small airplane with.
And uh I think Jim's probably the last one living that I would uh would sit with. And uh I'm certainly going to miss those opportunities to go cub flying around Homestead. But whereas throughout the community, Jim and Carol Harris are held in high regard and serve as
examples of that which makes Homestead great. And the only constant in life is change. As Jim puts down his tools and Carol limits her charitable and community service endeavors. And Jim had
me put that in. As Carol begins to limit her charitable and community service endeavors. We acknowledge that with their absence, the fabric of our community is torn. And whereas we gather
to wish them blue skies, happy landings, good hunting, smooth waters, health and happiness in their new home and airplane hanger. They will be missed and Homestead is diminished by their move.
So, I as mayor, joined by every member of the city council who ex executed this proclamation, we declared uh October 5th, the day of their going away party as Jim and Carol Harris day in Homestead.
[Applause] [Applause] Also, I want to read the the um dedication on the uh the key to the city. This is presented to Jim and Carol Harris. This key to the city of Homestead is presented in gratitude and
appreciation for your decades of service and support to our community. You set the standard of excellence and ethics, not only in all of your work as craftsmen, but as outdoorsmen and people
of deep and great faith and community spirit. The microphone is is yours, each of you. Humbly I I really appreciate uh the mayor Steve Loster. I've known him since he was about this high growing up when I had a little house on 8th
Street and I've had the privilege of working for his parents and for him and his brother and uh thank you for the council. Uh and thank you for Homestead. We've we've had a great life here in
Homestead. A a brief little history. Uh my grandfather was a a contractor here in the 20s and 30s and he actually built the last uh homestead theater before it was torn down. And when it was torn down, there
was one before that, but he built that. And uh my father and Mr. Shrader started this particular company in 1960 when Hurricane Donna went through the Keys. And there was a real famous restaurant down there called the Coral Grill. and that was their first job and I grew up
in the company and uh thought I was going to be a commercial pilot and the Vietnam war train so many jet pilots that ended that. So, the first job I actually ran was for doing Barry's paint over on US1. And once I did that,
instead of using a shovel all day long, I liked it. And uh so we've had the privilege of working for a lot of people doing a lot of buildings all over Homestead. But the greatest privilege is the relationships and the friendships we've made by getting to know these
people. And uh that's to me more important than whatever buildings we've done. But Homestead has been great to us. And I think about how fast it's grown in my lifetime. When I graduated South 8 High School in ' 68, there were
334 seniors in the whole town. And the next one up was was Palmeta. When my dad graduated at Homestead High School, which is now Homestead Middle School, there were 32 people in 12th grade. And there was Redland High School. And
next one up was Miami High. That's how tiny Homestead was. And my dad used to get on a train a block over here as a little kid and he and his dad would ride down to Long Key Bridge, have the train stop, fish all night, catch another
train back. That was before there was a road to Key West. And the 35 storm took that away. So, um, we've seen a lot of changes. And if you've lived here a while, you you wish it was like it was
in your old days. And uh each generation wishes that. You know, when the bypass went around Homestead, the US1 Homestead used to come down behind the tag agency that US1 did. When they put it over, they said, "Well, nobody's going to go
to Homestead anymore. They're just going to bypass and go around." And then the Turnpike bypasses Homestead. But I've enjoyed it. I was born here. I've never lived more than a half a mile from where I live now. And uh I was busy all day
getting final inspections for Lewis over here, La Patrona Bakery. He's going to have the most state-of-the-art bakery around when he opens his new facility up uh on Mauy. But uh we're we're trying to close everything out. And Carol's been
right by my side with everything. I'm pretty good at running jobs and all that, but the office part, she kept me kept me straight there. So, thank you very much. [Applause]
>> I just want to thank Mayor Lner and his wife. They're lifelong friends of mine and also all the council members that I know personally. This is a heartfelt um recognition. Thank you all.
[Applause] Thank you, mayor, and congratulations to you both. Uh my presentation is going to be on a wonderful group of youth here in the city of Homestead. Um I'm I'm
sure many of you will be learning for the first time tonight that we have our very own lacrosse team. So, if you guys want to come on up and as you make it down uh for pictures and for a brief uh education on what lacrosse is and all
the goodies you brought with you, I want to just say that lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. It's a fast-paced game that involves speed, eye coordination, multitasking, and teamwork. It involves using a stick
with a net attached to a pass, catch, and shoot of a solid rubber ball into the opposite team's goal. And we have 20 students or more. How many do we have with us now? 20 students who confirmed
and they're here today and the parents are here. And I want to just give this opportunity to showcase them and to give our coach justice, what a great name, right? Coach Justice an opportunity to talk about their team, their accomplishments, and their goals, and then I'll have a another presentation at
the end. Thank you. >> Good afternoon, everybody. >> All right. Good evening, city mayor, council members, and homestead residents. My name is Kelvin Justice Jr., and I have the privilege of serving as head coach for the Keysgate Nation
lacrosse team. On behalf of our players and parents, I want to sincerely thank you for this generous donation for continued support. These funds will go directly towards improving our equipment and enhancing the experience of our students athletes
as they learn and grow through the game of lacrosse. Lacrosse has a deep roots. It was first played by indigenous peoples of North America where it was known by names as badawa and dwaladon
simply the creator's game. For them it was not only a sport but also a sacred and ceremonial practice used for healing, peacemaking and even preparation for battle. Later, European settlers adopted the
game and gave it the name we know today, lacrosse. Now, lacrosse is played across the globe from Canada and Jamaica to Japan, Kenya, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, just to name a few a few. Here in Florida, the sport
has been steadily growing for decades. In fact, Homestead's first lacrosse team began at Homestead Senior High School in 2001. I was a part of that team, introduced to the sport by my English teacher, Mr. Drew Goldberg. We lost
every single game. Uh, but we loved it and it didn't matter. Fast forward till today and going into our second season, I have the honor of coaching two teams of fearless young men and women from all walks of
life who accepted the challenge of trying something new. My mission is to pay for the opportunities I was given and to create even greater opportunities for them. With your support, we can give these
student athletes exposure, growth, and a chance to pursue scholarships at colleges and universities that play lacrosse and possibly play pro for the PLL, the Premier Lacrosse League. Your generosity and continued support
helped make that vision possible. and for that we are truly grateful. Thank you once again for your time, your belief in these student athletes, and your com commitment to our community. We hope you all join us at our games this
upcoming season beginning February 2026. Have a wonderful evening and please go home safely. Thank you. So as many of us know it is so important to support our youth because you earn you learn so much about leadership about
working together as a team. Life is a team sport. So, this uh donation is meant to help take your team to the the many uh you know, games and hopefully championships and uh
and obviously to help off uh offset the expenses that coaches and staff take out of their own pocket to support these organizations and these activities. So, congratulations to all of you. Let's try to get the group picture closer together.
Yeah. >> Coach, come to the middle. >> And who's the team captain? >> Several team captains. >> Joshua. >> Josh, where are you? >> Josh.
>> All right. So, you're displaying the gear. >> Okay. And which is the most talkative of the team captains? Andrea, where are you? Where? Yeah. Okay, Andrea, I want you to just say a few words as to what being a
team captain means to you and why it's important for you to play lacrosse. >> This might turn into more dollars for your team. So, make it count now. Um, lacrosse has really helped everybody and we have become very like comfortable
with each other and very like we've learned how to respect each other as a team and help each other when we used to never know how to do that. And we work as a team more than we have ever worked together with any other sport. Even
though we don't communicate, we just know what we need. [Applause] Great job. Great job. Well, thank you very much. If anybody else wants to add a few words, you're welcome to. Let's take the picture.
Oh, we have the athlet anyone here from the school, please come into the picture. Our athletic director, come on down. All right. And if I can get Keysgate Nation on three. Ready? One, two, three. Keysate Nation. >> All right. Thank you very much.
Congratulations. I'll go to the podium. >> Take the microphone to the podium. Hello. Hello everyone. So obviously this part of the meeting is where we get to rec recognize amazing
things happening within our city and this last one is no exception. So, we have many community organizations here doing amazing things that most of you probably never will or never have
heard about. And I believe that this might be one of them. I have had the pleasure of serving on the Together for Children board for the last 5 years, I believe, with an amazing organization
that is celebrating 25 years. That company or that organization is called En Familia. And I would like to invite the two directors up first so we can read the proclamation together.
So these are the directors Carlos Salgado and Rosio Tafur Salgado. So I will read this proclamation. It says whereas Enfamilia Inc. was
incorporated in September of 2000 to provide educational programs to help improve and preserve family life for a large population of immigrant of migrant farm workers, low-income families, all living within the deep south aid. These
areas include Homestead, Florida City, Leisure City, and Nuranga. The community in the deep south is characterized by factors such as poverty, low education, discrimination, cultural prejudices, and immigration
laws. All of which have contributed to some of the social issues that Enfamilia addresses. In addition, teen pregnancy and lack of teen parenting skills are unfortunately also common in our community.
And whereas Carlos E Salgado, MFA, and Rosio Tafur Salgado, PhD, founders and directors of Enfamilia, Inc. have extensively put their experience together to help work with our migrant
and lowincome families. They combined field experiences and formal education to create the Enfime Media Center which provides programming and services that address the unique needs of our families
here in the deep south. They provide services that range from um direct services for children, youth, and adults. I think one of the most impressive times for me was seeing what you did during CO
19. Obviously, a lot of different businesses and organizations shut down. Um, they did not. They continued their afterare programs, their summer programs all virtually to just help our our youth have that sense of connection um and
continue that sense of community. I am incredibly grateful to know you both. And as for our mayor, Steven D. Bosner, we do hereby proclaim September 2025 as
Infamilia Month. >> Councilwoman Slnney, Mayor Loen, and the rest of uh council men and women. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh This means a lot to us. Uh we have
dedicated not only these 25 years but all of our lives to serve the community and we are here since hurricane Andrew and we came and starting helping family and families and now uh like uh council
woman Bailey said we offer parenting programs and also a fatherhood program which is for dads and uh we have uh great news to share of everybody. Uh we are going to start uh taking this
program to the correctional system to talk to men uh that are there and um for us is a great responsibility. So uh thank you. Thank you for recognizing our
work. >> Thank you. And I would like to see our family staff to stand up please. my board of directors. My board directors, >> would you like to come in for a picture? Yes. We are 32 members in this staff and
they are all right now taking care of the uh 110 students that are part of the after school programs. We have four after school pro programs going on in in Florida City and as well of South Date and Evergates and also Red Lamp camp. So
we very very pleased and we very proud to have them and they are only part of the uh people who are available today. We extremely grateful with Homestead with all the time that all the years I've been 33 years working in Homestead
and it's been a a learning experience and we have two senior programs. The number one, we just finished celebrating summer camp 28 with uh with free course. I mean nothing is charged and and we were able to serve 110 students during
this summer and we do the land of the arts. We do of the arts exposures and and also we do academics in the morning and the other senior to program Carlos my husband of 50 years. We are celebrating 50 years together and u
thank you. So he is also and we also he also mentioned the uh fatherhood program which we started doing it since 2003. Thank you so much and my board would you like to say something? >> Good afternoon anyone. Uh I can't get
away with not saying something. I just want you to know every opportunity. I am beyond blessed and proud of the work that Infamia does. Um, I'm pretty new as board chair, but I've been with
them for several years now. Um, started off actually as their contract manager and I just fell in love the moment I met them and fell in love with the work that they do. And if you haven't had a chance to visit Enfamilia and see the superb
work that they do, the love that the community has for them, but more importantly the love they have for the community. I encourage you to reach out to them and come visit them because it's like coming home. It really is. And um this really is my family, too. And I
couldn't be more proud and more excited. And thank you so much city of Homestead and council member and mayor um for this proclamation. And I don't know if you know just how much they really do deserve it. So thank you.
>> Yes. Yes. One more little thing. Uh we I want to acknowledge the support that uh Councilwoman Jennifer Bailey has done in the arts. Uh that's one of a very strong program for us and she is constantly there.
Thank you. >> I am a supporter for as long as I can be. So one more time for familia congress. Keep up the great work. Come on side of the podium. Again, thank you all and congratulations with
deep appreciation to everyone for all you do for our community. We will now adjourn the presentation agenda and take a quick break and then we will convene the uh community redevelopment agency meeting in just a moment.
Are you since you got This one together. And so this All right. 30 second warning. >> LPA. >> Is it LPA?
All right. Good evening everyone and welcome. I'd like to call the City of Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency meeting to order. Today is Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025. It is now 5:50 p.m. Madame Clerk, could you call the role, please?
>> Board member Cannibal, >> here. Board member Avula >> here. >> Board member Davis >> here. >> Board member Ross. >> Board member Bailey >> here. >> Vice Chairman Fletcher >> here. >> Chairman Lznner >> here. >> All right, Mr. Director. Are there any
uh additions, deletions, or deferrals? >> Uh no. Uh chair, there are not. >> Thank you. Tab one is the me the minutes from our meeting of September 9th, 2025. I'll entertain a motion to approve. Moved by board member Roth,
>> second by board member Bailey. Are there any questions or comments? All in favor? Any opposed? Next item is tab two. Mr. Attorney. Yes, Mr. Chair. Tab two is a resolution of the board of the community redevelopment
agency of the city of Homestead, Florida, authorizing the utilization of city RP 2525 contract with Bright View Landscaping Services for groups 1, 2, and five and SFM landscaping services for groups three, four, and six for citywide
landscaping maintenance services, authorizing the executive director to issue purchase orders and execute all necessary documents, providing for implementation and providing for an effective date. Thank you. Is there any objection to waving the staff report on this item?
Okay. So, do we have any questions or comments from council or from the board? All right. Is there anyone here to speak on this item? All right. Seeing none, I will close the public hearing and entertain a motion
for the approval of car number 4762. Moved by board member Cannibal, >> second. >> Second by board member Avala. If there are no final comments from the board, this item calls for a roll call
vote. >> Board member Davis, >> yes. >> Board member Cannibal, >> yes. >> Board member Roth, >> yes. >> Board member Ailo, >> yes. >> Board member Bailey, >> Vice Chairman Fletcher, >> yes. >> Chairman Lzna, >> yes. >> The
>> Okay, Mr. Director, any further reports or items for us? >> No, sir. That concludes uh the items for this meeting. >> All right. Are there any public comments with respect to any community redevelopment agency business? All right. Seeing none, then I'll entertain
a motion to adjourn this meeting. >> Moved. Seconded. All in favor? Any opposed? Meeting adjourned. The clerk is ready. I will now convene the city of Homestead local planning
agency meeting. And it's still Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, and it is now 5:53 p.m. Let's have a roll call, please. Madam clerk, >> board member Bailey >> here. >> Board member Avula >> here.
>> Board member Cannaval >> here. >> Board member Ron >> here. >> Board member Davis >> here. >> Vice Chairman Fletcher >> here. >> Chairman Losner >> present. All right. Are there any additions, deletions, or deferrals for this
meeting? None. Okay. We have before us the minutes of September 24th, 2025. Do we have a motion to approve those minutes? Moved and seconded by by Bailey,
seconded by Cannibal. There are no other questions or comments. All in favor? Any opposed? Next item, Mr. White. >> Yes. Please be advised the following item on the agenda is quazi judicial nature. You have one item this evening.
Um, if you wish to comment upon this item, please indicate the item number you would like to address when the when the announcement regarding the quiz line was made. An opportunity for persons to speak on this item will be made available after the applicant and staff have made their presentations on this item. Swearing in, all testimony,
including public testimony and evidence, will be made under oath or affirmation. Additionally, each person who gives testimony may be subject to cross-examination. If you not wish to either be cross-examined or sworn, your testimony will be given its due date. The general public will not be permitted to cross-examine witnesses, but the
public may request the local planning agency to ask questions of staff or witnesses on their behalf. The full agenda packet on this item is hereby entered into the record. Persons representing organizations must present evidence for their authority to speak for the organization. Further details of the quai judicial procedures may be
obtained from the clerk. In accordance with code section 2-590, any lobbyist must register before addressing the local planning agency on any of the on this on this item. At this time, the LPA members must disclose any exparte communications concerning car number
4770 tab number two uh on this evening's quai agenda. >> Are there any disclosures on this item? None. So at this time I I I would ask the clerk to swear on any persons who wish to testify on uh tab number two. So
anyone in the audience wishing to speak on this item, please stand, raise your right hand to be sworn by the clerk. >> Do you have I swear affirm to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. So help me God. >> Thank you. You may be seated. >> Tab two, car number 4770
is a resoning. It's an ordinance of the city of Homestead, Florida, approving the reszoning as requested by New Health Community Centers, Inc. of an approximately 299 acre parcel of land from multiple apartment R3 zoning district to restricted retail commercial B1 zoning district for property located
at 100 Northwest 7th Street as legally described in exhibit A and providing for conflict severability and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Typically at this level, we wave the staff report. If there are any issues, we will come back at the council
meeting. Um, I believe that the applicant or someone on behalf of the applicant is present. Would you like to uh to speak to this item? Please come forward and give us your name and address for the record. Um, >> mayor, if I can, I have had discussions
on this. Thank you. >> Very good. Um, let me ask the attorney. Come on up. Come forward. is the own the owner is required to be registered. Is that correct? >> Yes. Um the owner husband is right here.
>> But I'm asking the >> Have you registered as a lobbyist with the with the city clerk on this item? Okay. >> Yes. >> Go ahead. >> Give us your name and address for the record. And uh >> address my name. Okay. Susie Richardson.
And the address is 100 Northwest 7th Street, Homestead, Florida 330. >> Okay. And uh is there anything you would like to say to in support of of our approval here? We have been in this
process for more than two years and thanks to miss um the new development service and the gentlemen in the back in less than a month they could put everything together and bring us in front of you and I thank them very much
and I have to tell you that I've been in this community since 2004 and I have with me the support of the pastor's association and the deacon of the aaitian Catholic church not to say my
patients miss um an and my family and David. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Anything further? Okay. >> Hi, good afternoon. My name is Sandra Ma um representing the address 100
Northwest 7th Street. I've been helping Dr. Susie and and New Health Community Centers as their expediter and we are seeking reszoning from as you guys mentioned from R3 to V1 so they can open
up a medical center in the property. >> Okay, very good. Now, just to put it in perspective and set the stage, um the applicant is the current owner of the building. The building, as I understand it, has been vacant for many, many years. It was a church and then I think
the home of the power squadron. >> Um but it was acquired with zoning that's not compatible with with your use. >> Correct. >> It was. Yes. So that's why we're seeking the reszoning. >> Okay. Appreciate that. And this will be for a medical clinic.
>> It's going to be a medical center. Yes. >> Okay. Any questions or comments from council? All right. All right. Is there any uh I'll entertain a motion to approve this item then.
>> Moved by Councilwoman Bailey, seconded by uh Councilman Cannibal. And uh >> oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> What kind of medical center is going to be? >> Use your mic. Turn your mic. >> Family practice. I have been in open in
a building that I'm renting for the past 10 years where I am now. And unfortunately, the owner found somebody that is paying more and she's asking me to leave and I already have the building and I've been in this process to move
and this is the reason why I'm seeking the change of the zone now. >> Thank you. Thank you. I second. >> Okay. I >> All right. Thank you. Well, and since we're in the discussion, one of the issues I had is that it appears there's only seven or eight parking spots for
the entire building kind of seem and part of it is our code, but it would seem to me that you're going to have that many or more staff members. So, there's really not sufficient parking there very close to a fairly main road for
your patients. >> Correct. So we are also in the process of a site plan approval which involves the restructure basically of the parking spaces in the in the lot around the whole um building so we can accommodate
you know more handicap spaces for the um customer you know for the patients and for the staff as well. >> Oh but I guess my point was is staff shared with me in my agenda briefing the proposed site plan that we may see at some point in the future. But even with that, there seems to be a significant
shortage of parking spaces. >> Well, with with the new parking spaces, I believe we can accommodate, you know, the the patients and the staff at the same time. Staff, if she can probably address this, how many staff members do you usually have? >> We have four staff members in house at
all time, but the patients do not come all at once. It's in a 15 30 minutes um uh difference. So, we have time. Okay. >> By the time they call me. >> Thank you. >> Any further further questions? I think
we have a motion and a second on the table. Um, we'll have a roll call vote. >> Board member Ross, >> yes. >> Board member Davis, >> yes. >> Board member Avula, >> yes. >> Board member Cannibal, >> yes. >> Board member Bailey, >> yes. >> Vice Chairman Fletcher,
>> yes. >> Chairman Lner, >> no. >> The motion carries. >> Okay. Thank you. and we'll have the the next reading at a council meeting just a few minutes from now. >> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Are there any public comments with
respect to this local planning agency agenda? Is there anything further from development services or from the city attorney on this agenda? Hearing nothing, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. I >> moved and seconded. All in favor?
>> I. Any opposed? All right, this meeting is adjourned and hopefully literally in two minutes we will convene the regular city council meeting as soon as the clerk is ready to go and our honor guard looks like they are ready to present.
So, we'll just be just a moment Madam clerk, are we ready? My apologies for the delay. Well, good evening everyone and welcome. I'd like to call the city of Homestead City Council meeting to order. Today is Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025. It is now 6:06
p.m. This evening, the invocation will be given by Pastor Gabriel Deostine, president of the Haitian Pastors Association, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Councilwoman Avala and the Homestead Police Explorers. Could you
please rise, pastor? Almighty and gracious God, we thank you for bringing us together this evening in service to the people of Homestead. You have blessed our community with opportunity, resilience, and a share
purpose. Grant the members of this council wisdom and unity as they deliberate on matters that affect our neighbors and future generations. Help them to speak with respect, love, listen with understanding and act with integrity. May even may
every discussion tonight be guided by fairness, compassion and truth. Bless those who serve, our leaders, first responders, educators, and workers who labor each day for the good of this town. Bless all families who call
homestead home that our community may continue to grow in strength and unity. Let peace preside over this meeting and may the outcome of our work bring honor to you and benefit to all. bless this
wonderful and powerful council our mayor and uh let's see let him say be fruition in Jesus name. Amen. Forward left. Left, left, right.
Left, left, left, right, left, left, left, right. Right. Breathe that alliance to the flag of the United States of
America to the stands nation andice for all. >> Order on. Face forward arch left. Thank you. Please be seated.
Okay. So, Madam Clerk, let's have a roll call, please. Councilman Cannibal >> here. >> Councilwoman Avula >> here. >> Counciloman Ross >> Councilman Davis >> here. >> Councilwoman Bailey >> here. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher >> here. >> Mayor Lawson,
>> I'm here. All right. The next item on our agenda is the public comment section. I'm not aware that anyone pre-registered to make a public comment. This is your opportunity to make a comment as appropriate. We'll have a threeminut time limit. We'll ask you to
come to the podium. give us your name and address for the record and keep your comment to three minutes. Good evening, >> Mayor L. How are you? My name is Rome from Marorta. I live at 240 Southeast 19th Street. Um, the reason why I'm coming here today is because at the at our last meeting where I was properly
introduced to your staff at the uh at the town hall at uh at the villages, I was um improperly introduced. I am no problem child. Okay. My name's Romero Orton. All right. I've been in banking for over 25 years. I started my banking
career against your dad's bank at community bank. From there I went to Washington Mutual. From there to Sun Trust from Little Wells Fargo where I actually employed some of your majors in here. And now I'm at TD Bank as a small business specialist. I'm no problem child. I just know my stuff. Okay. So
the next time you see me in public, please just say hi. That would suffice. No other comments, please. Um the the reason why I'm I am here is because I sent an invite to the candidates. Unfortunately, there's no forms where we don't know your platforms and and we
don't know what you're running for. So, um thank you uh Councilwoman Bailey and Councilwoman Abila for your um confirm your attendance. Mr. Davis, will you be attending tomorrow at 12:30? >> I will not.
>> Uh okay, then can I ask you this? Why is it that you ran 2 years ago on promises to stopping over development, but you actually approved 3,000 project over 3,000 new units in the past 23 months? >> Mr. Taylor said that's not an appropriate question.
