Number n. Heat. Heat. like that. like me. I'll be How do you feel? Hey everybody, I Hey, hey, hey. Please stand by. We are going on air in
5 4 3 2 1. Good morning and welcome to our May 21st commission meeting. Let's get started. I'm going to ask Ralph, our city clerk, to give any uh instructions. Thank you, mayor. Good morning, everyone. During this hybrid commission
meeting, the city commission is physically present in the commission chamber at Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, third floor. The public may attend the meeting virtually. However, members of the public who wish to attend the meeting or provide public comments in person may appear at the commission chamber. To participate or provide comments
virtually during the commission meeting, the public may join the meeting by visiting the Zoom app on their smart device or at the or on the web at Zoom. us or by telephone at 3052241968. again 305224-1968. The toll-free number is 888-475-4499. The webinar ID is 813
928-57671 pound. Again, the webinar ID is 813928-57671 pound. Members of the public wanting to speak virtually on an item during the meeting must click the raise hand icon if using the Zoom app or press star9 on the telephone to raise their hand. The Zoom link, webinar ID,
and telephone numbers provided for this commission meeting are static and do not change from meeting to meeting. Thank you, mayor. Thank you so much. And now, uh, it's my honor and privilege to ask, uh, one of our religious leaders and a friend, Pastor Victor Palasios, the, uh,
the pastor of Batista Padas, to uh, lead us with some words of wisdom and, uh, strength. Thank you. Thank you. There's a my honor to come over here and and pray for you. There's a blessing with the city
looking for a blessing for the Lord and u that's what we do that we're going to do. Thank God for everything for life for everything you do for families and for everybody working in the city hall.
Heavenly Father, we come before you in this day. Father, to gratitude to our heart to the meeting in this city hall. Thank you for raise and to integrity and
lead the city in wisdom. Lord, bless the mayor, the commissioners, the city manager, the city attorney, the city clerk and his family. Also, Father, thank you for everything you do
so far in the city. We pray for all government agency, the police department, the fire department, the schools, the hospitals, the government agency, the churches, the synagogas. Please help this city to be a model for
other cities in this country especially in this state. We declare father this city belong to you. Also we pray for other families in this meeting, other families father and this city. Thank you
for so far you do it for this city. Thank you Lord because you're the king of the king. you the Lord of the Lord. We pray in your name and we ask you father to bless the city the north to the south to east to the west. We in
you do it you will in the name Jesus. Amen. Amen. Thank you pastor Kevin. Don't go too far. Come up and lead us in the pledge. You know one of the uh Don't worry. We'll say it
along with you. I'm looking around. I always look around and uh Miami Beach has become uh really a health and wellness uh we're really becoming we're we're we're elevating our game and you were ahead of your time uh several years ago when we first met and I think a lot
a lot of that has to do with what you were have been driving. So why don't you lead us in the pledge today of the stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. Yeah it's a warning if you're in the if you're in the chambers here be ready to know the pledge because I may call on you at any time. Um let's get started with Sutnik the Sutnik forum. Good morning everyone. Approach the the
podium, state your name, address, and you have two minutes. Thank you so much. Good morning, mayor and commissioners. Uh Steve Bubba Cohen, 11 Island Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida. Uh first one observation. And uh uh when I first
started in television, we my late brother Joey Carr and myself bought a lot of low-budget television commercials and we were accused of sponsoring the national anthem and the inspirational message uh
when the television stations would sign off. This is the first time in my life I'm actually following an inspirational message. So, uh, you know, it's an honor to do that. Um, last time I was here, it
was a pretty wild meeting with, uh, our anti-Israel protesters. And thank all of you on the day is for, uh, having the strength to, uh, stand up and not take their guff, as we would say, in the streets. Uh, so I didn't get a chance
to, uh, talk about what I wanted to speak about today. uh handicap parking. Uh I have a handicap parking permit. I have both knees, both ankles, uh with major orthopedic problems, yet I
keep grinding it out. And uh I was disappointed uh in the you have handicapped zones and I'm just curious in the wisdom up on the deis and in our parking department
and administration. How do they justify me being handicapped in the zone I'm entitled to and not being handicapped in other parts of the zone? I know I'm following an inspirational message, but
no one in this room I know to be the almighty and uh I just think if uh if you're legally handicapped permitted in one zone in the city, that should apply to all zones. Thank you so much. And and Steve, I've had some some folks reach
out to me. I see some nods from from my colleagues as well. So I I don't want to take really time now from our commission agenda, but I think it's something we need to to address. We should refer something to the public safety committee because it was done the program was done out of a necessity at the time but I feel the necessity may have been
addressed and might be time to reconsider that polic I'm aware of the uh I'm aware of that history and it was needed because I see every day the abuse is there but now that you have to register I mean you're you're valid at
that point. Commissioner Fernandez and I just uh agreed to uh and we have Commissioner B. I have a feeling it'll be it'll be all of us. So, okay. Thank you and keep up the good work. So, good to see you. Thank you. So, wow. People are going to keep coming to Sutnik now. They they just got an item on. So, just
for the record, we're referring uh handicap parking issues to the next is it to the next one? I'm sorry. To the next to the public safety neighborhood quality committee by acclamation. June. Yeah. Okay. Is that okay? June 3rd. Okay.
So, our next public speaker is Johan Moore. Mr. Moore, you have two minutes. He's virtual. Please state your name, address, and two minutes, please. Good morning, Johan Moore, 717 Jefferson Avenue. Uh I am calling to uh object to
R5V which remains on your agenda uh to increase water and sewer rates and I encourage members of the public who object to that to attend next Wednesdays the 28th of May uh finance committee meeting the FK meeting uh where item F11
formerly R9A uh utility relief I believe that is commissioner spend on this item will be discussed uh which we hope and address this issue. I also call to object to item C4F uh to uh place a private charter school
within a public facility. And I object to item C2A to hire XIDF trained killers to provide security allegedly for our city. I will sign back in at 9:35 at the time certain for the
Sixth Street overlay to submit comments on that topic on that item. Thank you. Thank you so much. Next, please state your name, address. I have two minutes. Hi, I'm Roger, 1750 James Avenue. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. The new
chair of MDPL. Your name? Roger Colette. Okay. Uh it isn't often we come here to say thank you for certain things. Uh three years ago the murals uh the Enzo Gallo murals on Alton were almost going
to be destroyed. Uh thanks to Ma here and uh Alex and a lot of other people uh on the commission. They've been saved and it looks like they're finally finding a home and uh 72nd Street
Community Center. I hope uh MDPL was very uh instrumental in this and people say how come it's not really his it's not our deco or whatever. It's history is something people passed every day for
50 years major intersection made them smile made them think I'm comfortable. That that's what history is to us. Anyway, the new face of MDPL. Have a good day. Thank you. Thank you, Roger. Thank you so much. Our next virtual
speaker is Judith Smeiggel. Please state your full name, address, and you have two minutes. My name is Judith Smeiggel. I'm a longtime resident of Miami Beach. I am impressed with the care
that's given to one group in the city. And my question is, how do the public, how do I raise concerns about what seems to be special treatment for Jewish people and not for other groups such as Hispanics without it being labeled as
hate speech, anti-Semitic, and being shut down. I, for example, there was a a a rich training set up for anti-Jewish
bigotry at Mount Si, the Sicas training. Now, I am sure there is anti-semitism at Mount Si, but I think Hispanics may deserve the same kind of attention. maybe the disabled, blacks,
immigrants. Why is it that Jewish people are given special care? Why is it that we're talking about a Jewish charter school now within the 72nd Street Community Center? Why is it that the 40th Street religious overlay expansion,
which was criticized here, seems to have passed something by something I'm not familiar with, the consent agenda. I appreciate I haven't been interrupted and I'm I'm saying this is all sincerely mayor. You and the commissioners have
done wonderful planning but it needs to expand to other groups who are also need in need of protection and perhaps underserved in the city. Why do we think one last thing? There was a
plan. I don't know where it went to encourage more Jewish owned businesses here. Well, what about this backbone, blackowned, LGBTQ owned? That those are all worthy. Thank you so much. Your time is up. Next, please.
Good morning, mayor and commissioners. My name is Patricia Agnello, 2555 Collins Avenue, and I strongly oppose the proposed redevelopment at the Dovville site. This proposal rewards years of bad faith conduct. The Mela family knowingly allowed a historic
landmark to deteriorate, ignoring code violations, creating public safety risks, and racking up more than $6 million in unpaid fines. That wasn't stewardship. It was demolition by neglect, designed to clear the way for something far more profitable.
Now, they want a massive upzoning, two 380 foot towers, and 166,000 foot podium far beyond what our zoning code allows. This is not a fair deal for Miami Beach. This is a giveaway, and it would set a dangerous precedent that you can violate
the rules, erase the past, and be rewarded with even more hyped density and entitlement. The podium is especially concerning. Its scale is highly unusual for a hotel, and given the Mel Group's deep gaming ties, it's
reasonable to question whether this is a setup for future casino use. If we ignore that risk now, we won't be able to undo it later. This is not about opposing development. It's about insisting on accountability. A project of this scale would permanently alter
the character of North Beach, opening the floodgates for more oversized buildings and unchecked speculation, especially under the Live Local Act. We must not let North Beach become the next Sunny Isles. Our zoning code exists to protect the city's livability, history,
and residents, not to serve as a bargaining chip for politically connected developers. I urge you to reject this proposal as written and require the developers to return with a plan that respects existing zoning, reflects the scale of the neighborhood,
and offers true community benefit. Thank you. Thank you, Patricia. For everyone out there, the Doval item has been open and contingent, so it's not going to be heard today. Thank you so much. Our next public speaker via Zoom is Mark Gibney. Mr. Gyney, state your full name, address,
and you have two minutes. Go ahead, sir. I'm sorry, but we cannot hear you. We're going to go then to Tim Carr. Good morning everyone. This is Tim Carr, West Avenue. I'm calling today in reference to item R5L and R5K.
This is in reference to a small business uh that we'd like to support for limited beer and wine sales located behind the Altim nursery on Alton Road. And again, this was approved uh unanimously by the planning board. So appreciate your
support on this important matter. Secondly, 1250 West Avenue will be discussed today and would just like to encourage you uh for the large retail establishment that you not allow restaurant or alcohol be served in there. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Anyone else? Anyone else on the No. Okay. So, we're going to continue. If you do wish to speak, approach the podium and we'll call on you. The next person via Zoom is Valerie Owen. Valerie, state your name, address, and you have two minutes.
Valerie Owen, 1580 Bay Road. I have um I want to address to to support the 1239 Alton Road, the gu the um cafe behind the garden shop. Um I'm very much
opposed to all of this spot zoning and small businesses. They need a hand and you cannot survive without a beer and wine license for a small cafe. A lot of people have had the opportunity to to do spot zoning in the area. The
average residents I know do not have the um time and the energy to go after all these little ordinances. And also um I just want to say I'm opposed to the mooring project behind the flamingo. We have dolphins and all kinds of things
there and you know manatees, stingrays, a a huge project like that is just too much. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Our next virtual speaker is Robin Jacobs. Go ahead. Please state your name, address. You have two
minutes. Good morning. I'm Robin Jacobs, chair of the convention center advisory board and more importantly, a concerned resident, mother, and grandmother. I'm here to talk about Pride Park and the proposal to place a permanent children's playground near the convention center,
an area that experiences heavy truck traffic during events. This goes against basic urban planning principles, especially when it comes to safety, health, and enjoyment of children. As a mother and grandmother, I believe children's playgrounds should be shielded from vehicle congestion. As a
Miami Beach resident, a contributor to the 640 million investments Miami Beach Convention Center, and the chair of the convention center board, I urge you to strike a balance between the desire for a children's playground and the broader needs of the community, which who are looking for a real return on the Miami
Beach Convention Center investment. Pride Park is a city asset and its impact goes beyond just the local community. It influences traffic, business, and the economic development citywide. The success of the convention center relies on its accessibility.
Limiting usage could hurt its competitiveness. Take the recent Adobe convention which generated $23 million in direct economic impact. We need to make Miami Beach an attractive accessible location for high value
flying conventions like Adobe. If we don't, we risk losing out to competing regions with more flexible venues. Restricting pirate parks used to limit our ability to attract these large-scale events in turn our local businesses. The $650 million conventions dollar
convention center is a community asset voted on by residents and we need to ensure it's being used to its full potential. That's why we believe we believe a comprehensive economic analysis is necessary to fully understand the long-term effects of any
decisions made here. This is about more than today. is about shaping the future of our community. In closing, we propose a comprehensive master plan for Pride Park with a pause on further development. So, we address the economic and usage concern. We also just I just
want to let Robin know I've pulled the item and I've referred it to the convention center committee. Okay. Thank you. Are seeing no one. Okay. Go ahead, please. Good morning, uh, Mr. Mayor,
Commissioners, Mike Urente, 3800 Northeast 1st Avenue, representing Security Alliance. The very first item on your agenda today, C2A, is deeply concerning. And here's why. Because we're proposing taking an important security contract away from a local
company with 1,000 security guards and giving it to two non-local companies with virtually zero security guards in Miami Date County. One of those companies appears to have no contracts, no personnel, no security guards in Florida. The other company appears to be a small company with no municipal
experience and very few if any security guards in Florida. So, at a time where this commission is making tremendous progress in restoring law and order, it's troubling that we're talking about transitioning this important security contract from a well-known, wellstaffed
local company to two companies with virtually no presence in Miami Date County. What will these companies do when the city asks them to double or triple their presence in the city for special events? Security alliance, your incumbent vendor, does that all the
time. This coming weekend, they will increase from 50 security guards to 80 for Memorial Day. Couple months ago for spring break, they increased to 130 security guards at the city's request. these other companies, the two recommended firms with virtually no
presence in Miami date county simply cannot do this. Security Alliance is not only a high-erforming uh incumbent vendor, but they also scored very well. They were the next ranked firm out of 19 clustered up there at the top with the two recommended vendors. They offer
depth, experience, flexibility that the two recommended vendors cannot. And so we urge you respectfully in the name of public safety to pull item C2A and and keep Security Alliance on as a contracted vendor. Thank you very much.
Our next virtual speaker is Mike. Mike, state your name, address, and you have two minutes. Uh I'm Mike Dorsch. I'm a 13-year resident at 13:30 West Avenue. I'm here to comment about R7A, the 1250 West uh
overlay, the Bayfront overlay. Uh I have time constraints today that prohibiting me from being at today's session in person, but I hope the comments I delivered in writing yesterday and those that I'm going to say now have the same gravitas as those made during the hearing. Um I'd like to address an issue
not in my email yesterday and that's the bonus F. I'm not sure how these bonus for you for formulas arose, but they're perilous and not well considered. The developer likes to cite them as their as of right depictions trying to show they allow them to build a big fat squad ugly
building. Um they say that such a building like that um is hideous and argue the height restriction should be removed instead so that that monstrosity isn't built. Well, first, no one says they need to build a big fat ugly building. I'm sure Kobe Karp can come up
with a more creative design than what's depicted in their illustrations. Second, I don't see anywhere that bonus F overrides height regulations. Third, um I'd say uh let them build as of right. Maybe that would
cause them to build 250 smaller units that might be affordable to the average citizen rather than a highcost luxurious tower that eliminates um residents in the neighborhood that are necessary for small business. Bouncing those 238
affordable units in exchange for 100 high-rise um units isn't exactly what zoning regulation should, I think, or intended to do uh to encourage. Lastly, if this project is approved, you commissioners will have failed in your
jobs by not enforcing our regulations and the will of Miami Beach citizens. Not a single one of you will ever receive my vote again, and I hope all my West End neighbors act in similar fashion. Thank you so much. Next, please. Mr. Mayor, commissioners, Barry Chevlin,
11-11 Kang Concourse, Bay Harbor, Florida. on behalf of Dynamic Integrated Security. This is a recommended bidder on first item on the agenda. They are beyond qualified. There hasn't been a bid protest by this gentleman or his firm. So that you know for him to speak
against my client's award is ridiculous to begin with. There are very high qualified deploying over 275 security guards throughout the state of Florida and elsewhere. In fact, you know, 98% of all our security guards
deployed are retired veterans or police officers and we have a, you know, extremely qualified personnel. We're able to deploy 50, 100, as many guards as necessary for any special event within the city of Miami Beach. And that's why we qualified as the highest
and best vendor for this commission. I urge you guys to, you know, go through with the city's recommendation and uh award the contract to dynamic integrated security. Thank you. Thank Thank you so much. Our next public
speaker is D Web Jr. Please state your name, address, and you have two minutes. Please unmute yourself. EJ, let's go to Natalie then. Natalie, state your name, address, and you have two minutes. Good morning, Mr. Mayor and
commissioners. My name is Natalie Kaufman. I'm a neighbor in the West Avenue neighborhood at 1450 Lincoln Road. I've communicated with you before. This is on the matter of 1250 West. And today, I'm thinking about Jane
Jacobs. You may know her story. She was a resident of the West Village in New York City in the 1960s and she organized her neighbors to fight a proposed plan to bring a highway straight through the West Village. And I
know we're talking about Miami Beach today, but she saw what we see and she saw the potential of her community being destroyed, the character of her community being destroyed, the walkability, the
neighborliness. And I just want to express that that's why we've spent the last six plus months opposing the proposal that is before us for a tower at 1250 West. We have laws in place to
protect our community. We have height restrictions in place. And all we're asking is that you commissioners and Mr. mayor, that you preserve what's on the books and you preserve the magic of Miami Beach. We are a special place. There are not many
communities that are so walkable and so bikable and lowrise and human scale with sunshine, without shadows, without the wind tunnels of towers. and we're asking that you go back and insist that this
developer adhere to our laws and our height restrictions. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Next, please state your name, address. You have two minutes. Thank you. Good morning. Matthew Ganoff, 125 Jefferson Avenue. I want to speak in support of item
R9. And I want to uh I want to encourage you all to support this item uh and to support safer uh family conditions for children. It's good policy and I think that uh this warrants more discussion
and consideration by the commission. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much. Our next virtual speaker is just real quick um uh Matthew just want to let you know I have changed that item to a referral to the neighborhoods meeting for June 3rd. Okay, great. Thank you so much, Commissioner. Thank you for being a
supporter of this item. I think it will be a a robust and productive conversation there. Thank you. Thank you. Our next public speaker via Zoom is Z Sat. State your name, address. You have a few minutes, please.
Hi. Hi, this is Sarah Dey, Sunser Harbor Neighborhood Association. Um, please uh support and pass item R5 uh anchoring of commercial ve v vessels and floating structures used to rent,
store and otherwise secure vessels prohibited. This item would help to keep our water clean and attract and grow more marine life. Thank you. Thank you so much. Our next virtual speaker is Katrina Saldo.
Please unmute yourself. Hello. Hello. My name is Katrina Seraldo. I live at 1 West Avenue, uh, Miami Beach. And, um, I wanted to talk about the, um, 1250 West project. Uh, I
echo the concerns of others, of my neighbors about the character of Miami Beach and the impact on the neighborhood. Um, and I strongly dis uh do not want this tower in our neighborhood. And I'm very opposed to
the using and the villainizing of people who are experiencing homelessness and to other institutions in our neighborhood that are trying to help people who are experiencing homelessness by providing shelter. I've talked to many people who,
you know, work in my own building. We're just a few doors down from 1250 West who have experienced homelessness themselves. And so it's very disrespectful to um people who make Miami Beach what it is, who work here,
who may live here, who really can't afford to live here. Um and and so I just want to really try to encourage the public officials of Miami Beach to respect the humanity of people who are experiencing homelessness. I do not
think it's a good use of um uh public dollars to have a police car with the lights on 24/7 outside of Bikini Hostel. People are experiencing homelessness are not criminals. They're lowincome people who have been priced
out of housing and um uh bending towards the wills of these developers at the expense of affordability for our neighborhoods is a a big mistake and it's very dehumanizing. Um
uh so I oppose the 1250 um project as it is and I strongly urge people to think about affordability for residents of Miami Beach, people who make this what it is. And I also Thank you so much. Your time is up. I apologize. Okay. Our
next public speaker is Peter Felix. Peter, you have two minutes. Please state your name and address. Peter, please unmute yourself. Let's go then. PJ to Deborah Liboitz. Yes. Hi, good morning. Um, thank you all for for having this opportunity. I am a
full-time resident property owner in Miami Beach for 35 years and I'm very concerned about the Doville property. My understanding is you probably are not going to speak about it today. I didn't know that. Um, but I'm really concerned about the projects. While I think it's
great to have a beautiful new hotel in Miami Beach, I think it's important that the city stand up to developers and and do not allow a property like this to have this type of scale. The podium, as
mentioned previously by the speaker, must be removed, you know. to physically ruling out any possibility of a casino at this site at any time in the future. There's lots of other propert projects in the community that could be better utilized
with the $200 million that that part of the project costs. And again, while while I'm all for improving North Beach, I think that any type of deal that the city negotiates with any proposed developers includes specific wording
that says no casino, no oversized replica, no giveaways to bad neighbors and developers. We do not want to live in sunny Isles. We do not want gambling, and we do not want the possibility of it in our overdeveloped city. So, please
stand up for the residents, not just the developers. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much. Please, sir, go ahead. You have two minutes to get your name and address. Yes. Good morning. My name is Rob Piper. I'm at 1401 Southwest
17 Terrace. I really appreciate uh commissioners. Mr. Mayor, thank you for having me this morning. Oh, yeah. I just wanted to my comments in reference to uh uh item R7A uh specifically the property at 1247
West. I just wanted to express that it uh that it is a shame uh that this property aka the Bikini Hostel is going away as it represents a success story, something that Miami Beach can take pride in uh regarding its uh success in moving deaths from people off of homelessness. I understand this deal
will likely go through, but uh I would encourage you to continue that success story in other ways uh to it has a remarkable rate of moving desperate people off of homelessness. So I would encourage you to at least preserve the dignity of these individuals in other
ways and so you can at least follow the example of your sister city in Switzerland, Bassel, that has a housing first policy and follow these the the example of low barrier shelters that have a better success record than regular homeless shelters. Thank you very much. Yeah, thank you. Thank you
for coming in. I just have to say because the narrative has been set out there on purpose about Miami Beach, we actually offered I I uh our commission approved a resolution that we would help supplement the funding even though the homeless individuals that are coming here are being sent to the bikini house
are not Miami Beach homeless, right? They're coming from Well, what does that mean, sir? Miami Beach. Let me just finish. Let me just finish, please. Okay. We This is not an appropriate facility for them. the Camila's house because you literally have you have the
service is being provided on a sidewalk with a a rickety table. There is alcoholic. I've seen it myself. I've gone to many times to observe the property. The Camila's house has services. It is a homeless shelter. We've offered to supplement the funding because there is a difference, but they have refused that. The Camila House is
an appropriate facility. If you want to care for these people, that's where these individuals need to get the care, not not in a bar, which was what the Bikini Hostel is. Respond to that. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, mayor, we have it's 30 minutes have
elapsed. We still have seven more speakers. Uh, do you want to do one minute each? Sure. So, David, I'm gonna Please unmute yourself, state your name and address, and you have one minute, please. Yes, David Wallik, 900 Ocean Drive. I
see on the agenda at 2:45 there is a um a time certain for an item from Commissioner Fernandez regarding pressure cleaning. Uh I'm not quite clear on whether uh that means that
businesses can pressure clean only once a month and it goes to like 11:00 11:59 at night. Uh nobody pressure cleans uh at least in a business at night. Um and
it's essential. Uh the confusion that I have is does it mean that we cannot pressure clean every day? Uh a restaurant that is very active with a lot of uh customers uh needs to be clean
every day. And I know that for 30 years, Mangoes has pressure cleaned around its building virtually every day in the morning though, never at night. So I'm not quite clear on that. But I do know that it's important to pressure clean daily in a restaurant. Thank you. Our
next virtual speaker is Daniel's iPhone. Please state your name, address, and you have one minute, please. Yes. Hi, Daniel Seraldo. Uh 7:30 10th Street. For those that don't know me, I'm the former longtime director of Miami Design Preservation League. I
stepped down in March to run for City Commission Group One. You can learn more at danielform beach.org. org. I wanted to touch on two topics. The children's playground in Pride Park is an excellent idea. I was very disturbed to get the email yesterday from the convention
advisory group that they need a master plan and a traffic study and god knows how many more millions before we have another familyfriendly amenity. I urge a commission to please spend a little time on things that aren't just for ultramillionaires like the Doville or
1250 West. And then secondly, I want to thank you all for the Enzo Gallow. We had talked about that for a long time. We worked very hard to save that. I think 72nd Street is a great place. I would just add to that the Abraham Lincoln mural stay somewhere near Lincoln Road and I look forward to
following that as well. Thank you. Thank you. Our next public speaker is D. Web Jr. Please unmute yourself. You have one minute. State your name and address. Thank you very much.
Can you hear me? Okay, we cannot hear you. So, we're going to go to Gail Durham. Kevin. Hello. Uh, my name is Gail Durham. I live at 1504 Bay Road. I've been a
resident for 20 years. Um, I hope you do not vote for alcohol at the nursery on Alton Road. It's already a non-conforming use and this just makes it even more non-conforming. Um, it's definitely spot zoning that financially
benefits one property owner. I'm wondering, did anybody knock on the door of the single family homes that are located right next door? This opens up a Pandora's box. We're trying to tap down alcohol in the West End neighborhood, not ramp it up. And the second issue is
I want to thank Commissioner David Suarez for insisting on the financial analysis for the developer profits for extra height and F at the Doville and 1250 West app. Um this is a moment for
moral clarity. The report exposes the intense imbalance between the developers profit versus community benefits. Um, you know, we say 10 cents on the dollar like like a cliche, like it's an exaggeration, but this is literally Thank you so much. Our next virtual
caller is John Curtney. State your name, address. You have one minute. Hi, good morning. This is John Courtney, 1026 18th Street. I just want to say I think the commission a lot of times wonders why we have all these vacancies, why so many parts of the city just are
lacking vitality right now. And I would just encourage everyone to read the work of Edward Glazer and what he says about the impact of special giveaways uh on cities and development giveaways. And ultimately what it does is it distorts the market so that the value of properties is in their redevelopment and
not in their operation and you end up with a city like Miami Beach. So as you think about the Doville and the 1250 uh project, I just hope that you would consider the implications of this deal making. Thank you. Thank you. Our next virtual caller is Peter Felix.
Yes, good morning. Um, Peter Felix, uh, 801 South Point Drive. I just wanted to, uh, speak in support of Commissioner Dominguez initiatives to reduce noise um, in vehicle noise u particularly in
the uh, South Beach area. Um, South of Fifth, we live south of Fifth. We came here a year ago from London which has also had issues of uh noise abuse which they have dealt with in their particular instance by installing uh special noise
cameras. Um I fully support uh Commissioner Domingue's efforts to reduce the egregious and abusive breach of the noise abatement regulations by motorcycles and sports cars. Uh it is
done intentionally. um revving of engines at any time of the day or night is extremely disturbing and I think in the long run will seriously affect the attractiveness of this delightful area. Thank you very much. Thank you. Our next Thank you. And yeah, thank you
Commissioner Dominguez for bringing that item. I'm also sponsoring with her. Uh totally agree that it's it's a major issue. Our next virtual speaker is Alice Nasser. Please unmute yourself. You have Hi, good morning.
Can you hear me? Yes. Go ahead, please. Hi, good morning. Thank you. I wanted to talk about 1250. It seems like the commission is increasingly focused on optics versus actual livability. The the bikini hostel has is a legitimate
solution for houselessness. And instead of instead of prioritizing this and looking at the root cause, we're exacerbating the problem by incentivizing another luxury development. And I just want to ask the commission why we're prioritizing one-time luxury purchases versus
long-term investment in the community the from people that live, work, and and are engaging with small businesses. We're here every day, and this that neighborhood is starting to become a shell of itself. We're all one step away from this, and if you can't see it now, they're going to come for you next. So,
I just want to urge the commission to think about this and listen to the community who has been pushing back on this for the last six months. Thank you. Our next public speaker via Zoom is Eric Marshall. You have one minute. Good morning, mayors and commissioners.
As always, thank you for taking the time. I almost echoed the last caller sentiment just with regards to the bikini hospital having a private developer to solve a public issue. I'm hoping the president you said here, you look at what you're going to approve a height restriction and wave in order for
incentives to solve a public issue. Again, as always, appreciate the time. Thank you so much. Thank you. Our next speaker is Mariana. Mariana, state your name, address, and you have one minute. Hi, uh, Commissioner. My name is Mariana. I live in the 1504 Bay Road,
and I really would like to enforce to the commissioner that I support and I approve the development of the luxury building that we're talking here because having a homeless shelter is not safe. We have restaurants, we have markets around the area. And literally, I'm not
walking there at night. Even if I'm on like a five minutes walk, 10 minutes walk, I need to Uber to live there. I don't feel it's safe. I feel it brings a lot of dangers and people like drinking and just in unsafe manner and I really I'm considering to really move to
Edgewater if the situation of the neighborhoods not taken care of. Thank you so much. Thank you, mayor. Everyone who was originally in line and vice mayor, everyone who was originally in line has been called. There are the
there are four more speakers. Do you want to continue for the four more or do you want to just do it at one o'clock? Vice Mayor, I'm sorry. Call. Yeah, go ahead. Call uh Lucas Scott, you have one minute, please. Lucas, unmute yourself.
Then let's go to Dee Webb Jr. please. Hello. Can you hear me? Yeah, we couldn't hear him before. Go ahead. Can Thank you. Um with All Webs Enterprises out of Jupiter, Florida. We're well drilling contractor. Um, we
bid for the well uh cleaning for the drainage wells that help with the flooding in the town and it's item C2E. We protested based on rules and regulations and lenture and we would like to get a little more
um clarity on how things are going forward. So, we ask that you just not approve that yet and let us talk about how to make sure the rules are being followed before you take that step. That's all. Thank you so much. Thank
you. Our next speaker is Jessica Davis. Please unmute yourself. Hi, this is Jessica Davis, 1228 West Avenue. Um, I am here in support of uh having allowing uh the cafes or
restaurants between 12th and 14th on Alton uh to have wine and beer. These are small businesses. They struggle. They certainly struggle during the summer. And I don't see uh these are not
party places. They're not nightclubs. They're simply restaurants that want to add to their bottom line by offering a glass of wine, a glass of beer uh with a meal. Quite frankly, uh the I don't see what the problem is with that. Um it
certainly doesn't create a noise uh problem or anything else. And again, uh a lot of small businesses are closing. Um, and we need to do everything that we can to support these businesses because a lot of locals Thank you so much. I
apologize for your time is up. The next virtual speaker has a screen name of Miami Beach. Please state your name, address, and you have one minute. Good morning. This is Wanda Jamon, 8305 Cresby Boulevard. I'm calling to oppose
item C84. This is in regards to the Byron Carile Theater. I'm opposing any funding to the North Beach CRA for this project which entails demolition and housing on
top of the theater itself. Um I think we should do more studies on this. I believe that they could be salvageable. I don't I haven't seen any engineering reports. I understand construction I and
I understand engineering also. So I urge the commissioners to please uh defer this until we have further um further studies. Uh and um as a far as the housing on top of the theater,
that definitely shouldn't go because we do have enough housing in Miami Beach. Thank you so much. Our next public speaker has a screen name of iPhone 12. Please state your name, address, and you have one minute. Please unmute yourself.
Let's go to the next caller. Martin Mohler. Good morning. My name is Martin Mohler and I'm a year-round resident of 1330 West Avenue. Shortly after the commission's last vote on 1250 West Avenue, a developer I know said, and I quote, "Well, now we know that Miami
Beach zoning is for sale to the highest bidder." End quote. Now, I'm sure that that was not the commission's intention, but it's important for you to understand that that's the message that's being heard. If you drill down into the proposed project and all it represents, you will see that it is a threat to the
architectural character of South Beach. The developer's pleas for quote relief end quote due to increased construction costs are a smokeokc screen. Any experienced developer knows to work backwards to determine an appropriate site acquisition cost. If JDS failed to do this properly, that's not the problem
of the citizens of Miami Beach. JDS is using the unfortunate circumstances at Bikini Hostel as a backdoor means of forcing this project through. Do not let them get away with this. Allowing a tall tower at 1250 west would be a permanent irrevocable overreaction to a temporary
problem that can be solved by apologize but your time is up. Our last caller is Zman Felig. Please state your name, address, and you have one minute. Hi, this is Zman Felic. How is everybody today?
I would like to uh be clear that um as much as people think the the Bikini Hostel is going to go away by itself, it's just not going to happen. I wish that the commissioners and the mayor would have came up with something, but unfortunately the developer is offering
us something, a gift and the homeless could finally find their right home not on Miami Beach. Sunset Harbor uh has been I sent pictures around to the some of the commissioners to the deputy mayor of homeless right in front of Publix making themselves comfortable there with
their suitcases and lying down there and they all come from Bikini Hospital Hostel. Same in my home. I had I sent a video around. It went viral of uh the the homeless right in front of my house and on video he said he came from the
Bikini Hostel. I'm this is stuff this is factual. So if everybody you know is like no one's blowing this out of proportion is just a fact. So I hope that the commission does not push it off today. I hope that they hand deal with 1250 West Avenue and we move forward like we did last time. Thank you so
much. Thank you. Mayor, that concludes Sutnik. Great. Let's go to the uh consent agenda. Yes, sir. I have some announcements if I may. Sure, please. Uh the following items have been separated from the consent agenda. Commissioner Dominguez is separating
C2A. Commissioner Fernandez is separating C7K and C2A. Commissioner Magazine is separating C2A. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez is separating C4J, C7P, C7K, and C2. I'm
sorry, those are the three. C4J, C7P, and C7K. Vice Mayor Suarez is separating C2A. The list in front of you is correct. Uh some announcements just for the record. Item R7B, which is a second reading public hearing of the North
Beach Oceanside District, Doville development agreement, has been requested to be open and continue to June 25th, 2005 at 9:22 a.m. The hearing will be held in the Commission Chamber, third floor, 1700 Convention Convention Center Drive. So again, R7B open and
continued to June 25th at 9:22 a.m. There is an addendum. Addendum 4 is a handout on the deis. You have a resolution that was handed out. C7 AJ is a new item. It is urge governor to veto
the li the live local act Senate bill 1730. It is sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez. So that's C7 AJ. The mayor has not approved any of the consent items to be added to the agenda, so they will be heard at 5:00 pm. Uh, one
notation for the consent agenda, item R9AC, which was a discussion, take action electric bicycles in certain areas under specific circumstance circumstances, which was which is an item from Commissioner Dominguez. has requested to instead of a discussion to
have this item as a referral to public safety neighborhood quality of life committee at their June 3rd meeting. That item will become C4X. So that will be included when we vote on the consent agenda. Mayor, those are all the announcements. Okay. Do we have a motion
to approve the consent agenda excluding the items that were pulled? I heard Commissioner Fernandez. I'll second. Mayor Miner. All in favor, please say I. I. I. the consent agenda excluding the addendums or the uh pulled items are
approved. Let's go through the uh pulled items. Anyone in particular or you want me to just go down? Go down. I'm going to do the difficult one first then. C2A sir. C2A award RFP 2024 277 KB security officer service that was separated by
Commissioner Dominguez, Commissioner Fernandez, Commissioner Magazine, and Vice Mayor Sores. Commissioner Commission was the first one on the puls. Mr. Mayor, um, which one of us is recognized to speak on the item?
Fernandez. Sure. All right. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I' I'd like just to make a recommendation that perhaps we send this item to the finance committee so that it can be discussed there. Um I want to be able to have a discussion with staff at committee as to the local
staffing of each one of the companies local performance. I also want to make sure that there is strong retention language in the event it is uh going to to to to the recommended vendor. Uh I always believe in protecting our
workforce and protecting uh those who serve our our community even in a contracted capacity and having good retention of those employees so that they don't lose their jobs. But in general, some concerns were stated on the record that resonated with me. And
so I just want to propose that we make a motion to refer this to the finance committee. If that's okay, I'll make a motion to move C2A to refer C2A to finance. Any objections? Does that cause any issues to the
administration? Do do we have a deadline by which we need to approve this contract? Are we on a month-to-month? Uh what implications could come from this referral? The current agreement is on a month-to-month extension at this time. Um, we are under the con of silence,
Rick. So, I defer to But we are in the sunshine. Correct. So, okay. Just want to state it just in case. Are we fine to discuss in the sunshine? Yes, you are. Okay. All right. So, um, so yeah. So, a
motion to refer to finance. Second. Let's call the vote. All in favor of the referral to the finance of C2A, I have a motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Suarez. All in favor, please say I. I. Item is referred.
The next item is easy C4J. C4J is a referral to Ferg Maintenance of Pedra Portuguesa on 1100 block of Lincoln Road. C4J C4J was separated by Commissioner
Rosen Gonzalez. Yes, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Um the reason why I separated this item is because it's a simple maintenance um item of the Pedra Portuguesa. If you see the 1100 block of Lincoln Road, it's
very different from the other blocks. And um I would like this to somehow in like if it goes to finance, I would like it to be done immediately. I don't want it put into the 2026 financial cycle because this is an
acid washing and regular maintenance that we simply haven't done and it doesn't look great. and Robert Winnett and his group did a ter tremendous job with this block and since we turned it over to the city, it's just we have not been able to get the maintenance right. So,
um I'm wondering because I know that we have an estimate where is Brad because we did a meet we did a meeting Brad we had an estimate from Robert Winnit to acid wash and seal the entire block. Correct. uh their estimate was I believe
130 something,000 in change $130,000. What I would like to ask everybody today is if this item and I I know that going to FK is very important but this maintenance also commissioner magazine is very important. So my ask would be when we do the budget amendment
later on today if we could add this simple maintenance which is an acid wash cleaning it's it has to be done. I don't want to put it off for months or even a year by going to finance getting into a different budget cycle. Do we have the funding in public works to do this
because I know that they've been asking to do this for months, which is why I pulled the item in the first place. I mean, it's not a budgeted item. We would have to look and see if we can find available funding, but it's not something that's certainly in our budget right now. How would my colleagues feel about adding this to today's budget
amendment? Would that be a possibility? It needs to get done. I don't know what this is. This is just a acid washing and a cleaning of the 1100 block of Lincoln Road where you have those stones and um it's going to go to FK. Then it's going
to go to you know a two 2026 budget cycle and it really needs to be done. And I went and I walked the block with Robert Winnett, his entire group. They're very upset about it. They've been spending their own money to try to, you know, to try to maintain it. And frankly, this is why Lincoln Road is
just looking awful because we're not doing and I'm not blaming uh public works, but this needs to get done. We have an estimate from a vendor um that they were using that Winn and his group were using. So, what I would like to ask is if we can fold it in to this, please.
Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Suarez. Thanks. It the 1100 block. it. This is where the black and white tile stripes are, right? Um, so Brad, I asked you about this to pressure washer. We can't pressure wash it because it'll chip off
the tiles. It's difficult. It needs specialized cleaning. I I want to point out a couple things. It is um it was originally installed in 2010, so it's about 15 years old. So, it's it's just, you know, sometimes the lifespan of these things, you know, gets to a point.
And now we've been spending in previous years I I believe it was over 200 something thousand dollars that was put into it a couple years ago. Um but um it just it's not the easiest thing to maintain and and certainly um requires a specialty type of um washing to make
sure that it um because I go by there and it's it's it's it is bad. It's like Commissioner Soros. Yeah. I I it's it's pretty bad. Um so can we No. How how much is an how much is an acid wash that is going to make to clean that area?
They they you know they they've provided a quote. Um we've provided we our recommendation was to redo the whole thing. They want to only do um just you know a repair effort and it's it's just different. Can I can I explain what's
happening? Okay. So it's very expensive material. it, you know, this pedra Portuguesea and um the Winn group since they built it was maintaining it and they turned it over to the city how long ago? A few years ago, correct? I think it was about six or seven years ago. Six
or seven years ago. And what they said is it's first of all, our estimate we went to walk the area and all that the Winn group is asking is that you have to do the regular maintenance which is an acid wash and a seal and that has to be done every other year. But it has not
been done. And what happened was there was a miscommunication and public works thought that they wanted to replace all of the material which is not what they wanted to do. They just wanted the simple maintenance. So the area needs to be um acidwashed and sealed. It's it's
not that big of a deal if we do this now. And by the way, we had gotten an estimate for much higher than this. The vendor that they've been using to maintain it since they built it charges $130,000 for the entire block. But the entire block is going to shine and look beautiful after the vendor who has been
maintaining it all of these years does the work that needs to get done. So I really I'm I'm in favor of I'm I'm a clean kind of guy. I like to I'm the gum guy, you know. We got the gum out of the Miami Beach. It it is one of the most precious parts of Lincoln Road and it is
a shame that it's just so like dirty. Question for Eric. If if it was referred to FK, is there still an opportunity to have it in the 2020, not wait till next year's budget? I mean, we're doing budget amendments every month. So, we
could certainly have a referral to FK and discuss it and bring it back as part of next month's Yeah. And I understand what you're doing, Commissioner, and and I appreciate it, but what I'm hearing from Brad also is that they're still negotiating with the with the vendor about how much it is. No, no, we're not negotiating with the vendor about how
much it is. There's no negotiation. And really, we have the budget amendment today. Let's just get it done. I mean, once we pass it, it's still going to take several months to do. It doesn't look great right now. And and and the people who, you know, built it and turned it over to us in Goodwill are are
very upset because they're watching this very expensive capital investment um you know, fall into kind of ruin because we're not maintaining it. So, if it did in today, you made a motion. I made a motion. You have a second. Second. I'll second. Okay, let's call the vote.
So I have a motion by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Suarez. This is to include this in the budget amendment that will be discussed later on today. Uh all in favor, please say I. I. Hearing no one opposed, the
item is approved. 70. That was item C. Thank you guys. Okay, next item. The next item is C7K. C7K is accept uh install accept recommendation install children's play
area on west side of Pride Park. It was separated by Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. I'm pulling this item because I'd like to refer it to the convention center advisor advisory board. Is that okay with everyone? Second. So if no
discussion, this is a referral to convention center advisory board. Motion by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Second by Commission. Can I just make one comment on this? I urge the convention center advisory board to work with the neighborhood, right? Uh we're being thrust in the middle. These two sides
aren't talking to each other and we're just being asked here. Either choose this or choose that. Uh these two sides need to come together. We're all one community. We need to talk. Uh we need to find out how to thread this needle. It can't just be two different sides with their heels dug in and us. We can't
even talk to each other about this except for up here. So, I ask the neighborhood uh representatives to work with the convention center advisory board. I think that we can do something productive here that's good for our entire community. I ask those two groups to come together and talk be
if you don't if you don't mind, Commissioner uh Rosen Gonzalez, why it's your item. Why are you why why refer to I was in favor of it. Well, the reason that I'm referring it is because the committee has some concerns about the programming of Pride Playground and
Pride Park in general. So, and they would like to possibly take that funding and use the playground for something more iconic, you know, and and honestly, if they have an objection, it's one month. I'm going to refer it to the committee. We're going to have a robust discussion at committee and see if we
can come to some sort of win-win situation where we install this playground right now and then possibly get funding for a future iconic playground. Yeah. And I just want to also say that a number of years ago this
body uh together created a seat um a non- voting seat for the Palm View neighborhood uh on the convention center advisory uh board. And so it is a great venue for them where the convention center can can present its concerns, the
neighborhood can express uh its interest and and the only thing that I'd encourage is that um when the neighborhood when Palm View is working and advocating on issues relating to this shared community asset that is
Pride Park, um that that seat be used to bring those topics forward for dialogue, constructive dialogue between the two parts. properties between the neighborhood and the and the convention center. But uh but I second your your motion. Okay, great. Let's call the
vote. All in favor of the referral to convention center advisory board for item C7K, please say I. I. Hearing no one opposed. The item is approved 70. Item is referred. Uh the last item is C7P. C7P is accept recommendation
fund wraparound palm tree lights in North Beach. This was separated by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. C7P. Okay. So, I I see that it's sponsored by everybody, and I'm also in favor of this item, but what I'm not in
favor of is that we continue to spend which are significant capital expenditures on wrapping the trees and lighting without putting the electrical connections into the ground. So, you create this kind of thirdw world environment where you have this hanging
cord from tree to tree. We see it in Lumis Park. So, what I wanted to discuss with you guys and the administration is as we continue to wrap the trees, shouldn't we start doing it the right way and putting the electrical connections into the ground? Because to
continue to spend millions of dollars on, you know, temporal, you know, fleeting like like it's not a permanent solution. So, what I would like to see is, and I I'm not I would just like to defer it for a month and see like what
is the cost to actually get the electricity into the ground so that we're not swagging these electrical cords through yet another neighborhood. And I don't know how you feel about this, but I think this is it's a smart thing to do to do it the right way. So, um we can we can come back next month
and provide that for this particular area as a sample. Would the idea be like every tree has its own plug? Well, it's electric in the ground and then we can use it for whatever in in the future. Uh people can hook into it or you can uplight trees. You could do
whatever you want, but to continue to So, how if it was Mickey Mouse it? If it was, let's say it was to move forward, what how would it look now? Would it would it be like a a hanging light? You know, we we'll work with our
contractor on that, our electrical contractor, and come up with the best way to do that and then come back with some numbers. Yeah. And and and once we figure it out and we do it with these lights, then we kind of need to circle back and start to do it with the other areas that we've wrapped if you want the
wrap permanently because in some areas it just doesn't look that great because you can see this electrical swag and it looks kind of third world. So, let's get it done right once and then roll it out in in other neighborhoods. Yeah. And I and I appreciate you bringing that up. Although I I walk these neighborhoods
all the time, it has never I don't see it that as as much as as that much. It looks pretty good to me. Since we're talking about um improving the item, I would like to u respectfully request of my colleagues that we extend this up to 74th Street so that the park
in adjacent to Unidad and and the Banchell um could benefit from this as well. It seems crazy to have this going and not have one of the preeminent destinations in North Beach included. Absolutely. I have no problem with this.
So my motion would be to come back next month with an estimate to actually have permanent electrical connections for this. Is that okay with everyone with at least an estimate with 74th Street? Yeah, with 74th Street included. Okay, I'll second.
