the late officer Morino. I know the pal was uh incredibly near and dear to his heart. I think we have an item to name it um after the new facility after in the interim maybe. And yeah, perfect. Yeah, the the new I'm sorry, the new
lease for the current location or the new lease for the geo bond building. I think there's an in the interum. I'll defer to my colleague. I think we actually have something that covers both. Well, we we have an item that was intended to cover both, but the existing pal is already
named after someone. So, the item that you brought will be limited to the new building because we can't we can't rename unless we It's a complicated process in some way. If uh we could do something to honor uh put a plaque up. Yeah. Late
officer Martino's commitment. We we work with uh our director of facilities and fleet for a plaque. Yeah, we we just did a gorgeous one in um in Pride Park for Joe Tom Easley that the parks department worked on and maybe we can take a queue from that and work with Deb Martino and and um really do something gorgeous.
Thank you. You know, maybe something to consider I it's 11th Street um that's there. Maybe 11th Street from Meridian to Alton might be appropriate if the facility is already named for uh for someone. Um, isn't 11 Street um Nancy
Leven? Oh, I I believe it may be already. Oh, okay. Sorry. Didn't realize that. It's the It'll be the the Art and Nancy show. All right. Mr. Chair, we'll show this item return to commissioner with the favor recommendation of the pro proposed lease with PAL uh Commissioner Bot and
uh uh Chair Magazine. A second. All in favor? I All in favor? Show a three. Thank you. Azie, uh perhaps uh NB18 is you the polo park temporary lighting. Is that correct or not? That parts. Okay. But uh let's hear that. I think that
should be quick. Um I'll let you teed it up, Jason. But essentially a pilot program at no cost. Uh and then we'll get the feedback from that pilot program if we move forward and it'll have a financial impact. Okay. Discuss the allocation of funding for the installation of temporary lighting at Pogo Park basketball courts. NB18.
Tom, you want to just sum that up? Uh, no cost here for the pilot program. Yeah, I was at the park. Um, there's no cost for it. We're going to use our towers. We'll have a park ranger on roving for it and after 6 months we'll reevaluate it once once the time change we're going to put it in. Perfect. I'll move it. And one of the reasons why I
put this on the This is incredible, Alex. Yeah. Yeah. Commissioner. No, Alex is just fine. Um, one of the reasons why we put this on the agenda like this is because there were concerns that as you know, time changes throughout the year. If we have permanent lighting, it
becomes an issue of the lights being on to late or not. The temporary lighting helps us address the concerns of the neighbors during certain times of the year while making sure that they have the lighting during the other times of the year when they really do need it
because of the time changes. So, we'll do a six-month pilot in November when the time changes. and then we'll reevaluate after 6 months. Can I ask you a quick question? This seems really dumb, but I had um at my many times a mentioned little townhouse on Parkview Island, I used to have solar lights in
the front yard and when it got dark, they went on and when it got light, they went off. Why couldn't we do that? Solar powered. We do have uh we do have on this the building facing the the lights four solar powered lights and it's just not light enough because it only has a certain area. It doesn't go out far enough. Right.
So, okay. So, we're using existing lights that we have and just programming them differently. Well, we have solar lighting now on the on the No, no, I know. But, so the to to accomplish the additional lighting, we're taking additional lighting that we already have and we're programming it to turn on and off differently. We're having one of our
towers that I did. We I went there and we tried it with people playing and it doesn't interfere with them playing. It's a tower light that will turn on and we'll turn it off. So, it's existing resources and then we'll have a park ranger on roving there. So, we can show this we can show this item to return a commissioner with the favor recommendation to install temporary
lighting at Poland Park basketball fields. Uh, courts, I'm sorry. Uh, making the motion. I think Commissioner Bot and I'll second. Okay. All in favor? I. Thank you. Thank you, colleagues. Yep. Thank you. Do we have uh perhaps Lzette here
for NB15? Um, this is time-sensitive as uh this uh I believe is an event that's coming up this weekend and is since they historically been done for the past 10 or 15 years. Uh great event um as we're looking to program out of spring break.
This has always attracted such a nice and health and wellness focused crowd. So, we have a discussed request for city sponsorship and waiver of city special event permit fees pursuant to section 12-7 of the city code for the model volleyball event scheduled to take place
in Lumis Park Beachfront from March 29th through March 30th, 2025 MB15. So, we're actually not paying or giving any revenue. We're just waving uh special event fees. Correct. Yes. Good morning, Francis Vice, CEO assistant director of tourism and culture. Uh it would be a waiver of fees. The only thing is that
it would be retroactive. This would go to commission and then the money would be given back because the event is this weekend so they have to pay the fees for this weekend. And how many years have they been in our city? Over 14. Okay. Excellent. Anybody want to make a motion? I'll move it. I'll second it.
Okay. So, we'll show this item to return to commission with a favorable uh recommendation for um the waiver of the special event permit fees as as requested retro retroactively. Thank you. All in favor? Hi.
Show a 300. Thank you. But uh we hear NB3 uh discuss creation of a foundation. Uh I don't want to steal your job, Mr. CFO. Uh MB3 discussed the creation of a foundation focused on soliciting donations of works of art for the city's
permanent art and public places collection and/or temporary exhibitions. MP3. Good morning. I'll just tee it up. Um again, Francis Vicio, assistant director of tourism and culture. So this item um is requesting the item sponsors
requesting that FK discuss the potential benefits uh structure and feasibility of creating a foundation with specific focus on soliciting and accepting donations and works of arts from individuals, corporations, and benefactors. So, as you see in the memo, the city has been long-term committed to
enhancing public spaces through art and public places. Uh, currently we do have the art and public places ordinance which has um the mandated of the art and public places committee. So, currently the committee along with the tourism and culture department um has the powers and
duties to over of oversight, review and acceptance of the artwork. So in today's discussion um key issues to consider are the foundation structure, funding and management, integration with the city's AIP program and community and economic
benefits. Um staff has communicated with the counties are in public places uh the cultural affairs department. They currently don't have any such structure of accepting donations. They don't know of any other municipality that has one either. Um but those are things to
consider. the administration's recommendation if if the committee decides this is something that we want to move forward with that the committee just be structured to accept donations so then we can then vet the artwork. Yep. Uh we've seen such a generational
influx of wealth into our city uh through some of the most affluent individuals in the entire world uh that also oftentimes go hand inand with a focus and dedication of the arts. If you look in places like New York City along the Highline, um a lot of the things
that are the most special uh arts and public works in the world are often at um at the benefit uh were beneficiaries from uh very wealthy affluent individuals. And it seems uh short-sighted or silly not to take
advantage and set up some sort of program where Miami Beach can be a beneficiary of the same. So uh I'm certainly supportive of this. Yeah, you know, I I love this idea. I think Joe is sorry, Commissioner Magazine is absolutely right on the
money, no pun intended, um about so much wealth moving into the city and people stepping up um to help do things that they care about and um this is something that is is possible. um you know we would need to make sure that there are
very clear guidelines and there nobody runs a foul of any ethics issues that there's no quid proquo intimated or expected etc etc. So as long as the city attorney feels that that can be structured in such a manner that um it
is completely separate from anybody in office running for office etc. Um I would be very much in favor of this. Excellent. Yeah, we would definitely work with the city attorney's office for the structure of the committee. Um, just for moving forward, is the committee's
recommendation align with the administrations to just elicit funding? Is that okay? Or is there something else that we would be missing? Um, otherwise because it also talks about soliciting actual artwork, but there are Yeah. And
our I think the concern of the administration was that we have an art and public places uh committee that's already set to specifically do that. So I think the recommendation is listed in the conclusion of the item is that if um this foundation or committee whatever we whatever legally we determined to call
it uh be recommended that it would be for the solicitation uh of donations should be limited to funding. So I I would support the administration's recommendation for funding only. We can show with uh a motion by Commissioner Bond to return a commission with a favorable recommendation for the
creation of a foundation or committee uh to solicit funding donations for public art. Excellent. Yeah, I'll second that. Okay. All in favor? I hearing none opposed. We'll show it pass three nothing. Thank you. How about
we get to uh NB12 uh expansion of the parks and wreck health and wellness area uh referred to as Muscle Beach. I'll let you tee this up, Mr. CFO, but uh where came up with this idea down in the Ocean Drive area, I looked at it. I said, "What do we get right? What do we get
wrong?" I think that Muscle Beach activation when you go down there on a weekend, it's that's probably one of the the best things that we've done in a city in the city. Um it attracts people of uh residents, tourists, uh men,
women, uh young, old, uh everything. It's a great activation. It's synonymous with what Miami Beach is. And I've said very often that uh when we do things in Miami Beach, I want us to start doing things that are world class, right? Truly world class. Where when you Google
the best outdoor uh health and wellness and park area in the world, Miami Beach is the top of the list. And I think that's what my standard for excellence uh is. So, Mr. CFO, if you want to tee that up. Sure. MB12 discussed the expansion of Muscle
Beach and Lumis Park spoil area to include more health, wellness, and sports activities. MB12. And as a note, uh, Commissioner Suarez has requested to become a um, a co-sponsor. I'll be a co-sponsor. Well, I'm not sure if you're actually the fitness commissioner, but I'm not
the fitness commission. I I guess we can allow it. I should aspire to be I'm I'm the blue zones commissioner, and I would like to be a co-sponsor. There you go. We can show everyone as a co-sponsor. It's a great idea, right? A great idea I think we all embrace, but then it comes
down to funding, right? We talk about our our budget being in a tight year. We're not going to have a huge surplus. We all just got a letter to commission the other day saying that our expected surplus is even uh projected to be less than what we originally envisioned. So
then it comes down to how do we fund this? I don't want this being one of these pie in the sky things that we hold out there for years. Um what are some other and perhaps this is to our CFO as well uh other ideas for
funding sponsorships uh whether you know we're rightfully so focusing on a lot of uh expense um highlighting a lot of expense issues that we face on our budget but an income statement is two sides right revenue and
expenses we also have to talk about how to raise more revenue and what I'd like to do is one find sponsorships for Are we talking a couple million of dollars of uh capex I assume? And then also if there's any thing that we can do in that area that provides uh revenue
into the city that can uh be used to really kickstart this program. Yeah, we're we're in favor of the sponsorship also and then we're looking at donations. We may have something to expand Muscle Beach a little and we're also looking to expand Muscle Beach in the the north end also. The north end is a separate item. Yeah. Separate. Yeah.
Um, so maybe let's move this certainly with a favorable recommendation, but I would task staff to work on identifying one what sponsorships would look like. Is that some sort of naming rights? Is it uh I don't know, one of our beverage partners like Red Bull having a trash
recepticle that looks like a Red Bull can. Uh I I don't know what the answer is, but just kicking out some ideas. Be creative. come back with how we can raise money to essentially uh jumpst start this program because I don't want this hanging out there for years and years just kind of in this uh never-
ending budget cycle. If I can chair is the is the interest here to send this to commission to direct the administration to begin uh identifying sponsors that would fully fund the expansion of this project. Um just wanted to know kind of
we needed to have just clear direction on that. So we could show this item return to commission with a favorable recommendation to direct the administration to engage with sponsorship opportunities to expand uh the Muscle Beach at Lumis Park. If I may, um so we don't yet know what the uh
blue zones um proposal recommendations will be when they come back. We're getting that in the next like in May basically. Um, and I'm sure that this is something that that could be folded into that. And the reason I mention it is not to slow anything down, but part of what the blue zones program is is for any
kind of capex expenditures. We try to find outside partners. So, it's not that we source them from our budget, but we find partners who are like, oh, really more uh exercise equipment throughout the city. I'm totally behind that. And so, um, I would definitely start whatever you're going to do, but also we
can we can fold it into holistically a a larger project and maybe find a bigger sponsor that way so we can have that conversation offline um, in the next few days when I learn a little bit more. Okay. From the phone call I'm having about this very topic tomorrow. Excellent. So, we'll
show us. What would a sponsorship look like as far as like the branding? What are you envisioning? Anything. Uh, like I said, it could be the I'm going to use Red Bull because they're part of the Pepsi sponsorship. Is that correct? Yeah, we have one we have one of our sponsorships up in one
of the parks and it was Jeff Lewis. It's just a little little sign on one of the playground equipment. So, we'll have to look we'll explore that. We don't want to make a big advertisement. Yeah, I want to make it as little as possible. I think it would kind of lose the the classiness of what it is now. There's like a big logo of Red Bull on like the
container where we keep the muscle equipment. Well, we we'll look at to make it as you know is to fit in with the playgrounds and stuff. Not to make a big advertising thing. We'll just look into bringing ideas some ideas back. And if I could this item goes back to commission, the recommendation administration would
begin that exploration. It would come back to commission. So, whatever the final outcome would come back to commission for approval. Yeah. And I certainly second that. Right. Strike a fine balance between uh Yeah. If somebody's going to spend millions of dollars sponsoring, they're going to want something. But I don't want it to
be a cheesy commercialization that's such a natural, beautiful area. Uh we want it to remain that way. I in fact, it's not just about adding the enhanced equipment and area. I want something that is also more aesthetically pleasing down there. So, uh you know, a 50oot Red
Bull can certainly isn't in line with that. So um for some uh historical context I don't remember in 2017 2018 um somebody the administration might remember but there was conversation about naming rights for things like the convention center and the band shell and
it was not wellreceived at all. Um and while those things were on a much grander scale um you know we don't want people to think that we're saying hey you we can like call it the Red Bull Muscle Beach IT imprint. It's, you know, it would be a small it would, you know, they would be doing a solid basically
and it would be a small thing and we could refer to it in our newsletters if we're having a a special event there. You know, the city um is meeting at the Red Bull Muscle Beach uh site to do X, Y, and Z. We'd be happy to do that sort of thing. But, you know, that's kind of
the limit. Another idea would be, you know, the equipment itself. Maybe get a sponsorship from like Rogue. you know, they give all sorts of barbells, dumbbells, plates, and you know, maybe we have an exclusive agreement with them and whenever the equipment is faded out, they replace it
at free of cost because everyone comes and they see the equipment. If I may, I remember back in 2012, in fact, Mayor Bower is in the audience and I think she was uh mayor at the time and Carnival had come wanting to do naming rights at
South Point Park. I don't know if you remember that. And it became very controversial. Um I like the idea of expanding uh Muscle Beach. I think it is one of the most positive activations
that we have and it's in the direction of health and wellness that our city is moving in. And by by the way, I just got back from Tallahassee. Everyone is talking about the direction our city is going in and I think this entire commission should feel very proud of that. Having said that, I always get
concerned about putting corporate names on our public assets um even if it comes through a contribution uh to improve those areas. So, so that's something I just will be hesitant about. When we had
it with the convention center, I think it was one of my first meetings that they were considering an item to to the convention center. I don't know. They wanted to call it um Royal Caribbean. That's what it was. The Royal Caribbean. That was Norwegian.