>> I'm not discussing >> for this forum those matters here. >> Okay. So, I I can't ask anything. So, what what's the whole point of >> not campaign related? Absolutely not. >> No, no, no. It's it's not campaigning. It's actions that he took. He actually ran on that, but he actually voted on
additional units, you know, adding more to the overdevelopment. Why did you vote for that when you ran on opposing it? >> I will not discuss campaign issues from the dasis. >> I wish I thought so. Um, Mr. Ziri, why
are you ignoring my emails and my phone calls? I called you four times. I left you four messages with your gatekeeper and not one call. not aware of your calls, sir. You >> you're unaware of of my phone calls. Please get a hold of uh Deputy Brown. I
left uh four messages. My inquiry was what was your thought process when you were hiring your deputy manager with an adverse background. >> Sir, I'm not obligated to respond to such personal inquiries from the DES. Uh >> well, I mean, it is public record, so
it's out there. So, of course, we we can discuss that. Thank you. >> Okay. So, moral of the subject, why I am here. I'm just here because I do run True Homestead. I am the one that runs the
page. Yes, I am. Um, why I do it? Because no one else will. And we need someone to hold all of you accountable. So, um, Mr. Davis, if you do decide, a chair will be there for you tomorrow. Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay, Mr. Order, real quick, because I I didn't catch your first little comment there and didn't realize until later in your discussion that it was aimed seemed to be aimed at me that you were introduced improperly. >> No. >> Okay. I just >> No, no, no. What I was saying is you
didn't introduce me correctly the the last time when you introduced me as the problem child to your staff. Do you recall that? >> I did. Okay. And and in the context of the conversation, we all know that at that moment that
meant and in the context was an entirely different thing. You want to play word games? I'll be happy to go outside with you and have fact-based word games anytime you're ready. >> I'm not running for office, so that debate is pointless. >> Nor am I. There you go.
>> Well, am I You are asking for former technically you are. Any further public comment? >> Hi, pastor. >> Good evening, honorable mayor, uh, council members, distinguished city leaders.
As you already know, my name is Pastor Gabriel and I'm present the consulation. I think that the first time we have a city council that work closely with the pastors. I have to commend and thank all of you cuz we need that.
But uh that's not my purpose to be here today. But um I feel uh convey to uh thank you because I think of each one of you every day. Keep doing what you're doing. That's good for the city and we can see that our cities is in peace.
That's a blessing from God. Thank you. Thank you. >> I stand before you as a representative of the home, a coalition of faith leaders serving the local churches and there isn't a quasi city. Our mission is to foster
spirituality, unity, and community well-being. Today, I come to speak in support of a project that aligns perfectly with those goals. The proposed clinical initiative led by Dr. Susan Chhatson Aras a respected
physician of Haitian descent. This project is not merely a building or a business plan. It is a lifeline for a community in need. Homestead is home to many hardworking families including Haitians, Latin Americans and
other immigrants who struggle daily to access affordable culturally competent healthcare. The vision of this clinic is to bring medical services closer to those who need them most. Mothers, children,
seniors, farm workers, and the uninsured. Dr. Amas is not just a doctor. She's a servant leader. Her deep roots and this community and her proven commitment to public health make her uniquely qualified to lead this effort. The
clinic's role is to provide preventive care, chronic disease management and health education and multiple languages, bringing bridging cultural and gaps that often keep our neighbors from seeking help. As pastors, we see firsthand the
consequences when families cannot afford health care, when treatable conditions turn into crisis, and when people must choose between medicine and rent. We have pray with too many members who suffer needlessly because of limited access. This project will not only heal
the sick but but also strengthen families. We do self disparity and support the city long-term vision of a healthy thriving homestead. We acknowledge that every development must meet regulations and respect community concerns. But we confidently affirm that this clinic will
bring positive impact creating jobs, reducing emergency cost and partnering with local nonprofits and churches who ensure holistic care. [Music] It is an investment in life, dignity, and equity. In closing, we urge this
council, this wonderful and my wonderful people. And I said from all of my heart because believe me I'm a spoken guy and I'm very um whiteful if I say something I said from the bottom of my heart you are an excellent group for the city.
um an OJ u to support such a project in closing. We we need this council to see what they can do to help relieve people empower local professional of Haitian descent and demonstrate that homestead is a city
where we resident decent and demonstrate that homestead is a city where we include as you have been doing since you have been elected. Let this clinic stand as a testament that when faith medicine and civic
leadership work hand in hand, our city grow stronger together. Thank you again. Um let me just make an distinction to council Jennifer with uh with the support back of all of
you that always stand as a Haitian personality. We appreciate you all. Thank you city manager. Thank you the police officers. You're doing an excellent jobs especially in this time of uh difficulties for us. God bless you all.
>> Thank you. All right. Any further public comment? >> Sure. Council Ross. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just want to recognize that the mayor's youth council has walked into the chambers to uh continue their uh education on what civic government is all about. I'd like to introduce the mayor of the mayor's
youth council, which is Brooke Marcel. Mayelli, >> it's a great group of talented kids and u you all work hard to make our mayor very happy. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you, guys. Thank you, council. >> Yeah. And hope that I know you've all
been invited. Should have been invited. Hope we'll see you tomorrow evening at the state of the city address at 6:30 here in the chambers. All right. Any further public comment? Is there anyone online? No, no one else in the audience. All right.
So, I mean the public comment I'll now close the uh public comment section and I'll ask uh manager and staff if there are any addition any additions, deletions or um deferrals. >> No, Mr. Mayor.
>> Um unknown by Mr. uh Mr. Lopez here. Iggy, are you here? Think he's one of the uh one of the last items this evening. Um,
think I think we need to based on information I've received, I think we're going to need to defer item 18 to the next regular council meeting. I don't see I saw him earlier. I don't see him here now.
>> Yes, >> Mr. Mayor. I think he's with the city clerk's office being resolved then. So we may not need to uh >> so I would suggest you table that on council. >> Okay. So we'll we'll ensure that is uh okay.
Very good. Then um if there's no objection, I understand that folks have uh come from out of town uh Councilwoman Avala for one of your items under your business. If What's that? I thought I saw Walter back here somewhere.
How can you miss that? >> Sorry, I didn't see him come in. Thank you, mayor. But, uh, under my, uh, under my items, under my business, I do have a presentation that Mr. Jenkins would like to, um, give for council's consideration for our city manager and staff. Thank
you. The floor is yours, Mr. Jenkins. >> Thank you. So just, you know, so we have a record. Give us your names and addresses so that uh we have those on file. >> Thank you. Walter Jenkins, 4075
Northeast 40th Road, Homestead, Florida, 33033. Thank you, council members. I appreciate the time. Uh I know all of you personally and I'm here before you today because um I think it's so important for our city to participate where there's an
opportunity to leverage uh better utilization of our spending and to be able to bless our employees. I think there's 511 of them within the city that I I calculated with as much benefits as we can to be as attractive
of a city as we can to those city staff members as well as to be able to reduce our cost as a city. I understand that you guys have been hard at work at some bond referendums etc. and and uh I thank you for the the improvements to our city
that you're focused on, but I do believe that our city internally also needs care that supersedes any other municipality around to continue to attract the talent like our new city staff and uh and other team members that we have. But I today
Colton is with me and he's uh one of the directors for Champion Health's uh distribution. And the reason why I look at this is because it's it's a multiplefold benefit. And I said, let's go ahead and bring this to our city because other municipalities across the
state and uh the country are benefiting from this cost-saving tool that also gives our employees within the city, additional benefits, and Colton will share what those are. But the most important thing and the reason why this was created council was because we don't
know which of those 511 staff members are going to call in and say that they're fighting a cancer battle, they're fighting a heart attack, a stroke, something to that effect because they did not take preventative care. They didn't have the opportunity because their utility bill or their rent was
more expensive than the cost to go to the uh the urgent care or the hospital and find out what's going on. So, Colton will talk more about the how it works and what it is, but I wanted to let you know that this is a goal to remove any barrier from preventative med care for
all of our our city staff. The byproduct of it is savings for the municipality, approximately $1.6 million impact per year. there. There's many different layers to that, but this is some of it is guaranteed and some of it is based on
other levels of of investment and and discovery. My goal is to let's take a look at this. Let's find out what other cities are doing and let's find out if this applies to us as a city. Colton, thank you, Walter. Thank you, council
members, mayor. Um, I'm joining you, Colton Ben tonight from Wisconsin. I reside at 743 Fiesta Drive, Nusa, Wisconsin 54457. That's my advice. Well, uh, and we're
we're bringing forth the educational session on Champion Health. I come to you as a product matter specialist. I work with public entities and private across the country on promoting better health care spending, better healthcare benefits, zerocost access to healthcare
and preventive measures. And that is what I'm here to present to the council members. So, we did uh supply our overview of this for everyone to review. And I just wanted to start this off with
sharing uh the history on what we've been doing with our program across the country. We've been operating the Champion Health Plan for around 10 years now. I've personally been working with them for over seven. And in that time, we have uh brought this on board with thousands of employer groups across the
nation. And it does three key things. We're able to coordinate some zerocost access benefits for employees of organizations where they otherwise may have a cost to seek preventive health care, to seek visitations, to seek blood
work. We get to remove that barrier for them. At the same time, we are able to reduce the tax bill overall for an organization that is supplying this to their employees along with the real magic ending of it and that is
increasing take-home pay wages for employees that are part of the program as well. We do work with other cities across the country um some of them in Florida in the state of Florida. And so there are a few dynamics to this program that I'll review. The primary piece to
it and I wonder if you on the on the first portion is supplementing somebody's current medical benefits or just providing them with some in the first place if they don't necessarily have any. Now, as Walter said, we never know who the next person may be that calls in with stage 4 cancer
or has a heart attack or has a stroke. And there are ways to prevent that. There are ways to detect that early. So our entire program has been designed around prediction and prevention of illness, injuries, and diseases using technology and education in the medical
space. That is what we're promoting to employees that are on this program. At the same time, funding healthcare benefits that they can actually use on a daily basis all across the country to seek out doctor visits, to seek out walk-in clinic visits, to seek their uh
medications being covered. and they no longer have to choose between keeping the lights on, paying their utility bills, putting groceries on the table, and going to a doctor visit. So, what this comes along with is unlimited zero co-ay primary care visits, urgent care
walk-in center visits. Anything that is affordable care act, preventative care gets covered on this outside of an existing insurance policy. So where another avenue is that we bring forth monetary benefit to an organization is
when you have a health insurance policy and you use it, rates tend to go up year after year after year as we've been seeing the trend happening. We're able to mitigate that by putting this in front of a health insurance policy, reducing claims utilization, reducing
claims spend for a self-insured plan account, and in turn reducing long-term health care costs for an organization, which we have proven with a track record of large insurance carriers over the past 10 years. at the same time providing other support
services for employees, unlimited 247 virtual care in both the physical and mental health space. And I think the number one uh utilized piece on this is the mental health component to it. Something that is better than any EAP. It's it's better than waiting 4 weeks to
seek out a therapy visit in person. something that employees can gain access to immediately and visit with a therapist, visit with a counselor, have their children seek out uh teen mental health and wellness programs through what we're providing. Now, there are a
few other things put in here. I love the edit that Walter added here for the the animation at the bottom, but we're able to actually supply additional perks and benefits that employees can use on a day-to-day basis. One of them being virtual veterinarian services. What's
more stressful than having your pet have a problem that you can't get them to see a vet for very quickly? So, that's something else that's provided here on a video and and phone call basis uh for employees to go and use as much as they'd like to. Never a co-ay or any kind of out of- pocket associated with that along with laboratory testing kits
and vital track um technologies that we can integrate. That's another piece in this world of preventing injuries and disease can just come with a simple blood test on a yearly basis. And so many people don't do that because of the inconvenience or the cost of it. So,
we're supplying that to employees to order through their uh accounts here that they can actually do it themselves at home with a simple prick of a finger and send it into the labs. There'll be all kinds of results from metabolic panels, lipid panels, whole blood counts, precancerous markers,
pre-diabetes, which can extremely help with the prevention of those diseases being late discovered and difficult to treat. I'll skim through on the last part here, but we want to promote the heartbeat of what Champion Health has been, and that is that prediction and
prevention of injuries and illnesses using our technology and education based on risk, based on assessments, based on family history, medications that are being taken. So when employees are a part of this program, your employees within the city or many of the employees that are with private companies that we
have this program in, they are starting off with an assessment of risk. Champion Health will determine what their high-risisk factors are, what kind of chronic illnesses there may be, what kind of medications they're on, and then we prescribe them actionable items that they could use on a daily, weekly,
monthly basis from the Mayo Clinic that are designed to help manage, treat, prevent injuries, illnesses, and disease that follow along. May be a video, it may be a study, it may be a article, a recipe, a routine, something that's
relevant to that individual's life. uh in order to help them prevent things getting worse or prevent them from happening at all. Now, the overall analysis on this, we have two components to Champion Health. One of them being a section 125
medical plan that's going to go in front of any other benefits that employee currently has, but it takes a pre-tax funding mechanism through payroll that ends up directly reducing payroll tax matching costs for an employer group. Now this applies to any size, any type
of industry, public or private. We all have to uh pay social security and Medicare tax matching within payroll or just payroll taxes in general. We able to reduce that with what we are funding through the champ plan at the same time as actually rewarding employees for
being a part of this plan with medical benefit payouts to them simultaneously. End result of that being the organization sponsoring the plan reduces their overall taxes. they can reallocate into the budget and in this case apply
to public projects, give uh incentives to employees or actually end up completing some of the things that we're looking for money to complete for the city. At the same time, employees end up retaining more of their
earnings and wages because they also have less tax being withheld and they fund some medical benefits simultaneously that they can go and use as much as they would like to without any costs out of pocket for it. And I'll wrap this up with this final
image. And this is the proposed overall savings that Champion Health supplies to the city of Homestead just based on an employee count where we are going to the next step on this. And our request is to actually do the full detailed analysis
on this. But based on just an employee count, we have some guaranteed and some variable savings that come into play based on our national averages. It is in the green of a $1.6 million swing annually that we have as a proposed savings.
The last piece in here on how we actually calculate that and generate that that um report on a specific basis is simply looking at payroll figures and we're able to come out with final figures on that to share what that number truly would be.
That is the final wrapup I have just on the overview of this at the current state. I'll pass it back over to you, Walter. >> Thank you, Colon. And we'd love to field any questions that you have. However, I do want to say that we have um potential bond. I just looked at the numbers that
you guys have shared and and it looks like if all funding at the same time, it's around 60 million in interest cost over time. I just look at this as a great way to repurpose and reposition those same dollars that we plan on paying outside of uh our existing plans
in the budget. And it also gives us an opportunity to better attract talent with a a benefit that does not leave when an employee decides to go to a different municipality. And it really sets us apart. And so I don't think there's a single employee within the city of Homestead that would not like
their pay increased or their benefits uh improved. Uh and I know that our city would also enjoy the additional reduction of expense. So my my goal is for us to explore this further, find out what it is that it means for the city over time. And uh I hope that you guys
also want to explore that with me. >> Any questions from council? >> Thank you, mayor, and thank you for our present uh presenters for bringing this item uh to my attention. And I mean, we're always trying to find ways to find, you know, pennies in the couch
cushions and a million pennies u of savings is is quite a good reason to explore it further. And I wanted to make sure that we all had an opportunity to hear the presentation at least once and to uh hopefully give consensus to our city manager and staff to review it
further, digest it, really uh maybe give us some one-on- ones as to what the the numbers um confirm to be after they do all that analysis and maybe bring it back for a future meeting. But I'll rest there. Thank you again for bringing the item.
>> Thank you. And let me let me turn to the city manager. It's my understanding that he and his staff have received a presentation and have done some preliminary review of vetting, if you will, of of this plan. And I' I'd like
to have a briefing from the manager or his staff on on their perspective as to your >> to this plan. I won't call it a proposal, but this product. >> Sure. >> So, thank you, Mayor Council. Several months ago, another group had come into
the city with the same presentation about the CHAMP plan and uh we had asked for references of any governmental entity that has done a similar program and we were assured that there were and especially Miami date county. Uh a razo
was presented to us as coming from the county. Uh we read through the resolution. It was more a direction from the board of county commission asking the administration there to look into the feasibility of this plan and nothing
moved forward from then and the entity was unable to provide any further proof of any municipal or governmental entity that has accepted this plan or implemented this plan after they had been presented to them. So that's why it didn't move forward. Uh
the city advertised for the city's health plan. Uh I'm not too sure is the procurement director in the room. I don't think we received any further representation from the entity that they interested in offering any type of plan to the city. If there's any additional
comments, uh madame director of HR, I would like you to act if they have more. >> Good evening, U mayor and council. Um I've reviewed several of these programs. Um, and as the manager said, as your subject matter expert, um, I did not
recommend moving forward with this program. There's no cities that I've been able to locate that have implemented or would provide me any feedback regarding these programs. >> Can I respond? Yes. Just want to make sure I'm in turn. Uh, I had a chance to
meet with Mr. Ziri. I have never had a chance to speak to Are you Miss Beck? first time I'm meeting her and uh we would love to explore this for our city. There are other municipalities. There was no open dialogue between myself and Miss Babette. I would love to explore that with our city because neither Mr.
Zuri or Babette represent the entirety of our city. Everyone in this community are the representatives of paying tax members who should see this through as a opportunity. And whatever it is that Mr. Missouri and his staff have looked at so
far. None of it came from a dialogue with us to show them their answers to their questions. So, I understand they're very busy. Uh, Miss Beet, welcome to the community. We appreciate you, Ziri, as well, but the full due diligence has not been done. And there are other municipalities that are on
this already. I showed Mr. area that Miami Day County as you mentioned is uh is currently actually Colton was is the one that's helping them with that process but they are still in that process and they are doing full due diligence and moving forward. So our
goal is for us to get ahead and not to be behind. So uh yeah there are other municipalities Mr. miss. I bet there are uh other people that are on this and I think that it's important for us to look at it internally and do proper due diligence.
>> Just from my understanding is would this be a supplement to the insurance plan we recently adopted or is it a potential replacement? because when when I go through this, there seems to
be a lot of duplication from what was recently represented to us in the plan that we adopted a couple months ago. >> I love that question because as you guys know, I've spent over 24 years in insurance and and I'm a pretty big nerd in it and there's no mitigation for our
rising in I don't know if there's a single person business owner in here that can say they've received overwhelming rate decreases from the same insurer year-over-year. Most of the time people are expecting rate increase sometimes to the tune to double digits and there's frequency and severity and
this stands in front of the health insurance policy that you have. It doesn't have to do any coordination of benefits and it offloads all those claims whether it's severe claims or regular uh severe claims through uh prevention or regular urgent care doctor
visits, prescriptions. None of those hit the major medical and that's where a lot of the savings are coming from from existing clients that we're familiar with. So, uh, this works in front of the health insurance. So, it doesn't do anything to replace it and it also helps
these benefits extend to family members who may not currently have family benefits through the existing health insurance. So, no, it doesn't interrupt. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes, Mr. Since uh the reverend gentleman mentioned that they do have other additional cities that he has
information uh I think we should welcome he's providing us those additional information because the only one that was provided in the past did not pass muster. The county did not have any information. The county passed a razo back in November of 2024 asking the
administration to come back within 120 days. This is no this is October 2025 and none has happened. However, if you have additional information, we're welcome to receive it. >> Yes, there's and I'll let Colton speak to that uh due diligence process. Yes,
>> if I may. Thank you. Just for the for the sake of our meeting tonight and there's a lot of other items. I think what we're not passing any motions tonight or any decisions. It was just a matter of presentation and I appreciate the opportunity for our city manager's office to um continue the dialogue and
perhaps bring back something that they can support or additional questions and concerns for us to review. But uh I think we can cut the presentation at this time if unless there's anything really urgent you want to add. >> I I I just want to add that I will provide some references for the cities
that are currently using this. Hey, that that was my thought before the manager jumped in is that if we don't have complete information, >> um if you could provide that so that the manager can can make contact and uh try
to determine the uh legit legitimacy or viability of the uh the plan that uh the program that you're you're offering, >> right? It almost sounds too good to be true. So, it does deserve some real good due diligence as we're all talking about
and if there is a way to find us the savings, I think we'll all be very appreciative of it. So, thank you. >> Oh, and and we would be and Colton, I want to apologize that I think you've been snared into a really craven political stunt here tonight. There was no reason for you to have to come to
Homestead from Wisconsin to do this. Uh, this is a very unusual procedure. it really doesn't meet protocol of of procurement. So on behalf of at least myself, I'll only speak for myself, I apologize that you have been ins snared
in uh in something that uh could have been resolved otherwise without a trip to Homestead. >> But again, look forward to your provision of the information. >> I I appreciate the visit. I was able to spend four months here last year. So love it. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Walter. All right, let's go back to Right. So, we have addressed the additions, deletions, or deferrals. So, tab one is a pres an ARPA update
presentation. Is that you, Mr. Manager? >> Uh, yes. I will ask the deputy manager to handle this. >> Good. Good afternoon, Mayor Council. I will work to be very brief um in both
this presentation and the one that pres uh follows it. So, as you are potentially accustomed to at this point, at least on a quarterly basis, we try to give council um an update on how we are
progressing with the ARPA dollars and the projects that coincides with those ARPA funding at a very high level. For the benefit of uh mayor and council, we have 54 total projects that are either fully funded through ARPA or
partially funded. Uh today of the 54 there are 11 active projects um which means 43 has been completed and officially closed out. Um, as a point of
recollection, the city received $19.1 million in ARPA funding back in um June uh 2021 and then again in June 2022, the second trunch of those dollars
were delivered to the city. Uh and ultimately the charge was to um identify initiatives and projects across five areas. Public health and negative economic impact. Uh there was a premium pay for eligible workers, administrative
expenses. Um investment in infrastructure which we have done a lot of. Um and then there are there's an opportunity to replace um some dollars from general revenue. To date, we have spent um or we've
expended almost $17.6 million um and we have 11 projects in the for the purpose of brevity. I will quickly run through the 11 projects towards the back of your presentation. You have the
complete list of um uh the 43 projects that have been completed. Um so the first item is the the America 250 initiative. Um the pending item there are the pole banners uh that we have to work uh finalize as well as there are
some um America 250 hats that we are working on um bringing into production early next year. Uh the second initiative is our EPL build which we'll talk a little bit
more about uh later on. But as a as a reminder, ARPA funded partially funded the EPL project to the tune of $400,000. The third project is the park solar portable lighting and camera initiative.
We actually have received all of the equipment. We have completed the project. The component that is still running is the um recurring monthly AT&T charges which is a part of the general revenue
our broadband infrastructure. So this is our Wi-Fi in the park initiative parks initiative. We have completed nine of our 13 parks um are now Wi-Fi enabled
for our the new code and parks administration building. Um as we know we completed the parks project I'd like to say in June or early June of this year. Yes. No, May of this year. And um
there are some several administrative costs that are recurring. Um but the project itself has been completed as a part of the EV pilot program. The we had allocated the purchase of um a EV
vehicle. Um we have had some challenges with securing that vehicle um to serve as the initial uh pilot program for the city. Um, so that is still an ongoing effort. [Music]
We get to Flaggler Avenue gravity sewer design. Um, I kind of want to jump a little bit to a completed project to explain the Flaggler initiative for a moment. Uh so with the Homestead Regional Park, if you recall, we had about almost $2 million slated for
Homestead Regional Park and there was a remaining 93 thou $97,000 to complete the design and permitting with us moving forward with the VSGS Sports Performance Hub uh partnership.
that $97,000 was uh reallocated away from Homestead Regional Park. We know we no longer needed to airmark those dollars in that project and we moved it to the Flaggler Avenue gravity sewer design. Um there is
there there is a need for or there was a need for dollars to be um supplemented for this project um as we work towards completing the design and moving into the construction in Q1 of next year.