Let's call the vote. So I'm sorry. So Commissioner Sor seconded motion by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Is this a deferral to to next month? Um I I guess we're deferring it. We'll come back with the estimate of what it costs and at that point we can
say, "Okay, we want to do it like this or we want to keep swagging it." So Okay. So C7P is being requested to be deferred to June 25th. I have a motion by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, a second by Commissioner Suarez. All in favor of the deferral, but that includes going up
to 74th Street. Correct. So the the two s the two amendments that are going to Sorry, 75th Street. The two amendments that are going to be considered at the next month would be the estimate for the permanent electrical and an extension to 75th Street. 75th Street, right? Okay.
All right. 75th. Yes. So, all in favor, please say I. I. I. Anyone opposed? Hearing none. The item is deferred to June 25th as amended. Mr. Mayor, uh, there were three consent items that were
submitted via add-on. Um one is C4W which is to suspend the annual CPI increases on the residential parking rates. The other one was C AI uh to implement the parking holiday to help businesses in the month of June and July
I mean July and August and C7 AJ which was urging the governor to veto the live local Senate bill 1730. Uh there were add-on items and I apologize for getting them late, but if you contemplate a motion to accept them, I appreciate it.
I mean, usually we do that after 5:00 pm, but uh you're asking nicely. Uh anybody uh if there's no objection. Thank you. So those are adopted. So we're going to add them to the agenda and then I'll need that was a vote that
we just did and now we need a vote to approve those three items. Okay. Okay. So, I'll make a motion to approve items C4 W, C7 AI, and C7 AJ. All uh I need a second, please. Second. Seconded by Commissioner
Dominguez. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Those three items are approved. Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. I'm sorry. Okay. Sorry, Mor. So, on item R7A, which had a 9:17 uh time public
hearing time, that item is being requested to be open and continued to a special meeting to at a date and location and time to be determined. So, if all are in favor of deferring that to a special meeting, I need a motion and a second, please. I'll move that. Uh, and
I think that's a good idea because if we It's good to have a special meeting on these issues so that we can have a real robust substantive discussion that's not rushed and that doesn't take away from all the other items on the agenda. So, I second that. And for the record, oh, I'm sorry. Let's take a vote on that,
please. So, this is under referral to a date to be determined, location to be determined, and a time to be determined on R7A. I'm sorry. Yeah, R7A. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Anyone opposed? Now, items R5A, which was the
second reading Alton Beach Bayfront Overlay District Plan amendment, and R5B, which was a second reading Alton Beach Bayfront Overlay District LDR amendments. Those were being requested to be opened originally to June 25th. I think we could still do that and have
the meeting before since that's already been advertised and mailed to the to the public. Correct. So, all in favor of But can we can we can we open and continue R5A and Bamation to June 25th? Thank you. Same times 9:15 9:16. Moved.
Second. So, all in favor of opening and continue R5A and R5B, please say I. I. Hi. Thank you. Item is deferred. Ralph. Yes. Before we get on the I mean, can we have I know we're going to act in good faith,
but it it is open-ended and a bit ambiguous given that there's no time, no date. Can we say we're going to have it before a certain date just so we can be sure that it's heard? So, yes, absolutely. Please do. So, my suggestion is to do it before the June
25th date. Of course. Yeah. So that's I I mean so the direction is to have that before so you can still hear the other two items on June 25th. So that's the direction you guys the commission is giving us. Yes. Or at least may there is an awards and presentations meeting on
May 28th if that's I'm not sure if that's too fast to but just as a suggestion keep that in mind here. Okay. So direction has been given on R5 AB and R7A. Let's call R2A. So how are we going to
determine just email or we'll have the clerk? Yeah, we'll we'll have uh Eric's team and my chief of staff obviously we'll coordinate. R2A. Yes, sir. R2A is award ITB 22025008 MP pressure washing services.
R2A Please. Good morning. Christy Ba, chief procurement officer. Um this item was deferred from the March 19 commission meeting as it was requested to um follow the following directives and it was to conduct an inspection of the
recommended awardee blueonis and the facilities that they currently maintain at the city of myar and delray beach. It was also asked for us to invite um Blue Adonis to be present today. I understand that they're parking and should be about
to walk in if they're not already here. and um also to present an updated budget transfer related to in-house outsourcing for the parking department and to initiate stairwell painting at certain garages. Um since the March 19
commission meeting, the facilities and fleet department did visit um and inspect the work of Blue Adonis at Myiramar and Delray and were satisfied with the work performed by the vendor in those um cities. And um we're here today
for your approval on the item as uh intended to award Blue Adonis as the primary vendor to provide pressure washing services. Move. Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We have a motion from Commissioner Suarez. Uh and I'll and I'll second that. Is the uh
proposed vendor uh in the chambers today? They're parking. Um yeah, I I just wanted to be clear to this vendor the level of expectation that this commission has on cleanliness. Uh the
challenges that we've had in the in the past uh with the cleanliness of our garages, what our cleanliness index tells us uh that over the past few years uh rather than improving, we've seen a decline of where we want to be. Um, and
so the high expectations that we have because otherwise our residents and our visitors won't want to use our parking garages. And so I wanted them to hear it directly from the city commission uh before we approved this this contract.
And you know, they they should have been here and they're not here yet. And this has been going on for for for months now. Um, and so yeah, how much is this contract? It's 260 approximately 268,000.
Okay. All right. So, um I I just want to place that on on the record. And uh what's our cancellation mechanism if we're not satisfied with what with the services we're getting? we have a termination for convenience or
termination for default as standard in all of our contracts. Um I'm sure that the facilities and state department can speak to it, but I'm sure that they will manage the contract and ensure that the cleanliness expectations are met throughout the term of the agreement.
Okay. And um Mr. manager, the um the cleanliness index. Are we going to be tracking the the performance of the garages and the cleanliness index um from the effective date of this contract? Absolutely. One updates,
please. Yes. All right. So, I'll second the motion. Motion in a second. Let's call the vote. Have a motion by Commissioner Sh, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez on R2A. All in favor, please say I. I. I anyone opposed hearing? None. The item
is approved 70. It is item R2A. R2B. R2B accept recommendation RFP 2024 274DF speed detection camera systems for schools. Welcome back. Don't go too far. Busy day today.
Good morning. Um this is the award for the speed detection camera system for school zones. Um as you have received in your agenda packet um we are recommending negotiations with Genoptic North America as a top ranked proposer.
Um and if negotiations are unsuccessful to negotiate with Redspeed um as the second ranked proposer and if negotiations are unsuccessful Redspeed to negotiate with Madax Traffic Management USA.
Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Fernandez. So, I have a question. Um, so I I had sponsored the initial legislation creating uh the speed detection camera system program here for the city of Miami Beach. Clearly, it's the state of Florida that has empowered local
governments to to do this. and we're always grateful to the legislature uh for for for giving us these these local abilities and this local decision making on these matters. Um and so of the two
respondents um what is their local what what is their work locally? The uh number one recommended vendor it's Genoptic. Correct. is genoptic and number two is red speed. Redsp speed. Yes. Okay. What
what other work do they do in this uh in this area in the speed detection system uh within Miami date county? So, Genoptic within Miami Date County has red light cameras in the city of Homestead and they have outside of Miami Date County in Quincy, Florida, the
school zone cameras and they also have other areas in the United States and also globally where they provide services. So, in Miami Date County, they only have Homestead for red light cameras. Yes. Okay. For speed detection.
So, not for school zone detection, but for red light camera. for a red light camera. Okay. And but as it relates to speed detection, they don't do any speed detection in Miami Day County. Not that I'm aware of. I believe they have some other contracts within other
states. How about the second ranked vendor, Redspeed? The second ranked vendor does have several contracts in Miami Day County and Florida. They have Aventura, uh, Miami date county, um, Miami Gardens, Pinerest, some other cities local for the speed detection
system cameras for school zones. Yes, for the school zones. So, the second ranked vendor is the one that does it for Miami Day County, for Aventura, and several other cities. Correct. And why wouldn't we then if that is the company that the rest of Miami date county is
using in the unincorporated areas and then several of the of the other cities are are using that company. Why why wouldn't we use that company that it seems like several of the other cities are already using for this same purpose?
Well, this was a request for proposal which evaluates both um their experience and cost. Ganoptic is providing additional revenue to the city in comparison to that of Redspeed. So for example, the Genoptic um is
approximately an additional $9 to the city per citation. How much? I'm sorry. How much additional? $9. $9 per citation. Yes. So with Redspeed, the city would be receiving $39 per citation. And for Genoptic, the city
would be receiving $48 per citation. And so it's so how much is a citation that the resident gets when the citation is $100 and the city receives $60 from the citation. So the vendor that would
be providing the school zone cameras takes a portion or we keep a portion and the vendor it's a revenue share between the $60. And and when when these citations go out, is it the company that is sending the citation or is it the
city of Miami Beach that's sending the citation or is it the county that's sending the citation? It's I believe I don't know if police is here. I believe it is the vendor that will be sending the vendor is sending the vendor sending the citation. Uh and
I see the chief is coming forward. Chief Jones, good morning. Welcome. Good morning. I'm so sorry to step out to deal with urgent matter Wayne Jones uh police department. Um Commissioner, would you tell me mind repeating a question for me? With uh with the speed detection uh system with the cameras for
the school zones, who sends the citation? Is it the vendor? Is it the city of Miami Beach? Yeah. Yeah. Or is it the county who sends Well, for the red light camera program we have and that's been established in for quite some time. The
vendor sends a citation only after the infraction has been reviewed and signed off by but the vendor sends the citation. That's correct. Is that what we anticipate will happen uh in this with this program with the school protection? Yes. Okay. So, here's my
concern. If we if we are using a different vendor than the rest of Miami date county and we are in essence the only city out of the 34 cities and the and the 2,000 square miles of Miami date
county that we are the only one uh using this one other vendor for this purpose. I think it creates confusion. I think when people get citations in the mail, they expect a certain level of parity of uniformity uh in citations and for me it
creates a concern even right now like people got a lot of scams um a lot of scams of people trying to impersonate even citations. They try to impersonate the clerk of the courts. They try to impersonate police departments to to scam people. So for I think there should
be a certain level of par uh when it comes to something like this and if the rest of the county is is using this why why wouldn't me why wouldn't us and and I get what you're saying about the dollars u but perhaps you know we can
send this to finance we can we can we can discuss this with with with the respondents because clearly um the goal here is safety is not necessarily to generate profit. That's not necessarily the purpose here. Um the goal is safety.
Uh so so I don't want us to be the odd duck uh in in the county over dollars and cents. If you allow me, I can speak to the format of the citation. It's actually governed by the Florida Department of Highway Motor Vehicles. Every vendor that does provide these
services does have to have the citation format approved by the state and both vendors are approved by the state currently. Okay, good. So, the format is consistent across the state of Florida. All right. Thank you. Thank you. I'm actually going to give you guys a shout
out and it really applies to all staff. I don't say this often, but you know, you get up here, you have no idea what questions we're going to ask, right? For the most part. So kudos kudos to all of you who come prepared and and ready to answer all this. So thank you. Yeah, no pressure. Exactly. Is that a
motion? Um I I mean I'd love to know see where everyone else uh stands on this. I'm comfortable with the administration's recommendation. It changed, right?
Eric, did did this change from the last? So, if you recall, there was a prior procurement process that the direction was given to um throw out that process and start
over the um the number one and two ranked firms. Why why was it thrown out? Um, it was directed by commission to Did we We I'm sure there was a reason, right? We gave There were bid protests. Bid protests. Okay. And
so the original number one uh recommendation is not the same one as today. Correct. Correct. So exactly what happened? Why why did it change? So you had multiple
things in play. you have a different process. You had different proposals submitted and you had um an evaluation committee that was evaluating these new proposals. There may have been some changes in the evaluation committee. Um
so those are the multiple reasons why you could have had a different outcome. Why did it I don't remember at the last meeting of of changing the parameters or the um
I'm just trying to get at what why did it change you know I mean I you say there's a different process what why was the process changed then the most compelling reason that I can think of is if you looked back at the last proposals that were submitted there's
probably different pricing Okay, that was submitted by at least the number one proposer. So they got more aggressive on their revenue share with the city and that bumped them up in the evaluation committee's evaluation.
So we got a better benefit. So why don't we with that logic? Shouldn't we have two rounds of procurement? Two rounds of procurement. You mean you want to bid all items twice? Yeah. I mean, we got obviously a better deal the
second time because we went through a procurement process like twice. I I would say that that was certainly the case this time. I don't know that I would recommend that each time because you're risking significant amount of
additional staff expenditure and time and that has a cost associated with it also. And so what was the difference in in value to us? Nine. I don't know what the low significance. I don't know what the
proposer had last time as far as the revenue share, but we could certainly look at that and get back to you. What roughly millions? I have no idea how many violations are going to be issued. This is a brand new No, no. talking about the the difference
you said $9 per violation is the difference between number one and number two and and percentage-wise what what was the initial baseline? So my understanding is that countywide a lot of the firms are
retaining twothirds of No, no, no. Okay. So it's $9 you say, right? Approximately $9 per ticket. What's it going from? Is it going from 40 to 49? What what is the 39 to 48? 39 to 48 are the two top two vendors on this. That's significant.
That's a 25% almost increase. Um and and I'm not trying to derail this, but I I think that it's just crazy to me that we went through two procurement processes and we got a better deal for for the city. And the only
reason I bring this up is because when when I you know we did a shade structure for Lumis Park. Um and I came in really high, but then the the the high school PTA was able to find a contract that did it for like at
least half, a little bit more than half. Maybe if we did it again, we would have even better deal. I Well, Commissioner, I think you're raising some good issues, but perhaps that's another item. Let's let's try to close this item out. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez,
I read something re recently. Um, wasn't this suspended by Miami date county because there were all sorts of issues with the citations? They suspended the bus um camera program. I'm not a fan of this at all. Not because I don't believe
in public safety and school zones, but how much are the citations that would be issued by each operator? The citation is governed by the state and it's $100. $100. Um, you voted against this last I did. I
mean, I'm not school. It's a school. I understand that it's the school zone. I do. Um, I just feel that these there's a lot of mistakes involved. There's a reason that the sheriff suspended some of this countywide. Um, you know, I'll go with what what the administration
recommends if that's where where we're going. I I but if you want to go through an additional procurement process, I'm all for that too because I don't So I'm I'm not Are you moving the item out? So So I just I just have a question. I
understand that uh the citations certain formatting in the citation is governed by the state and my concern is when people get these citations in the mail um is is even you know the appearance of it are they the same is it the same? visit. Will people be able to tell that
this is a uh speed detection camera citation uh for school zones regardless of which the vendor is? Yes, it has the detail of um the ticket, the information of the price that they have to pay and they it's honestly
governed by Florida Highway and Motor Vehicle and they give them the templ template that they have to all abide by if they're if they're if they're exactly the same. Uh, and the only difference that would be the city if anything, you know, like the logo of the city and things like that would change. That's
it. Right. Okay. And so, and so it's our branding on it. They would say city of Miami Beach. City of Miami Beach. Okay. So, in that in in that case, it's it's um it's clear that that that the recommended vendor offers a better better benefit uh to to to the city. So,
I'll make a motion to approve uh staff's recommendation. Call the vote. I have a motion to accept the staff's recommendation on R2B from Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Mayor Miner. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed?
Hearing none, the item is approved. 70. That was item R2B. R 7J. R 7J is accept recommendation approved lease agreement with PAL 9991 Street. The item requires a 57s vote. R 7J.
Hello. Morning, mayor, commissioners. Very nice to see everybody this morning. Um yeah, the uh PAL, we're looking to renew the existing lease with PAL um for 9 years, 364 days. Um if approved,
I'll move it. Second. And I I know the answer to it, but since uh there's probably some people sitting out there, why that? Tell please explain why that amount. Uh I think maybe Liz, I'm sorry. I'm trying to figure that out myself too, honestly. Um I think all the uh
agreements are less than 10 years is what we're looking at at uh completing. Is that because of Is there a voter referendum that would kick in? Yes. Anything beyond uh 10 years does require a voter referendum. What would be the reason not
to do a vote referendum? Um cost because it's a nonforprofit and why make them run a campaign when we're already giving them funding and why put them through. Yeah, I agree. I just once you said it, I I I could see the questions popping up in people's heads.
So, uh which justifiably, right? So, that's why I wanted it I wanted it out in the open why we're doing it that way. Good morning. Good morning. And a run down the stairs this morning. Thank you for my workout. Morning. I'm officer Deborah Martin. I'm here to discuss the
PAL leash uh renewal and uh just advised that we are all set. We are excited. Um if I might bring discuss something. Uh every year we are required for an audit. Um the audits have become very
expensive. It's about $7,500 per year for the audit in addition to um the accountants and all of the above and everybody knows nonprofit time is tough right now. Um so any assistance we appreciate with that, but uh we're ready
to go and we're excited about the renewal. Um we're also looking forward to the new building when that is all set, but uh we are we are ready. Thank you, Deborah. And as we vote on this, we're thinking of art. I appreciate that. Thank you so much. Yes. Do we have
a motion? I made a motion. Second. Let's call a vote. All in favor? And I heard the Sorry, Commissioner Fernandez. I heard the second was Commissioner Suarez. Uh motion by Commissioner Bot. All in favor of R7J, please say I. I. Any opposed?
Hearing none. The item is approved. 70. Oh, R seven M as in Michael. R7M is amendment one AE services for Ocean Drive corridor Lewis
Park project CIP item have an M. Morning David. Good morning David Gomez director capital improvements. Um this item uh is an amendment to the design contract for Ocean Drive and Lumis Park. As you all will remember, there was a
considerable push and pull between the county and the state regarding the methodology used for the traffic study. Uh and that required significant additional effort on behalf of the consultant to prepare those studies. Uh the second item in the amendment is uh
related to a motion passed by the commission in October to investigate and prepare plans, excuse me, to begin implementing improvements to the west side of Ocean Drive uh between 5th and 15th Street.
Anybody have any concerns, issues? Feel free to go into life issues uh there, Commissioner. Uh we have a motion from Commissioner Fernandez. I'll second it. Call the vote on R7M. Motion by Commissioner
Fernandez, seconded by Comm Mayor Miner. All in favor, please say I. I. The item is approved. 6. I I don't see Commissioner Suarez, so I'm going to go absent at this time. R7V as in Victor.
R7V is approved grant to New World Symphony Replace Soundscape Park sound system R7V Eric R7V. So this particular item is for Soundscape Park. Um, we are
contractually obligated to maintain the sound system at Soundsscape Park while the New World Symphony is required to maintain the audiovisisual system uh, sorry, not the audio visual, the visual display for the uh, wallcast. And so
unfortunately the sound system we've done some testing and it's only functioning at about 40% of its intended um performance and it is in its 14th year of operation and so we believe that
the time has come to replace the system. There's a window of opportunity where the wall casts are going to be dark for the summer and we would like to be able to implement a grant to New World Symphony to work with the vendor to replace the audio system. Um, we've
identified $1.6 $6 million in interest income from the general obligation bond for the parks. And we believe that this would be an appropriate time and an appropriate funding stream to be able to execute this replacement of the high-end
audio system in Soundsscape Park. And just a question on this, are we going to have them manage the project? Yes, it will be directly. I'll move the item. Yeah, I'll second. Okay. I I just had one comment if I could. Are there any representatives from uh New World
Symphony here? You know, one thing that it was actually not related uh to this um but our office in recent weeks reached out to them in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which I think is just going to be Oh,
yeah. the opportunity of a lifetime. the opportunity of a lifetime for Miami Beach to really showcase our best foot forward. Sorry for the soccer pun uh to the world. Um and if you look at the scenes from any large cultural or sport
venue from around the world, it's people gathered, right? That's what a community is gathering people. And what better event than where Miami is on the global states for the World Cup and this is in our core downtown urban area right by city hall right by Lincoln
Road. And to be able to have a viewing opportunities on that spectacular thing that the taxpayers funded for the World Cup just seems like such a great opportunity. And uh our office reached out had nothing to do with the funding here but we actually got some push back
as I understand it. I wasn't privy to that. So, I'm really re relaying this third hand that a viewing party like that wasn't kind of aligned with the cultural direction that the New World Symphony was going in. I could understand if this was inside, but this
is outside in a park on a wall with the audiovisisual equipment that the taxpayers have funded. Um, Nissan, if you're a representative there, can we be sure that we're providing that venue uh for viewing parties for
cultural moments like the World Cup? Commissioner, I I'm not here officially, but I was a past chair. I'm a board member of the New World Symphony on the building committee as well. I was chair when we built the park and the hall. Um the there is an agreement between the
city and the new world symphony in terms of the city has rights to use it and in terms of what things can be done. So I think it's something that we'll bring up in discussion to see if it's within that uh and you know to the extent it could be accommodated I understand it makes
sense. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez just make this contingent on that. I I don't think it's that simple. I because I raised the same issue not with FIFA specifically but I because we had raised some some uh some events and and we were
told that if it's not specifically art related that we couldn't do it. You want to explain that Eric? And that was the city's provision and I'll be honest with you I have not read that agreement. I would have to dig into that a little deeper to understand
what are the you know the guard rails so to speak. Um do do you want to bring maybe a separate item? my my what because I raised this uh this the again not with FIFA specifically but was but basically the administration told me that we are contractually obligated to
do this enhancement so I'm not sure we can tie one to the other um you are and and and of course this is a phenomenal benefit for the public thousands go see the wall casts uh it's one of the great feature public features in this city
there is an agreement uh as the manager has mentioned uh which the city wanted as well as a new world symphony regarding the programming of that. Certainly happened to happy to look at it. And by the way, I think what you're hearing here is uh really not a a complaint per se. It shows the success
that the New World Symphony and the Wall Cast has had that we're actually looking to amplify. No, no, it's it's a neat idea and it's in the in the summer as well, right? Yeah. So, uh you know, let's have that discussion. Commissioner Dominguez, thank you. So, this item
mentioned um for the city to negotiate a grant agreement, but I also saw that the geo bond committee has submitted a motion to support allocating 1.6 million of acred earned interest from the 2019 parks geo bond for the placement of
soundsscape park sound system. Is that something that can be done? This is one and the same. Yes. Oh, that is the grant. That is okay. Okay. Okay, we have a motion in a second. Call a vote. We have a motion by
Commissioner uh Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Dominguez. All in favor of R7V, please say I. I. One opposed. Hearing none. I'm not sure if Commissioner Suarez is here. So 6 with
Commissioner Suarez absent. Thank you. Okay, let's um let's handle some budget items. We'll call the R7D as in David. Uh, mayor, we first have to do the RDA items because they're connected. So, if I Sure. Okay. So, we're first
going to do the RDA. So, we're recessing as a commission meeting. We're opening up as the redevelopment agency meeting. We're going to do RDA one first. It is joint with R7D. These are public hearings. issue Miami Beach RDA tax
increment revenue uh refunding bond series 2025. So R seven we're doing right now RDA1. It is a public hearing. Morning Jason. Good morning. Jason Green, chief financial officer. Uh thank you mayor, vice mayor, and commissioners. Uh what we have before
you is a joint item between the city and RDA which is a refunding of the outstanding 2015A uh bonds. This item started about a year ago. Uh it require it's taken a long and winding uh path uh through the county uh
the sixth amendment to the RDA and a few stops along the way. Uh but here we are finally. Uh this financing does not extend the the length of the bonds. they still would uh be completely paid off by February of
2044. Uh and the current uh value net present value is around uh 10.3 million in savings by doing this transaction. Right now about 4% but as we know uh you know that that's the the estimate as of today and it changes every day. But uh
still this works out to around $830,000 per year in earn interest in interest savings uh for the RDA and would help to expedite the uh paying off of the debt early as also is required by one of the amendments. Uh so we we're still projecting to be able to pay off all of
the debt somewhere in the 20 34 to 36 time frame. This just helps to that. I move it second. Let's call the vote and the second commissioner Fernandez. Correct. Correct. Uh it is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom. I see no one in the audience requesting to
speak. If there is no discussion, RDA1, all in favor, please say I. I. I. Hearing. No. No one opposed. The item is approved. 6. Commissioner Suarez is absent. RDA2. If if I may. The joint item has to be approved. Yes, sir. And and for the
record, Commissioner Higgins is absent. So, the next item that we're going to do is a joint item related to this. It is item R7D. It is also issued Miami Beach RDA tax increment revenue uh refunding bonds. It is also a public hearing. It
is the same item but from the city side. Hello Tamika. It's the same item. I know. I'm just saying hello. Thank you. After this we'll we'll jump right into the budget items. So may I have a motion on R7D?
Motion by commission. Okay. Motion by Commissioner Bot, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez. So, this is R7D. All in favor of R7D, please say I. I. The item is approved. 6. Commissioner Suarez is absent. We're going to go back
as the RDA. Since we're been jumping around, uh we're going to do now RDA2, which is adopt third amendment to city center RDA operating budget. Yes. Good morning. Tama Stewart, budget director, and this is to approve the funding of
the $12 million for the grant for the conventions um the city the convention center hotel. So, we have a one-year payment for 2025 of $12 million. So, we're requesting approval to transfer funds to that line item to allow for the
debt service payment this year. Which we had a very nice groundbreaking on Friday. Yes. Motion Commissioner Bot. Commissioner Fernandez seconding. Let's call the vote. Yes, sir. On
RDA2, all in favor, please say I. I. Anyone opposed? Hearing none. Commissioner Suarez is absent. Commissioner Higgins is absent. That concludes the RDA items. Let's go to Let's go to the CRA. Okay.
CRA item. We're first, this is North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. We're convening as such. We're first going to do CRA 1, which is joint adopt second amendment to North Beach CRA operating budget for fiscal year 2025. It is a joint item with R7G, adopt
second amendment, North Beach CRA operating budget. But first, let's do the CRA1. Okay. So, this budget amendment is to appropriate $1.5 million for the Biscane Beach Elementary Schoolyard project. And this was approved by the city commission
at the April 23rd city commission meeting. So, this just allows us to transfer $1.5 million from the R the city center, I'm sorry, the North Beach CRA operating budget to the capital fund. And the next item, we're going to actually appropriate those in the
capital budget. Have a motion. I make a motion. Commissioner B. Motion second. Commissioner Fernandez second. Let's call the vote. All in favor of CRA 1, please say I. I. Anyone opposed? Hearing none. The item is
approved. Commissioner Suarez is absent. Commissioner Steinberg is absent. That was CRA1, the companion item, and we're going to move back to the commission side now. R7G. And this is the same item as the CRA item.
Commissioner Bot moves it. Commissioner Fernandez second. So on R 7G, all in favor, please say I. I. Oh, it's it's approved. Commissioner Suarez is absent. That is item R 7G. May we continue, sir, please. Uh then
the next item is CRA 2, which is joint with 7H. It is adopt first NBC capital budget amendments. We're doing first CR A2. And this item actually takes the 1.5 that was approved to be transferred to the capital fund to fund the capital
project in the CRA budget. I'll move it. Those are not public hearings. Okay, we have a motion from Commissioner Bot, second from Commissioner Fernandez. So this is on item uh CRA2. All in favor?
I. Anyone opposed? Hearing none. Commissioner, the item is approved. Commissioner Suarez is absent. Commissioner Steinberg is absent. That was CRA 2. And we're going to do companion item R7H, which is the same item on the city
side. Joint adopt first NBC capital amendment. CRA 3. No, I'm sorry. It's RH. So, I need a motion on R sevenH, which is the companion item. I Whoops. I move it. Commissioner Bot moves it.
Commissioner Fernandez seconds call vote. All in favor, please say I. I. He opposed. Commissioner Suarez is absent. Uh the next item is CRA3. Accept recommendation North Beach CRA funds enhance electrical services to Alta
Start Park. CRA3. Move. Got a motion. I have a motion by Commissioner Bot, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez on CR3. Uh, all in favor, please say I. I. Anyone opposed? Hearing none, the item
is approved. Commissioner Suarez is absent. Heather, before you go, Heather, just if I may, through the mayor, quick question. Sure. Um, the sun shade um sales for Normandy Plaza. Where's that in the CRA discussion process? I'm
Heather Shaw, assistant director, economic development. Um the shade structure for Normandy Fountain is uh we just uh sent out an a letter to the commission yesterday talking about that it was approved by the uh North Beach CRA advisory committee um at their last
meeting. So that is where it is now. So it can't be added to this. Can it be added to the the altomar item? Well to the CRA well the funding of things. It has to we have to wait until June. I I
think it would be best so we can flush out the the yeah the the details of of I had an extensive conversation with Eric about this yesterday if you want to weigh in Eric. Yeah. Unfortunately, we don't even have the numbers for that yet. So I think it's a little premature
to add it today. Okay. And you mentioned it's got to go out to bid as well, right? So there's Yeah, it's got it. Okay. Thank you. We'll expedite it as soon as we possibly. Thank you. No, thank you, Commissioner. Mayor, having done all those items, we can do now the budget items. Yes. R7E.
R7E is the first one. It is a public hearing. Adopt fifth amendment to fiscal year 2025 operating budget. R7E. So this fifth amendment contains six items. It proposes an increase of 628,000 in the operating budget. The
first is a police storage facility lease agreement. Uh this lease was approved by the city commission at the April 23rd meeting and this 158,000 is recommended to be appropriated from general fund reserves to cover the two months of FY25
under this lease agreement. The second item is a style stays inc fee waiver and grant. Uh recommendation is to appropriate $58,000 from the general fund reserves. 42,000 will be a fee waver for the convention center center
um calls. The third is a six-month grant to the Eero Council, Inc. of $12,000 that was approved by the city commission on March 19th. The recommendation is to appropriate this $12,000 from the general fund reserves. The fourth item is a one-time matching
grant to the Lincoln Road bid for the Miami Beach Pride activations that took place in March and April. And the recommendation is to appropriate $20,000 for this grant from resort tax reserves. The next item is a Miami Beach pet parade sponsorship in the amount of
$5,000. This was approved by the city commission at the March 19th commission meeting and the recommendation is to appropriate this from the resort tax reserves. And the final item is a restriping and repainting of green bike citywide in the amount of 375,000.
This was approved by the city commission at the March 2025 commission meeting and the recommendation is to appropriate this from the transportation fund reserves. Yes. And we're adding in the 130 for the PHA as a one time from resort tax.
Wonderful. And um also if I could amend the Arab council in grant from 12 to 20,000 dollars the um Arab grant um from 12,000 to
20,000 if possible was a request. Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Fernandez. Um I'd second that. I I I had originally sponsored that item a few a few months ago. I understand there was an email that just circulated in in the community
about the needs of the of the Arab, but I deferred to to to you. I'm not a member of the Jewish community though. Sometimes I feel like I am by extension. Yeah. But unfortunately, there's been it's actually some of the vandalism has happened outside of Miami Beach, but we've had some incidences. I know our
chief and others have uh are are on it and making sure that we we keep the the area of intact because there's been unfortunately vandalism, but uh I'm supportive. Yeah. I what I'd like to encourage is because the AOV is so important not just to Miami Beach, but
to our our barrier island beyond our municipal boundaries. Uh so many of our kosher restaurants are in Surfside. uh a lot of activity in Bal Harbor and in the in the barrier islands. Um we should urge those those governments to support
uh the Arav as well and try to to match our contributions as well. uh because it's important uh to the entire community regardless of our municipal boundaries. Uh it's one larger community and so I think we should urge uh Bar
Harbor, Bay Harbor, Surfside uh to to support the air as well. Eric, is that something we can send out to informing them of of our actions? It absolutely. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So if I can. So the it amends the amendment in
that the 12,000 is increased to one to 20,000 and we're adding an item 120,000 actually be from the general fund on a onetime basis for the uh the cleaning that we discuss that was discussed. Possibly take it from tourism taxes really because if not for the Arab we
would not get a lot a certain amount of tourists here. So, you know, it could there is a justification if you wanted to take it out of tourism taxes. If the commission wanted to take it from the reserves of the resort tax, they could do that. I have an issue with especially if actually I've been in conversations
uh with the GNCB uh specifically about that because I think we we promote LGBTQ tourism. We we we promote Hispanic culture as part of our tourism efforts. We promote black culture. I think that this is one of the things that we should be promoting our Jewish culture. The
fact that we are a safe destination for Jewish people and Orthodox people and one of the things that attract them to our region is the fact that we have this uh this era of in Miami Beach and it's something that the GNCB uh should be should be tapping for for
Jewish tourism. So as uh as as it relates to to using resource funds, I I completely agree with that. It's actually a fair point. You're not gonna the Arab is so instrumental for Shabbat. It basically you can't carry anything without the Arab. So people are not going to want to visit Miami Beach if
they can't actually take their little kids outside or or carry anything. Um so it's any any growing Jewish community has to have an area. So point well taken. And again I'm sorry just to clarify the view of 20,000
would be general fund. We don't think that that would be necessarily eligible resort tax, but the pressure washing is what I thought I was speaking about, which is actually 140. So, we would recommend the 20 being from the general fund. And if the commission wanted the one uh the 140 uh one-time adjustment uh
for resort tax, uh we can we can go ahead and do that if if that's the amendment to the amendment. That's fine. Okay. Okay. Let's call the vote. Mr. Mayor, if I could, not to prolong this. Uh Commissioner Fernandez, you had an item in there on style saves and want to commend you on that. This is an organization I got involved with last
year. Uh, and just going to highlight it for the rest of the group. Um, Mr. Mayor, I know you attended last year. It It's a day that will remain with me forever. It It was magical. It happens at our convention center. It's done uh the organization is put on by a fabulous
uh group of ladies that are Miami Beach residents. And on this weekend, there are tens of thousands, 25,000 tens of thousands of people across our community from Miami Beach to all across Miami
date. Uh they come here for critical back to school supplies that otherwise they they would not be able to get. And it's not just about getting the supplies. You see the community involvement and the happiness on these pe uh children's faces, the families
faces. Um, you know, so just from a politics aside, it has nothing to do with our position. Even if you just attend and give out uh food or candy or whatever it may be, it was one of the most memorable weekends uh that that I've had uh since living in Miami Beach.
And uh kudos to you for being involved in that. What you're saying, not not just school supplies, but clothing uh as well. It's it's you almost you have to see it to believe it. The volume of merchandise that they give out. um completely free for like you said 25,000
people. Commissioner Bot. Let's call the vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom and I see no one in the audience. I need a motion, please. I move the item as amended. Seconded by need a second, please. Second.
So R7E as amended. Commissioner Fernandez moved it. Mayor Miner seconded. All in favor, please say I. I. The item is approved. Commissioner Suarez is absent. Let's call R5F. R5F. It is an ordinance of the mayor and
city commission of city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the resiliency code of the city of Miami Beach by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning districts and regulations. Article 2 entitled district regulations section 7.2.15. 2.15 entitled performance standard districts at subsection 7.2.15.3 entitled commercial performance
standards CPS to amend the permitted conditional and supplemental use regulations as well as the development regulations including maximum permitted building height within the CPS2 zoning district and providing forification repealer servability and an effective date. R5F is a second reading public
hearing. The item requires 57's vote. R5F Well, thank you. Um, I originally sponsored this item at the uh at the recommendation of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association. I see Mark Needle here, so thank you for that. Um, worked hard on this and then
Commissioner Dominguez then added on as co-sponsor, but really more than that. You really, um, took took a very active role. So, uh, great teamwork all around. Thank you. Um, I will let Tom Mooney tee it up and I think there may be some u
modifications that we need to add um now on the floor, but Tom, if you want to take it away. Sure. Um, Commissioner, the ordinance itself um was approved at first reading. Um, and it was approved for first reading on March 19th.
Subsequent to first reading at the recommendation of the administration, we met with representatives of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association regarding some of the height limits proposed for lot aggregations that were less than four lots and we came up with some
additional text that we believe addresses the smaller lots. um it has been incorporated into the revised ordinance for second reading and so the administration is recommending adoption of the ordinance as drafted. My understanding is that some members of
the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association would like to introduce some additional modified text as it pertains to outdoor speakers within a very limited area at Sixth Street um and Jefferson Avenue. Um myself and Nick
Claire just have looked at that revised text. We don't have an issue with it. And so if that is acceptable, you could include that in your motion uh to adopt the ordinance. Hi, it's Mark Needle. Um speaking on behalf of Flamingo, I'm going to hand
this over to uh Mickey Morero to introduce an um another amendment which was uh something we had talked about before. Um and we've worked out an agreement basically. uh I'll let him describe it to you, but we're okay with
this as well. So, we would be supportive. It's part of what we're trying to do in terms of bringing everyone together in a consensus way. Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Commission. Uh so, as as Mark said, we I represent the Estfan Enterprises. They own 555
Jefferson. It's kind of a unique restaurant use that everybody wants to keep and maintain. And in order to make that viable, we've been working with not only Tom and and Nick, but also the commissioner and Lingo Park very closely to make sure that that language is acceptable. I will read it into the
record. Um, and again, it retains it pertains to that existing building. The language is any existing building with an existing outdoor seating area fronting Jefferson Avenue and Sixth Street. It's permitted to have outdoor speakers so long as the existing outdoor seating area and existing building are
retained. Any music played from these outdoor speakers may not exceed an ambient volume level, i.e. volume that does not interfere with normal conversation and shall not be audible beyond the center line of any adjacent road. And that's something that everybody's in agreement with. Yeah. No,
I I'll move the item with that amendment. This is a uh public hearing. Ralph, I don't know if you need to open it. Yes, sir. If you want to do that now, we have one. Okay, Mitch, you're next. That Thanks, Ralph. Mitch Novik. For the last
33 years, I've managed a building at Sixth and Jefferson uh at the periphery and uh near the Estafont property. Want to thank Tom and Mickey for uh ironing out the uh uh little hiccup we had. And
I commend uh those commissioners who uh Laura and certainly the mayor when he was a commissioner uh for taking this item item up. Thanks again. Thank you, Mitch. Our next public speaker is on Zoom, Johan Moore. Mr. Moore, you have a few minutes. Please go ahead. State your
name and address. Johan Moore, 717 Avenue for Meridian Court community. Uh we uh consistently act in support of our neighborhood and our neighborhood association. And I've been privileged to
be a part of the discussions and the uh FPNA land use subcommittee that has been working on this for a number of years now. We are fully supportive of this and MCC expressly thanks uh both commissioner Dominguez and the mayor uh
for their support for this item and we urge that you support it. U at the risk of being uh the following comment being ruled out of order. There is still uh an outstanding issue needed to protect the Sixth Street corridor and that is in
fact uh an anticipated vote before historic preservation board to designate the Southshore Community Center a little more complicated than we had hoped. I'll leave my comments at that and thank you all again. Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead.
Uh again, Mark Needle uh speaking for Flamingo Park uh neighborhood association. And in addition to thanking the mayor and uh Commissioner Dominguez, I actually want to thank uh each of you who has at different points given uh
advice to us uh both before when we were starting to formulate this uh plan, which is a response to integrate the commercial and the residential in a low-scale area. at the edge of the neighborhood. Uh and also when it came
forward in a kind of a diluted fashion and uh and several of you uh met with us and talked about how to uh strengthen that and uh this commission really has acted uh in great uh good faith uh to implement the the protections that the
residents thought were really important uh and to do and we've done so in a way that accommodates the other interests involved. And now this completes uh three uh we have the interior infill that's been done. We have the Alton Road
overlay that's been done. We have the Fifth Street. And we're going to start talking uh about uh Washington Avenue as well. And we hope to bring that same approach forward. But it starts with uh respecting the the contextual uh and use
protections that the neighborhood uh needs to see. so that new developments do not overwhelm the existing historic and low-scale fabric. And I hope we bring that same spirit into the the the next and final edge of the Flamingo Park neighborhood. Thank
you all for your support. Thank you, Mark. And thank you for starting this, seeing it through fruition. You and Flamingo Park is a perfect example of how our neighborhood associations really make our city so much the city the great city that we are and and and continue.
Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, I love Sixth Street. I mean, apo apart from the Southshore Community Center, I practice yoga there nearly every single day. It is such a thriving community that a lot of people don't realize that all of those businesses are occupied. There's no vacancies on Sixth Street.
Um, it really is an example. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is in that neighborhood a very, very thriving, healthy, successful street. So, I wanted to see it, you know, remain
the way it is in context and, you know, and I really like to see the Southshore Community Center, which we did say we were going to paint, that has not yet been painted. Eric, oh, I know, I know. Well, we won't go there, but as we move forward, I think that that will be, you
know, a crown jewel on the street and um I'm sure I'll be spending a lot of time on Sixth Street over the next few months. I just want to just put on the record with the Southshore Community Center. I don't that style of architecture I don't think should be painted. It's a brutalist style of
architecture. It's best in its monochromatic uh style. And you know, well, I don't want to get off the topic of this item. I know, but we could just repaint it as is. I just want to see it freshly painted that the neighborhood that we show that we care about that community center. Senior lunchroom is
reopening there. We're getting a police training facility on the second floor, which I didn't really uh want there, but we're getting it and we got it funded actually by the state of Florida. So, it is what it is. But go I support this item. Commissioner Bot. So, um just to
quickly follow up on something you just said, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, and the comment I wanted to make, um this might soften the blow for the police training facility. Um the PAL boxing classes that now have to go off the island because there's no place to do them can be done there. So, um I think it's going to be great. So, um pal
boxing, um women's self-defense classes, all that kind of good stuff. So, but what I was going to say was for comic relief, Mark, you know that this is going back so far that Alex and I were on the planning board working on this with you. That's true. I mean, this is like what, four years now? And that's
right. And Commissioner Magazine. So, this is a a serious communitywide labor of love. So, congratulations. I know you've put your heart and soul into it. So well done. Is there a motion? There is a motion by Commissioner Dominguez. Would you like to second it? I'll second it. May I call
the RO? Yeah. Since there's no mayor or vice mayor vote. So this is on item R5F. I have a motion by Commissioner Dominguez and seconded by Commissioner Bot. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Yeah. Commissioner Bot. Yes. Vice Mayor
Suarez. Yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carries. The item is approved 70. That was item R5F. Does amended, by the way.
Congratulations. Um, there's actually one uh budget item we still have to call R7F. R7F is a public hearing adopt six amendment to the fiscal year 2025 capital budget. R7F uh this is the sixth amendment. It
contains two items. Uh proposes an increase of $1.5 million and the realignment of $382,000 from existing projects to one new project. So the first project is a Biscuit Beach Elementary Schoolyard project that we just approved in the
North Beach CRA budget. This would just include it in the city's overall capital budget. Uh the second item is a beach view park improvements project. So this is a new project that is to replace existing playground and f fitness equipment and also some upgrades
throughout the park. So the rec the estimated cost is 1.5 million approximately. The city has garnered $1 million in donations and grants and also we have additional $200,000 in the general fund parks budget and so there's
a funding gap of $382,642. So the recommendation is to transfer funding from six existing capital projects that either have been completed with savings or are within the within the scope of the existing project that we're trying to fund um in order to fully fund this gap.
Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, so this six amendment for for 2025, I believe on page three states the funds for Park View Island annex dog park of 37 $34,000 is being returned to the general
budget or to the PGO fund. Uh, and I've received concerns uh from the Park View Island Sustainable Association regarding this this recommendation. Clearly, they would like to see the funds remain with the community. Um, you one suggestion that
they threw out uh was to invest in the North Beach Community Garden. Um just wondering is there an avenue through through through which uh we would not allow the transfer of the unused funds and instead identify an eligible project
like the North Beach Community Garden um in our fiscal year 2026 uh CIP budget um to fund um to fund using these these excess dollars. Uh to answer that, I I
would have concern. I I I'm aware of that communication. Um there's one thing if they wanted to uh withhold that from the beach uh beach project and to keep it in if you wanted to with uh keep that money from the beach project and to keep
it in the park view. Uh I think the only element is that there would be concern that uh a grant or or or such would um to a community garden would be more of an operating expense. Uh so I think that that those funds would probably not be eligible, but if there was an interest in keeping that those monies in the in
that area, we could identify another uh capital project that might uh need those funding. I have a suggestion if if if uh because you're because you're suggesting you're you're saying these are capital dollars. They're capitals and so and so so to use
capital dollars for operating wouldn't we that's something that we cannot do. Right. Actually, these were these PIGO dollars are citywide uh property taxes that are collected specifically for citywide capital projects or specifically for capital. And so we have
to keep these dollars for capital, but we can identify an appropriate uh capital project in Park View Islands um um that we can use as part of the fiscal year 26 CIP budget where we can reinvest
these $34,000 back into that community. Correct. Yeah, we we could if that's the direction. Uh I know I spoke to the the parks director about that. The the the Beach View project. I I believe uh this 34,000 is uh is fine if that doesn't get over to that project and if the
direction is to amend the amendment to remove that 34,000 and then through the 26 budget process for us to identify a Park View Island area uh community uh capital project we can go ahead and do that. Commissioner Bot and I see the manager
also wants to join. So I um I was actually speaking with uh our city manager yesterday about this and I also want to keep the 34 grand in Park View and the way we just did with the CRA and we moved a budget a chunk of budget
money from capital to operating. could we not do that with this and therefore um spend it on expanding the not an operational grant to run the community garden but maybe expanding the footprint of the community garden I I think that would take a little bit
more scope uh yeah I we just want to be careful because there are certain dollars that are allocated to capital we could find a way to make that happen. It just might not be exactly the way you're describing. Okay. And and just to
clarify, we move funds from the operating to capital. Not vice versa. Not, you know, one direction, the other direction. What's the difference? These these these are dollars that we tax our residents citywide specific for capital. So that could create a problem. So, I I would like to support my colleague um
and support the neighbors on Parkview Island, keep the money where it's was allocated to go and find a way to ideally expand the scope of the community garden because I know there's a waiting list that you know it's a blue zones priority to increase uh community garden. So, if there is a mechanism that
you guys come up with, my my wish would be to make that the priority for that was $34,000. So we'll show the uh the budget amendment amended uh which would remove that 34,28179 from that project and then through the 26 budget process we'll identify a park view island capital
project with the number one priority to try to find I guess a new perhaps if there's a scope of a new capital project parks can come up with for those dollars related to that community garden if not to find another eligible project. Okay, it is a public hearing. I have someone,
no one in the audience, but I have one. Hey, mayor. That's not what this is doing. Let's Let's call the vote. Okay. Before we do that, uh this is a public hearing. We have uh one individual, Larry Schaefer, on Zoom. Mr. Schaefer, please unmute
yourself. You have two minutes. Mr. Mr. Schaefer, go ahead, please. Mr. Schaefer. Okay, PJ, let's go then. There's no one else on Zoom and I see no one else in the audience. We're closing the public hearing. I need a motion as to on R sevenf as amended, please. As amended and moved. Seconded
by Commissioner Bot. Yep. All in favor of R7F, please say I. I. I. Anyone opposed? I see Commissioner Suarez is absent. I Okay, got it. So, it's 70. It's approved uh unanimously. R 7F as
amended. Thank you. R5E. R5E is in order to the mayor city commission of city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending Miami Beach Resiliency Code by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning districts and regulations article 2 entitled district regulations by amending section 7.2.4 4 entitle RM1
residential multif family low intensity at subsection 7.2.4.2 entitled uses RM1 and by amending section 7.2.5 entitle RM2 residential multif family medium intensity at subsection 7.2.5.2 entitled uses RM2 and by
amending section 7.2.6 entitle RM3 residential multifamily high intensity at subsection 7.2.6.2 entitled uses RM3 and by amending section 7.2.10 10 entitle CD1 commercial low inensity district at subsection 7.2.10.2 entitled uses CD1 and by
amending section 7.2.11 entitle CD2 commercial medium intensity at subsection 7.211.2 entitled uses CD2 and amending section 7.2.12 and title CD3 commercial highintensity district at subsection
7.2.12.2 entitled uses CD3 and by amending section 7.2.13 entitled mixeduse entertainment district at subsection 7.2 2.13.2 entitled uses MXE by amending section 7.2.14 entitled North Beach Sound Center Core District
at subsection 7 sorry at subsection 7.2.14 entitled uses TC1 CC2 and by amending subsection 7.2.14 entitled uses TC3 and by amending subsection 7.2.14 entitled Town Center
central core TCC district and by amending section 7.2.15 2.15 entitled performance standard district by subsection 7.2.15 entitled residential performance standards district by amending subsection 7.2.15 entitled commercial performance standard district
CPS by referring to hotel approval process established under section 7.2.2 to and conforming the regulations for each respective zoning district to reflect of the approval of a warranty by a warrant by the city commission shall be required prior to the review of a land use board application or building
permit for a hotel suite hotel apartment hotel or hostel subject to exemptions and subject to the procedural requirement to review criteria of section 2.7.2 and providing for codification uh servability repealer applicability and an effective date. This is a second reading public hearing.