Norwegian or Norines. It was one of the cruise lines. They wanted to to to do a sponsorship of the convention center. The community came out very loudly against uh putting putting a name on one of our uh public assets. So, that's not something I would be inclined to
support. I just want to say that for purposes of transparency. But we have a lot of people that do business in this city that do commit to to doing public benefits who might be willing to make a public benefit contribution to expand
this park without having to brand it in their favor or or have some sort of, you know, naming right tied to it. And that's something that we should explore. We'll we'll look into the most tasteful thing and then we'll get back to you. I'm open-ended on this. no preconceived notion of where this comes out. I just
uh you know, we'd be silly to sit here and just say, "Okay, we're going to find a few million dollars at the end of this year for the budget." So, I like Commissioner Suarez's idea about uh the fitness equipment being donated if we're going to do a paddle court, maybe get one of the local operators. They put their name on it, they don't operate it,
but it's, you know, the the reserve courts because there's so much foot traffic there, uh whatever it could be. Yeah. We had somebody already interested in donating something to Lumis um to the Muscle Beach. So, we're just trying to work out, you know, we're trying to work it out. Love those decision finance. Okay. Uh perfect. So, uh so we'll show
Commissioner Bot made the motion and uh Chair Magazine is the second. Uh all in favor? Wait a minute. Oh my goodness. You don't have the microphone. I have it. Wait a minute. It's the ghost of Christmas past. Is that on? It is on. Okay. Not that you
need a microphone. I missed part of it. So, excuse me. Is this going out to bid? It's already done deal. Is it done by parks and recreation? It's just a just a discussion. Discussion at this point. What? It's just a discussion at this
point. Oh, is it going to be free for the residents of Miami Beach? Because I have a problem when you charge the residents of Miami Beach to use something in public land, no matter is a
paddle ball or and the problem when you go out and get somebody to come in a private setting, they want to make money and they want to make money at the expense of residents of Miami Beach. And I have a big problem
for that. I know that business now is more important than residents, but to me the residents were always very important. Muscle Beach will always as long as it's free, I'm okay with it. I don't even think it's something we would ever entertain. Yeah. We would never in
a million years contemplate. Thanks. Thanks, Tom. Commissioner, we have public comment. That's right. That's why you don't. Commissioner, there's a public comment. There's two. Larry Schaefer, please unmute yourself. Larry, we're going in five, four, three,
two. Mitch Novik, please unmute yourself. Hey, good morning everybody. Interesting conversation. I want to give you a little history of uh what was the 9inth
Street Workout Station. Uh uh what bothers me or I what I believe the city got wrong with uh Muscle Beach is its name. uh in Venice uh it denotes often a torgery place and uh the name Ninth
Street Workout Station uh certainly uh provides where it's located and that that's what it had been called for years and going back a little further in the 80s all that consisted of that area was
a pull-up bar. Hurricane Andrew knocked that down. And it wasn't until I contacted Lynn Bernstein, who was with Miami Beach Development Corporation running the Ocean Drive bid at that time that things
uh morphed into what it is today. So, uh if anything, I would consider uh urge you to consider putting back the name the Ninth Street Workout Station. Although informal, it it just uh it it's special
or at least in my mind it was special. And uh I wouldn't write off naming rights. Uh I think of the CASA center. If you do it for a year or two, perhaps we could get several hundred,000 for a minimal uh size sign.
uh and uh that might be something uh to generate revenue because the Lord only knows how much uh we're paying and how much we're losing. Thank you. I appreciate that, Mitch. And uh you know, when I think we're all envisioning this,
it's uh not just that workout area. I think this is uh comprehensively along that entire Lumis Park almost from Fifth Street all the way to 9th or 10th Street. Um, so perhaps we look at what we call that comprehensive health and wellness area. Um, but I think there's a
motion on the table to move this along. We already voted. Already voted. Perfect. Um, so let's uh move on to uh maybe a similar item. Uh something that I absolutely love. Uh but then it just comes down to where are we going to find
the funding for it? And maybe we could think think about things just as unique. But OB5 uh the children's park on Lincoln Road. Commissioner Suarez, turn this over to you. Let me announce the item. OB F OB5, discuss the
desiraability, feasibility, and cost of constructing a children's park at the Uklid Circle on Lincoln Road. OB5. Good morning. David Gomez, director of uh capital improvements for the city. Um, this item has been around for a while. It actually was looked at as part
of the original design for the Lincoln Road Improvement Project in 22. um where the designer for Lincoln Road looked at several options and made a couple of uh proposals. Uh in November of last year, um the facilities department came to the
committee and and presented some options. Uh as a result of that, we went back to the designer and asked them to re-evaluate and look at potential locations as well as options. They did do that. They prepared a an analysis and a and a proposal or a recommendation. Um
their recommended location continues to be in the Uklid Avenue rightway south of the existing oval um which also has the added benefit of we can of being able to incorporate that without impacting the Lincoln Road project. So that can be
done separately or at a later time however the the committee feels is appropriate. And where would it start? Just south of the Uclid circle. It would start essentially at the building line in the south side of Lincoln Road. Uh between there and the and the street.
Do we have a visual? Uh it was attached to the to the memo. I didn't bring the digital. Anyway, we can put up on the screen so everyone can see. Not mine. If if it if you don't have it in digital format, I didn't bring the digital.
Okay. Well, I I think we talked about this I think a while ago where you know we wanted to see a worldass park on on Lincoln Road. I I think it's a great idea if you're bringing your family. It's an
attraction. You you families come there, they shop, have their kids play. I think it'd be a great amenity um to have. And and I in particular in that area it it is there is issues there with like homeless people like sleeping. And so I
think you know if you have a park there a you know there's a certain distance that you know for example sex offenders can't be next to a kids park. So we have a buffer now uh if that was to to go into place. Um the the um excuse me
through the chair the one detail I didn't provide is that the consultant has provided an estimate of between four and $6 million for the playground. I I love the idea. Uh listen it's what I looked for when we did the RFP is we
have to face reality. People aren't going to travel to a commercial corridor just to go to Forever 21 and the Cheesecake Factory anymore, right? So, you need to bring experiences that are going to bring them there and then they essentially frequent our retail after that. And what better way to bring
families than to have just an absolutely worldclass playground. Uh or if they are just as tourists and strolling down Lincoln Road, we need more experiences there. Uh because they're essentially dining and dashing, right? Um they they eat and they leave. There's nothing to
do there. There's no experiences to live. uh when you look at the design district, there's all types of kind of programming there. Uh that is also very aesthetically pleasing as well. Just enhances the entire appeal of the area. So, uh this is something I'm incredibly supportive of. But I do think that uh we
kind of get back into that same budget discussion. Um and you know, can we find some sort of dedicated revenue source for this where this isn't just a pie in the sky uh dream, you know, that gets kicked down every budget cycle for the
next five years. uh through the chair. You know, this might be another great opportunity for Blue Zones sponsorship, you know, you know, partnership with somebody who recognize the value of this because it's getting kids out and about and their families walking and this may be another thing. I'm not saying this is the way to
go, but this is something to sort of put in the blue zones bucket as as a possible source of funding um through the chair. So, Jason, any ideas on possible sources of funding? Well, this would be uh something that would have to be through the city's
general fund or or effectively um probably through the PGO uh millillage to be have. So, the question I was going to have was uh is this something that we wanted to turn into a commission with a favorable recommendation to include and it's really about a timing when we add when the administration adds a new
capital project, we have a five-year CIP. So new projects are added in the fifth year and then they move up for you know through consideration because there's projects that have lived and or do we want to move it to the top of the order and for it to be added as a capital project for consideration in the
26 budget process and do we want to make it a priority in the 26 bud process which would obviously bump it up you know uh further up the list you know in the competition. Um, so you could either add it to the CIP, which would just add it to the fifth year of our capital
approval program, which is a standard best practice. Do we add it as a project be considered during the 26 project program? So, I think those are the two things that you you have in front of you and then, you know, we go through the process to see where we could allocate um, you know, appropriate funding. Yeah,
I I love it. and perhaps um listen, Commissioner Fernandez, I heard you're uh words in Tallahassee that were much needed. And we're essentially facing um an issue here where we need to put our
money where our mouth is or else the state's going to do it for us with being committed to providing residential housing. And we've talked about the LDRs on Lincoln Road. Uh perhaps a public benefit of that um could be funding for
this park. I I mean, yeah, we talk about the direction we're going in as a city. We can help revitalize a dying or struggling commercial corridor. We can add ourselves the housing that if we don't
do so, Tallahassee is going to swing the pendulum much further the other way in doing so. And we could do it in a familyfriendly way where we're getting things like parks and playgrounds and health and wellness activation and m no micro units. So if we want to be big
boys and gals and make these decisions ourselves, we need to show that we have the fortitude to do so. Through the chair, you made up a good point. Um we're going to have well assuming that it passes on Lincoln Road a residential
um upzoning. Um, can we make it based any new residential development? And maybe this is a question for the city attorney, they have to pay an impact fee for for certain CIP projects like this
on Lincoln Road. And before the city attorney, if I could, I love the idea. I actually went back and I watched, I think it was in October of 2016 and talk about the different direction we're taking as a commission. They actually added LDRs to add hotels and no parking
for office on Lincoln Road. Right. We're actually doing residential housing, but as part of that actually was some sort of almost ardent public places uh impact fee that would be uh paid here. We'd be looking for something similar. I think
we could work on potentially creating incentives for the creation of of a public park, for example. Um I don't believe that it would be appropriate to charge an impact fee um in connection with with the legislation that that you all are discussing, but we can look into
creating incentives um maybe as part of that legislation to create public spaces, green spaces, etc. Let me ask a question if I may, Mr. Chair. So when and and it's a shame that that we don't have our planning department here. When when applications are
considered, usually there's a review to see, you know, do they is there enough green space available to accommodate this? Is there enough um you know, do the sewers have enough capacity to accommodate this and all that type of stuff.
Um, can can we have as we create these overlays uh for for Lincoln Road East and Lincoln Road West, could we could we have a as part of the
overlay a park requirement that you know as we can build upon this as we provide green space. So, you really can't maximize on the zoning that we're creating for as long as you don't have enough green space. So, that we're
creating the the incentive for whoever comes forward to create this or to use the zoning that they actually have to build that green space. An incentive, right? an incentive, but not through an impact fee, but saying,
and I need the city attorney to be listening, and I'm sorry because I'm asking the city attorney a question. Sorry. If as part of the zoning legislation that the zoning can only be used as the green space is
available. Does that make sense? Yeah, I think we're probably talking similar. um ideas that you're going to create incentives or provide the the zoning will apply if you comply with certain green space requirements. I think we're talking the same thing. So, how do we
position ourselves for this where are we allowed to say I I guess we don't want to put the cart before the horse, you know, I I think the best way to really move this project $4 to $6 million is a lot. um we we we're not
going to be able to just come out of thin air and fund it. I mean our our the values are shrinking as we as the the chair said. Can we assuming that Lincoln Road East and West gets approved, can we
have a a an open solicitation to developers to say, "Look, if you if you build this uh if you help fund this park or any or infrastructure, then you get an extra
I don't know, 0.25 F or um maybe an extra floor if I if I may just to assist and if I'm off please let me know on this item about the park. Maybe what this is is this returns to the commission favor recommendation be included in our CIP which we would put
it in the fifth year. It could move at any time and then there's it sounds like we're on another separate referral to land use. Land use is getting some props today. So, we just hear it here. Um, Lincoln Road here. You to talk about the Lincoln Road, uh, you know, incentives and things like you're talking about to
help support parks. Um, and and maybe the city attorney thinks I'm off here, but I think that that may be the best prudent approach on this item is to have this go. We added in the CIP so it lives in and it exists. And then separately, you have a referral about how to fund that maybe through some of these incentives that you guys are talking
about at land use. And and I just want to be clear from my perspective what I'm just thinking just because maybe I didn't describe it well you know the zoning is providing you know maximum height and maximum F but you don't unlock the full
potential of that height and F that we're approving until the green space that is needed is is available. You might have some extra height and F with the with the existing green space, but you don't get the full amount of the
green space is not unlocked until this until this, you know, green area is is is put in there. Yeah, I love it. Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Um, I think before this can be approved, it has to have a referral back to the
commission to go to the historic preservation board so that they can appine on this design, which is really iconic Morris Lapidus right there in the center of Uclid Circle. I have, you know, no problem making that referral,
but that's why we have the preservation board. That's really where needs to go before we make any kind of opinion on this. And uh that's what we've always been as a community is protecting our iconic designers like Morris Lapidis. So I would like an opinion from the board
prior to us making any other decision. So if I understand correctly though, this isn't actually on the circle. I think you got the feedback that that was the historic part part of the master plan. Correct. So this is actually kind of over in the archery south of it which actually brings in our good friend Mel
uh while you're chomping a bit to get here. Give me one second before we get to you Mel. But I don't think uh Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez that the and that's I wish we had the design renderings that the Uklid circle is actually uh being affected here. I think Commissioner Suarez was rec uh he
recognized the historic uh importance of that. So this will actually be shifted south into that artery uh by the Lincoln Center. If I can, can I just one thing? You know, when you look at the Secretary of the Interior's definition of historic
preservation, it has to fit within the context. Now, I have no problem approving something, but it's going to have to be a very special type of art deco park, and they might decide that that ruins the context of the circle. I'm So, I just would like to get I think
it's very important that we get that opinion prior to um referring this. I mean, I don't have a vote here on this committee, but I do know that at the full commission, I will ask for it to be referred to the historic preservation. I'll make that motion. I don't think
it's or that friendly amendment. I don't think it's it's any way detracting from what's going on here. I think it's just making sure it's compatible with the overall historic um area. And while it's not technically a historic um uh Morris lapidous structure per se, it is still
contributing to that that that jewel of our city that it needs a little gussying up. And so why would we do something that doesn't complement it doesn't have to be a recreation of anything, but it does have to be designed in a way that compliments with a E, not an I. It It's additive in its
design and and expression to the vibe that's there. So it's not a way of derailing, it's a way of uh enhancing. If I can ask one question. Oh, sorry. Through the chair. Um, I believe that any project that goes there has to go to the HPV anyways by default. It's in a
historic district and I think whenever we make an enhancement to a park that's in a historic district, it has to go to the HPB. So, I think it's a moot point. If I could add on, they might say no. And so, we might want to refer it to the
HPB and then um as an opinion before we move forward. I mean, that's what I'm going to vote for at the full commission. Um, and I think you've seen that Commissioner Bot also supports that. I don't know how the Commissioner Fernandez or Commissioner Dominguez
feels, but as a body, we should vote to refer it to the HPB, get their opinion, and have it come back to us because that's the expert opinion. If I may, through the chair, the HPB does not have an advisory process. So, they are looking at actually 30% developed drawings. We're nowhere near that point.