As you are all attuned, the Chrome Avenue water and sewer design, we have a little bit under $20,000 remaining um in that initiative and it's 20,000 of ARPA funding. Um this project is funded by multiple sources, but we have 20,000
left of ARPA rema ARPA associated dollars for the Chrome Avenue water and sewer design. uh for our Siberian third and fourth floor elevator and bathroom um buildout. We have $130,000
um a little bit over $130,000 remaining in the way of an update. Um this particular project uh the the elevator cabins have been installed. Uh we are waiting for connections and to be able to test. Um the bathroom is also
complete. Uh we are still essentially working through the punch list items in order for the project to be project to be considered complete. We have a little bit over a million dollars for our
sewer system evaluation survey. Um and this is essentially our continuous effort of lining um different uh pump station basins to further reduce the inflow of the in the infiltration in
those pump stations. And I believe that is uh a quick summary of the 11 active projects. Um I'm happy to take any questions if you have any. Council, any questions or comments on
the status of the expenditure of the ARPA funds? >> Yeah, keep moving. Quick question. Something that occurred to me. >> Yes, sir. >> There's one thing worse than having no Wi-Fi, having spotty Wi-Fi. >> What's the lifespan of the equipment
we're placing in the park? So, we'll know, you know, we're going to need to begin to set money aside to to upgrade and replace. >> That's a great question. And I think our IT director is walking in at the moment. [Laughter]
Uh Yanel, uh the mayor would like to understand our um replace well the the life the lifetime duration of the equipment that we've done for the Wi-Fi in the park and what is the plan for
replacement once we approach that term >> for the Wi-Fi. >> Right. So that equipment usually lasts a good 5 to 10 years. So ideally what we would like to do is include it in the in the CIP plan moving forward.
And um that's pretty much it. >> Good. So 10 years none of us will be sitting here. >> Hey Yanel, technology changes, right? So by year three, this city should start planning on replacement programming.
even though technology may have changed by year three. One of the one of the other things to make note of at least on the Wi-Fi side is the equipment is one thing but with the recurring uh subscription through with um is it AT&T
we are able to increase the bandwidth as as capacity is needed right so there's the equipment and then there's the actual service by virtue of the service that we've um signed up for with AT&T we can increase bandwidth and coverage. Um,
and then the equipment piece is something that we have to start planning for within that 70 to 60 month window. >> Council Roth, >> thank you, Mayor. So, with lifespan for the Wi-Fi out at the parks, what's the possibility of bringing fiber optic out
to those areas and also Chrome Avenue. Um, I was talking to Carol Harris and a condition of her closing on her home was to bring fiber optic out to where she lives. If they can do it out there, we certainly can do fiber optic along
Chrome Avenue and to the parks, which would give us a lot more lifespan. >> So, council member, AT&T has actually been implementing a fiber optic installation in the entire South Florida. uh they've been swapping out existing systems which I was informed
was one of the reasons they sold the facility the building beside city hall here because they don't no longer need it. Uh we will reach out to AT&T rep who's been here several times and have written confirmation how soon they can complete the city of Homestead.
>> Thank you. It's all I can ask for >> and that's from what I understand that's just in lie of or in replacement of the old copper. >> I don't know how >> that's what I Yeah. And and I guess the the next level of thought process is as
long as we're digging up chrome in Washington, let's at least put in the conduit >> for for fiber optic, if not the actual fiber opt. >> Okay. >> Yeah. All right. So, the EPL build item.
>> All right. I'm going to be shorter, sir. I'll try at least. >> Say that again. >> I put me on the three-minute clock. We'll do it. So, um, for the I would say maybe since
last year or so, so we're circling about a year. um mayor and council have has heard about EPLP build and we've talked about it um in with the objective of the big goal of essentially transforming how the city does business. So we'll quickly
talk about what is EPL build. We'll talk about the departments that are involved. We'll do a very quick review of phase one and phase two. Um I'm very happy that now we officially have statistics that we can share. Um and then I'll
we'll talk a little bit about gritics and then really close out with a lot of the complimementaryary initiatives that staff staff has undertaken to make really an ecosystem of services come online.
Um so this is the maybe the the one of the big things that I I really want to make sure that that uh council understands. So EPL build is the front-facing software that folks see but in reality we are integrating with a
whole host of legacy systems. So our GIS platform we've est we've we've developed almost 27 to 28 different layers through integrating and pulling layers from the county to establish the city's own GIS
application. Um we've purchased as a part of the Tyler technology platform Tyler payments and Tyler cash sharing ultimately now facilitating citywide payments online and we are moving to a world that it's one payment system
across the organization. We do have um some legacy systems that we will continue to work with but going forward all uh services must connect to Tyler payments and Tyler cash sharing and the solution uh facilitates that. Uh
Cclickfix which is our fix it homestead tool uh we are integrating cclickfix with EPL build for code compliance purposes. Digi plan um in is our electronic plans review solution that facilitates um
electronic plans review by staff um wherever they are um Navaline. So in the past there was a manual effort to reconcile payments done in our permitting system um to um the finance
and budget Navaline system. We have worked with both the Tyler as well as a local developer to create that connection that now we have an automated um solution that pushes over
um transaction completed transactions into the Navaline uh platform. And then last but not least, we have Laserfish, which is a our the city's document repository that we will integrate EPL build with
laserfish as a part of the phase 2 project. Um, quickly, uh, phase one involved again, we configured, uh, 27 and I'll take a moment to really thank staff. They have worked tirelessly
to to to get this done. I'm pretty sure if you drove by at 9, 10:00 at night sometimes, you saw staff here trying to ensure that the system was up and running um by October 1st. Um I think we
did it in 7 months. Um and it is no it is no small feat. So I really would like to thank all the staff that has been involved in this initiative. Um we really do appreciate the hard work that has gone into this. uh 27 building processes, four public works processes.
The clerk came online with lobbyist registration. We had uh one energy process. In addition to all of the configuration in parallel, we did the permit fee study. I've mentioned we built out uh in coordination with IT and
a consultant 27 GIS um layers uh several integrations and then in addition to that we built a back-end application to get bring offline uh several um legacy applications that exist within the city. Um what will an
applicant be able to do? They will be able to submit online, upload their drawings and documents online, pay their fees, monitor and track the progress of their applications uh without even submitting uh an application. They will be able to estimate their fees um and
then request their inspections online. Um before you is a uh a screenshot of what the portal looks like. Um you saw it a little bit earlier where we've also draw brought in um other applications
that folks can uh use this as a jumping off point for our city staff will be able to pre-screen applications. They're performing concurrent plans review. Um they're addressing code code compliance
issues. We are performing inspections. um they'll be able to manage the administrative processes post permit issuance and then ultimately issue the certificate of occupancies or uh certificate of completions. And again,
here's another quick screenshot of what the city staff workspace looks like. Um the departments that are involved to date, development services, public works, our energy, code compliance, city clerk. In phase two, we will add on
solid waste and a few other departments. So, here's what I'm really excited about, right? One of the strategic plan objectives is for us to become a more data centric operations. So uh since we've gone live and since the creation of uh this uh presentation
which was last Wednesday um we have we now rolled out we also rolled out a solution called Qless which tracks the number of track people that walks into a given department. Um so with that we are
now able to showcase that we've had 146 folks that has visited us to speak with to deal with building related issues. 69 for business licensing issues and 117 to address planning and zoning inquiries.
Um we've had uh about 52 applications submitted in the uh EPL portal. uh one application is in review and we haven't issued any permits to date. So one of the things that we've observed here is
that applicants are not used to having to one that the system generates a package and for them to sign and notoriize. Right? That is a that's a change issue that they're working through which is why we are seeing a lot of applications submitted but or
submitted but they haven't returned it to the city. Uh so that is something that we are we are working through with our applicant community. Um on the legacy side because we are working in a dual world uh we've had 188 applications
submitted since the since 101 and we've issued about 154 permits to date. On the code compliance side, we've gotten in large part issued about 175 notice of violations. And a very a very
important thing that we haven't articulated. In the past, it took about 45 minutes, and I think this is important because it gives context. It took about 45 minutes for a code officer to open a case in community plus right
which is our legacy system. We have moved to less than 10 minutes for a code case to be opened. So when we when we also talk about you know presence and being on the the being on the field when it takes 45 minutes for production for
one case that significantly impacts the ability of productivity for staff. Now we've gone to less than 10 minutes for a case to be opened. Um, additionally, we have intentionally built in automated
reminders and reinspections as a required step that did not exist in the past. uh on the clerk's side which is a very popular service uh if I if I may say so and brag on the clerk for a moment uh we
r although it was an EPL build we rolled out the passport services the clerk uh utilized the Qless solution which is our uh appointment making system and um we've seen 76 online appointments made
51 of which we've been able to complete uh passport whether it's a renewal ual or a new passport request um for the local community. Uh some change management things that we've we are working through. Um
internally we are trying to adjust procedures ensure that staff understands what the new processes are. Uh we are implementing ongoing trainings, a feedback loop um and we are going to be ramping up an externally facing
component for customers to be able to get assistance and provide feedback for continuous improvements. Um really important we are not just building out a system. It's really an ecosystem of services.
And if today another quick screenshot, we have created a central page on our website for all things EPL build. Um, and all of these little tiles brings you to different uh instructional pages for folks to be able to navigate the new
processes and the system. Quick screenshot of the Qless online applications application that we are all we've we've rolled out in conjunction with EPL build. Um, we talked about gridics uh earlier today.
And phase two is also a lot of work. I think more work than phase one. Um, but now that we've gotten to we've done this in a seven-month time, I I know with a little less sleep apparently, we'll get phase two done. Um, and with that, I
again, I'd like to thank the team that has been involved. Um, and I'll take any questions that you may have. >> Thank you. Any questions, council comments? I hear rave reviews on the street so far. >> Okay. >> I really do. Very complimentary of the
ease of the system and and how successful it's been. >> Okay. >> So, >> thank you, mayor. >> Anyone else? All right. Thank you. All right. We now have our uh consent agenda tabs 3A through
four. I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. Uh, I heard uh I think the vice mayor moved it, >> seconded by Councilwoman Bailey, I think. Um, all in favor? >> Any opposed? All right, let's go to our
land use items. Mr. White. >> Yes. Please be advised the following items on the agenda are quazi judicial in nature. If you wish to comment upon these items, please indicate the item number you would like to address when the announcement regarding the quai judicial item is made. An opportunity for persons to speak on each item will
be made available after the applicant and staff have made their presentations on each item. Swearing in all testimony, including public testimony and evidence, will be made under oath or affirmation. Additionally, each person who gives testimony may be subject to cross-examination. If you do not wish to either be cross-examined or sworn, your
testimony will be given its due date. The general public will not be permitted to cross-examine witnesses, but the public may request the council to ask questions of staff or witnesses on their behalf. The full agenda packet on each item is hereby entered into the record. Persons representing organizations must
present evidence of their authority to speak for the organization. Further details of the quai judicial procedures may be obtained from the clerk. In accordance with code section 2-590, any lobbyists must register before addressing the council on any of the following items. At this time, council
members must disclose any exparte communications concerning tab five and tab six on this evening's quazi judicial agenda. >> Um, >> tab five is the reasoning from the former city halls.
>> Additional >> and tab six is what we just heard uh at the LPA meeting, the reasoning. >> Okay. >> Six for me, please, mayor. >> Yeah, sure. As disclosed earlier. Okay. So at this time I'd ask anyone in the audience who's wishing to speak this evening to please stand right raise your
right hand to be sworn in by the clerk. >> Do you hereby swear affirm to tell the truth and nothing but the truth to help me God. >> Thank you. You may be seated. >> Tab five, car number 4736. This is the second reading of an ordinance of the city of Homestead, Florida, approving
the reszoning as requested by the city of Homestead of an approximately 16.116 acre parcel of land from government property GP zoning district to retail commercial BTU zoning district for for the property generally located at 700
and 700 790 North Homestead Boulevard as legally described in exhibit A providing for conflict severability and providing for an effective date. This is second and final reading. >> Thank you. Is there any objection to we waving the staff report for this second reading item? All right.
>> So moved by Councilman Roth, seconded by Councilman Cannibal. Let's open the public hearing to see if anyone is against wings, burgers, and ribs. And uh Mr. Spino. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council, so good
to see you. Daniel Espino, office is 7:30 Northwest 107th Avenue, sweet 315 Miami, Florida. Here on behalf of Flanigans, no quite the opposite mayor, not not here rising in support of this. We fully concur with the staff recommendation and encourage you to support this item on second reading. Uh first and foremost, this is consistent
with your land use the resoning category of B2 and also in line with the with the uh trending of that neighborhood. U it's also an uncommon situation for all of you because you are the property owner and it encourages your goals of redeveloping this site and sites along major corridors. before we found out
that we would uh that you all at the city would be graciously reszoning this property. We intended to submit an application to reszone just the uh former library site to B2 because it would accomplish and facilitate the uh Flanigan's parcel. So just know that it accomplishes the objective of the concept that you saw. Uh it's been a
great experience so far working with your manager and your staff including your new community services director. Um to further along that process, we've been working with concurrent paths that is um supporting the resoning talking about the site plan and this is a condition to close. Uh we've waved the
condition that we'll wait for site plan approval administratively. So as soon as this goes now with your prior approval of the uh waiver of plat and this one will be clear to close and then promptly that actually submit the site plan and be on our way to getting a plan here in Homestead. So thank you so much for your time this evening and I hope you support
it. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Espino. All right. Any final questions or comments from council? We've already opened the public hearing and closed that. Let's have a roll call vote. >> Councilwoman Abula, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Bailey, Councilman Roth,
>> yes. >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> And moving on to tab six. >> Yes. Tab six, card number 4770. This is
the first reading of an ordinance of city homes serve Florida approving the reszoning as requested by New Health Community Centers, Inc. of an approximately 299 acre parcel of land from multiple apartment R3 zoning district to restricted retail commercial B1 zoning district for property located
at 100 Northwest 77th Street described in exhibit A providing for conflicts of building providing for an effective date. First reading. >> All right. Moved by Councilman Roth. Do we have a second? >> I second with a comment. Sure. >> I just wanted to thank you Dr. Susie for your patience. I know that it has been
quite a lot. Uh the only reason I'm sure I heard of this and and no one else is just because of our relationship and from previous issues that just seemed to continue and not being able to really find a good answer for uh thank you for
your patience and good luck. Thank you. >> You anyone else? Okay. And I would like to say the applicant, you know, earlier I voted no and I have real concerns and this is a code issue and we're going to have to it's one of those things we keep
talking about for decades. We need to fix our code. Medical use is very intensive and our code for parking for other uses is in no way sufficient for any medical use whatsoever. So that
that was I want you to understand that was my concern. It's not to you, your product, what you're doing, who you serve. My prior objection was as to a bigger picture issue. We have issues all over the city with people parking on
swailes. It creates traffic issues. There's a school across the street. It was a perfect storm of for me of a lot of issues and we're going to have to clean that up internally in our code when we address uh holistically
our building regulations and deal with with parking. Anyone else? Okay, if we have a motion and a second, let me open the public hearing and see if anyone wishes to speak in opposition to this matter.
Okay, seeing none, I will close the public hearing and ask for a roll call vote. >> Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> Councilwoman Avula, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner,
>> reluctantly. Yes. >> The motion carries. >> All right. Next item. Tab seven is a resolution. >> Yes. Moving on to legislative items. Tab 7 car number 4765 and tab 8 car number
4766 or companion items. Um the tab 7 is for the uh uh establishment of a proposed CDD. Tab eight is the corresponding uh item related to uh uh
the creation of a uh multi-purpose uh dormant special taxing district. Um I can introduce both of those. You could have a collective discussion on both of those and then take a separate vote on each item. >> Yeah, let's proceed in that fashion. >> All right. Tab seven is a resolution city of Homestead, Florida expressing
support for the establishment of the Cindereo Landing Community Development District aggregately encompassing approximately 82.95 acres more or less having external boundaries as depicted and legally described in exhibit A. approving such action by Miami Day County Board of County Commissioners,
providing for transmitt by the city clerk, providing for the adoption of representations, and providing for an effective date. Tab 8 card number 4766 is a resolution of the city of Homestead, Florida supporting the creation of the Sand Sander Landing
multi-purpose maintenance special taxing district aggregately encompassing approximately 82.95 acres more or less having external boundaries as depicted and legally described in exhibit A. authorizing the city manager to enter into an interlocal agreement between Miami Day County and the city of
Homestead for the creation and immediate transfer of the multi-purpose special taxing district to the city upon creation pursuant to section 18.31 of the county code of ordinances providing for transmitt by the city clerk and providing for an effective date.
>> Miss Harrow. >> Good evening council mayor. Uh pleasure to be before you this evening. uh offices at 200 South Biscane Boulevard, Marissa Haro. I'm joined today by Keith Leonard and Rebecca Cortez from Dr. Horton. Uh our CBD attorney Ginger Wald
as well as my colleague Ben Sherry. Um happy to be back before you on this really exciting project uh that the city approved unanimously last year. Um the applications before you I would call them ministerial. They really as your
city attorney summarized uh the approval essentially of a funding mechanism for the future maintenance of uh storm water management system rideway internal roadways etc of this uh project. But I'd like to start um by giving you sort of a
a brief introduction of what we've been up to since this project was approved. I'm sure everybody's wondering, you know, what's happened uh since last year. So, you're all very familiar with the uh almost uh 97 acre uh project
assemblage that we call Cindereo Landing. It's located just north of 328th Street. And so, you might recall the pro this is a one-of-a-kind project in the city of Homestead. mixed use. Really exciting. A combination of residential and over
200,000 square feet of commercial uh were approved year. Um and so since last year, we've been working handinhand with the city. Uh we're really grateful to your new development services director, Deborah Storage, your city manager, and the administration for helping us get
over uh the administrative site plan review application. We received the city's intent to adopt uh the ASPR on October 3rd and we're expecting the full approval by November 3rd. That essentially unlocks our our ability to
move forward with permitting. In addition to that, we uh h after having dealt with a wetland uh determination issue with the South Florida Water Management District for over four years while we were concurrently getting the project entitled with the district. uh
Durm, you know, reached out to us this year claiming the entire property as a wetland. So, we, you know, went through that uh overcame that hurdle. Durm has now issued a no wetlands determination on the site. So, happy to report that. And then lastly, we're grateful for your
city manager coordinating meetings with the Turnpike authorities. That is uh top of mind. We know that's uh not only important to the city, but to the commercial developers as well as Dr. important um to ensure that we have a direct access to this project. Uh
essentially we've had meetings with the turnpike the issue is funding. So we're calling all of our friends in Tallahassee and everywhere to um put those funds together to try to expedite and bring that date closer. Um the other item I want to update you
on is that Dr. Horton, as you know, is a residential developer, right? and they've been looking for a commercial partner uh on this for the site. Uh we're very close to having one. We anticipate that that'll happen. Uh we'll have something formal at the beginning
of uh 2026 at the mayor's request. Uh we're happy to once we have um a formal commercial partner on board have a meeting whether it's a sunshine meeting a meeting with your administration we'd love to introduce them to the city and you know work handinhand with the city
to ensure that um you know the the permits are happening expeditiously and that the city you know puts uh their money where the mouth is right um welcoming commercial developers because we know that uh this project would not have been approved approved uh if it
were not for that commercial piece that we're all excited about. So with that update, we'll get into uh the reason we're here. So we're ask we're essentially the ask this evening is uh the city support for the establishment of the Cindereo Landing Community
Development District and a dormant multi-purpose special taxing district. This is required by Miami Day County before uh they move forward with our applications for the formation of of the districts. So on the screen you'll see the CDD and
STD areas 82.95 acres. You'll note that they exclude the commercial piece. This is this was done on purpose. We don't want the future residential residents to be responsible for the maintenance of the commercial. Typically that is done by a management company uh on the
commercial site uh any maintenance of the commercial space. So things uh the CDD will be responsible for things such as storm water management system, internal roadways, improved swailes and medians, landscape lighting, any related utility bills,
turf, trees, shrubs, landscaping, etc. And this is you know in order to ensure that the beautiful Sandere Landing project that was approved in fact stays beautiful for years. And there's a funding mechanism to ensure that that happens. And so this is uh consistent with your
comprehensive plan, your zoning code. It's again uh pretty typical project uh process, especially on projects of this size. Um it with that, you know, we I I welcome any comments. Uh our whole team is here
available to answer any questions and we respectfully request your support. >> Thank you, council. Any questions or comments on the CDD and special taxing district application for sender? Councilwoman Bailey. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, so I do understand
the benefits of forming the CDDs. Um, I've raised it before. I think that one of the biggest cons is it ending up in the small print for potential residents. So, that is the one piece that I've
asked staff in our briefing. Um, is there anything more as a city that we can do to make sure um you know, they're either incurring those fees pretty much with their buying cost or spreading it out. Um, but the one thing that I just want to make sure of is that that we do
our best to make sure that everybody who is coming in understands what that means because it is a very long and um it's a lot of information for somebody, especially new new time home buyers. And as we're continuing to try to make sure
our residents can continue being homeowners, I think that's a really important piece that I know you guys would be passionate about as well. >> Absolutely. uh Dr. Hort and I'm sure their uh closing team goes over uh with uh buyers uh in detail. Uh but we'll
make sure to, you know, note that um and to highlight that as part of that closing process. >> I would really appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. >> Yes, Councilwoman Avala. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um I appreciate the
conversation we had earlier today and and giving bringing me up to speed on um the updates you were giving tonight. Um the CDD um over you know historically here in the city has um as you mentioned been used as a funding mechanism and you
know my experience with it has been um you know developers uh attempts to try to pass on the cost of the infrastructure over generations of homeowners versus hitting the first buyer upfront with those uh with those costs for developing. And you know in
theory that makes sense. Um, but the the the cons of this is that it hides in the taxes. And when you talk with the actual residents and you speak to those that have purchased in these communities, these gated communities like Waterstone,
Malibu Bay, Oasis, Bentanas, Del Soul, for example, they're clueless. They're clueless regardless of all of the um they're clueless about the CDD and what it's for and why they have to pay it. And they think it's an extra tax that the city is charging. And um you know
while you know having chaired a CDD I understand the concept and and the budgetary um benefits of it and um however it's not necessarily what the residents want to keep seeing as a product available in the city of
Homestead. I I would like more time to discuss this specifically because it's a mixeduse product. It's one of the first and it also being a vertical mixeduse. Um, I'd like to have some more time to review how is it really beneficial for
the commercial components or the commercial owners not to pay towards the storm water and maintenance of the uh common areas that they will be benefiting from as part of the development. I don't believe the commercial side will have different uh
infrastructure for storm water. So why wouldn't they pay and help reduce the costs to the to the future homeowners uh that that would be incurring the CDD fees? Um similarly, the landscaping and the lighting. Um if if they're completely separated in terms of how
they're being managed, then you could have a very clear uh line of demarcation between maintenance and what's looking good this month versus next month and are they being cut. We have the issue here in the city as to what's county what is the county maintaining versus
what is the city maintaining. So in the bigger picture I can understand why the developer needs this. But when it comes to the residents and the product choices that are available, I don't know if this is the right as of right now, I don't think this is the right um way to go. And have we even explored what would it
be for as the alternative to a CDD, just the HOA taking over? And so what would those HOA fees be? What would it be spread out to the to the uh commercial side of things, too? I I would like to have the opportunity to talk more with the team about why that's a benefit at
the end of the day for for our residents and our future citizens here in the city of Homestead. I'll rest there, but if this is going to move move forward tonight, I will have to be a no vote on it tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I'd like to just respond with all the communities you mentioned. Our beautiful communities are
beautifully maintained and it's in large uh part thanks to those CDDs uh in this case. Um and our CD attorney is here, so we're happy to answer any specific questions. Uh it just made sense to keep it separate. We don't want residential um owners to be responsible for
maintenance responsibilities of the commercial and vice versa. Like you said, there's always questions. Is the county responsible? Is the city responsible? We wanted to keep it very clear here. Um but >> can I can I just ask you a question on that answer? Why would the homeowners be
responsible for the commercial side of things if we're only if I'm only questioning the storm water? Why would why would the commercial maintenance of like the building or anything like that be? Why can't they just isolate the
common area impact as part of their contribution towards the CDD? So, I I'd like to ask Ginger to chime in, but my understanding is that if we include the commercial, there's other maintenance responsibilities that come along with that. Um,
Ginger, do you want to add Ginger Wall, Billing Cochran? Um, the commercial is excluded for a variety of reasons. That's that's one of the major reasons as to the control over the common areas of the property and what is going to be common as to the sense of
CDD responsibility and ownership and what is going to be the responsibility in regards to the commercial. So if the commercial portions are included within the CDD boundaries and they are going to
be paying for their share right uh as to debt because they're going to have to have debt on them as well and they're going to have the operation and maintenance that are placed on them the utilization when you look at the uh assessment methodology and I know you're
on a CDD board so I understand oh not now but at the time at the time I know you're you can't do it two at the same time but you were so you understand how the assessment methodology works as to when you have a house that's a larger house the ERU is one when you have a
town home it's smaller they use less facilities so the ERU is going to be smaller maybe a 8 or 6 that is done by a methodology consultant because commercial properties are done on a square foot basis their utilization of
those services is usually smaller it's not the same as to water. You use more water in a larger home as to a smaller home. It's not the same as to the wastewater as well. So, the amounts that they pay as to the operation and maintenance they're in is usually
smaller. So, they're receiving those benefits as being part of the CDD, but they're not paying as much. Now, I can't say specifically for this because none of that analysis has been completed, but that's what I have seen for others. and
looking at other mixeduse CDDs that we have that are where where it's very small as to the commercial portion versus the residential portion. I'm not talking about Midtown Miami. I'm not talking about Miami World Center where it's a full mixeduse. But when you're
talking about that that small amount of commercial, that's usually what ends up. And then you see residents getting very upset that live in the CDD saying, "Why are we paying?" And we're paying for them, too. Thank you. Can you tell me how much square feet of commercial space Landing
is? No, you're I would like to ask the attorney because you're referencing small square footage. Do you know how much square footage of commercial this project is bringing? >> I I can't answer that because none of that determination has been made because nothing's been formed. >> Okay. So, I I appreciate the the
one of your slides, right? >> Right. It's one of my slides. It's 216,000 square feet. >> Thank you. Another item that I have about the storm water is that um in the CDD communities in my district, uh the
storm water is um in the in the retention ponds, but we're being charged storm water fees uh by the city. So that's another question in contention of at least for the the CDD communities that that I represent and another reason
why I have a question in with city manager's office to look into this as to whether or not this is accurate and for how long have we been uh been charged for storm water if uh and and moving forward if it's still applicable. And so I have I have those reservations that I
need to discuss. Um it on top of that the CDD as I mentioned in theory is supposed to pass on a savings or pass on the cost rather over multiple generations of homeowners not
just the first one but I don't know if that's necessarily the case in practice in terms of how we're pricing these properties. So um I'm I'm I'm going to keep listening if there's more questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. May >> just to clarify the comment from
councilwoman, I would like the public works director to redirect on the eligibility to pay storm water utility fees in the city which is typically for public rideways. Go ahead. >> Correct. Good evening mayor and council.
