it's the law illegal dumping can result in fines up to $500 a day until the trash is picked up and in some cases it can even result in an arrest so what is illegal dumping it's not just throwing garbage into a vacant
lot or alleyway it includes using a dumpster that doesn't belong to you or adding to your neighbor's bulk waste pile without permission this illegal dumping has many negative effects on your community like health issues from unsanitary conditions decreasing property values and using your tax
dollars to clean up someone else's mess health issues can arise in sites where garbage collects unattended as it acts as a breeding ground for insects and animals that carry diseases when it rains runoff from improperly disposed chemicals can contaminate the land and
our water supply it can also wear on residents mental health because studies show that unclean environments can contribute to increased stress and decreased feelings of security illegal dumping also affects property values according to the visible litter cost
study real estate agents reported a 9 to 24% decrease in home price when litter was visible in the neighborhood as the gateway to Everglades and Bisque National Parks we have the unique responsibility of not only caring for our own community but the natural
treasures right in our own backyard because it's up to all of us to keep Homestead beautiful [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] visit city of
Homestead beautiful [Music] homestead beautiful there's some exciting news for the city of Homestead we're thrilled to announce the launch of our new website domain www.homesteadfl.gov effective June 17th
2024 this significant update marks a pivotal moment in our digital evolution offering a fresh and intuitive web address that enhances cyber security and provides residents with peace of mind when interacting with city services online rest assured you can still access
the same reliable information and stay updated on city news and events visit us at www.homesteadfl.gov and stay connected with your city introducing the energywasting Johnson's when it comes to heating and cooling
conserving energy was never at the top of the Johnson's to-do list they set their AC on 72 all day long adding up to 8% more to their bill for every degree below 78 they also let their bushes get overgrown around the outside compressor
a device that accounts for more than 40% of the household's energy expense and all that wasted energy was costing them a bundle but today the Johnson's have learned their lesson are energy smart and discovered how to not only save energy but save money as well now their
to-do list includes keeping the compressor clean and debrisf free so nothing blocks or restricts air flow to the unit allowing it to work as efficiently as possible setting the thermostat between 78° and 80° and installing a more efficient high sear
heating and cooling system including a heat pump and their new ceiling fans make it feel up to 5° cooler and could reduce energy use by 10% with all their saving the top of their new list includes a fun-filled family vacation brought to you by your local municipal
electric utility and the Florida Municipal Power Agency i'm always looking for creative ways to save money [Music] but one place I know I never have to
worry about is with my HPS energy bill homestead Public Service offers some of the lowest rates in all of Florida we pay an average of $15 less than those who use FPL now that's what I call savings
heat heat well good evening everyone and welcome i'd like to uh call the city of Homestead Council presentation ceremony for November to order it's now 5:00 p.m and today is Wednesday October 16th uh
2024 and I said November didn't I i must have meant uh I'm thinking about Thanksgiving already fall was in the air right so we'll start off tonight with uh Councilwoman Bailey thank you Mayor good evening everyone
so in honor of this coming January's 111th anniversary for the city of Homestead this month's artist in the spotlight was a call to artists to present anything that makes Homestead
Homestead so one of one of the main artists that will be presenting and showcasing their work during um the gallery opening is Jason Gaither unfortunately
he's traveling he wasn't able to be here today but he is a homestead native his roots go back to his greatgrandparents and um when his grandfather passed not long ago he set out to just collect all
these different artifacts and things that his family has collected over these hundreds of years um and it's a really cute really cute collection i love his passion um for the things that he wasn't able to get the physical piece of he has
recreated in some type of art form so he is really sad that he can't be here today but he really does hope that you can all make it out to our gallery our gallery night which give me one moment as I look for it if Miss Hson with the Homestead Center for the Arts can also
join me double checking here so the gallery opening will be Wednesday the 30th at 6 PM at the Seminal Theater so you can always check our social media page for all the details but it'll be a really
fun representation of what Homestead means and I'm sure you'll see a lot of different things um because this big beautiful melting pot is just so many different things for for everybody that lives here so I would like to introduce Miss Charlie Hedson from the Homestead
Center of the Arts who is also going to be participating i always have to do this bear with me bear with me uh for those of you that don't know me I am in fact the president for Homestead Center for the Arts uh we do not have an uh
facility here but we have actually been in uh Homestead working in an umbrella virtual kind of capacity since 1977 and so we do have on any given day between 30 and 40 artists i happen to be a writer and normally we would have some