It would go through HPB as we develop drawings sometime in the future once we find the funding. If I can and that's what I was trying to add in here is as this motion is to be added to our capital improvement program which is in the fifth year. We're years away from that process unless it gets accelerated
funded and we begin the design process which then process-wise it would go to HPB. Wait, I'd like to ask the CD attorney, does the HPB not have an advisory process? because throughout my political career we have referred items to the HPB to get their opinion. So I don't really understand where that's
coming from. DR, if I may through the chair, DRB does have an advisory process and there that's mostly used for public works projects and rightway projects. Um the HPB does not have an advisory process process. Um through the DRB process, they would make a
recommendation. It would come back to commission. commission would elect to either accept those recommendations or or overrule them. With HPB, you that process doesn't exist. How can we vote on a location without actually asking the HPB if they approve of that location within the context of the historic
district? If I may through the chair, I I have seen at least one instance in the recent past where the land usees committee referred a matter to the HPB for an advisory opinion. So, with with respect to um
um to Mr. Gomez, I do believe that the HPB can provide an advisor opinion if that's the will of the body. Mel, do you want to speak? Yes. Yeah, it's uh I I I'm not at all comfortable sometimes coming before the
commission opposing anything. I much prefer to as a member of this community to be here to support um to support incentives and I do appreciate the the work and the intention that the members of the commission have to deal with the issues
on Lincoln Road. Let me go back if I can just uh a bit. Uh there was during the I think it was the reign of of uh Mayor Bower, I came up with the idea of creating a plaza on the extension of
Uclid Avenue, which was at that time a truck stop in front of the Lincoln Center, the building that I uh I created there. That was originally a 66 room hotel. When myself and my partners purchased the building, it was a little more than a slum. Uh eventually we
completely reconfigured the building into steel and concrete and made it into a an office structure. Uh it is now quite a remarkable building and we have a significant art gallery there and some very very interesting and uh young businesses there that are tend to do
very well even as a office building. I originally had a deal with the city where I would be putting in the my myself and Jac Development would be managing the development which we did and we were going to do a 50 basically 50/50 deal over the uh development
period. It turned out that actually we put in somewhere near 70 to 75% of the cost of developing that plaza. The agreement that I had and frankly I think it was at the assistance the insistence of uh Mayor Bower at the time was that
nothing go on that plaza except for the landscaping and the design the architects that designed the uh black and white at that time concrete uh would remain as just a plaza and
accordingly uh I agreed uh in the agreement and it's in our agreement with the city that there would be uh in the city I think passed a resolution there would be no use of any type of uh commercial development there and there certainly would not be any type of a use
for outdoor cafes and we lived with that and agreed to that at the time with the expectation that the building would be utilized of course as we did that there would be no uh room there and there would be no allowance of anything on the plaza in order to keep it as a plaza uh
in order to enhance the building itself Uh, as a result, I also, just to show where things go, I I put in an extra $100,000 into the deal to have colored concrete poured into the lines that we
did. There were very exotic stripes. And instead of sorry, stripes, there were movements in the in the ground that the architect designed. And I insisted that we use colored concrete, black concrete and white concrete, so it would never have to be painted. And uh, all it would have to be would be sealed over periods
of time. Well, that didn't last too long because the first time that the city had the opportunity to seal it, they used to seal it with a pigment. And if you look at the street now, it looks awful. So, this is the kind of because it was never really properly taken care of. Uh, and although I insisted not to use the
pigment, not to use the color, they did it anyway. And if you take a look at more offline, I'm just trying to give you a little bit of background. I'll get to the the point is that that Let's wrap up. Okay. I also am a member of the board of the of the bid and spent many
years creating it. The bid was never and per this is a personal matter. This is not coming from the bid itself but I just am a member of the board. I would have liked to have seen this design and like to have dealt with this design and my colleagues and stakeholders on the street I think should also be a part of
it. 100% you would right. I mean this is conceptual that we're moving forward. your stakeholders, both uh property owner and on the Lincoln Road bid. Um you're not going to wake up tomorrow and we have the playground equipment out there. This is uh it's not funded. This is a conceptual design. We're going to
include the H this is going to stop at the HPV and get uh stakeholder involvement. But if you go up uh to the design district and things like that, it'd be hard to argue that that the playground equipment there does anything other than be I'm commissioner. I'm not
sure we can identify Lincoln Road with the design district. There are other we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to have a designer come in. James Connor came in and designed the street to enhance Lincoln Road. We haven't done
anything yet. The circle has not been activated at all in accordance with the James Coner project. It hasn't just hasn't been done yet. And here we are working on other things when we should be concentrating on finishing what we already created. If you want to see Lincoln Road succeed, there's two things
you have to do. First of all, do the the James Connor project. The center that he created for Lincoln Road circle should be activated. It should be done. And quite frankly, the second thing is to to uh expedite the necess expedite the
permitting processes on Lincoln Road. I think Troy from the Washington Avenue bid just mention that. That is the issues. I commissioner the park is and then we're going to move on with this because I think we're uh just beating a dead horse here. We're we're going to move this along with a favorable recommendation and I believe that before
anything would ever move forward have to stop before the HPB. So we're kind of talking in circles here. If I can to close this is Commissioner Buck. Sorry. So, David, um, offline, it doesn't have to be now, but can you provide an update, um, as to where we are with the James Corner, uh, Comr, uh, project that
is supposed to be done. Is it a geo bond? Where are we? And it doesn't have to be here now, but it we definitely need to have an update on that very very quickly. The connector streets are already under contract. That's Meridian and and Drexel. The main spine for Lincoln Road, we're supposed to be going out to bid in May with uh award in
October. Excellent. Okay. So, um, Esme has a few things to say about this this project. Um, so, uh, I would like to move it, but with the stop at HPB, which is already baked in, correct? As part of the design process, if you want
that input before we put it on the on the capital projects, we can do that as well with that friendly amendment. It's a it's a different conversation. If if if I can. So I I think the the nuance here is would it go at its appropriate time which might be 5 years from now when the design's being done or is this
to include a a current referral to the HBB for an advisory opinion? That's fine. I I'll be completely upfront about where I stand. I spoke at the North Beach PTA two weeks ago. I spoke uh my daughter goes to South Point. They go, "What the hell is happening with Lincoln
Road? What is happening? Why can't we visit there anymore?" I'm not going to go there and say, "You know what? We tried putting a world-class playground there, but the HPB said, "Nope. Sorry, not on Lincoln Road." Not going to happen. I don't believe they're going to I know. I'm just saying I And it's a
recommendation. It's not binding. Right. That's what That's what I'm saying is I'll I'll just my decision there will be and maybe they might come up with something that's an even better um uh use of space that we haven't contemplated because that's what they do. I don't think anybody's
suggesting that we're not going to do something purely based on one board's recommendation. They're advisory boards, but they're but because they're advisory boards, let's use their expertise and get some input and then we will take that into consideration along with everything else. This is not a a hidden
maneuver to try to thwart anything. No, I'm not saying you this is this is a goal to make it as good as it can possibly be and maybe in ways that none of us here are even contemplating. And that's perfect. Perfect. Mr. So let's let's move this along. I just have a question about that. Um
the process right now is we have a 30 60 and what what's the other percent for the new project for the playground? Yeah. We would we would do a 30 60 90% review 90. Yeah. Once we go through that process, right? So so so once this is
30% designed which is still pretty conceptual. Correct. the submittal to the formal submittal to HPB would be at a 30% level. So, but at that point there's still opportunity to do changes to the design. Yes, sir. Okay. And I think I I think what's important
to remember is, you know, ultimately it's a city commission that decides what you know whether there should be a playground there and that type of stuff that but you know the HPB gives your input as to okay this design is it
appropriate within this this area and all that. I don't want the HPB to have a chilling effect on our decision to place a children's play area or anything like that on Lincoln Road. I
think that's the jurisdiction of the city commission. And that's why I like the process that we have in place that at the 30% design stage, it goes to the HPB and the HPB at that point reviews it. Notwithstanding that, Mr. attorney.
Assuming that this is an issue that the HPB is concerned about without there having to be a referral to the HPB, couldn't the HPB make a motion, have their own discussion if they wanted to have a discussion about it and make a motion, a recommendation to the city
commission if they felt so inclined. Mr. Attorney, the HPP could certainly do that if the HPB is aware of this plan. Okay. Can I? So, so, so I think I I I think that gives everyone a fair opportunity. It
gives us our job. We're seeing the city beyond the optics of just historic preservation. We're seeing the city in the optics of economic development. We're seeing the city in providing services for families and making sure that we have adequate green spaces
available. We're seeing it through many different optics that the Historic Preservation Board is not looking at it from, but there is that opportunity for that at the right time for them to come in to chime in with their expertise and that I
think is is what's important. So, thank you, Mr. Chair. And through the chair, I I I totally echo that concern. I mean, I I I think I don't want to get into the habit of of having the electeds who were elected by Miami Beach
residents stifled by a non-elected board. I think at the I think we have a process in place where at 30% they they are more than welcome to chime in. They can chime in at any point apparently. So, I'm not going to be in favor of of Look, this is going to be a multi-year
project. I don't need we don't need to delay it even further. So, um, it's up to the rest of my colleagues if they want, but I'm not going to be supportive of a referral to the HPB. I can just add one thing. I would just like to add that there shouldn't be any fear behind an
additional um, public hearing. I think that public hearings allow people to weigh in and given the fact that Mel's building happens to be right there. At least give him the opportunity to go in front of the HPB and say, "If not this location, where else? And what do you think of it? And what can we do to make
it better?" I don't think that this is any attempt to thwart anything. All it is is allowing for an add there shouldn't be any fear. Don't be afraid. Okay? This is not about killing a public park. It's simply about allowing for an additional public hearing, which is by the way what we would have traditionally
always done. Encourage public input. I know that bothers some some of us, but it really shouldn't. It really shouldn't. And by the way, there the people that are appointed to the HPB are only looking at it through that lens. And you know, and
and the fact that we're even saying that the HPB can't be an advisory board is very very frightening to me. Um, Mr. Gomez, that you even said that because um that's just not true. But but with a border because we're you know, so
anyway, I'm not voting right now. I don't think a public hearing is a bad thing. Okay, we we're going to wrap this up. Um, the city attorney just mentioned that the historic preservation board can most certainly issue an advisory opinion if
they so choose. They don't need us. Imagine if we set the precedent that their opinion only comes when it when it's because the city commission is asking for it. I think it's it's within all the board's jurisdiction that if something is within their concern, they
can issue an advisory opinion within the area of scope of their committee. We don't need to do a referral. That's like almost saying you need to have permission from the city commission in order to give an advisory opinion on an issue. They can give an advisory opinion
on at any point. And and I think the city attorney has made that very clear. Yeah. and and this isn't going to not stop at the HPB. That's part of the process. Correct. Correct. Okay. So, let's move this forward. We'll remain with the process. If the HPB wants to uh issue some sort of advisory opinion,
they are more than happy to do so. So, if I can, we have nothing to put in front of them in. So, if I can, we'll show uh Commissioner Sor is making a motion return to commission with a favor recommendation to include the South of Uklid Circle Children's Playground in the city's 5-year capital improvement
program. Perfect. I I second. Okay. All in favor? I I showing none opposed. Pass three nothing. Thank you. Can we hear NB23? Uh is that what you're here for, Madame Mayor? What was it? NB23. She doesn't know me
either. The MDPL item. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to put my hearing aid. So you got to talk. Are you here for the MDPL item? Yes. If I can. MB MB23 because otherwise I'll be talking and that's why I don't come. That's exactly why I'm taking it
now. I I want to get you on with your day, which is exactly where I'm taking this now. MB23 discuss conflicts of interest, ethical concerns, re MDPL's multiple roles. NB23. And listen, I'm sure this
is a discussion that could range on all day. Uh it'd be great if we're able to wrap this up by uh 11:55 if that's uh feasible. Um let let's try and you know get on with it, have all sides. Commissioner Suarez, turn this over to you. I don't believe I'm going to be
able to finish this in 10 minutes, but um I I will do my best. Nine minutes. Um I would like to know is anyone from MDPL present? I am. Great. I am you want to
Good morning. My name is Nina Weberworth and I'm vice chair of the board of MDPL. Okay. Is as um Daniel Saldo is is ill and uh lost his voice and uh he is also uh res has resigned as the executive
director of MDPL. Okay. Thank you. Um I understand he resigns effective uh the end of the month 31st. Correct. Correct. Okay. I'm sorry. So um he resigned
forever forever. Yes. Correct. Okay. Okay. Thank you. So, um I want to first start out. You can have a seat. You want me to sit down? Yeah. I have a presentation. I I mean, you're more than
welcome to stand up. I just wanted to just start with a thought if if you don't mind. That's okay. I'll I'll I'll present and then you're more than welcome to speak. Okay. Oh, okay. I mean, the only thing I if if you don't mind, I have a floor. I'm I'm speaking
and I have a presentation. I'd like that the inspector general's here. A lot of people are are watching and they'd like to see what I have to say. So, you know, first of all, I want to start off by saying I I value historic preservation.