The item requires 57's vote. It is item R5E. Raphael, did that mean that you took longer than two minutes to read that title? Yes, I did. Ow. Yes, I did. Mr. Boon has to start shortening them up a little.
Okay. Um, this particular ordinance was approved at first reading on uh February 26 of 2025. And what it does is it provides more of an update to the ordinance that was adopted by the commission on February 3rd that set up
the requirement for a commission warrant for any new hotel development in the city, including converting existing buildings to hotel or new hotel construction or addition to buildings that would open hotel units. The only exception would be oceanfront properties. When the commission adopted
that ordinance creating the warrant process, there were three exceptions that were included in that ordinance for three different properties. The clarification ordinance, which basically um notes the warrant process within the different zoning district tables, but
does not substantively modify the process, also at the request of the commission at first reading included those three property exceptions. When the ordinance came before the commission last month for second reading adoption,
there were some concerns expressed with regard to some of those exceptions and the commission deferred action at second reading to today's meeting. Uh nothing has changed substantively in the ordinance uh since the last meeting and the administration recommends adoption
at second reading. H happy to kick this off if I can. Mr. Mayor, Mr. magazine. Just to kind of recap where this originated from um over the past couple of years, I think one of the biggest issues that has impacted our
city has been the overabundance of hotels um specifically in infill areas where we look we are facing a housing affordability crisis and how I look at things in every area where we're building infill hotels is somewhere
where we are not moving forward with uh some sort of attainable housing project. Uh so this provides an extra uh added burden on building more hotels uh in lie of residential housing. Additionally, one of the things that has plagued our
city and has hurt housing affordability because it's removed housing supply in favor of transient usages are some of our typically older multifamily buildings that house some of our most vulnerable residents uh have been
essentially cleared or vacated in lie of uh transient nature accommodations whe that that be short-term rentals, hotels. In fact, there's a for sale sign on a property right across from city hall actually right now that we all walk by every single day. Uh when I was
campaigning a year and a half ago, uh I still remember the lady's apartment whose door I knocked on. She was actually a city hall employee and she goes, "I live here with my family. Uh our building is going to be for sale and it's being marketed for short-term rental or hotel development." I can
remember being at a uh uh housing complex in North Beach, another in Collins Park. Again, long-term residents and they're being kicked out of their homes to turn uh multifamily buildings in our residential areas to hotels. So
this uh while we are procluded from preventing that uh I worked with legal to do to place any type of added layer um to prevent that from happening from
displacing long-term vulnerable residents and exacerbating our housing affordability crisis which if we don't do things for we saw the state kind of step in and look to fill those shoes in a way that swung the pen pendulum way too far to the other direction. So,
that's where this entire ordinance is going. I think uh we're all supportive of this. Um but I think some of the uh discussion here today will uh center on the exceptions that are being provided. Uh I've met with uh Mr. Schleser, his uh
attorney, Mr. Burka. Um I understand where you're coming from. I I completely understand where you're coming from and I don't think it's unique to you. I think the issue that you've presented to us that the building that you you own
and operate does not have the economic or financial feasibility to continue forward because of your increased insurance costs, your increased carrying costs, the lack of price elasticity for uh keeping as a residential component. Um so that's not unique to you and
that's something that we're all going to have to sit here and have long and hard discussions about how to figure out. Um, I'm going to be against that uh specific exception. I'm not going to begrudge anybody uh that does. I've said my piece
over the past couple of meetings. Um, so I'll just put that out there and I'll turn it over to my colleagues for uh their commentary. M Commissioner Suarez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, uh, for the exception, why is staff recommending
this exception? The exception was part of the original uh ordinance that created the warrant process that was adopted by the commission on February 3rd. Since this is a clarification of that ordinance in order to be consistent with the exceptions that were previously
adopted, um we had recommended in favor of including these exceptions. So, if we if we if they do not if if the exceptions do not get the votes, um what happens? If the commission was to remove any of the exceptions in this ordinance,
they would still technically be in effect by virtue of the fact that they are attached to ordinance 2025-4694, which was adopted on February 3rd. In order to permanently remove those exceptions, you would have to um
bring back that ordinance and modify that ordinance separately as a separate item. Correct. It would have to be re-referred, I believe, to the planning board. The planning board would then have to transmit it back to the commission with those amendments,
removing those exceptions. Well, I'd like to do that. So, Mr. City Clerk, if you can prepare or Mr. your city attorney if you can prepare something for me to remove those exceptions from the original ordinance. I think we would start with a referral to land use um and start the process again
so we can bring a referral sponsor that I I again I I don't um I know Mr. Mr. Milles here and he's hired Jeff Burkow, a very high-profile attorney, a zoning attorney in Miami Beach. Um, I don't
think we should be uh in a sense giving exceptions to to people who are politically connected. I I think it's wrong. It sets a bad precedent. Um, and the whole intent of
this ordinance is to um prevent this exact thing from happening. And again, this doesn't necessarily stop Mr. Schleser from turning at the hotel. It just Let me finish. It it basically comes back to us
um as a as a commission to vote on. And I I don't see what the problem is. Ultimately, we're going to be the ones to decide if a hotel can be there or not. May I respond to Yes, you may. Thank you again, Commissioner Suarez. My
name is Schleser, not Schlesinger. Uh, it is nothing to do with political connections. I frankly until this issue came up, I knew and and corresponded and dealt with none of you on the commission. I've stepped away. I served
my time here very involved in the civic nature of this city. I was chairman of the planning board. I was on the board of adjustment and I also was one of the creators of the Lincoln Road uh the Lincoln Road bid, but I did not engage in politics. And quite frankly,
Commissioner, I'm quite insulted that you think that this is an issue of politics when it's an issue of equity. The Alamac was a hotel when it was built. It is in the middle of an MXC district. I relied on the creation of an
NMX district to change it to a hotel to change it to apartments while that apartments would become viable. They are not longer viable. The folks that live in our building do not stay forever. They are generally younger people and it is very difficult at this point to
maintain it. I have no interest or desire at this point to change it to a hotel at all. And again, I just want to point this out very seriously to all of you. This is not politics. This is equity. So, and I'm insulted that you tell me here that this is a political
issue and I that I have engaged in some sort of political work in order to get the exception. The exception was given and I assume by every one of the your colleagues who voted for it, not because I'm politically connected, but because it was the right thing to do. So, you mentioned the word
equity. Why should we make an exception for you and not anyone else? Because I'm in the middle of the MXC district. It was originally a hotel. It's a historic building that I took my money and converted into apartments because that was the the nature of the of the
requirements at the time. But how is that equitable? Because it's right that it was a hotel and it should not be taken away from me. The right to do that should not be taken away. And quite frankly, Commissioner Magazine was very clear when he said the purpose of this
this uh um warrant process is in order to stop the conversion to hotels. So you are putting in fact a blockade of a building that was originally hotel in the middle of a of a mixeduse entertainment district where the noise
is overwhelming. At certain times the tenants will complain. So sometimes it just doesn't work. So you're taking away a right taking away a right in an appropriately designed and appropriately zoned area. But we're doing it to everyone else. Isn't that the most equitable? I I don't know of any other
residential buildings that like mine in the same area that certainly directly not near me. There are several condominiums, but a vast majority of the buildings all around me are hotels. They're all hotels. The building was designed as a hotel. It was built as
a hotel. As Commissioner Magazine stated, we want to move away from hotels. I understand that. And that's the whole point. And I respect that. Let me finish. M That's the whole point of this legislation. Sure, I understand that and I respect that's the whole point of this legislation is to really prevent any more hotels because we do
have an affordable housing crisis and are you just there and tell me that you want to be exempt from this process while everyone else isn't exempt I don't think is equitable and so look I I at the end of the day if you do decide you want to turn into hotel then go ahead
and and we'll we'll come before us but if you're sitting there saying you're not going to turn it into a hotel then why are you there right now at the podium saying that you want to be exempted because it it it's a right that was there that's a valuable right should the in the future it want to become a
hotel whether it by me or someone else is it's it's a significant right and a significant value that you are for all intents and purposes taking away and when you take away when you take away a right you take away value we're doing that to a lot of other properties
in the but they're not located they're not original historic buildings this is a unique building It was designed as a hotel. It's a historic building that I converted from a hotel into apartments. I should be able to We have We have legislation that we Let me just one last
point. I'm not This is This is not a back and forth. Yes. And I You're supposed to speak, he speaks. This is becoming a Q&A. Last question, last comment, and then Commissioner Fendz, last thing. We we've passed this commission, this current commission has passed
legislation, you know, incentivizing the change from transient to residential. We've even passed legislation trying to change from uh an office building to residential. You know, that's the direction that we're going. and and to
say that because they've changed from transient to residential, they should still have that ability to change back, I I didn't sign on that. So, um, Mr. Mayor, thank you. I I I certainly didn't want to go back and forth, but I I think
that this is uh bad precedent and, you know, I'm going to want to be putting something together to remove that exemptions that we passed. Commissioner Fernandez, then Commissioner Bot. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And um I want to commend Commissioner
Magazine for bringing forward uh this item that creates an approval process for for hotel uses because we have seen uh individuals being displaced from where they live, individuals in fixed incomes uh with little to pretty much no
notice. Um and that's how the fabric of the community gets eroded. And this is a really good uh piece of legislation to protect the identity of Miami Beach and those who call it home. So, thank you uh for for bringing this forward. Um and I
I understand here two situations. The unique nature of the of the property owner before us who has a historic property, a historic property that the underlining zoning for it and the original use of this property was hotel.
Is that correct? Uh, Mr. Director? Yes. The underlying zoning is uh MXE. It's been MXE since uh at least 1989 and that district did permit hotels. So So, so this is not a situation where
where you know an apartment building was was constructed and could potentially become a hotel. This is a property that in its historic and authentic use was a hotel. Over time, because of the economics of the situation, it made
sense for it to then be an apartment building. Uh but the true authentic use was a hotel use. That's correct. Okay. And that's and that's where I think that this is a more unique situation. Now I am very empathetic to to the situation
of the housing need and the individuals. How many units are there in this building? There are 45 apartment units. 45 apartments. And to those 45 individuals, that is the only home that they know. And and we are the I don't
know of that. We have the floor. I have the floor. Please do not interrupt. And if you if you're not speaking, please be seated. Thank you. The intent of the policy, the intent of the policy is to
protect individuals and their homes from displacements. And what I would like to see here is a middle ground because I don't think that we should be affecting people's property values. Property values need to be respected. Property rights need to be respected. But th so
does people's rights to their homes. Can something be done? Actually, come back to the podium. I take it back. That's what I was waiting for. Could something be done to to to help the individuals that
live there? I understand you're it's not your intent to convert the building from apartment to hotel, but we have to legislate in the present. Thinking about the future. What if someone comes after you and buys a property and intends to convert it into a hotel? Would you be
willing to adopt some sort of covenant where you would give these residents three months, four months notice, a fair decent notice so that they have time in the Miami Beach housing market to find a new place to
live? Yes, I would. And in our discussion that we had recently uh I indicated that that uh actually specifically we agree I agreed that uh if it is changed into a converted into a hotel or if there is some way that it
could be protected in legislation. I would agree to at least four months uh notice before anybody anyone would have to leave. And thank you. We agreed of course to return the security deposit of course and to give the persons uh the
folks who who are going to be have to believe at least a one month uh free rent. Thank you so much. When I ask a question, please be direct on your answer. Thank you. So I'm sorry. Did I did I say
something that was I'm asking questions and so I just need you to be direct in your in your answer. You are agreeing to four months. Yes. Okay. And you're agreeing to provide in your tenants with tenant relief if it ever occurs that uh
that the property is converted from apartment to Okay. And would you agree to provide them in addition to returning their security deposit with at least one or two months, three months of of assistance for move out? I would. Okay.
and and and and let me ask our our chief deputy city attorney Nick, how could we memorialize that? Because this is a unique situation here because if someone comes through the warrant process, let's say this very same property owner, they could come
through the warrant process. The city commission could approve this. Those individuals who live in those units who we're trying to protect, they wouldn't be entitled to the fourmonth notice and they wouldn't be entitled to the financial relief that this property
owner is offering here. So, how could we memorialize this? because we are in fact guaranteeing for for these tenants more protections than what they would have otherwise. So, how can we memorialize that? Commissioner, we could memorialize this with a with a covenant. It would
run with the land. So, if uh if Mr. Schleser sold the property to somebody else, the same requirements would apply to the new owner. And so I would like to memorialize that covenant because we are in fact giving these tenants more protection today if we do that covenant
than what they would have otherwise because through the warrant process all that it is says is well the city commission has to approve converting your property from apartment to hotel but we are preempted in uh in in in in
fair notice. uh we had our 60-day fair fair notice to tenants when they have to move out and we got preempted by the state of Florida but now we have a property owner that is saying I won't give them two months I'm going to give them four months and that is giving them
also financial relief so I think in this situation the tenants in this building will be better protected at the end of the day than what they are originally so so if so I this is where I stand on on this item. I'm going to support the the
item as as it is presented and I'd like to sponsor and I don't know if Commissioner Magazine if you join me uh in this covenant um that the property owner is proposing that would in fact give them even more protections than what they have today. And I think Mr.
May if I could I think that's fabulous because I I know your heart's in the right place and you're looking out. Uh, I don't know if there's a way, Nick, maybe you could confirm this where I could vote. I'll still vote no for the exception, but if it does pass, of course, I back uh your covenant.
Commissioner Bot and Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Um, thank you. I have a couple of questions. One is Nick, is it would it be possible as part of the warrant process to require any um proposal to
convert from residential regardless of who the property owner is in the future um to offer the same sorts of protections we're talking about for Mr. Schles Slesher's I I'm not going to get it right. No, it's call me Mel. Schleser's building
um is a matter of of form going forward as Unfortunately, not. No. Okay. Okay. The second question is, and I don't know if you remember, maybe Tom remembers, but when this item originally came before us in February, the other two um
exceptions, I think the one um that was prior to July 1st of 2024 and the one that was prior to November 26, 2024, were those originally in the warrant as it was voted on? Yes. And were there any
objections to those two at the time? I don't believe so. Tom, do you recall any? No. And Okay. So, I'm just curious as to why all of the sudden um one property is stirring up the eye of some
of my colleagues when the two that have been here as part of the entire process have not um have there been any conversations? I can speak to that. I'm I'm sorry. I'm speaking to the to the folks at the podium.
Have there been any conversations about um about the other two properties being um procluded from the exemptions that have been offered here? Not to my knowledge. No. Okay. Um I can I can speak to that. I
think the other two properties had a pending application um already submitted for um for a hotel use, right? And so they are already in the process. I I believe Mel Schleser's property had not submitted an application. Uh he simply
just wants to be excluded as an exemption from from this property. Uh, and so at the time I recall, I I generally if there's someone already in the process, I'm not I'm not going to stop them from moving forward uh on on
what they believe was the right thing to was their right at the time. Uh, so but considering that Mel hasn't submitted an application, this is why this particular property is where it's at. And so I I also wanted to to discuss
um for my colleague Commissioner Fernandez, look, you know, four or five months is great, but at the end of the day, we don't want to decrease our housing supply, right? I mean, I think we lost 10,000 residents
uh in the last census. We're the only city in Florida that has lost residents. And this is exactly why. It's because little by little we remove housing from whatever little housing we have for that that is affordable to hotels
and this is exactly why this piece of legislation was was was put forward. So, uh, four to five months is nice, uh, as far as, you know, a gift to the people that living there, but I I I think they they would much rather be able to live
there for as long as they want to u in Miami Beach at whatever rate that they're paying. Um, then be given a fourmonth notice with a security deposit back. I mean, I think that's I think that's very small
compared to living compared to what they really do want is is to stay where they're at because that's what they know and that's their home. And so, um, again, we want to conserve our housing supply, not replace
it with with transient uses. Uh, so I'm going to be a staunch no on this. Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez, um, I had a few questions for Jason. Jason, can you come up here? Um, I'm fine with supporting the
amendment, by the way, and um, I don't like the idea of anybody being displaced, but I want to understand the financial implications of what we're doing because I think that some of this gets a little skewed. What percentage of our overall taxes come from commercial
uses versus residential? Off the top of my head, I don't have that number. I have to go back and like split or something. It's a smaller percentage. Uh but I have I give me a few minutes I can run and go check because what I would like to understand
from a financial perspective is if as we convert something that's a hotel to a residential use, what happens to the property value? Would it in it would it increase? Would it decrease? How would this overall affect our um
finances? Do did we do any of these studies just to make sure? I understand that this is cons conserving housing and I understand that but there's a we have a one of the most famous tourism industries in the world and you know and I know that everybody wants us to become
you know a health and wellness sleepy community but at the same time Amy Beach is available to everybody. The MXC district I know has gone through a hard time especially because it had a managed decline but as we make these moves we could be doing tremendous damage to our
general fund and we haven't done any financial analysis have we? Uh to answer your prior question Tama was listening uh 18.6% u of our property tax property value is commercial non-residential 18.6
is commercial and everything else is based on res. I think it's the opposite, isn't it? No. No. You sure about that? Okay. I thought it was somewhere in the 20%. 18.6 is what? So then if there is no effect based on
that then then well to your question of if you convert a building from a hotel to a residential property taxes the largest amounts came from large commercial oceanfront hotels. Correct. No, only about the 18.6 is is commercial. What you may be thinking is
a single family home versus multif family. Uh but all all those are considered residential. Okay. So there is no change and I I can't speak that I'm not the property appraiser uh on that. So I if you're the question is if a hotel gets converted to
a residential use or residential use back uh does the value change? I would assume there would be some value change. I just I just don't know um typically what that percentage would be. I think it it depends on a lot, you know, uh number of units, you know, uh are you going from a residential building of 80
units and you're converting into a hotel of different units? I think there's a lot of pieces to that. So, I couldn't answer that. Uh right now, you don't know the I would know what the impact of moving from commercial to residential is something that that's fine. I just think that we have to be very careful so that
we may like Well, look, we're building How many rooms are in the convention center hotel? 800. 800. Okay. We're adding in an additional 800. And I understand that we're not getting rid of hotels. It's just a warrant process. I'm willing to, you
know, support this today. Um I don't like any tenants being displaced, but I don't think that that was the intention here at all. I think that Mel just wanted to conserve his additional property rights. Right. You have no intention of removing anyone. Yes, Mr.
Mayor. Okay. Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you. I would just ask a question of the city attorney because I just want to understand the purpose of the legislation is not to
say we are prohibiting the conversion of apartments to hotels. Can we legally do that? I mean, can we can we say I if you cannot convert from apartment to hotel,
you could um and Commissioner Magazine at one point had an item that went to land use. You could amend the district regulations to for a particular district to prohibit hotels in that district. What you cannot prohibit is short-term rentals in any district where uh
short-term rentals are currently allowed. But under this legislation, it establishes review criterias. Correct. So, so, so we can't uniformly say, "Oh, we're going to, you know, prohibit this absolutely from happening." Like, we
have to review this in a quasi judicial capacity against review criterias. That's correct. When when your first warrant application is presented to you, you'll have to make a decision on that application based on the review criteria. And I think and and and so and
so I just want us to be aware of of what it is that we're approving because yes, our intent is to preserve housing, but we can't say that we're going to blanket preserve all the housing because
you have to defend it against codified review criteria through uh a due process. That's right. to protect property rights because otherwise we're opening the door to litigation. Okay. So I just want I just
want just to for us to understand the framework under which this policy is going to be operated in because the policy yes our intent we want to preserve housing. That is our that is a
a big uh policy goal and we want to create more more housing opportunities. But you preserve housing through a review process and that's the and that's something that we have to just you know keep in mind here. There is a review
process and there's and there's and there's a review criteria that's that's in place. Uh but we can't say that we're gonna uniformly, you know, deny all the applications because then we're not affording people their due process. And if I could, Mr. Mayor, just 10 seconds
before Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, 10 seconds, just to confirm the city attorney. And in large part, thank you to Commissioner Fernandez's leadership, a housing impact statement will actually be part of that review criteria. Is that correct? The h the housing impact statement is now is will be a
requirement for all board applications. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. And let's bring this home. Um Jason, the resort taxes are 100 million. Is that what you're not adding into the whole equation? Cuz for some reason that calculation seems so different from what
you said a while ago, which is why I was inquiring. So when you add in total resort taxes, what percentage of Yeah. the budget? Yeah, the prior question I think was really on property value on that. And I do believe, you know, hotel use probably would have a higher value. But that is a good point that when you
have a property equal being equal that not only do you have the property tax value, a hotel generates bed and more than likely a food and beverage tax. So uh any component there would would be a lost revenue either loss or yeah lost revenue. Commissioner, my my I I listen
I understand the intent of this and I'm you know and I'm willing to support this with the amendment. I'm just saying that as we do this, you have to understand that there are financial implications and we don't know exactly what they are because we haven't done them and um our
financial officer kind of has some rudimentary calculations but nothing fixed. So, um, we can move this today, but, um, you know, there should have been some financial analysis done because Jason, how are you going to make up as, um, hotels get converted to
residential and we have that gap in tourism taxes, how will we make that up? And that's that's an important question for all of us to consider. But that's not what this item does. Sorry, Mr. No, I I understand that there's nothing in here that's actually facilitating the conversion from hotels to residential.
It's just the perhaps prohibit. It's the opposite. But if a hotel in the historic district wanted all of a sudden to renovate and the 50% rule kicked in, would they beame would they now not be able to be a hotel because what you
could in essence be doing is uh that goes not because of this. This would not affect it at all. It's what the commission could consider as far as the review process and the warrant. So, but what we're doing here is if you own a hotel now in a historic district and you
want to improve that hotel, these hotels that we're trying to save these hotels that are the iconic hotels, if somebody goes in and wants to seriously improve the hotel, now in addition to everything, they'll have to go through a warrant process, which might discourage investment in this historic district.
And so, nothing exists in a vacuum. And I understand that this is well-intentioned. I just think that why would we want to discourage investment in these smaller hotel properties that are so iconic and historic. I would want
people to invest money in these hotels and this is going to do the opposite. I'm sorry. How so? Come that's just I just asked the city attorney if they did do a 50% um renovation they wouldn't have to go through a warrant process
because they're already a hotel. Okay. Okay. Okay. Commissioner Dominguez, Commissioner I know that Commissioner Dominguez, Commissioner Suarez, and Commissioner Bot. I think we've heard all the issues and then let's vote. So, I'm supportive of this item with the
amendments. Um, one thing that we've gone over a few times is the initial intent of of the rights of the property owner um of what they had. Um, I like Commissioner Fernandez's uh comments about getting a covenant to protect
people that would be displaced should anything ever change. But this is the entertainment district and north and south there are hotels and it's just shocking to me the hard time that we're giving this property owner over that
building. Like we're just uh going over and over. But um it's in the heart of MXC north and south there are hotels. I will repeat that and that's the economic driver of our city. Um and it would change resort taxes and other taxes that
we get in the future. Um so I am supportive with the amendments. Commissioner Suarez. Thank you. Uh Mr. Mayor. So you look I with that sort of line of logic where you know why don't we just turn everything into a hotel and then we'll get all sorts of increased
value in in resort taxes that I I don't think that makes any sense. I mean I think if we're going to be serious about housing in Miami Beach I think we need to hold the line. Obviously the state of Florida is looking at us. They use us as a poster child for live local.
And you know, this just gives more fuel to the fire u of of Tallahassee handing down preeemptions on us where we're we're giving passes to to transient uses when we should be doing
everything we can to discourage um the the the removal of of just attainable housing on Miami Beach. And so, um, I don't want to belabor this too much, but I I think we're belaboring. Yeah. That I think that logic of I think
that logic of of of saying, you know, well, we'll get, you know, a little bit more money into the city if we replace this housing into hotel use. I we can everything should be a hotel then and then we'll be a even richer
city, but we won't be a city. We'll just be a shell of a city. Commissioner Bot and then Commissioner Rosen is thinking. We're sorry to be frank, but we're starting to hear the same. I mean, they're all good points, but we're starting to hear repetitive. So, let's try to call a vote. Um, I have a
question and a comment, Ralph. The amendment would eliminate all three of these exceptions. I don't believe Well, I don't think there's a motion yet on the floor, but I my understanding is that it would eliminate only the third
um carve out which is for Mr. Schleser's property. Okay. I mean the elephant in the room and this is well intended and I support this idea of a warrant to evaluate the benefits of a hotel replacing a residential unit. So I'm supportive with this of this in general.
But the elephant in the room is something that this doesn't address. And speaking of state preeemptions, it's the fact that our city is um overrun with short-term rentals, whether they are legal or illegal. I mean, talk to any of the full-time residents in the Rooney
Palace who have people buying 200 guest cards a year to give their guests access to to the pool facilities. And until we address that in some way, whether it's, you know, statewide legislation or we
figure out how to to monitor that better, this will help a little bit, but it's not going to significantly address our housing issue, which is a very real housing issue. I mean, anybody tiding to look for an affordable apartment, uh, good luck. It's either something that
doesn't have central AC or, you know, it's it the perfect apartment is a current short-term rental. So, um I I'm not sure about the amendment, but I I do support the general um uh intent of this
and I thank you, Joe, for bringing it. Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez. What I didn't get clarification on, for example, take a hotel like the Tides, right? It's sitting there. It's been abandoned now for a few years. Somebody comes in and they want to renovate it
and they hit a certain percentage threshold. Is that now a non-conforming use or and do they have to apply for a warrant or is it still a hotel? I think it's going to depend on the original ordinance which I would need to pull whether the original ordinance
specifically carved out all existing hotels. Um otherwise it it might become it might become non-conforming. Okay. So I would like to make an amendment that if a hotel is currently a hotel and that
there should be that they can remain a hotel even if they hit a threshold in terms of renovation because what we'll do is completely kill the historic hotel if we do this because I don't think that
those buildings I mean do we have for example let's say you take one of those hotels and you make it residential, which would be very difficult to do because those rooms are very small. They could become short-term rentals at this point, but nobody is going to convert
this to become a short-term rental. So, I just want to make sure because what this will do right now is convert like we, for example, does Alan Lieberman who owns 1500 rooms there, does he know that we're about to do this because what if he wanted to make an investment and hit
a certain threshold and then he loses all of his hotel licenses and he has to apply for all of these warrants? Like, he doesn't realize that we're doing this right now. So, I I I understand where we're going with this. I just don't understand what all of the financial implications are and what how
much the resort tax is going to represent as these buildings and and will this encourage or discourage investment because we haven't done any studies. Okay. Mr. and then after commissioner magazine goes let's bring we don't know how can
we vote on something if you don't know what it's going to do to property owners for it. If there's a motion to second we vote. I understand but don't you think everybody should understand what we're voting on? Yeah. Can you confirm if you're a hotel, you only need Well, the only reason you would have to go through the
approval process is if you're building a new hotel, you have no hotel license. Why would you ever have to come to this go through this process if you are just renovating? Because when you when you hit a certain
percentage threshold, it it is considered new. So as if it was new, this is very important because I don't know that I would support it if it doesn't have some sort of protection um in it so that people would be encouraged to invest. So, the original ordinance
which created the the hotel warrant requirement um specifically applies to applications um that include new construction andor the conversion to transient hotel use of existing floor area that is associated
with non-transient use. So, that means by implication that it would not apply to an existing hotel as of the date of that ordinance. Okay? And it doesn't matter what investment they want to do. 30 40 50% it would not affect they would not need a warrant unless they were
doing new construction. Right. Okay. And what happens if I may through the mayor what happens to a a hotel building that's empty like the example of the tides. The tides hasn't been operational probably
doesn't have a certificate of use. Um what happens in a situation like that? we would go and they go in, let's say they do a renovation, it's empty. Uh it's an Ocean Drive, so you know, it's where you want hotels. Um and they do a
50% renovation, so it's considered new construction, but they don't have a certificate of use. Do do they have to apply for warrants? We we would go by the last uh license use, which was hotel. So that building was a hotel. It may have been shuttered for five years,
but from a use standpoint, it would still be considered an existing hotel. So even if they went over the 50% rule, it wouldn't be considered new construction of a hotel or conversion of a hotel. Okay, understood. Okay. Um and
so and so I think I I think this is this is where our zoning maps and I and so many of the arguments that were that have been raised and so many other concerns resonate. Um but um but we just can't turn everything into hotels. This
is why we have a zoning map. This is why we have zoning districts and this is why we have areas that even though they're residential areas, but they also have underlining uh hotel uses because they are in areas of our city where we have traditionally encouraged more of our of
the transient use because that also helps sustain our economy. And then we have other areas of our city like our arm one districts in Flamingo Park uh where you have multifamily that can't be converted uh to to to hotel uses and
that's where the complexities of our zoning also help protect our our residents. So um Okay. Happy to move the item. Yeah, I was about to say it's been a great discussion. We don't have enough emotion. So you're moving it.
Well, I think procedurally we would need a motion by Commissioner Magazine to amend to remove if I mean if if this is what you still wish to do because you were the first to speak and you said you wanted to remove that exception though reading the tu I don't think that'll
that'll have support but even if the amendment doesn't uh have support I still want to move forward with uh the So you do not wish to make a motion to No sure I do I mean we could call the vote um But reading the tea leaves, I don't think that'll have support. So maybe, if I may, uh, through through the
mayor, maybe the the motion that Commissioner Magazine should make would be a motion to amend his item to remove the protections, see if he has support for that, and see if that amendment is is adopted or not. That's the suggestion, right? So I'll make a motion to remove the exceptions, take a vote. I
don't expect that to pass. And then if that does not pass, then we'll move forward with the legislation. That is what I was suggesting. Yes. exceptions. I don't understand. Are you removing all three exceptions? No, no, I'm sorry. This one uh and uh
clarify what Commissioner Ba was saying in addition to what Commissioner Suarez said where there were active applications. The one in North Beach specifically stood out to me because uh that was just a single family a single unit entity right now where the owner
was actually occupying it. So there wouldn't be any type of displacement and there's no real uh housing inventory that's there now. So Rick, bring us home. What's the motion? I think the first motion is to a motion to amend the ordinance to remove the third carveout.
Yes. Um and then you take a vote on that and then if that fails, you would take a mo well I think Commissioner Fernandez wanted to include a covenant. So he would need to make a motion to add the covenant and then you would take a vote on that. But that's only if it
pass if it if the first if motion failed correct amendment. Correct. Okay. So, let's let's go first with the um first. Okay. Do we have a second? Since this is a public hearing, uh we have one individual requesting to speak.
Mr. Saldo, go ahead, please. Yes. Hi, Daniel. Sir, candidate for commissioning crew one. I'm concerned about the this item making commissioners further gatekeepers on our city zoning. We saw recently the commission voted 52
to strip away community design review board process for speck homes with understories exacerbating the problem of the cost of housing in our city even more. The 1250 West Avenue project is also potentially being voted on by the
seven commissioners, not the public, because the referendum ability was removed in spite of voters consistently voting against F increases in our city. There are lobbyists right now in the commission chambers that were a part of
the state preeemptions or whose clients are benefiting from them and they will do whatever they can to destroy our city and maximize their own profits even if their own children will never be able to live on Miami Beach again because of
this affordability crisis. So I do thank the sponsor for this item. I am concerned about this, but I appreciate the idea of tracking the number of homes versus hotel rooms. In conclusion, though, for buildings that were
originally hotels, I don't see a legal way to prohibit their conversion or adaptive reuse. Thank you. Thank you, Rick. Repeat the motion, please. Sure. The first motion is by Commissioner Magazine, which is to
exclude uh Mr. Schleser's building from the car belts. That needs a second. We have We have another public speaker. Mike, please state your full name, address, and you have two minutes, please. Uh I'm Mike
Dorsch at the Waverly. I spoke earlier this morning. I find this conversation disingenuous from many of the commissioners who are advocating for the loss of affordable housing in this town when you're readily uh set to approve
the loss of 238 units at 1250 to replace be replaced by 100 units of ultra luxury housing. I hope you understand how inconsistent your arguments are when you're um talking about one project versus another. Thank you. Thank you. Public hearing is closed. since I see no
one. Yes, go ahead, please. Oh, Mitch. Okay. Is there anybody else? Mitch is left. Okay, so last last public comment. Good morning, Mitch Novik. Uh, good morning. 37year resident of the
MXC. My building uh uh opened in 1948 uh as a hotel apartment building. In 1960, it was co-op. it was converted to a co-op. Uh, as many of you know, I came
in in the uh uh in that building in the early 90s. Uh, now I own roughly 80% of the building known as the Sherberg Hotel. Uh, so I essentially converted what were residents, formerly hotel
apartments, into residents back to a hotel use for my Sherry units. Um, you know, I I I share Mel or Mr. Schleser's concern. Uh, uh, it's the MXC is a
different world. Uh, you know, everything there's this eb and flow that that that changes daily. uh uh you know uh of I I would support
this uh exception based on Mel's rich history here. He was uh an early pioneer who really uh fought and made a difference and made the community for what it is and what it was. Thanks. Thank you. Okay, Rick, once more one
more time. Sure. The motion is to accept the amendment that was proposed by Commissioner Magazine to remove the exception for Mr. Schleser's property that is in the current legislation that we are considering. Commissioner second. Commissioner Suarez seconded. And how
many votes do you need? Five. No, sorry. We need four votes to amend. Four to amend. Sorry. Yeah. Okay. Let's call the vote. So, as amended, Commissioner Fernandez, what is it? Four to amend. So, a motion to amend only needs a majority vote.
Now, ultimately, you'll need f five votes will be required to pass either version of the ordinance. So, we're not voting on the ordinance right now. We are voting to amend the ordinance that's before us to remove the protection that this property owner has requested. The
the the motion is to amend the item. We're not voting on the item. We're voting on the amendment right now. Correct. Voting on the Yes. So vote on the amendment. Commissioner Fernandez, no. Commissioner Bot, no. Commissioner
Rosen Gonzalez, no. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, no. Mayor Miner, no. You got the votes. No. No. Uh, the item is not amended. I would need another motion.
make a motion to move forward. Rick, well, I I think Commissioner Fernandez wanted to make another motion to amend to add a covenant. Yeah. Yeah. I want to make a motion to to add the covenant, and I'm going to uh defer to our chief deputy city attorney to properly state the
motion on my behalf. Sure. So, so the motion would be to accept the the the profer of of the covenant um that that Mr. Schleser agreed to, which would provide for at least four months notice uh prior to any tenant needing to vacate
uh one month's rent if the if if at no cost to the tenant. I think you had agreed to two. Was it two months? No, we said one, but I'll not a problem. And I understood a few months of uh of assistance with with
moving costs. Yeah. Yes. Can we be very specific? Two I think I think it was two months of of of assistance. Wait, it was it was it was two months of rent and uh and you know, of course, a security deposit and all that. Yes. But again, we
we can't agree on something that doesn't have numbers. In other words, when you when we talk about a moving assistance, I I don't know what I'm agreeing to. If we could talk about waving rent, I may have I may have misunderstood. So So maybe So it's four months notice and and two months rent. That's fair. Two
months, right? That's Yes. So, it would be a motion to accept that that profer of a covenant and to adopt the ordinance at at second reading. That's correct. And that covenant moves with the property as you said, right? Correct. So, we're going to vote on the amendment now.
This is a new amendment to the ordinance. We're not voting on the entire ordinance. We're adding We're doing an amendment to add this to the ordinance. It won't be in the text of the ordinance. It's in your motion. It's a It's a motion accepting the profer of the covenant and the covenant will be in a form acceptable to the city attorney
like all of our covenants. Okay. Um and adopting the ordinance at second reading. Okay. All right. Let's vote. So this is again this is the amendment. Can you also include a waiver of the zoning cycle since we're technically adopting this outside of the normal zoning cycle?
It's just a procedural. Yes. Yes. So this is as is the ordinance and accepting the covenant. Correct. And waving the zoning cycle. Call the vote. And that's a motion by Commissioner Fernandez. I need a second, please. Second. Second by Commissioner
B. This is just the amendment. No, this is the actual ordinance. So this is the ordinance. So he needs five votes. Yes, sir. So Vice Mayor Suarez, no. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez,
yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. The ordinance is adopted with the acceptance of the covenant and the waving of the cycle. And could we have the language of the covenant come to us
with the second reading? This is second reading. Oh, this is the second reading. Okay. and through the mayor. Um I would like to ask Chief Deputy Collises to to provide um an update on some legislation that we might wish to act upon. May
Mayor, if you don't mind, I'll be very brief. We learned a few days ago of a last minute amendment, Senate Bill 180, which applied to permitting requirements for counties in hurricane disaster zones. The amendment um has some very
broad language that prohibits all local government initiated comprehensive plan amendments or land development regulation amendments um that are that are more restrictive or more burdensome than what was in effect at the time as
of August 1, 2024. Um, that bill has not yet been transmitted to the governor for his signature, but I think it may be a good idea if the commission is so inclined to take a position on that bill. It would impact regulations like
this one that impose new, stricter or more burdensome requirements than what we're in effect as of August 1. It would preempt us. If if I may, it would take away our ability to enact us. If if I may, I think we need to study that, but it could it could take away that ability. It would it could impact
regulations like these. I think we should have started with that. Yes. I I I uh I I spoke with Rick and I I thought it important enough. I I hate to bring things up on the fly like this, but I I think it's important and if the commission is so inclined, we could draft an after the fact resolution um
urging the the governor to to veto because it it it would apply to to Miami Beach. So, and if I may through the mayor, so more restrictive comp plan amendments. So explain what more restrictive
is. Explain explain what this does it apply to our LDRs or just to the comp plan. Both. Both. Okay. Explain like give us examples. This is one example, but what else could this apply to? like let's say like our nuisance use ordinances where we try to regulate
let's say like liquor stores and you know some of these things and we say okay we want to create an overlay where we want to create distance requirements um between certain uses let's say you know one of our most recent favorite controversial issues on the day is uh
adult material um you know we want to make it more restrictive um would with Would this statute potentially prohibit us from doing that? This statute could implicate exactly those kinds of regulations. That's right. Well, if I may, the the statute refers to more
restrictive or burdensome procedures concerning review, approval, or issuance of a site plan. Can I make a recommendation? Guys, let let's discuss this over lunch. Um, we took the vote already and then we can come back and let's figure out what this statute says.
Let's refer this to land use. I need to have a discussion about this. Atlantis, nobody's told me. I'm going in order. Not good. R5G and no one told us. R5G is an ordinance of the mayor and city commission of the city of Mage to amend the chapter 58 of the city code
entitled housing by amending article 3 entitled property maintenance standards by amending section 58-298 thereof and title responsibilities of owners and occupants to require property owners of houses and buildings within the city to provide notice of animal trapping or extermination service and providing for repeal of
ability clarification and an effective date. R5G is a second reading public hearing. Sorry. Well, I don't think that this um is very controversial. It's providing notice if there is some sort of uh trapping
happening in the neighborhood because cats have been uh you know taken or stolen um from certain homes. So, it's just providing a notice for animals. So, yes. Um I'm very supportive of this. Could you just address how the notice would be provided? Would it be incumbent
on the resident who is using trapping services or is it a city service? How is that going to work? Rob, I'm going to let you answer in the notice details. Hi, Robert. City attorney's office. Thank you. Um,
it is the ordinance calls for the uh property owner to provide notice by hand delivery or US mail to every residence within 500 ft. And if I if I may, how will that resident
um if they choose or are not able to do hand delivery, how will they get the mailing address? Is it something that the city is going to facilitate or that the city could charge back? Like how or is it just popping notes into mail? Like how does this work?
Uh the ordinance does not uh provide for that, but the city could certainly provide it administratively if they if the administration so choose. Do you want to get the city involved in it? I don't think we should. I think we need
to be precise in in how that gets notice because otherwise somebody could say, "Well, you know, I I left a note in everyone's mailbox and, you know, I just I I don't want to I the devil's in the details. It's a I support this fully. I like the notice requirement. I just think we need to
spell out what the notice requirement actually means to the residents." And Mr. Mayor, you know, Commissioner Fernandez, I thought it was going to be on the commercial um well, the resident who's pulling a permit for this type of service or the company that's doing it. I thought that they were going to
provide the notice. I'll just tell you the concern that I have and it's similar to the concern that Commissioner Bond has. I'm thinking, let's say behind me there's a neighborhood um and there was an empty parcel where
4,000 Alton Road is being built. That's a big apartment build. If you're the home across the street and let's say you need to tent to your home now, you need to send a notice to all the people that live in that building that that that you're going to
tend to your home and and that can be costly and burdensome to homeowners. And also, if you have a small apartment building, I think of Valerie Owens. Valerie Owens, she actually bought from us 1580 Bay Road, right next to the Flamingo.
Um, let's say she needs to tent 1580 Bay Road. Now, she needs to send a notice to everyone at the Flamingo. That's a lot of units. And to the Capri and to, you know, 1621 Bay
Road across the street and to 1605 Bay Road across the street and to all these other buildings in their in their vicinity. And so I think that there's there should be some streamlining. Number one, if if um if you're a
homeowner, a property owner, pay it to the city, have the city do it. Because unlike development agreements, unlike development agreements where an applicant is coming and they come with attorneys and lobbyists and surveyors and architects, they easily hire these
companies that do the radius, the distance radius and get the labels and send it out in in in the mail. It's easy when you're a big developer to send these mailed notices, but when you are a little guy that owns a property, having
to figure out the 10,000 addresses you need to mail to, that can be quite complex. So, I almost rather the person pay the city, have the city send it on the property owner's behalf. Um but then separate than that, apart from that,
maybe just notify the property managers and the condominium associations rather than having to notify each individual uh unit because that also becomes very burdensome. Okay, first of all, maybe
just a posting. I mean, the whole idea behind this is that we don't want people's cats getting trapped or taken away and this has happened. So maybe you just post something in front of your house. Look, I'm going to have a trapper out here. Please make please secure your
animals so that we don't come and you know steal your animal. I like that. Which is what happened. That I think is much more effective. Posting. What happened was No, Maddie. The reason we uh did this ordinance is actually Alex Dow who now passed. There was a
trapper in his neighborhood. they uh his cat was removed from the neighborhood and they and it was horrible. Okay. And he could not get his cat back and he emailed all of us and he was extremely upset about this and this um ordinance is really uh was for him and he's not
here but he would be very happy that we're passing it because we don't want it to happen to anyone's animal but we do want to make it as simple as possible. So, I suppose that a simple um posting, you know, we don't want to make it, you know, in front of your house. There's going to be a trapper on these
days. Secure your animals. I like that much better. I think that's a sensible amendment. Simple posting. Can Yeah, just make that amendment. We can make that amendment. It fits within the title. So, we could make that amendment. Okay. So, simple posting in front of your house that there will be a trapper
in the area. Alex, it's for you. for all the our legged friends out there. Can we rename this the You got a motion Alex Dow. Uh the thou notice. The Dow notice. Sure. I would love that. He would
actually He loved animals. Love that. And so would Gina, his partner, and his family. Can we do that? Okay. So, is that There's two amendments. We're going to post the notice and we're going to call it the um the Alex Dow notice. Yeah. So, we got a motion. Second. Yes.