of our artists here but there's just been a whole rash of medical emergencies and this that and the other so we will have because the theme is you know images of Homestead what makes Homestead Homestead we'll have between four and six of our artists uh the very talented Marie Ferraro who does some beautiful
work uh watercolor and some uh other mediums for those of you who are familiar with my husband Hugh Hudson who has a passion among other things for photography so he will have some of his images of out at the speedway some fantastic shots from there as well as he
photographs a number of events uh that take place uh when we're doing work for the paper so he's got some pieces of that and then we've got two or three other artists wonderful artists testing testing Welcome to WebEx press one to be
connected to your meeting good evening everyone and welcome i'd like to call the uh city of Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency meeting to order today is Tuesday April 8th 2025 and is now 5:45 p.m can we have a roll
call please board member Cannibal board member Abula board member Davis here member Ros vice Chairman Fletcher here chairman Lawson here
mr director do we have any deletions or deferrals this evening no sir there are no deletions or deferrals thank you as our first item of business we have the minutes of December 10th 2024 before us do we have a motion to approve moved by
board member Roth seconded by board member Davis are there any questions or comments all in favor any opposed next item is car number 4495 a commercial enhancement grant for Harmonic Development Inc 305 Northeast
Second Drive mr pearl yes uh Mr chair tab two is a resolution of the board of the community redevelopment agency of the city of Homestead Florida approving the allocation of commercial enhancement grant program funds approving the grant agreement providing for implementation and providing for an effective date
thank you sir mr director so this application as Matt said is for the commercial enhancement grant it is for the installation of impact windows and doors on the majority portion of the front facade of the building it is to also include a new sign uh this is being
done with the grant program requirements of a 25% match by the uh project applicant uh who is present today uh this application also has gone forward to SWAC and had a recommendation for approval to the CRA board thank you sir
any questions or comments from the board we have a motion to approve moved by board member Avala seconded by board member Cannibal let me open the public hearing is there anyone present or online wishing to speak with respect to this
matter okay I'll now close the public hearing we have a motion on the table we need a roll call vote board member Davis yes board member Cannibal yes board member Ross board member Aula yes vice Chairman Fletcher yes chairman Lner yes
the motion carries our next item Mr fearl yes uh Mr chair tab three is a resolution of the board of the community redevelopment agency of the city of Homestead Florida approving the allocation of residential improvement grant program funds approving a grant agreement providing for implementation
and providing for an effective date thank you sir and uh as Matt stated this is a residential rehabilitation grant uh Miss Cabrera has applied for a roof replacement uh she meets the income requirements and uh has requested the
grant amount not to exceed a total of $20,000 this does not have a match requirement by the applicant it has gone forward to SWAC that came with a recommendation and approval to the CRA board thank you is the applicant present
yes sir we just need to note for the record that the applicant is is here welcome good evening question for this and and the next are these pretty much the last couple of residential grants i think we're moving away from
Sure i think we are relooking at the overall grant program in the structure i think we anticipate coming back to the board likely over two workshops the first one probably in May to relook at these there may be some residential exterior components we choose to seek
but uh those will be coming for a more detailed work session with you all very good do we have any questions or comments from count from the board we open the public hearing anyone present or online close the public
hearing we have a motion to approve moved by board member Cannibal second by board member Roth we need a roll call on this one old member Roth yes vote member Cannibal yes vote member Avula vote member Davis
vice Chairman Fletcher yes chairman Lner yes the motion carries and moving on to tab four car number 4494 mr attorney yes Mr chair tab 4 is also a resolution of the board of the community redevelopment agency of the city of Homestead Florida
approving the allocation of residential improvement grant program funds approving a grant agreement providing for implementation and providing for an effective date thank you is there any objection to waving the staff report on this one didn't think so we open the public hearing is there
anyone present or online who would wish to speak on this matter seeing none I'll close the public hearing and ask for a motion to approve this item move moved by board member Ravala second by board member Cannibal there are no further questions
we'll have a roll call vote board member Roth yes board member Davis board member Cannibal board member Avula yes vice Chairman Fletcher yes chairman Lner yes the motion carries and moving on to tab
five car number 4566 the acceptance of real property at 595 Southwest 4th Court from the city of Homestead to the Community Redevelopment Agency mr pearl yes Mr chair tab five is a resolution of the board of the community redevelopment agency of the
city of Homestead Florida accepting the property conveyance of folio number 10-7813-037-0450 to the CRA by the city of the city of Homestead providing for implementation and providing for an effective date thank you sir are there any objections to waving the staff report this is simply titling this in