Um just as uh councilwoman Aya mentioned the cost for the um storm water um installation and maintenance within the CDD is that which is within the boundary of the CDD and only for those utilities.
The cost, the fee that is assessed for the storm water by the city is intended to um operate and maintain the storm water system within the major arterials
and quarter and everyone has use of. Um, of course, historically there has been some minor roadways that do have um, storm water cach basins and French trains and whatnot that do not get
charged because the code hadn't been implemented until afterwards, I think 2004. But um in general those roads are also roads that are trafficked and are used by the community as a whole. Whereas private developments
um are usually um traversed by those that live within them and they are usually not used as a way to go from point A to point B for any other residents, just those that live within the community. I believe that's the mentality and the reasoning for for the code and the way that is
written and implemented you know statewide. >> Thank you. I appreciate I mean that's >> just just for clarification there are institutions government institutions government agencies that own property as well as schools
do not pay water utility fees. State government agencies and their build is done on water utility fees. Mr. facilia attorney redirect if you have additional comments. >> Well, that's because of a judicial decision that said they're basically not
collectible. Um is they enjoy sovereign immunity, but that's a separate issue. >> Okay. Thank you. I I I'll have to talk with you after the meeting to make sure I understand um you know the clarifications for the storm water and how that what that means to the
district. But I appreciate the answers. Thank you. I'll go next. Why not? Everybody knows I'm not a big fan of CDDs and I've only voted for one that was brought forth and that was because it brought a public
purpose and that was in Keysgate and it was to sustain the golf course hopefully in perpetuity that those condos that were being bought and sold by those folks knew that they were going to own a piece of a golf course and that's why
they wanted to live in that community and it was a public purpose. you brought up the the commercial aspect of the development and up until you mentioned that you had uh an interested
party. I hadn't heard that and in fact I've heard that nobody was interested in doing that project. Uh we have no asurances. We have no insurance that that commercial development will ever be built because we didn't require it and that
was our mistake. So you brought it up. Is there anything you can give us up here an assurance or assurance that that commercial development will be built?
And I bring in the example of the property Caddy Corner across the street where Dr. Horton is building town houses now. 4 acres were reserved for commercial and poof, the commercial's gone and now
Lenar is building town houses there. So I voted in favor of the development because of the commercial aspect. You gave us a hope that we would have a very unique product in the city of Homestead.
And I'm having a hard time believing or understanding that that's even going to happen here. And I don't want to see what happened across the street happen there 5 years from now where they can't find a developer for the commercial side and somebody comes back and asks us for
reasonzoning to residential. Um it's definitely something we don't need there. Um the generational payments of the CDD. Do you have an estimate of the
cost per unit for each of those units? They're all relatively the same size. They're going to be relatively the same square footage. >> Yes. Uh it's for the twostory town homes is
3,173 per year. That comes out to about 116 per month. Um for the threetory town homes is 150 and then the live work is 133 per month. >> So
that's what it starts at. I was talking to a couple of residents the other day that live in the Oasis area and they started at $1,800 a month or a year, I'm sorry, and now they're up to $2,800 a year. So, if it's simply to
help offset the costs of development infrastructure and they plan to live in this place for 30 years, let's say, till it's expired, right? They pay it off in 30 years. Why does it go up in every year or every
two years, whatever it is? Why does it increase? >> That's a good question. So, it's maintenance, right, of the areas uh and costs go up regularly. So, they have a budget and it's based on, you know, based on whatever responsibilities like,
you know, in this case, um the internal roadway maintenance. >> Understand? It's >> so are these people expected to pay after 30 years additionally into a CDD to maintain all those structures? >> So the community will continue to be
maintained the land, >> right? So they're going to have this opportunity. So it never ends. >> So it's essentially the private uh a private party taking on the role of what the government would typically do >> at $3,000 a year. So, if that community
is essentially self-sufficient and covering those costs versus sparrowing those costs uh citywide, I don't know if uh I >> think your question was it keeps going up.
>> So, the East Homestead CDD is the oasis. It's been controlled by the residents that live there. So, they're the ones making the determination. If the CDD didn't exist at all and everything at that point would be owned and controlled
by the HOA, you're still going to have those costs. You're still going to have the maintenance costs. You're still going to have the operation costs. So those amounts are still going to be there. They may be the same. They may be higher, but they're still going to be there. Those residents are either going
to pay them through the HOA or they're going to pay them through the CED. >> Correct. So for disclosure purposes, if I was buying in a community like that, I'd rather it be through an HOA that's being disclosed to me at closing
because that helps me with my financing, right? So and and and as the other council member said, the majority of people don't know what they're signing, right? We all know the euphoria of buying a new house, right? We we often neglect looking at
all of the expenses that are there, right? And then next year, you know, especially in a new development, their taxes were one thing one year and then the next year their taxes go to market value. So they get sticker shock, right? Their escros go up and you put people in uncomfortable positions because they
can't afford to make those payments anymore. And that's what I'm getting at. So, um, obviously I'm going to be voting no and guess this, uh, because it it it's just against my character, but I think that others need to think about the fact that the benefits that we were
told in the in the past may not even come to fruition. And all of a sudden, some of us may be sitting up here in three or four years, and the question is going to come again and say, "Okay, well, we can't find an operator. We need to reszone that property because it's it can't just sit there vacant." and I
don't want to see additional housing put there. So, um, if there's an assurance that that commercial component will be built in in some way, I don't know, Matt, is there something we can do to assure that that commercial component,
if we give them the CDD and the STD, that they're required to do that? The >> simple answer is no. >> No. >> Okay. So, I I I' you know, I'll listen to the rest of the comments
and see if I have anything else later. Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you. I'll look to my left. >> Well, Mayor, my my uh issue is Thank you very much for your presentation. Uh at this point, why don't we just postpone this vote until the next meeting, and
that gives us plenty of time with which to review any questions that we may have. There's been a lot of things that have been brought up tonight. Uh perhaps the wisest course of action would be to to um delay this vote until the next meeting is plenty of time to review in
earnest all the issues that have been brought up today. >> Is this from your position time sensitive to take the next step toward um the development? >> Yes. Uh this is as I mentioned is tied
to an a county petition that is being scheduled for board of county commissioners. Uh so we were trying to line up this um this hearing with the board of county commissioners hearing. Um so that would cause a you know it's a
trickle down delay. Um what I'd like to uh you know just say is this is a great project. Okay. Dr. Horton uh has done everything that they've said that they will do so far and they will continue to do that. They want to be uh in
partnership with the city. We understand that like I said earlier this project was approved right conditioned on this uh commercial piece. Uh the Dr. Horton has not one but multiple you know has
had there's m there's interest there's a lot of interest in this property. I'm not at, you know, privy to disclose that right now, but like I said and at the mayor's request, we're happy to once we have the formal agreement with a commercial partner to involve the city
uh in pushing the project forward. Uh the item before you today is ministerial in in nature. It's really a funding mechanism and the question is who's going to pay it and through what way, right? Is it the is the city going to take maintenance responsibility for
these rights to wait the landscaping etc. Is the HOA going to do it? Some somebody's has to pay it and it just the CDD in the past has been the mechanism um to do that most effectively mainly because the as everybody knows the board
is is elected. So um the residents will have the opportunity to elect who is managing those budgets and what um you know keeping those costs in line. And so with that uh Counciloman um we kindly ask
that this move forward today and allow us again we're not going anywhere. We're happy to continue to be you know Zary knows we're not going anywhere. um happy to keep you updated and and answer any questions that you have.
>> Mayor, may I? >> Council Ao. Yes. >> Thank you, mayor. So, I I would like to clarify that the um at time of closing a buyer, they do they see those disclosures and if they're getting financing, they are qualifying with that CDD payment in there. So, I do know that
that's happening. Okay. But what I what I want to make sure that we understand is that over time the Homestead has now been able to see the evolution of how CDDs affect our residents and their overall lifestyle and and the burden
that it does bring even though it is a funding mechanism, right? And it has its pros, it has its cons. And we've been able to see this over 25 years now. Uh uh so it's it the reality is is that the HOA meetings right those happen monthly
CDD meetings happen usually monthly it's another layer of meetings that residents have to be aware of it's another layer of budgeting that residents have to be aware of in addition to their taxes so and then I think this community remind
me um if I'm wrong it has multiple HOA right? One for the town houses, one for the single families, one for the condos. So you are going to have an HOA within an HOA within a CDD within a city tax, right? Then you have your county tax.
It's just multiple layers of taxes. And so intellectually we can understand why these these systems might be necessary, but it's not at the benefit not for the not ultimately at the end of the day, it's not at the benefit of the of the
taxpayer and the resident. It's just too much too many layers, right? I I can I can expect you and I and us to understand this, right? But the regular the lay person, the m the mom and dad, even the business owner that is uh you
know working uh the entrepreneur th this is extra information and stuff that they have to uh make sure that they are constantly on top of making sure they're reading that there's a CDD budget, CDD
uh evaluation, uh a cost going up. if you guys can go and come back with a CDD option that maybe takes out the operating and maintenance of let's say the clubhouse, right? Or and so only in the CDD is the bond which is the 30-year
component and maybe only in the CDD is the storm water, but there is a clubhouse in this packet or in this project. >> I think it's part of the budget. There's a discussion as to so there's one HOA to answer your question. So, so the condos, the houses and the town houses.
>> So, what's before? So, specifically, there's the CDD for the town homes and the live work that will have one HOA. And it has not been fully determined whether the clubhouse will be the CDD or be the HOA that will maintain it. But
again, it's more of the funding mechanism that will which will be used. They have different purposes. Um, >> I can appreciate that and I would like to be fully informed, right? There's a lot of there's still there's too many to
be determined or to be um decided as to what's going to be in what. Um, but you can call the question and and uh and proceed. But for those reasons, I'm I'm still I'm getting a hard time I'm getting I'm having a hard time getting to where we can we can overlook the
effects of how the CDDs are affecting the families and having to continuously educate and even on the even within the CDD that I know this board of supervisors, they work very hard to try to educate the residences residents at the board meetings. they try to host,
you know, what is a CDD, how learn how to how it affects you. It just it doesn't connect to to the bottom to the taxpayer at the end of the day. It's not connecting. And I don't think we're going to 25 30 years from now, we're going to be regretting that we're adding more and more CDDs to the to the city.
So, >> don't let me let me ask um and I don't know that it's our place to get into future financial decisions and allocation between HOAs and CDDs. That's just not our place. But for the
attorney, let's cut to brass tax. If a CDD is not approved, what will become of Zenero landings? I think I know but I want to hear it from you. >> The responsibility will be on the HOA uh
to maintain I mean the costs are the costs for this community. So any way you slice it and I understand the educational component uh Dr. Horton is publicly traded company right they're in the business of selling residential homes. they have their closing packages
or you know I we can I can assure you that they are spending the time with the buyers explaining to them exactly line by line line item and as a loan officer real estate agents I understand the concern especially if you're you know this is first-time home buyers so
they're typically you know their estimated tax bill CD all of that will be considered as part of that loan and it'll be pretty true to what the next year's tax bill will be The concern is mainly you know in the resale of these
units. Um I think you know Dr. Horton will continue to educate from from their um you know they will do that education component as part of those sales. Well, I guess I guess what I'm getting at if if the CDD is not approved,
the development portion, and from what I'm hearing tonight is that, and I'm saying, thank God I don't live in a CDD and hope never to have to, the CDD fee has two components. the initial debt for the development of
the infrastructure in the community and the annual operating cost to preserve the caliber and character of the neighborhood. >> Right? So if the CDD were to fail
tonight, that amount will be built in in full in the price to the buyer on the first sale. And unless you start cutting corners and reducing quality and put in for mica countertops rather than granite
countertops, >> prices of those homes will be generally unattainable for what they are. >> Correct. And there will be no money for public improvements otherwise. Right. >> Okay. I just Yeah. That that it's going
to impact and perhaps suppress Yeah. the first sale because there's no way to and and I get the concerns for a CDD. I I really do. I think in the early days of CDDs going back 20 years ago here in in Homestead, there were probably a lot of
issues there that I think have been resolved on on newer ones. But a CD, the philosophy of the development portion of the CDD allows folks to get into a home.
Otherwise, they would generally not be middle class affordable. And you know, whatever a CDD board does for the annual, you know, frufu, that's that's their business. Now, and I think we're and and I get it
because I've had these same concerns. I've heard the same rumors. We're kind of mixing apples and oranges about, well, unless you can give me assurance there's going to be a commercial component, we're not going to approve your your
CDD. Um, and absent the profering of some asurances by the developer, similar to something that we did at the golf course where until you complete the clubhouse,
you don't get the second half of your permits. Our hands are are tied in in that regard. But, you know, the the failure to adopt a CDD is going to change the
entire pace and com I'm not saying it's going to stop it, you know. So, everybody out there that doesn't want one more house built some days I feel like that. That's not going to be the result of not
approving this CDD. That's just not reality. We all know what your client paid for that dirt. It blows my mind every time I think about it. So, it's not going to sit there as land. It's going to increase the prices to families
who are looking for homes. >> Is that a fair >> That's a fair assessment. >> Okay, Mayor. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes, certainly. >> Thank you. You made good. You made great points there. Um, what I do want to clarify the comment of it would transfer in full that I have to disagree with
because on the CDD budget you have attorneys that are present at every single CDD meeting. You have elections that you have to hold which I would assume in that size of a development you probably would have to hold that. You would have an additional property management company that is specialized
in CDD management. So you have duplicative costs added to this development structure because you have the CDD. And so all I'm asking for is I would like to have an apples and oranges
uh comparison so that when if the CDD passes and perhaps even at a unanimous vote that we can say we looked and we analyzed that the benefit is there in the writing and we compared the two products. And I know you mentioned a deadline with the county and I'm
sensitive to that. What date is the county commission meeting? And could we maybe bring this could we just try to have I mean for the sake of all of us I would all like for all of us to be able to look at the the the uh
product at the end of the day and say we did our due diligence in reviewing that the benefit of the CDD in fact uh um outweighs the the expense of HOA taking on the the cost in full. But um but you
know I understand I just wanted to clarify the cost on the budgets are not exactly the same. >> Let me jump in real quick. You know we're we're up here kind of and I I don't mean this in a demeaning manner saying you know let's make a deal kind of thing and substituting our financial
judgment for Dr. Horton and and buyers. My understanding HOA fees are not deductible. CDD fees are deductible as taxes. Is that correct? Unfortunately, I'm not a CPA, so I can't answer that.
>> Well, neither am I. That's why I asked. Well, >> I had a CPA, I could ask them. >> But they are in effect a tax. >> They are levied by >> They are a special CD. Yeah, >> they are a special assessment. And so if a CPA says special assessments are taxdeductible, then they're
taxdeductible. But I I can't get that >> versus just general HOA fees for >> correct >> operations and maintenance >> which are never >> which include those attorneys fees at all of those meetings versus the debt. >> Correct. And and either way with the
maintenance I mean some CDDs enter into agreements with the HOA where the HOA provides all the maintenance even over the CDD properties. And so therefore, you're only having in essence two CDD
meetings to handle the budgets and then that's it. The HOA is the one taking care of everything within the community. That is permissible. And again, it is completely up to that resident boards if that's how they want to do it. And so
that's how that that occurs. Uh, in regards to the county meeting, we can not get on a county agenda >> until >> until we get this resolution to them and then they'll go ahead and move forward to answer your question.
>> Okay. Thank you, Councilman Cannibal. >> Yes. I live in Oasis and when I bought that house, okay, they explain me everything completely about the CDD and the payment that I need to pay and how it was going to be. We're
going around and around and around. This is part of the business of doing these things. I am going to move this item. Okay. So, if somebody wants to vote with me, it's okay. >> You're moving the CDD uh tab. >> Yeah. >> All right. Do we have a second?
>> We have a second on the CDD. >> Do we not have a date for the county meeting? Because speaking of the county, have has staff really evaluated what the CDD means to the city if for some reason that falls through? It is a very large
project. If there is time, I do believe that there are items that we could go a little further into. So, the other item that's part of uh that's on the agenda today is the uh dormant special taxing district. So if the CDD fails, that would um essentially
take over. >> But then what would the city of Homestead's responsibilities be since now the county is not >> our responsibility, >> right? So what does that mean to us with this size of a development is my question.
We don't have any prior experience with this, right? We don't even know what it entails >> because when I asked during my briefing there's no I just wanted to know there's have you come in >> the special taxing district would
essentially uh take over those maintenance responsibilities and would be part of your tax assessment uh bill. So I'm asking in your experience, have there been has this happened before? Now that the county is putting it on municipalities, what does it mean for
the municipalities? >> I don't know the answer to that. Um but >> so if I may. >> Yeah. Yes. Thank you. >> So for special taxing districts, the way it used to work, the Miami date county will be responsible for the maintenance using the payments made through the tax
role. by hiring consultants and vendors that will do routine maintenance work. That has changed. Now it's divorce on local cities to be in charge of that job. >> So with this size of a of a property, have we looked at what that means for
the city itself? Well, we've not done any type of uh maintenance cost and what resources the city will need to defol if you don't know the date the county is going to consider the CDD. Maybe the
maybe we can do a special call at the next >> but I was going to consider a special call on the 12th of November before our committee of the whole Okay. >> So, what would happen? So, I got I got lucky.
>> Go ahead. And then the vice mayor has a question or a comment. >> Sorry, >> vice mayor. >> I was going to try to answer the question that was asked regarding the special taxing district without the CD. >> Luckily, there's somebody in the audience that I know that has some
experience in this and was able to help me with answering this question. Um, so as to the special taxing district, uh, that would be it it would be formed. So if the special taxing district is formed by Miami date county, they're going to
have those special assessments. It's not dormant. It's active. They're going to have these special assessments anyway. And then the agreement as to the city of Homestead with the county. If the city of Homestead is going to be provided those services, the individual homeowner is still going to be paying those
special assessments. and it's how the city of Homestead decides to manage it. >> Mr. Vice Mayor, so uh I too want to thank you for your time that you did provide with me yesterday. Um but I've never been a fan of CDDs. I've supported
them in the past because I know the benefits to the city. Okay. But uh you know, I always had that old Latin lesson back in the day, caveat emptor. you know, you got to read what's in the fine print before you sign your name to it. Um, I'm more than happy to second this
nomination tonight, but I think you can probably count and you might want to ask to defer this until we can get a little further down the road, but I'm happy to second it if that's what you want to do. Uh, you let me know.
>> He made Council Cannibal made the motion. If you second it, count me as a third vote in favor of moving the CDD forward tonight. I I just don't see where anything's going to change. The philosophy,
respectful disagreement, the philosophy is not going to change. >> Count me as a yes. Let's just get this thing. Uh I I do agree with your estimation, mayor. Uh let's just do the vote. I think that it's the right thing to do. >> We appreciate it.
>> Second the motion. >> So we have a motion and a move by Council Cannibal, second by Vice Mayor. Um you know, we do and I don't know if Councilman Roth, you know, there there is that other somewhat related issue. I
think maybe we're trying to tie it together as to some assurance for the commercial project. Um I don't know if you have any authority tonight to make any representations or profer
um anything that would uh provide any assurance something along the lines we did with the uh with the golf course. Mayor, council, I appreciate the lively discussion and allowing us um you know
the time today. Uh I don't have authority to profer any additional commitments. What I can give you is our word. And also just something to think about is that not the 1100 units are not all going to be built at once. The
commercial piece also has residential units 410 of them specifically. So those will in order to unlock those units, you have to build a commercial piece which I hope gives you some asurances in addition to the fact that Dr. Horton is
committed to finding the perfect commercial partner for this site and getting this built. This is just as much of something that the city wants as an amenity for and a selling point for these future residents. Um and we we appreciate the the vote of confidence. Okay.
>> Thank you. All right. Any final comments from from council? Okay. So, let's open the public hearing really quick. Is there anyone in the public or online who wishes to speak on this matter for the approval of the Sandere CDD?
Okay. Hearing none, I will close the public hearing and ask for a roll call vote on the motion to approve TAP 7 for the CDD. >> Councilman Ross, >> no. >> Councilwoman Bailey. Councilwoman Abula, >> no. >> Councilman Davis,
>> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> All right, let's move on to tab eight with respect to the special taxing district. >> And we we've had that discussion.
>> Moved by the vice mayor, seconded by Councilman Cannibal. Any questions, comments on the special taxing district? Is there anyone wishing to make comment on this item? So, I'll close the public hearing and ask for a roll call vote on the special taxing district.
>> Councilman Cannibal, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Avula, >> no. >> Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Councilman Ron, >> no. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes. >> The motion carries.
>> Thank you all. Have a good evening. And Britz, I just urge you, you know, at the earliest possible time if you could come make a public presentation as to >> to the status. >> Absolutely. >> I believe that you and your client are acting in good faith, you know, in other approvals for other builders. I don't
know that there was that element of trust there. >> Based on my history, I have to, you know, be be less guarded, but I'm I'm trustful that uh what's been represented will come forward. But if you could, you or one of your partners could keep us up
to date. >> Absolutely. We really appreciate the vote of confidence and look forward to continuing to work on this project together. >> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> Appreciate it. Good night. All right, moving on to tab nine. From CDDs to murals on basketball courts.