Call the vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom. No one. Oh, no. Mr. Novik. Hi, Mitch Novik. I managed two properties on the beach. I've uh tented and fumigated. Uh it seems every decade,
uh termites appear and it's that time again. Uh you certainly don't want any animals or critters uh trapped under a building. Uh the first time I tented the building
on Jefferson, if you could believe this, every unit was burglarized. Uh, I guess people went in with masks and uh respirator breathing apparatus and it was uh really
uh disappointing. Uh, but what that exterminator did, he sprayed tear gas under the building. Uh, no critters came out or at least nothing that I see. I've always maintained my
access uh uh doors and femur flood flood bl uh FEMA flood vents properly screened on the inside so critters can't get in. Uh I like the notice idea the lab mailed
labels that would be exponentially more than the fumigation itself. Uh but again, I love the intent of this. Uh you don't want any uh creatures getting uh Thank you. Look, I don't love the idea of notifying people, look, there's going
to be nobody on the premises 3 days prior. I I do think that that's not smart either. That's why we had a mailed notice. But if it was just a letter to the condo association, and I don't think it's really meant for, you know, well, I guess in the historic district, it would
definitely affect um buildings. So look, fine with the amendment. Let's take it as a motion in a second. We got the votes. Let's call up. All right. Vice Mayor Suarez is absent. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes.
Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. The motion carries. Item R5G is approved as amended. Okay, we're going to hear two more items before lunch. R7P. Hey,
thank you. Unad R7P increase fund by 70,000 to Unidad Senior Meal Services. I move the item. Second. Second. I have a feeling Victor and Maddie you want to say something. So I will give you that opportunity for all the work
for our seniors. I've instructed her she cannot speak. Good morning uh mayor commissioners Victor Diaz 400 Alton Road Sweet 106. I am the chairman of the board and the founder of Unidad. With me is the other
co-founder Mayor Maddie Herrera Bower and our board president Maria Saboa. I will rise in support of uh resolution R7P for additional funding to continue to feed our seniors at the Miami Beach Senior Center. I want to thank
Commissioner Dominguez for her leadership in sponsoring this item and I want to thank each and every one of you for your co-sponsorship of this item. In fact, I I want to thank all of you, I hope, for your support and your vote in support of this item. Miami Beach is
home to the finest senior center in the state of Florida according to the secretary of the department of elder affairs uh who has visited all of the senior centers in the state and has repeatedly visited our center. It is located at 7251 Collins Avenue. is open
to every Miami Beach resident who wishes to register with either the parks and recreation department or or unidad and we offer a full program of services and activities most popular of which is our senior meal program. Um, thanks to your
support, this year the Miami Beach Senior Center celebrates 10 years of continuous service. And thanks to your support, the city of Miami Beach, we are feeding 140 seniors a day with a hot meal. The fact that we have seen a spike
in need and that we have seen and had to turn away hungry seniors in this se city is sad, but it is a testament to the fact that Miami Beach is not immune to the crisis of food insecurity in our country. According to Feeding America,
one in five seniors in the United States suffers from food insecurity. And I can tell you from personal experience speaking to the seniors who we feed at the senior center that many of them are shutins. They don't have family. They
live in small units. And they tell us, they report to us that the hot meal that they receive at the senior center is the only full balanced nutritious meal that they receive the entire day. So, as Muhammad Gandhi said, the true
measure of a society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members, its elderly and its youth. And with your vote today, you're demonstrating once again that this is a great community and that we care about our seniors. And so, I thank you on their behalf. I thank you
on behalf of the board of Unidad of Miami Beach. I thank you on behalf of all 800 registered participants of the Miami Beach Senior Center and thank you for your service to our city. Thank you. I don't need I really don't need to say
anything. I just came here to look pretty. Thank you both. Thank you for everything you do for our for our seniors in our community. Thank you. Let's call the vote. All in favor of R seven please. R sevenP, please say I. I. Any opposed?
Hearing none. The item is approved. Commissioner Suarez is at Commissioner here. So at 70. Thank you again. One last item before I launch R7C. R7C is Ocean Terrace Development Agreement Amendment. It's a second reading.
I'll move the item. Second. Second. It's not a public hear, right? It is. It is a public hearing. I see no one on Zoom and I see no one in the audience requesting to speak. I heard a motion by Commissioner Dominguez, but I didn't hear the second. I'm sorry about
Okay, this is on R7C. If there's no discussion, may I call the vote? Call the vote on R seven C. Uh, all in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? The item is approved. 70. That's R 7 C. Thank you. Thank you for
the record. Just like Maddie before, I'm just here to look pretty. Two two former mayors. Love it. I love it. Uh we're breaking flun. You have to make an announcement for the shade session. You might look prettier than Maddie today. So we are now doing Let's
give me one second. R9C. We are having a committee of the whole for the evaluation of the city attorney, city clerk, and inspector general. The meeting will be held in the city manager's large conference room. Everyone is welcomed. Thank you. We'll be back at 1:15.
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Please stand by. We are going on air in 5 4 3 2 1. Welcome back to the uh afternoon session of our commission meeting. We uh continue with Sutnik hour.
Thank you, mayor. Uh welcome everyone. If anyone wants to address the commission during the Sutnik uh 30 minutes now, please approach the podium. In the meantime, I will be calling uh one of the zoom speakers, Omar Jimenez. Mr. Jimenez, you have two minutes. Please state your name and address.
Yes. Hi, good afternoon. My name my name is Omar Himenez, uh, founder of the Park View Island Sustainable Association. I'm here to express our community's gratitude to the city commission and administration for the successful launch of Operation Clean Water this past Monday at the Parkview Island kayak
launch. and once again reaffirming your dedication and support for our community this morning by voting to revise the budget amendment to allow the unused dog park funds rem to remain for use within the park view annex park to provide expanded assistance and resources for
expansion of the NOI community garden in the near future. Thank you for your commitment, united leadership and persistence in resolving the difficult issues facing the Park View Canal. Thank you. Thank you so much. Please go ahead, state your name, address, and you have
two minutes. Me? Yeah. Hi. Uh, good afternoon, commissioners, uh, Eric and attorneys. Um, I'm going to talk about something I've been, uh, already exposing here,
which is the electrical bicycles and the electrical, uh, scooters. I always have spoken about the dangers of them outside on the boardwalks. They don't stop in the stop signs and really they are
dangerous. But unfortunately in gardens on the bay again we had a terrible incident inside. It must be considered like a problem inside the association. But I think nobody knows enough about the the
dangers of keeping a bicycle or an scooter inside of an unit. Unfortunately, last Sunday, one of those batteries, the kid that owns the the bicycle went on a trip, let it plug it,
overcharge, and exploded. We practically lost one unit completely, and we were super lucky. nobody got hurt and that the the side units were slightly damaged, but that unit was
total lost. So, I know it's internally in associations, but you go to the neighborhoods associations and maybe it's time to bring in the dangers of having those uh scooters or electrical bikes inside of an apartment. And uh I
know most of the buildings we do not have a space to put them but inside is not an option. I heard about that. I never thought it will happen as it happened to us on last Sunday. That's one thing. So it would be very nice if something could be done. And I just want
to comment something about what Joe mag commissioner magazine said about the football in the park in front of the new world symphony. I think it's a great idea. I have seen the World Cup in very historic places like uh Pata Dei in
Rome and it's just amazing. Thank you. Thank you so much. Our next public speaker is Larry Schaefer. Mr. Schaefer, you have two minutes. Please state your name and address. Hello. This is Larry Schaefer, 23381st Street in North Beach. I want to say thank you to the commission for paying
more attention to North Beach, especially uh issues of clean water as I've uh raised you awareness for Surf Rider and their water testing lab at Betsy Perez's uh old home. Um it's water quality is crucial and important for
everything that we do in Miami Beach. We're surrounded by water, so it's great to see that project going. I also want to encourage the commission to look at possibly doing an additional uh community garden on the west lots. This is really a fun thing for neighbors to do to get to know each other. It's
community oriented. I'm sure it's blue zones oriented for Tanya and I know that Tanya is also working on a farmers market um uh idea for the West lots and I encourage that as well. And I'd like to propose that the old log cabin site be considered for these things as we
used to have a nursery there with the log cabin selling plants. So having a a community garden there and maybe having that site be used for farmers market seems very much in line with with what we used to have and if we could have these kinds of things um it would be
wonderful. But thank you all for your attention to North Beach and I'll leave the rest of the time for the next caller. Thank you. Go ahead please. Hola. Hola. Yos reportivo in 920 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. My telephone
number is +19179944648. Advocating for potentially considering stopping right on reds at certain intersections such as Washington Avenue and Fifth Street. This is a scramble intersection where all elements get the walk at the same time. Causing people to do right on red is a safety concern. also advocating for with
regards to the last comment about the football in Soundsscape Park. Please consider opening those restrooms. I mentioned something last month and I'm just following up. You will be a hero. I repeat, a hero if those bathrooms get open. Also advocating for a crosswalk rendering automatically on Meridian Avenue at intersections such as 16th
Street, 15th Street, even crossing City Hall across 17th Street. We have to click a button. I know that the department of transportation mobility for this city prioritizes the pedestrian and I believe that to enhance safety for all of those people walking around the city and wheeling around the city that pedestrian first intersections will be
better for people to be able to cross. Also putting forward to consider residential parking spaces turning into picnic tables. I know that there is a parking holiday to be discussed or has already been confirmed. However, these picnic tables in parking spaces could become art zones, gatherings, places to
enjoy leisure and play board games with neighbors outside of inviting somebody into their own home, but instead going to a gathering place where people can go without an invitation, I think, is critical. As much as people have begun to work from home more since the beginning of 2020, people now have less
time for leisure and less room for leisure in their homes, and we should be putting that into the streets. and I'm advocating for it outside around the 11th Street and Meridian Avenue intersection in zone 2 parking. Finally, please to all people listening and all people who may be going forward for the
the the double yellow lines, do not pass cyclists when they're in that zone. It is dangerous. And also, can we please just start to consider for many years in the future ride share pickup and drop offs? We need to be educating these Uber and Lift drivers and maybe have requirements for them to start driving in our city. Thank you. Well, that was
impressive. You got a lot of information in a couple of minutes. I'm Thank you. Is there anyone else on the dot? Please go ahead, please. Hi, Julie Basner, 5931 North Bay Road. Today I'm here with
my PTSA hat on again. As you know, our PTSA has requested that the commission consider a contribution to our sha to the shade structure at um beach high. But I'm here today because I realize that this is contingent upon anticipated
budget constraints and that you will be faced with making difficult decisions about what to prioritize. Um, what we're asking for is a capital improvement to the only public high school that we have here in Miami Beach.
And it would be a prudent long-term investment. It is where we hope to continue to appeal to um our own residents and their teens for secondary education as well as newcomers to Miami
Beach and the greater community. Um, just as a reminder, our athletic field is currently utilized for PE classes, athletic events, practices, and extracurricular activities. And we hope that it will also serve as a resource
for residents. This project addresses a serious health and safety concern for our students. God bless you. students, staff and visi visitors as extreme heat, as we all know, is more
frequent. Enter a shade structure. The shade structure would span a set of four sets of bleachers that can hold 125 students at a time. It would complement the other improvements that we plan to make to the field. In fact, since the first time that I came to the
commission, um I came with a much greater monetary ask. But since then, we've received a commitment from the school to fund several items that were part of the initial request and our PTSA has committed to contributing as well.
My time is up. Thank you. Thank you. Our next public speaker is Carmen Paige. Please unmute yourself, state your name, address, and you have two minutes. Uh yeah, my name is Carmen Paige. I live in 1200 West Avenue, apartment 101. Uh
um I am here advocating for the use of AI to uh give us an accurate estimate of what is needed in terms of repairs in our buildings. I did send an email with the proposal to every commissioner and
the and the mayor. And um and this is because uh we get estimates uh for for repairs in our building based on vague um estimates that don't and they collect the money. they don't do the repairs and
then they um they come back again with the next repair with double the amount and and then they tell us oh because we couldn't with there's no way to see in between the walls and and so on and so so I think this this um new uh AI uh
drum uh 3D uh way of checking the the status of the building will be a better use usage for giving us uh a better estimates of our of our what's wrong with our buildings.
That's it. Thank you so much. Is there anyone else here on in the audience who wishes to address the commission? Seeing none, there's none on Zoom. Mayor, this concludes SNICK. Thank you. And before we get to our items, I actually wanted to acknowledge uh we have our new economic development
director, Steve Anthony, here. I'd love to call you up and uh introduce yourself. All of us know you, but to our residents. But before I do that, I want to acknowledge Eric. Uh I know you've been filling a lot of positions lately. Really important. This position in particular has been vacant economic
development director for several years. So kudos to you, Eric, for uh for really this is so important to our city. Uh this position and others that you're filling. So uh thank you for that. Steve, take it away. No, thank you, mayor. I appreciate that. And to the commission. Good afternoon all. for
those I hadn't had the opportunity to meet in person. I met on Zoom for a few of you. Um it's great to see you all in person. Um it's this has been a pleasure. Thank you, city manager, for for the selection. Um this is absolutely incredible for me coming from Kansas City to being here in in Miami Beach.
Now my third day. Um so now I know everything about this. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Um but no, this is absolutely a pleasure and I'm really looking forward to working with each of you on really how do we enhance economic development? what exactly does that look like um for you all? What exactly does that look like for the community? Um so
I'm really excited to get to get hands in and and really get to understand more about what each of you are looking for, what the city is looking for, and how we can continue to grow grow Miami Beach. Thank you. Thank you. And I you you made the joke about third day and you know everything, but when we met a couple of
months ago uh in preparation for you coming here, uh I I have to say it was very impressive. I was very impressed by you how much you knew about Miami Beach. uh even before you had started. So, absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Looking forward to working with you. Thank you all.
Okay, let's go to um let's go to R5K and R5L companion items. R5K is a an ordinance of the mayor, city commission of city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the city of Miami Beach year 2040 comprehensive plan by
amending goal RLU1 land use objective ROU 1.1 establishment of future land use categories policy RO 1.1.11 residential office RO to establish requirements for non-conforming cafes serving alcohol and located on Alton Road providing for inclusion in the comprehensive plan transmitt repealer servability and
effective date R5 5K is a first reading public hearing. The item requires 47's vote. R5L is the companion item. It's an ordinance of the mayor and city commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the code of the city of Miami Beach. Sub part B entitled land development regulations by amending chapter 2 entitled administration and
review procedures. Article 12 entitled non-conformities by amending section 2.12.5 entitled non-conforming uses of to establish requirements for non-conforming cafes serving alcohol and located on Alton Road by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning districts and
regulations article 2 entitled general to all zoning districts subvision 7.2.9 entitled RO residential office district by amending section 7.2.9.2 two entitled uses RO to allow alcohol sales in existing cafes providing for codification repealer servability and
effective date. That was item R5L. It is a first reading public hearing. This item requires 57 vote. Commissioner Dominguez. Okay. Uh so this property is a nursery that's on Alton Road and it's been there for about 30 years. throughout uh its time there. The zoning
has changed it changed um in a variety of directions and currently um alcohol is permitted two blocks north and it's also permitted south of where they're located. This nursery is open during the daytime. They have a little
cafe in the back uh that serves salads and sandwiches and they want to be able to serve beer and wine. I took a field trip with a former planning board uh person who drafted the language and then the planning department narrowly
tailored it so that we don't have unintended consequences. People are very excited about it and I'd like to move the item. Call the vote. A motion. It is a public hearing. I see no one on Zoom and I see no one in the
audience. If there's no discussion, I'll call the role on both items on this is R5K and R5L. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Bach, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Vice Mayor
Suarez, no. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carries. Second reading public hearing on both items will be July 23rd, 2025. R5T R5T is an orance of the mayor and bless you north of the mayor city commission of city of Miami Beach
Florida amending the resiliency code of the city of Miami Beach by amending chapter one entitled general provisions article two entitled definitions section 1.2.2 two entitled use definitions by adding a definition for cosmetic store and amending chapter 7 entitled zoning districts and regulations article five entitled supplementary district
regulations section 7.5 entitled supplementary use regulations section 7.5.2 entitle adult entertainment by creating exemptions from the distance separation requirement for cosmetic stores where adult material constitutes less than 20% of the floor area of establishment and providing for
codification repealer shability and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires 57's vote. That was item R5T. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. I would just like to move this item.
A second. I'll second. Thank you. Any comments? We'll call the vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom and I see no one in the audience. I have a motion by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Bot. On item
R5T, Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Mayor Suarez, Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Mayor Miner, no. Motion
carries. The item is approved. Second reading public hearing is scheduled for June 25. Is that correct, Tom? actually uh yes because they the waiver of the zoning cycle was included in the memo. So second reading would be June 25th. Thank you sir.
Do R5V as in uh Veronica. Oh my god. R5V is an or an order to the mayor, city commission of city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 110 of the code of the city of Miami Beach entitled utilities amending article 4 entitled fees, charges, rates, and
billing procedures by amending section 110-167 thereof entitled water impact fee by amending section 110-169 thereof entitled sewer impact fee and further amending appendix A of the city code entitled fee schedule to increase the water impact fees and sewer impact impact fees imposed by the city pursuant
to section 110-16710-169 Appendix A providing for codification repeal servability and an effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires a 47 vote. So I this is a pretty simple item. For
about 30 years the impact fees for um uh water and sewer have not been adjusted. I cannot for the life of me think why for three decades no commission before us has seen fit to adjust these. Um so I
am moving this item to adjust it and keep it current going forward. And Brad if you'd like to comment any further. No I mean just to say that this is absolutely something that's needed. It's been like as you just mentioned, it's been 30 years since there's been any
increase in this and this basically just affects um new development and are typically paid by developers. Okay. So, I think we have a motion and a second. Is there public hearing? There is no one on Zoom and I see no one in the audience requesting to speak. Vice
Mayor, would you call the vote? Yes, sir. I have a motion by Commissioner Bot and I heard a second by Vice Mayor Suarez. Uh Commissioner Fernandez. Yes. I'm first all the time. You're not. But it's random. It's random. Oh, make sure you're not first next time. Commissioner, that wouldn't
be random. Then because I know how many times people are, so I know he's not next. Uh, Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, Mayor Miner, yes. Motion passes.
Second reading, public hearing is June 25th. R5W. Yeah, exactly. Uh R5W is an orders of the mayor and city commissioner of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 102 of the code of the city of Miami Beach, Florida entitled taxation by amending
article 4 entitled local business tax by amending section 102-368 thereof entitled posting of business tax receipt and decal display of business tax receipt numbers and advertisements by requiring that commercial vessels related to businesses prominently display a city issued business tax receipt decal on each commercial vessel
in their fleet and providing for repealer servability and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires 47 vote. It is R5W. Welcome. Thank you. Good afternoon, mayor and commission. Manny Marcus, assistant director of finance. The item
you have before you is very similar to what we did recently with our cups requiring businesses to place a decal on their establishment. In this case, it would be on on a charter boat. uh this would affect approx approximately 90 uh almost 100 BTRs uh requiring them to
have a decal that co- compliance or police can scan and that scan will tell them if it's a legitimate business or not. Before I even looked at the sponsor, I knew it was from Commissioner Suarez. You want to say anything? I'd like to move the item. Let's call the
vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one on Zoom and no one in the audience requesting to speak. If no discussion, Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Oh, don't confuse me. Now, Fernandez. Commissioner Magazine. Yes. Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez. Yes. Commissioner
Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carries. Second reading, public hearing scheduled for June 25th. Thank you. Let's call R5Z.
R5Z is an ordinance of the mayor, city commissioner of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 1 and two of the Miami Beach city code entitled taxation by amending article 4 entitled resort tax by amending division 4 entitled tax by amending section 102-306 of entitled definitions amending the definition of a responsible person and providing for repeal of ability
clarification and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. It is item R5Z. Commission Rosen Gonzalez just a cleanup item I believe. Hold on. Get to R5Z. 15. I would just move it. Second.
Call them out. It is a public hearing. I see no one on Zoom and I see no one in the audience. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Dominguez,
yes. Yes. Motion carries. Second reading public hearing is June 25th. Let's do um R5J 5J is an order of the mayor city commissioner of city of Miami Beach Florida amending the code of the city of Miami Beach or part B entitled Miami Beach resiliency code by amending
chapter 5 entitled off street parking article 3 entitled design standards section 5.3.11 entitled parking lot design standards by modifying the porous pavement requirements for surface parking lots by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning district regulations article two entitled district regulations section 7.2.2 entitle RS1
RS2 RS3 RS4 single family residential districts by modifying the minimum open space and previous area and previous area requirements of single family districts and providing for codification repeal servability and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires 57's vote. It is item
R5J. Commissioner Bot, I'll let Tom I'll let Tom do the heavy lifting on this, but basically any step we can make in the city to help with our resiliency efforts is a good step. And with that, Tom, if you don't mind. Okay. Um, this particular ordinance actually
does two things. One, it expands our pous area requirements and our poorer surface requirements um to be a more effective mechanism with regard to uh our long-term goals of being able to um withstand the problems
associated with extreme rain events and tidal flooding. But it also um allows our LDRs to become compliant with a recently adopted legislative change to the Miami Day County Code, which increases minimum um pvious area
requirements on properties. Um without these changes, uh applications would have to go through a separate review by the county and they would still be subject to those regulations. Um the ordinance itself amends two main sections. The first is under parking lot
design standards. It requires that either a high albdo surface um be utilized for those areas that do not contain porous pavement. So if you're not using a high albo surface, you have
to have porous pavement um within surface parking lots. Also a minimum of 60% of all non landscape surfaces and areas must consist of porous pavement. So we now have a minimum porous pavement requirement. With regard to the
development regulations in the single family districts, um we have expanded the minimum pvious area requirements. And probably the most significant change is that um if a swimming pool uh or other water features located um within a
sideyard facing a street or within a rear yard, that area would no longer be able to count toward pvious or porous areas. Um and that's because these these types of um features are typically concrete and they don't allow the
percolation of water. So consistent with the county code, those would no longer be able to count toward pvious area. Um the planning board uh did endorse this uh proposal um by a vote of 70 and they
had some um recommendations that are in the ordinance. Um the administration is supportive of those recommendations with some additional modifications as noted. Um and basically what the administration
is recommenda is recommending is that the applicability provision be limited if it's going to be included that the pred the applicability provision be limited to applications that were in process prior to the transmitt date of the ordinance by the planning board and
that this provision be clarified so that it does not supersede county requirements. And secondly um the following additional text be added to section 7.2.2 2.3 to provide an additional option for addressing pvious
surface area in the rear yards. And it states the following. The affformentioned sonnided or landscape pvious open space requirement may be reduced to less than 70% but shall be no less than 50% provided that additional sold or landscape pvious area is
included along an interior or streetside elevation the area of which is equal to or greater than the deficiency in the 70% rear yard requirement. So the administration is recommending adop approval of the ordinance at first reading with the two changes that I had
just mentioned uh the both the applicability section modifications as well as that additional language on the rear yard and if that is acceptable and is included in the approval of the ordinance at first reading we will modify the ordinance for second reading
adoption to include that. So I have a question. somebody has a concrete backyard with a pool under this legislation, what happens? They can keep what they have. Um, but if their home renovation ever exceeded the 50% rule,
they would either have to seek a variance to retain a nonconformity or they would need to modify it. So, as long as they don't do the 50%. Correct. Yes. They don't have to do anything. Correct. And this is a county rule and we'd be subject to county review. Yes.
So by amending our LDRs, we wouldn't have to send those plans to the county. We could just review them here. But if our um regulations are not consistent with the minimum county standards which apply to municipalities, then a separate review by the county would be required
and those conditions would be enforced anyway. Okay. So we're just matching what the county is requiring. Correct. With regard to the the the pvious surface area in RS districts, the parking lot standards that we've developed in chapter 6 are separate and apart from
that. Commissioner Ros Gonzalez, my only question is um is porous concrete readily available and is it more expensive? That would be my only question. Is it readily available?
I know uh pavers are readily available and those are the most common form of porous material. Porest concrete I'm not as familiar with or porous asphalt. So I don't know what the availability of
those particular materials are and and how they they could be used or not. So if somebody owns a parking lot, they would have to pave it with pavers. If somebody wanted to create a new parking lot, then that new surface parking lot would either have to have pavers or a
minimal amount of porous material. I just to there are there are multiple types of porous materials available on a commercial level. I don't have them at my fingertips, but it's not something that doesn't exist. Okay. I'm I'm fine with it as long as it doesn't affect
like make it more expensive for single family home. How much more okay with that? Yeah. How much more expensive is it the the pavers? Um I don't it depends upon the the overall size of the of the project, but just speaking from my own
experience, it was cheaper for me to do a paver set and sand driveway than it was to do an asphalt driveway because nobody wanted to come out and do asphalt within a small area. And then when you look at that over time, I put in my PA
driveway 23 years ago and it's perfect. Whereas neighbors who have had asphalt have had to replace it probably every 10 to 12 years. And these are the pavers with like the holes in it that look nice. They these are the pavers that they're
small concrete pavers, but the way that they're installed, they're installed in compacted sand with gaps that allow for the permeability. Okay, I move the item. Second. Motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez.
Tom Tom, a kicker for me here is the county requirement. I'm going to want to follow up with you between first and second read to make sure. But hey, Maddie, it is a public hearing. There's no one on Zoom. There's no one in the audience requesting to speak. If there's no discussion, may I call a roll? Yes.
Commissioner Magazine? Yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez? Yes. Commissioner Bot? Yes. Commissioner Fernandez? Yes. Commissioner Dominguez? Yes. Vice Mayor Suarez. Yes. Mayor Miner. Yes. Motion carry. Second reading. Public hearing is
scheduled for July 23rd. R5M. R5M is anor mayor city commission of city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the resiliency code of the city of Miami Beach by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning district and regulations. Article 5 entitled supplementary district regulations section 7.5.3 entitled
supplementary yard regulations by amending the allowable setback encroachment for air conditioning units and providing for codification repealers of abability and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires a 57s vote. It is item R5M.
Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez. So, in the spirit of simplifying our building code and making it easier for people to change out ACs or get building permits and get their stuff done, I went to the planning department because some stuff gets stuck in planning and I said, "What are the top issues that are kind of
tying people up?" And um according to Mr. Mooney, one of them was this setback that we have for the wall AC units that you would see in the historic district. Is that not true, Tom? Yes. And central air conditioning units and PTAC units.
So, so and so people get stuck when they need to replace an AC unit. So, it's kind of a simplification of our building code to make things easier for people that um need to replace their AC units. So, with that, I'd move the item not to
prolong this, but uh there was a school down south of Fifth, a private school base academy. Tom, I don't know if you remembers the March like 2022 uh HPB meeting where this school came this close to not being built because the HPB didn't want to give a variance
setback for an air conditioning unit to an alleyway, not to the street, to an alleyway. And in fact, they kind of recessed the project because it wasn't going to move forward. And I I guess further discussions were made, but it was the most ridiculous thing that that I've ever heard. Um, so to kind of give
some uh flexibility here is great. Let's call the vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom and I see no one in the audience requesting to speak. Motion by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes.
Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. The motion is approved. Second reading. Public hearing is scheduled for July 23rd. And I'll take I did see Vince Seahas, our building director. Uh we are
making some improvements to the permanent process which our commission has uh mandated as our residents have. So I know there's more to do. So Eric, keep keep it up. Keep pushing, but we're in the right direction. Let's call R5N. N is a Nancy. Yeah. Trying to find
it. Here we go. N is an ordinance of the mayor city commission of the city of Miami Beach for amending the code of the city of Miami Beach. So part B entitled land development regulations by amending chapter 2 entitled administration and review procedures article article entitled general development application and hearing procedures by amending
section 2.2.3 2.3 entitled development application submission and review by modifying the applicable provisions for land use board application fees and establishing a process and criteria for the city commission to consider a waiver of required fees for variance applications related to compliance with applicable building reertification
requirements providing for clarification repealerability and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires 57's vote is item R5N. Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is an item I'm proud to sponsor. Proposes common sense reform
that puts residents first. It allows uh the city commission to wave application fees for variances when those variances are necessary um to complete critical repairs identified in a 40-year uh reertification. Not well, it's no longer
a 40-year, but in a building reertification process. Um, we all know how burdenome and costly the resertification process can be, especially for small condominiums and longtime owners living in fixed incomes.
Um, usually these are not luxury renovations. They are life safety repairs required by law and often essential to maintaining the structural integrity of our residential buildings where our residents live. So, this
ordinance builds on recommendations from the from the land use committee and includes important safeguards. First, the waiver would only be available when a financial hardship is demonstrated and second, it prioritizes these life safety
related variances. So, residents are in stuck waiting months for approvals in the uh variance process. I believe that the planning board unanimously uh supported this policy and I'm hopeful that today uh we will do the same. Um
and it's important uh because uh when it comes to regulations um these regulations should be for building safety uh but we can't let cost uh cost of the process get in the way of
that uh safety. So with that I move my item. Let's call the vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one on Zoom. No one in the audience requesting to speak. I have a motion for Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Dominguez. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Vice Mayor
Suarez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carry. Second reading. Public hearing is July 23rd.
Great. Let's call R seven I. R seven I is a public hearing. Accept code name 28th Street Sheridan and Prairie Rabbi Gross Way. Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I'm bringing uh before you an item that
carries uh deep meaning for our community. Um it's not just deep meaning for a congregation. A lot of times when you see a renaming of a street after a religious leader, oftentimes it's something that's important to a congregation or to or to a parish. Uh
this is of meaning for our entire city. Uh because today we are considering the co-naming of 28th Street uh from Sheridan Avenue to Prairie Avenue as Rabbi Israel Gross uh way. And I had the honor of attending the Shiva for Rabbi
Gross. And I was profoundly moved by what I witnessed there. Uh it was a home filled with so much love, so much community, people from every walk of life who had been touched by the rabbi's kindness, by his guidance, by his
strength. And at the heart of it all was the Ravidson um whose whose dignity and whose strength and and and her peace radiated in every corner of the room. Um it it
told you something you needed to know about the life that they built together and the legacy that they have left behind. Um, and I'm just going to go back to something that I experienced because a few years ago there was a
controversy in our community. And at a time of division when there were a lot of emotions, there was one unifying thing that that that everyone agreed on was the respect and the honor that Rabbi
Gross deserved. And that moment reminded us that no matter our differences, we can still unite around character, around decency, about around moral clarity. Um, and that's the power of a righteous leader. Um, Rabbi Gross was more than a
spir spiritual guide. He was a survivor, a survivor of the Holocaust, a teacher, a builder of bridges, a man who lived through the darkest chapter of human history and chose to respond not with bitterness, but by planting seeds of
faith, of hope, of kindness right here in our community in the city of Miami Beach. And that seed has become a tree of life uh that uh that has supported people seeking wisdom and seeking
seeking strength. So today uh we want to honor that legacy. We want to honor the generations that he has touched in our community. Um, and we want to make sure that that is memorialized, that our city today is
more compassionate, that our city today is more faithful and more united because of Rabbi Gross. That's why we want to memorialize that by dedicating 28th Street in his honor. Thank you. With that, I move the item. Mr. Mayor, could I say a few words? Yes, please. Okay. My
name is Bella Gos. My husband Israel of course he was the rabbi of the scholan 34th street for many many years before was his brother and his father and we are we were really
the first part of synagogues here in Miami Beach. Uh we came to my I came with my husband uh 1960 already was the first time I fell in love with the city and I knew I'm going to end up over here
and we stayed and when we had the first opportunity to move. We bought the house many years ago and then when we sold our property in New York, we moved right away to Miami Beach. But I want to talk
about my husband. My husband was like you said the commissioner said he was a survivor. A survivor his whole family the mother and father and children survived was a big miracle because his
grandfather great-grandfather was called their miracle man. And that's what we saw over here in Miami Beach all the time. Miracles all over. And he did so miracles to so many people because he had the power from his
greatgrandfather. And uh he helped people not just Miami Beach but all over the world they he used to call us to call them 2:00 in the morning, 5:00 in the morning, 1:00 in the used to call somebody needs they uh to get well they
going to operation they they lost their business. all kinds of anything that you think written in the book he took care and he just he was amazing amazing for everyone they came to him saw hund
thousands of people when it was the memorial day of his greatgrandfather which is in Hungary and they were there uh this year was 100 years since he died it was a 100,000 people came over there so I I thought when the city for us to
name his street a street on his name. I thought it's some kind a small thing to remember him to remind everybody that was a big just a man that was unbelievable and I I I know that
everybody that will walk in this street will feel the holiness from this man and the spiritual what he had and not just that but the whole city of Miami Beach will be blessed because of that. So I
know that I saw a name of Ellie Viselle over here, Rabbi Shif, but my husband was a different one. He was a man for the people to help them to help everyone. No matter if Jewish or not Jewish, they the people from the town
where he was born, he the people over there, they all came over to get a blessing for him. So he was really a miracle man. So I will appreciate if you do what they they find that's important for the city to have also a little
holiness and that's what you're going to get. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'll just uh echo what Commissioner Fernandez said and knowing you and your husband. I'm going to I'm going to
actually include you in in my comments about your husband because you were a team uh and still are because every time I see you, you talk about your husband uh Rabbi Israel Yakov Gross. And what's interesting about him is like we've we've talked about the you realize
you're you were in this presence of a very special person, holiness, spirituality, but also a glimpse into life in Europe, a survivor. So you saw a person and and it's special. We can learn so much about what life was
like in Europe in the in the 30s and 40s. But life life didn't end there for him. Certainly a survivor just doesn't mean surviving physically. He was and you are very worldly people, very
intellectual, sophisticated and can use that experience and relating to young people. Every time I heard your husband speak, most of the people in that room were a third or a quarter of his age, but yet people were mesmerized by what
he was saying because it was so relatable to their lives. And that's uh that's a unique character and unique experience. So, thank you. Thank you for for what you and your husband brought. And uh I think we're we're all happy to support this item. And I think it's just
beautiful that he believed that Miami Beach could be a place of holiness. And I think out of everyone who I spoken with about Rabbi Gross, they all agreed with that. And they felt that that he touched their lives. And so hopefully
28th Street will remain as a testament of the enduring light that he brought into our community. and Revitson, it spending some time with you during Shiva, I know it was such a difficult moment for you. Uh, but your energy, the the love that you even gave me, you
know, not being Jewish, but but your love and your energy and your story really was very inspiring and so it is really an honor to sponsor this. Yes. Thank you. Okay, we have a motion in a second. Let's call the vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom, no one in
the audience requesting to speak. I have a motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Vice Mayor Suarez. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Anyone opposed? No. Item passes 70. I think a few words. Oh, please. Hi, my name is Marsha Schwarz. I live on
4201 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. I am the vice president of my association. I had the big honor of going to Rabbi Gross, sitting with him and talking about my problems to him. He never
rushed me. He always looked with his big beautiful blue eyes with love and care. He had so much love in him to everyone. It didn't matter who you are,
where you come from. I do know about his family also. His mother, his grandfather, holy people that always helped the community. His mother would bake cakes and halot for Shabbat for
everybody for whoever needed it. They would come over to her and she with open hands would give it to anyone's that needed it. They were just amazing, wonderful, unbelievable people. So for
me as a resident of this community to go over to 28th Street and we don't have Rabbi Gross here with us, but I know he's watching over us and to come to the street and see his name. Maybe I'll stop by and say a little prayer for myself,
for my family, for my building, for my community. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor and the commissioners. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We We've taken the vote. We're fine on this item. Great. Thank you. All right.
And thank you, Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. R5AB. R5 ABS is an or mayor's commission of city beach Florida amending chapter 8 58 of the city of Miami Beach code entitled housing by amending article one entitle in general by creating section 58.2 all right
sorry section 58-2 thereof to be entitled fair approval process requiring condominium associations to approve or disapprove an application from a potential resident within 15 business days and providing for repeaters of ability cification and effective date. This is a first meeting public hearing.
It is item R5AB. Commissioner Fernandez, co-sponsored by Commissioner Bot. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, today I'm proud to bring forward an ordinance that addresses barriers um that addresses a real and often overlooked barrier uh to
housing uh accessibility in our city. And um and so we're bringing forward the fair approval process ordinance that sets a simple but important standard. If you're applying to live in a condominium in the city of Miami Beach, you deserve
a timely answer. And we've heard from too many individuals, working families, seniors, people who are who are relocating into our city that they've oftentimes been left in limbo for weeks or even months waiting for a decision
from a board or from a management company. Um, and in tight times and often an unforgiving housing market like ours, these kinds of delays are more than an inconvenience. They're disruptive and sometimes they are even
disqualifying. Someone ends up losing opportunities for for housing because of it. So this ordinance sets a bas a basic expectation. A condominium association must approve or deny an application
within 15 days and that's it. no interference with their screening authority, just a fair, predictable timeline that respects the needs of the applicants. Um, this is about protecting access to housing and promoting good
governance in our community associations. Um, it's also about being a city that remains welcoming, that became that remains fair, that remains responsive. Um, and I know that a lot of times condominiums associations might
already address this in their docks. If they already have bylaws that address this, then it doesn't apply to them. But in those condominium associations where there isn't a safeguard for the property owner that is engaging in this
transaction or the prospective uh, tenant. Well, then now this is that layer of protection so that they don't end up waiting a month on something that should be a relatively uh simple decision. And I' I'd also like to note
um that this proposal has earned the formal support of the Miami Association of Realtors, which represents over 60,000 real estate professionals in our community. uh there are letters attached uh to to this item and it recognizes
that delayed condo approvals have a real cost for families and for the broader housing market. And so I'm thankful to Commissioner Tanya Abad for co-sponsoring uh with me and to all of you for considering it. I urge you respectfully to support this item on
first reading. Thank you. And with that, I move my item. It it is a public it is a public hearing. We have one individual requested to speak, Larry Schaefer. Mr. Schaefer, go ahead, please. Good afternoon. I'm in full support of
this item. I think it's a wonderful item that contributes to housing affordability. Um, it's for tenants and landlords and and sellers of condominiums waiting for decisions, it can be unnerving. Um there are so many things that are difficult about today's
condominium market and today's housing market. To have a little bit of progress like this coming from uh th this group is wonderful. My my only thought is to uh just make sure that Mr. Depico, the city attorney, uh checks out um laws at
the at the county at state level to make sure that an adjustment in this area is not preempted by the state. Uh once again in full support. Thank you very much. Yes. Thank you. And we carefully crafted this to make sure it is in compliance with all applicable state and
and county laws. And I want to thank uh you Mr. Attorney and your chief deputy Robert uh Rosenwald that uh that met with me multiple times with me with stakeholders uh from different industries and we did
go back and look at different laws. and Larry, thank you for your input uh and for your support. Go ahead, please. Uh thank you, Commissioner Fernandez for ringing it locally. Uh I'm sorry, start with your
name. Blanca Vierello, Octagon Towers, Gardens on the Bay. So, couple of properties. Uh no I was saying I'm very happy that you are bringing locally because also tenant approval is used uh by the association as retaliation when
you either ask too many explanations or things like that and if a tenant has to wait more than two weeks now that's the average obviously the tenant is going to be somewhere else and unfortunately I had to put a complaint in the DVPR and
the DVPR is supposed to be more uh engaged, more active. Um there is zero response. So it would be wonderful that we could bring a representative as we did with the DMB of the DBPR here to Miami Beach, even if it's once a month
to listen to the problems that we have because trust me, the the associations in Miami Beach are one of the most complicated ones. Thank you. Thank you, Blanka. And and one of the great things about this is that you know otherwise
when our code is silent about this the enforcement authority of this as you well mentioned goes to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations. Uh by having this codified in our code uh which again I think we are one of the first cities to uh codify
this in this manner. Um, we put the enforcement authority locally in our community and so I thank you for your feedback. There is no one else requesting to speak.
Let's call vote. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carry. Second reading. Public hearing is scheduled for
June 25th. R 5 AC. R5 A C is a north of the mayor city commissioner of city of Miami Beach Florida man chapter 58 of the Miami Beach city code entitled housing by creating article 7 entitled consumer protection of owners of residential real
property by creating section 58-600 thereof to be entitled definition to adopt certain definition terms creating section 58- 602 thereof to be entitled notice to associations requiring prospective bulk owners of residential condominium units to provide notice of their acquisition of interest
in condominium property creating section 58-610 thereof to be entitled civil penalties to provide for penalties and enforcement and providing for references uh to Florida statutes repeater ability configation and an effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. It is
item R5 AC. Commissioner Fernandez, Mr. Mayor, would you allow for the companion item R5 A to be called to this? We can knock off two at one time. Absolutely. The R5 A is an order to the mayor, city commission of the city of Miami Beach,
Florida, amending chapter 58 of the Miami Beach city code entitled housing by creating article 7 entitled consumer protection owners of residential real property by creating section 58600 thereof to be entitled definition to adopt certain defined terms creating section 58.601 601 thereof to be entitled prohibited contacts for
solicitation to adopt regulations prohibiting certain predatory solicitations to residential condominium unit owners creating section 58-6 thereof to be entitled civil penalties to provide for penalties and enforcement and providing for references to Florida statutes repeal of ability and effective
date. This is the first reading public hearing. It is item R5 A. Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh so today I'm bringing forward two ordinances under the broader banner of consumer protections uh for owners of
condominiums both rooted in our responsibility to protect residents and preserve the integrity of of our city's residential fabric. First item R5AC uh addresses a growing concern flagged
actually by our office of the inspector general and that is the quiet and sometimes covert accumulation of condominium units by prospective bulk uh buyers often without the knowledge of long-term residents who find themselves
ultimately outnumbered and outmaneuvered before their before they even realize a buyout is underway right where they live. And so this ordinance requires transparency. Uh once a buyer reaches a
30% threshold of ownership interest in a condominium, they most they they must notify every uh unit owner, the property manager, and the association. And that notice uh must include who they are, how
many units they've acquired, and how to contact this owner. And this notice must also be updated as changes occur. Uh the trans the transparency should not be controversial. This should be something that's kind of a no-brainer.
is foundational uh to protecting the people who call our city home, who live in condominiums, seniors, families, and the character of the city's cherished uh buildings, many um many which offer some
of our most affordable and attainable housing in Miami Beach. The second item is item R5 A and it builds upon that foundation by prohibiting certain predatory solicitations
uh from from taking place, predatory solicitation practices. And we've often heard from residents, especially elderly residents and residents on fixed incomes, who've received harassing or even threatening calls pressuring them
to sell their units. And this ordinance gives them the right to say no and to be left alone. Uh if a resident declines a solicitation or requests not to be contacted again, developers must respect that. they shouldn't be harassing these
individuals to force them to sell their their their units. Um, and if they don't, the city can enforce uh civil penalties. And in fact, as part of a separate item that I am working on uh that's at the land use
committee, a violation of this ordinance could lead um to the developer being classified and as an obitual offender. uh to kind of put a more strict uh delay on on the developer uh as opposed to um
as opposed to simply a civil fine. Both of the both of these items stem from concerns raised uh by the public and documented by the inspector general. They reflect common sense consumer protections that preserve both dignity
and transparency in our real estate transactions in Miami Beach. Um, I want to thank the city attorney, uh, our chief deputy city attorney, Nick Hurges, who who really spent, I would say, months researching what other
jurisdictions are doing, researching what we could do locally to protect our condo owners uh, from falling victims of predatory buyouts. and to the inspector general who um who looked into a complaint that I received in my office
from the Sea Coast Towers and uh took a deep dive into the into the issue, found ways that we could protect our our owners and found what other jurisdictions in other states have done and made very valuable recommendations. With that, I'd like to recognize our
chief deputy city attorney, Nick Allergist, to provide further clarity or any further explanation that may be necessary. Thank you, Commissioner. I think you've you've covered all the the main points of the ordinance. I was just uh the only thing I would add is to say that um that each each separate
violation, each failure to to notify um or each uh uh unwanted contact is a separate violation and would give rise to to a separate fine. And if and and with with the item that we have going through the land use
committee because my concern is that a violation of this of the repeated contact is a civil fine. Sometimes civil fines is just a slap on the hand and the cost of doing business. Okay, I'll pay a $1,000 fine or I don't know what the
fine is. What's the fine? I don't remember. It depends on which one, but for the contacts it starts at at 500 and I believe for the failure to notify I believe it's a thousand. Okay, if I'm going to be making $100 million, I you know what is a $500 violation? But with
the item that we have going through through the land use committee, a violation of of of this ordinance could lead to a real estate developer being deemed as an obitual offender, which could delay their ability to seek
legislative approvals, to seek LDR amendments, to seek amendments to the comprehensive plan. And that right there is the biggest penalty that we can put on predatory buyouts. That if you are praying on our residents, it's not just
a violation, but it could potentially delay your ability to get zoning entitlements that today you're not entitled to and are worth hundreds and millions of dollars. And so if you come to pray on our residents, you really run them the risk of profiting off our
community on on asks and requests that they're not entitled to. And I'm very proud uh Nick of the work that you've done and to the support of the inspector general in crafting this legislation that really places residents first and being the first city in the state of
Florida advancing this type of protection for the condominium owners who reside in our city. So thank you, Nick. Thank you. Thank you. Call the vote. With that, I move my item. It is a public hearing and I see uh
Daniel is on the line. Daniel, state your first and last name. And you have two minutes. Yes. Daniel Seraldo, candidate for Miami Beach Commission, 7:30 10th Street. Uh I want to thank the commissioner for sponsoring this. Back when I worked at
MDPL, we were contacted by residents of the Sea Coast Towers and we worked with the inspector general as well as the residents learning about horrible predatory acts, especially by the way after the passage of the Resilience and
Unsafe Structures Act, which the city of Miami Beach has yet to uh try to overturn in court, but which I'm committed to working to fight that. However, in the meantime, as these predatory actors are invading our historic districts due to the
possibility of demolition by neglect and upzoning, this sort of ordinance is a good measure to uh to have some protections. Thank you. Thank you. I see no one else in the audience requesting to speak and there's no one in Zoom. May I call the RO? Yes. On both items R5 AC
and AD. Commissioner Dominguez. Yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Both items are approved. 70. Second reading public hearing for both
items. R5 AC is June 25th. Let's call R5P and R5Q. R5P is an ordinance of the mayor, city commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 78 of the Miami Beach city code entitled personnel by creating article 7 entitled classified employee salary ordinance by
creating section 78-321 through 78-330 thereof to codify as part of the city code and adopt amendments to the city's classified employee salary ordinance number 789. Which ordinance establishes a pay plan for classified city employees for purposes of clarity and ease of
reference to delete and or revise outdated provisions and to codify existing administrative practices repeating all ordinances in conflict with this ordinance and further providing for severability clarification and effective date. That was item R5P which is a first reading public hearing. R5Q is an ordinance of the mayor, city
commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 78 of the code of the city of Miami Beach entitled personnel by creating article six entitled unclassified employee salary ordinance by creating section 78-310 through 78-320 thereofout to codify as part of the city code and adopt amendments to the city unclassified
employee salary ordinance number 1605 which ordinance establishes a pay plan for unclassified city employees for purposes of clarity and ease of reference to delete and or revise outdated provisions and to codify existing administrative practices. is repealing all ordinances in conflict with this ordinance and further providing for servability clarification
and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. That was item R5Q. Commissioner Magazine. Marley, can I hand it over to city staff to present the item? Thank you, uh, Commissioner, to the chair. Um today
we're bringing before you uh with the um assistance of the city attorney's office who was tremendously helpful in assisting HR. Uh we have brought forward the cotification of our many many many history uh years of history of salary
ordinances for both unclassified staff and classified staff. What you have before you is a cotification and a cleanup language. There is one uh major change and that is that uh if you all approved this on first and second
reading that any future uh colas for either classified or unclassified employees would be um approved through a resolution rather than through an ordinance. I move the item I'll second they are a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom and no one in the audience. If
so, if there's no discussion, may I call the RO? Vice Mayor. Yes. The salary ordinances. Call the role. Yes. Commissioner Vice Mayor is right there. Yes. Call the roll. Okay. Commissioner
Rosen Gonzalez. Yes. Vice Mayor Suarez. Yes. Commissioner Fernandez. Yes. Commissioner Magazine. Yes. Commissioner Dominguez. Yes. Commissioner Bot. Yes. Mayor Miner is Yes. U second reading public hearing for both R5P and R5Q is
June 25th. Thank you. Thank you. R5H R5H is an arts of the mayor city commission of city of Miami Beach Florida amending chapter 10 of the code of city of Miami Beach Florida entitled animals by creating section 1020 thereof entitled confinement of animals without sufficient food water or exercise abandonment of animals and providing for
repealers of ability clarification and effective date. This is a second reading public hearing. It is item R5H. Commissioner Dominguez co-sponsored by Commissioner Suarez magazine and BOP. So this uh item evolved from the animal
welfare committee and they wanted to ensure that the city mirrored the same laws uh at the state to make it easier for prosecutions for us. With that I move the item. Let's call the roll. It is a public
hearing. I see no one on Zoom and no one in the audience. I have a motion by Commissioner Dominguez, seconded by Commissioner. Supervised Mayor Suarez. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes.
Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carries. The item is approved. R5H. R5. R5 I is an ordinance to the mayor city commissioner of city of Miami Beach uh Florida amending chapter 7 of the Miami Beach resiliency code entitled zoning districts or regulations by amending article 2 entitled district regulations
by amending section 7.2.2 entitle RS1 RS2 RS3 RS4 single family residential districts by amending subsection 7.2.2 entitled uses RS to clarify and amend regulations on the commercial use of single family homes and providing for repealer servability cification and an
effective date. This is a second reading public hearing. The item requires 57's vote. Sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez, co-sponsored by Commissioners Bot, Dominguez, and Magazine. Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so today we're voting on the
second reading of an ordinance that I've proudly sponsored alongside Commissioner Bod, Commissioner Dominguez, and magazine to protect the integrity and protect the the tranquility of our single family residential neighborhoods. This legislation draws a clear line um
that our single family homes that they are not commercial venues, that they are not nightclubs, that they're not event halls. Uh these are the places where our families live, where neighbors build
community, where peace and quiet should not be luxuries. Peace and quiet are the expectation of our single family neighborhoods. And for too long, we've seen certain bad actors skirt the rules
uh exploiting loopholes to convert residential properties into profit-driven party houses. Uh sometimes under the guise of donations for for nonprofit and ultimately the these abuses just erode and chip away from the
quality of life that our residents deserve. They threaten public safety and they undermine the very character of our residential districts. So this ordinance before us today in second reading closes these loopholes. It establishes
enforcable guard rails that define what is and what is not allowed. And it ensures that charitable organizations, religious and political gatherings can continue to to to occur as they always have, but makes unequivocally clear that
our neighborhoods that they're not for rents as commercial venues. That's what we've seen happen in so many areas throughout our city. I want to uh thank uh the city attorney's office for for for working closely with us to the
planning director. Uh the item was considered at the planning board. I believe it got a 70 favorable recommendation. That's correct. And so I respectfully ask for your support today uh so that we can send a clear message
in Miami Beach that that we protect our neighborhoods and we won't allow them to become commercialized by bad actors. I'll move it. Call the roll. It is a public hearing. No one in Zoom. No one in the audience requesting to speak. Motion by Commissioner Bot. Seconded by Vice Mayor
Suarez. Commissioner Bot. Yes. Vice Mayor Suarez. Yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carries. The item is approved. That was item R5
I. Let's go R sevenX. R seven. I love this. I'm sorry. R7R, sorry. R7X, right? Yeah. R7X is funding increased job creation incentive program. It is sponsored by Commissioner Magazine and the mayor, Mayor Miner has
requested to be a co-sponsor. That's R7X. Commissioner Magazine. Yeah, thank you. Uh really proud of this and perhaps Heather uh if you can come up and Steve if you want to come up as well for a quick introduction. Um something I'm very excited for here. We have
collectively all decided who Miami Beach does not want to be as a city, right? We do not want to be that party till you drop. anything goes spring break destination. But we also need to decide collectively what we do want to be as a city and we can be a serious place for serious people to do serious business.
We see some of the leading companies in the entire world being attracted to South Florida and it's time Miami Beach starts taking advantage of that. One of the ways uh that a lot of entities in our surrounding areas have done so is through the creation of financial job incentives. While Miami Beach has these
in place, uh really the amounts that you would uh give to attract companies to bring very highpaying jobs to our city are are very small in comparison with some of our neighbors. Uh while there's some nuance in there, you know, that are
contingent, really, if you would bring high-paying jobs well above the average median, uh a company would only get $600, uh per job that's created in Miami Beach. uh that pales in comparison to some of our neighboring cities that co
could go up to $5,000 per job. Uh so I think we want to essentially firmly plant a flag in the sand and say this is what Miami Beach is looking to do. We are out there looking to uh have companies and entities invest in Miami
Beach, invest in our residents, bring the high-paying jobs that allow us to diversify our economy away from a dangerous concentration on on hospitality and tourism. And I think it's needed now more than ever. What great timing. It's ironic that we have our uh you know long-awaited economic
development director uh moving here. But this is one of uh the items that I I think I'm most proud to sponsor, have support uh from my colleagues. We discussed this at FK where it seemed like we were all uniformly aligned. I'll hand it over to my colleagues, anybody that wants to make comments. Um but this
is really looking to pivot Miami Beach into a direction that we're all proud of. Great item. Is that a motion, Commissioner Magazine? Yes. I'll second. Call the vote.
Um and Rick, we did discuss yesterday uh a slight uh change from how this was actually worded. The funding increase will be put in the uh 2026 budget. Um but the incentives will go into place immediately. So a company would be able to uh take advantage. However, the
increase in funding will be part of the 2026 budget process. Right. Absolutely. Uh folks will be able to apply for these incentives effective after this resolution becomes effective. So as amended as as amended. Correct. So uh I
have a motion by Commissioner Magazine, seconded by Bayer Miner as amended on R sevenX. If no discussion all in favor, please say I. I. Anyone opposed? Hearing none, the item is approved. 70 as amended. R7X
R7 L R7 L is urge Florida senators, house rep to advocate for NOAA workforce. Commissioner Bot. Yeah, this is um to me a public safety issue. Uh we are incredibly dependent as
a city, as a community, as a region of South Florida and frankly the entire state of Florida um on uh the services and the skills of of Noah and the National Weather Service and the the employees who work there to help protect
us and warn us in due time to uh alert us to oncoming storms and rain bombs and hurricanes and even occasionally tornadoes. And as we are facing on a national level um quite significant cuts um potentially I would just like to urge
our state legislature who is supposed to look out to the resident for the residents um for the state of Florida and um especially those of us on the coast to advocate for keeping um Noah well funded and well staffed so that um
you know the weather the National Weather Service doesn't have to close overnight. as is being reported in some parts of the country and um we don't miss any advisories because it isn't fully staffed and I would hope to have the full support of my colleagues on
this. I'll move it. Let's call the vote. I have a motion by Commissioner Bot, seconded by Commissioner Dominguez. All in favor, please say I. I. Anyone opposed? One no by Commissioner Suarez. The item is passed.
R7N R7N is accept recommendation convert 7605 Collins Avenue Marine Science Education Center and Museum. Commissioner Suarez. Uh thank you. The item we have before you is returning uh item from FK. The FK
made a recommendation to uh convert the was formerly known as the Betsy Perez home which was purchased with building department funds of about $6.53 million uh to instead have it purchased by the city's uh general fund. I think it's
listed to be considered as part of the 26 budget. And also attached to this is to direct the administration, the parks department to reach out to see if they can locate a university type partner to uh renovate and operate uh said
facility. So the the effectuation of this resolution if it gets passed would uh we would create a uh general fund capital budget uh item for the 26 budget process to see if the commission would uh be funding that and then if that passes on
then again it would it would effectuate uh parks to reach out and fund a university partner for that. Obviously the administration just has concerns that it's a you know a large amount of money. This was an item we discussed when it was first purchased about a year year and a half ago. Uh the building department has been ready to move
forward and renovate that into the the North Beach process and government center, but I know the commission has um had a few different items over the over the past year to discuss, you know, perhaps different uses of this, but this item, sorry, it wasn't FK, I'm sorry. This was a land use item uh that came
through. So, uh land use discussed that and they're recommending that the uh commission u by basically buy it back from the building department. I'd like to move my item. Let's call the vote. I have a question.
Um, one of the questions that I have just because we do want the general fund to buy this so that we have more flexibility because the one thing we've heard over and over again is we do not want a building department office uh at
7605 Collins Avenue. Is there a mechanism Jason by which the general fund can buy this back um from from the enterprise fund over the course of several fiscal years or does it have to be all in one fiscal
year because perhaps we can absorb the impact over the course of several fiscal years? We can repay over the course of several fiscal years. I I'm not to be honest I'm not sure of the legalities of the building department ex extending a
loan effectively. I think there there might be some concerns with that. I I'm not sure. I brought this up in my briefing. Uh and so I would like to know because that way we don't create a $6 million impact. If we have to do that, then we'll do that because we do have the savings from the tax collector that
was going to impose the municipal fee. Uh but if we have the way of doing this by fiscal year. Uh so Mr. Attorney Sure. Allow us to look into that so that we can brief you during the budget process as to what the possibilities are. Okay. So because this still has to come to us
back through budget. This is going to go through the budget process. Correct. Okay. Okay. At least this means it's a co-sponsor with Commissioner Suarez. Um so is this not going to FK?
This item was $6.5 million. It seems correct. That's why it's not on a consent item as by the new ordinance that was passed. Any any non any financial impact items that's heard by a nonh fk committee like land use or neighborhoods would come back uh
requiring uh an R7 discussion and if no if I may this is also not an expenditure at this stage. This is going through the budget process. So items that go through the budget process can go to FK but don't have to go to FK. So I I have some
concerns about this. This is not what we originally agreed to. Um and we have the um surf rider water keepers who have grants. They have been told that they have are permitted to use um this sort of out part. It's not an out parcel, but
it's an an exterior set of rooms that need very little retrofitting and they need to get going on that otherwise they risk their grants. Um I would like to I don't know if you can amend this or I would like to regardless of what happens with this particular project have them
be able to proceed um so that they don't lose their grants. Um it is very minimal what you know it's not going to be open to the public coming in and out. It's a different type of facility where people are coming in who are um trained and members of the of the organization to do
the water testing sampling or the water sample testing and then afraid of us going to coexist here. But this they're they're chomping at the bit and their grants are expiring because we haven't been able to decide. and in a you know a
more fiscally responsible conversation that needs to be had. We have um the log cabin which is has been thanks to Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez has been um elevated in the priority list of geobond funding projects and it's it's slated to get going very soon which seems to be an
excellent facility for this sort of a a marine life um education center which would not cost $6.5 million plus that we don't currently have. Um I think there's a lot that we need. You know, we have a
huge infrastructure gap for sewer and and storm water repairs that could certainly use six and a half million dollars of a shot in the arm that isn't going to the tax, you know, county tax collector. So, I'm I'm concerned about this. I love the idea of a marine
science education center. I'm not against that. I am concerned about it being in this facility for an extra I guess 7.53 million dollars um when we have another facility that's looking for a purpose in you know adjacent to this
and and you know the delays that this would cause the the confilration with the with the um waterkeepers testing facility and their grants expiring I I've got I I think there this is problematic if I can Oh Sorry. Go ahead,
Jason. Just address uh a couple of things there in the land use item that was the the one of the recommendations of the administration that if there was an interest from the commission to engage to have a uh marine science turtle rehab type museum that we thought
that the the log cabin might be a good utilization of that. It was my understanding in talking in the parks and geo bond that that was a facility that would get done but doesn't isn't currently programmed you know has a purpose. So that would be to to address that. That was was one of the ideas the administration have which would save that money so you could still have this
purpose but have it uh from a different area on that. Um and then for the for the surf rider uh yes I know that's been in the works for for over a year and I know talking with building the idea was the building the whole building will be ren because there are structural issues.
So we would hope that had started this work back in October but it's all been on pause while this issue has been working its way in various iterations. Uh but yeah, the the hope was that the whole building would be renovated and Surf Rider would be able to move in. So we've been that whole thing. If I may just Vince, since you're standing right
here, I I mean, people were living in this house up until a couple of years ago. So how I mean, is it about to fall down? Is it Can we not have Surf Rider in there while you do the remaining structural repairs? The structural repairs that need to be executed at the
house are for the longevity of the house going forward. it were for electrical components that I believe have already been addressed uh by the staff and and the maintenance uh crew here. However, uh going forward, I think it's something that we'd have to entertain with legal
being that it's a parcel where there are no staff permanently there from the city and yet we're going to subleasase a portion to an outside agency. So again, a lot of the things we have to do were not just structural and electrical components, but accessibility concerns
uh as far as ADA parking spots, things like that, ramps, but that's that's separate from what the surf rider needs are. Yeah, it's a separate accessory. It's like an accessory outside. And again, those those issues with leases and and things
of that, I'm I'm a regulator. I'm a builder. I'm I'm not a a landlord, per se. So that's something that I would defer to to legal to structure set up figure out. But regardless of the lease, and I understand there might be some land use concerns that need to be adjusted as well. Regardless of the
lease, it is the configuration is if you're looking at the house from the front, you know, with with your back to Collins, if you along the left hand side, there is a little door that goes into just this little suite of rooms, which is what Surf Rider needs. So once
we get the land use um regulations sorted out, if that's necessary and the leasing is all squared away, could they not start using that space right away while the commission figures out what the future of this building is and what needs to be done to make it ADA compliant and all that stuff? Again,
that's something that I would have before we before we get too off topic, I think the concern is that they want Surf Rider needs a space for grants. I don't if this turns into a marine science museum, that doesn't preclude them from
having that. So, okay, I we can it's a win-win. Um that location, I think, would be ridiculous for anything but uh a community benefit. I don't think there should be a public building there or or um a building department facility. Uh it
is in part the the most best uh location for a marine science or perhaps a total sea turtle rehabilitation center. It's on the beach. Um I'm not sure what's going on with the log cabin. I'm sure the log cabin has a a much smaller
footprint. Um you know perhaps long term that's where Surf Rider can can be. Um, but I I think if if we want to um have a real benefit to North Beach and and to
science and and to turtles, which I'm a big fan of, sea turtles, uh, this is the perfect location. Um, and so I I understand that we paid $6.5 million for this house, right? Um, and I think the
way we at the time We rationalized it was because it was the building department was was paying for it. Correct. Um at the end of the day it's taxpayer money and whether it's building department or it's coming from
another fund it's still within uh it we still own it. It's we're all one city. So, I don't know if we're just splitting hairs here, but um I think this is a great item to to to have a a great educational center for families and and
and nature and science and uh North Beach. Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Fernandez. Okay. So, I think that this is an important item uh just because back in February of 2024 um when we looked at potential funding sources, we had many different funding
sources that that that we could considered. We had pay capital funds that we could have used for this. We had uh parking funds that we could have used for this. We even had general fund reserve funds. We decided to use uh
building department funds. And when we did that, it was understood that the main purpose of the property would be for building department activities for the possibility um you know that some small other uses
by other departments. But it was clear that the main purpose of the building if we used the building enterprise fund would be to to do uh building related activities there. It's clear that that's not the
direction that that the community wants to go in. That is very clear. So the only way that we go away from that direction of using it as an office for the building department is not by going into the parking enterprise fund because
then you're going to have to use it for parking purposes. The only way that you can open this up to a wider use is by going back and and using general funds uh for for this property. Now what I need clarity on the item that we have
before us today accepting the recommendation of the land use committee does that contradict or prohibit Surf Rider from going into the property? No, it doesn't contradict or do away with um
we have identified that in order to move Surf Rider into the property, we will need to do a comp plan amendment. So, at the appropriate time, if someone would be willing to um make a referral to committee for that discussion, that
would be uh a good thing. But this does not prohibit them from being able to do what they want to do. Okay. And so, and so I just so I think so I'm trying to understand the concern uh Commissioner Bod, if I may, through the vice mayor.
I'm trying to understand because I want to make sure that we're on on the same page. The concern that you had is that Surf Rider wouldn't be able to go in there because of this item. Bless you. I I'm concerned that um I I was not able to be at the land use
committee. Okay. So, I apologize that I was not part of the conversation then. I'm concerned that um I'm concerned that we have a different facility that needs a a program which could be the geo the log
cabin. I'm concerned that this is getting turned into a thing. I mean we also have issues with Mr. B if you can speak into the mic. I can't hear you because the construction. Yeah, I'm concerned that um this is now moving towards a particular use as opposed to
multiple uses. I'm concerned about the $7.3 million to purchase and partially fund renovations. And I'm concerned that Surf Rider has been waiting and waiting and waiting and their grants are about to run out and um we need to make sure
that they can get in here ASAP. Okay. So, as it relates uh to the grants, how would this and I need staff to guide me. How would the action that we're taking today affect the grants with Surf Rider? Because I want to make sure I like the
idea of Surf Rider going in there. I've I've I've made that public commitment to support Surf Rider occupying the space uh to support their their their water uh testing. And so how does this action that we're taking today affect their
grants? Their their grant I believe their grant was for 15,000 for their certification. It didn't cover any movein costs, etc. for that. The the home itself is listed as residential, not commercial. So that would be the
first thing that we would need to address is is transitioning that residential home, zone it as a commercial property before we could get them moved in. Right. But but I guess as it relates to the concern with the grants, I just want to make sure that there's no unintended consequence with
the action with the vote that I'm going to make today. Does my vote today in any way affect surf writers ability to get grants uh for their purpose in this facility? If anything, it should help,
right? I'm trying to understand. I I mean, if we're talking about City of Miami Beach grant dollars, then no, it wouldn't have any impact. I I don't know what other grants they may be applying for, and so I don't know what other
potential impacts there could be, but as specifically to the grants that we've provided them, no. If if excuse me, if if anything, it should help because you know, marine science education, I think that falls squarely under Surf Rider. uh
u mission statement. And so if it's a building department facility, I don't understand how Surf Rider would be able to operate there because there's a part of the building that fits their needs perfectly. We But
that could also be under a marine science education. They can be. But but the fact that this is now 7.5 million dollars is a different conversation. That's a different topic. Yes. If I may, there I don't think there's any concern that whether it was a North Beach government center as originally intended
or uh this marine science educational center, I don't think it would impact the operations of Surf Rider in that location with an external access. So those are two mutually exclusive concerns, I believe. So okay, great. So, and through the mayor. So, I guess what I'm trying to understand, Commissioner Bond, is I guess your your your broader
concern is now putting this under the general fund as opposed to having it paid by the building enterprise. That's your concern? Yeah, that that's one of them. And and again the the fact that Surf Rider is sitting on you know
the possibility of losing and I know it's it's a tiny amount of money to us and billion dollar budget but for a not for profofit $15,000 to get themselves squared away for testing is not sh change. So, I'm very mindful of that because, you know, Parkview Island, um
the beaches all up and down North Beach and other points along Miami Beach are dependent on the the water quality testing that Surf Rider does for us free of charge, I might add. But this item doesn't affect that and it hasn't been able to progress, if I could finish my
thought, because this item has been kicking around as opposed to letting Surf Rider get in there and get going. So, I it was news to me in in my most recent briefing that um there had to be a land use change. So, I'm working on
that with the city attorney. Um but I don't want that like that's my first priority to get them going ASAP. I am concerned about the $7.5 million. Um six and a half. Well, it says 7.53 million to purchase and partially fund
renovations including structural repairs. I don't want Surf Rider to be delayed by any structural repairs and I would imagine retrofitting something to become a marine um science education center is a lot more involved than just putting in ADA handicap parking and you
know whatever else you know so I just I don't want Surf Rider to be delayed. Um look with all due respect I think this was passed from land use months ago. I think three, four months ago we were there and we've never heard any sort of issue from Surf Rider.
I have a really good relationship with Mike Jabaldi from Surf Rider. Um I support their mission. Never came to me with a concern uh about this. And um look, I I think you know I this facility
is for the greater good of Miami Beach. It's not for the greater good of Surf Rider. You know, respectfully, I think it's important to not lose sight of that. You know, let's call a vote. Okay. I have a motion by Commissioner Vaser Suarez, seconded by Commissioner
Fernandez. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Anyone opposed? Hearing none, the item is approved. 70. R 5Z. We We did our 5Z already, didn't we? Yes.
Oh, thank you. R5 AE R5 AE is in order to the mayor of city commission of city of Miami Beach board amending chapter 2 of the Miami Beach city code entitle administration article 5 entitled finance by creating section 2-280 thereof entitled use of rent payments received by the city from
convention center hotel lease to dedicate pursuant to the ballot measure approved by the city's voters on November 6, 2018 the guaranteed rent payments received by the city from convention center hotel lease to enhance funding for storm water projects in lie of rates increases, traffic reduction
measures and education and require a 57th vote of the city commission to adopt any future amendments to the ordinance. I'm providing for repeater qualifications, servability and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing and it's item R5 AE. My item with Commissioner Suarez is
really an administrative item. Sorry about that. Uh yes, the item before you just really codifies uh what was the voters voted on back in 2018 as it relates to a part of those rent payments. Has no effect on the other
item that we're dealing with at committee uh related to the varial portion. This just deals with the fixed which is what the voters voted on. So it just codifies that as we get closer now with the uh hotel actually being built. So the amount the amount that goes the
amount that goes to resiliency is from the variable not the fixed the this deals with what we voted on which was one I believe it's 1/3 1/3 which is resiliency transportation education on the fixed rent the other portion uh the variable portion I believe there's an
item at committee to discuss uh some uses of that this item just codifies what the voters already voted on and the monies would already be directed So I wasn't there a resiliency component?
Yes, that's that's this that's the $666,000 the oneird of the 2 million fixed um is adaptation. I can't hear. Yeah. Yes. So this just Yes. This modifies what we voted on back
in 2018. One third resiliency, one third transportation resilation. Sorry, it's hard to hear. No problem. Yes, this is what we already voted on. It's I would consider this very much a housekeeping item. I always am concerned about the private
property adaptation and ensuring that what Mark Samuel had his intentions were to have it funded from that. Um, so that's why I'm bringing up these questions. Got a motion. Second.
Who made the motion? I'll make motion. Commissioner Bot. Second by Commissioner Fernandez. Let's call the vote. This is a public hearing. There's no one on Zoom. No one in the audience requesting to speak. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes.
Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carries. Second reading public hearing is scheduled for June 25.
That was item R5 AE. Thank you. R5 R5 is an ordinance of the mayor and city commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the Miami Beach Resiliency Code by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning districts and regulations article one entitled general to all zoning districts by creating
section 7.12 thereof entitled amendment or release of covenants restricting transient uses submitted by property owners to establish a minimum voting threshold for the release of a covenant restricting transient uses. and providing for codification repeal of ability and effective date. This is a
first reading public hearing. The item requires 57's vote. It is item R50. Commissioner Fernandez, co-sponsored by Commissioner Magazine. Thank you. And um this item before us is one that I've been proud to advance with the support of Commissioner Magazine. I think
Commissioner Suarez is also uh co-sponsor of this. Yes, Commissioner Suarez. Sorry, it's not it's not on my list. Oh, no worries. and it proposes um a a powerful reform
establishing a six7th voting threshold to release any future covenant that restricts transient uses on a property. And why is that important? Because when we grant development incentives in exchange for a commitment to maintain
non-transient residential uses, uh that promise means something. And these covenants there they are legal commitments uh ba made in the public interest and if we make it too easy to unwind them later we risk eroding the
very housing stability we're trying to protect and we want to make sure that in the future future commissions don't start taking away uh these uh protections from transient uses that we've uh baked into these covenants. And so that's all that this is. If you're
committing to uh not do short-term rental on a property, uh then if you try to undo that commitment in the future, it's going to take a 67th vote of the city commission to undo that commitment and that promise that was made to the public and to the residents. And with
that, I move the item. Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Suarez, is it possible to do a a unanimous vote, require a unanimous vote? It's possible, but I I don't know that the city attorney's office would recommend that. That's, you
know, that may make it impossible. That's the idea. Any any appetite for a unanimous vote? I think um let's explore that between first and second. Uh let's explore that between first and second reading. This
is first reading and I just want to see what it sounds good today. I don't know if in the future, you know, so let's explore be between first and second. I'll move the item. Second. Yeah. And it reminds me a little bit when I when this commission passed an item I brought
about the FAR increases, I had 67th and some people had said, well, why not make it seventh and and a lot of the concerns I think that Rick is sort of just highlighting in a big picture were raised. So, Okay. Is that public hearing? It is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom and
no one in the audience. Call the vote. Uh, Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carries, second
reading, public hearing scheduled for July 23rd. R5R R5R is an orders of the mayor, city commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the Miami Beach resiliency code by amending chapter 2 entitled administration and review procedures article 13 entitled historic preservation by amending section 2-
2.13.2 Two, entitle historic preservation review of projects. Remove the supplemental notice requirements for applications continued by the historic preservation board by amending section 2.13.7 entitle issuance of certificate of appropriateness certificate to dig uh certific certificate of appropriateness
for demolition to increase the square footage threshold for the transportation analysis and mitigation plan requirements to clarify the two-step review process and to consolidate and otherwise amend the applicable review criteria by amending section 2.13.8. The entitled special review procedures
to expand administrative review authority for review of additions to single family homes located with the local historic districts by amending section 2.13.9. Entitle historic designation to introduce procedures for repeal of historic designation as required pursuant to Miami date county code section
16A-3.1 and by amending section 2.13.10 10 entitled single family adalorum tax exemptions to expand the types of properties that qualify for the exemptions in a matter consistent with section 196.197 Florida statute by amending chapter 7 entitled zoning districts and regulations by amending article 2
entitled district regulations section 7.2.2 entitle RS1 RS2 RS3 RS4 single family residential districts subsection 7.2.2.4 Four, entitle additional regulations RS by expanding the applicability of zoning incentives to include contributing
single family homes located within the local historic districts by amending article 5 entitled supplementary district regulations. Section 7.5.1 entitled generally supplementary districts regulations subsection 7.5.1.5 entitled roof replacements and new roofs to expand administrative
review authority for sustainable roofs and providing for codification repealability on an effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires a 57 vote. It is item R5R. Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And this is an item I'm very
proud uh to to bring forward. It's been really months pro possibly years uh in in the making. And I bring it forward uh in fact with deep appreciation uh for our city's heritage. Um, it's the first comprehensive update
to our historic preservation regulations, I would say, in four decades. Is that correct, Tom? That's correct. And this initiative began with a referral I sponsored to form an ad hoc historic preservation code review committee. Um it and it was uh an ad hoc
committee that we created to thoughtfully modernize our framework in a way that respects both architectural legacy, the architectural design of Miami Beach and the realities of residents who call these historic
districts their their homes. And this committee of professionals, residents, and preservation stakeholders that we convened met five times. They all met uh late in the afternoons, early evenings to maximize community participation. Um
and their final recommendations uh were were adopted unanimously uh by the committee. Uh and that forms the backbone of this ordinance that we have before us. And and so just to just to give you an idea of of the the
caliber of individuals that sat in this committee, we had attorneys, we had individuals uh from the development community, um we had bankers, uh we had contractors that specialize in historic preservation. We had representatives
from NDPL. We had representatives from neighborhood associations like Flamingo Park. So it was a diverse uh group of stakeholders, professional, residential and preservation uh stakeholders and what we bring forward today um defines
uh the tools that we use for preservation. Uh it clarifies and consolidates uh the process for certificate of appropriateness criteria uh in alignment with the secretary of interior standards removing some duplicative language and
vague thresh uh thresh thresholds that have uh long led to inconsistent interpretations. It updates the transportation analysis requirements, shifting the focus to projects over 50,000 square feet uh so that we're not
overburdening uh smallcale restorations with expensive studies uh better suited for larger developments. And that's important because some of the most costly and time consuming process that these smaller restoration projects deal
with has to do specifically with transportation analysis. And that's best uh reserved not for small preservation projects, but that's better suited for the larger development projects that create bigger impacts in our community.
So this seeks to solve that. It also um introduces a voluntary two-step process for applicants uh which presents a smarter, more transparent pathway for complex proposals when they're going um
before the historic preservation board. Uh right now when you go to the historic preservation board, you have to come forward with this thick uh packet of draw drawings and all sorts of studies and things that you might not need for
your first appearance when you're really looking at height and massing kind of what the envelope of this building is going to be. And we streamlined the process by saying, "Okay, your first hearing, let's have a discussion about how big, how wide your building is going
to be before you go forward creating a thick set of plans that's going to cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars uh to create. So, that right there is an important voluntary uh process that we're giving applicants. It also expands
the administrative review process for minor additions and alterations like fences, like sustainable roofs, um architectural feature uh re reconstructions, especially things that are not visible from the street or
adhere uh to already adopted design guidelines. One of the other things uh perhaps most notably uh it brings parody uh to contributing homes uh within local historic districts extending zoning incentives
um that previously applied to homes outside of historic districts. And we're doing this um to encourage the preservation of of these of these homes. There's a there's a few other things that are in here. So if you indulge me,
Mr. Mr. Mayor, there's just uh one other thing that is very important uh that we've been trying to do for decades and that we're finally advancing, which is the expansion of the Advaluran tax exemption program uh beyond single
family homes. Right now, we have the tax exemption program for single family homes. When you go through historic preservation efforts in your homes, you don't get taxed on that incremental value that's created. We're now extending that uh to all eligible
historic properties uh including commercial properties, including multi-family properties so that we truly incentivize preservation and we don't penalize preservation by taxing on those on those uh investments.
Um so this ordinance really has been months in in in the making. It's been a lot of teamwork. I want to give a shout out to our chief preservation officer Debbie Tacket who has uh been hands on in this ordinance. I want to recognize
you, Tom, and our chief deputy city attorney, Nick Hurges, who who has been working hard on this, and every member of the ad hoc committee that we convened for their time and for their professional guidance in crafting these recommendations that again, for the
first time in 40 years, we're doing a substantive and robust update to our historic preservation code. So, with that, I want to recognize our planning director in case there's anything that you even born yet, Commissioner. I was not born yet. That is true. I'm all at 38 years old. Hey Tom,
thank you. Um, Commissioner Fernandez, and I think your explanation was spot on. I don't have anything to add to that. Um, thank you for your leadership on this. Um, and then also Debbie uh would love to be here in person. Unfortunately, she was not feeling well this morning. Um, but she'll definitely
be here for second reading when this comes back for the city to the city commission for adoption. Great. And I think one of the things I also want to highlight, you know, I think the tax exception that's going to be big. I mean, for decades, we have wanted to
give historic properties a tax exception on their on their on their projects. We're finally doing that. Um, also, uh, for condominium associations, so many condominium associations when they're dealing with these concrete balconies,
when it comes time to replace these concrete balconies, they go through these costly processes going through boards and just procedure after procedure after procedure. We're cutting the red tape for them. uh and we're
allowing certain administrative approvals uh so that we don't cost burden these associations. There's just so much good policy, nerdy policy, uh but good policy that's in here and I'm so proud of it, Tom. And I just want to
also put for the record when Tallahassee says that we have a difficult process, we heard them. And it's why I convened with all of you this committee to look at our process so no one can say that
we're not updating that we're not streamlining that we're not facilitating. We heard the message from Tallahassee and we're trying to do everything that we can to streamline these processes in a way that is professional but where we upkeep the preservation values that really define
and make us a very unique coastal destination. I move the item. Thank you, Commissioner. We have a motion. Second, Commissioner Fernandez. Yes. Let's call the vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom, no one in the audience. I have a motion from Commissioner Bot and I heard a second from Commissioner
Dominguez. Vice Mayor Suarez is a yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Miner, yes. Motion carries. Second reading, public hearing scheduled for
July 23rd. That was item R5R. Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you. R70. R70 is accept recommendation pilot blue light safety emergency communication systems on Beachwalk. R70. Commissioner Bot, co-sponsored by
Commissioner Magazine. Um I'm not sure if Police Chief Jones is still here. Um well, this is an item that we've been working on for quite some time about sponsoring um a pilot program for blue
light safety lights um on four at four key locations along the um the boardwalk. Um we went out with the police department and looked at different um appropriate locations both in terms of calls for service and and where there might be some weaknesses and
also um where we could do the installation of of the devices with minimal um additional cost. And so with that, I'll turn it over to the chief um who can hopefully tell us why you support this. Sure. Good afternoon and thank you Commissioner Wayne Jones,
police chief. uh you know uh um we've had issues in the past beachwalk boardwalk and the beach itself where people needed to get in touch with community ser uh emergency services be it police department be a fire department for a host of reasons didn't
have a cell phone at the ready um to include folks going out there particularly late at night having their their property including cell phones and clothing stolen uh beating police and have to wander around until someone good Samaritan sort of stumbles across them
and call police um on their behalf. And so having a pilot program like this I think solves those those type of problems. Um Major Garcia and his team has done some research as to what would may be the best fit for us um in the environment and so he can answer all the
technical questions and how things would work. But I can tell you having the ability for a person in need, fire, police to just touch a button and we know where they are and where to send emergency service services immediately. I think can be a difference between life
and death and and to that degree it's uh they can also help identify if there's a problem with the homeless person or camping or you know it's it's a full service system. Yeah, those are some of the ancillary I think benefits to it. But for me, I think, and I don't want to speak for the fire chief, but I think
for public safety, um, having the ability to immediately send police, send fire, send whatever is needed at any given time is the biggest benefit to this uh, pilot program. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, I'm supportive. I I just want to
raise an issue. I remember a couple years ago when we had discussed something similar, there was a concern raised about false false reports and false alarms. Just Yes. Yes. And and that remains a concern and uh Major Garcia will be able to speak directly to that. That remains a concern. We will get some of that. You may get some kids
who just make push the button or make calls to emergency services just to see the reaction of um police and fire. Um but at the end of the day, if we can save one life, we can, you know, it's a win. Sure. Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez,
I don't know if you guys remember this, but do you remember the woman who was on the beachwalk near the W Hotel and her face was cut by box cutters? It was the most horrific sexual assault and her face was mutilated from it. And you
remember that? It was a few years ago. And um since that point in time, I've always cautioned women, you know, any anybody do not walk on that beachwalk uh alone at night, which is something that, you know, I hate to tell people, but when you see the reports that we get and
when I've seen some of the assaults that have happened, some of which are so violent. And what happens is um people are released from the jail and they go directly to the beach and they're on the beachwalk. And um so I you know I I
support this because the idea of possibly saving someone um with this program is something that I could never vote against. So I do need to add though in the incident you just pointed out we did make an arrest in that case. No I I know I know I know we did. But I'll
never forget hearing that woman's stories and seeing the box cutters. I mean he attacked her. Her whole face was box cut and it was a horrific assault. And when was this? I don't remember this. When was this? How many years ago? I can't off the top of my head. I can do
the research to get back to I want to say like 20 I do remember the 18 possibly 17. It was a few years ago. But it doesn't matter because every time I go on that portion of the beachwalk, I can't get that visualization out of out of my head. So it's it's dangerous out
there and you don't know what's happening in the dunes at night. So, Mr. Mayor, anything we can do. Yeah. And and um Chief, obviously caution is always uh warranted and and but I know in conversations that we've had and and and
with your command staff that the uh we've talked about having enhanced police and one of the things I've heard about is that there's actually very little crime on the Beachwalk, which sometimes uh doesn't warrant uh enhanced staffing. So, if you can address that. Yeah. So, um, based on our data, I think
the bug calls to service on the beachwalk happen anywhere from from around 11:00 a.m. in the morning to like 9:00 at night. There are times, of course, when um late hours things happen on on the beachwalk, but we staff based on where the bucker calls when the
bucker calls the service come in. Mr. Mayor, well, just to ask and I'll ask straight out. Do you do you think the beachwas is generally safe? I mean, everyone should always be cautious. Absolutely. Absolutely. Okay. And certainly and I think the there's obviously park r when I go out there I do see the park rangers. I see police
staff obviously uh always promoting that. I think people first of all the from the safety standpoint that the commissioners mentioning but also uh the enforcement of uh electric vehicles and which is uh something that we hear about a lot. I did a town hall last night in person in North Beach and that's it's I
keep hearing that and that's one of the issues that a number of people brought up is as well and officer Blanco was there um to address some of it as well. Thank you, Commissioner Suarez. Uh so the the pilot program is for four blue lights. Um yeah, Major Major Garcia will
speak to that directly. I think it's four lights. How much is each light or each station? Good afternoon, Commissioner Mr. Mr. Mayor and Commissioner Eric Garcia uh for police technical services. Uh so in the uh in the memo we have three
options. Option and it's a tiered option, right? So we're we're suggesting option A, B and C, all three of them. Uh that encompasses all four uh sites. So the the sites that do not require that uh
how much is it? Each site is approximately $30,000 all in. How much is it? How much is it to maintain a year? Maintenance is uh I think $1,500 a month. And they do uh preventive
maintenance as well as uh testing of the 911 of the call boxes. How would you measure success? The success I think would be measured by very little use of these call boxes, meaning that
the boardwalk is safe. I I want to bring up some stats. Um I pulled up about this. um at Syracuse University for these blue light poles, uh activations dropped from 819 or 809 in
2012 to 17 in 2020, uh a 98% decline largely due to the mobile safety apps as you know. Um the University of Florida, my alma m uh reported that only 2.7 of the 508
activations between 2017 and 2019 required police action. Uh with most being pranks or non-emergency requests. So I'm assuming there's really no way to to stop a prank um from being used on it. Uh, the University of Colorado
Boulder removed all blue light polls in 2016 after years of minimal legitimate emergency calls with over 90% being pranks or hang-ups. The University of Nebraska Lincoln spent 1.7 on its 1.7 million on its system before removing
most units in 2017 due to low usage and high cost. Um, if we're spending anywhere between 30 to $40,000 for one of these units, wouldn't it make sense to use those funds to maybe hire an
extra police officer to patrol that area um than have, you know, a system that largely seems to be antiquated? I mean, look, it's a good idea in theory, but at what cost, right? And I think if we're going to be spending that kind of
money, wouldn't it make sense to hire a couple police officers for that stretch of land um where you know action can actually be proactively taken. Yes, Commissioner. So, we've thought about this and remember this is a pilot program and uh
the locations that we selected um come with a lot of thought and we thought about false alarms and in order to in order to get a true gauge of this pilot program to make sure whether they're it's going to be used or not, we thought very hard about where we should
put these first four uh sites. And one of the things that we did was we put them in locations where uh an officer can quickly get to the site to check whether it's a false alarm or not. It's always going to be a concern. False alarms are obviously going to be a
concern. Uh but in order to get the best result out of a pilot, we thought that the thing to do would be to put them in a location where we could quickly get to uh where the where the activations would be so that we could check. Yeah. I'm just saying that at 30 to 30, how was
it? 35,000. Uh it's about 30 for each site. 30,000 and then $18,000 a year uh for maintenance and upkeep. So that's almost $50,000 a year per location. That's $200,000 for just
four. I don't know. I mean, I' I'd rather use that money toward a live police officer for those locations. Um perhaps on overtime. Um And I think it'll be a lot more effective there because if this is just a pilot program
and we will and and again I don't think you gave me a a concrete answer of what success looks like and if we want to start rolling out beyond for that's going to be very cost prohibitive uh for and for especially for something that's
kind of getting phased out. Um, I don't know how my colleagues feel about that, but I I certainly would rather use those funds for a more proactive approach with our police department. I think it's just funds better used. Commissioner Bot, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, and then Commissioner Fernandez, I think, wants
to speak. So, I think um comparing a an oceanfront beachwalk where we have a high population of tourists who may not even speak English um where people might leave their phone in their hotel and go out for a midnight swim or, you know,
even though I know officially the beaches are closed, but it's, you know, the beach is right there. Why wouldn't you go for a midnight swim? Um people might not speak English. people, you know, there it's not the same as the college campus where everybody has a phone and you're probably not dropping
all your stuff to go jump into a nice warm ocean at all times of day or night. I I cannot for the life of me understand why we would not want to try a pilot program to improve our safety. If we get one bad headline about um a vicious
crime on North uh on on Ocean Drive uh or anywhere along our ocean, it is it's you know news heard around the world. So I you know I'm always happy to add police staff if if it's warranted. Um but I think in this case I think it's um
cutting off our nose despite our face to not try a pilot program that addresses issues that are different from additional police staff. By the way, it doesn't add to our pension. It doesn't add to our acrewing costs. If if they work, great. We might not even need that
many more of them. It might be a handful of other um particular locations that don't get regular policing. It might just be those four police uh those four locations. Um, but you know, to to say no to something before we we um we
evaluate them for ourselves rather than relying on somebody's statistics about a college campus doesn't seem to make sense to me. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, um, I have a few questions. We have the cameras on the beachwalk, correct? You know, we could I mean, I I'll be
supportive of this today, Commissioner Bob, but we could as with this new tech expert program our real time crime center to notice like violent types of behavior. You don't what? Um well, we do
have cameras l littering the the beachwalk and that number is growing exponentially um uh every day. Um, Major Garcia will sort of explain to you the way those cameras work though. I I I think though for the purposes of
this pilot program, if there is a button pressed at one of the locations, we can very easily um have that um pulled up on a on a video screen where folks in Arctic could see this happening real time, dispatch police officers, um, fire personnel as necessary, and probably
discern whether or not it's a it's a prank, a hoax. You know, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez brings up an excellent point. You know, Commission Commissioner Rosal, let me let me just finish. I look, I I want to I want to be supportive of this, but I also do think
there's an opportunity here to explore this AI software with Flock, okay? and find out not nodding your head but the the experts that I spoke to said that absolutely we can program flock to you know see certain behaviors and alert the
police officers you know especially that well the the cameras are not sound sensitive correct but they could be programmed for certain you know violent types of movements because we have that capability that we never had before now with this especially with the generative
AI before we just had tons of data and we didn't know what to do with it. Um so I think there's an opportunity for both. You know we can do this pilot program but at the same time with the new tech expert you know look toward programming this data so we can actually make something um interesting out of the
beachwalk and that way you know that if somebody is getting attacked at the beachwalk our officers should get an automatic alert from you know from an AI program system. So I do think that this technology is available. Can I ask what what happens if somebody's Commissioner Fernandez is next? I'm sorry. And then
Commissioner Magazine and then we'll go back to Commission North and let's Yeah. Um, you know, I the proposal I know is coming with good intentions. I think it's a it's I think we all believe in making the area
safer, making it safer for pedestrians, for people enjoying the outdoors. But I think without clear performance metrics or thresholds for what constitutes a
successful pilot, it's hard to justify the expense or the potential scale up of this um of this of this project. Um, and I I I think it's it almost
offers a false sense of security that if you see uh if you if you if you if you see this light there that it's safe or does it signal perhaps the opposite if you see this light there is this uh this blue light here it did they have to put
this here because the area is not safe you know it just I I don't know if it if it starts to send mixed messages and I like I I I'm really pained in in having to have these these concerns because I know my colleague cares very much about this and is trying to do something
really good. But, you know, perhaps my biggest concern is the program's cost. $130,000 for four compbox locations with an additional
1,500 per month. Is that per location? I want to say that's total. Okay. For the maintenance cost. What's that? For the maintenance, right? Um that's each. No, I I think the maintenance is 1,500 a
month total for four. All together for four. Yeah. I still think for this price point, I just think it's it's a lot. I think it's a lot at a time when we're looking at, you know, this is kind of like legacy
technology. I feel everyone carries a smartphone at this point. If you don't have a smartphone, there's likely someone in close proximity that has a smartphone. And for I almost feel like for this technology to really be
effective, you need to be right there where the incident is like it has to be right there where the incident is occurring because if you aren't right there at 22nd Street or at 36th Street or at 79th Street, then is it going to be
effective? Yeah. And so and so that's you know I I don't want to sound critical of the item because I know it's a very it comes from a really good place to enhance public safety but for crying aloud $100,000 I mean it's cheaper to buy a cell phone and place it on a stick
in there you know I mean I well it's it's it's hard it's hard Commissioner Magazine Commissioner Suarez and then Commissioner Bot how does this theoretically work If if one of these boxes are pressed or activated,
then what is the next step? Do the police have to respond? Do you sit there and it's almost like a walkie-talkie where you say, "Hello, we just got an alert." How does that happen? So, I'll let um Major Garcia walk you through the technology part of it. Um, but my
understanding of of this is the way it would work for us given the infrastructure of so many cameras we have on beach beachwalk boardwalk areas that once that button is depressed, we've got cameras that we can focus on those specific locations. They'll be able to tell us rather quickly whether
or not it's a prime hoax being done by a kid, whether or not it's a legitimate um thing happening at the time that requires emergency services. I'll let Major Garcia sort of describe the technology behind it. Yeah, Commissioner. It's basically a a ruggedized hardened cell phone that only
requires a push button to get in communication with our uh dispatch center and they would have an interaction with just like if you call 911 and let's say I am a lady fleeing from somebody that is creepy or an attack.