Okay? Almost every night I walk uh Flamingo Park from my house in in Meridian uh down to south of Fifth. And I I I truly love the architecture. I like that we're not a cookie cutter city. I like that the buildings that I
see there now were built in the 40s and it's a marvel. It's like walking down a museum I of a city every day, every night. Um it's something to cherish and and frankly that's why I decided to call
Miami Beach home. And um I think MTPL in in its truest form does good. Okay. I think your mission is valuable and that it serves a great purpose for
the city of Miami Beach. Unfortunately, I think under your past executives leadership, there has been many ethical concerns and conflicts of interest that have been raised. And so I I want to
make sure that I delineate between the MDPL's mission and certain people in your or was recently up until yesterday uh leadership. Okay. And I think that's important and I think you know I I don't
want to come off combative. Okay. And and I think the issues and the concerns that I'm going to raise to you and Lynette, you you should pay attention to because I think there are there are certainly
glaring issues um where moving forward you don't fall into that trap because I want MDPL to succeed. I don't want you your organization to be tainted by the actions of just a few. Um so uh with
that let me let me pull up the slideshow. Uh PJ can you put up um my presentation please. Okay so um you go next slide. So MDPL has special status. Okay they they're they're a nonprofit u
501c3. They have the visitor center. Um they have certain city privileges. they are guaranteed a seat on the historic preservation board which we were just talking about. Um they have special standing while other organizations would
not uh to actually appeal HPB decisions. Um they receive grants from the city uh hundreds of thousands of dollars. They also get inind um donations and the tunes probably
millions of dollars from the city for basically free rent uh that operates the visitor center. Um the the leadership the executive director engages uh the commissioners on policy decisions both in public and in
private um and including real estate development. And uh it has a unique status where it combines it's a nonprofit and it's a contractor and it has advocacy roles um with elevated influence on on our city
preservation boards. Okay. Uh next slide please. Uh, one of the issues that I saw uh that I realized when I when I was researching how many times your
executive director came to us and I want I want you to take a look at that graph. In 2014 up until 2019, there was a series of reg items to be
registered for lobbying. And in 2020 through 2025, there was only a total of 17 times that he registered to lobby for uh before the HPB or before
any items. Okay. And then when I did the research, when I literally looked at all the videos of the HPB planning board, there was over 180 separate items. and he failed to register on
those. Now there is no registration fee but even a nonprofit you have to register to lobby on an item. Okay. And so PJ can you go to the next slide please? These are all the appearances of only HPB and
that's this is not including the commission or the DRB. This is only the HPB and the planning board. And where I have the yet the yellow is the only sections where or the only items, excuse me, that he registered to lobby. Uh, next slide, please. And then you can go
next slide. And you go next slide. And you go next slide. And you go to next slide. And the next slide. So you can see that there were many instances where your executive director came before our
zoning boards and failed to register as a lobbyist. And under city code 2-482, any person who seeks to influence a decision of the city commission or administration must register as a lobbyist. It's it's it's strictly in our
code. And you know there's been a lot of issues lately with the registering to lobby u you know the standard hotel is I don't know if you've been following that there were many instances or there was an instance where the organization failed to register they were lobbying
and they were getting paid uh through a settlement agreement. Um so and it even says even if the executive director represents a 501c3 advocating um for or against city action especially tied development use
is lobbying. Um and so failing to register is a violation of the lobbying ordinance and undermines transparency especially since MDPL receives public grants and inind donations. So if you can go to the next slide please. Okay. Um, another issue that I
that was actually brought to my attention uh through a a public uh a citizen, a resident. Okay. Um, they did a public records request for all the
contributions that MDPL received since I think it was 2020. Okay. And uh what I found very very startling was a lot of the payments that were
received or quote unquote contributions were from developers. Developers contributing before projects were were opined by MDPL. And I'm not sure if you're aware of that, but I I have some
case studies here that uh I I'd like to go over. But before I do that, you know, why do I think that's a conflict of interest where developers and lobbyists are contributing thousands of dollars, tens of thousands of dollars to your organization before a project is
presented. I think that's a huge conflict of interest. So MDPL's dual status of both a city vendor and a grant recipient intensifies the need for disclosure and and recusal mechanisms. um advocacy for contributors without transparency is undisclosed lobbying
because I don't believe that and uh Daniel Seraldo has ever disclosed that he's gotten a contribution from this u the project vendor who who may be presenting and I'll go over a couple case studies so you can see um and and
let's go to the next slide please PJ okay so the issue one of the issues I have is is MDPL receives city funds in in kind grants in and and grants in terms of heart dollars uh while engaging in advocacy before the city commission.
Um so we don't know if the funds that we give MDPL are used for lobbying. Okay. So you can imagine that we're giving hundreds of thousands of dollars uh millions also in kind and basically
free rent and that money is being funneled to your executive director who then lobbies us on on legislative matters and not only us but zoning boards. Uh next slide please. So
um there's no disclosure unfortunately as of now where if MDPale or the executive director or through the executive director receive these funds that they they it there's no transparency in in saying that there was
a payment made and now we take a position. So uh next slide please. Okay. So, a a perfect case study is Ike. And uh this is the digital kiosk that I I I know one of my colleagues was very much
against when this was presented because it looked like sidewalk clutter, right? Um and believe it or not, MDPL had a position against um Ike and and this digital billboard that was going to be
presented everywhere. Um, but in November 13, 2023, Ike donated $5,000 to MDPL and then just under shy under a month, MDPL publicly changed its position on Ike's digital kiosk
information. Um, and then I I mean that to me when I see a $5,000 donation made and then MDPL changes their position one month after less than a
month. I think that is it's it's it's a reason to to concern. And it doesn't even stop there. I believe your grants manager, Matthew Golton, then registers as a lobbyist for Ike in March of 12 of
2024. Um, and then in October the same year in 2024, you get another $5,000. So that that's to me I look that's where I started to think, oh well maybe there maybe there's something here
that really needs to to be discussed openly and transparent. If you go to the next slide, please PJ. So, that was November 13th, 2023. There was a $5,000 donation. Next slide. And this just shows where MDPL has um
changed their position on December 12th, you know, one month after they received the $5,000 donation. Next slide, please. And this is where uh one of your other employees, Matthew Golton, actually registered as a lobbyist for Ike.
um and and then receives a a subsequent $5,000 donation. Next slide, please. Okay. Uh you don't have to go through this. You don't have to go through this video. PJ, you can go next. So, here's another case study. The national if I could. Um because I'm
pressing on time. I announced I have to leave at 12:15. I want to hear this out. Um where do you want to take this? Is it going through? I just want to finish. Well, I get I got I just need five more minutes. Um, so then there's going to be back and forth and things like that. Yeah. Well, I'd still like to finish my
presentation if that's okay with the chair if we can. We we get where we're going with this. If we could speed through some of this. Sure. So, another case study was a national hotel in 2022, November 8th, uh, the National Hotel donates $5,000 to MDPL.
And the same year, a couple months later, MDPL meets with the adjacent neighbor between there's dispute between the National and the Ritz Carlton. And all of a sudden, there is a position um against the
Ritz from MDPL. Okay. Um and then another $5,000 donation is made. Okay. Uh next case study, please. And ne next slide. And this is a little bit more um concurrent for the next case study. Next slide,
please. This is the Doville. This is what's happening right now. In September 9th of 2024, Terara Group donates $5,000 to MDPL.
Just a couple months later, MDPL goes on record favoring the project and in quote in literally in on the Miami Herald says, "This project is going to be even better than than the Doville." Okay. Um,
and you can go to the next slide. Okay. Um, you know, urbanistically, this new project was maybe even better than original. It's too It's one minute. accolades on the proposal as well. Okay, we go next
slide, PJ. So again, uh a donation is made, position is either changed or or made in favor of it. Uh okay, next slide, please. And so um you know, you could you could you could uh pause the
slideshow for for the sake of time, PJ. So when I see that there's a failure to register as a lobbyist, okay, uh for the last five years and there's only 12 instances and then but there's over
there's like almost 200 different items that he's appeared before uh HPB and planning board and commission. I think that's a huge problem. I think that violates our our our lobbying laws. And then when I
see developers and lobbyists paying U MDPL and those positions are somehow affected, I think that's a huge problem. Now listen, your your organization is more than welcome to receive
contributions. Correct. I I don't see the any issue with that. The issue that that I certainly have is that MDPL has certain special status with Miami Beach through our resiliency code. You have
seats on our board. You have appeal rights. Um, and to me, I think it's a it it's it's frightening to know that you're getting city funds and
you're getting funds from developers when projects are actually in play. I think that's a huge conflict of interest. And I I think I look I understand uh Daniel Saldo
resigned yesterday. Okay. Um, which it's curious to know that right before this meeting. Um, I like I said before, I I think this is I don't know if you knew about any of this. Okay. Um, I I think there
there are certainly issues of of transparency and and disclosure that is not being applied here. uh but when I see developers f you know contributing just months before projects are being opined
on from your board and from your executive director. I think that it doesn't look good and and I don't want that to happen to MTPL because I I do love your organization and I do and I and I stand for what you guys believe in. And like I said, I think
unfortunately with your past leadership, it has gone ary. Um and and by the way, I'm not the only one that feels that way. Okay? And I think you can hear from, you know, even our our former mayor who was a founding member of of
MDPL, she has serious reservations on how uh s Mr. Seraldo has really run your organization. Um because I don't want it to be tainted the way it has been up until this point. Um so look, I I'd love to hear some feedback. I'd love to hear
some comments. um and and see, you know, where this lands because I I don't think moving forward this is a a transparent way. Okay. Um how our city should be uh dealing with zoning matters uh especially with
an organization that has such special and and literally superpower abilities to appeal and influence our our decision- making. And commissioner, what are you what are you uh kind of envisioning from today? Is this just a discussion to have further dialogue back
and forth, some sort of motion or um well, essentially with new leadership here, uh form a working relationship? That that's what I'd like to propose that we are going to have new leadership. We are now in transition and
we can also work with you in setting the guidelines for who we can take contributions from and how we can always be put our best foot forward as a lobbyist when needed.
And I just wanted to just say as as I share you at 30 I lived on Ocean Drive for 32 years and um I treasure it as well and we're all in the process right now and trying to rebrand Ocean Drive as
really a mecca for historic and heritage tourism. And I envision MDPL, you know, being the cornerstone for that and and a hub of the community. And we want to work with the commission to make it as
such. Yeah. I just want to say as a person who respects numbers as I do, I get the implications. You've done a thorough job of your homework. I don't know as
someone that if an position could be influenced by a $5,000 donation, you certainly couldn't buy my support for $5,000 or any organization I chair for 5,000. You
know, maybe 500,000 we could start talking. But these are very little amounts of money. That doesn't mean I sanction this behavior. I want to be clear. Um, and I think I'm not directly
involved. The thing about MDPL is we're very complex organization because we have the museum, we run the tours, we have the visitor center that hosts people coming in and we have advocacy is which which these concerns are about.
I'm not on advocacy. I work with the museum and exhibits. Um but I think you brought an important point. We have to take a closer look because the optics are not good and you know but I think
the numbers are small. I don't think those influenced opinions but we should make sure that there are connections are noted. And I also noted that where Mr. Salaldo did
um register All of the ones you highlighted in yellow were yes when he registered as a lobbyist with the ones you showed pages where he lobbied but did not register. All the ones that were blue was no. So so
perhaps what we can do is when new leadership is in place I'd welcome this discussion to be furthered at the finance committee in plotting out a new path forward together. One thing that kind of gives me pause and this has nothing to do with any individual and
it's just my initial thought I'm not stuck to it is you know an organization receiving significant amount of taxpayer money then turning around and lobbying us. It just seems like it should be one or the other. But I'm happy to talk through some of those issues. Not now, but as we kind of uh bring this back to
the finance committee and plot out a better path forward. Uh Commissioner B, I'll hand it over to you. But Madame Mayor, if you want to uh speak as well, I'd like to um Yeah. So, just for those listening um who may not know, since it wasn't illuminated in the presentation,
um the way MDPL works is, as Lynette alluded and and Nina alluded, um it is a very complex organization and so there are different committees that do different things and the advocacy group meets as a group. It's three, four, five, six people depending on the year
of how many people are involved. Um, some people aren't even on the board of MDPL, but they're still part of the advocacy committee and they get presentations on on the projects and they weigh the merits of the projects and as a group they make a
recommendation. They formulate an opinion and make a recommendation. So, the recommendation is from the advocacy group. the executive director, whoever he or she may be, is then the representative at the meeting to share that opinion.