the manner in which it should be titled given its uh use all right it has been moved by board member Avala seconded by board member Cannibal let's open the public hearing close the public hearing and we'll have a roll call vote board member
Ron yes board member Cannibal Board Member Abula Board Member Davis yes vice Chairman Fletcher yes chairman Lawman yes the motion carries and moving on to tab six car number 4449 mr attorney yes tab six is a resolution of the board of
the community redevelopment agency approving the conveyance of property to the city of Homestead providing for implementation providing for an effective date very good i think we'll wave the staff report same issue in the opposite direction as the last item moved by board member
count second by board member Avala is there anyone here wishing to speak on this matter seeing none I'll close the public hearing and ask for a roll call vote board member Davis yes board member Cannibal yes board member Roth yes board
member Abula vice Chairman Fletcher yes chairman Lawner yes the motion carries thank you any further Mr director no sir i think that covers it very good are there any further public general public comments with respect to the community
redevelopment agency hearing none I'll close the po public comment section of this agenda and entertain a motion to adjourn the CRA meeting moved by board member Roth seconded by the vice chair all in favor
any opposed this meeting is adjourned and we will convene the special call in just a moment special calls notice first right before the calendar yes Mr may we're ready Mr may very good
thank you good evening everyone and welcome i'd like to call the Tuesday April 8th 2025 special call city of Homestead Council meeting to order it is now 5:53 p.m we have a roll call please Madam Clerk
councilman Davis Councilman Ross Councilman Cannibal Councilwoman Abula Mayor Vice Mayor Fletcher here Mayor Lawson here right very good we have before us
tab uh is there a presentation do we have any presentations no okay first item is car number 4556 approval of the local housing assistance plan mr pearl yes Mr
mayor this is a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead Florida approving the local housing assistance plan as required by the state housing initiatives partnership program act subsections 4207 through 420-9079 Florida statutes and rule
chapter 67-37 Florida Administrative Code authorizing directing the city manager to execute any necessary documents and certifications needed by the state subject to legal review authorizing the submission of the local housing assistance plan for review and approval by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation providing for implementation
and providing for an effective date thank you sir do we need a presentation on this item is council comfortable moving forward mr manager is there anything you'd like to point out in this item i think uh good afternoon Mr mayor and Council uh in prior council meetings
we've already laid out the background information on this program which is something that is of great interest to the city of Homestead in regards to the state housing initiatives partnership ship program uh in order to qualify for and be eligible for funding this fiscal
year we need to get this wrapped up by no later than May 2nd so which is really time is of the essence to get this passed and of course at the next council meeting to do the appointments right again let me reiterate that we
anticipate doing the appointments to the uh advisory committee for affordable housing at the next council meeting and that's that has been advertised and we've received and expect numerous uh applications of of interest any
questions from council on this item yeah I'll open the public hearing any comment on this item seeing none I'll close the public hearing and ask for a motion to approve this item moved by Councilman Cannibal second by
Vice Mayor Fletcher let's have a roll call councilman Cannibal yes councilman Davis yes councilman Roth yes councilwoman Abula Vice Mayor Fletcher yes mayor Losner yes the motion carries and
finally enter the special call business this is a non-aggenda item with regard to the appointment of William Ray to fill the last vacancy on the Homestead Housing Authority Board i'd like a motion and a second to uh approve his
his appointment moved by the vice mayor second by Councilman Cannibal um all in favor I any opposed all right anything further from any council member for this special call
meeting we have a motion to adjurnn it's been moved and seconded all in favor any opposed all right this special call meeting is adjourned and we will roll right into the committee of the uh poll meeting in just a
moment again good evening and welcome everyone i'd like to call the city of Homestead Committee the whole meeting to order today is Tuesday April 8th 2025 and it is now 5:58 p.m we have a roll call please
councilman Cannibal Councilwoman Abul Councilman Davis here councilman Rob here vice Mayor Fletcher here mayor Losner here mr manager do we have any additions deletions or deferrals this
evening none mr mayor thank you all right we have as tab one the approval of our March 11th 2025 committee the whole minutes do we have a motion to approve as presented moved by the vice mayor seconded by uh
Councilman Cannibal all in favor any opposed uh next item is uhformational with respect to an emergency person of galvanized radiators for the McMen substation transformers
located at 685 Northeast 6 a mr manager so um this is an emergency procurement uh because of the lead time and one of the radiators is actively leaking so really time is of the essence to get this in place uh we're looking at
replacing the entire inventory of 12 of the radiators to minimize any disruption as we get into the summer months in in the next couple of months so we're asking for approval to procure 12 of them uh there are two transformers there
are six radiators for each of the transformer and there are two transformers at the location for a total fiscal impact of $148,000 thank you sir do we have any questions or comments from council yes council vice mayor Fletcher so I'll move it with