You go and you you press that button, but you don't want to just stay there and say, you know, it's almost like you're running and you press it. Do police respond or do you just sit there and say hello, hello, hello? Okay, nothing. Well, that's there in lies one of one of
the reasons why uh we want to try this in a pilot so we can get uh data and uh knowledge of what is really going to happen with these with these call boxes. So yeah, normally in in any 911 hangup,
we respond. And I I assume that normally under normal circumstances, for every uh activation where there's no response, we would have to we would respond as we do for any normal 911 hangup. Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Bot. Yeah, thank you. I mean, look, I it
appears that this is pretty antiquated considering we all have cell phones now. And I know um Commissioner Bot brought up an idea of you go swimming on the beach. This isn't going to be on the beach. This is going to be on the beachwalk which could be very far from the beach considering there's sand in
between. You have to run. Um again, you know, and Commissioner Rosenz brought up a great point. You know, there is now technology where, you know, you can either hear a sound of a scream. We now have a real-time intelligence center. I
think the funds would be better used for something that we can expand with. um a and and scale with as opposed to something that's obviously antiquated where many you know places that this has been used and and correct me if I'm
wrong there's a lot of crimes on college campuses you know rape uh beatings um anti-semitism and so the fact that these things have basically been gone by the wayside and they're not used anymore just shows that
it's it's a thing kind of a thing of a past I mean you said it itself is just a glorified cell phone. It's like a rugged cell phone that's going to cost, you know, $40,000 a year um to to build and maintain. But I think these funds would
be much better used toward AI software, our real time in uh intelligence center uh cameras. Uh that's not a pilot. That's something that we know works. You guys are going to have real people all the time watching these cameras to
determine, hey, look, this is a real threat here. It's not a prank call. And um it covers a a much more wider area um and and better use of funds. So, you know, I I can't support this because ultimately this is a pilot program and
the idea of a pilot program is we want to make sure that we we want to we want to we want to have good faith that it's going to work and I don't see that working. Uh given what I've heard today and and and the data that I've seen, I
think those funds should be better used for um infrastructure that we know works. Commissioner Bach. Um I I really am flabbergasted at the conversation today. It's a pilot program
to determine if it works, what our weak spots are. Do we need it elsewhere? Maybe we don't need it. It's not something we have to plan to scale up. We're not basing evaluating whether or not to launch a pilot program on the
presumption that we would have to find funds to scale up in a significant way. We might find that out of the four spots, two of them were very well used and they were great and the other two didn't need to be there at all. But we're making all these grand assumptions
with no data. We are comparing data that is not relevant to this situation. We have people who travel whether or not we like it. We are a global tourist destination which means that people have cell phones which they might not bother
to learn how to call for help if they need it because they don't anticipate being mugged on the beachwalk. They don't know that 911 is how to call for help. There there are a lot of assumptions being made and I am you know
woe on all of us. shame on all of us if we don't have the foresight and the compassion for people who are coming or let's talk about the the folks who don't have cell phones because they can't afford them which by the way is not a a myth it is an issue for parking when
when people try to pay for parking if they don't have a cell phone they can't pay for their parking easily right if they have a cell phone from another country we're making these assumptions and we are being pennywise and pound foolish and if if my colleagues choose to vote down a pilot program. I really
hope that in the next year there isn't some terrible headline that we might have been able to prevent by trying a pilot program, trying to to bolster our security, our public safety where we know we have some weak spots because
we're using um data that is irrelevant. Um we might not care for the person sponsoring the the the program. We might be worried about what um what the costs might be two years down the road. We try
things all the time in the city. We throw the spaghetti against the wall to see if it will stick all the time on all kinds of issues. And for people to say not on this one, not on public safety issues, not when women are the are the predominant um people getting mugged and
harassed and made to feel unsafe on the beachwalk. Well, that's fine. I'm supporting this. If you choose not to, that's on you. Commissioner Fernandez, I'm calling the vote. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um and and Commissioner Bod, I think it's just it's it's our job. It's
not an offense to you. Um it's a big price tag for four for four pieces of communication. And so I understand the passion and you know, my apologies to you that the questions seem offensive. It's not It's not offensive. By the way,
we've had LGBTQ individuals who are not women be attacked on our beaches. Men be attacked in our beaches on on on hate crimes. It's not just uh women. There's other segments of our population. We've
had transgender individuals uh get attacked even outside of our of our beachwalks. So, it's it's a um it's it's a bigger concern. Um, I think I just want to understand a little bit
better because if we're going to be making this investment, I want to have a little bit more of information. When they press this button, does someone respond on the telephone or does someone not respond on the telephone? Yes, it's a call box. Okay, it's a call box.
Someone responds if the person is fleeing. Going back to Commissioner Magazine's question, uh, because we didn't get a direct answer on that. If someone presses the button, the officer answers or someone at the real time intelligence center answers that call
and dispatch. It's dispatch. Okay. Then someone at dispatch answers that call and the person that pressed the button is no longer there because they're fleeing. What happens at that point?
You want to take that? Sure. So, so we have the ability because again the camera infrastructure that's um that's on the beach boardwalk. We have the ability to track a person from point A to point B, point C, wherever they they travel after pressing that that call box.
Okay. But they don't come out immediately if commission. No. So the way would the way I think it would work would be we'll get a call. We'll there'll be no response. because the person is is no longer
there, the the the call would come out as a 911 hang up from a call box and then you have to respond. We we would send an officer to respond, but also people if if it happens during a time that the Arctic is activated, the Arctic will
this is what they're designed for. They're designed to help the operational uh components of our department. So they would take the initiative to start looking at cameras in that area to see if there's anything or any reason for us to respond. But while as as the police
is responding, yeah, it won't be first they go search the cameras and then respond. But the call is dropped. Let's say the police is dispatched and simultaneously the uh real time intelligence center should be the
real-time crime center um is is looking at the cameras. Yeah. In fact, that happens now today on a drop 911 call for service to dispatch. Okay. That happens today. What exactly happens? The same
scenario you just pointed out. So if I call 911, I don't answer. You're going to send a police officer. Oh yeah. Yeah, that's our protocol. What is the recommendation of the police department on this? Sorry. What is the recommendation of the police department as it relates to this item? Oh, we support it. You support it? Okay. All
right. So, commissioner, if I may add, as far as uh DNA, fire chief. Currently, all the fire stations have a call bar. So, think of it like an intercom. When you press the button, there's a, you know, the dispatcher is on the other side and automatically whether you tell
us what the issue is or you hang up, we have to attempt a call back and automatically simultaneously parallel respond to the incident location. So if you were to press the call box in the fire station, the intercom, if the
firefighters are not at the station, they call us on dispatch. Hey, you have someone at the door in the front, you know, that's calling 911. So it's an automatic. If someone calls the button and then it's a prank or no one's there or people, you know, kid presses it,
doesn't know what it is, you guys send an officer. Isn't that taking bandwidth away from the police department? to some extent it does. But with the ability to see and and track a person from point A to point B, we can discern rather
quickly whether or not it's a point call or not. Yeah. I'm just saying, you know, a lot hinges on this pressing this button. Um when you're telling me someone presses a button and we have cameras and and I think what I'm trying to explain to my colleagues is that why
don't we just invest in more cameras that has software and use that money to to detect when there's a an actual crime as it is is happening, not as it happens. And then someone might be able
to run to a one of these boxes if they don't somehow have a cell phone um and press it, right? I'm just saying I think I I'm I'm not not against the idea of having more of a police presence or proactiveness. I just don't think that
having a glorified cell phone on a on a beachwalk is going to work because I mean the data shows that it it doesn't work in in I know a lot of college campuses aren't along the beachfront but um there are
plenty of crime the same types of crime that happen on college campuses that happen on on on beach on beachwalks but they're phasing that out. I don't I I again I I'm just I'm just having a a hard time justifying this because a
pilot program means that you know we want to roll out with more locations and and and I think the biggest issue for me was when I asked you what is the measure for success and and you telling me that well we don't know what that is until we roll
it out. I I don't know if that's a a proper answer. I have a question sort of as I raised earlier when I had discussed it and it probably was with your predecessor because it was several years ago the the concern about false alarms. Do do you have any data or sense of or
estimate as to how much of this would be subject to false alarms? You know when we first started talking about this I I did read a piece I can't remember summary provided to me by Major Garcia or not. I did read a piece that there is significant false alarms
um at some of the places that this device call boxes have been deployed. I can't remember what it what the data said though. Significant. Okay. I think this is a healthy discussion. Uh let's see where we're at. Let's call the vote. So I just want to know um once this is
implemented if there is a high amount of um false alarms with this how will that be addressed because my concern is for example I know at least three locations are in mid beach in area two three of
those locations so if there is a high incident of false alarms with this we're taking away resources from the larger area too, sending them over to the Beachwalk um to the Collins Avenue corridor, which might be good,
but you also have the residential corridor on the other side of Indian Creek. And again, it goes back to my concern with area 2. You have limited access points for area 2. Your two access points for area 2 mainly are 41st Street um
and guess 63rd Street. It's very limited the access point unless you go further south through through Collins Avenue. And so then you know if you have high incidence of false alarms now you're taking away resources away from the other mid beach area. And so if we do
come across high amounts of false alarms, how would that be solved? Well well I I think that's one of the metrics to be used to measure whether or not the program the pilot program is success or not. um may then be part of the determining factor to end the pilot
early um if it's not being used sufficiently to justify the his existence. I I don't know. We have to figure it out as as we get there. Okay. So, I'm going to I'm going to support this. Um I I got I got a text message uh
from from a u from a lady uh that told me how how how much safer she would feel uh having this out there. And did you ask her to send that to I'm kidding? I'm kidding. I'm not what's that? I don't know.
I'm not a woman. And but uh but but Commissioner Bond has brought this forward. Uh and I don't experience things that women may have experienced on the beachwalk and I have to be sensitive to that. Um and I think it's important and responsible to consider
that as much as we also have to consider the financial implications. And so I just expect for there to be an update to us given uh to measure the success or unintended consequences. By the way, I I did not get that tax commissioner Fernandez, but that's exactly the reason I'm going to support this item today.
Let's call a vote. I need a motion, please. I'll move it. Second, please. Second. Uh all in favor of R70, please say I. Anyone opposed?
Hearing 161. Uh item passes. Okay. R5S R5S is an orance of the mayor city commission of city beach Florida amending chapter 4 of the Miami Beach resiliency code entitled landscape requirements by amending article one entitle intent and applicability by amending section 4.1.2 to entitle short
title and applicability by modifying the minimum landscape requirements for single family home projects exceeding the 50% rule providing for repeater servability clification and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires a 57 item R5S. Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez. So,
this is a pretty simple item because what I asked our building and planning officials to do is to strip away any requirements that were not required by the state or the county to make building processes as simple as possible. Right now, if you want to renovate, you know, your garage, let's say, and convert it
into a bedroom. all of these new landscaping regulations kick in, which while it might be okay for, you know, certain neighborhoods in Miami Beach, you know, we don't like I would like people to be able to follow the county code, which I think is a little bit more
affordable and I think is a little bit more realistic. We have, you know, we require trees that are a certain height, but we could require people to plant trees that are a little shorter, save them a little bit of money and a little bit of red tape in terms of the landscaping regulations. So, for
example, I mean, it's not it's not that dramatic, you know, I'm just I want to follow the county code instead of the city code. And I think that this will go a long way, especially in certain, you know, I would like to say working-class neighborhoods or even somebody like
myself that wanted to do a renovation and my 50% kicked in at some point because I needed to change my, let's say that I was just changing doors and windows and putting on a new roof, I could potentially get hit that 50%. all these landscaping requirements then kick in. So, what this does is it just
minimizes that just by a little bit. And um and I I think it's solid policy. It makes it a little bit easier. And that's it. And with that, I would um uh move my item. Tom, you supportive? Yes, the
administration is supportive. Yeah. Okay. Let's call the vote. I'm sorry, who seconded? Second. Okay. Okay, it is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom. No one in the audience. Uh, Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Bach, sorry. Yes, I got it. Commissioner Rosa
Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carries, second reading, public hearing scheduled for July 23rd. R5U. R5U is in order of the mayor and city commission of city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the code of the city
of Miami Beach sub part B entitle Miami Beach resiliency code chapter 2 entitle administration and review procedures article 4 entitle amendments to comprehensive plan to the text of the land development regulations section 2.4.2 entitle amendments to the text of land development regulations by modifying published notice requirements
for amendments to land development regulations of the city code and providing for clarification repealer servability and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. The item requires 57 vote. It is R5U. Commissioner Suarez. Okay. This is actually a pretty simple
amendment. As the commission may recall, a few months ago, you adopted an ordinance that allowed for required publish notices to be on the county website is now permitted under state law. This is a companion amendment that
would now allow for LDR amendments that have to go to the planning board and then come back to the commission for two hearings to also have any published notice requirements facilitated on the county website. Um the administration is supportive and we would recommend approval at first reading and that the
zoning cycle be waved so that adoption could occur at the June meeting. Ralph, did you want to add anything? Yeah, just just for the record, this is on our side, not counting Tom's side. Since September 7th, we have not spent
96,000 on the ads. What we have spent though is 42,123 that I wouldn't have had or the city wouldn't have had to spend if we had this. So, easy enough. I'd like to move my And that's for me, not including what Tom in addition to would be saved.
Got a motion. And I'll second Commissioner Ros Gonzalez. Would this just just be my We're already doing only website or are we doing any? Right now what we're doing is for land use we do the the newspaper. Uh for everything
else we're doing the website. However, we are we have we take everything that we publish on the website and everything that we publish on the newspaper. Not only do we put it on our website also, but we hand deliver
to the elderly housing facilities, we we uh the senior centers, the public libraries, and city hall. Can we I supported the other item, you know, that that took away revenue from from the Miami Herald. We're normally like
advertising in the Herald, correct? Yes. I just feel like if cities pull revenue from the independent local media, will we have any coverage at all? And I'm not saying that this what what type of revenue spend is this annually? I'm not
I'm not opposed. I understand shifting to a website, but at the same time, I I I like having a local independent media that covers Miami Beach. And I feel that Mlache is already having so many
financial issues. And I I think it's important because if not, what who will cover Miami Beach? Well, is it just us as independent influencers? Um, you know, will we have independent media? I mean, I like I know this for me the
whole idea of the attack on this quote unquote legacy media is not a a positive thing. They're still free to cover. They're still free to cover the our city. I understand. But I do think that cities should support independent media
to some extent. What What revenue loss would it be, Ralph? Well, for right now, we have saved $96,000. We have spent $42,000. So, we could have saved $42,000 for
cleanliness, sanitation, anything. You know, Miami might be beach. tax Susan ask you to come back. Yeah. For Ray Miami Beach, you know, I don't think the Miami Beach taxpayers are supposed to subsidize
for-profit entities. I think, you know, this is why the law got passed so that we can have um relief for our residents to use taxpayer dollars on on things that matter, quality of life. So, um, it
certainly doesn't preclude any, uh, outlets independent to cover the beach. I still think they they should do that. Could I ask that we publish those online in the online Miami Herald so that at least we're it's
it's a a there's we as far as I know you can't just do it on the online but the actual savings and where the public has been indicated to go and all cities are doing this including the county is going to this
one particular website. So the public is being trained to to look at one location. this, if I may. It's called It's called the vote. Mr. Mayor, if I we've already done this like since our first meeting in November after the
elections. Uh we've been doing these items month after month after month at this point to stop. It's going to create a real inconsistency with the policies that we've adopted. Uh Ralph, I mean at this point we have almost everything already transferred, everything except
the land development regulations and the law requires that we do uh the ballots, election ballots still in the newspaper. So that's so those are the only two things that we're not doing. And correct me if I'm wrong, there was a charter referendum question that the voters
approved to save money on specifically this exact sort of savings that passed I believe 76% yeah 76.31% to 23.69%. And so and so that's so when when these items first came forward I was voting
against them. Um then there was there was a charter question the and the voters said yes. Uh and and the reason why I was voting against them was because I do believe that there is a segment of our population that does still get the print newspaper or they
see the printed version online, the digital edition of the newspaper. And I've had residents that have come to me uh to participate and speak on items because they have seen the public notices on on the newspaper. So, I don't like this change, but the voters did
speak on this. Uh, and so, you know, I'm going to just stay consistent because at this point, it doesn't make sense to start reverse. And how many subscribers does the Miami Herald have? Last time I asked was in October and it was 3,300. Can I and that's between Miami Beach.
That's between print and online. That was print. Digital. They said 200 something, but my recollection, my understanding was, and I could be wrong, that it's one and the same. I can I when we publish the land development regulations, do they go only in print or do they go print and online? Is it right
now? I'm using both because to me it's free. Okay. I I I supported um some of the other ones, but not I'm not going to support this today. And frankly, I was going to go in a different direction and say that we should actually allocate funding for WLRN and PBS because I
believe in um independent media sources. And I feel like municipalities at some juncture, if they're losing, you know, federal funding, then we should step in on some level because I think that they're necessary. So, um probably going to lose this vote
today, but I mean it's I I understand where you're going. I just believe that number one, there are 3,300 people that are still getting the print version. Like my mom is one of them. She gets the Miami Herald every morning. So, you know, and reads it. So, I mean, I think
everybody there's a lot of people that don't go online and at a certain age, you just really can't you can't even read it, you know, on your phone if they're getting it, you know, because it's too small. So, I might be one of those people soon. Can you follow up? If you don't mind, can you go over the time
it takes to prepare this because I remember you saying that it's very cumbersome on the clerk's side. So, so a couple of things have happened since we last since I last briefed you on this. Uh I don't recall if I had told you, but the Herald went from four neighbor
sections to three to now two. Now, the issue that we're having with the Herald is that they have set even stricter deadlines. So if there is an issue, whether it's a mistake on our part or a mistake on their part, they're making it even more difficult to correct. So it
usually takes us two weeks ahead of time. This is when we send them out. And this is hoping that the Herald publishes it because there's been times where we've been where they haven't published it. Just it's a mistake or they publish in the wrong section. The benefits of this is that
the the minute I we put this on, it's live. any mistakes can be fixed immediately and you can go at any time and look at these ads in a newspaper. Once that day's newspaper is gone, you're done with the news, you're done with the ad. So those are some of the
benefits. Plus for those who do not have, we're handd delivering to all these, you know, entities. Yes. Now let's call the vote. Yes. Um I voted for some of the other migrations. What were the other ones that we migrated over? So we migrated
the public notices which is the weekly notices. We've after the voters uh and that's all we were doing at first. Then uh after the voters approved it, we started doing ordinances. Mhm. And now the only one pending is uh having to do
uh the land use items. So, somebody who gets a newspaper who doesn't go on a website could potentially have something that would affect them and not see it because we pulled this or put it on a website and they wouldn't see it. Every
time you this commission has taken action, we've advertised in the Miami Herald in both English and Spanish to let them to let the public know where they can find this information. And we will do that every year and we plan to do it in August and we plan to do it
again if this has passed. So every time something has passed I've advertised twice English and Spanish and every year I have to advertise letting the public know this is where they are. Okay call the vote. It is a public
hearing. I see no one on Zoom, no one in the audience. Uh I have a motion from Vice Mayor Suarez, seconded by the mayor. Commissioner Dominguez. Yes. Commissioner Fernandez. Yes. Commissioner Magazine. Yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. No. Commissioner Bot.
Yes. Vice Mayor Suarez. Yes. Mayor Miner. Yes. Motion carry. Second reading. Public hearing schedule for June 25th. R5X. R5X is an ordinance of the mayor, city commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 2 of the Miami Beach City Code. I title administration
article three agencies boards and committees division one generally by amending section 2-22 general general requirements to require that all applicants for appointment to a city agency board or committee submit a resume or curriculum vite as a CV as well as a statement of interest and and
that applicants for positions with professional employment qualifications submit evidence of lensure or other irrelevant experience approving and providing for repealer qualification and an effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. It is item R5X. Commissioner Bot.
Yeah. I just think um that these boards deserve people on them who are um serious enough about the application of their skills and experience. Um who are not looking to just get a parking ticket that they would take the five minutes to
write a short statement as to why they want to bring their skills to the board and provide a CV or a resume, whatever they have. um so that when we review the applications we have complete um pictures or relatively complete pictures of the applicant before us for
consideration. I'd move the item. M Mr. Commissioner Suarez, I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor and I'll second our motion. Call the vote. It is a public hearing. I see no one on Zoom. No one in the audience requesting
to speak. Motion by Commissioner Bot. Uh, seconded by Commissioner Vice Mayor Suarez. Commissioner Suarez is being listed as a co-sponsor. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Rosa
Gonzalez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carry, second reading, public hearing scheduled for June 25th. R5 Y. R5 Y is an order of the mayor city commission of the city of Miami Beach Florida amending chapter two of the code of the city of Miami Beach entitled
administration by amending article three entitled agencies boards and committees by amending section 2-225B thereof entitled general requirements to remove the mandatory two-year hiatus prior to reappointment to another agency board committee except for members of land use boards who shall continue to observe such hiatus and
providing for repealer shability clarification and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. It is item R5Y. Commissioner Fernandez, I move the item. Do I have a second? I just Commissioner Bot seconds. Commissioner Fernandez, can
you just give me a quick elevator speech on this? Um, under the current provisions of section 20-22 of the city code, at large appointees uh, who have served the maximum term limit on a board of or committee must
serve a 2-year hiatus um, before they're eligible for reappointment to a different board. And I think it's well intentioned, but sometimes it limits our ability. If someone served on the planning board,
why wouldn't we be able to appoint them to the cultural arts council? You were not putting we're not not the same board that they served on. Not the same board. And so and so, you know, sometimes we have many people, many qualified people who want to serve on boards and committees and sometimes we don't. And
sometimes it's difficult to fill some of these positions and then we put this restriction in in the code in place. So this gives opens the pool up a little bit more. Okay. I I'll move the item. Thank you for a second.
If no discussion, I have no one in Zoom. No one in the audience. I have a motion for Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Bot. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. As Mayor Suarez, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Mayor Miner,
yes. Motion carries. The item is approved. Second reading. Public hearing is June 25th. Let's go to R5 AF. R5 AF is an ordinance of the mayor, city commissioner of city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the city of Miami Beach year 20 240 comprehensive plan pursuant to expedited state review
process of section 163.3184 subsection 3 Florida statutes by amending resilient land use and redevelopment element go RL RLU1 entitled land use objective RLU RLU 1.1 entitled establishment of future land use categories and table RLU 1.1 to
provide floor area ratio F incentives through the city commission warrant review process and providing for codification repeater servability transmitt and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. Could we also call R5 AG which is a companion?
5 AG is a long one. An orders of the mayor and city commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending the Miami Beach resiliency code amending chapter two entitle administration for review procedures article five entitle reasonzoning and development approval section 2.5.3 entitled design review subsection 2.5.3.3.3 entitle administrative design
review chapter 2 entitle administration of review procedures and by amending article 13 entitle historic preservation section 2.13.7 entitled issuance of certificate of appropriateness certificate to dig certificate of appropriateness for demolition subsection C entitled review procedure to expand administrative
Review authority for school development by amending chapter 2 entitle administration of review procedures. Article 7 entitled commission warrant to section 2.7.1 entitled review procedures to allow F warrant request for school development by amending chapter 5 entitled off- streetet parking. Article 2 entitled vehicle parking, bicycle
parking and off streetet loading requirements at section 5.2.4 Four, entitled vehicle off streetet parking requirements by amending the parking requirement in parking tier one to eliminate the parking requirements for school use by chap by chapter 7 entitled zoning district regulations. Article one entitled general to all zoning districts
by creating section 7.12 entitled school use incentive to establish new zoning incentives including without limitation floor area ratio specific to to properties proposed to be developed with a school use by amending chapter 7 entitle zoning districts and regulations. Article 2
entitled district regulations by amending section 7.2.4 entitle RM1 residential multif family low intensity at subsection 7.2.4.2 entitled uses RM1 and by amending section 7.2.5 entitle RM1 residential multif family medium intensity at subsection
7.5 I'm sorry 7.2.5.2 entitle uses RM2 and by amending section 7.2.6 entitle RM3 residential multif family high intensity at subsection 7.2.6.2 two entitle uses RM3 and by amending section 7.2.10 entitle CD1 commercial low
inensity district at subsection 7.2.10.2 entitled uses and by amending section 7.2.11 entitle CD2 commercial medium intensity district. That's subsection 7.2.11.2 entitled use of CD2 and by amending section 7.2.12 entitle CD3
commercial highintensity district. That's subsection 7.2.12.2 entitle use of CD3 amending section 7.2.4 4 entitled North Beach Town Center Court District at subsection 7.2.14 and title.2 entitled uses TC1 TC2
and by amending section 7.2.14.3 entitled uses TC3 and by amending subsection 7.2.14.6 entitled town center central core TCC district and by amending section 7.2.15 entitled performance standards districts PS. That's subsection 7.2.15 entitle residential
performance standards district RPS. I'm by amending subsection 7.2.15 2.15.3 entitled commercial performance standards district CPS and by amending section 7.2.18 entitle SPE special public facilities educational district that's subsection
7.2.18.2 entitled uses SPE by by referring by referencing the school use incentive established under section 7.1.12 and confirming the regulations for each p respective zoning district to reflect the incentives and providing for codification repealer servability and effective date. This item is a first
reading public hearing. It requires 57 vote. That was R5 AG with companion item R5 AF. Commissioner Fernandez, co-sponsored by Commissioner Suarez. Thank you. Um, Mr. Mayor, I'm proud to bring forward item R5 AF. AF in Alex
Fernandez. I think we're prime sponsors on this. What's that? I think we're prime sponsors on this. We are. Yes. Yes. And we So, we should make it R5 AF and R5DS. That's a good idea. Um, but these are two very uh carefully crafted ordinances
that advance our long-term vision of making Miami Beach a more residentfriendly community and to be a more resident friendly community. Uh, that means we need to be looking at our planning to attract more high quality educational institutions for the
children of of our residents. And these two items um stem from a very basic premise that schools shouldn't face the same types of zoning barriers as largecale commercial developers when
trying to to facilitate educational services in our community. So, with these amendments, we're making it easier for schools to establish themselves or expand uh by offering modest floor area
bonuses through commission warrants. Uh we're looking at removing certain minimum parking requirements um as as well. um and allow for staff level review for smaller projects under
25,000 square ft and 50 ft in height. In other words, we're cutting some red tape so that we can allow and attract educational institutions um into into our community. Um I want to pass it over
to uh my co-prime sponsor, Vice Mayor Suarez, uh to chime in as well. Thanks. I think the last time Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez. I I'm I'm happy to be working with you on this. I know we had a Sunshine meeting and we put some time and effort into this and we
want to incentivize more schools. Um, and I think the last time, Tom, you came before us, the body didn't feel that it was enough of an incentive. So, what have you what's what have you come back with to what we've come up with? Uh, as you may recall, this was in committee
for a couple of meetings and we came back with some more substantive incentives and uh, Commissioner Fernandez went over a lot of those, but those include through the warrant process, getting relief from F, getting relief from height, not requiring every
type of school to go through a regulatory review process either at the CUP level or the HPB level. And we think a lot of these could potentially move the needle in terms of incentivizing schools. Great. I'd like to move Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez.
Um I just want to add that I think that these school incentives and the item that you had for a potential charter school and I recently had a French LE reach out to me and a another private school who wanted an early child care facility. I think this is important for
economic development. Yes. Because one of the reasons why people uh do not want to move here and they're moving other places or companies might not want to move here is because they would like a school, they would like more school options um on Miami Beach, you know, and I think we're very good with our
committee of quality education. We have private schools, we have charter schools on it, we have our public schools, and we're doing a lot for them. But I do think that more schools are something really necessary and I would hope as I see our new economic development
director that uh school initiatives especially early childhood learning um would be part of you know the package deal something that we need to do and I'd be willing to you know go to you know great lengths not just for you know
the 72nd street potential which I saw a presentation on the other day and I thought you know it was very impressive. I would like to see a a larger um early child care uh option here on maybe beach, too. So, I think we have a lot of room for for growth and I think it's
really positive from from an economic development perspective. So, and Mr. Mayor, if I if if I may, we um like every great city, we invest in education. We already paid taxes to the school system, but Miami Beach is the
only city in Miami date county that in reinvests in education the way that uh that we do. So, we know every great city invests in education and these ordinances send a clear message that we welcome institutions that invest in the
children of Miami Beach and in our future. And so we're very proud to bring this forward and thank you uh staff for helping us make it more robust. Yeah, if I could, Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Rosing wholeheartedly agree. Uh long held that
belief that uh it is an economic development incentive. In fact, I think that was even part of um a couple of years ago where we did uh prek funding where we wanted to attract more families and companies that work here. Uh I'm shocked that I'm not already. Yeah, I I
remember going to the Sunshine meeting, but if you could add me as a co-sponsor of this, I'd be honored. It'd be an honor. Yeah, you read my mind. I just added as a co-sponsor as well. Thank you. Is a public hearing and there's no one on Zoom and no one in the audience. Move
the second. The item has been moved and seconded. I have motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by uh Commissioner Fernandez. May I call the role? Yes, please. On both items, R5 AF and AG. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes.
Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Bach, yes. And you can add me as a co-sponsor to both, please. Thank you. Commissioner, yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. Uh, Vice Mayor
Suarez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion passes. Both items R5 AF and AG will have a second reading public hearing on July 23rd. We're listing the mayor, Commissioner Magazine, and Commissioner Bot as co-sponsors to the co-prime sponsorships of Commissioner Fernandez
and SWS. Thank you. Great item. Uh R5 Ah. Yes. R5 AH is an or notice of the mayor city commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida amending chapter 70 of the code of the city of Miami Beach entitled miscellaneous offenses by amending article three entitled graffiti
by amending division one entitled generally by amending section 70-123 thereof entitled prohibition enforcement and penalties to double the civil fines for violations of the section and providing for repeater servability clification and an effective date. This is a first meeting public hearing. It's
item R5 ah and we're listing Mayor Miner as a co-sponsor of this item. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Yeah. Recently, we've seen a proliferation of not necessarily graffiti, but stickering of our rights of way because people are taking the QR code, promoting their
businesses, and they're sticking them on our polls um on any all over the rights of way. Literally just happened. Yeah. And it and we're not charging. We don't have enough of a fine now because people are promoting their businesses and
actually putting up a QR code. Um, what we would be doing is doubling the fines. They're going to go first offense, and I don't even think this is enough. 250 to 500. The second offense will be a,000, and the third offense would be 2,000. It should probably be $1,000 for the first
offense because, but whatever. This is good enough. We're doubling the fines right now. And I would really like code compliance to, you know, stop the stickering phenomenon because it's out of control. And the same would happen for for graffiti, but especially the
stickering because it's really difficult for us to get off and um it's happening on the bridges and sometimes they remove all the stickers and then the next day they're back again. So um and you know it's sticker pollution. So and and so
this is the first step in trying to solve this this new phenomenon and problem related to the QR code. So with that I would u move my item. Yeah, good good item. That's why I um so thank you for bringing that's why I added as a co-sponsor. It's it's such an important issue graffiti as you're raising
commissioner a couple years ago. This commission support an item I brought to um used to be you had a private operator had 10 days to remove graffiti and then this this legislation that I brought that our commission passed um says that the city can step in after two days and do it if they don't if the private
operator doesn't do it and then the the city will charge them for it. Um because I think as you're recognizing, Commissioner, when we have this, it just it's a blight and it uh it just ruins the quality of life for for all of us here and can lead to to worse offenses when graffiti is accepted. So, thank you
and happy to happy to support this. Commissioner Dominguez, I'm supportive of this item. Um, one thing that I've observed particularly on Alton Road um, where the epicure used to be, it has uh,
the black um, property sign and I have sent pictures and sent it to code. I've sent it and on the daily the graffiti comes back daily. Um, so it is pretty frustrating because
um, it makes that area look worse. Well, this is going to be a little bit more painful and we'll see if we see any improvement with this. I mean, at least with the QR code and the stickering, we can go after people. The c the group graffiti is is is harder, but yeah, it's happening. And by the way, somebody who
had moved here from LA said to me, you know, one of the reasons I left Los Angeles is because there was graffiti everywhere you looked and it just set the tone that nobody cared, you know. So, I think also, you know, your item about cleaning up graffiti was was a
very solid positive item. And um now that we have these area managers, one of the things that they have to do is go around and report the graffiti, report the stickering, um work in conjunction with code compliance to make sure that these things are cleaned up as soon as as soon as we see them. And I see code
back there. Yes, Eric. And I appreciate this item coming forward because this is a really important item for the city. This is like the broken window theory. If we don't address things quickly, they'd get
worse. Um and I'm very happy to report and uh big shout out to our police department. Um one of the most egregious sticker artists, we were actually able to make an arrest last week. So um very happy about that. And I I want
to make sure that our team understands that being proactive on these things, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Just to the residents, if you see this around town, take a picture of it, please upload it to the app, tell us where it is, and we are going to go after it because I think once people
learn that we really are going to enforce the fines and stop it, we'll see a a change and the stickering will stop. Great. Good item. Let's call the vote. I need a second, please. I'll second. Can you add me as a co-sponsor, please? And
we're at Yes, sir. This is a public hearing. There is no one requesting to speak on the item in the audience or via Zoom. Uh motion by Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, seconded by Vice Mayor Suarez. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez,
yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commission. Uh, I have Vice Mayor Suarez. Yes. Okay. Uh, and Mayor Miner, did I skip someone? Commissioner Bot. Yes.
Thank you. And yes, 70. I'm sorry, Sarah. It's tough to say no to you. No, very happy that you did that because in Sansa Harbor on the cover to the pump, they put two stickers and they the
city took it off and by the time they painted yellow, the yellow doesn't match the yellow that we had. So, yes, I think it's fantastic. Charge them $5,000. Thank you, Sarah. Uh R5 AI
Private AI is an orders of the mayor, city commissioner of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 46 of the code of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, entitled environment by amending article 4 entitled noise by amending section 46-152 entitled thereof entitled noise unnecessary and excessive prohibited to provide an exemption
allowing commercial entities to utilize certain outdoor maintenance equipment and spec at specified times in order to enhance sanitation and cleanliness in the city and providing for repealer durability clarification and reflection. date. It is item R5 AI. It is a first reading public hearing. Commissioner
Fernandez. Thank you. Uh so this is an item that I place on the agenda uh to amend our noise regulations to allow commercial properties the ability uh to to specifically pressure wash uh once a
month uh the first Friday of each month until 11:59 uh p.m. And this is a limited and very targeted uh extension to support a cleaner, more inviting uh Miami Beach, especially in our commercial areas where
we have uh supermarkets. Um, this initiative actually came forward after hearing directly from Publix's government relations team and it reflects a very balanced approach approach uh giving the business enough flexibility to improve their sanitation
while at the same time uh preserving uh the peace and quiet that our residents deserve. With that, I'm happy to move the item. Second, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. I like this. I mean, of course, I like this item if it means that Publix can
finally pressure wash their storefronts when they couldn't before. But I wanted to propose something and I don't know, Eric, this would be a question for you. You know, in other municipalities, they require store owners to pressure clean
their own like they're responsible for the sidewalk in front of their business. And right now, we are we're on we're getting much better about cleaning the streets, the gum removal. I've seen sidewalks become cleaner, but do we have anything like on the books or any
regulation whereby we could require um store owners to maintain their sidewalks so that you know we don't necessarily have to be in charge of these sidewalks all the time because I think it's a it's a huge lift for us.
So, Commissioner and and I would welcome our code folks to come up to the podium also. But my understanding is that we have two provisions in the code today. One is the um landscape maintenance is the
responsibility of the adjacent property owner up to the edge of pavement. Um and that the sidewalks just need to be swept and passable. Um, we do have a pressure washing requirement under our sidewalk
cafe agreements. Um, but anything else, Ryan, that I may No, that's it. And the sweeping section is only when the business is open so that they're not held responsible for the homeless after hours. So yeah, we do have a sweeping ordinance as well, but we would welcome
if the commission wants to, you know, I would consider putting forward an ordinance where store owners are responsible for making sure that their sidewalks are clean, gumfree, and I think that it might take the onus off of some of the pressure washing that we
need to constantly do. So, um I don't know how you feel about that. Yes. Commissioner Vice Mayor. Okay. Um since we're in a state of chaos, um I would actually be happy to co-sponsor an item along those lines
with you, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. I've been working with the folks at um on the 100 block of Lincoln. And you know, we've got our our teams here. Um Brad and his staff are out there trying to to clean on a fairly regular basis, but there's this one particular block
that is like a, you know, a drop-in motel for homeless folks. And it every day, multiple times a day, people use it as a as a bathroom. Um, and it is disgusting. And the owners of the property, whether they're active retail stores or property owners who are
haven't at least set their space, should be held accountable for not um having any kind of sense of ownership over what happens on their property. We have been issuing violations to those folks uh for sanitation issues on the private property. We issue sanitation violation
and then we get sanitation to clean it and then we charge the owner for it. So in addition, I know this is not your the item is completely different, but Rick, I would like to bring forward an item if possible that in commercial areas, store owners will be responsible moving forward for the pressure cleaning and
cleanliness of the sidewalks adjacent to their businesses. And I think that once we do this, you're going to see an immediate difference in some sidewalks. Sometimes I like I was south of Fifth and I'm not going to mention the restaurant's name because it's a really beautiful restaurant, but I walked out
of it. It was filthy. Um, and you know, we're we're doing our best to keep things clean, but I think this would go a long way. And sanitation does have a schedule that they We do have a schedule, but you know what? In addition to our gum removal and pressure
cleaning, wouldn't this take a lot of the onus off of us, Brad, if all of a sudden store owners had to pressure clean? I just, Mr. mayor just point of order. This is completely unrelated to this. Okay, it is. So, I'm putting I'll bring my item to to a very different direction because frankly I think our
businesses are suffering at the moment. I think adding more owners, more cost, more responsibility on our businesses will do a disservice to our businesses and exposing them to more violations when in fact we need to be supporting our small businesses. And providing for
a clean city is the responsibility of the city to which they pay taxes to and not the responsibility of small business owners who are struggling to survive in our environment, especially when we head into the summer months. We just approved a parking holiday today to help our
small businesses. Why? Because there are periods of the time of the city when we have slow months where we're trying to figure out how do we support these businesses. We're waving uh sidewalk cafe fees in this agenda for certain businesses. Why? Because we realize it's
hard for businesses to to survive in certain environments. We're talking about in the past we've spoken about how do we give back to businesses after spring break when they forced to to to endure certain closures. Why? Because we recognize that businesses are
struggling. How are we going to say by one side of our mouth that we're going to having to subsidize businesses uh because they're struggling while the other side putting on them the owners of a clean city. The responsibility of a clean city is the responsibility of the
city government and we shouldn't be passing that to the businesses that today are struggling to survive. And I'm sorry that I'm getting passionate about it. Closing down your sidewalk is that owner. I think making sure your sidewalk is clean would go a long way in
improving businesses. But anyway, we don't have to have that argument right now because we can have it next month when I bring the item. Let's save that argument for next month. And Rick, I'm going to bring that item forward. Commissioner Bot and you know and and and I understand where you're coming from, but also there are a lot of
businesses that aren't doing their part and I don't think that it's asking a lot to make sure that the sidewalks are, you know, clean. So stay tuned everyone for that debate next month. Uh let's vote on this item. What's going on in the 100 block of
Lincoln Road? Very disappointed. What's happen? It is a public hearing. No one on Zoom. No one in the audience requesting to speak. Have motion. uh by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Vice Mayor Suarez. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Commissioner
Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Bot, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Motion carry, second reading, public hearing scheduled for June 25th. R5 AJ R5 AJ is an order of mayor and city commissioner of city of Miami Beach Florida amending the chapter 2 of the Miami Beach city code entitle
administration by amending article three entitled agencies boards and committees by creating division 35 by creating sections 2-190.157 through 2-190.160 to establish economic development advisory committee to provide the administration and city commission with the recommendations and
ideas to better support and expand economic development in the city of Bambi Beach and providing for repealers, clarification, repealer servability, clarification, and effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. This item requires 57 vote because it's the creation of a new committee.
Commissioner Magazine, Stephen, welcome again, Heather. Welcome again. Getting some good traction here. Uh, Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, I didn't know you were going to say this, but I'm so glad that you brought up that education is economic development, right? because it's easy to say, "Well,
economic development is just bring jobs. Go out, bring jobs." There's so much more that goes into it, right? Whether it be schools and education. There's a a very prominent Miami Beach resident that every time he goes on CNBC, which is quite frequent, he says, "Education is
Miami's Achilles heel." Talking about our region as a whole. I know business people that have tried moving companies here where they actually send employees back to New York because of the education programs and things like that. That is just one pillar that goes into economic development, right? There's
things like land use, urban planning, transportation. We brought you on because you you're the expert at identifying those pillars. And what you'll come to appreciate is Miami Beach is so uniquely positioned because we are the epitome across the world of a live,
work, play environment that we have some of the most well-resourced people in the entire business world here, right? people that are appearing on CNBC, CEOs, uh, titans of their industries, it would be a dereliction of duty if we do not leverage their
expertise to help us moving our city forward. There's not many cities in the country and not many cities in the world that have those private citizens that are living in Miami Beach that could help us. So, um I I know the argument that we've had about the resources,
uh staff resources that could go into staffing another board. I don't want this just to be one of those, okay, meet every month, send us a LTC, and you get your free parking passes, right? I want when this board is filled, the names that are on here, your team to be so excited, you're
you're jumping over yourselves just because you want to work with these individuals, right? And that's what we have at our at our fingertips if we appoint the right type of people that can truly serve as a guiding hand not only to us but to you as you're getting up and on board in your role. So um this
is to establish uh another board. Yes. Um but I think one that's very critical in plotting out a path forward because like I opened economic development is not just bringing businesses to a city, right? That that's a good talking point. It's what makes up what are some of our
Achilles heels about what we need to fix. Some of these people on this board, they'll be acting as ambassadors to our city, right? When they go on CNBC, when they go to these prominent conferences in New York City or in Shanghai or other places, they will be sitting there as advocates for Miami Beach and
ambassadors for us. So, uh I don't know if you want to say anything. Not to put you on the spot. Of course. No, I I certainly appreciate that, Commissioner Magazine. And I think when I heard from Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez earlier that education is economic development, it really struck a chord with me. I always believe that economic development is
very holistic. You have to look at multiple pieces. You have to look at public safety. You have to look at transportation. You have to look at every area that stakeholders really need in order to help a community thrive. And so that's what I look at when I see this this um this advisory committee. You look at an opportunity where you have
real stakeholders that have an opportunity to fill the gaps, right? you have an opportunity to identify gaps that that are in the the community and figure out how do we drive economic development forward and so that's why I certainly appreciate you putting bringing this forward because it does bring a more holistic approach is
something I will always champion so definitely appreciate that and in terms of staff resources my office is happy to serve as a liaison and I I think with the caliber of people we'll be able to put on this board I think you'll be uh jumping up and down to get involved as well absolutely couple of points uh so
yeah I'm going to certainly you're the chair of the finance committee. So, you're doing a great jobs and I'm going to support it. You got me excited with the people going to be on this committee. I do get concerned though and this is again a different item so I won't spend too much time, but I do get concerned about the amount of staff time and resources that are spent in these
committees. This is going to be the seventh committee we've added in the last year and a half that so now we we have about 50 committees. Um and and I'm concerned that there's so much work that our city requires and sitting in a meeting while certainly having good ideas. So, I'm actually going to try to
work with the city administration and Rick to try to maybe streamline some of the staff resources that are being dedicated to these to these committees. Uh, but I am I am supportive. I also want to comment and I agree with the comments made about education. But I do want to highlight that uh some of our
educational institutions are actually very much on the rise and we we should we should highlight that. I'll give an example. Nordless Middle School, which I think sometimes had gotten uh maybe not spoken of the way it should, is really moving up in the in in the rankings, doing incredibly well with the new
principal. So, I think there's a lot of good in and highlighting the educational institutions that we do have. Um I say that as a promotional piece if families are looking to move here and certainly to stay here that we have a lot to offer uh public school-wise and and private
school-wise. Sure. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. No, I think we have some of the best public schools in Miami date county and nobody funds education like Miami Beach. We have a feeder pattern and you will see this with the international baloria degree. We provide oh Leslie how how
much we have mental health services. We have free test preparation. We have free tutoring. I mean we go we have nurses in all the schools. We go above and beyond for our public schools. But this is something a little bit different. I mean I think that like for example this French Lay that reached out to me the other day. You know what? That's
attractive for a lot of people to be able to have a, you know, we have a huge franophile population that lives here on Miami Beach. So, having a lease is something that is completely different to all of these other educational, you know, options. And when you look at um
we do have, you know, we do have several private schools, but in the high school range, um we don't. And as traffic gets worse, um these are things that we have to look at and and we can't, you know, and and I I don't want the, you know,
our public school, um community to be upset about the fact that we're considering private schools because we're doing it from a perspective to be able to have all of these offerings um and and and there you can't even get into um many of these private schools. the waiting list are incredibly long and
it's impossible especially so I mean we actually had Miami Country Day come to us and say you know we would like to put an early childhood facility we had a lot of your residents you know ask about it and so I've had like two schools approach me in the past few months and
then um Andreas Aion came to me with a proposition you know for the school on 72nd Street for an additional charter school and I just said yes because even three more schools would just be Great. Because if you know, we do have to have both types of options. We do have to
have the best public schools that we possibly can. And there's nothing wrong with having additional um private schools that do not compete with our current private schools, especially in the high school range. We don't really have any private school on Miami Beach apart from the Hebrew Academy. Correct.