But it doesn't have to be. It could be anybody. So that's just how it works. Um and and um I want to make sure that that is plainly understood. Second of all, um there is a clear concern that I
share. I have I I'm not denigrating the issues raised, but I want to be transparent. I want it to be I want the issues to be transparent that the organization has been under fire multiple times over the last decade and
has almost been run out of town successfully in the last five years or so. And so I want to be sure that as we go forward we allow people uh who are putting together a new structure with a
new management um and a and um um a new vision on how to move forward. Give them the opportunity to do the correct thing. For instance, under the previous um um chairman of the board, who has not been
on the board for years, um things were not handled very well from a financial perspective. when he was forced off the board, which triggered a whole bunch of drama that almost ran MDPL out of town. When MDPL
was safely reconstituted, the first thing that was done was to bring the financials up to snuff in the best possible way. Forensic accounting, three years of audits, everything. I can't even remember the details. It's all out in the public. So, there's nothing.
Yeah, there is a lot of very good work that has been done in terms of getting the organization to where it needs to be. It has also grown in its impact and import in the city dramatically from a number of concerned citizens and residents appining to an organization
that has a lot of money moving through it for art deco weekend and um there was somebody who passed away who bequeathed an enormous gift for NDPL which is a game changer. There was a it was all legit. He was dead. He wasn't lobbying
for anything. Um there there was fundraising and I believe it continues um to help fund the new museum because the city would match funds that were fundraised for the new museum. um there. So, it's gone from being sort of this
little band of activists to a big organized um 501c3 that now has many more functions than it has had in years past. And sometimes leadership isn't
always, as you well know, my my friends in business and finance, we've all been involved in startups. Sometimes the person who starts the organization is not the person to lead it into the next chapter. And I believe that um with all that Daniel has done that is good for the organization. It is time for a
transition. Yeah. And the new leadership will enable this organization to grow into its role more fully, more properly, doing things um the way it now demands because of the scrutiny on it because it is in a different role than it used to
be. And I think that is a very valid conversation. I just want to separate though the perception that anything MDPL MDPPL does is bad and corrupt because that is not true and I will never support that. And I would even go so far
as to say that I don't believe anything that Daniel did and I don't know because I'm not Daniel, but I think he is acting was acting in what he thought was the best capacity for the organization and in some cases incorrectly but not for
any personal gain other than furthering the mission of the organization. So I wanted to put that on the record because I know there are a lot of people who have a lot of feelings one way or the other and I want to make sure that that this is a more wholesome discussion and I really appreciate the opportunity to
have everyone come back in a couple of months when your new uh leadership is hired. hopefully somebody from with much broader experience um from a bigger organization that can really take MDPL where it is now which is already significantly elevated from where it has
been and bring it into the 21st century in the best possible way. Thank you. Commissioner Fernand could I say one thing? I think you that you've raised some issues that the board could consider um voting on like should we accept donations from developers? I
didn't know we were. Obviously, I have the right to examine. You didn't know you guys were accepting donations from developers? No. And it's I work in the museum and the redoing of the museum. Well, I'm just saying there are issues
we could address on procedural issues that the board can make definitive decisions on how we want to go forward. And personally, I'll keep a closer eye on the donations we do receive. I have access but I don't look at them
individually what the money we get that's I'm not the treasurer nor am I an advocacy committee madam mayor and I think that's the problem and I think that we used to have that in place and when Danielle came in it changed not
only did it change but they changed the bylaws that only them can select who comes in and who doesn't come in and So, I agree that the board and I was going to ask that question. Does the board
votes on the P on even if it's after the fact on the uh on the um projects that are supported by MDPL. And if they don't, they should because you need the
board is the heart of the community and it's the heart of the preservation and if the board is kept divided and she's in the museum and she's in I forgot already
whatever it is and I am in someplace else the divide and conquer comes in and in in the meantime whoever ever is executive director is the one pulling the strings on everybody around them. So
I want to first clarify that I am here in support of MDPL as an organization and that if anything happens to try to destroy that core
organization that has other people say they did it but was the one that started the redevelopment of Miami Beach particularly South Beach that then went all to Miami Beach. I will be front
running this against I have never and I'm putting it on the record clearly liked Daniel. Daniel broke the organization because he wanted to be paid $116,000 at the very beginning, which I
don't remember what year that was because I that's why I keep young. I don't remember the years passes but that was a lot of money that we knew other people because I was not in the
organization we knew MDPL could never sustain because I don't think we paid it with all the other money now you have an organization that is complicated that was run for
over 25 years 30 years I don't remember that either Uh, and it had our deco, it had the store, it had the walking tour, it had auditioners so that we could give out and they can walk. We had all the same
things that they have. The only thing that has happened is that Daniel loves to do events and so now the organization has become an event person. He sends event here. He he publishes all the
events in Miami Beach and puts it in the MDPL. I believe that if he's out, I asked the question as long as it's permanently. I think that the way of getting into MDPL, should we had a process that if members
came in and nominated a person from the street, whoever that person was, it would get considered, that was taken away because that's how we were doing it to get into it. And so it became a close organization. whoever he could control
and he can only control it by the divide and conquer. They need to know the finances. I don't understand how a board could be an actual board, they're telling me to lower my
voice. I'm not yelling. I'm just passionate about Madam Mayor, you are much more liberal about the use of the microphone on that side than you are on Tuesday morning breakfast club. And so I think that's the first step is
good. I am only very sorry that he's running for commission because if he gets on the deas he will do the same thing here. He will do the same thing because that's his motives operandis. So
for MTPL I'm here. I'm glad it's permanent. I have the answer that the votes were not that the board was never advised. How could you not look at the finances? We get the finances. I'm not saying but I look at every donation.
Yeah. Well, from now on maybe you should, but I am here to support MDBL statement. For the record, the finances are in excellent shape. Our our the chairman of the board, Joel Lavine, is focused on this. Not every member
focuses on every item. So Lynette may be focusing on the women's history exhibition and and other people are on the finance committee. There is a whole finance committee. I I invite anybody to go look for the you know u request the finances and you will you'll see that
they are impeccable. Yeah. This is not the first I'm just please please this is not the first time I have complained about this. I have complained to a variety of people. I'm sorry I didn't think of the uh inspector general
because I'm not there that mean but I like to fix the problem for MDPL. Thank you Commissioner Fernetus. Thank you Mr. Chair and thank you Madame Mayor and to Nina and Lynette for your volunteer service. I want to begin by recognizing
the Miami Design Preservation League for its historic and undeniable contributions to our city. For nearly 50 years, MDPL has served as a cultural steward and as a voice for preservationists in our community when
perhaps that did not exist. playing a leading role in saving and celebrating the iconic art deco historic district that has helped make Miami Beach famous around the world. Thanks to NDPL's efforts dating back to Barbara Kappenman
and a group of determined volunteers like Maddie that were chaining themselves up to buildings and I think Nina, you may have been there as well back in the 70s. Our city didn't bulldoze its past. Instead, we honored
it. We protected it. We built an economy around it. And the league's advocacy has helped secure the district's placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and created a foundation for cultural tourism that continues to
benefit us all to this day. And I've seen as as we were we've mentioned in the past its important work of even against the uh resiliency and unsafe structures act that was going after our collection of art deco buildings. The league's advocacy in
Tallahassee was instrumental uh in helping us in our fight to accept uh that from from preeemption. They've educated millions through their museum, through the historic walking tours, through the art deco weekends. They've
trained uh local artists. They instilled civic pride in our built environment. Their record of preservation is next to none and is commendable and it is indeed historic itself. None of that
good can exempt any organization. no matter how storied, no matter how beloved, from questions of accountability and from questions of
transparency. Today, we're not questioning MDPL's contributions. Those are undeniable. I think we are examining whether it's recent financial
relationships comply with our ethical standards and I don't think just ethical standards of the days I think of the community as well and I think we owe it to our residents to ensure that all charitable organizations not just
MDPL engaging in the political discourse or even getting having operating agreements to manage facilities that they that that
that they do so transparency when they're soliciting funds that they do it ethically when they're soliciting funds that they do it without a perception of impropriy so this is not a moment about cancelling the past I think we celebrate everything
that MDPL has done. And I think this is a moment that is a moment of unity. Not to uh quote uh our chairman Joe Magazine, but I think the unity here is that there's a desire from both sides. The sponsor of this of this item,
Commissioner uh Suarez, wants to make sure that donations don't influence the advocacy. And I see from the board leadership that's present before us today, a desire to work together on
policies to make sure that MDPL doesn't stop operating, that it continues operating into the future, upholding the highest levels of ethics, appearances that make sure that advocate for historic preservation and for the good
of the community without the influence of any contributions from entities that have business before our land use sports. I do have to say that um this might sound corny. I got teeyed,
you know, seeing the contributions to like from Ike and then after Ike made a contribution that then the position changed. That to me was heartbreaking. Why? Because I trust the integrity of
the organization. I formed difficult decisions that were unpopular based on the opinion that we get from these advocacy organizations because we trust the advocacy organizations. We trust the volunteers
in the advocacy organizations to be taking positions that are in the best interest of the community. And when I see that there was a contribution and then right after the contribution the position changed and that I base my
position and my decision in part trusting in the integrity of the organization that to me it was person is personally heartbreaking to me because I trust people and I want to
always think the best of people and the people are coming forward especially taking these positions in the best interest of the public. So, Nina uh and Lynette, I want to thank you both for coming forward not in a combative spirit but in the spirit of collaboration so
that we make sure that there is a future for NDPL, a future of advocacy, a future of preservation, but doing it in a way that any contribution is of is of the highest levels of transparency and ethics and maybe deciding do we want to continue
getting taxpayer support or and if we do maybe then we forfeit any developer support whatsoever. And I think that that should be the policy. If you get taxpayers dollars, we're not going to be getting dollars then from entities that do development or business in the city
because that's the standards we govern ourselves by also as elected officials when we go out to our campaigns. So, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. So, just in in interest of time, can we say we're going to have you back at this committee in three months when you have new leadership in place? and and I don't
know if 3 months is going to be the right timing in terms of how long it's going to take us to uh play and get new leadership. So time frame bull market for something like that. Yeah. Whether it's 3 months, four months, five months, six months, I
I want to give you your form to come back and work collaboratively with this commission. and and if it's if it's all possible, maybe there's an open and public way of how you do select a new executive director. And I I think, you know, considering that the MDPL does
receive a significant amount of money in city and taxpayer funds, I think that that process should be open and transparent in a public fashion, and I'd be more than happy to host it here in chambers of how that's of how that's uh voted on. Well, let's have followup. I I
team, we've been at this for 50 minutes. I I've had to leave for 20 minutes. Um let's see you back in 3 months and if there's some other things in the interim, we can have one-off conversations. But let's wrap this up. So chair, we'll show the item was presented. A presentation by
Commissioner Suarez was added to the record. Representatives of the MDPL spoke about enacting organizational returns and for MDPL to return uh to discuss when appropriate or in three months. Excellent. Um, I'm going to try and speed through some things. Thank you so much for your time. What everything
does, I'd have much more nicities, but in interest of efficiency, huh? Yeah, we we're going to have that. Um, thank you. Quick items that I think are just going to be referrals basically to staff. Uh, and then I have to get out of here and
then we're going to uh, Mayor, I'm sorry for having you here. That'll be a little more uh, robust of a conversation. But I just want to call 19 and 20 NB1 19 and 20 that I think are just going to be, you know, we hear from staff and we're going to put the ball in your corner uh because I don't have time for drawn out
conversations. Okay, we'll start with that. MB20 discuss the management operation of a public beachfront concession agreements uh as it pertains to the sale of alcoholic beverages and advertising sponsorship opportunities NB19.
Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Yes. Um morning. I am here today on this item because I know that we have been needing to raise public funds whether it pay for the expansion of Muscle Beach. I like
that or our sanitation fund or even the debt on um or even some of the debt on this new water and sewer bonding that we have. And so um that is why I am considering a
like considering amending this agreement of alcohol to sell beer, wine, and champagne um on the beach as partners in a partnership which would be uh lucrative, incredibly lucrative and significant and
could possibly um help us um fiscally because we know that we have issues. So, as long as we find the right revenue stream, what I would like is for the administration to go back and negotiate
um these sales so that potentially we can what is the what how much are we lacking in the sanitation fund right now? Well, I don't think this would go through the sanitation, but for Well, I don't know. It could it could go anywhere these funds that we're going to make. But I think that what's what could
happen here um beer and wine sales on the beach could generate a lot of money and Miami Beach as partners with the Buché Brothers. I think that would be um something that we can explore because I know that we need um revenue sources for
playgrounds for and something that's recurring. Exactly. For me it it's not even so much about the revenue although that's a extremely important point. For me it's actually regulating the sale of this. Like I I go to Third Street Beach. My mom goes there every day. And mom,
I'm sorry because I know you have your favorite guy you buy margaritas from. Uh but you feel like you're in Kusell, Mexico. It is so cheap and run down. You hear margarita, margarita, pinina colada. And now they're selling empanadas out of backpacks. They're
selling weed. So what? Weed everything. So regulating this removes the black market because right now regulating sales. No, I'm kidding. How much money do we need? No, but yeah,
you you sit on Third Street, you feel like you're on a cheap cruise, right? All the people that are walking by with their backpacks selling margaritas and things like that. It is so rund down and cheap. Um, let's just kick it over to city staff and come back and see what
the different possibilities are. Commissioner's work. I was just about to say the same thing, but in the sake of time, I I'll I'll move the item in favorable recommendation. I'll second. Okay. Okay. So, we'll show the item return to commission with a favorable recommendation to direct administration negotiate an amended agreement with
Bushi Brothers, my VH LLC to implement the sale alcoholic beverages and advertising sponsorships. Who made the motion? I did. I have a question. And then the second before we we close the vote, I do I do have a question. Um, city Mr. City attorney, maybe you
can help me understand a little bit. Um, I this like falls in this sort of gray zone, right? Like the hotels currently can sell booze because of whatever concession agreements they have. However, it is not legal to drink on our
beaches. And so, how do we reconcile that? And then also, are we opening the door for every um um a private condo that is upland of the beach to then petition to have their,
you know, little in-house cantina also sell alcohol. So, this is a complicated question that I can't answer immediately because the limited research that I have done prior to today's meeting um and conversations
that I've had, in order to sell alcohol, you need to have a permanent structure. Um the other issue is going to be where is that structure located? There are limitations in our beachfront management agreement with the state of Florida. So there are a lot of issues that need to get worked through in order for
something like this to to work. Um will this uh result in other beachfront concessionaires, some of the private property owners that already have concession agreements uh to want the same? Sure, that could happen. But I think it's all going to depend on what the state's requirements are for
obtaining a liquor license. Um, and that might limit uh what can actually be done. So I think there's a lot of due diligence that needs to be done both by the city as well as by our concession partners to see what exactly is possible. So before we vote favorably on
something that we like in concept it seems like it could be a good thing but in actuality we don't know yet what it looks like, how it works, who would be eligible for it, would it require that we have additional new structures on the beach. Would would we not be more prudent to bring this back next month?
Would that be part of the proposal? That's what this is. So this is just for staff to go and explore and see what's feasible. So we're not like agree we're not saying oh go out and sell alcohol. just for staff to sit here and say here's what is potentially and when does that come that's but that's coming back to commission right instead of to here
right so I would suggest it might make sense to come back here before it goes back to commission that works absolutely so we show the item that is referred to commission to negotiate and the return to fk for finalization well not even negotiate necessarily but lay out the the program the menu of options we can
do and and with with obviously the city attorney because I I we'll bake it here in finance And then if it approves, we'll send to the commission. I think that the if if I may, I think that would happen is the commission would direct administration I mean to staff to to negotiate and begin to put that together
and come back to FK. Sure to hash out those details. But no, that's not what I'm saying. Okay. I what I'm not I'm not saying go hash out the details with a concessionaire. I'm saying come back to us at FK and explain what it could look like regardless of who the concessionire
is, regardless of if it's going to apply to private condos or not. Like let us hear this full the ramifications of all this before we go recommending to go negotiate with the I think that's what we're saying. That's I don't think that's what Jason is saying. But if I if I may through the chair, um I think we
need to work collaboratively with the concessionire because there are things that the concessionire is going to need to tell us as to what they're able to do or willing to do. Um I think it would be much more expedient to do it that way and then once we have a model the
commission can decide how broadly or in what limited capac but it's not a negotiation it is a factf finding it's putting something together securing proposals is my understanding is to secure a proposal and discuss how this could actually work in practice. So,
okay. So, I know I'm I'm parsing this, but brainstorming I'm fine with uh negotiating and securing a pro proposal. I'm not fine with because I think that is one step too far. Let's see. Let's get the brainstorming results back. Let's see what the framework would be. And then we say, okay, this is something we want to proceed with. Let's see how
we can, you know, who's interested in and and I think that's where I want to go with this, right? Let's see. Do we only do it on beaches in front of hotels? Do we only do it on beaches not in front of hotels? We only do it uh with with like this is very preliminary, right? So I'm not asking to secure any
type of contractor or proposal. Come back with a menu of the different options on both the alcohol and the advertising and say here's basically the possibilities in front of us. Oh 100%. If I may then what I would do is I believe then strike the term negotiate amended agreement and maybe put in
develop a framework. Yes. Frame a potential possible. Sure. Sure. Exactly. Okay. So we'll show it return to commission of the federal recquidation direct administration to develop a framework with the Bushier brothers my beach LLC to implement the sale of
alcoholic beverages and advertising and to return to FK for further development. Yeah, Mr. Chair, uh good afternoon. Ralph Andrade represent Buché Brothers. Um, I just want to make sure that as part of the the referral, um, because I think it's it's highly relevant to the
discussion is that we're able to discuss with staff potential, u revenue sharing, uh, what the financials of this framework may look like. I just want to make sure staff understand front and center because I have we all have uh a
health and wellness area to fund. We have playgrounds to fund. So, uh, we're looking for dedicated revenue sources to do so. Okay. Making sure It doesn't have to be the Boucher brothers. I know that's who you represent, but hypothetically speaking, there could be somebody who does just
this who is more suited to the task at hand. I don't know because we haven't discussed what the framework is. So, could be the Bush brothers, could be somebody else, could be decide that we decide, you know what, it's not worth it. I I just want to make sure that this is not something a brainstorming that would only be relevant to the Bush
brothers if if we come up with something that we like. Yeah. If staff says, you know, here's our other options, this is as open-ended as possible for you. I I want you to put on your creativity. I haven't spent too much time thinking about the different details and dynamics. This is for you to go out and
kind of do your magic and and work with the police as well because they're going to have to be enforcing and, you know, making sure that the dudes selling everything out of their backpacks are, you know, that's a whole different conversation, but like it needs to be a holistic approach. A woman out there that sell it. dudes in
the non-gendered version of it. Thank you. If I may a bit presumptive, dudetss and everybody in between if I may. So and then we'll strike uh Buché Brothers LLC from it. So it' be return to commission with favorable recommendation recommendation to develop a framework to implement the sale of alcoholic
beverages and and advertising sponsorships uh on the beach and to return to FK for for further discussion when appropriate. Perfect. You made that motion. be clear that that part of those conversations course you're our concession so because sometimes I know
staff takes the direction literally and if it doesn't reference Buché brothers they won't talk to them so that includes the Bush brothers right thank you includes but not limited to but not we love competition I I believe it was it was um moved by commissioner Suarez I
have a second I'll say all in favor I hearing none opposed it pass three nothing thank you madame mayor uh sorry for keeping you waiting Uh we would love to have you come up and um I'm going to have to leave part of the way through your conversation, but I am supportive
of the direction that we're going in here. I don't know if I can pre-register a vote. Uh I can for this and also for uh uh for my friend and colleagues item um NB20. Thank you.
uh MB20 referral to discuss adding infertility treatment as a benefit for planned participants insured under the city's self. Well, we're hearing 17, but I'd like to pre-register the mayor. Sorry. Discuss possible interlocal
agreement between the city of Miami Beach and North Bay Village for extending Miami Beach trolley route MB17. We love Mayor. Good afternoon, colleagues. It has been actually a lot of fun and fascinating
watching your meeting this morning. I commend each of you for your dedication to public service for the cleareyed way that you evaluate these issues and for your ability to engage productively with one another despite some disagreements. We are here because the North Beach
Bandshell and the Normandy Fountain Business Association, our residents and North Beach Business owners have encouraged North Bay Village to be proactive about getting my residents to come and spend money in Miami Beach's
businesses. And that's something that I can get on board with because it involves encouraging multiple mobility and multimodal options between our two communities. As you all know, North Bay Village is your immediate neighbor to the west along the 79th Street John F.
Kennedy Causeway. We are very excited about the possibility of partnering with Miami Beach. This was one to extend the North Beach trolley into North Bay Village. We
believe that the most prudent path forward at this time is to pilot that trolley extension during the culture crawl events which I believe happen once a month on the third Thursday of the month. Um so we'd like to pilot the
culture crawl trolley. I think the hours should be reasonable so that people can enjoy their night in North Beach um and not have to rush back to catch a trolley. Um, and then I'd like to continue to expand the conversation and have uh more detailed discussion about
the costs to actually extend the trolley for regular service going forward. So, option two on your briefing is the the pilot through culture crawl. I'm perfectly happy and would be grateful to move forward with option two at this time. Um, but then I'd like to have
evidence-based um, encouragement that the extension would make sense and then we can talk about the extension. So, I'd welcome your questions. I'd love your support. Um, we want to promote this throughout North Bay Village. We had a really successful event at the Bandshell. Thank
you, Vice Mayor Bot, for joining me on the stage at the Banshell to express unity between our two communities. Um, you know, I I've got a year and a half left. not a lot of time, but um I want to bridge the gap between our two communities um and strengthen those relationships through this trolley
pilot. Mr. Any questions? Yeah. So, I I I want to say thank you for coming, Mayor. I really appreciate it. Um I I think there is definitely a need to connect the trolley between Miami Beach and North Bay Village. When you do a
ride share service like that, it lessens the impact of traffic. for example, and traffic on North North Beach is is horrendous. Um, and so anything that we can do to to limit that. Um, as far as extending, you know, for option two,
going above and beyond just the culture crawl, you know, what is North Bay Village willing to bring forward if we were to extend the trolley to to North Bay Village? We're going to contribute financially. So, we would need I my understanding is right now that the city
is on a month-to-month contract with its trolley provider that you're going out to bid for a new provider. So, the figures financially are in flux. Once you guys have a clearer sense of what the expense would be under a new provider scenario, I would love to get
that data. Tell me what it's going to cost. We can have a negotiation. Um, and we have CITT funds that can be used to extend the trolley. And I also have probably three or four development agreements that will be negotiated in the next six months. So we will have um
private contributions to our villages transit options. Under the current plan, let's say nothing changed, what would North Bay Village be willing to contribute? If let's just assume that was the current plan. If the current
plan were to extend the trolley, um well, the finances of of what we pay for, you know, what would North Bay Village be willing to Which option are you referring to be there? Then the number two, the option number two is the pilot for a culture crawl, which is just not not the pilot. The option one is is
for the extension. Um I can't tell you how much we'd be willing to contribute because that would be poor negotiation skills on my part. I don't know what it's going to cost, Commissioner. Um, but we do have over a million dollars in unspent CITT funds. Okay. So, I guess u
and let me let me recognize some of my colleagues. Commissioner B, Vice Mayor Bot. Um, thank you. Um, I would, for the record, I'd like to be a co-sponsor on this. I think this is awesome and the mayor and I have had multiple conversations over the last few months and the most recently with Jose and his department.
Um, this memo encapsulates everything um, exactly and I'm very much in favor of um, starting ASAP the option two to pilot this so we can collect the data to determine as Jose is negotiating our new trolley vendor contract what makes the
most sense because we might think it's the greatest thing in the world and we find out that actually nobody uses it or we might find out um, that we think it's going to be a great thing and people are clamoring for something every day multiple more routes and so we need to get the data collected as soon as
possible so that we don't hamper our negotiation for what we need here in the city um by adding this late to the pro process. Um traffic is abysmal in North Beach and going across that bridge is a huge part of it and as North Beach um
really starts to blossom in the best possible way in organic ways with the band shell and the Normandy fountain activations and great restaurants and cool little shopping. We want to encourage people to visit this um and and use this as their neighborhood too.
Just not drive there. That's all we're saying. Um so, you know, we talk all the time about parking and driving and affordable housing and how that all intermixes. And this is this if it works as well as we think it would. um not only will be a big step towards that,
but could also be, you know, um uh proof positive that we could conceivably extend this up to the surf side as well and take even more cars off the road. So, um I would move this um with with my colleagues input to um to move with option two immediately and and um and
you know, let us know what you need to to get going. A big a big step toward annexation. Take it back. Take it back. Commissioner Fernandez, I think Commissioner Bond uh state stated it well. It's it makes just perfect sense.