>> How is it a mural? >> Yeah. >> Mr. Tab nine is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, authorizing the painting of a basketball court at Roby George Park in partnership with city year and AT&T believes through the revived to
conscious program at no cost to the city, adopting the proposed court artwork, providing for implementation, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Is there any objection to waving the staff report on this? I think we've all been briefed. All right. Do we have a motion?
A motion on this. Councilwoman moved by Councilwoman Bailey, seconded by the vice mayor. Let's see if there's any public comment. Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Any further questions or comments from council? Seeing none, I'll close the public
hearing and ask for a roll call vote on tab nine. >> Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Abula, >> yes. >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Councilman Ross, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal. Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes. The motion carries.
>> And tab 10, Mr. Pearl. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Tab 10 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, approving the award of a contract to America's Generators, Inc. in the amount of $63,840 for ITB 202532, purchase of a packaged engine generator
system for pump station 22 upgrade, providing for implementation, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Uh, any objection to waving the staff report? Okay. Do we have a motion? >> Moved by Councilman Roth,
second by Councilman uh Davis. There any further questions or comments on this item? It's always a good thing to move along something in connection with a pump station. So, pardon. Yeah. Final closure. Let's
um any public comment? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing and ask for a roll call vote on tab 10. Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Abilo, >> yes. >> Councilman Ross, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher,
>> yes. >> Mayor Lawson, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> Tab 11, please, Mr. Pearl. >> Yes, sir. >> Tab 11 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, authorizing the city manager to approve all budgeted new and replacement vehicle equipment purchases for fiscal
year 2026, providing for implementation, providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Anyone uh any objection to waving a staff report? Moved by Councilman Roth. Do we have a second? Second by Councilwoman Bailey. Further questions or comments? I'll open the
public hearing. Close the public hearing and ask for a roll call vote on tab. Was that 11? >> 12. No, no, >> no. We're still on 11. >> No, that'll be a long discussion. Tab 11. Yes. the uh previously budgeted
vehicle purchases releases. Roll call, madam clerk on tab 11. >> Councilman Ross, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Avula, >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes.
>> The motion carries. >> Any objection to taking a fivem minute recess before we get into the meat and potatoes? I think we've got some pretty lengthy items still ahead of us. >> I'll make a motion with an extension to 9:00 p.m. >> Yes. Okay. So, move for five minute
recess with a meeting extension to 900 p.m. I'll second that. All in favor? >> Five minutes. >> Now, we all can't go back at the same time. >> I can't. I'll go upstairs. What happened?
You saw it earlier. >> It's because of October. It's pink. It's breast cancer awareness. >> Laser. >> Hey, Catherine. >> You going to make a presentation? >> I guess so.
>> You might be able. Thanks. I can mark I really want some insurance. That's why I asked pressure on >> the same one out on There's no contract on that property right now. The develop the property owner has that
there's nobody talking about 14 acres, >> right? >> Yeah. No, there's I mean they have But everybody there's nothing on the restroom in case we get stuck here
for another hour. That's This All right. One minute warning. Okay, gavvel us out of our uh fiveish minute recess and open with car number 4739, tab 12, the seminal theater
management agreement. Mr. Pearl. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Tab 12 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Oak View Group for the management and operation of the Seminal Theater in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth in the attached term sheet, authorizing the city manager to extend the current agreement, providing for implementation, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you, sir. Does anyone need the staff report on this item? Okay. So, do
we have any questions from council on this item? Questions or comments? Let's have a presentation. >> Yes. >> You're going to open the can of worms and then we're going to start talking. >> Thank you. Our seven-year contract has
come to an end, so we thought we would do a seven-year report. I'll be paraphrasing most of it. You're welcome to go back and look at the details. Okay, let's see. The seminal theater is a premier performing arts center in South Date. Through this presentation, you will see
that the vision and values are integrated in every facet of this programming. Since 2015, OBG has continued to provide highquality performances that are accessible and diverse for all. So, who's OBG? Who's this company that's been managing the theater since 2015?
OBG is a leader in venue management. Um, our approach is our approach in operating is unparalleled. We focus on creating premium content for a unique guest experience. OBG offers the SEO theater event and booking management, sales and marketing, event coordination,
operations and engineering, service contracts, evaluations, negotiations, and oversightes. The list goes on and on as you can see. And we're committed committed to another seven years with you. I personally have been with the seminal theater since 2015 and the one thing I
know is that it has become the cultural hub of South A. It has helped revitalize downtown Homestead and our events bring visitors who support local businesses boosting the economy and diverse programming from concerts, comedy to place, musicals and it offers little something for everyone.
I am deeply connected to our community, partnering with schools, cultural groups, and artists for meaningful opportunities. With OBG's leadership and the city of Homestead support, the theater continues to thrive and our vision to keep driving culture engagement and economic growth, building
stronger and more connected homestead. So, if I put up all the programming we've had, this would be about a 100 pages. So, here's my favorites, the ones that actually stand out. Over the past eight years, Assemble Theater has proudly pr proudly hosted a rich and diverse showcase of performances that reflect the heart and soul of our
community. We've welcomed national touring artists, local talent, and everything in between. Our music lineup has included genres from jazz, rock, Latin gospel, country, and featured renowned artists, up andcoming stars as well. In theater and performances, we've
staged Broadway style musical, classic plays, original work, and bilingual productions. We filled the calendar with family shows, standup comedy, cultural festivals, and communitydriven events. Our commitment has always been to create a platform where culture thrives, art
shines, and audiences feel welcomed. So, here are a couple of artists that we had to send showcase. As you can see, there are many, and I know a lot of you have attended them. uh additional um programs in certain theater arts conservatory. So if you
know me, this is one of my passion projects. Um one that I'm most proud proud of. A space where children from our own community can come together and explore the world of performing arts. Our seminal theater arts conservatory brings local youth together to explore, act, sing, and dance in a fun creative
space. By the end of the program, they perform an original show for the community showcasing their new skills. This program has become highly valued in our community and building confidence, talent, and love in the arts. What's truly inspiring is that many of our young performers go to join into our iconic seminal theater players
production. We watch them grow and from first shy first shy comers into leading roles on our main stage. The seminal theater players. It began with a successful summer production of Hairspray in 2018. It expanded to two shows, In the Heights and Annie, and
brought in large audiences. Since then, SCP has grown into a year-round company with 21 productions and two more in progress, including Frozen and Lion King. Each show involves approximately 20 to 50 volunteers and brings in 2,940
patrons per show with actors and auditions coming from all over to take part and enjoy the performance. Each production has an average budget of 60,000 covering licenses, venue, staff, costumes, advertising, and accessibility services. These these funds support the
shows directly and don't go toward operating expenses or salaries. These shows are funded through the friends of the historic seminal theater. They take the profits from the show and put it back to the theater via programming and capital improvements. Community programming. The Sunl Theater has become a go-to spot for all kinds of
community events in South Dade. It's not just about the great shows that we have. It's where people came to come together for civic engagements, local celebrations, and all kinds of culture events. It brings everyone together. Whether you're catching a concert, joining a community chat, or enjoying a festival, being a multi-purpose venue
has helped strengthen community ties, support local groups, and boost the cultural and civic life of South A. It's become a real cornerstone in the region, as you can see. So different programs include Rocky Horror, Gospel Plays, Mexican-American Council, our city addresses have been
there and many more. Since opening in 2015, the Seminal Theater has brought in thousands of patrons. Attendance has increased from 22,154 in 2015 to 190,53 in 2024. The seminal
theater has presented 13,751 events up to 2023, 58% of which fall under the arts, 27 civic, and 11% commercial and four other community. Attendance and participation in these events have been crucial into fostering a connected and vibrant society. Local
businesses and downtown Homestead have thrived during these events due to the increased foot traffic and visibility, which can lead to higher long-term customer relationships and additionally have attracted visitors from the outside community. This chart this chart highlights the seminal's year operating revenues and
expenses from 2015 to 2023. In the early years, revenues were strong and well above expenses, a sign of great community momentum after reopening. As we grew through 2017 and 2018, expenses rose and expanded programming operations, bringing things into
balance. Then came the pandemic years 2019 to 2021 where revenues dropped sharply but we managed to control expenses and stay afloat. The real story is the recovery by 2021 and 2022 revenues rebounded surpassing expenses again and by 2022 2023 we reached a
stable sustainable balance. Overall this chart shows clearly the stories of resilience recovery and continued growth for the seminal theater since opening in December 2015. The the seminal theater has played a major role in the revitalization in downtown Homestead. Our program doesn't just
bring art into the community. It brings people downtown filling restaurants, supports local businesses, and creates job. On average, patrons of live arts and events spend about $24.60 for a ticket price. That money goes directly into the Homestead's economy. Using
national data from American for the Arts, the theater's total economic impact since opening through December 2023 includes over 6 million in total expenditures, more than 3.5 million in direct household income, and 173 full-time jobs, and nearly 570,000 in
revenue, local and state government. The Sun's growth really comes down to partnerships that we've built. We've teamed up with local schools, arts, and businesses to bring programming and learning opportunities to the community. The city of Homestead and our regional partners have been incredible supporters, helping us strengthen
operations, reach more people, and keeping these partnerships alive. In the future, we hope to bring more sponsors to help subsidize the cost of events that we host in Law Park. So, the Sunil Theater is stepping into a new chapter. As we know, we wanted we wanted to be more than just a
performance space. We wanted to be the heartbeat of the community with true cultural destination for South Florida. We're rolling out an eye-catching advertising across the region where we things like billboards and digital displays along US1 and altogether the city's discover homestead branding on
it. On the digital side, we're expanding our reach with targeted social media streaming campaigns, plus short videos and showcases of artists and the energy of downtown Homestead. We're also focusing on partnerships, introducing a seminal cafe where people can relax, enjoy local coffee and wine nights and
stay connected with others in the community. We also have a dinner and show package with local with local restaurants and weekend getaways that pair performances with Homesteads attractions. We're making sure that the theater stays part of this community year round, sponsoring local festivals and having
branded vehicles that spread the word all around South Florida. In the end, this plan will boost attendance, bring people together, and shine a spotlight on Homestead as a vibrant, authentic South Florida experience. So, I want to end this by showing you a real of what we have upcoming. So, we want to play
that. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]
Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat.
[Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]
Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]
[Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat.
So good we have to do it twice. Okay. And and that's our presentation. Um I'm hoping for another, you know, u long time with the partnership with the city of Homestead. It was it was a a process, you know, coming to the same terms, but I think at the end of the day, um it benefits our city and I think that's
what we're here for. So, thank you, >> council. Any questions, comments? >> Vice Mayor? >> Yes. Thank you. Hello, Mr. Rud. How are you? >> Good. >> Um first off, I'd like to get a copy of your >> presentation. For sure. Um, that gives
us I need to look at some of those details. Uh, it helps us out a little bit, you know, because the city's still subsidizing, excuse me, city's still subsidizing uh to the amount of about 250,000 somewhere in that range annually. >> I'd like to challenge you a little bit to >> improve some programming and and
increase the revenues a little bit. >> Okay. >> Uh, it's, you know, not always on the back of the citizens that that the the subsidies need to be paid. So, you know, maybe we have to increase our ticket prices a little bit, but uh you know, I'm happy to support this tonight with
the caveat that you are going to try and increase the revenues and programming at the >> So, we have taken steps this uh upcoming season. Um things like raising our facility fee, um rental rates have gone up a percentage and obviously we're expanding programming to our lobby area.
And hopefully once we got those renovations in our lobby area, terrace space and classrooms, we can not only depend on the large performances that we take place on stage, we'll get more creative through a more of a cabaret setting and other spaces that we have. So yes,
>> thank you. Um I know the old contract and the the proposed renewal provides for a revenue split between the theater and the city at some point. Mr. manager, have have you had the opportunity or have our finance people or anybody had
the opportunity to review the books of the management company for the past few years? >> Um, Mr. Mayor, I'm not aware of any audits yet. >> Pardon? >> I'm not aware that the city has conducted an audit. >> And and here's my concern. I You made a
representation that in 2024 you had 190,000 attendees. So if the capacity of the theater is 400, that's 475 soldout performances in a 365
day year. And if your average ticket price is $24, 190,000 people times $24 is over $4.5 million in in revenue. I I would think that that
kind of number sounds like we don't need to be paying anything and and there needs to be, you know, you ought to be paying us to have the ability to to generate $4.5 million a year. So
I I have a hard time buying the numbers. Um I want to compliment the quality of every performance I have seen there, but never have I been in attendance when there is anywhere near a full house. Um
and that's embarrassing for me as the mayor. I feel bad for the performers who have come to town, put their heart and soul into doing the performance to a half full at best auditorium.
Um, Mr. Manager, I think that we could teach ourselves and probably do a better job of operating the theater than has has been done in the last last 15 years. I'm probably be in the minority, but I'm ready to pull the trigger and say enough
is enough. I think we need to go in a different direction. >> Certainly. >> Thank you, Mayor. I completely disagree. I have been to many shows that are typically close to to sold out. Um,
the improvements that I've seen over the last couple years are astronomical. I've obviously lived a walk away for almost 20 years, as I've mentioned many, many times. And I finally see this coming to what we've always wanted
it to be. All of the events at Lner Park, you guys opening up Halloween. You guys did amazing. You did amazing. It's not just the shows. It is the community involvement. You guys are probably not all aware of the relationships that they have with the schools in the community.
It's going to take us another 10 years to get to where they are now. So, I absolutely disagree. Um, if you want to cut the cut the contract shorter than seven years, I would be okay with that. But the amount of things that they've that they've shown and what they're promising
now, I think it would really not be in our best interest to go elsewhere. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Vice Mayor. >> So, let's run back through the numbers a little bit. Sure.
>> So, 190,000* 24 is 4.5 million. What is your annual operating budget? >> Um, I don't have that number in front of me, but I can get back to you. One of the things I do want to bring up is when we count events, we're not only counting live shows. We're counting sometimes it takes 35 rehearsals to put on one one
performance. So yes, that might not be an audience member attending, but it is an event that's in the books. So that's to answer partially your question, Mayor. As far as the question you just asked, uh, Vice Mayor, I'd have to get back to I don't have that number. >> So I think, look, the staff's recommending that we
approve this, but I think we have to do a deeper dive and and and take a look at the the numbers, >> look at the books. >> Yeah, that that has to be done. And I don't know how we get to that point. Did we make that a caveat of this
this management that you know six months from now we have to have a full audit completed? When was the last audit completed? Do we know? Do you know when your last audit was completed? >> I wasn't always in this position so I'm not sure since I've been there. I I don't think so. >> So there are some questions that need to be answered. Um
what's the uh time sensitivity for approval of this? Uh, I think we do have a short-term extension of the existing contract to let them continue to operate. Why we hope for you guys to take a look on this? >> More willing to go that route initially
until we can actually dive into it. You know, we're fiscally responsible to the taxpayers of Homestead and just throwing their money out there. If if these numbers are right, we shouldn't be paying anything as far as a subsidy from the city. >> Okay. As far as the numbers go, I I I
don't have an answer. we would have to have to dive back a little. >> So, I think we need to do a deeper dive. I'm willing to let's let's go through a short-term extension until we can get some more details, >> but I think that's a good point that you made. Uh we have to we have to we have to control these costs.
>> Yeah. And and I don't think uh you did you probably didn't prepare these by yourself. I'm pretty certain. But at the very least, this is a misleading presentation. When you're counting rehearsals and saying you and counting
those people as attendees to events, >> that's on its face very very misleading. So that further erodess my confidence in uh in this um Councilman. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, and I just want to
emphasize that that um this is not disputing the value that the simol has. You know, when Donn Lee goes there, it's it's a it's a packed crowd. Other things been to other venues and, you know, other shows and it's just not so packed.
I do agree though that this is an issue of stewardship. I'm not convinced at this point that that that the monies that are generated are um are have been properly uh accounted for. Okay. And I'm not saying any any anyone's done
anything wrong or you know there's criminal action going on but clearly when we're counting um um the rehearsals and so say there's say there's 75 or 100 girls at Donna Lee
and they do three rehearsals before the show that's 300 people on that on that total number that aren't paying. >> Sure. So my point is yeah I think it's time to I think it is time to do an audit and it's a healthy thing to do because we want the health of the
seminal theater to be insured. All right and then that will be the that will be the jumping off point for other decision makings I think. Thank you. >> Just to go back to that the reason we count those numbers is because we don't only operate as a show for you to rent a
theater to do a show. People use us as a rehearsal space. So, in some sense, if that's what's bringing in revenue for that day, for that week, for that month, we count it as part of an event that's happening at the theater because we can't rent it out to anyone else. >> Well, do they do they pay for rehearsal?
Do they pay do they pay this the same amount as a ticket? >> No, they don't. >> Yeah. So, that's that's what that's where I'm going. That's that's where the the numbers need to be crunched. >> Okay. >> Mr. Manager, do you know off hand when the current extension ends? uh mayor,
the end of the month. So October 31st is when the current extension ends. >> Well, so we can either extend the current agreement or put a very short or conditional fuse on the approval of the
agreement in front of us pending some review of the last few years of of their operations. So if if I may um I think or I think an audit it should you decide to proceed
with the term sheet as we have identified it to date. Um we can work through an audit upfront prior to final execution and then um we bake in an annual audit.
Um and then if there is a desire to reduce the um term of the uh overall agreement because today I think it's a initial 5-year and up to two 2-year extensions. So if that is
something that there's an appetite for um we can we can certainly look to include that um well at least from the city's perspective subject to acceptance um in the agreement. One of the things that I think if if I may because I I
served as a part of the negotiation team for the city. One of the things that we clearly articulated to the OVG group was the performance monitoring element of this agreement and the contract um and
really the lack of prompt um and I would say collaborative uh reporting on their side. what we have done and what they have they have agreed to so far in the fixed base management fee. Uh it was the
term of a $100,000. We have split that um $100,000 in in that $72,000 which is about $72,000 which is about I think 6,000 a month um would be a base
management fee for the operations. $28,000 um right to get to the 100 would be exclusively based on performance. And what does that mean? It means timely monthly submission of their general
management invoices. Um timely financial reporting to the city. Uh we have baked in that there is there needs to be a monthly meeting with the city to understand what their event programming looks like. uh there needs to be a
growth attendance um increase between five to 7% um per year. So, so we have carved out specific KPIs around performance um that we can measure to um because that was
one of the things that we heard um from council that was an area of concern and quite frankly the administration as well um you know or finance and budget department struggled with timely reporting. So, we did we wanted to make sure that there was something uh baked
in and it was tied to dollars and cents for them to make sure that they're doing those timely reportings. Um, but yes, we we can incor the end of the month is when the current contract expires. We can um look to uh request the
incorporation of an an annual audit year-over-year. Um and then we can do one for the immediate um books at the expense of OBG. So then you know OBG needs certainty
whether they're in or out. We need certainty as to what the future's going to be. So with your deeper explanation of the safeguards and the requirements that are built in kind of envisioning
an overall five-year term but terminable by the city at the end of each year, you know, after we would do that look back to to look at performance
>> and that way we're not married for 5 years a as with an underperforming >> we >> operator. We also have uh baked in as a a when you said that it another another measure is that they must present an
annual budget an annual CIP plan for us to deliberate and consider >> and similar to it seems I don't know if this has ever ever happened but there also is an annual presentation on how the
theater has performed year-over-year. So that those three additional um deliverables are baked into what we have negotiated to date. >> Well, that's all well and good when it's not a misleading presentation like we were shown tonight. And I I don't have
any better word than that other than misleading. >> So Mr. Mayor and Council, I think there is a provision for termination from convenience which is always in all contrast. So you still have an additional safeguard there that you can
terminate for convenience. Uh unfortunately the termination for convenience as negotiated by the team could only happen after the third year. >> Third year. >> Yeah. >> Unless you want to shut it. >> If mayor if I just may because I'm not sure if you understand this but how long
in advance do you need to book shows? They can't get any of these great shows within one year. So that's why that's baked in there. I spent a lot of time going over this, too. And that's that is the truth. And that is how they're growing is because of the consistency and how they've been growing in the last few years that's
getting them the shows that they're getting now. We go back to a one-year deal, that's less less ability for them to get us the bigger shows. Something else to keep in mind, please. Thank you. >> Appreciate that, Mr. Vice Mayor. >> Yeah. So, I appreciate those comments,
Miss Bailey. I I really look at the seminal theaters at Gemma of South Florida. Okay. Uh you look at other theaters that are shutting down. You know, Coconut Grove, they're tearing it out. Um this one seems to be doing well on the face of things, but again, the
the numbers just don't match the performance. So, uh, we we need to look at maybe a short-term extension to try and figure this out, but we have to have some real numbers in order for us to be good stewards for our community.
That's my offer at this time, Mr. Mayor. >> So, you know, potentially then maybe a six-month extension of the current agreement with the caveat of of all these financial reviews. >> I'm happy to make a motion in that form.
move to as stated by the mayor. >> So, a six a sixmonth extension from the current expiration of the contract now in place. >> Let me Can I I haven't gotten to >> with the performance of the audit. I'm sorry.
>> I haven't gotten to say anything yet. So, before we make that motion, is six months enough to get quality shows here? >> No. You also have to go into contract with them a year ahead because they're routing you. So if you want to pay 50% of you know what normally another larger
venue pays then you want to get them ahead of time. >> We did an RFP for this contract. How many people applied? >> I think there were two responses. >> How qualified was the second response? >> Well, not as good as uh OVG.
>> Okay. So the citizens voted for the seminal theater. Anybody who lives in the city is still paying for the seminal theater through their taxes. To me, this is a quality of life issue.
if we can't find another operator, which we made a valiant effort to do so, and OBG says, "You know what? City Homestead, enough. We don't want to deal with you
anymore. We lose another quality of life uh venue for our citizens." And I think that although the fin the the financial aspect of it and we need to be you know prudent on
how they manage monies and shows Missouri you come from the city of Miami. Are theaters of our caliber profitable? And is there a public stake to keep them alive so we have cultural arts in our
city? So, council member, you're bringing something that is really dear to my heart. The way the the semino theater has been operated is not the way most theaters are operated. Uh case in point,
the Adrian Arch Center, which is the performance arts center in downtown Miami, is primarily functioned around a foundation, a nonprofit foundation that solicits for funds. and those funds are used up already. So there had been a
huge outcry in the past about utilizing tax dollars to run some of these type of establishments. So they're usually catched around nonprofit foundations to raise money and perhaps some goodspirited public individuals that are
wellendowed that can put money aside to support the endowments. >> Okay. And so of th those those types of operations um although they're they're operated as nonprofits as the vice mayor claimed that the
Coconut Grove um playhouse I guess it is is being torn down and um you know we just revitalized this semi theater that was dark for if I may. >> I'm sorry >> if I may. >> Oh yeah go ahead. The coconut as uh the
coconut grove as theater has long ceased to operate. It's been several years if not more than 10 years. >> They've been out of business. Why is being turned down is because it's deemed an unsafe structure. So there has been a battle between the
city of Miami and the county. The county wanted to turn down. The city says no, we can preserve it. He ended in litigation. Eventually collapsed. Sure. So, so they didn't go out because of financial issues. They just went out because they just stopped operating
period. >> No, it was a mixture of all types of issues. >> So, they had a lot of >> problem issues. So, we invested, I don't know, $56 million to revitalize our seminal theater um on the backs of the taxpayers that they voted to do that. Although it was maybe 750 of them that
said to do this and against the other three, but um I still think that uh I would be okay if we extended it for a year pending the audits and then we can make a better decision on that.