Base Camp base camp is is it a high school? Well, we have Yeshiva Elementary School also elementary school. And those are two options. But what I'm saying is like a, you know, a worldass private education, you know, option. And I'm not opposed to helping helping out just to
have a diverse array of educ educational um offerings for people. So, as we move forward, I think that's a really an important piece of the puzzle. And Mr. Mayor, if I may, I support your idea of creating a board to review the amount of boards that we have on proposed. Well,
it won't be a board. I I can promise you that. Uh, let's call the vote. It is a public hearing and we have Mr. Larry Schaefer requesting to speak. Sir, you have two minutes. Hi guys. I apologize for calling in so many times. I'm not trying to set a record. Um, regarding economic
development, a a charter school that's dedicated to entrepreneurship and business would be lovely in the town center of North Beach. I'm not in favor of putting a a school inside the community center that's private, but any private land owner in uh the the town
center corridor uh might do really well with a private school for business and and that could be like an incubator for the whole community. So, I do support uh this item from Mr. Magazine, Commissioner Magazine for an EDDD uh committee uh and it might be just a
thing to get the ideas in and get things ignited here to attract more businesses to the city. Thank you. Thank you. There's no one else in Zoom and I see no one else in the audience. So, public hearing is closed on R5HJ. Call the vote. I don't have a motion yet. I'll
move it. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, yes. Commissioner Bach, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Magazine, yes. Mayor Miner. Yes. Motion carry. Second
reading. Public hearing scheduled for June 25th. Thank you. Thank you. Keeping you busy on your first week. R7R. R7R is $10,000 speed funding, seed funding,
support relaunch of annual women's conference. R7R. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez and co-sponsority Commissioner Bot and Dominguez. Um, I love this item. We had a women's conference for many years and something happened along the way and it
disappeared. So, we're bringing it back and it is about women supporting other women and getting younger women involved. And we have presented this to the Miami Beach Women's Commission and they are serious and they want to produce a world-class conference. And
uh, I think they're going to also raise money for this conference. And what I was imagining is probably smaller than what they were imagining, but let's see what they do with it. And um so we're gonna the proposition is to seed them with $10,000 um in funding. And I think they're going
to put on something really amazing that is going to inspire women. We'd like to get young girls from um the high school to attend the conference and really promote it and uh do something very special for the women of Miami Beach.
Commissioner Commissioner Dominguez and then Commissioner Magazine. Um I think this is a great idea. I'm very excited about it. Um I'd also like for you to work with the city administration. I know that um there's an agreement with
the convention center to have events um uh earmarked for the city and maybe one of the events later on this year can be uh for uh the women's conference. I I would love that. And we can tell we have to I kind of shifted the responsibility
of this to Lynette Long and the women's commission. Um but I will definitely be involved along the way and that's one of the ideas that we can present them in addition to the seed funding. Let's call the vote and I'm happy to serve as liaison to this conference as
well. Well, so I actually I wanted to I wanted to say I would love to join as a co-sponsor back in 2009 uh when Mayor Bower created the initial conference. Uh I actually I worked with Mayor Bower at the time and I was the liaison assigned
from her office that worked on the initial women's exhibit in 2009. Uh and so it's uh I'm very proud that this commission is now bringing it back. very proud of the sponsors uh who are doing this. I'm so happy to support you all
and to and I would be honored to be a co-sponsor. And I remember at the time it was I remember being in the mayor's conference room at the time and it was a women's uh commission that was organizing it and there was Donna Zemo uh who was the chair of the committee um
back then. she no longer lives in Miami Beach and I was her token male in the room uh because it was you know the table of all the women around the table and then I was the the only man there um and I was the liazison at the time so thank you for doing this uh colleagues
uh this really is special and I know Mayor Bower is very proud that that this is coming back let's call the vote need a motion commissioner Gonzalez I'm moving yes second we Have a motion and a second. All in favor of
R7R, please say I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Item is approved. 70. R7R. Call R5 AK and the companion item R5 AM. AK and AM, I believe. Yep, they go
together. So, I'll do AK first. It is an ordinance of the mayor, city commission of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 66 of the code of the city of Miami Beach entitled marine structures, facilities, and vessels by amending article 3 entitled pierce docks and boats boat ramps by amending section
66-116 thereof entitled commercial vessel activity hours of operation at private marinas and private marine facilities to correct a scrier's error in the definition of a pleasure vessel and providing for repeatability codification and effective date. That was item R5 AK. The first reading public
hearing and the second item is R5 a.m. An orders of the mayor, city commissioner of the city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending chapter 82 of the code of the city of Miami Beach entitled public property by amending article three entitled use of public property by amending division one entitled generally by amending section 82-72 thereof
entitled commercial vessels activity hours of operation of publicly owned marinas to clarify the definition set forth therein and and establish limitations for owner affirmative defenses for personal use outside of permitted hours of operation and providing for repeaters of ability
codification and effective date R5 AM is a first meeting public hearing, so we're doing R5 AK and AM. Commissioner Suarez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Rob, if you want to take it away. Uh, sure. This is uh a
the the first ordinance uh R5 AK uh is simply correcting a scrivener's error in the definition of a pleasure vessel. It takes the word not ours in appropriately put in. And the reason we did that was because in uh
R5AM uh there's a similar definition that needed to be corrected. But the substantive change is uh from commercial vessels that are being puditively used by their owners after the hours when marinas are allowed
to be operated uh as as personal vessels. And this ordinance uh allows them to do that but requires them to prove it and also has criminal penalties if they make false statements.
Okay. I move my second please. I'll second. It is a public hearing. I see no one in Zoom and I see no one in the audience. If no discussion, may I call the role? Yes. Commissioner Dominguez on both AK and
AM. Yes. Commissioner Bach. Yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Yes. Commissioner Magazine. Yes. Vice Mayor Suarez. Yes. Commissioner Fernandez. Yes. Mayor Miner. Yes. Motion carry. Second reading public hearing for both
R5 AK and AM is June 25th. Let's do uh R5 an R5 is an ordinance of the mayor and city commissioner of city of Miami Beach, Florida, amending and restating the Miami Beach employees retirement plan uh
created by ordinance number 2006-3504 as subsequently amended by amending section 5.01b6 1 B6 to provide for a 4% acrruel factor for the inspector general and to provide that that as applicable to the inspector general earnings shall include total W2
compensation plus any other payments or allowances up to the limitations set forth in section 401A17 of the internal revenue code and regulations promagated there and providing for severability repealing all ordinances in conflict therewith and providing for an effective date. This is a first reading public hearing. It's
item R5 an Mr. Vice Mayor. Yes. All right. Commissioner Fernandez. So, this is an item that I brought to bring fairness and uh consistency to the pension structure um by aligning the
inspector general's p benefits with those already provided uh for our other charter officers. when the commission amended the uh pension plan back in 2023 I think it was uh to increase the
approval factor to 4% uh for elected officials and charter officers the inspector general was not included uh and so today's ordinance corrects uh that and reflects the value we place in the in the independence and
the critical oversight role that the inspector general us uh in our in our community. Uh and I just um want to just place for the record that this change was supported unanimously I believe by the audit committee uh and backed by
actuarial analysis showing uh the limited fiscal impact that it uh will have in our city. So with that I see we have the assistant director of the human resources department uh joining us. I don't know if there's anything else that needs to be stated for the record. Uh,
good afternoon. Lena Bravo, assistant director. Miss Pizar um had um emergency matter she needed to tend to. So, I'm here on her behalf. Um, the actual the updated actuarial statement is required under state law and you will receive
that if this item was moved on first reading um in connection with second reading. So, you will receive an updated impact study at the top. All right. So this is just a matter of equity and that's what we're doing here. I move the item
second. It is a public hearing. I see no one on Zoom and I see no one the audience. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Dominguez, yes. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, absent.
Commissioner Bach, yes. Uh, Commissioner Vice Mayor Suarez, yes. Mayor Miner, yes. Who did I miss? Anyone? Commissioner Magazine, I got you. Yes. Okay. So, we're just missing Commissioner Ros Gonzalez.
So, she's right here. Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez. Rosa Gonzalez R5 an yes. So, the item is approved 70. Everyone voting yes. Okay.
Let's do uh boards and committees. Yay. the ones that are existing at least. So, everyone has on the DEIS a yellow sheet. If you don't, I can get you one. Um, there are two committees that were
being requested to appoint. The first one is cultural arts council. I move the item by acclamation. Can we do uh that one? It's one one nominee, one one seat. So, Bradley Golden is appointed by acclamation. Uh, the Historic
Preservation Board has a seat for MDPL and the MDPL is required to provide us three names. You are supposed to select from those three names. Uh, I'd like a motion to support Nick. Mitch, so we could either do it by ballot or
any other way you want. Usually, we do these by ballot. I guess we're doing a ballot. So, everyone everyone should have a ballot. Yeah.
What are we doing? HPV. HPV. Yes. Thank you. So the votes are as follows. U West mayor Suarez is voting for Mitch Novik. Uh Commissioner Fernandez is voting for Mitch
Novik. Commissioner Magazine is voting for Miss Mosley. Commissioner Chris Rosen Gonzalez is voting for Mr. Mitch Stovick. Uh, mayor's uh, Mayor Miner is voting for Kate
Mosley. Uh, Commissioner Bot is voting for Mitch Novik. And Commissioner Dominguez is voting for Mitch Novik. Mr. Novik has the majority of the votes. He is the new nominee of MDPL to Historic Preservation Board. Congratulations, Mitch Novik.
Congrats, Mitch. Where is Mitch? Congrats, Mitch. Love you, Mitch. Call R seven. We're done with that, right? Yes, sir. R sevens. Hold one
sec. R sevens. Authorized grant for fun. Authorized grant for fund Sunflower Society Community Art Classes. R sevens. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. It's a very small amount of money that has a very nice impact at Fineberg Fiser. These are
free art classes in the afternoon with Marjorie and the Sunflower Society and I believe the funding is come coming out of um did we get the funding from the extra dollars that we had left over? So from
cultural arts funding so it's $5,000. And with that I'd move the item. Second. All the vote. All in favor please say I. I. I motion passes. Okay, let's
call. Let's call R seven Z. R seven Z. Approve $5,000 grant to Linker Road bid to support performance by Young Musicians Unite. Whose item is that? Commissioner Fernandez. And this is a
popup uh that's going to be happening on Lincoln Road. Uh product of our popup ordinance that that we've been working on here. Uh and this expansion to allow restaurant uh type of popups. Uh this is
this is an example of that. am very excited uh to move this item and so grateful, Commissioner Bod, to have you co-sponsoring me uh in in in this effort. Call the vote. Okay. Oh, I need a second, please. Commissioner, get a
second. Okay. And Commissioner Dominguez is a co-sponsor on R7Z. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none, the item is approved. 70. R9 A9 AD discuss take action allocate
$1,500 Federation Towers weekly bingo nights Commissioner Dominguez and uh I'm co-sponsoring with you. Thank you. Uh that day that we had gone to Federation for that event for Mother's Day, the uh
manager there said that she um one of the joys that the seniors get in that building is playing bingo and they were having a funding shortage. So that's where this item's at and I'm moving it. Second. Call the vote. I would like to
be a co-sponsor of this motion by Commissioner Dominguez, seconded by Commissioner Ba, co-sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez. All in favor? I I hearing no one opposed. The item is approved 70. An after the fact
resolution will have to be done. And just as a point of personal privilege, Commissioner Dominguez, you missed my mariachi performance of Rebecca Towers last week. So Oh, I heard about it. I was there sort of u the mayor was the
airport. He escaped at my marriiachi performance last week. I think you need to perform at the city attorney's office. Thanks. Yeah. Um R 7K R 7K is for recommendation and prevent one-year Lincoln Road outdoor
concession abatement program. Where did we land on this, Brad? We had so many different This became so controversial. This was an abatement for sidewalk cafes during summer months. Um,
you want to go ahead? Yeah, we have an established criteria now for the program. Um obviously it's an abatement so anyone meeting the criteria would then um you know qualify for that abatement uh for the program and I think
that what we let out here I think is a is a is a pretty good um uh format for all the businesses that uh you know would be interested in in meeting this criteria. But we're comfortable with this and it's just up to you guys if you
agree. This is just another economic incentive especially for our small businesses while the convention center hotel is under construction. The large hotels are under construction. So it's 50%. And I would also like to add to this if you guys are okay for sidewalk
cafes that are less than eight outdoor seats which are like very small places to just wave their fees completely because um they're so small and insignificant and struggling to get by places like on
Washington like the lifeguard you know place that has like health food and stuff. So that would be my motion. And for eight eight seats or eight tables? Eight tables. Is that what we said, Rick? Was
that the square footage? And I'm trying to find that email from the uh um ride ofway manager Brad that information. I believe it was 800 square f feet. 800 square f feet. And there was a very minimal physical impact I think for restaurants smaller than 800 square
feet. Correct. Correct. It was a very It was minuscule. It was not a very uh large economic impact because these are tiny sidewalk cafes. So, and by the way, we're already waving them on 41st Street for small cafes like that. And we're doing the same on 71st
Street. And I would say that, you know, South Beach is is not doing as well as it once was. So, for the smaller businesses, I would just apply what we've applied on 41st and 71st. And by the way, as things start to pick up,
We won't need programs like this anymore, but for right now, they're necessary. Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Fernandez, this is exactly why we shouldn't be making these small businesses be responsible for the addict's expense of pressure washing because it's not it's not No, I know,
but like just just you know to your point of what you were saying earlier here, we're saying let's cut costs to help the small businesses that you're that were that struggling. But then on the other side, next month you want to bring an item that's going to add cost
to them. And that's not by the way, they're already responsible per our code, every single sidewalk cafe in Miami Beach for pressure washing and maintaining a clean sidewalk, not just sweeping. But that yes, and that's that's included in the in the concession agreement, but that's the exception because that's food there and they're
serving food there. but in the other businesses and we're acknowledging the fact businesses are struggling and yet here we're thinking of way of passing more cost on to them. So I just wanted Did we agree to have that debate next month? We did. I just couldn't. So Rick,
what's the motion? Hold myself back. So the motion is to wave them for sidewalk for the smaller cafes. Okay. For the eight 800 ft or less, 100% abatement for those three months. Honestly, I had to do it because I'm getting text messages from people telling me they're falling
asleep because there's been no drama. Knock on wood. Thank God. I I I haven't. You're giving me the drama. Why do I always have to be somehow involved? You're my colleague. I'm happy to have that post meetings. It's been a chill meeting, right? Thank god. Let's call a
vote. So on R 7K, may I have a motion? Commissioner, I need a second, please. Okay. Thank you. As amended, all in favor of R7K, please say I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none. The item is approved. 70 as
amended. R9 AE. R9 AE discuss reclaiming city's vision for Eastern Gateway of Lincoln Road, 100, 200, 300 blocks. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Fernandez. Thank
you, Mr. Mayor. Um, you know, there's a lot of talk about, you know, there's all this publicity about what's going on with Lincoln Road and I see panels and people talking about, you know, what they're going to go do with the with with a beachwalk, what they're going to
do with the sidewalk. Well, you know, these private entities don't own the beachwalk. They don't own the sidewalk. And we've been and they're having these conversations about what they're going to do. And they're not involving the city in these conversations. um the taxpayers who own these these
properties. What I do know is that for three years we've been supporting ideas, providing funding, advancing a vision, and for three years nothing has happened. Residents are still dealing
with dirt and grime. Residents are still dealing with a large amount of homelessness there. Residents are still dealing with the issue of the bus stop. the pedestrianization hasn't happened. So, just uh I would like to just refer this to the land use committee to have a
broader conversation there uh about this because something needs to happen. I'm tired of of waiting. I've championed this for three years. Um and the taxpayers, the residents deserve better on the east end of Lincoln Road. And I
and I just hear the frustration in the residents of what's of what's going on, which is uh lots of public relations, but lots of public progress in delivering real results, a cleaner and safer uh area for for the residents. So,
I'd like to refer this to the land use committee. I'll I'll make that motion. I'd like to add that I've been working with residents particularly at the Deco Plage for the last couple of months um going out and and seeing what's happening first. They're suffering and um I mean I was out there for 45
minutes. I was about to blow a gasket. It was it was horrifying. Um and staff a lot of staff was out there with me. It was just and as they were explaining to us that was a slow Tuesday morning. It was not even close to what it's like. and the amount of um
human um bodily fluids and other and other detrous caused by humans in the doorways. I mean, it's just disgusting. Um and it is supposed to be one of the nicest entrances to our beachwalk. and it is, you know, running the gauntlet
between delivery trucks idling within backing up because um there's insufficient parking and loading dock accessibility to um you know, people camping out in doorways and everything in between. It's really it's it's appalling. So, I uh second that motion.
It's filled it's filled with with motion garbage. The place is dirty. It's not really being being maintained well. There's the paint that's chipping. There's these ballards in the middle of the streets that are all discombobulated. Uh they're getting
complaints from residents about noise that relates to the private properties there and the commercial deliveries. We have people that are urinating and defecating outside of where people live. The the the plants look horrible. yet they want to take over the
responsibility for for for for this area and and all that we've had for the past three years after the city has set the groundwork for improvements to happen. All that there is is just public relations, PR talk,
articles, panels, but no real substantive improvement. It's time to act. I'm tired of waiting. and they're not if they're not able to deliver, then this is going to go in a very different situation because if I'm tired of of waiting, the residents who are dealing with this are
exhausted and so it's time to move forward. Can we uh Commissioner Fernandez, can we put this on the June land use committee instead of June? Absolutely. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, I hate to point this out, but can you imagine if Walgreens was responsible for
pressure cleaning their sidewalk on that filthy corner? Okay, like all of a sudden, like they maintain it horribly and Wings, okay, that whole area, if you if we mandated the pressure cleaning and making sure that the business owners
were going to be responsible or the landlords of those buildings were responsible, then we they would all be in violation right now. I bet you we could walk over there right now and violate give them all big violations and we're going to increase the fines violation next month.
No, no, no. But that is but that's the point. We passed a public private partnership that stipulates that the property owner there we passed a public private partnership that the property owner
there was going to be doing public enhancements to the benefit of the residents and taxpayers of the city of Miami Beach that live there. And to date, I think that the situation has only gotten worse. In fact, there's all these kiosks on the
beachwalk. What are these those kiosks that are on the beachwalk that there's a circle that like like all of a sudden that that that uh that beach entrance? It used to be one or two tables. Now it's like they're in the middle of of of the beachwalk, there's a big disconnect
between what the private people are doing there and the vision of the city. And we need to have a coming to Jesus conversation. Uh because if this doesn't work, I'm ready to move away from this. Commissioner Fernandez, could you um what do you accept as a co-spons? Yes,
with pleasure. Texas here goes. So you're um you made the motion. Yes. To refer to the June land use committee meeting. Yep. So motion by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Bot. Commissioner Bot is a co-sponsor. Land
use referral June meeting. All in favor? I. Any oppos? I'll co-sponsor too. Hearing no one opposed. The item is approved. 70. Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Magazan. Why don't we all co-sponsor? Sounds good.
Had enough of Sure. 100200 blocks being filthy. Yeah. So, this is now everyone knows we're serious. Everyone's co-sponsoring this item. Great. Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez. Um R7T.
Okay. R7T is approved grant names not numbers Holocaust oral history film documentary. Every year I go to beachai to see the names not numbers documentary. And for those people who don't know what it is or you haven't gone yet to see it, um Mr. Ree, at this
one, actually in four schools around Miami Beach, um the students interview survivors of the Holocaust, Holocaust survivors, and then they create a documentary film. And they've had a grant from the state of Florida for many years. And when I went this
year to see the movie, um they told me that the grant is over and the state of Florida canceled the grant. And I said, well, maybe Miami Beach could fill in. So um this is a program that is just so beneficial. By the way, our Holocaust
survivors the are not going to be I mean you know I hope they live you know to 110 but they are getting on in age and as long as they are here to be interviewed. I think that the intersection of young students in Miami
Beach interviewing these Holocaust survivors and then creating this surviv this living documentary is a beautiful thing. And um currently I did not realize this. I only thought that it was at Beach High, but it's at four schools on Miami Beach. Where's my R sevens?
R7T. It's at um not just Miami Beach Senior High, but Fineberg Fischer does it too. So does Nautilus and so does the Hebrew Academy. We also actually had the Committee for Quality Education ask for more schools to be included, but for right now, those
are the four schools that um have been consistently having this program that would be cancelled by the state of Florida. So, I'd like to continue it with those four schools and and place an item um on the um committee for quality
education so I can speak to the parent to the members of that committee, see how many schools would like the program because it's not cheap. It's $12,000 per school. So, you know, I would love to roll it out in every single school, but for schools that didn't have it before, um we would have to, you know, consider
it. But, you know, how many more years will we be able to have this program? So, I think it's a really beautiful thing that we pick up the torch, pick up the baton, and continue it. I'll move it. That's great. And I was at I was at Miami Beach Senior High with you at at
that event. It's um Yeah, it was very moving. Let's call the vote. So, motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Bot, uh includes a referral to the Miami Beach uh education committee. All in favor, please say I.
I. Any opposed? Hearing none, the item is approved 70, including the referral. Commissioner Suarez, you're deferring R5AL. Yes. R5 AL will be deferred to the June June meeting.
Okay, we're going to go on to the discussion items. By the way, I want to commend each one of you today. We have literally gone through every non-discussion item we have completed. That wasn't deferred. It was just a couple. We finished every resolution, every ordinance, items pulled from
consent. Uh it's tremendous, tremendous work today. So, thank you. Thank you all. I'm actually endeavoring. We got about an hour and a half uh plus. I would like to get through every discussion item if we can. So, let's see if we can do that. Obviously, we're going to have to move along, but um
couple that I'm going to call first uh actually one of my items um I think is important. We had a special commission meeting about Ocean Drive and the configuration R R9V. I'd like to get an update from the city on that. R9V discuss take action update configuration
of Ocean Drive between Fifth Street to 14th. Yeah. And I know I know um some of the stakeholders uh recently had a meeting with the new uh new county manager uh Stacy Miller. I have a meeting coming up with her as well. So,
we're we're moving along. Jose, I called R9V, which is the Ocean Drive configuration. Uh, just want to get an update where where we're at. Sure. Good afternoon, uh, Mr. Mayor, commissioners, Jose Gonzalez, transportation and, uh, mobility
director. So, we've been, as you all know, working with Miami date county to obtain a permit for the current configuration of Ocean Drive minus the prominade. um that the configuration consists of one southbound travel lane
from 15th uh from 14th uh place to Fifth Street and a two-way bicycle concurrent with we started we started the process to obtain the permit when uh the county advised us that we needed to abide by a new statutory
process for lane repurposing projects. This would be considered a lane repurposing project. As as you will recall, Ocean Drive used to have one lane in each direction. We repurposed a northbound travel lane and uh converted
that space to the two-way bike lane. So, um the the the county is requiring us to go through that process. That process uh began back in March and that triggered a 180day uh uh process, if you will, where uh we
notified every affected property owner. Uh that's and we defined the boundaries of of the area together with u Miami date county and uh over 5,000 letters were mailed to affected residents to let
them know that the city was uh going through this process to obtain approval for a lane repurposing. In other words, the current configuration that's you know that's there today. What process when was that notice issued? So that was
back in March 20. Can't remember the exact date, but it was it was back in March. The process expires in September and so we're on track. We meet with the county on a regular
basis and um they are at this as we speak they are still reviewing both our traffic study as well as the design drawings uh associated with the current configuration. Is the is there a is the prominade in
discussions at all? Not currently, Mr. Mayor. No, that as as as most of you are aware, there was a court order that required the removal of the prominade and that was done, you know, that was done expeditiously and all our conversations so far are in the context
of the current configuration and just trying to get the current configuration permitted. Yeah. Yeah, and I I think we've discussed this before, but my observations and I think shared by many is uh and there's multiple reasons for it. I think partly is the configuration of the road. Things are much better on
Ocean Drive, at least from a pedestrian standpoint, than they had been. You don't smell marijuana nearly as much. Uh actually the last bunch of times I went I have not smelled it which used to be sort of a a constant when you go down to Ocean Drive and you see the people
walking bicycling uh rollerblading it's strollers which was almost unth unthinkable a few years ago. So I'm I'm actually I'm happy with the direction it's gone. So hopefully we can we can continue this and get this done with the county which is interesting because we had so many issues. But when I met with
the county, they're very they're very supportive of this. They're working with us. Um we are also planning on having one more community meeting prior to the completion of the 180day statutory period. Uh again, just
to notify all affected uh residents that the city is pursuing the permit for the current configuration of Ocean Drive. Let me ask one question. It's mostly coming from one maybe two stakeholders, but they they they've been asking me a
lot, why couldn't the configuration be northbound instead of uh southbound? So, back in 2019, we conducted a traffic analysis that looked at various traffic flow configurations and southbound was
determined to be the preferred option uh because there's actually fewer fewer uh left turns that need to be made, particularly if you're coming from uh Fifth Street. uh there if you're working your way, there's one left turn that
needs to be made obviously to get to to 15th Street, but then beyond that, it's all right turns to then exit uh the the city. So, various uh traffic flow configurations were evaluated and southbound was was determined to be the
the best option. Okay. Can I ask Commissioner Bot? Um, beyond the scope of, you know, what you're working on with the county, are are we at a place where we can talk about the larger project for Ocean Drive and Lumis Park and the Ziscogo plan and
any of that? Like it seems like that's just sort of off in this nebulous ether. And I thought we had a budget. We could change that. The other projects, but we had a budget amendment today about that, didn't we? We did. There was a budget amendment for the design uh associated
with additional traffic studies uh and some interim conditions. Uh the item you're referring to is actually R9E. It's the next item on the list. So we can I can give you the update now and we can address both or we do that. Which item is it? I'm sorry. R9E
5:30. Sure. We we we did approve A&E services today, didn't we? You did. Yes. Yes. for this. Oh, you need to call that up. R9E. I don't I don't What number is it? R9W.
R9W is presentation on Ocean Drive corridor GOV project traffic study preliminary findings. And you might as well call R9X because I just want to get a quick temperature from my colleagues.
How do my colleagues feel about pedestrianizing all of of Ocean Drive from 5th to 14th? Just 100% pedestrian. I I just cuz I I generally want to know where my colleagues fall on that, you know, I before we start talking about
Ziskovich and plans. I think I think we just have to kind of make sure that we're all sort of in agreement with that. For me, that that's my long-term vision, right? Not just some blocked off street that sometimes the street sometimes it I want the best pedestrian
corridor in the entire world right bar none it looks like out of the architectural guides where it's a green corridor people are out there that being said we have to work on other areas of that MXC district to make that viable
right so that's not something where we're going to get approval for the county and go forward but if you ask me and It's it's tough because I I'm you know, let's get things done tomorrow. Understanding that's not something we get done tomorrow, but that is my
long-term view for that area is to have it the best green pedestrian corridor in the entire world. Same. And I'll I'll add I think what's going to expedite that at some point is right now we're in settlement discussions with the Clevelander and they're going to want
zoning change. Obviously, it's going to it's going to depend what they propose and what this commission says. There's the live local which is going to impact it. So, I I think it's heading in that direction. The question is is timing. If you don't mind, comm uh Mr. Mayor,
I'd like to hear what the rest of my colleagues think about it. You know, Commissioner Dominguez and Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Um that's my long-term vision as well. I think that there, like my colleagues mentioned, there are things that we need
to fix before uh we get that accomplished. Um we added pedestrianiz during um CO and it worked well for some of the sidewalk cafes. They were able to extend out there. Um but it also created
a block party and um people would come with their own booze and sound system and it was um really quite unruly. Having the prominade area worked well for many years but having the entire piece uh pro um pedestrianized is
something that I think would be beautiful for the long term but things need to get fixed up in the middle. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez and then Commissioner Fernandez. I mean, I was just in Europe and I was shocked at how well organized the pedestrian corridors
were. I mean, they had these beautiful ballards that just go up and down so easily. And I think that eventually we have to get to a vision where where I mean it's not just closed off, but it's paved and it's beautiful
and it has ballards and people can get in and out in cars to get their um you know to get to their hotels, but also have it pedestrianized. It's it doesn't have to be either or. It just has to be organized and that's going to take a long time. Um, unfortunately, I mean, I
wish that we could do it tomorrow. I mean, that's why I have all these updates on here. I went out and I, you know, we had this meeting with, um, the Art Deco Neighborhood Association at the Art Deco Museum and we talked about just replacing the sidewalks and people in
the area were like, "No, it was not an easy meeting." And we had done a lot of work to just get new sidewalks with this beautiful design and people obviously want this plan. They want the full plan. Um, but the plan isn't funded. Um, but eventually I think
we're going to get to a a place where we're going to have something beautiful. And I heard um Bernard Zovich speak at this panel that they recently that Miami Beach United recently sponsored. and he was talking about the fact that there
there could be a vision with like a pedestrianization, a larger sidewalk and one lane for hotel drop off, too. So, I mean, it it doesn't have to be just either or. And when I heard of his hybrid, I thought, you know, that would
be a great idea, too. So, there has to be a way to find, you know, to find the perfect plan. And I think we can. Um, and I envision a day as I was there in um, my daughter goes to school, just graduated from school in Switzerland in Lugano. And granted, it's it's
Switzerland, but they've just got it so together. I mean, the ballards go up and down. You can get in if you need a delivery, get out. I mean, so you have both options and it's pedestrianized and it's safe and they have the bike lanes. And I look at it and I say, you know, we just can't get there and we have to
because it's our most iconic street, you know. So I I think like but you know I'll take whatever we can get for right now and I think you know what you guys proposed with doing half the sidewalk and then we add on the other half of the sidewalk and maybe it
has to be peacemeal you know commissioner well commissioner Fernandez and commissioner yeah well no I was just responding um you know since way before I don't know where commissioner Suarez went um but since way before his election I've been supporting uh the
pedestrianization of of Ocean Drive. Uh you aren't on the DES yet, but we've been very strong, very vocal, those of us who were here, uh supporting um the pedestrianization. Clearly, the environment became much
safer. Um we saw I know some businesses have said um that their businesses suffered. I don't know if it's in direct response to the p to the ped to the pedestrianization. Um what I see is that
areas succeed, areas flourish. You get better commercial tenants when you're pedestrianized because people want to be there. And so um I'm I'm sorry guys in the back. I'm sorry guys.
I I know but I'm focused on that conversation. I can't focus on what I'm saying over here. Which one's more interesting? I don't know. The the conversations back there are pretty interesting. It happens when you get easily distracted. Um, and so yeah, so listen, I think I I think that is the
future. And it really is the future of Miami Beach, are we completely there yet? No. But I do see the day in which in an area in our city where we're going to have more and more pedestrian streets. That is the future of Miami Beach. when when we had the
prominade, you would experience the the buildings so much more. It it was such a better experience of the even the architecture itself, being able to to experience it from the street than from a car there. And so, and so that's the
future not only of Ocean Drive. I think it is long-term decades further down the road. I think we're going to see more streets in South Beach pedestrianized. Are we there yet today? We're not, but I do think it is the future of South
Beach. Commissioner Bot. Yeah, I actually take a little bit of a different view. I don't think this happens peacemeal. I think we come to you know maybe we have a you know a retreat a strategic retreat about what we are going to do because I think the
COVID situation was um is not um is not it's not the norm. It was there were so many contributing factors that made that chaotic. But you know, every city in Europe, even most small towns have pedestrianized central squares. Um,
around the world, the most beautiful real estate, waterfront real estate is pedestrianized. There's just reams of data of economic data showing that pedestrianization improves retail sales, restaurant sales. People don't just
wander in and out of stores if they're driving and looking for parking. So, there are those who are claiming that business is down because we don't have people cruising on rollerblades and spandex the way we did in the '9s. And we're not in that time anymore. And not there's anything wrong with rollerblades
or spandex, but that's not where we are anymore. And, you know, nobody really wants to be doing that in and around cars. And so, I think for us to say, well, it's going to be hard to get to and it has to be years down the road. I think we have to set the tone. We have
to say this is what we're doing and why. We have to fund it and we have to move on it now in our lifetimes. I mean, there's no better time to do something. What's the adage of the best time to do something was yesterday, the next best time is today. We don't have anything. There's no reason to wait. every day
that we don't move on this in a holistic way. And that doesn't mean shutting the hotels out and not figuring out what to do about the trash deliveries and the taxi drop offs. But all these other cities around the world have figured out how to do this. It's not rocket science. We're not the first. We're not the only.
So my view is let's make our vision. Let's make it bold. Let's figure it out and let's get it done. And I think part I think long term in South Beach, we need to be looking not just at a pedestrian street. Eventually, we need to find the right pedestrian grid
ultimately. Uh because we need to see, you know, like Flamingo Park. To me, Flamingo Park is kind of like the beating heart of South Beach. It's where everything radiates from. But you have cross streets that cross there. You have
Jefferson Avenue that uh that ends uh at at Flamingo Park. I think it's 13th Street also. And in the future, it's not for today, but in the future, we should be thinking about a vision in which we
have not just only a pedestrian Lincoln Road or a pedestrian Ocean Drive, but how do we have a pedestrianized uh or a shared use 13th Street? a pedestrianized or shared use Jefferson Avenue and build from that grid. Uh
because that really I think is what we see in other places when we all travel. We've all been to places where the most successful flourishing areas where people pay a premium to live and where we pay a premium to visit. those are
areas that are pedestrianized because they contribute to the quality of life of our of our city um you know of those cities and so and so that so since you asked me I really feel very passionately about this I think one of the challenges that we have is that we're not the
government of jurisdiction um that is the greatest challenge that that we have the government of jurisdiction sees things very differently uh when it comes to pedestrianization And unfortunately, they're governing
from um from an from a tower in downtown Miami and not from the ground level experience where where where residents are seeing this and asking for this, but it contributes to us being a health and wellness destination as well. Yeah. And that and that ties directly in with our
blue zone initiative that Commissioner Bot has put forward. And um and and by the way, this the mention of a grid, I think before Commissioner Magazine and I got elected, one of the things that we talked about was having maybe an avenue
like Jefferson Avenue be pedestrianized so that people can walk their children to to South Point and to the school and not have to worry about cars. Um and so Steph, what do we need to do to fasttrack this? Okay. Because like I
understand the Ziskovich plan has been around for a while, right? Yes. What do we need to do? Let's let's put a fire under someone's butt. And you've all provided very valuable input just today. Um, as you know, the Ziscovich plan was the vision plan that was generated a
while back. We have since uh hired or engaged uh Calvin Jordano and associates to do the planning and and construction documents for Ocean Drive and and Lumis Park. When are they expected to be back? They began collecting data for the
traffic studies last summer. They've gone through the process of putting that together and generating their models. They've also begun now meeting with both the county and DOT to go over what those models are so that they can go through that. They are scheduled to present to
the commission in July with their findings. This July. this July there. The data as it stands right now without final input from the county and DOT is that any of the three configurations are viable. There is no fatal flaw in any of
the three configurations. So really, would we be able to use geo funding for this or this is a geo bond funded project? Yes. How much roughly? Uh I believe it's 20 million. Yes, there's 20 million for Ocean Drive property. It's kind of low for I mean because that's a
lot of that's that's a lot of land cover based on the estimates and the the cost estimates prepared during the vision plan and the and the preliminary of this drawing or excuse me this exercise 20 million was sufficient to do what was scheduled at the time. So July would be
the the first July is when they will present is that like a rendering? Yeah. Uh the intent being that at the July meeting the commission will give us direction on which option they want to proceed with and then we develop from there and then they would have to go to DOT and the county. It will have
preliminary approval from the county and DOT for any of the options unless one of them says you can't do this option which we'll know in in July. Yeah. Um then it's really up to us which one we pursue. Commission Rosen Gonzalez just one shovel in the ground.
Um, invitation to bid would be at the end of 26 and commencement of construction in the spring of 27. Okay. Commissioner Rosales and Commissioner Magazine. And in the interim, I really do think especially when I go down and I see a place like
Call Me Cuban that has this like beautiful brunch and you have the ocean breeze and you know it's not packed like it should be. I think you know in addition to the other campaigns we're running, we need to run a serious local campaign. I would love our
communications department to do it like come back to Ocean Drive, you know, um just for locals. I would just like pound Miami date county with this campaign and you know um even if you just went and interviewed the different business owners, showed the inside of the different restaurants, the live salsa
bands that we have and say come back. The the only problem that people are having is that there's a perception that they can't park. So I want to do what we're solving that. Well, I know we're doing the vacation the holiday. So, I think that like a comprehensive local
campaign, not national to help the businesses on Ocean Drive. Um, something really like gosh, I get in trouble every time I use the word sexy, but like something with like salsa and, you know, fun and sexy and, you know, and people
like just having a good time on Ocean Drive and and and and tell them about the parking vacation. We've made parking free. Come back to Ocean Drive. And then I think and I don't know if this would be economic de development. I know that Ocean Drive doesn't have a bid right now, but in addition to Miami Spice
organized those businesses to have some sort of special in the months of July, August, and September. So like a comeback, we're we're on vacation. It's a parking vacation. Parking is free. And then um you know I would say economic
development should probably reach out and to every single restaurant on Ocean Drive and say what special could you do? Even if it's just let's say that they do happy hour specials because once people come back and they experience the magic of Ocean Drive um not just it not just
Miami date county but Miami Beach proper isn't necessarily going to Ocean Drive. And I think that is something that we could do right now. In addition, I know we have these capital improvements that we're going to start at the end of 26 and 27, but this is something that we need to sell to people because they're
not going and it's so special. It breaks my heart sometimes to see it um empty. It's clean. It's safe. It's fun, you know. Um so, that would be my challenge. And I'm going to bring an item, Melissa, and maybe we can work together to uh do
something. and I'll meet with economic development and bother you guys too and see what we could put together for Ocean Drive. Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Magazine first and Commissioner Fernandez. Bunch of different things, but I'll make it quick and get over to you. Uh I think one of the great ways to attract locals
in Miami Beach and the in Miami Broader is to really move forward with that health and wellness expansion down in the Muscle Beach, Lumis Park area, right? That brings people down there. Then they frequent the restaurants for other reasons. So, that's a great way to get uh population activation down there.
Um, and then also to Commissioner Suarez's point about the financing, maybe $20 million being late, if uh we collectively decide to move forward with some reimagination of Washington Avenue, having that a family district have modest increases for residential housing. There's a com uh component
called a tiff, tax increment financing. So we would essentially take what our baseline taxes are that we collect on Washington Avenue right now and then the incremental taxes that are generated after we do that reimagination. They could be a dedicated tax source to
restoring an area such as Ocean Drive, you know, so we're really killing two birds with one stone. We're reimagining Washington Avenue and we're using that incremental tax revenue to fortify and enhance Ocean Drive. I hand it over to you, Commissioner Fernandez,
Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you. And so I completely agree with us marketing ourselves. um we should but I know that we are and one of the things I would like to ask the city manager if
you could do an LTC of the different campaigns we have running right now because I know like for example after spring break um we have for for example in partnership with the GMCBB we have a reopening campaign that is actively
happening and there's been a large media buy that's been done uh by the GMCBB to invite people back to Miami Beach uh after after everything that's happened. And a lot of it is um geared to people
outside of Miami date county, but then we have other campaigns like Find Your Wave. Find Your Wave has a local component to it that we're getting. Actually, PJ, do you have the screenshot I sent you? No. You were ready for this. Yeah. But
well, if you don't have the uh then you'll have to zoom into my phone quickly. Uh I don't know if you're able to uh zoom into my phone. Camera quality. Yeah, let's check the these these cameras have uh good quality, but uh this is from the Miami Herald is your
is the find your wave uh campaign. And so, you know, find your wave is is uh they found me at least, and I'm sure they're finding uh more people from from our region. Um, and then we have, you
know, part of the investment that was done. I don't know if some of our residents have seen, but like there's like these influencer type of um of promotions that we see that are, you know, Miami Beach selected as the best
beach destination or best restaurants and that type of stuff that comes out a lot on on Instagram from different types of um of influencer uh type of uh pages. That's a result of
a lot of the investment that is being done by our communications department that's being done in conjunction with the Greater Miami Conventions and Visitors Bureau. By the way, I'd be remiss not to highlight Commissioner Dominguez, uh, because I know how much
David Whitaker and the GNCBB board appreciate your contributions on behalf of the city of Miami Beach in promoting us as a good quality destination there. Um, and so I just wanted to put that on the record because a lot of times we
might not see some of the promotions that are happening, but they're happening. Um, and uh, and we've already directed a lot of it and I love for the manager to put out an LTC with a lot of these promotions. Um, because I think we
believed they're not happening, but there is a lot out there that is being invested in terms of communicating Miami Beach as a destination. And I can say without question that we are leveraging our partnership with the GMCVB better
than we ever have before. Um, like you say, that's in large part due to the commissioner's involvement. Um, our team has been very involved with them on a marketing side. Um, and they've been
very open to working with us and helping us get the word out on things, understanding that Miami Beach is a huge engine for the industry here in South Florida. So, absolutely, we can put together an LTC and expound on all the
work that we're doing. Melissa's here if anybody has any specific questions or want to have a little bit deeper dive on any specific items. But yes, we have multiple campaigns going on simultaneously um to make sure that everybody
understands that we're not just a former spring break destination. We are a huge international tourist and resort destination. In our GMCVB meetings that we had earlier in the year, that was one
thing that I continued to bring up was to make sure that we had a campaign April 1st. Like what happens? uh everything was on lockdown for spring break and the businesses were really hurting during the time of year when the
weather is sublime and uh we weren't letting people go to Ocean Drive south of Fifth and all of these areas that um the businesses rely on. I've mentioned it to Bissa many times about um advertising to come back to Miami Beach,
but telling people where to park because I can't tell you how many people on the other side of the bridge, friends and family that I have, won't dare come to the beach because they're so afraid of parking as being an issue. Um, one thing that we did last year and I already
brought up to see if we could do it this year and um, it was funded in part by the GMCVB and it was for during um, Miami Spice to have transportation. So, somebody parked in one of uh the garages or if it was a local that was coming
south of Fifth or going to Ocean Drive or somewhere where we had restaurants that were participating in uh Spice, they would get a free ride to the restaurant. So, just an extra added perk. But, um the more we can do the
better. And in LTC with the details, I think is important. Yeah. Can can I just say one final thing? I I just think a local campaign from somebody who opened a restaurant with no sign in the back of a building and filled it up by just bombing people with Instagram ads. It
works. And so our rest what it's happening. I should open a business actually to do this. But anyway, seriously, I I think we could do even more local, you know, just local and like super hyper, you know, focused just
like, you know, take the crew out and just like interview local restaurant owners and but I do think the parking thing is is really like a a parking campaign and just all of western Miami Dade County and invite them to come
back. Why are you give me the look? No, you know, well, we'll see the LTC first, but I do envision something that we could do really special to help the businesses. I mean, look, we're waving the sidewalk cafe fees. We're, you know, we're we're giving all these other incentives, but I do think we need more marketing. As much as we have, I don't I
don't think any business on Miami Beach should be So, but let me ask you this. Should be packed. I think you're so on point on the on the parking. Um, and Commissioner Dominguez hit on it, too, because Commissioner Dominguez, like I, we have family that live and friends
that live outside of Miami Beach, the west parts of Miami Day County. Those are the local tourists that our economy depends on. July and August, when our hotel rooms aren't as busy, those are
the people that support our economy. This is why the GNCB does Miami Spice for locals. That's why it does Miami Spa Month for locals to bring those who live in Kendall in Coral Gables, in Hyia, in
Cutler Bay, um in into Miami Beach, and to support our economy. It's why we did our parking holiday that we just approved today. I would love for us to do to to be able to promote $1 parking. It's like when we
do it's like when we do the $100 parking during spring break. Why is the $100 parking effective? Because it's easy to message and it's easy to communicate. You know you $100 parking as opposed to saying well some garages is going to be
this and other garages going to be that. No, the consistent communication $100 parking it was effective. And now it's the reverse. Now, for our slow months, I think we should be unified in saying, "Okay, we want to bring you back $1
parking." $1 parking because now that sets a very different tone and it's easy to communicate as opposed to saying, you know, 50% or 75% or something like that. Um, but you're right, we have to communicate it. I think they are communicating it. And I think what we
need to give them are the tools to enhance the communication. It's happening, but maybe we just need to support that communication that's happening. And Mr. Manager, do you mind if I recognize Melissa Berier because it our communications department and by the way, they they recently won an award um
for the work that they do. And it really has to be highlighted uh when I go to when I deal with other cities. Other cities envy the work that our communications department does. And um and I just if you could come to the podium and just tell us a little bit of
what's being done to promote ourselves, not just to tourists, but our local tourists from Miami date county. Sure. Uh good afternoon everyone. Melissa Bertier, director of marketing communications. Uh thank you for that recognition. Hopefully you saw the LTC that was for the find your play uh video
that hope everybody has seen. Um but you you know you did that laundry list very well. Um, and we are working with Ocean Drive specifically, um, you know, with the Ocean Drive Association to try to do a campaign with the GMCB specific for Ocean Drive. So, we have a lot of
campaigns going on. We also have a commercial corridor one that we want to activate uh, all of our commercial districts. So, not just Ocean Drive, but Lincoln Road, Washington Avenue, North Beach, 41st Street. So, we are currently working with the agency um to to work on
that, you know, on that campaign. And when you say Ocean Drive, the important thing about Ocean Drive, Ocean Drive was selected because that was the brand that local tours, it's our postcard, but that Ocean Drive campaign focuses not only on
Ocean Drive, but it also spills over to Collins Avenue and Washington. And that will be a separate campaign. We are going to do Ocean Drive, commercial corridors. It's probably going to be find your vibe. Um, so that's a sneak peek. Um, and then also our art deco campaign. So, we have a lot of campaigns
going on. Let me ask you this as it relates to promoting us as a destination because today we just approved that parking holiday. Um, and I just want to know, a big part of doing a parking holiday is communicating the parking holiday to those individuals we want to
bring into our city. What would be the most effective messaging do you feel? Is it a percentage? Is it a promo code? Is it saying a flat rate? Uh, and I know I'm kind of putting parking colleagues nearby. I don't know. I mean, uh, that dollar sounded great in terms
of a sound bite, but I don't know, you know, if that's fiscally responsible, so um, you know, no pressure, Mr. Manager. I do think our marketing has to be in conjunction with something other than Miami Spice. Like, what are the businesses? Like, there's 46 restaurants
on Ocean Drive. What can they offer? How can you get whatever their offer is out? And also, how can you get it onto a website and aggregate it so that when you put it in a search engine, it all comes up and it should be like a summer special on Ocean Drive. And I would do
one for Ocean Drive, Washington, like I I know that it's a lot beyond the Miami Spice. Beyond Miami Spice because Miami Spice is great, but Miami Spice is also, you know, just, you know, one, you know, just a big formal dinner. What could we
offer? What could those restaurants offer that would be attractive? you know, to to locals. I like your happy hour idea. I like the happy hour. I would like to do like a great happy hour from like five o'clock till nine o'clock and then ask every single restaurant on No, what is what is it that you're going
to offer? and then get their specials, have them, you know, um maybe they need help formatting the menus, get it onto a website so that, you know, I it it takes some work, but you know, you have Cessie from Ocean Drive who can actually go and probably do that and have each restaurant, you know, give give you the
digital menu so that you know, so that it's not we're not just saying come back, but we're giving people a reason to come back in addition to the parking. So, and I think it's comprehensive. Yeah. And Melissa, you've done obviously with the marketing campaigns, you've done a great job. the GMCVB. I have an
item today that our commission passed on consent and we're going to work together closely about let me reintroduce myself and to talk about all the great things we have going on our wellness um that that we're highlighting that our culture even talking about Ocean Drive the the
art deco and our heritage uh which we're going to continue to highlight the sophistication the family-friendly nature of our city. Um so I'm I'm excited about that. But I think we have so much to offer and I know uh we have the right team in place to to make that marketing campaign work.