Uh it's long overdue. Uh so I don't need to restate everything. So proud to see the mayor here and to see the And Jose, where are we with the negotiations? So the negotiations are currently ongoing. We're towards the tail end. We expect to
be before this body probably hopefully next month. Oh, good. uh once we've got uh a deal uh at least on on pencil to bring to bring before the FK that was a direction to come before FK before we go to the city commission. So we're we're
aiming for next month's uh meeting. Can I just So um if you are coming next month with a deal, we're not going to have data collection by then. So um or with a proposed deal. So, um, how do we ensure that we're not
locked into something which then our vendor can say, "Oh, wasn't part of the contract, not doing it or hold us over a barrel, say, "Sure, we'll do it, but it'll be $10 per head per ride." How do we protect ourselves? Uh, in our negotiations, uh, the bottom line, what
we're negotiating is a hourly rate per service hour, a rate per service hour. And that can fluctuate. we can add we can take away as long that's really the key number and then we can always add to the route we can always add more vehicles if we add a higher cost right
so that's what I thought in our conversations you had said that the hours weren't as big of a deal as it was to factor in if we need additional trolleys correct because sometimes extending a route it's not so much the the distance but the fact that um it may
it may exceed the thresholds established in the contract for passenger weight times or headways, which is so could could it could it be negotiated so that um potentially in six months we come back to them and say and we're going to execute an additional five trolley at
the pre-approved rate. So, it's not they're not holding us to well, you didn't say in the contract, so now we're going to charge you double. But just put in a clause in there that we have the right to extend our our trolley service at the same rate
up to an additional five or 10 trolleys or something like that. AB: Absolutely. What we're negotiating is a sliding scale that the the more hours we operate, the the lower the cost, if you will. There's economies of scale, but
that allows us to to be flexible and add or remove um portions of of a route or add a new route, for example. But but I thought I just heard you heard you say that um if we add a trolley because it's
not just the route, it's the actual vehicle that will come at a more expensive cost than the let's say 50 that we're buying now for the new contract. Correct. because of the service hours. The service hours increases and that will increase the the the cost. It's not it's it's it's not
necessarily the fact that it's an additional trolley. It's just more hours uh that are being served. So the cost of the trolley acquisition is baked into the hours served. Correct. Okay. It it comes down to hours of service. Okay.
and the cost of one hour and we multiply that by however many hours uh we operate and that gives us flexibility to to add and remove uh routes as as needed. And is there any cap on that? Like do they say yes sure but you can't do more than
20? No, it's a sliding scale where and it it can go up to however high we want it to to go to. It allows for expansions. Yes. Can we put in the contract we want infinity trolleys just to say just to see what they do. Okay. Um, so I
think I think we're all I'd like to speak. So, first of all, I'm now a voting member on the committee. So, that you have all three members of the committee here. I'd just like to recognize that. You know what, mayor, I'm really happy that we're um entering
into these types of interlocal agreements because for too long, I mean, we really do all exist so closely together. and it's the first time that I've seen a mayor from North Bay Village in all of my years here um come before us. Um so, you know,
I'm completely supportive of this. I'm really looking forward to seeing what we're negotiating in terms of trolleys, if it will even be a trolley. I'm really hoping we get something snazzier like some cool kind of van type thing. Correct. What? or um something that is a
little bit uh more user friendly than this trolley that is difficult for many seniors to get on and off of with the kneeling trolley. So hopefully whatever this is, Jose, and how how far away are we, Jose, from finalizing the entire
trolley um the uh executing a new contract or initiating the new service? Initiating a new service. initiating the new service will depend on the vehicle that's ultimately selected. Um different vehicles have different manufacturing
times. So it it it can be it can be anywhere between um eight months to a year and a half, you know, depending on on on the vehicle. So we're still ironing that out. Uh but there's a high demand for certain vehicles. So um you
know, as soon as we put in the order, we're in a queue, but it may it you already know which one you're going to pick. I have not been involved in the procurement process. So hopefully I mean I don't know what will happen but hopefully it will not be a trolley at all and it will be some sort of electric snazzy streamline thing that's very easy
for seniors and people anybody with wheels of any kind can get on and off. I think you've already know that because we've okay beaten that dead horse. So thank you. Welcome come back with more ideas of how we can you know collaborate. Commissioner Fernandez.
Thank you Mr. Chair Jose, while you're at the podium, where are we on the similar discussion with Damian Partardo over in the city of Miami and, you know, exploring the connection, the trolley connection between Miami Beach and downtown Miami. I think we have a
meeting pending with the city of Miami folks to to go over some of, you know, just to discuss with them the potential of and in terms of where the stops should be. So that's that's occurring on a parallel basis, but uh we're pending a meeting with the city of Miami. Okay. Uh
because we had a meeting last month. Uh so has anything has there been any progress in the in the in between? There has internally but we haven't we haven't met yet with city of Miami because this is I mean and and I think this is the important thing for the public to see
that we are working not only in seeing how we move people within our our municipal limits. But the greatest challenge that we deal in terms of transportation and traffic in our city is people not necessarily moving within
our city, but the traffic of people leaving our city that is causing a lot of that gridlock between 3 and 7 p.m. And so we're trying to find ways that we can work with our neighboring municipalities and help people move between the boundary lines of cities
because that's the key thing. moving within cities. It's, you know, that's great, but the key thing is how do we move within the region more efficiently? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Of course. Uh, so one last thing before we wrap up. Um,
do you would it be okay if we re from a staff's point of view recommend option one and two so that when you negotiate with the trolley company, you can you can incorporate maybe an allocart option that North Bay Village wants to sign on. I don't know if you need a favorable
recommendation for one to proceed with that negotiation. I I think what I was thinking in hearing the you know the discussion let's keep it a little bit little bit open because it seems like this might be a a growing uh kind of uh relationship perhaps if if I may offer to return the commission with a
favorable recommendation the direct administration to negotiate with North Bay Village and interlocal agreement for the implementation of a joint trolley operation maybe to keep it that open and that lets the parties uh develop that relationship and return to our commission and obviously your commission
to iron you know to get those details ironed out when they return to commission for approval and they haven't we haven't gotten as far down the path with Surfside, but I know that I've been speaking to commissioners there over the last year about doing the same thing up there. So, I don't know if that helps or hurts or if we do this sort of as a
proof of concept of how it can work with another city. I I I defer to you guys on how I can if I can add a little flavor to that one. In my prior job as the assistant city manager in Surfside, I negotiated a joint use uh merging the
trolley with B Harbor North Bay Village and Surfside all together was a very complicated operation and it involved Mamed County who going to the county because you were going outside the amount of miles that the county code allowed by law at that point and at the time commissioner Heymon sponsored an
ordinance to amend the way that the sir tax funds could be used and since then that's been amended. Yeah. So there had been some complications and but Fernandez is definitely on top of that encyclopedia over here. Um so if we're okay with the motion yeah that that I
I'm okay with that. Commissioner will show Commissioner Bot as the motion maker and add me as a co-sponsor please. We'll do and second. Uh all all in favor I I and we're going to uh oh Commissioner um are you all in favor? Yes. We'll show it
past three nothing. Thank Um, okay. So, let's let's try to clear up some more of these items. Um, Mr. Chair, real quickly, I just want to thank you all one more time and ask who to follow up with to discuss the hours of the cultural crawl pilot. Vice Mayor, I'm
happy to look forward to following up in real time. Thank you so much. Have a great rest of your day. As a co-sponsor, this is so cool. I love it. We will show uh Commissioner Fernitz also added as a co-sponsor. We're going to call it the wheels on the bus. Wheels on the bus. I love it. So, let's try to clear some of
the more of these items. C4 I uh is the FIRK item number. I'm sorry, it's not. How about Oh, okay. The wraparound palm tree lighting on 71st Street. That would be MB2. Discuss extending the wraparound palm tree lighting on 71st
Street from east of Normandy Fountain to Collins Avenue. MB2. Good morning, J. Fank Public Works. The item before you uh is the extension of the wraparound lighting in similar to areas which had been um extended
Washington Avenue, Ocean Drive West, and a few of those others. The same uh general theory applies here. There is a cost um to do this uh $26,000 and that does include as had
been previously not only installation but also looking for a bid waiver um so that this could uh take place relatively quickly. Um it would be required to do that. That's the price that's been provided and that's with the same vendor
that had been done used doing the other lights in throughout the city. I have questions. Commissioner B. Um is is there a possibility to fund any of this through the North Beach CRA
funds? I know it's not a permanent installation, but is there some part of it? I don't know if um Maria I don't know. I don't mean to put you on the spot, but is there a But I'm going to put you on the spot. Is there a possibility to fund this kind of lighting for North Beach through the
North Beach CRA? I know there, if I may, and maybe Maria or Heather here can speak more to it, but I know there are certain limitations. I'm not sure if this is one of them, but maybe Marina. Um, I don't know all of the details about what the limitations are.
Um, we I know you don't want to hear this, but we want to start um being more strategic with all of our money in the CRA because, you know, we're going to need it for potentially bigger things. Um, so I want to be careful about what
we commit in the CRA. Um, I mean, if if it's an and with lighting, you know, we always have that issue uh between permanent versus temporary. So, I'd have to get back to you and give you that
information. We only have about a million and a half dollars, I believe, total, but right, we only have that now, but 72 Park is coming online this year, and that's going to be a big cash infusion this year. And then we've got the three other buildings that are already in construction. um maybe four,
I don't even remember, which will most likely, God forbid, there's a hurricane or something, come online next year. So, yes, we're only at a million dollars now, but we will be at significantly more by the end of this year and by the end of next year and by the end of the year after that. Um, so I would like to
find out what part of this could be defayed by CRA funds. I agree with being strategic rather than, you know, kind of willy-nilly, which is kind of how we've been approaching it because it's been a small amount of money and small asks. Um um and I would also like, um I don't
know how to do this properly, but as a companion piece or you know, extending this to go not only from Collins to Normandy Fountain, but also to go from 75th to 63rd. And um you know we have seen the difference it makes in the vibe
if you will the vibe check um even on se on 41st street which is a pretty uninteresting street to drive down and I say that with all love because that's where I lived for 13 years with my kids um and it just feels much fantastic. It just feels like a zippier place to be
and it just infuses it with the Miami Beach energy. And you know, if we're doing it there and we're doing at Washington Avenue and we're doing it on on Collins and we're doing Limitless Park, why on earth are we not giving North Beach the same love? So, I don't know if we can expand this particular item to do that or if we need to bring a
second and bring it all the way back or if we can do it as an amendment. We could also bring it to the North Beach CRA the group. Yeah. If if I may just to help it is it sounds like there's a couple of information requests that are needed. So maybe this item is pres we show presented and returned to FK with
information on the eligibility of North Beach CRA funding and the an updated cost estimate on the expanded uh space. And and I must say, you know, there was I think there was an item for Washington Avenue. Yes. Where I got upset about the
the cost of the tree lighting and and I believe it was Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez's item. Um, and when I when I when I'm when I go by and walk down Washington, it is stunning. I mean, what a big difference. And and and you know, I I can say on the
record that you were wrong about something. Yeah. I could say that it's going to be very rare for me to say this, but I was definitely wrong. I I think that the the treelighting wrap around Washington Avenue has made a substantial impact on the neighborhood.
Mhm. Um I mean it is iconic on Lumis Park next to Flaming next to Flamingo Park. Um and next to Flamingo Park and Meridian. I mean I see all the time people taking pictures on
on on Meridian of just how beautiful the the tree lighting is. It's year round and you know what a what a great little flavor to add to North Beach. Sure. Um and and I I'll be fully supported. I mean, it it even helps with uh public
safety and visibility. Um it it is a great added benefit. So, um I I want to I want to put on the record that I was wrong about the Washington Avenue lighting Detroit, right? Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez. Um so, I'm going to be fully supportive of this. So, I have a
question about um if this is going does this go from here in theory to commission to get voted or does it go? My recommendation is that would return because it sounds like there's two bits of information that my point is that I know that's your recommendation. Oh yeah. Um and I I'm taking it under
adisement, but my question is could it not just come back to commission with those two pieces of information incorporated into it and then we could just vote on that? Um I believe you can um however without knowing exactly
um what it is that you can spend it on and also wouldn't you want the North Beach CRA to weigh in on this? But couldn't they do that between now and and I think so of course I want the information before that and of course I want North Beach to feel like you know to get their input on this but I would
prefer not to delay it by an extra month. So, if it's possible to get that information and bring it to the CRA before the commission meeting, the next commission meeting, my my suggestion would be let's just handle it that way so as to not delay. So, I have a
question, Commissioner Fernandez. Um, this mentions a bid waiver and I and so I just I just want to make sure it's a bid waiver, but we're not waving bids because is this a company that's already been procured by the city? That's
correct. And attached to the item is the actual breakdown of cost from the proposal. It's a line item breakdown with the So rather than treating this as a bid waiver, can't we treat this as an expansion of the contract that the company already has so that it's not a
bid waiver or are they part of a pool is a company that does this part of a pool that we can tap into? My understanding, and I'm not the procurement expert here, but my understanding was based on the dollar amount of what we're asking for, it
falls under a different bucket of a bid waiver as opposed to uh being eligible for a contract amendment because of the amount. Well, there's a bid waiver to be done. I would say that this is a bid waiver to be done because it's already it's it's not that we're going out and just tapping a company that's never done
work for the city. This is a company that has already done work for the city I would imagine through you Mr. chairman the this company not only did work they also uh were won this bid competitively before this started and this is the exact same process that we did for those
Washington a lights which included not only favor recommendation but the bid waiver I would want to make sure that again just for purposes of optics and transparency that that that's explained properly in the memo right now it just mentions a bid waiver but it doesn't mention the fact the history that this
was indeed in fact a competitively bid uh contract and that there was uh an an award done through a transparent process. So that just could be explained properly in the contract in the in the memorandum.
We'll do. Okay. If if I can sorry trying to get all this down. So I think now we would have it returning to commission with a favorable recommendation to be considered as part of the FY26 budget process. the installation of wraparound lights uh wrap I'm sorry wraparound palm
tree lights uh as amended locations with with a bid waiver and for and information uh on the expand on the cost of the expanded locations and input from the North Beach CRA uh advisory board on funding and that I'm a co-sponsor.
Okay. Uh you're making that motion. I'd like to also co-sponsor. Okay. Can we get everyone? I'll join as a co-sponsor too. Kristen, sure. Okay, there you go. And through the chair, I
think um Jason, you and I can speak offline, but we may need a referral to the CRA advisory committee so that they can return a a recommendation back to the commission. And actually, it would be a recommendation to the CRA board. I can I
can make that recommendation. Well, as chair, can I do that? So, we'll we'll change it from input to referral, too. Yeah, we need a referral to the North Beach PC commission. And we'll be showing uh Commissioner Rosa Gonzalez, Fernandez, Bot and Suarez being added as co-sponsors.