Um there is a she mentioned the um the friends of the seminal theater which is a nonprofit group and I think they're willing to step up and do some more to help with the financing and I think part of the agreement that you guys have come
up with is adding additional revenues to the seminal theater by way of ancillary things the cafe uh energizing the um the terrace and some of the things we spoke about in the meeting you know um increasing, you know, beverage sales and
and those types of things. And I'm sure there's other programming you can do as well to to drive not only ticket um sales, but concessions as well. And maybe we look at the concession side of what they do in there, too, because I don't think you have a lot of room and
capacity to really do a a lot of concessions. Um, I just think if we if we blow this thing up, I don't think there's another operator that wants to take on the seminal theater and we lose another
um quality of life venue for the citizens that live inside the city of Homestead. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you. But let me just interject. When the bond was approved, the voters, it was not ever disclosed that, yeah, we're going to rebuild this theater, but nobody ever
talked about the half a million dollars in subsidy that's been coming out of the city coffers for the last 10 years to keep the theater afloat. And I think this idea that if we don't give them a year, they can't line up shows is a real
red herring because right now they've got a contract that's got seven more days on it, eight, nine more days on it. And they're showing us here in a nice video what shows are lined up for the next year. So, you know, make up your
mind. Um, >> can you live with a short-term contract or or can you not get shows? Again, >> the presentation indicated that even with this short-term contract, >> they were able to line up shows for the coming year. So,
>> again, but I think they were act acting on good faith that the city would would acknowledge and accept and agree to this agreement. So, I think staff's done a great job in incentivizing this contract so that this operator who we can't find
another operator right now. If we if we if we give them too much of a hassle, that venue is going to go dark. People are still paying for it. And I just don't believe that that's in the best interest of the city and the city, the
citizens in the city. There's nothing here for anybody to do. And if we take the seminal theater away, although its capacity is only 450 seats, it's just another thing we've taken away by virtue of dollars and cents, right?
So, this is just my opinion. I mean, you everybody's free to have their own opinion, but I think what they've done over the last seven years, uh, including going through COVID and when everything was shut down and survived,
I think they've earned that opportunity to continue on. And if we find some inconsistencies in the audits coming up, as the city manager said, we can terminate
in a year. So what's the harm? >> I'll amend my motion to a year with the caveat that after the audit's performed, if if we find some negligible activities that we can term
Let me but let me let me ask this. Okay. The contract before us, the obligations create a much better and more level playing field between the city and the seminal theater versus the contract that
exists now that we're talking about extending for one year. Why not adopt the new contract that has more obligations on the seinal
for a period of one year subject to review of the financial obligations we've been talking about? >> Motion amended as as stated. >> Seconded as stated. >> Yeah. And >> I'd like to to add if you don't mind. Yeah, go ahead.
>> Thank you. We also have the art gallery that the the we use the seminal as part of the art gallery. Uh we have the summer programming. Uh it's the only convention center that I'm aware of uh for down in this area. So and I have
been asking for years for us to activate the lobby for longer hours for the pre-show time and for other times of the uh of the of the month when there aren't shows. So I I do agree we need the due diligence. We need the extra activations. I would be I would like to
see the breakout of uh what how many shows are city generated like the art galleries, right? Uh how many shows are recital and um versus an actual show that is ticket based. So those are all great um tools for us to analyze. And
and this goes a this is not any different than what we've requested for other nonprofit organizations uh in the city to do for us. Um I think we were supposed to have some quarterly not quarterly but in the first quarter of the year. So this will be something standard across the board. So I don't
think it's anything different to expect for the seminal theater to be able to provide. So I agree with the vice mayor. Thank you. And I think, you know, to to your point, those those reviews will have the opportunity to do that breakout between receptions, recital,
musical performances, drama performances, what have you. We'll have the opportunity to review that under the new form of contract. >> Exactly. and it'll give us the opportunity to be able to give feedback and to help maybe shape the way that we change uh our approach and strategy, not
necessarily without um SVG OG >> OBVG, but uh as a partnership so we can be uh better partners in this. So, thank you, >> Councilman Davis. >> Thank Thank you, Mayor, and thank everyone for your input because it it shows that we all care about the Seol
Theater. We want to see it be successful. Pardon me. Um, I would say that part of our logic is a bit skewed. It's not a binary decision. It's not a binary outcome rather. It's not let it go and
we'll continue the performances or audit it and it's probably going to shut down. If we audit it and it shuts down, it's because it should shut down. Um, my point to you is this. You know, I've been I've been in charge of many complex organizations over the years. I I stand
ready for an inspection any time, you know. um let them come in, let them look it over, let them look over my books or whatever I had at that time. Um my point to you is this shouldn't be hard and those numbers should be right there for you and the fact that they're not here
tonight um shows that perhaps you underestimated the importance of this briefing, right? Um but that also shows the need for that for that u um audit. It shows a need to establish a foundation that we can build up on and
do some of the some of the uh planning that's been brought up by my by my colleagues. Uh I absolutely support doing an audit. And you know, sometimes you you get to that place, you got that little voice talking to your ear. This is one time that says we need to do this
check. Um uh we need to look we need to look into this. And again, I'm not saying that there's uh criminal activity going on, but I think we're raising enough issues that say we need to we need to look in this, you know. >> Did we have a second to your motion as amended? I don't think >> we did.
>> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. >> M I just want to get a little clarity on the motion and where we want to go here. I know we want to implement the new practical discussion. If we enter into a one-year contract, one year flat, in six
months, we're going to have to start procuring again, and you're not going to have a window. Would you be more comfortable with a longerterm contract that allows you to terminate at your convenience after a single year? So this way you have the time in place anytime
after that year to make your decision on a rolling basis but the city is not left >> right >> behind the eightball and go having to go out and procure >> within >> and I think that's what was really intended and that's why you get the big bucks. So
>> but is that is that okay >> so we can go with the term as proposed as long as there's a termination at the city's convenience after one year. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. >> Vice Mayor, >> you know, and I think it's incumbent upon us sitting up here as well as some
of our staff. We need to be going out and looking for these new >> helpers. You know, we don't have a we don't have a foundation down here that really supports like the city of Miami or or Fort Lauderdale. You know, there's a lot of people, a lot of money down here that that can help support this as
well. And we just need to be asking the right questions and getting that going. >> Okay. Thank you. Any further? Okay, I think we're we all we're all good on the motion and the second and >> so Mr. Mayor, it's understood that the
city will be funding the audit. >> That's understood. >> Well, can do we have the ability to do that in house? >> No. >> If you want if you want them to accept an audit for fairness purposes, you want
an independent entity to do it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. and a guesstimate on what that cost would be. >> Oops. I'm not an audit person. I would like to find out from folks who do audits. >> Well, and and we really haven't talked
about the time frame. One year, 3 years, 5 years >> for an audit. >> Yeah. >> Oh, no. >> No, no, no. I'm talking about the look back period. >> It's for It's at the discretion of council. >> Well, when did when did CO end? Okay.
So, calendar year 22, 23, 24. >> So, you want to do three years. >> Well, we're almost at 25 now. 25 24 >> 23 >> 23 >> 3 years. >> Okay, >> that Yeah, >> that's fair.
So, it's a five-year deal with an option and discretion to terminate after one year. >> Understood? >> Yes. Okay. All right. And yeah, look, the audit's a small price to pay to know that things
are appro above board. All right. Let me open the public hearing very quickly. I'll close the public hearing just as quickly and ask for a roll call vote. >> Councilwoman Avula, >> Councilman Ross, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilman Cannibal,
>> yes. >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Losner, >> yes. The motion carries >> and we need a motion to extend to 9:30. >> Moved by the vice mayor to extend the meeting to 9:30. >> Have a second.
>> Second. All in favor? >> Was that a nay? >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Tab 13, Mr. Pearl. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Tab 13 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, approving a state
funded grant agreement between the city of Homestead and the Florida Department of Transportation for the Homestead Bridge expansion on Southwest 152nd Avenue project authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement and any related documents establishing a budget in the amount of $575,000
for the expenditure of grant funds, providing for implementation, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Any objection to waving the staff report? Didn't think so. Do we have any questions or comments from council? Let's get a motion on the table. >> Mr. Ros moved by
>> Did you move it? >> I thought I heard you. >> Okay. Moved by Councilman Ross. Second by Councilman Davis. Let's open the public hearing. >> We'll close the public hearing and have a roll call vote on tab 13. >> Councilwoman Avula. >> Yes. >> Councilman Davis.
>> Yes. >> Counciloman Roth. Councilwoman Bailey. Vice Mayor Fletcher. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lawson, yes. The motion carries. >> And moving on to tab 14. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Tab 14 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, adopting the city of
Homestead 2025 basin plan of action providing for implementation and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Do we have a motion on this item? >> Moved by the vice mayor, seconded by Councilman Davis. There any questions or comments on tab 14? All right, let's
open the public hearing. Close the public hearing and ask for a roll call vote on tab 14, please. >> Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilman Raw, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Avula, >> yes. >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Lawson, >> yes.
>> The motion carries. >> And moving on to tab 15. Tab 15 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida approving the revised Title Six program in accordance with Title Six of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by the Federal Transit Administration, providing for
implementation, providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. We have a motion on this item. >> Moved by Councilman Roth, >> seconded by the vice mayor. Any questions or comments from council? Open the public hearing. Seeing none, I'll close the public
hearing and ask for a roll call vote on tab 15. >> Councilwoman Abulone. >> We'll go back to the staff report. >> We'll toll the voting for a moment. >> I apologize, but I'm seeing multimodal and stuff in >> 15.
>> This 15. This is the title six. >> So the city is a recipient of FTA grants and part of the requirements for those grants that you need to ensure compliance with title six which is the civil rights act. No discrimination based on ethnicity sets and the rest.
>> Okay. Thank you. Because I'm reading uh guidelines for the development of the downtown homestead multimotal transit center. That's what I'm seeing in the background supporting documentation on item number 4688. This is a certification we have to do in connection with that. >> All right. Thank you. So, yes.
>> Okay. All right. So, yes. Vote. Moving on with the with the balloting. >> Councilman Davis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Ross. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Bailey. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher. >> Yes. >> Mayor Losner. >> Yes. Tab 16.
Tab 16 is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead, Florida, accepting a grant award of $1.5 million from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for improvements at the Homestead Sports Complex, also known as the Homestead Regional Park, authorizing the city manager to execute the grant agreement
authorizing the establishment of a budget for the expenditure of such grant funds, authorizing matching funds in amount not to exceed $ 1.5 million, providing for implementation, and providing for an effective date. Thank you.
Any objection waving the staff report on the acceptance of a grant for a million and a half dollars for the regional park? Moved by the vice mayor. Do >> we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Davis. Let's open the public hearing on this item.
Seeing no interest, I'll close the public hearing and ask if there are any final questions or comments from council on this item. Seeing none, I'll ask for a roll call vote. Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilman Davis, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Abula, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Losman, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> And the next item is tab 17, a discussion item is car number 4672. A co-compliance lean mitigation request
for the property at 268 Southwest 6th Avenue. Is the owner present on the lean minute? Come on down. Thank you for hanging in there with us tonight. Let's make sure his mic's on. >> How you doing? >> Hi. Is the mic on? Is your mic on?
>> No. I'm Alonso Srano. Alonso Srano. >> Alonso Srano. >> Yes. >> Okay. Any any presentation you would like to make
in make in support of your request? >> Okay. I'm dealing with this problem since 2021. And the last administration, we tried to resolve this problem. We tried really hard that I got the
proofs in here, emails and everything. They never respond. And with the new administration that we have right now, I'm going to tell you guys that you guys
doing a super nice job. We resolve the problem, but we don't resolve the problem and the last administration we resolve with this administration in two months. Thank you, Mr. Jose,
the quarter version guy. We fixed this problem already. I just come over here to present the pros that I have. There was no my fault that that we was waiting
three or four years for this for these permits. So I did a reduction of the payment almost in full if you guys available to do it or at least 80%. Because I think is it is not my fault. We do everything
that was in my hands to resolve the problem. So it appears and if you have any other information you can give us. The information before us was that there was a a lean a fine and a lean for the
expansion of a business without the updated license. um for overdue um certification on some equipment and illegal signs and banners as recently as
June of of this year. So it appears that the uh the request is with respect to the 2018 lean which after the reduction um
by the uh the master uh still shows an outstanding amount of $47,589. >> Mr. Mayor, can I come in? >> Yes. So the individual from my briefing internal with the administration staff
had this violation. There were certain misunderstandings in the past. Typically you need a permit to cure a violation. The city did not issue him that permit to cure it and that's how he lingered for so long. Right? So he's gone through
the special master got 25% reduction. What he's asking for is for an additional reduction at least to a level that recognizes that the city shares part of the challenge of not having issued him a building permit in order for him to cure the violation.
>> Right. And that's something that we addressed in some recent legislation that we allowed the issuance of a permit during a period of violation so that you could cure the violation uh in connection with kind of another property
as as well. So, um I fully uh believe and understand your issues and problems and delays with the prior prior administration. Um are you offering any amount in settlement?
>> I mean, it was me. I just don't want to pay nothing because I think that I'm not responsible because I'll do everything that was in my hands to resolve the problem. But I mean if one part do
everything to resolve the problem and the second part they don't do it. I mean we just can't resolve the problem. So, I mean, if you guys can do at least 90%. I I think it's fair.
>> I think it's fair. I mean, I'm dealing with this >> with this problem for >> So, essentially, you're you're profering 10% of $47,000 more or less, whatever that that amount is. Um, in light of what I think most of
us understand was the situation in that department over the last several years, I I can live with that. >> Yes, sir. I think I I think that we're dealing with a legacy issue here and the the shortcomings of the of the preceding
team are pretty well known and um me, I'd even be willing to go lower than than that 10%. But >> make a motion then. No. Uh >> before he does, let me chime in just for a second. >> I I know you keep bringing up the
previous regime administration, >> but he said he just recently went two months ago to try to rectify this problem. This new administration's been in here for nearly two years. So I have a little shortcoming on the fact
that you tried to make every effort to cure this problem. I'm sympathetic to what you are facing. However, I think the throwing around that the previous regime failed to help you um and this regime has been in place for
nearly two years and two months ago you started this process is an unfair u judgment on your part. It wasn't them. They didn't create the violations for you. Right. You created the violations. >> Exactly.
>> So, I just I'm sympathetic for you. I understand that there's a problem. >> I don't say that in the last two months I resolved the problem. I say it takes me two months to resolve the problem within your administration. >> But what took you so long to get to that two-month period? >> I mean,
>> they've been here for almost 2 years. >> I was dealing I was dealing with this for from since 2021 or 2020. >> I understand. >> And I just say with the new administration takes me a few months to resolve the problem. The problem is
done. We finished. Everything is clear. >> Right. And imagine >> I just come I just come over here. I'm sorry. I just come over here for the reduction. And believe it or not, I lose so much money paying fines if you see my
records. Almost every 3 months I was paying, paying, paying. And separating than that, I was one of the body shops serving city homestead for the last years. I lose the account,
too. I mean, believe it or not, I I lose so many money, but I just can't afford to pay everything. I just come over here so you guys so you guys can help me. And and I think it's important to remember, Councilman, that the ability to come in
and solve the problem has only existed for a few months from the time we passed the legislation that allowed folks to pull permits during the pendency of a violation in order to cure the violation. So there was no mechanism in
place for him to resolve that until 90 days ago, 120 days ago. >> Are we simply talking about a business license issue >> that he couldn't get because he couldn't get the permit? >> I think it looks like an expansion of a business.
>> Exactly. >> Right. So he did construction without a permit. >> No, sir. >> Basically, >> we got every We got all the >> But you But you started construction without a permit. >> No, sir. >> No. No. >> The staff have anything to say about >> I mean I can show you the paperwork if you want to see it.
>> No, I'd like to hear what the staff has to say in reference to you had the permits before you started the work because >> Okay. >> What you're saying is >> they came out and and and and find you for work that you did with a permit. I
don't believe our city staff would do that. I believe they found you that you started to build something without a permit and then you tried to comply. Somebody from the city staff can maybe chime in on that.
>> Councilman uh Jose Perez, director of the cocoa compliance department. Um to your question, um the original violation that was cited in 2018 was for um work that was done without permits to convert the expansion of that business. So yes,
there were um permits that were supposed to be issued for work without um the rifle permits um to the property owners defense. He did demolish uh what was um constructed without permits. Um, and for clarification on the time frame, I just want to point out there in his defense
as well, um, within my on boarding on January 13, within that first week time frame, u, Mr. Srono did reach out to me and I was able to help him cross that finish line. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes, certainly. >> Thank you, Mayor. So, you know, not too long ago, we were reviewing a case where
there was a significant amount of fines and there was a significant reduction in fines, but I the case is very different in in where we were dealing with an absentee landlord and uh you know, lives and and the way people were living and
whatnot were in question. So in this particular case, we have a small business owner who has been dealing with the burden and the emotional burden of of having this hanging over his head and still trying to make a living and trying to come into compliance with the city.
The report from the city says that the items were for the non-permitted work uh etc etc. However, issuance of the permit was delayed due to an internal policy preventing building permits from being used being being issued, excuse me, on properties with open COVID cases. This
created a circular delay. Um, you know, the other thing he says here that there are no photographs as uh the violations are strictly administrative in nature and um you know, the reduction our policy for 25% reductions. It all it
boils back to also making sure that the fines that were charging are commeasurerate with the violation and that they're not compounding and compounding and compounding. So there was attempt to resolve we have um you know we we know we know that we needed
we knew we needed to improve our process and our system and I am thankful that it's been resolved but we have to whatever decision we make on these cases become the precedence that's set for the future. So, let's not forget how we're treating Mr. Serrano when the next one
comes along, right? So, as long as we're going to be willing to be consistent with the practice, then I'm okay with a with a significant reduction. The last case we did, I think it was 80% is what they walked away with was a reduction. If we were to look at this and say, okay, well, what is 20% of the original
fine? That would be consistent with the precedence we set or we can do, you know, 10%. I'm just for conversation. I'd like to keep that all in person. >> But I think you made the point that the last case is very distinct and different in its nature that I don't view the last
case as a precedent for this one at all >> in terms of calculations >> in terms of the nature of the violation. >> Okay. So I think you done. >> So Councilman Davis was going to make a motion and a propose an amount.
>> Yes. And my recommendation because this is indeed a legacy issue. I I do disagree with my colleague. I think it's very well established the difficulties under the preceding administration of the city um manager's office.
I say that we just relieve him of this debt at this time. >> Do we have a second for that to uh release the amount in full? >> Yeah. Mr. Vice Mayor. >> Yes. Thank you. And and I do appreciate,
you know, you're doing your due diligence here towards the end, but what's the history long term? There have been violations at this property for many years. >> Uh that is correct. >> You know, so not to say that you haven't
done what you needed to do here lately, but I think we kind of set a precedence last time as well. I think maybe we go to the 85% mark. I think that's what we were allowable. >> Uh I think that's what we codified almost.
>> The special master can go 85. >> The special master go 85. We're we're discretionary for anything above that. >> So special master went 25. I mean my offer would be go to 85%. >> A relief or payment?
>> Relief of >> the 47,000 >> 15. the the amount due would be whatever 15% of 47,400 is. >> And just to clarify, the 47,400 is not the original lean. That is the reduced
amount. >> Reduced amount, which I think in this case I would be comfortable with given the circumstances, but we we have to be case by case, I think. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I would I would offer you take that down to 85%. >> I would make the motion for
>> I would agree with that. I would agree. So, he's going to >> the maker of the motion is going to accept uh >> the recommendation the proposed amendment by the vice mayor that the amount due to obtain a release will be
15% of $47,400. Is that acceptable? >> I got a choice. I mean, believe it or not, in in the last few years, I was working for the flea department. I
lose an account. I just want to close this >> close to start to start working again uh for this uh flea department because I'm losing a lot of money. >> Are that I'm available to do payments? >> Um Mr. Manager, are there any guidelines
as to time frame or installment payments? because the time is really hard to pay everything. >> No, I I understand. >> Mr. City attorney, do we have any I think council has discretion to impose a phased >> you you can impose a phased um payment
system if you'd like. >> Can can I propose that uh staff and and uh Mr. Srano discuss a a payment plan that is deemed appropriate and like within a >> not later than six months from today. >> Good. Exactly. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Work work out the payment plan that does not extend beyond six months from today >> and whatever installments you >> So I'll second the motion if that is amended as part of your motion. >> Okay. >> So that's where we are. All right. Um there no other questions or comments.
Let's have a roll call on that. >> Councilwoman Bailey. Councilman Davis. >> Yes. >> Councilman Roth. >> Yes. >> Councilman Canaval. Councilwoman Abila. >> Yes. >> Coun Vice Mayor Fletcher. >> Yes. >> Mayor,
>> 10 more days. Yes. >> Mayor Lner. >> Yes. [Music] >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. And uh tab 18 is a similar
similarly situated um and I think they represented by council and the property owners are here as well and this is with with respect to 225 southwest 2nd Avenue.
Thank you. >> EC Lor Lopez from Lopez Legal Group, 8950 Southwest 74th Court, Sweet 2201, Miami, Florida 33156. Uh, thank you, council. Um, I will briefly speak to the history here just
to uh indulge you a little bit. I represent Mr. Vento from Century Evergates at the address referenced. Um, we're here before you for a lean mitigation seeking to get the highest possible uh percentage of the mitigation. We went
before a special master a couple of weeks ago and that was a great experience. The special master manifested that could she go even higher? She probably would have uh but she was capped at 85%. Mr. Vento's been a commercial resident here of the city of Homestead since 20 uh 2000 the year
2000 for 25 years. uh also the owner of a famous lumber yard here in Miami date called Everglades Lumber. Some of you may remember it. Um after the recession and a few other financial um challenges
Mr. Rento had, we repurposed some of the uses of the warehouses in his property. Uh when those folks came here to get a business tax receipt is when a lot of his nightmare began. He was then told he needed to get an asper an administrative
st site plan review and he began going through the motions of getting this this approval. In the in the midst of that about 2022 2023 he came here before special master and got a 60-day uh extension to come
into compliance for those businesses to get a business tax receipt. Shortly thereafter around May of 2023, Mr. Venal hired me as his attorney. Um the first email I sent to the city was a request for protocol of mitigation to see how we
can address the time that was already lapsed. The response I got from the clerk from code back then was the only protocol you have is paying comply. So Mr. Vento kept going through the motions of trying to come into compliance with
his assert and in 2024 he came into compliance with that. Unfortunately, his violations had ballooned to such a point that he could not pay that. He needed to pay those violations to get the business tax receipt for those businesses.
Later on that year, I think changing of the guard took place here and in 2025 in June, you guys had a code amendment that allowed for this to be corrected. I commend you for that because before that, it was kind of a circular vicious
cycle that he was in. Uh this is also similar to code reliefs that exist in other municipalities. I want to go ahead and just say that, you know, throughout the entire time of those two to three years, Mr. Vento had been in communication with the city
planner trying to come into compliance and they just kept asking for more and more and the longer this took, the violations just kept acrewing. Um, unfortunately, one of the things I learned by reviewing some of the footage from your special masters, by the way,
very talented folks, is that they have always extended time to try to work with residents, commercial residents, cuz you're not in the business of just citing people. You're actually trying to help folks come into compliance. Had Mr. Vento been afforded that
possibility, I probably wouldn't even be here before you today and he probably would have only paid a fraction of what this ended up escalating to. Um, Mr. Vento again has been commercial resident
here. We understand that prior administrations come and go. You folks have corrected. We've had a great relationship with Mr. Perez. Uh, this code uh he's the director of code been great. uh Zary and and staff uh trying to get this into compliance. So finally
when he was able to get the temporary business tax receipt for his businesses, he was able to come before a special master to try to get this mitigated and that's why we're here today. Just wanted to give that context for you. Um I don't know how much time I have, but I know
that it's a late night. Do you want to add anything, Mr. Rento? >> I Okay. Well, then that's the case. I'm here to answer any questions, concerns. >> Yes, Councilwoman.
>> Thank you, mayor. I I'm trying to make sure I understand and I was and allow me to just um uh recap. So, we I see multiple businesses. I see CDL Technical Miami Buildout Company, Enviral Waste Services Group, and Intercontinental
Fire Training. All four of is there a fifth one or those are just the four? >> Four, right? So, and all four of these businesses are operating out of the same location or are these multiple >> So, it's the same property but different warehouses and different warehouses. Correct. Okay. And so, these are these are not like internet based businesses. These are physical.