Commissioner Magazine, I think what I just realized is every single one of us has been mispronouncing your last name for years and years. That was the first time I ever heard you introduce yourself. Oh, that's okay. It's actually French, so I'm pronouncing it wrong. It is uh the e the i. That's why I just go
with your first name. just in abier if you're I've been I love my husband. I've been married for almost 20 years. Um but Booya was my maiden name. So that was a lot of fun. So then so I think it was Commissioner Fernandez that touched on
or Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez that touched on the local tourism and I think that's what's really changed in Miami Beach through some fault of our own. But there's also other areas that have really elevated their game like Coral Gables, like the design district, like
Bickl and and Midtown. And I ask all of my colleagues to look and see what we're dealing with because we have to up our game. And where I ask you to focus your attention, uh, actually tomorrow, Miami World
Center is having their kickoff launch party to the world, right? and and there you're having Apple, you're having Lululemon, Maple and Ash. So increased competition, even less reason if we don't provide a competitive advantage
for somebody from Coral Gables to not make that extra trek to Miami Beach. So what I'm going to ask of my colleagues is pay close attention to what happens tomorrow at Miami World Center and you'll see the types of products that we're having to compete with in essence,
right? We are all one region and a rising tide lifts all boats, but in some ways they are competitors for that local tourism. So I ask you just to kind of keep an eye on what's going on and see where we have to take our city and even beyond. So thank you for all your work.
Melissa Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez want to finish saying I know I was talking about um local but you know what it could even be hyper local just getting people from Flamingo Park to walk back over there because they're not necessarily and we have to offer them something. And that's why I think the aggregation of the special happy hour
deal across you could do Washington and Ocean just to like bring people back and that should be really be our goal because it's we're in May right now and it's going to start you know June, July, August we have a couple of months to pull something together and um the
bigger the better. You could even do a mailer to everybody. I know that doesn't sound, you know, I know, I know, but if it's only to Flamingo Park, you know, with a specials, you know, across the with a QR code, you know, that that might work because I just want to bring
even our residents back over because I think they I'd like to close this item out because we got a few other items I think and I'd be remiss not to put this on the record just because all of our creativity is flowing and I love these discussion items. At some point we need to have a conversation about March for
next month um for next year. Um there's so much great stuff that this commission, Commissioner Magazine, Commissioner Suarez, this commission as a whole has has led on uh bringing in High Rocks, bringing in Wat Palooa
um you know and then and then we have the music events uh like uh Ultra that's going on that does benefit our our city and there's a winter party that happens in March and there's uh winter music and I think I'm forgetting something else
that's coming next March uh as it relates to health and wellness. Um but March is slowly becoming music and muscle month. It's going from being spring break and the chaos and the shutdown to a month really about people
really having a good healthy time. And uh and so I couldn't let the this discussion to go by without me putting out there my music and muscle month idea for uh next month because that could be a good sexy new branding for the for the
month of March. It's so aligned with our brand in in Miami Beach. It's you know muscles. You're all working out. It's wellness but it's also music. Uh and we have the muscles right here on the deas. So might as well make it muscles and music. You could do a nice tiein with
the green Eminem from the M&M's for Eminem month. What's that? You could do a nice tiein with the M&M's and the green Eminem. Oh, there you go. For Eminem music. There you go. I can I just add one thing and then um I guess close out and go to the next thing. I mean, it's ironic because
we were just texting earlier today like do you think you want to have a conversation about all the stuff we're we're doing? Um, let's not forget there is an entire city north of 23rd Street. And one of the most wonderful things happening in
the city is the organic growth of North Beach. And the things that we're talking about here um would benefit our our economic development in North Beach as well where we have these incredible new restaurants that have opened up. There's a great Turkish restaurant. There's, you
know, Muchachos is fabulous. Um, Prima Pasta has been there forever and you know, there's like a ton of great new ones and great and some great old ones and um, you know, there's this whole section that just gets ignored constantly. So, if we're doing stuff to
come back to Miami Beach, how about rediscover North Beach? You know, like there is so much going on up there. I would do that, too. Um, with the band shell and and all the programming that happens there. Great. So there's a great great discuss. Hey, since we called uh
R9V and R9W, Commissioner Rosales, you also have R9X. I think we covered it. Discuss community input and ocean drive improvements. Can we Okay, perfect. Great. Thank you. Great discussion. Um R5A R I just got this on my on my
Facebook, this uh promoted ad. And PJ, I don't know if you got it, but if you can do another zoom in to my phone. Let's see. Oh, PJ just texted me also. Uh, but this is another sponsored ad by the city. Um,
locally sponsored ad and it reads, "From beaches and parks to pools and splash pads. This is your playground in paradise." And it's um Miami and the beaches. And so this is in partnership with the GMCBB again uh our local
promotions and it's a sponsored ad specifically uh locally here uh to to our backyard. So just the timing of it that it popped up on my phone just tells you that Facebook is always listening. We're we're deferring
R5oublea and we're gonna go to R9P as in Paul R9P is discussing action increase fair service during art week and high impact events. So, um, this is a item that I had
sponsored a bit ago and I think the fairy service that we used during art week was amazing. It worked out well. I took it uh to Miami and back. Um, the the people that were on board were very happy. We used a service from Fort Lauderdale that is used to using and
being a water taxi. So, uh, I'm sure it's on your radar, but as we're looking ahead to our Basil for this year, um, I'd love to see more of of the same or better. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you for the positive
feedback. So, as you mentioned, for 2024 art week, we deployed uh water taxi service for the first time between the Venetian um Venetian Marina and Yacht Club and uh the Marie Skib uh Memorial Park. And it was extremely successful.
There were over 14,000 passengers that took that service in a five-day period from because we started the Wednesday of Art Week and ran through Sunday. Um it was it was so popular that the lines were very long. We had four vessels
operating at 15minute frequency of service but the lines were very long and the capacity of the ve of the vessel was constrained to about 50 passengers. So, as a result of that, the, you know, the lines were long and people had to wait. And so, we did receive that constructive
um crit criticism or feedback, if you will. And uh what we'd like to do is for for next art week uh we've prepared a budget enhancement request that you will be seeing to have a more robust uh
multimmodal service during 2025 art week consisting of both shuttle services as well as a a more robust water taxi service with hopefully more vessels in service and u higher capacity vessels as as well.
I think that sounds fantastic and uh let my colleagues speak on it and then we can close the item. So, if I may through the Yes. Thank you. Um so, I I'm in huge support of this. I'm very excited for the the bigger um
RFP to be underway for for um taxis the water ferry taxi service going up and down the island. Um, if I could use this as an opportunity, I had sent an email to the city manager and to you, Jose, like a few a few days ago about this. There's a big um construction project
happening in it's I think it's an FPL project happening in South Beach adjacent to MacArthur. We just talked about it with um with the FPL folks. We had a briefing with them. Is there a way um to talk to the same folks who did the
art week um ferry service so that we have an option to offload some of the cross island uh crossbay traffic during that six weeks or eight weeks or six whatever it's going to end up being of of um of construction. And I know it's
not directly related to this item and maybe it needs to come back as a separate item, but I just wanted to raise this because I did send an email and and hadn't heard back yet. I wanted to ask I thought I had responded u there's already a an existing water taxi
service between the Miami Beach Marina and Bayside. And so perhaps that that water taxi service which exists already, it's provided by Water Taxi Miami. That's the name of the vendor. Uh, as a matter of fact, we have a meeting coming
up with the marina and water taxi Miami to discuss a potential uh temporary water taxi service during the construction of the FPL project. Fantastic. And I'll I'll search maybe it's in my junk folder. No, may may be caught up in my drafts. I'm not sure.
It's it's floating in the ether, but thank Okay. So, you're already talking to folks about that concept. Okay. Excellent. Thank you. And I'm super excited about uh when does that close out the bids for the water tax in general? So it already did the the bids are in and the evaluation committee is
going to be meeting very soon. My goal is to bring uh an uh recommendation for award prior to recess for the July. How many did we get? Three. Three. Okay. Three vendors. And you are pleased pleased with the uh the ones that came
in? Yes. We only need one. One good one. Remember my my my goal and vision is to Miami north and south throughout the uh throughout the city and I think our whole commission is on board with that which is great%. Yeah, that's the goal. Oh my god. Yep. And it'll be fun.
Okay, good discussion. Thank you everyone. Mr. Mayor, I have a question. I was about to call the next item, but uh you withdrew R9U, but if we could just discuss it before we end, that'll
be good. R9U. Yeah, but you were going to call another item. So, okay, let me get to the item and then we'll go back to that. Thank you. R9 I R9 I is discuss Lincoln Road Lincoln Road I'm sorry discuss Lincoln roadside
street signage pilot Tom um maybe you could take it before you go to Tom um you know I I I brought this a long time ago Uh there's a a great little milkshake spot, the legendary milkshake uh bar
just off of Lincoln Road. They um you know, they're struggling. The they no one really knows they exist when you're walking by Lincoln Road. And the owner said that during one of the fairs on a
Sunday, the one of the participants allowed them to put their sign uh in in their kiosk and they got flooded with with foot traffic. And so I uh I want to help them out. I'd like to help some of
the businesses that are not on Lincoln Road, but just off of Lincoln Road to possibly get some um foot traffic. Uh the way legal and planning has crafted this is I think very
um let's say carefully uh and it's not just going to be your typical A-frames. It will be a much better and upgraded sign. Uh so Tom if you could also speak to more about what what planning has uh teed up that'd be
great. Sure. Um this was referred some time ago. It was discussed by the land use committee last June June of of June 10th of 2024. And the land use committee had recommended to the commission that up to a six-month pilot be authorized
for directional signage on Lincoln Road to benefit those businesses that are on the side streets and don't front directly onto Lincoln Road. When looking at this um some of the challenges we face is that both in the city code chapter 82 as well as the LDRs chapter 6
general advertising signs are prohibited. The only types of general advertising signs that are permitted currently on Lincoln Road are the directory signs that you see. And so in order to do something like this, we would need to have the code amendments. There would also be the need to hire a
qualified vendor to actually fabricate and design the signs. And there potentially would be a budgeting implication associated with this which means we would need a budget amendment either for this year or potentially we could make this part of the budget
process for fiscal year 2026. Tom, I was under the impression that we would use just a standard I think Tframe sign. It wasn't we'd have to get a fabricator to make this. That's something the commission could
consider. Um, and absent doing it as part of a very limited special event though, it would require changes to the code in order to allow for signage like that. But to the extent you wanted to amend the code to allow for those
A-frame type of signs, they would be less expensive. Um, but that's something that absent something like a special event permit, we would need some code relief on. Yeah, look, I I you know, I I I know the direction of Miami Beach has been very, you know,
anti-sign, oversign pollution. Um, but just traditionally, I think a lot of these side businesses off of Lincoln Road just struggle, right? Um, and we're coming up into the summer and you know, a place like the the legendary Milkshake
Bar would would certainly benefit from uh people walking on Lincoln Road to to get this uh um to get foot traffic through the door. So, um I'd like to see where my colleagues are on this. I mean, I I I certainly don't want to have any
humber the taxpayers to create a a signage. Yes, Commissioner of Dominguez. Um I think it's a great idea. Um, I think we need it. Um, if you go on Lincoln Road, it's hurting all over. I can't even imagine the side streets. Um, like we needed to do this 6 months ago.
So, I'm very supportive. So, how would my colleagues feel about not an A-frame because that's kind of cheap looking, but like I think they have really nice looking standardized T-frames, uh, signs. Uh, and they could be placed
sort of I think the way I I did it with Rob, if he's there, um, we we did maybe one business on each side street for the week gets to put their sign. Um, and if there was only one business, that
business would be, you know, would be there indefinitely. Um, but I'd like to know what my colleagues feel about this. Um, I I don't I don't want to c I don't want to cost taxpayers money to to put a sign there. Um, it I I would want the
owner of the of the business establishments to to front the cost. But, you know, something generally uh nice nicer and we can do that between first and second reading. Um may perhaps with the presentation. Um but I just I
really need to know where my colleagues feel on this. I'll go. So I commissioner B. So I I'm very supportive of this. I mean going back to when Browns was on Lincoln Road and then they moved to the side street when they came back from Design District. their business fell off by, you know, orders
of magnitude that ended up closing them down. Um, and even Harry's um, you know, they do an okay business, but nobody knows, and I you and I talked about it years ago about they'd have to do special obligation and, you know, go get variances and, um, it was something they
didn't want to take on at that time. Um, I I mean, I I know it's a frustration of theirs and and I'm sure that every other business shares it, so I'd be supportive of this as well. Yeah, I I think one of the things that um kind of Miami Beach, especially
Lincoln Road, needs to get better at, I was reading different urban planning studies, they said one of the great things about Europe and it it also extends to the design district. You're just able to seamlessly float, right? It's not just one straight on street where you just have all these arteries,
things like that. So, whatever we can do to promote that where Lincoln Road isn't just one head-on block, uh, where you're going from just seamlessly on various streets, I think that's what we need to promote. So, maybe you could use one of the signs that you used to create for the commission meetings.
Uh, while we're on topic, why don't we call R9E, get an update on Lincoln Road. So, um, well, for R9, Tom, that I guess I'd have to bring forward. Um, but by the way, I think there is a on the agenda
that's that's been stand still, right? A an ordinance for the signage. Not that I'm aware of. This was the only signage related to side street businesses that I was aware of. It's a discussion item.
Yeah. If if if we were going to amend the LDRs, then we would need a referral to the planning board and we could bring back an ordinance for first reading that would amend chapter 82. Okay. It has to does it have to be in an a certain
cycle also for this? You could wave the cycle if you wanted to expedite it, but I think the first step would be to refer an ordinance to the planning board so we could get that back to you. Okay. So, we'll work on that.
If I could just chime in. Sure. Um, we can also reach out to the Lincoln Road bid because the bid has that blanket special event permit. It couldn't be for an indefinite period of time, but maybe for the summer months, there could be an
opportunity since we're focused on trying to help the businesses during the summer. Maybe there's an opportunity to work with the bid on that. Yeah, that'd be great. Okay. Can we call R9E since we're on on topic?
R9E is discussing update on the Lincoln Road phase 2 project. Good afternoon. David Gomez, director of capital improvements. Uh last time I I gave you an update on Lincoln Road. I was happy to give you a a good news update. Today follows suit. We have
executed the contract for both uh Drexel and Meridian. And just last week we issued NTP1 to begin the pre-construction uh services. So they are already putting together their schedules, their schedule of values, their shop drawing submittals so that we can issue NTP2.
There were two items of concern that delayed the execution of the contract just a little bit. One was on Drexel. There was a a discussion with the supplier for the street lights. uh they were concerned about cost increases due
to tariffs and other items. Contractor was able to lock in that pricing. So that's not an issue for us anymore. We did issue the MTP. They did execute. The other item of concern was some of the materials specified for Meridian Avenue, specifically a very large valve had a
10-month lead time. We have looked at some substitutions. Public works is in agreement. they are submitting shop drawings. So, we've been able to cut that back down to a more reasonable time. We may not be able to start right away because unlike something like a generator, which you would need at the
end of the project, these valves you need very early on. So, they probably won't begin until they're sure that they'll have the valves in time. Um, which I think we were looking at 3 months uh of delay to get the valves. Uh, but that's much better than the 10 months we were looking at. And give us
big picture what's the project in. Uh, okay. U Meridian Avenue um is the the redevelopment of Meridian Avenue from 17th to Lincoln Road. Uh it includes wider sidewalks, improved uh landscaping, larger seating areas,
larger walking areas. We are addressing some of the ADA concerns that you see now when you're walking either out of Macy's or out of some of the other streets that this the slope on the sidewalk is very very abrupt. So we are doing a little bit of raising of Meridian between 17th and Lincoln Road.
um relatively minor to some of the other projects that we've done in the past to accommodate that ADA uh issue. We are replacing all of the major infrastructure under Meridian Road, excuse me, Meridian Avenue, such as 30-inch force mains and water lines and
sewer laterals. So, that will all be new. Uh Drexel Avenue is from encompasses from 16th Street to Lincoln Lane North uh and in includes the pedestrianization of the intersection of Drexel and Lincoln Road where we're
creating a new uh pseudo performance space that is going to be programmed to be used by the New World Symphony and others. Uh and we're we're providing some uh amphitheater type seating and and some other things in that area. What's the timing of these projects? Uh the total duration is about 10 months
from when from the beginning of construction which should be in Drexel it should be in the next 30 to 60 days. And Meridian Meridian that's where the the delay on the valve comes in. Um but the reason that that's critical to us is because in order to do that work on
Meridian we have to close Meridian. Uh so we're trying to reduce the duration of that closure so that it impacts traffic as little as possible. And big picture as we talked about the renovations and rejuvenation of Lincoln Road, the geo bonds, the 65 Yes. or so
million. When when is that? We have received the 90% drawings from the consultant. Those are being reviewed and and finalizing the permitting. Um we anticipate bidding for a contractor this fall with commencement of construction in at the beginning of the year 2026.
And what's the timing of that? Uh, I'm not sure that we have a a a fixed time frame. We were looking originally it was three years. It may be less than that. And is that an installment? So, it's Yeah, it'll be in pieces so that we're not tearing up the entire road at once.
Okay. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Yeah. I just can't stress enough how important it is to get that project finally done. You know, I mean, I know we're working on the side streets, but anything that you can do to expedite it? I mean, it's
been too long. Or is it funded? I mean, did you get back a weird estimate that you're we're not going to be able to fund or is the estimate fine? We're not value engineering it. The uh the estimate the latest estimate we received is in line with what we kind of expected. Um we won't know for sure
until a little later on when we start actually putting it out to bid. And the side streets will be finished when when is the shovel going in the ground? Uh depending on when they start about 10 months. 10 months. Yeah. And they might start when. Do you have any Drexel may start as soon as 30 days. Meridian is
probably a little longer than that. Okay. Great. Thank you, Mr. B. Um I would like to just take a point of personal privilege. I think it's called to correct the record. I don't know if Jose is still in the room,
but um I had not seen the email that he had actually sent. So, he did get back to me and I wanted to make that clear on the record. Thank you. This this day is getting better and better. Thank you for clarifying that. Um Mr. Mayor, just to
close the loop on R9i, I think the direction was to work with the bid on their extended special event permit because that would probably be the fastest way of facilitating the type of signage that I think um Commissioner Suarez was talking about. Okay,
thank you. Let's call R9H. R9H is discuss strategies for traffic control at peak hours. Appreciate it. And it's a such a an important issue, one we hear about a lot, maybe a little bit less right now that were off peak, but certainly an issue that and I think, you know, I've
brought items all all my colleagues have worked hard on this and we've we've I think helped in some respects where we're looking at widening making extra lanes in certain places. certainly the police presence um and and the public
safety specialists and there's so much more but thought we'd get a I think it would be helpful to get an update from you because again it's it's first and foremost on our residents minds. Yes. Uh good evening Mr. Mayor Commission uh Wayne Jones Police Department. I I cannot thank you enough for funding the
PSS's that um you allowed us to hire public safety specialist public safety specialist you allowed us to hire and use them uh to help us mitigate rush hour traffic. All of us feel the pain on daily basis of traffic in the city. We're simply at capacity quite frankly
with all the cars that come uh in and drive throughout our our city. So we all feel a pain on it. We all want to make make it better. Um, Major uh, Javon Campbell overseas operations patrol and so he is tasked him and his army of police officers
tasked with is pushing traffic through the city as best they can. Um, and so I'm going to let him answer specific questions you may have on it. I can tell you we are deployed in all the major thorough fish to see during rush hour alter road uh specifically uh 41st 41st
as you know um on the entrance to the tuttle entrance to MacArthur and uh most recently having presence at first Dickens first Indian Creek because we've realized recently that too has a is a problem with uh traffic flow during rush hours but any specific questions you
have with the work we're doing um Major Campbell will answer for I can tell you um I don't see this easing up any time in the foreseeable future uh because we just continue to uh increase in volume of of cars throughout the
city. Oh, and thank you. It's uh and and and I have noticed the um that you've increased the presence in in intersections like you said on Fifth and 71st and obviously in addition to uh 41st. it um it's it still gets
frustrating but one thing that a couple of years ago we saw intersections getting blocked. I was I think we were all concerned about potential road rage when that happens. Traffic is still there but it's it's it's it's moving in a in a calm way and orderly way. It's
not chaotic. Um and certainly there are times you know residents will send us pictures all of us and we'll send them to you and there's certainly improvements that we need to make. There's no question. But it's definitely gotten better. Is there anything is there anything else that you need from us or you think that we could do um that
would improve uh your job? Well, I'm going to probably defer to Major Campbell. I I can tell you uh we're grateful for the support we've gotten so far and it certainly made a positive difference in my opinion. Yes. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, elected officials, Mr. City Manager, everyone who's present
listening in. I am Major Jovon Campbell, Miami Beach Police Department. and I'm the commander of the patrol division under the leadership of police chief Wayne Jones and assistant chief Daniel Margallo. Uh I can tell you Mr. Mayor and Mr. and all commissioners the volume of traffic during the peak hours
obviously is a slow crawl is stand still. We know that it's frustrating. Uh we do the very best that we can with a combination of anywhere from 21 to 24 police officers and public safety specialists to address the concerns by deploying them strategically throughout
41st Street as well as Alton Road and the Venetian Causeway. Uh our officers and public uh safety specialists are required to be out of their vehicles with their traffic vests on unless they're authorized to take a break or if they are completing a citation, which we
try to do as a last resort because we don't want to exacerbate issues by taking up a lane of traffic to uh write a traffic citation. So the mere presence out there and the direction and guidance of the officers and the hardworking public safety specialists that we have
that you all uh provided uh for us to enhance our staffing uh has been a tremendous help. As the police chief said, there's only so much that we can do when the traffic uh with the volume of traffic on our roadways and as you probably notice extends beyond our city limits for people who try for drivers
who are trying to get on to I95 as well as other uh joining causeways when they are leaving work to get home. But we appreciate your support to answer your question. I think that all of you all have been nothing but uh supportive and it's definitely assisted us in our efforts. Yeah, I think we have to do it
on every level. I mean, like you say, getting the extra officers, the public safety specialists, looking at certain lanes that we can add. Um, the water taxes we talked about. I had an item on today that I referred to public safety committee that we'll talk about there. I've had two times recently where lanes
were closed and I called Eric and he answered and it turns out they were closed improperly or they were they were supposed to be taken down the day before or they didn't have a permit and they closed down extra. I mean, it's just it's a mess. And the problem is, um,
there's there's little coordination when that happens. So, you have a backup of 30 minutes, 45 minutes for no reason. And actually, and then there's no consequence to the vendor who did it. Um, and that needs to change because we're severely impacting people's lives when that happens. So, that's a separate
conversation. Um, and we'll have that at at committee and hopefully back to commission here because, uh, I want to have some teeth in in that in that as well. Well, well, the city manager has directed the staff for better coordination. Police department, transportation department, all impacted departments for these very same reason
for these road closures, which really impacts traffic um negatively. Um I'd like to tell you I think traffic has gotten a little better. Summertime typically we have less traffic, so we should have uh some ease for the next couple of months. Um but the the
improvement, we can't take credit, I think, police department by ourselves. We got to thank you guys for your support, but also got to thank Jose Gonzalez and his team in transportation because they have worked uh with the county to sort of um uh use signalization to help us be more
efficient to push traffic through. So, I got to publicly thank Jose as well. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, Commissioner Magazine. I I have a question for Jose. Hello, Chief. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you know when we traveled out to FDOT and we spoke with
the secretary there was something kind of interesting that she said which was basically the state of Florida spends no money maintaining our streets really like very little and I was thinking a lot about this because you guys have
spent a long time building this infrastructure around the city to connect stuff right could there be a scenario And I'd like to see if I could pursue this legislatively, Rick, where we go to the state and we go to the
county and we say, "Oh, we want to take control." And then we just put in the best technology that we possibly can and, you know, use AI and smart technology. We have we ever tried to do that? And I would love to pursue this
legislatively because I would take on I think we could take on the liability and take on the streets and their maintenance if it meant that we could finally signal the way that we want to and implement our own technology and not
have to call the county and say, "Hey, make it green or call the state." You know, that that doesn't make any sense to me. But if we were able to take Do you think this is a possibility? And Rick, I think that if we pursue this legislatively, they might
say yes. They might say yes. We wouldn't say that we're, you know, that we're taking them and not, you know, like they could still own them. We could just sign an agreement with the county and the state and say, "Look, we'll take the
liability." What? we'll take the liability, we'll lease them from you, whatever it is. Maybe they don't want to see the actual street, right? But let's take them over and then finally implement the technology that we can't do because of the
fragmentation. What do you think, Jose? If I can, if you don't mind, if I could also add because I had brought an item about similar I think what you're saying about charging potentially tolls to non-resident and this is this is different though. I'm saying that what
we need to do is take control of the streets so that we can then cut them out of the equation in terms of signalization and they're never going to let us charge non-residents. Um the Republicans told us and maybe you
were at that meeting. I don't know. I was there with Commissioner Samuel many moons ago where they told us you're never going to be able to charge or have a toll or a con concession congestion charge. I'm talking about the fact that the state of Florida when I asked about
Collins Avenue said we're not spending any we spend very little money. That's what they said. So if they're not spending any money, let's just take them over. Let's lease the streets from them. take over any liability and maintenance, which already we're kind of doing and is
a real pain to try to keep the sidewalks clean when we don't owe them, and then use this system that we have built in to just signal. I think that you could solve a lot of our problems if we get the best technology possible. And we,
you know, we spent a lot of time on that traffic uh what is that center called? The traffic center, your punishment center. What is it? The traffic management center. The traffic management center. And it's not working because the lights are still not signal
signal. They're not coordinated. So I think that as a body, we should move forward. Take them over. Just say, "Look, we'll take it on." Well, and the reason why I mentioned that because I think it is similar to what you're saying. So when I brought that item about the congestion pricing, the city,
I was told that if we did that, FOT would pull out all their funding. And I was told that that would be a cost prohibitive to the city because we'd have to take over all their maintenance which is extremely expensive and two we don't have the expertise in doing that.
Um and we so we'd have to literally create a new department from scratch. So but so that's why I think it's related. So I'm I'm I'm throwing that in there because I think it's kind of all related. Here's the thing. It could be worth it because we have no means of expansion. They every single street is
at failure. And if we could somehow strike a deal with them where we we take on the liability, but they continue to, you know, they have to continue to fund some of the streets somewhat. I mean, we have to have Let's hear from Eric. He's
nodding his head. No. Well, I mean, so you know what? So what? So, so we so we take on a couple capital projects that they're doing on Alton Road. We could do it ourselves. We could probably do it better at this point in time. we have more and more experience and and and and by the way, we've waited how many years
to get something on Collins a Avenue just to get it repaved and we can't. When you walk Collins Avenue, the sidewalks are broken. They're filthy. They're uh dirty. Nobody is nobody cares. So, I mean, I think that we have
to do a cost analysis and say to ourselves, what is it going to cost to take them over? Because it's the only solution that we have. And if we had to go out and raise the money from the residents to say, "Look, we're going to take over our streets. We're going to
take over our signalization. We'll be in charge of everything. We'll streamline it. We'll implement the best AI technology." Um, I think that it's the only solution that we have and we know that traffic is probably the largest complaint that we have amongst all of our residents. I don't think we have a
choice. Well, let's let's hear from Eric. Um, so lot to unpack there. Um, but the reality of the situation is that we could do a lot of that stuff. Um, the
the reality is that the state would be happy to give us the maintenance responsibility on their streets. They would give us all of their streets though because they won't pick and choose some of them. We need them all. We would take all of them. However, it's
a two very different discussions about maintenance responsibilities and traffic signal control because the state does not control the signals on their roads. It's controlled by Miami Dade County. Well, we need them to give us their
street, too. We want Pine Tree Drive and Lagor, too. No, seriously, because it has to be comprehensive. If if we don't control our traffic lights, we will never get to where we need to be. And so this is this is something that I think
it's the only solution. And we've never tried to do it before. But I would take on the liability. I would take on the maintenance. I would take on the funding because if you do that, we will finally get someplace that we'll never get to right now. And I had a long conversation
with Jose about where the county was in terms of signalization. and they are eons away from getting to the smart technology that we need in order to time our streets. But could you imagine? We've built this infrastructure now, have we not, Jose? Our intelligent
transportation system project is Yes. So, we have an intelligent transportation system, but we don't necessarily control it. And right now, literally, we have to call the county, do we not? Don't we have to call them and say, "Hey, make the lake green." In 2025, we have to pick up the phone and
call them. And that would go a long way, Eric. Everything would start to flow normally for the first time. And by the way, once we implement the system, it wouldn't be that expensive. It would like I don't think it would be that expensive to to connect all of our traffic lights, would it, Jose?
That's not the software is not the expensive part. There is AI technology out there and I think that it's the only recourse we have. It's not impossible. I don't think it's impossible and I think that it's and I think that I'm going to bring an item
and I think that we should try to do it because you know what? We don't have any other solution. Eric, do you have a cost estimate as to what this city would be taking on? Um, I don't have something off the top of my head. Um, if you ask me to guess on it, I would say it's in
the hundreds of millions, but I would want to go back and and take a look at that. That's what you told me when I brought the that by item and you said it would be hundreds of millions. So, I don't believe it would be impossible. I don't think it's hundreds of millions. We're doing a West Avenue project. We
could also, if we had to remediate Alton Road right now, we're not getting any love anyway, but Commissioner, if we could, I look forward to the item. Let's have a preliminary conversation with the county to see if the county would be amendable. Similar to how we've taken on
some additional responsibilities as it pertains to traffic calming measures. There is an agreement, an interlocal agreement with the county that allows us to do traffic calming measures within the city of Miami Beach. Right. um we can have a conversation with them
to see if they would be amendable to doing something similar like to that with traffic signals and then we could price that out. Just I don't want to compare apples to oranges. The maintenance is is one
piece of the puzzle. The signal optimization and signal control is something very different in my humble opinion. Um, and I think that we should try not to put those two together because one
does one thing and one does something very different. So, you're saying that we could take them over, but only for signal optimization. We I don't know that, but we can have preliminary conversations with the county. Jose and I just conferred. We're
not aware of any other municipality that's been given the ability to do that, but Miami Beach is special and we may be given additional consideration, but until we have that conversation, we don't know. Well, do we have to make a
motion right now to give you I I make a motion to have our administration go and speak to the county about taking over our signalization, but it can't just be the county. You need to go to the county and the state and ask for it. Who's that? Uh, who controls Alton Road? The
signal optimization. That's the county. The county controls all signals countywide, even on Alton Road is awful. Let me tell you how insane it is. I'm just This morning I saw picture. You're going north on Alton Road right by Lincoln.
I'm at a red light. And you have to crosswalk for 25 or 30 seconds and then you have to wait again before it turns green for the lefthand turn from the north side of Alton Road. However, that left-hand turn would
be going onto Lincoln Road where you can't go. So, if you're coming south on Lincoln Road or on Alton Road, we have three lanes of traffic there. We have a third lane, a lefthand turn lane to turn onto a road that is a pedestrian only
road that is blocked by your barricades. So then we've cleverly turned it into well if you want to make a U-turn there that you can. So there is a green turn signal that takes 30 seconds that nobody has ever turned onto since Lincoln Road
has been closed since when, Mr. City Manager. 1970 something. I I think it was I think it was more like 2008. So, I'd like to direct city administration to calculate for 30 seconds every two minutes since 1938, how much time that
unneeded lefthand turn has cost. By the way, how much do you guys hate the intersection of Alton and 16th Street and 17th? It is a nightmare. Is a nightmare for our police officers. Look, if we don't at least try, we'll never
know. So, I'm agreeing. I I don't I thought I had tried direct the administration to take over to go to the county and ask if we can take over signalization so that we can implement smart technology and own the timing of
our own lights because none of us can handle it anymore. It is some of those some of those intersections are so impossible and it's all timing. I'm telling you. Chief, I'm sorry. I I couldn't do it. I I just went I went on my Vespa. I I just went. I'm sorry,
Chief. Do you have video cameras? You can uh get No, there's a good discussion and I think it sounds like it'll be a discussion we'll uh continue. Uh I'd like to actually at the end of the uh the morning, we're going to pivot to another item. So, thank you.
Thank you guys. Thank you. Oh, wait. So, does that mean that we're not taking any action because between now and next month? Well, I mean, I think we should do it right now. It's a discuss take action item. So, I mean, let's just ask if we can take over our signalization. All we can do is ask. Yeah. And I think
Eric said he's going to I think he said he's going to have that. Yep. Do we have to give you direction or is this fine? No. Well, I think he's got the direction. Okay. I've heard you loud and clear. Yeah. No, thank you. It's good item. Um I want to Mayor I want to finish off uh Nick had uh we were
talking about the potential a new bill out of Tallahassee preempting us on the LDR amendments. Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez, for for highlighting it. I'll turn it over to you. Yeah. So um so Nick um brought to our attention SB 180 and part of the language says that
municipalities may not propose or adopt more restrictive or Bernson amendments to the comprehensive plan or land development land development regulations or propose or adopt more restrict more restrictive or burns and procedures having to do with review approval or
issuance of site plans, development permits or development orders. um to the extent that those terms um are um applies retroactively to August 1st of last year. So in essence, the LDR
amendments and the comp plan amendments that we've adopted from August to today would instance be preempted and we would be limited from passing more strict LDR amendments and more strict
comp plan amendments if this bill is signed into law. and even our moratorum on F. Uh this this has a preeemption on on moratoriums as well. And so uh part of the part of the items that we could
potentially be preempted on is for example today we were looking at the hotel approval process um that we voted on today that could potentially be preempted. the sixth street overlay that the mayor and commissioner Dominguez
have been working on for years that we uh considered today that could be preempted. Our regulations on minimal hotel unit size requirements that could be preempted. Our hotel approval process
that could be preempted. Commissioner Bot's item having to do with um with hedges on the beachwalks uh to create safer act access for pedestrians that could be preempted. There are so many
items that could be preempted as uh as part of this bill, including items uh like Commissioner uh Suarez's uh supper club regulation uh ordinance that was passed last year. That could be
preempted when we eliminated the 0.5 F uh bonus for hotel development. That would be preempted. the our North Beach comprehensive use regulations to limit the amount of nuisance uses that deteriorate from the quality
of life that could be preempted. Uh and so Nick, um what is your guidance to us as it relates to SB 180 and if there's anything else that you feel we need to know about this? Thank you, Commissioner. What I would suggest is if
it given the impact that the bill would have on the city's land development regulations, not just that you're considering now, but that you've that you've adopted since August 1 of 2024, is that the commission should consider adopting a resolution similar to the resolution that the that the body
adopted this morning on Senate Bill 17:30 um urging the the governor to to to veto this bill has not yet been presented to him, but it could be presented. So, I'd like to make a motion um or similar to to the one that we did earlier, urging the governor to veto
this bill. This city commission over the past year has passed a number of important land use regulations and comprehensive plan amendments to the quality of life of our residents. We have been the most pro- resident
commission I feel uh in a really long time. And if this bill gets signed, all the protections we have passed over the past year go away. And that's the thing about this bill. Anything that's more restrictive. Usually the things that are
more restrictive are the things that benefit the residents, that benefit safety, that benefit the quality of life of people, and those are the ones that will be eliminated. But then the things that are more prodevelopment don't get eliminated. And so it's a very concerning uh bill that I would like us
to to make a motion urging the governor to veto I have a question. Let's say that we pass this resolution and we send it to the governor and I think for the first time ever you might get a veto. If the
governor vetos the legislation, does it disappear or can it bounce back to the legislature? And if it does go back to the state legislature, what is the rule? Is it like a twothirds majority or what do they have to do to o override a a gubanatorial veto veto? I'm fairly
certain it's a twothirds of each house. It takes twothirds of each house to override a veto. House and Senate. So listen, I think that we have some of the most powerful lobbyists in Tallahassee that that we've had since
I've, you know, served in Miami Beach. And I did hear that I read I saw the governor on TV and he was not very happy with the legislature. He's not. And so this could be a possibility,
Alex. So I'll second your motion, Commissioner Fernandez. Excuse me. Oh, please. I will second your motion. titles come and go, you know, and um and you know, we might get this, you know, veto because maybe we, you know, our lobbyists could go and personally hand
it to him. That's how we've got a great lobbying team. Okay. What do you think you know better than I do, Commissioner Suarez? What do you think? Yeah, I mean, look, I I don't know how much a resolution is going to make a difference.
Um, you know, Commissioner Fernandez, have you talked to our lobbying team on the possibility of a veto on this on this? No, we just found out about this during our shade uh session. I have heard I mean I haven't gone into great detail with our lobbyists. What I have heard from our
lobbyists is that it's likely to get signed. Uh so this is why I think we need to be vocal. We need to raise the alarm because again it's not it's not undoing all the LDR amendments and the comp plan amendments
we've done over the past year. It's only eliminating the more restrictive ones, the ones that tend to protect the quality of life of our residents, but is still saying if they're not restrictive LDR amendments and they're expansive and they allow for more development, that
type of stuff, then that can go forward. But what protects our residents? All the work we have done over the past year, including your supper club ordinance. We had shade and palm tree uh ordinances. We've had uh you know the issue with the
beachwalk, the north beach, commercial use stuff, even stuff we've done today all wiped away. Can and so do you do you know how how much it passed by the House and Senate? Was it like a major was it unanimous or one person in the house uh
opposed it and unanimous in the Senate? Can do they was it Gance? I'm not sure. But can I ask a question? Can I ask a question? I mean given the fact that this type of law could literally cause chaos, right? given, you know, our the
laws that we've passed or LDR amendments across the state of Florida, would we have a case in court to reverse something like this because it goes so far beyond workforce housing? It completely, you know, it it affects
every every aspect of the city. I I would say we we'll we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I mean, we'll look we'll look at it closely. I wouldn't want to have that discussion on the fly, especially not have listen every a law that we're we've passed. If they weren't going to preempt us, they now have a list of laws to come
in and undo. Like, I love the passion and I echo the sentiments, but can we not have it televised? You think they're really watching the supper club? Oh, yeah. They they Oh, by by the way, they use our meetings as as like they
literally preempt Oh, yeah. 100%. They're using our meetings to go to Tallahassee and say, "Hey, look at Miami Beach." We say we say so much on the record that should never be said publicly and it's a playbook of what to
do first for people who want to undo what we've what we're trying to protect here. So with you know I love you guys and I respect well quite frankly Commissioner Pot I think frankly I think they know what these laws are. So, I think it really is. No, but I mean I think I mean I know no honestly. No,
you're calling me out. So, I'm just going to tell you I don't think you're actually accurate. I I think it's important for us to know what it is that could get undone and to the public what it is that we're that we're talking about. I think it's important for them
to know that we've all discussed these laws publicly. We've discussed them here because we've presented them and we put them on the agenda. I don't think we hurt ourselves by saying what these laws are because they know what they are. We might if we're talking strategies on how
to proceed next. I'm just saying maybe we have that conversation not on TV. Yeah. Well, also we're also, you know, we also have a sunshine law, right? I mean, that's we have to kind of force we have to kind of talk about this in the sun. Big picture. I don't think any of us are going to take the blame for
what's happening in the preeemption. This is this is not this is not us. We're we're doing what our residents are asking us to do and unfortunately um we're having laws that are not in the best interest of our residents. Uh preempting what we we
believe. Like you say, Commissioner, it's we are I've had people tell me that they've lived in Miami Beach 30, 40 plus years, and this is the most pro- resident commission they've ever seen on every issue, on law and order, on on land development issues, and and and
frankly, a lot of that's being being taken out of our hands right now, which is frustrating. So, that bill passed unanimously, uh 106 in the House. No one voted no in the Florida House and in the Senate. One
person voted no. It was Senator Davis. I don't know who that is. Even if we get a veto, it won't matter. Yeah, I I think the bill was the bill was largely addresses emergencies and and and this amendment was part of a broader
amendment that addressed permitting requirements in the wake of of hurricane emergencies. So, I think there are portions of the bill that are probably very well-intentioned. It's just this last minute amendment that broadly preempts any more restrictive LDR or complaint amendment. That's the one that's that's the part that even if with
no emergency well it's in any county in the state that was covered by either the the hurricane Milton uh Debbie isn't there like a isn't there an expiration period on this or Helen yes between August 1 2024 so it's retro to that date
um and it would expire in 2027 I mean I I I certainly wouldn't want to add give them ammunition to say, "Look at Miami Beach. Look at what they're doing." Again, I I don't know. I mean, if if it passed unanimously in the House
and then only one vote, no vote to send out I mean, even if he vetos it, still going to get passed or they'll bring it back next year. Do you guys really want to that? No. Not Not if it was unanimous. I I'll ask one question. I
I'll follow your lead, Commissioner Fernandez. Um, I'll pose this as a question, right? I'm indifferent. I'm going to follow your lead. Do you feel given the uphill battle here, this would water down our urging for the live
local? Mhm. And if you don't, then I'm with you and I back this, but I'll just pose that question out into the universe. We want to poke. I mean, that's a that's a good point. You know, I I don't know. Honestly, I I don't know. I do think,
you know, do we want to I think we have to go on record. We have passed Commissioner Suarez the Supper Club. Yeah. Ordinance, but that's but but they may not through the mayor of course. U but they may
not preempt us on that, right? I mean, no. That's um so Nick, in this ordinance, would the supper club ordinance be preempted? To the extent that the supper club ordinance adopts more restrictive regulations than than previously
existed, um it would be implicated by this bill. Everything Sorry, Commissioner. Everything just gets preempted. It goes Your mic is off. Everything just get Sorry, Commissioner. Uh everything just gets preempted. if it goes if you created something that's more restricted that no longer applies
or does somebody have to come in and essentially proactively go bill by bill what it what it's said and I don't want to concede that any of the ordinances that we've that we've uh that we've listed are you know are automatically covered by this amendment
right we'll we'll look at each one on a case by case basis these are all examples but what the bill says is shall be null and void aboninio and that that it applies retroactive And and it's Forever Earth sunset. It sunsets in 2027. In 2027, it was done
for the period from from August 1, 2024 through October 1, 2027. And it wasn't crafted in a way that it's specific to emergency disaster relief. It said it says in any county um in in any county
listed in the federal disaster declarations for Hurricane Debbie, Helen, or Milton. The whole state. It's the whole state. covered the entire we can ask Nick every answer is going to be the same. Wouldn't it be better to to I know some of our lobbyists have a
really good relationship with the governor. Wouldn't it be prudent to urge our lobbyists to as a body we've been doing that for the last since uh session started? This is what this does. our lobbyists cannot uh do take those
positions on behalf of the city unless we pass an item, which is exactly what we're doing. They can't lobby on behalf unless we pass a motion like this saying that the city is taking this position. That's what empowers them to uh to to do
this. Who filed this amendment, by the way? I have no idea. I'm just curious. It's it's because it seems very treacherous. Could you could you sue in federal court? And if you did, could you sue? Could No. Seriously? No. But we shouldn't have that conversation on the I think that's what Nick just said. Okay. I'm okay with moving forward on
this. You know, I I think you want to make the motion out. Yeah. Commission. Yeah. Um Yeah. Let's let's make the motion uh urging uh the uh governor to veto this bill. Second. Or actually, hold on. How about to change that
amendment? Not the not the whole bill. They they can't do line item amendments or line items. No, the governor can the governor from the state of Florida can change can uh only on budget items, not on legislative items. Are you sure?
Okay. I just got a crash course on this from our lobbyist and I think the governor can veto uh line items even on I think it's line items in the budget. In the budget. Can you find out? Yeah. Can you know what? Can I make one phone call? No, because we gota Let's call the vote. I'll call
the lobbyist right now. And you have to draft the resolution anyway. So it'll 30 seconds. The resolution will reflect. Whatever the law is, the the resolution will reflect it. Uh let's call the vote. Actually, I had a motion worse from Commissioner Fernandez. Commissioner Fernandez and a second from Rosen
Gonzalez. Okay, let's call the vote. All in favor of urging veto SB 180, please say I. I. Anybody opposed? Hearing none, the item passes 70 and after the fact reszo needs to be drafted. I want to thank each of my colleagues sincerely. I want to thank
each one of you. This was an outstanding meeting. We covered a lot of ground. We did our residents in a tremendous service. Thank you, Eric, and your entire staff as well. Great, great meeting. Thank you.