the the comment that uh I did ask the question of what these cost previously and actually our cost per unit has gone down with the new purchase compared to what they used to be compared to everything else news yes very good news any further all right let
me uh Is there any I'd like to open the public hearing is there anyone who would like to speak on this matter okay i'll close the public hearing do we have a motion moved by the vice mayor seconded by uh Councilman Cannibal all in favor
any opposed our next item is car number 4567 i think we saw this on an agenda earlier tonight conveyance of property at 595 Southwest 4 Street mr pearl this is the tab three i'm with you okay
uh tab three will be a resolution of the city council of the city of Homestead Florida approving the conveyance of property folio number 10-7813-037-0450 to community redevelopment agency of the city of Homestead Florida approving providing for implementation providing for an effective date thanks sir moved by
Councilman Roth do we have a second second by Councilman Davis any further discussion from councel is there anyone wishing to make a public comment with respect to this matter i'll now close the public hearing all in favor any
opposed next item is car number 4500 the acceptance of the property located at the intersection of Southwest 6th Street and 3rd Avenue to the city from the CR we have a motion moved by Councilman Roth second second by uh Councilman
Cannibal let's open a public hearing seeing none I'll close the public hearing all in favor any opposed all right next item is there anything
further uh Mr manager for this meeting yes Mayor and Council um we received a request from the Speedway asking for confirmation of members who might be available to attend the Formula E racing
this weekend at 2 p.m at the speedway so I just sent an email about an hour ago asking for your confirmation i think time is of the essence again they need a confirmation no later than tomorrow morning uh for those who are not aware
Formula E is an electric vehicle NASCAR type racing uh the first time is coming to Homestead and the second time is coming to South Florida from his inception so this is something that's of interest for those who haven't
witnessed electric vehicle racing before i also want to use this opportunity to remind us that we're starting the strategic planning sessions tomorrow there will be one there will be two sessions tomorrow and one on Thursday out of the three sessions two
will be virtual in case you're not able to come in and of course the one will be in person here in city hall one virtual and two in person i I take that back and also I want to use the opportunity to thank to thank the
mayor and council for being there today when we did the unveiling of the chrome statue was very fantastic i've received a lot of uh calls from people appreciative of what the city did uh in moving forward with the art in public
places and also on we'll be launch we'll do a soft launch on the 17th of April in transitioning from the enko answering service at customer service into a new platform answer which the soft launch will run
from the 17th of April and go live is going to be on the end by the end of the month April 30th and the administration will be coming back in the next I think the first meeting in in May to bring back an
item for career source we've convinced them to come back and start restart their program in Homestead but there a couple of provisions in the existing agreement that are not they're not comfortable with that would like to bring to the attention of council to see if we can make some
changes and finally FEMA in the spirit of the prevailing environment has discontinued suspended and cancelled all FEMA related building resilient infrastructure and
communities brick program what it means is that a number of cities and agencies received grants to do some of this resiliency program the city of Homestead had previously received uh $2.5 million and they're
cancelling all of them all unspent funds are required to be returned to the US Treasury unfortunately the city had not even executed the agreement yet and the money had not even come here so all it means is that we'll be losing that grant if they insist on moving forward this is
for all grants from 2020 to debt that means in the past 5 years anybody that had grants that has to do with brick which is building resilient infrastructure and communities we had anticipated to use the $2.5 million for
the city's pump station 22 fortunately for us this council just accepted a $3.5 million project of grants through the no appropriation through the instrumentality of the the work from
Congressman Himenez which is actually taking place take the place of this grant so we're not going to see the impact in terms of funding shortfall so this is for pump station 22 losing 2.5 million but we gain 3.5 so we are still ahead of the game
unfortunately there are so many cities that are going to lose this fund and they have no replacement funding at all this is what's going on with the federal grants uh the new administration have pulled back a lot of environmentally sensitive issues or grants and programs
and projects that has to do with the environment so that's really is it's not a good thing and it's also the reassurance is that we have more replacement funds in place already just want to bring this to attention
thank you not great news but news we had to hear council anything further i just want to add my thanks and appreciation for the event this morning councilman Davis let's have a question carlos
what's going on over there so there's a lot of hooping and hollering uh in my house last night well done brother all right do we have a motion to adjourn moved and seconded all in
favor thank you all good night vivian Maria Perry Lydia Rodriguez Ael Rosario Elizabeth Rowling Ivonne
Salas Hanina Salterini