>> Yeah. This is commercial for folks to do their CDL licensing there, training. Uh people are being employed there. Actually, a good economic uh impact to the to the city because now people don't have to leave here to go get some of these services. Help help me understand
how a how a seasoned business owner because I'm assuming you don't just wake up one day and say, "I'm gonna get a warehouse, have four businesses, and start having a business." Help me understand how you Yes, please. Help me help me understand how you got to a point where you went three years not
realizing you needed to have a business license or how did you start operating without it? >> Uh, Councilwoman, let me let me retract. Uh I've been a corporate citizen of this city for 25 years. Always been in compliance. As a matter of fact, this
building here, all the reburn in this building, I provided the police station. I I mean, I've been very involved in my city, making sure that, you know, whatever was asked from me, I did. So when the economic turn uh downturn came, I was operating a lumber yard from
there. I was in full compliance. When you say economic, do you mean 20 2008 or with the co? >> Actually, um, after 2008, I thought I could make it back. I moved my operations. I sold my my property on Southwest A Street. Moved my operations.
I was operating a a um prehungar factory from here. Moved the complete operations here to Homestead. Uh, I have been operating there since 2000 as a mill workshop. Now I'm operating rebar, lumber, and all the building materials
that a lumber yard has. Full compliance. Uh in 2019, I decided that um I was going to continue doing business with LAR, which was my best biggest plan at the time. Um for I could bore you why I made that
decision. Came in and said, "You know what? I need to close the business." and I closed the business and then I realized well I have a property here that maybe I can come in and bring in tenants and rent you know the warehouses. So by 2020,
give or take, I um hire a a U real estate broker. And he brought in some of these tenants. Came to the city and told him, "I'm no longer a lumber yard operator. Now I am a landlord."
And at that point, they said, "Well, you need to go through all of this." One of the first things they told me was, "This is new development, so we're going to treat you like new development." I said, "This this property has been here since the ' 40s. This is not new development."
After back and forth Zoom meetings, cuz now we're in CO, uh, I said, "Okay, what is it that I'm required to do?" Gave me a laundry list of all the different things that I needed to do to get that ASPR, ASP, or whatever it's called. Um, and I will just give you an
example of how uh difficult and how frustrating this whole process was for me. One of the things that I was required to do there was do a traffic study. I talked to an attorney friend of mine that deals with the city of Homestead and he recommended this retired DOT engineer that was was doing
a lot of traffic studies for the city of Homestead to hire him. I hired a traffic study. He tells me, "You don't need a traffic study. Don't worry, I'll talk to them." Months go by and finally I tell them, "Listen, if they're requiring the traffic study, go ahead and do the traffic study. Obviously, you know, they
are pushing certain buttons that I I still don't understand." Shortly after that, I get a bill from the city of Homestead. Well, actually, they told me, "You need to deposit more money into the account because they were withdrawing from the account to pay for
all these services." Okay, I get and I said, "Wait a second. I've already given you a significant amount of money in the thousands and thousands of dollars. Can I have a detailed report of what that money is being used for? They gave me the report and I see a that
I paid my traffic engineer that I was forced to hire even him saying that there was no requirement to do a traffic study. But then that profit study was being reviewed by the previous director of zoning's engineering firm charging me
an additional monies. And I go on to find out that the person reviewing that traffic study wasn't even a traffic engineer. So I said, "Wait, there's something going on here. you know, there's somebody that's working for the city, but we are now forced to hire his
engineering firm to review the work that they're supposed to be doing. So, you can imagine my frustrations at the time. Shortly after that, I get a call and they said, "Hey, there's a big chance that they are forcing you out of the city cuz they want you to sell the
property." I said, "No, man. We don't live in a Republic." I got a call from a group of investors looking to buy my property. Okay. So, not that I wasn't trying to do the right thing from day one. From day
one, I was misled and told to do certain things that I knew wasn't required, okay? But I needed to make a living. So, now I have tenants there that are operating without a business license, okay? and I'm getting fined by the city on a daily basis, but I can't do
anything because I don't have that ASBR. So, finally, I get the ASBR. I got to Okay, I'm gonna go get permits to put my my property in compliance. But no, you can't get permits because you have the fines. So, do you understand the vicious circle that I've been from day one?
>> Yes, I do. The fines are showing as um from 2022 or the violation period is in from 2022 forward. >> Yeah. So, um, and ironically, I mean, or surprisingly, the the fine the issue, the violation that I think we we have
the worst time with is the the garbage disposal, and it's only $1,000. So, it's it's it's I'm I'm curious to know um between 22 and 25,
is this is it is it staff's recommendation that this issue is only being resolved now because of the same issue as the last case or is this what is different about this case that it's that it took three years
under the new um administration what so give me a synopsis there because I do see it says um the property was acquired with no existing code violations okay but then the period of the violation starts May of 2022 it's not going back to
>> so >> prior to If I may, um, one of the things that came up similar to the last property, unfortunately, the BTR was unable to be issued because of the violations. Uh, in this case, my department reached out, um, when, um, the property owner reached out to us
about his difficulties and we were able to have the BTR office issue a conditional license so that he may resolve the violations and therefore um, comply and be able to pay the leans and uh, move forward with his process. >> Okay. Are you able to tell us um what
the Sorry, >> I'm sorry. >> Are you able to tell us what the calculation or what the fine would be if you did a stop on the day that he began to try to work this out with the city? >> So, I don't have those figures right now. It would take a second to
calculate. >> It would take a second, but yes, sir. >> I started wanting to work with the city from day one. I just didn't have an asper because they would not approve the asper and I was going through a vicious circle. >> The asper is the asper bill. So
>> and then when finally they they approved the asper. Okay, I'm ready to go. Let me go get my permits. No, you can't get permits because you have these violations. >> Understood. So with even with that said, I think that um the issue here obviously is that we had tenants moving in without the business license, right? They didn't
start from the beginning the right way, right? The hands have to be clean from the beginning. But um if we're able to apply the same calculation that we did on the last one to this one, I think that I can support that. >> May May I just offer a suggestion for for rhyme or reason? One of the things
we calculated is had Mr. Vento been given those 60-day extensions. Right. Right. when the first one expired, you calculate and and we only calculated two years from 23 to now
assuming it was the whole 2 years, you're looking at about 730 days. Dividing that into 60, I got 12.6. Now, I went to law school cuz math was in my forte, but uh I'll round it to 13. 13 * 80
which is the administrative fee on my soap my simple calculator back there told me about,040 which is probably what should have happened. We should have had 60-day extension. Hey, you haven't city hasn't gotten it done yet. Great. Let's give you another 60 days to give the city
some more time because again there's only so much he's responsible for. Right. But there were a lot of there was a lot of back and forth, >> right? Just keep in mind that uh one of the uh violations is for a large section
of debris having been illegally dumped on the swale. And that's a really sensitive topic for a lot of us. >> That was that was outside. Okay. And I'm sorry that was on the outside and I was cited. I came here and I fixed the problem right away. And
>> so you you you resolved the dumping. We The city didn't pick it up. >> No. Yeah. That was that was Yeah. Yeah. I fixed it. >> My My question is the city didn't pick it up. >> No. No. I picked that up >> for clarifying. >> I'll rest now. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> mayor. >> Thank you. Yes,
>> may Thank you. Um, thank you very much for your presentation to go back to the trash. So, that was that was trash that was illegally dumped outside your your Okay. and and we've we've we've long discussed those type of of legacy issues
of illegal dumping, lack of lack of effective enforcement in many cases. Then the property owner or has to clean it up. We've we've we've um we've discussed that at length. We've discussed this entire permitting and you know zoning issue stuff. We we've talked
about it at length. Um I would I would also give another angle to this as well. Your your property is designed to to provide CDL's what? Fire extinguisher training. Correct. >> No, they do u a um semi you know
semi-truckss training, >> right? >> So they have a significant amount of traffic going through there with you know with uh >> what other training >> they um they provide uh motorcycle training. They uh uh provide English uh classes
>> ECL kind of classes. Okay. Um, then I have a carpenter, which is the same trade that I was doing before. So, I don't know why he had a problem getting a business license. I was doing exactly the same thing before, but obviously the old administration totally blocked the property. Um, I have
the uh a gentleman that does like continual professional education for fire firemen, uh, health hazards, and I mean uh CPR and a bunch of other things. So I I guess where we're going is everything that you wanted to do in that
property but were it we've gone over the cycle that you were in. Everything that you wanted to do in that property led to people getting jobs. >> Oh that's correct. And and so by prohibiting you from from or I wouldn't say prohibiting impeding you from doing
that I mean how many how many uh hundreds of people would have had a J o if they had gone through your your um your business your >> So prior to changing my business model I employed well in the city of homestead I
employed over 60 people and in Miami date county I employed over 300 people. Now, there's probably about between the businesses that are there, I want to say there's probably about 30 or 40 people that are employed >> and and then that's not counting the people that you get licenses for and
then they just kind of move on and and get a position in in this matter. I kind of agree with attorney uh Lopez. I think that um uh I think that that 1,200 is a reason very reasonable. I mean I this is
just a again it's that legacy error that we keep coming back to and and I do agree with my colleagues. We got to we got to set a standard and I get it. Uh eventually these legacy items are going to go and then the answer is going to be no no that the new dogs in town. This
you know new boss is here. This is the way it's going to be. Um but there's just enough questions being raised to say wait a minute this ain't right. This ain't right. And and by the way, just just if I could interject, uh, Councilman Davis, you folks started you
guys started the the trend in the opposite direction in June with the code relief amendment cuz we were only able to finally turn the curve on that once that became law here. So, >> if I may, um, I just want to clarify one
of the things and key points that was brought up is in reference to the extensions within that ordinance amendment that we brought, we now have the option to grant up to three extensions, a request uh, for the property owners and businesses that uh, have these issues. They're able to
submit a formal request online through our portal and that should resolve this issue. Wow, >> that's great. Great job. That's awesome. >> And council date. you know, want to remind you that, you know, whatever the motion is, there are uh staff has indicated there's $1,540 in
non-negotiable hard cost. That's above and beyond any penalties in >> in proposing an amount of settlement. That's a separate amount. >> Yeah. >> I have a question. >> Yes, Councilman Roth. Um, this is to
staff. So when a business owner changes the status of the business, I think he said it was a lumber yard or something and then deploys four new businesses within that
location. Are they required to go through a change of use? >> I'll defer to I'll defer to development services. Yes, it is required not only by the city, it is required by the by
the building code and it is required by DRM because if we don't comply with DERM we get fined. As you know each different type of businesses of business has a classification in the building code. So when you change the use you need to
comply with those requirements >> and we started that process. So then my question would be has there ever been a change of use issued on this property? >> Has did they pull a building permit and
obtain the permit because you do the change of view through a permit? >> I am not aware of one. >> Okay. So it would the business is still technically operating in violation of the South Florida building code. if these businesses had not gone through
the proper >> council changes. >> I I went through the asper to >> I don't know what the asper is. >> The asper is the administrative site plan review. >> Okay. And then after that I needed to get permits to put the property in
compliance as was required by the city. And that's when I hit a wall because I could not do that. I could not get a permit as long as I didn't pay the fines. No, I I understand all that part, but see >> see many people who come into this city
uh new get caught by the requirements of the South Florida building code when it comes to change of use. Okay. But you said you've been in the city as a business person for like 20 years or 25 years, whatever it is. >> And so, I mean, listen, I I understand
the hardships, right? But you have to admit some fault. You put four different businesses into a property that wasn't properly zoned for what it what the uses were >> and you've been collecting rents
>> all this time. >> I have to make a living. >> I understand that. But you also have to be in compliance with law. >> And I started that process. I started that process and it was a a I'm here because I couldn't resign.
>> I understand that's Listen, I get it. We're going to we're going to reduce the fine. But what I'm the president I'm trying to set is >> business owners have to comply with state law. >> You can't just do what you want to do on your property.
>> And I'm looking at one thing here. It says you operating with an unsafe structure. You you didn't do your building reertification? >> No, I I didn't. >> So, have you pulled the permits to do your building reertification? Have your 40-year reertification done? >> Mr. Roth, prior to this process, I went
through the 50 40 I had done the 40-year, now the 50-year reertification, and I got that approved. >> Okay. So, the city has the permits and the approvals for the reertification of this building. >> We I have to check. >> No, I can email you all the stamps and
everything. It's all done. So I'm just >> that that's whole stuff that you're seeing there that was all put to put in compliance and that was done around >> well that can all be verified as well that you are in compliance with the requirements that the city is requiring.
So um if I may, Mr. Mayor and council, um madame development director, look at exhibit A in the package. It says the compliance date for those unsafe structures and 40-year research was 10 January 8th, 2024.
>> Okay. >> See the backup? >> Which one? >> For the 40-year reertification, >> says January 8th, 2024. And the other one was March 11, 2024. There are three of them.
>> January 2nd, January 8th, and March 11. >> It doesn't say it was complied with. It just says the violation period was during that period of time. >> No, it says compliance date. >> See that? >> Yeah. >> That is a compliance state that was provided to us um from the actual
building official back in 2024. So, in order for them to comply with the 40-year building resertification, the building official would notify our office saying that they're in compliance with the 40-year building reertification. >> Does that happen? >> That happened on January 1st, uh, sorry,
January 2nd, 2024, March 11, 2024, and January 8th, 2024, as Dr. Zuri advised. >> All I see here is building needed to be reertified per city of Homestead ordinances. I don't see an actual compliance date. If we go to
>> I see the violation period ended but I don't see where >> on exhibit A which is on page five where it has the lean table you'll see the deadline date and the compliance state. It's a a table that was built. It has the figures and the numbers on it. >> Okay. I would still like to see if the
businesses have gone through the proper u change of use through our city and you can't verify that today. >> No. >> No. >> Okay. >> So, I would like to see those that information to make sure that the building is in compliance uh in total before we actually make a decision on
reducing the fines. >> May I ask a question? >> Thank you. What was the turnaround time uh for staff? Sorry. What was the uh turn time from when we you know new new director took over to compliance? What
was the time period? >> So if I'm not mistaken, it took approximately 3 months uh between when he reached out after um I started um for him to get the conditional license and get the compliance date.
>> Okay. Um if if we do the 15% of the amount reduced by the magistrate that comes out plus the hard cost that comes out to
$10,110 for four different businesses. It's about 2500 per business. So that's a calculation based on the precedence and dividing that up for business. So >> Mr. Mayor, I'm curious. You've got a
look on your face, >> right? So So I just want to be clear. Uh we're going to look at reducing your fine. That's not it. We're we're going to reduce your fine tonight most likely. Okay. But I also want to make sure that you know, let's don't throw everything
back on old staff. We had some competent people. they weren't allowed to maybe do their jobs the right way, but let let's let's give a little bit of benefit to there were some competent people in place that were actually going out and giving these code violations out.
We may not have been following up from the administrative side. So, just wanted to put that out for you. Oh, and it in that regard, I think, you know, code enforcement did its segment of the job, but once it got into
that area on the first floor, that's where the permitting and other issue, the circular firing squad began. Um, >> mayor, if I may, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but this is the first time I'm hearing about this case. I've been here six years. The majority of us have been
up here for a long time. Had we brought into the conversation, we probably would got would have had this taken care of much sooner. Not that we should have to have been brought into the conversation, but I I feel like we wouldn't, you know, you would have been able to have a much
lower fine if we were, you know, reach out to your council members for help if you're dealing with issues, whoever, whoever's left to, you know, to come up for discussion. Don't wait until >> I u I reached out to the previous I'm hi
so sorry I reached out to the previous council person and you know you got to go through the process. >> I've been sitting here 10 years >> I hadn't heard nothing from you. >> Well I
>> she's been sitting here six years eight years. Oh, I >> a long time. >> I have and that was the genesis of the legislation that we passed >> right >> back in June, you know, and >> meeting with them a couple of times and
then, you know, sharing those concerns with the attorney that, you know, you're on the hamster wheel. There was no way to to get off. So, that, you know, at least speaking for myself, they they have been proactive over the last what 9 to 12 months probably at least. for me
too. I agree with you a couple times >> and and I I hope that you're not doing business anymore with that real estate agent who put you in this position to begin with because that's happening where you know the the commercial properties are being uh tied with a lease to a tenant that can't even use the the facility for the use that they
want it for and then they get stuck in a year-long battle trying to do a CU or, you know, and thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars. But, you know, I don't I don't think 2500 per business is steep. If you're able to mitigate
that with the other people responsible uh with the with the issue. If you can accept that, I think that's fair for the city. It's fair for the challenge. But >> just to to correct or not correct, but point out the you're talking about reducing it by
90% the original not the original but the the magistrate's figure >> 85. Well, just using the 85. >> Okay. So, that's going to be at 10% it's 28,000 >> at 15. At 15, it's going to be >> No, I see what the number I looked at
here was 57,35. >> No, no, no. The total amount that they reduced to was $285,925. So if you're going to do the 85% it's going to be in the $35,000 range probably. >> Yeah. The
>> So 10% as we did I guess in the last guy we take it down to 25,5 uh 28,595 whatever whatever the number is. We've been here six seven hours now so it's getting hard to figure out. You know the the reduction took it down to 57135
>> per case >> per case >> total >> if you look here mitigation history >> see which >> is on exhibit one. >> No is that not >> 285,000. That's inconsistent with the
staff report then because the staff the last paragraph of exhibit one talks about that the staff's the magistrates 85% reduction. Um so is that the the amount
outstanding or was that the amount of the reduction? Big difference. So for clarification, the amount of the reduction was the 57,135 plus the hard cost. The hard costs are always non-negotiable of $1,540, which brought up the total to $58,675.
That will that was the offer that was provided during the special magistrate hearing. >> Yes, certainly. >> I can't turn Oh, now I can turn my mic on. Um, just something to keep in mind also, I'm not a math person, but as we
are taking these inconsistencies into account and pieces that we found unfair, I think we also need to look at the issue itself and not go based off of a total. Just because there are four different businesses involved, it doesn't mean that he necessarily needs
to pay four times the amount the previous person did. I think that the the headaches and the stress of trying to deal with it so long is as a local business owner, right? It
it's not necessarily based on the amount of money that that the lean um or that the business is incurring. Just throwing that out there. if we want to come to some type of term because I'm sure we are going to have quite a few more of these coming before
us. Maybe it should be something that has to do and maybe that's something code and staff can look at. Something that has to do with the amount of time that they started trying to fix the issues, looking at previous emails and determining something maybe by year or by month of how long they have been
trying to resolve the issues. And not only that, I think we still don't have the question answered that did they go through the actual change of use for all to allow all those business to be operating there today. >> But that that's not a fine. That's like I might get a speeding ticket going home. >> Yeah.
>> You know, so I think we need to stay within those four corners, but obviously that can of worms has been open now >> uh and be prepared for uh for that. Mayor, I I would certainly prefer to not put an additional arbitrary requirement
on this applicant. You know, and I get it. The change of use is important, but that's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about this >> and that that fine has not vested. It's not attached. It's anticipatory. >> But is it aren't you supposed to be in compliance in order to get to this
point? I think that's >> we haven't determined that's a factor of non-compliance. our code enforcement and building department have not yet identified that as an issue. So I think we've got to put our blinders on
for the purposes of this discussion with respect to to the certificate of or change of use. >> Mayor. Yes. >> And this kind of goes to my argument a few moments ago. We've been going around with this for 35 minutes and we're all
smart people and we got all the facts laid out in front of us. he's been dealing with this for 10 years. just just assess them thems >> because e even with us that have knowledge of this >> pretty smart people, smart staff put it
all on paper and we're still messing around with it for 35 minutes or 40 minutes. Assess them the hard cost and move it on is my recommendation. >> Is that your motion? >> It is. >> Everyone stands on its own facts.
I agree. Let's let's definitely cut it. But what happened with the previous one? Should we not go in line? Not we didn't stick to the hard cost in the previous one. And I feel like the terms were very >> I don't think they had any >> There were hard costs were >> Yeah. Just
>> What was the last one? What was the total for the last one? >> 10%. >> Right. But what was the total total of what was that 10%? >> $7,100. And the hard cost here would be 12 >> 1500 1540. >> I say $10,000 and call it a day.
>> I'll make a motion for to reduce. >> Well, wait. There there's a motion. I don't think it's been seconded. So, every dies. So, let's hear from the council woman >> for the fines to be reduced to 10,000. Oh, and that's inclusive of the
1540, >> correct? >> I'll second. >> Okay. >> Um, and would you factor in also that six month, you know, work with staff on an installment payment? >> Yes. >> To be paid in full, not later than 6 months from >> Yes, sir.
>> from today. >> I have a question. With that installment payment, will be will be will I be allowed to go through the permitting? You're compliant with the permit payment? Yes. I mean with the uh installment payment. Yes. I don't see
why. >> Okay. So, we have a motion, a second for uh a lump sum payment not later than 6 months in installments. I mean, we're not going to wait 6 months for payment of uh of $10,000 to resolve this
case. All right. So, let's have a roll call vote. >> Councilwoman Bailey. Councilman Ross, >> yes. >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Abulan, >> yes.
>> Vice Mayor Fletcher, >> yes. >> Mayor Lawson, >> yes. >> The motion carries. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And on to the next. Well, let's have a motion to extend the meeting till 10:30. It's 10:06. >> All right. We've got a motion to extend
at 10:30. All in favor? I >> Yeah. Okay. You lose. And the next for discussion is tab um 19 with respect to 7:30 Northwest 17th Street. And somehow I just had a hunch
that that's that's what you were here for my bedtime. >> Yeah. >> Ours too. You're in trouble. >> Yeah. >> Hi, my name is Juan Carlos.
I bought this house in 2017 from a man that got burnt by his son in 200 late 2015. It's a famous case. You know, officers here have been there. So, um I bought the house was to Mr.
Rollins. So, Mr. Rollins, when we did the closing, I went to um the title company. Title company calls code enforcement to see, you know, how much money do we owe? Nobody can say Mr. Rollins told me no it can't be that much
because you know what just happened you know in 2000 late 2015 and 2017 and plus he's a low income and you know he had they were going to give him a break. Well I went that year
and uh got the permit. Got the permit. I thought you know once I get the permit I'm in compliance. You know we knocked down the the house. So we just left two walls. You know, lo and behold, my mom got cancer that year.
So extreme hardship I had. You know, my mom, you know, she was dying. She died in 2019. 6 months later, my brother dies.
And uh like 7 months after that, my sister dies. So, you know, I've been going through a lot of stuff and u nobody told me, you know, nobody cited me and say, "Look, you have a the lean. The lean's going
up." I tried to go there a bunch of times. They wouldn't tell me anything. I have all the emails from 2021. I went to code enforcement myself. I don't know how to do emails. My daughter is the one that that sends them. We send emails. I get nothing back. Nothing back. Nothing
back. 2023 a friend of mine, you know, talked, you know, talked to the and I they told me the the fine was $180,000, something like that. I was like, what? How could that be? you know,
so I just, you know, we I finished the house in 23 and they gave me a fine. I think $280 something,000. I don't even know how many thousands. It's just it's like insane. They could have gave me a $400 million fine, you know, just and then
they bring it down to 189. So when I went to the front of the magistrate, I had to explain to them, you know, all my hardship and everything, you know, that I did get the permit. You know, I thought I was in compliance. I go there and the manager saying, you know, once you have the permit, you know, you're in compliance.
So, this is all new to me. So, I went in front of the magistrate. The magistrate gave me 85%. But they didn't give me 85% of what they bring down. It went up again to 200 something,000 to go and give me 85%. That's the most
she could give me. Like the young man told me, you know, I have to come in front of you, you know, gentlemen. and um $39,000 in 30 days. How am I going to come up with $39,000 in 30 days? You know,
luckily, you know, I I did this hearing and, you know, and they told me everything stops there. Then you folks could see what's, you know, what's the right thing. I think I should have paid, you know, I I shouldn't pay anything. If I bought the house in 2017,
the man's a victim with major hardship, you know, he's going to get a discount, so I should apply to that discount. I fixed the house up. No more police officers there. The house is the nicest house in the neighborhood. I thought I was going to, you know, I thought I was
doing something good. And, you know, it's just I don't know. It's been it's been tough. So, let me ask whoever either building department or code enforcement. So, as
opposed to the last two cases where they couldn't pull permits to remedy the violations, is it factual that a building permit was issued to rebuild this house
notwithstanding all of the pending violations and leans? It was supposed to be an unsafe structure. So there's no the structure wasn't even there. Let >> less less code unfortunately. >> So because of the nature of violation, the work would need to be completed in
order to satisfy the violation as it's unsafe structure in nature. Uh we don't want to just on the basis of a permit being issued. Um there are times where unfortunately property owners drag their feet and just by the issuance of a permit the work doesn't get done and
then you have an unsafe structure um in the community and and poses a hazard to to the residents and children of the community. Um in addition um the property had to be boarded up twice if I'm mistaken by the department because it was neglected at that point in time.
>> Okay. But that really didn't answer my question. We had the last two cases where we wouldn't issue permits and now the assertion here is is that we did issue yes >> a permit not permits were issued. >> Okay. Yes. >> And then a CO was issued.
>> So the house can be be occupied. Um during and if you know during the pendency of all these boardups and several years of non-compliance and work not going forward were we sending certified mail notice
and to to what address? >> So per Florida statute 162 all our notices get sent via certified mail to the registered property owner at that property address. Uh in this case um since he bought the property in 2017
>> 17 >> 2017 he wouldn't have received the first batch of notices. He would only have received the second batch of notices if there are any. Uh for example the violations that came subsequently in 2018 um he received notices for those via certified mail. Uh but the one for
2015 he would not have received those >> but not at this property address because it was a burned out vacant house. >> Correct. He would have received it to whatever the Miami Day County property appraisal mailing address would have been at that time. >> Okay. And and here's where I'm going
with that. This reminds me of the case last month. I just looked it up on miamiday.gov. This is not homesteaded property. And by the photographs in our package, it looks
like this is a highly occupied flop house in the middle of what used to be a nice single family neighborhood. So, tell me where I'm wrong here. You're an investor from outside of Homestead. You came and you bought this house that
was burned. You didn't board it up. You didn't start the work. Yes, you had a lot of family tragedy, but you were getting certified mail notices somewhere. He's telling me they were signed for. >> You got a permit. Now, you've got a a
rebuild house, but you let it detract from the neighborhood from 17 until whenever the certificate of occupancy was issued. I know. >> And and we taken a very dim view of
folks who aren't in Homestead who are just milking and degrading our neighborhoods. And I don't see anything in this package that tells me that's not what you did here. You turned your back on a house that was a significant danger
even after getting notices. Correct. >> Did I Did I graduate the place? Yeah, it was a burned out house that you even failed to board up after we sent certified notice. So to keep kids safe
in a neighborhood safe and to keep vagrants from camping out in there, the city boarded it up. >> Right. It was boarded up and when I I on boarded it to work on it cuz I had the permit. What are you talking about? I I messed up the house. No, I'm saying that
between the time you unboarded it to do the work pursuant to a permit, right, >> you failed to secure the house and the city on I think the testimony is two occasions had to secure the property.
>> No, no, no. It's not true. That's not true. >> I never received any any notice at all. >> Do you have any receipts there to file? >> Can you show me though my signatures? they would be in the case file. We can provide that later. >> I don't have it.
>> May I May I need if we're going to hear these cases, we have to have the evidence. We need to have the prepar the file prepped and ready to go to answer these questions because we're not trying to add this to another agenda and delay the situation. >> So, if we're going to say we were
sending letters certified, we you should we need to have the the evidence because this is a hearing, right? This is this is the in effect it is. >> This is a hearing and we're going to make a decision here and we don't have the evidence to support why the city
should be stricter or more firm in their decision. I mean >> maybe the maybe the information is not in the file or it's hard to get to because of you know the the practices from before. Fine, but it's going to be very difficult for us to hold up a
consistent decision if we don't have the evidence that that we need. >> Noted. If I may add uh perfor statute 162 uh two components one is if we receive back the city does a uh certified mail unclaimed >> unclaimed perfor statue we posted at the
property. So that's one caveat. The second one is all these facts are also taken into consideration during the special magistrate hearing itself where they review the due process and make sure that our violation uh administers and adheres to due process rights.
>> That's understood. But we're hearing it our independently, right? And we weren't we didn't witness what questions they asked or what information they looked at or what was absent in the file and what may have come to light since then to now. So it's it's not a it's I'm not
saying this as a reflection of the way that you have been prepared in the past, but that going forward we need to have a full file available for us. Okay. Well, and certainly that understanding that that was considered at the hearing, but the property owner has alleged that
sometime in 2021, he began making effort and had a handful of emails. Can you locate those? Have they been provided? No, I'm asking my code enforcement director. >> Have those been located in the city system? Are you privy to them or is this
new evidence? >> That is new to me. Those weren't provided to me. Okay. So I think at this point and you need to understand this council at least on the last case >> I gave it to your secretary. >> What's that? >> The whole file
>> I to he's from my district and I gave it to your secretary >> sir. But what the mayor is asking for is the received emails on our side. So we're not questioning that what you have was not provided or what you have is not legitimate. We want to we need to
validate what you know through our side >> and code enforcement needs to see your efforts and we need to know um as as part of of the record that you made made an effort. >> I didn't I did make an effort. >> Okay. But and I'm not you know I'm a
little bit insulted what you said that I came in to milk I'm helping the community make it better a house. Take a a drug drug infested house and make it a decent place. You're trying to say that it could milk the place. Come on. >> Apparently this house sat for several
years. >> Several years 17. I got the permit. I bought it in 17 unrepaired. >> I bought this house in 17. My mom died. My mom had cancer and died at 19. I I was already repairing the house. I had to take the boards off to take all the
burnt stuff out of there. >> I get that. you know, look at pictures now. >> When I was building the house, when I was building the house with the permit, why didn't they knock on the door and say, "Hey, look, you know what's going on." When I went over there in person and they wouldn't tell me nothing and
they said, "No, you have to send an email. You have to send an email." We sent five, six emails and nobody did nothing. Well, and again, we need to see that in the last two cases that you had to endure with the rest of us, >> we focused in on what efforts had been
made to resolve this. Don't hand it to me. Hand it to the clerk who didn't give it. >> I gave it to them last time. They have everything from last time. >> Okay. >> 21. Everything's there. >> All right. And that's that's something that we need to see. And and in light of that,
>> has Sorry. Staff has >> I'm sorry. Mr. Mayor, just for clarity, >> code compliance cannot provide a payoff amount when the property is still in violation. So, the permits were allowed to be obtained by the new owner. The
violations were in place prior to his ownership. He had come to the station. I had spoken with him. I cannot provide a payoff or anyone can when it's a running daily fine until there's a compliance date. So, we can tell you the daily fine
amount. We can tell you when the fine starts, but you cannot project into the future onto when they're going to comply. And that's how we base the level of of reduction. >> So, we he what he was asking for could not be provided at >> at the time he at the time. So, what was
allowed was permits were allowed to be pulled. The work that was done by code to board up the prior home because it was a fire. It was taken care of by code. landscaping I believe was also taken care of by court prior to his ownership. >> So once he bought the property with the
violations on them, the only thing we can tell you is that it was brought to hearing on such and such a date. There's a lean reported on the property, there's so many dollars a day per fine. The sooner you get it into compliance looks favorable on your reduction. the way the
code was structured before, bring your hardship and the things that you that cost to come into compliance and the special master factors that in. That's the only information we're able to provide anyone that has an active code violation. >> So that's why we couldn't give you a
number. >> Mayor, if I may. >> No, no, no. I get I I get that. But going forward, his efforts to resolve it after the house was completed, >> meaning house >> these these alleged emails from 2021 that went unanswered.
>> Right. I I can't answer to that right now, but I do remember having more than one conversation in regards to this property because there's not many properties that burned down in Homestead. >> Mhm. >> Right. So, >> that was the basis for that one. That one was very remarkable because of the
circumstances uh surrounding it. So, We the line the the what you say to the property owner is the faster you come into compliance the faster you have to get permits you have to do this you have to do that like we lay the basis and then also to the building official at
the time hey this person needs to get permits even though they have violations >> mayor if yes counc is is there no way to know a current balance even though it's not a payoff >> you so that's clarified right okay um
with. Can I ask >> how much are you renting the property for? >> How much do you rent the property for? >> $2,800. >> Okay. How much have you invested in repairing the property? >> Not don't be too exaggerated, but give me a good estimate.
>> Couple hundred grand. Okay. I think it's easy to say that he's not going to recoup what he has invested in this property in any reasonable amount of time. And I would be okay with doing a reduction consistent with what we've
done in the past or a flat rate of the 10,000 like we just did to the last one. But it's not a burned down house anymore. Or if you want to come back and table the item to get more information, we can do that, too. But we got to make a
decision one way or another on >> question. Well, given all the cars in the front yard and the photos and knowing what the market is today, I seriously doubt he's getting $2,800 a month. >> It's a good point. >> Yes. We have the obligation to tell the truth. You do not.
>> Okay. >> Um, >> just one question. >> Yes, Councilman. >> When was the uh staff, when was the uh CO issued after he rebuilt the property? >> So, the CO was issued on
March 17, 2023. >> So, h how is it possible that we would allow somebody to obtain a CEO with leans and fines on it? >> It's not a question for you. It's for staff. >> Defer development services as the ones
that issue that conditional I guess uh occupancy. >> Okay. There's no answer. >> I was I have no answer. >> Yeah, you have no answer. >> I was not here. I have no answer. >> I I was in your position before, sir. And
when I bought the property prior to being on council and knowing all the real good stuff about what goes on up here, uh, I accepted whatever leans were on the property. I went to the magistrate,
reduced my fine, and I paid it. I did accept it. There's no doubt about it. I accepted 2013, but once I got my permit and I started building the house, that should stop. So, you know, okay,
>> I get the acrewing part of it. I understand that cuz it happened to me as well. >> And nobody informed me that I was getting finedund something. I don't even know how many hundreds today. >> Excuse me. Sorry. I would have never built that. But sometimes sometimes that's your responsibility. It's not our
responsibility and and and I'm I'm not trying to, you know, belittle you in any way, but when you make a purchase on a property knowing that there's some type of a lean or violation on that, that should throw
up a red flag in your head and say, "Ah, maybe I shouldn't be buying this property." So, now you're down the road. You owed us about what? 20 I don't even know the number. $259,000. >> They reduced it to 183 and now it's been
reduced down to it looks like $40,000. >> $39,400 plus the hard >> cost. Do you see Can you show me where it says? Because it says here it was fully aware of the existing code violations and recorded leans, but I don't see the amount of the leans as of
the day of what was recorded on April 2017 when he bought the property. So when we record a lean because when a fine is still acrewing we do not acrue we do not record the amount as of that date. We recruit uh we record the daily
acrewing amount as of April 1st. It acrus but it can be calculated. >> It can easily be calculated. It's visible on the front page of the lean cover sheet where it says from April 1st, 2020 until ex, you know, it's 200 $50 a day or whatever it is until
>> Do we know when the when the lean started to acrue before he bought it in 2017? >> If you bear with me one moment, I'll let you know. >> Thank you. Because that that might just take care of the whole conversation where he pays what the fine cruel amount
was at the time of purchase. Well, I don't see that in here for for review. >> Well, for some reason, it shows the vi the the staff report. >> The second paragraph under the background, it talks about the violation
period was November 14th, 2015 through March 17th, 2023. >> So, it carried on for eight years >> because of the uh >> I found it in the system. Um, yes, Mayor. Those are the dates of the violation, but the order from the magistrate is what determines the date
that the fine actually starts. And the date it was ordered uh the fine to start is September 23rd, 2016, and it was $100 a day. >> I didn't know that. >> So, that was that was prior to his his acquisition,
>> correct? >> But he purchased it with full knowledge that it that it existed. So, what's the calculation on that? 365 * 100 that's 36,500. Is that correct? >> It's basically what it's at today.
>> Right. Okay. Just doing some math. >> And but you know and then there are other violations that occurred new violations that occurred during his ownership that I see one that was cured prior to
the issuance of the CO. another one that was cured prior to the issuance of the the CEO. Uh several more that that were all cured prior to the issuance of the uh of
the CO. But the fact remains for me that during his ownership an unsecured burnedout house in a traditional single family
neighborhood. That's that's my issue. >> Mayor, would you like to um just have it move to the cow meeting? >> I I think that that's probably in this case the the best best scenario to defer this to the next council meeting.
>> So, we're not going to deny your request for a reduction. We're going to defer it to the cow meeting which is dated for >> November 12th. >> Okay. Couple weeks. I'm always >> But you're not acrewing any more fines on You're always the last one. I'm
>> We'll make you first at the couch >> and and >> Well, you go back to the microphone. >> Stay at the podium. Sorry. You can't There's There's no way you can reduce that to me. >> We we we want to make sure that we're being fair to the process, to you, and to the neighborhood and to the
neighborhood and to the to the to the residents and the taxpayers. We also >> Everybody in the neighborhood loves it, you know. >> Well, I'm sure they do now. >> Sure. and they loved it when because I bought it. If not, it wouldn't have been like that. It would have still >> to accept the staff's recommendation of
this fine unless you agree to come back. >> Excuse me. >> I'm going to make a recommendation >> a motion >> or a motion that we proceed with what's written on this piece of paper in front of us. $40,000 635 38 >> unless he unless you re request the
deferral to November 12th. >> Okay. It stays at 40,000 until November 12th and then you're going to bring it down, right? >> There's no guarantee that's going to happen. >> But it's going to be at $40,000. >> There is a guarantee that if you don't accept that that we're going to I'm going to make a motion to push this through now and you're going to pay the
$40,000. Do you want to come back and take a chance that it's going to be less? >> Explain to me again. >> Every everyone is tired. We need to defer it until the >> meeting said about 40,000. So he's saying please take our recommendation to
wait till November 12th. >> I'll wait. I just don't want it to go up more than 40. >> It will not go up more than 40. >> Let's let's be sure. I Isn't there built into these magistrates or masters reductions that payment has to be made
within a certain amount of time? >> Correct. >> Is that is that correct? >> Per the city ordinance after the magistrate's ruling, they have 30 days to make the payment. But uh Kiki told me the moment I I I apply for this it stops. >> Yeah. So where where does that put us in
the process though that he's here and we have moved to to defer that? Does that toll his time period for payment? >> You would like it to toll? No, I'm asking does it what do we need to do so that he does not violate that 30-day
window for the existing reduction? I was under the understanding the moment I applied to see um the man >> for this >> this it stops. I stopped because I was that's exactly where I talked to your to your secretary Sergio. He told me I told
him look this needs to stop before I go. You know if now the 30 days is going to be over. >> Mhm. >> So I imagine you know it stopped now and then November it still stopped and then November we'll make the you'll make the
decision and um that's >> um I think Matt's doing some research on >> pulling the code section, but it doesn't speak to the extension for >> Okay. So, do we have the authority to
build in a tolling into >> we can do whatever we want. >> The council has the discretion to >> eliminate it. So, we'll say that you can toll it. >> Okay. Like I said, >> so so implicit in your motion a motion.
Who's were you making a motion to defer? >> Implicit in that is the tolling of his deadline to make payment or lose the reduction that's already been granted. >> And just to be clear, we've spoken about the cow, but this will be a special call
so you can actually take the action. Okay. That's correct. >> On November 12th. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Okay. So everybody's clear on what we're where we're going. All right. >> And I don't know if it's appropriate, but I did bring this up during our our discussion is that it would be helpful
to see the minutes from the magistrates's meetings because obviously just like a board would recommend something, it would be helpful to see all the process that went through. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. So, let's have a roll call on the motion to defer. >> Councilman Roth, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Bailey, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Avula, >> yes. >> Councilman Davis, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Fletcher, Mayor Lawson,
>> yes. >> The motion carries. >> See you next month. And in the meantime, we'll do our homework. Thank you. I think we need another motion to >> motion to Well, that's been a long time.
>> Motion to extend till 11. >> I got one. >> Okay, you're up. Tab 20. Am >> I? >> Super. All right. Will you all pretty please help me support a breast cancer walk this Saturday? >> Okay. So, no, real quick. It is this Saturday. Um, it is the third annual. It
is by Trayvon Brown with BOL who we know very well. I know that staff is doing wonderful things with helping to standardize things. It's getting a little confusing for me to know what requires a permit, what requires PD. So,
I would really like some type of outline for anyone who wants to put on an event. if they're expecting more than a certain amount of people, it would require PD and you know just the process. First we're gonna acquire the site through
parks, make sure it's available. Then what is the next step? >> Mr. Mayor, >> if I if I can uh I'm going to have a similar request right after this. We have some special event funds that we could use to support these type of events. I I I make the motion we have
staff use those funds to support both of these events, >> especially taking into consideration that we've always done it for nonprofits that are free to the whole community. >> That was a motion. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, but run run by me again. Who's
doing this? What organization is I mean I see a bunch of sponsors here. >> So, it is by >> YOL. Okay. Build your Okay. >> Build your own legacy. You see the thing there? It was one of the mentoring
programs. Eight years ago, we met uh a previous high school student who didn't make the basketball team. For eight years now, he has had a very u very successful mentoring basketball team. Um in the last three years, he has some family members and realized that there
were some needs in the community to continue breast cancer awareness. And that is how that started. And this is year three. >> Okay. just and I won't push it now, but the next term when we sit down to make some more policy and procedure
decisions, if we're going to sponsor these events or assist these events, the organizers need to have their ducks in a row with respect to being a not for profofit, including filing their 990s, you know, because everybody's running around with
a not for-p profofit, but it doesn't mean they're legit. >> Super. then that's going to also come on this quick and easy term sheet from staff for us to understand and help the community um know what they need to do to be um in compliance.
>> If if I may regarding the the filing requirements, the 990s are needed in order to update your a certificate from agriculture to get your soliciting. And I'm tired so sorry for saying maybe backwards, but you know what I'm talking about. the solicitation >> your registration with the department of
agriculture to raise money. >> Correct. So if we just ask them for their regist their certificate of registration with the department of a that is implicit that they have filed their 990s and provided them. >> Okay. So let me go deeper. Here's a real agenda. I don't want to see a not for
profofit where all it does is pay salaries to the people who organized it. Okay. That's why I that's why I would like to see 990s. So, Mr. Mayor and Council, um, we need some kind of guidance in terms of the
>> What kind of support are we looking at? Um, >> so can we look at the special events fund for >> That's not what I'm asking. The next item actually specifies that the amount is $1,200. >> This doesn't have any amount. >> We never had an amount before. We were
able to vote yes to have the park fees waved. So that's why I'm wondering where is this $1,200 now coming from and if there was a similar event two months ago that included the same type of walk they did not require a special event permit. I'm
just confused as to what the specifics are and I know we're getting there. So let's just try to figure that out as far as the events are concerned. >> It would help a lot. >> But this is yeah not actually handing out money but waving fees. We're not not handing out money.
>> Correct. Just for clarity, the way code codes codes read, governments don't wave fees. What you do is to authorize staff to pay >> take it out of the left pocket and put it in the right pocket. >> Exactly. So, we will pay the fees associated with park and facility rental
from the special events funds. >> We're not waving it. We'll pay for it. >> And then going forward, we do need to look at that because that adds up very quickly. >> Yes, it does. So we need to make sure that we're on the same page with what we are what we are waving and what would
trigger those wave waivers. >> So the direction from council is both as to tab 20 and tab 21. >> Can we do both at the same time? >> That's the motion. Yes sir. >> A motion second. Do we need a roll call?
>> All in favor? Any opposed? All right. And that concludes apparently. I know Mr. Pearl, you need to request an executive session. >> Very quickly, um I need to request a session in the matter of um Broward County Minority Builders versus City of
Homestead CRA case number 2024-015316 in Miami Day County. >> Okay, let's make it happen. Uh Councilwoman, any further business? Your first. Okay, you we just did yours right now. First, >> she's next. Clemente is gone. You're up.
>> Manager, do we have nothing? >> We'll come back to >> Are you next? >> No, I haven't done >> I'm trying to get out of here. Got to have >> Me, too. Me, too. Um, >> I just have one thing just to ask staff just in case we uh run into this problem with the uh military and the furlow and
the government shutdown. Do we have any plans in place in case um they run into issues with paying utilities uh with with no torn off situations, things like that? Um other other places are are are reaching out and asking if they've been
furled. Um so I just wanted to put that out there. I don't know how long the government shutdown is going to continue on, but I think we need to have something in place in order to um uh help facilitate similar I think something we did during CO, but not for as long because this is not going to last as long as CO I don't think.
>> Yes, council member. We'll look into that. In addition to that, we carried out a couple of recent hires and we gave priority to people who were followed on >> Federal and I just want to say it's been an honor and a privilege to be hanging out with y'all for the last eight hours or some of you for the last eight hours
>> pretty much. Yeah. And uh you know, I hope that when we do our state of the city that we come out and support breast cancer awareness as we're all wearing pink or some of us wearing pink tonight uh for the state of the city because I think that'll be a nice little uh send off for the breast cancer awareness and uh what we do in the city here.
>> I think that'll clash with my shoes. >> Well, whatever. >> That's all I got. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. All right, Councilman Davis. Okay, Fletcher. I think we already dealt with your honorable. You're good.
All I've got is that it's the little things that just happen that make a big difference. And I've noticed over the past several days that things are being done routine mate the pressure cleaning outside, the taking the scuff marks off
the walls out in the foyer doing a little extra cleaning that needs to be done for tomorrow night when we're going to have a couple of hundred people here who, you know, we need to have our best face forward and all the lights are working. Don't look at them. We'll jinx
them. And uh I you know given that certain prior administrations walked around this building with blinders on and it was like pulling teeth to to get things done. I just want to say thank you Mr. Manager to you and your staff
for uh taking care of those details for tomorrow night. With that, Mr. Man, do you have anything? >> Yes, sir. Have a quite a few for the next one hour. >> Uh >> move to adjurnn. Yeah, tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning, development services
is hosting uh concage services in collaboration with Miami date county staff to address small businesses and homeowners that are need issues about cus, BTR and building permit questions tomorrow morning from 8:00 in the morning to noon
>> and that be added to our calendars. Those are things that we could share with our you know circle of influence. Thank you. Sure. And also the entire next week I will not be available in person but I will be available via phone and email to attend the ICMA conference
in Tampa and proceed to the city of Phoenix Arizona with the vice mayor and the chief to you're welcome to join us. We want to kind of preview their preparation for the NASCAR so that when we come back we have a template on how
to prepare with uh uh the next year's uh 2026 events. We are also going with GMO Santa Cruz from the Speedway. >> So remember he's going to be in Arizona so call him at 8:00 in the morning. >> I'm always council Marila loves to call
when she and we have good conversations right. Uh the deputy city manager Kimbran is also going to be out next week. Uh she's going to be on vacation that was approved like several months ago. Uh also the city is conducting the last
sessions of the conversation with the community on the bond program. We have it on the 28th at Fico Williams at 6 p.m. and on October 30th, we will have a citywide uh virtual session at 6 p.m. as well to capture anyone that we missed.
>> Thank you, Council and Mayor. >> I got one more thing, Mayor. It's okay. Council, >> just uh a shout out for staff and everybody last weekend's fall festival. It was an absolutely amazing event. Um >> absolutely. >> It it I there was a lot more people there. I I I think I spent three hours
there and I've never spent that much time at any of our events. So, Pedro, shout out to your guys, whoever planned that, put this thing together. I think the Semino Theater had a show Friday night and were able to hook up the the haunted house and if you went through that haunted house, you weren't scared
till you got to the end. That guy jumped out that door and scared the be Jesus out of me. So, uh shout out to you guys and it was a great great great event and we appreciate all you guys did out there. Thank you so much. Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. All right, with that I think I heard a motion and a second to
adjurnn. Good night everyone. Thank you.