Yes, Fernandez. And we'll show Commissioner uh who Commissioner Bot, you're making that motion. Yep. I'll second. Okay. All in favor? I All right. We'll show it pass three nothing. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Sounds good. I think Maria um our CFO says this is
going to be a quick item. NB4 MB4 discuss the potential installation of speed tables on 47th Street in order to reduce traffic speeds and increase safety. MB4 and MB4 uh Commissioner um just be informed that our Commissioner Magazine
has requested to be added as a sponsor. Um, you move it. Yep. I'll second. All in favor? I will show the item return to commission with a favorable recommendation to implement the administration's uh recommendation. Okay. So, I'll join as a co-sponsor for that. I like that. That area has a lot
of cut through traffic. Yeah. Yeah. Put me on there, too. Kumbaya. We're going back to being the Kumbaya. The Kumbaya committee. Okay. So, I I guess now that we're on um beautifying uh how about we do OB1, discuss beautifying Washington Avenue by
enhancing lighting and streetscaping on Washington Avenue. OB1 discuss beautifying Washington Avenue by enhance enhancing lighting and streetscaping on Washington Avenue. OB1 uh Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, it's your item. Good morning. Good morning,
Jay. Um, wait, Jay, before you introduce it, I don't think we need to spend a lot of time on this. I think that both Commissioner Bot and Commissioner Fernandez, I don't know if you saw our presentation on the new sidewalks, um, that we have iconic sidewalks using
pavers. Um, yes, we have a whole presentation. And I mean, I think overall that when as we begin to repave with this beautiful new iconic design that we eventually choose, are we being
asked to choose a design today, Jay? Because I know that what the way this was written, we were considering de several different types of sidewalk materials, but I think the idea behind this is to use the lighting that they designed, which kind of rings palm trees. Correct. And then the pavers.
So through um Mr. Chairman, the I was going to piggyback on exactly where you're going with the presentation that was done by Calvin Gordono and associates at the Ocean Drive. Um they did present both lighting, they presented a number of alternatives as
far as the sidewalk goes. Do you want us to pick which one today or what kind of direction do we need to give? Honestly, that's not my my ask. when what's explained in the in the memorandum is okay if you do red sidewalks it's X if we add a little more it's Y we can go
all the way up and spend $9 million if you want the Taj Mahal of sidewalks along Washington Avenue what um I think was alluded to in the presentation for Ocean Drive was that there are certain areas between the blocks that looked at
how do we highlight those on the intersections they're I don't want to say plain Jane but it's really utilitarian And the approach that was taken was to highlight between the intersections in a conversation with Troy Wright and he was here earlier.
Um the Washington bid does have their own um presentation. It will be coming through the next commission to I believe neighborhoods referral for their areas where they would like to see enhanced and through some designs that they're contemplating. What the ask really is,
and we've talked about it a number of times at this committee, different uh treatments, different sidewalks, different options. We'd really like to do is be able to work with the Washington bid so that we can work where they want to enhance to enhance certain sidewalk areas. Um, and then really be
able to try and get along or move this project along so that it gets done in time for the the games that are coming next year. And that's the Washington bid goal. Um, but there are a few items that we're going to need to um, probably design minimally as far as ADA
compliance. There's some drainage on some of those sidewalks because they're actually lower than the street level. Um, so I really don't want uh to choose something today. How long how long do you need? Okay, so here would be this would be my motion. Um, do you need
more than a month? Do you need two months to negotiate with watch to to sit down with the bid and find out what they're recommending? As quick as the bid can get in front of the commission to present their view and visions and
sort of their um ask as far as the cost would be associated with that because all that's coming out of that GO bond pocket for the $10 million. Okay. So then I would suggest that you sit down with the big, show them all the patterns. I know that is Troy here. He
was here earlier. He was here. Unfortunately, he had to go. And then come back to us when you've picked something that you like with the budget and uh with the lighting. And you know, I would recommend that you use and I think he you will this new study that we
commissioned because now we know which sidewalk material is best. We found out that it's pavers. we could design the papavers and then from there we can you know bring it to the HPB so that they can also appine. But I think that this is going to be defining for Washington
Avenue. It's going to be iconic. It is going to be unique. It's going to set them apart in terms of sidewalks. Once you see, you know, the new lighting down the center, the lighting um on the palm trees and these brand new sidewalks, it is going to brand Washington Avenue and show the world that we care about our
historic districts, that we care about preservation. And this investment is going to go a long way putting our, you know, money where our mouths is and just, you know, walking the walk instead of talking about it. And this will be our first serious in investment in
Washington Avenue. um the first of what I hope are many serious significant investments across our historic districts in Miami Beach after many years of what I think was a managed decline and neglect. So, it's an exciting moment
if Vice Mayor Bot. Sorry. Yeah. And I would like to, you know, I've got an item, I believe, coming up on the April agenda um about doing, you know, contemplating doing something like this for North Beach as well and not necessarily the same pattern that gets selected, but and we need to figure out
who's paying for it because there's some question about is it CRA, is it potentially the CRA, is it FOT, is it the city? We need to figure that out and I know there are documents floating around that are being reviewed but um you know maybe as we look at costs um
there is you know it won't be necessarily installation because it's going to be at a different time frame but um you know we've done the walkthrough on on Collins Avenue going from 63rd up to 75th and we know that the same conditions exist of problems
and so if there's an an economy of scale that they get looked at evaluated and addressed at the same time, maybe not executed at the same time, but the the engineering work happens at the same time. Um, and when people figure out what they're going to need to buy to
implement the the papers, like let's think about it again holistically so that we're not um, you know, the vendor doesn't come back and say, "Oh, I wish you had told me this a year ago because I would have done the work at the same time for half the cost." Because that will make me very sad. Um, and it's not good for budget concerns that we know
we're facing. So we can wait till we have a residential on Washington Avenue. Mr. Chair, I have a question. Um, so this is before us today. Is
this the timeline for this? Was was did the city have a program to move with this now? Uh, explain that to me. There there there's no necessarily program. This is being funded through the geo bond project. So, we have the funding for it. Funding is available. Okay. And
let me ask you this because we're going to as as Commissioner Suarez uh mentioned, there's the Washington Avenue residential component. And in the past, like for example, the beachwalk, the beachwalk didn't always look as
beautiful as it does now. Um some would say before it looked more beautiful. I think it looks beautiful now. But it was through development agreements with the historic hotels where they came in and they did their portion of the beachwalk
as they were improving the hotels and then the city came in and did filled the gaps between them. In fact, Mayor Bower uh was a big part of that of that history over over time. Um with Washington Avenue, with the residential
incentives that we have in place or that we're looking to to to put in place, does it make sense for us to use all of our GOB dollars when we might potentially be able to get private development to help cover some of this
cost? No, you're commissioner, you're exactly right. I mean, one of the things that we would look to do, and I'm sure the bid would be feel the same way, is look at where are those planned or programmed developments that could possibly happen and do we skip, you know, sort of that block so that when
they do redevelop it, it takes care of the initial installation cost rather than putting it in and they either have to redo it or rip it up in Yeah. Incorporating it as part of the work that they need to do. Uh so that so that we get to save some of that some of that
money. Um, I would also like and it's related to this because it relates to Washington Avenue, but it goes back to the investments we make on Washington Avenue using the taxpayers dollars, but making sure that that as we're using the
taxpayers dollars, that we're seeing a meaningful improvement on Washington Avenue. And to me, that meaningful improvement means that nuisance uses that contribute to the problems that we've experienced in the past on Washington Avenue are being phased out.
And one of the things I would like staff to do is that as those nuisance uses close up, we should be notified of it because I I really do want to see if we just invested on the lights and the lights are great, but I had an issue of using the taxpayers dollars to invest in
a street where I did not feel that the property owners were coming forward and being good property owners that they've been bringing in bad tenants that are contributing to the ailments that we're trying to fix in our city. So, as we
make these investments, I want to know I want to be getting updates as to what changes the city is making changes to improve the street, but what changes are the private property owners doing to improve the streets? Are they getting rid of the bad uses that are
contributing to the crime and the issues we've seen in the past? because that is going to be shaping a lot of my decisions on the investments that I uh commit my vote to in the future as it relates to to Washington Avenue. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Um, Commissioner Fernandez, would you be more in I've walked the blocks between Lincoln Road and 15th Street and they are in desperate need of an upgrade. Why don't we start there and just do those two blocks with this new iconic design?
It will be the first time that we've ever done it, a patterned um design. Let's start there. That's not going to be so expensive. That way, we can see what the lighting looks like. We can see what the papers look like. It's not the entire street, but at least we're fixing something that is right now not just
blighted, but I would say dangerous in many places because as I walk down that portion of Washington, there is a lot of uneven material that needs to get fixed. And this could be um an opportunity to beautify a block that most people say is
where crime is committed, where um you know it's it's it's an intersection that does need help. So why don't we just start there and do those two blocks from Lincoln Road to 15th. That's where I think we should start. Do two blocks. Two blocks east and west and then come
back to us. Sit down with a bid. That's come back with two or three designs and let's start there. But but just doesn't the Lincoln Road East proposal contemplate getting rid of uh not getting rid of it but closing off
Washington Avenue through it contemplates closing off Lincoln Road between Washington and Collins. Right. So I don't want to put in pavers on between Well, it wouldn't it would be it would
start on Lincoln Road. Correct. I don't think it'll be affected. I think You don't think so? No, I don't think so. I don't think so. I think I think it dives off. So then my motion is to do the two blocks 17th to 15th. Come back next month because it's not a big thing
with a couple of after you speak with Troy, come back with a few options for us to look at that we can choose from. Um and bring it back to Do you want to bring it back to finance or do you want to refer the two blocks? Just my motion would be to just refer them to the full commission because it's not the whole
street. You're saying 15th to 17th? Yeah, just 15th to 17th and let the whole commission decide. I mean, I would say honestly I I would go if we're going to go up to 17th, what I would do rather than 17th, I would do Lincoln Road
South. Okay. So, do so do Lincoln to That's what I was saying. Lincoln to It goes Lincoln 16th 15th, right? Yeah. I wouldn't go I wouldn't go north. Let's do Lincoln to 15th. That's what I meant. 15th to Lincoln, right? 15th to Lincoln. So, that would be my motion and I would
give um I would recommend it to the April commission meeting giving us um a few the design that we can um pick. I I think um I I I would like to to come back to finance um considering that our
chair is not here um and so that way he can at least chime in on it. I'm I'm okay with referring it back to finance and doing it. That's not my motion. My motion because let me explain why. Um because finance is about looking at the
amounts and we will have that opportunity. The funding is already there and frankly we go in circles and circles and this is only two blocks. It's a wonderful investment. I know that it's going to beautify. I know how how worried you are about public safety in
that area. that this is just an opportunity to beautify. It's just the east and west. It's two blocks, the east and west side of the avenue. So, my motion would be to refer it to back to the commission with a favorable recommendation. I don't know how you
feel about that, Commissioner Bot. If I So, it's the return of the commissioner of the favor recommendation and direct admin administration to implement sidewalk improvements on Washington Avenue from Lincoln Road to 15th. We don't even know what what what the materials are going to be yet, right? It's not fully No, we absolutely do. We
had a um presentation at an Ocean Drive meeting. Um most of us were present here. You can get a briefing in the interim from Jay and everyone else. We spent we actually it was a great study that you should really see because what the city did was vet all the different types of sidewalk materials. It was a
sunshine. It was a sunshine meeting. Yes, it was scheduled. Um it's actually you can have you can read the copy of the report uh between now and then. So I I know that Commissioner Fernandez was at was there. So was Commissioner Magazine um and pardon and Commissioner
Bot. Yes, I said I said yeah. No, Commissioner Bot was there. And um you can see that we've already determined via the study which is the most resilient type of sidewalks that we can display. And the beauty of these sidewalks is that not only are they interchangeable, but um they're super
resilient. And it's kind of the same material that we're using on the beachwalk, only they have different iconic designs that we can choose from. In addition to that, we are not doing the um street corners. We're just doing sidewalks in between the street corners because that's where all the electrical connections and all of the other stuff
is. So, I don't see why we really need to um beat this. Madame Mayor, is there something you'd like to say? I I'm sorry. You know, don't ever invite me here again. I love it.
Uh I think it's a wonderful idea and I just want to tell you that Leonard Harowitz that came with Barbara Capman did two blocks. I think it was two blocks also. It could have been one, but
I think it was two to show how and we used to have a picture. We did um gave money to the people that rented or owned this thing to renovate the facade. Facade renovation. I'm
surprised I remember all this facade renovation. And when the people saw how it changed the street by doing that and they were all different and all very nicely, people got very in tooth and
Lynn uh Bernstein was the one that was working with us then at uh Miami Beach Development Corporation went and sold it to everybody. It was a matching grant. So people do get in very enthused and people do better when they are dressed
in code and the same thing happens when the street changes and they see they're very visual. So I really support this uh in a I think you sold me but I don't know if you pick one design or not that
it's out of my hand. Well I guess that moves me so I'll be in favor as well. Okay. and I I talked to public works is mayor again that's all it takes and we'll when this comes to commission that some of that spec hashing up the specificity we'll have and I'll second it okay so we'll show meet with the bid
and just send it to the full commission with choices okay final choices I show commissioner Rosa Gonzalez making the motion and commissioner Suarez second all in favor I show pass three nothing okay so uh let's let's clear up some
more beautifying ing Miami Beach um with some trees which we're all we're all um in favor of. Uh so can we call multiple items up that's been up sort of similar item items 7 10 and 11 were noted to be linked and would be heard uh together if
you wanted to have okay so I'm going to give me a moment as I read them into the record. Yes please. MB7 referral to the finance and economic resiliency committee to discuss take action to fund expanding the North Beach tree planting pilot program uh to additional parking spaces located at
78th, 79th and 80th streets or other potential locations. That's MB7. uh MB10 finance and economic resiliency committee uh discussion to take action on the favorable public safety neighborhood quality of life committee recommendation to expand the tree canopy north beach through a
multid-disciplinary firm for two main thoroughfairs such as Abbott Avenue or Dickens Avenue and explore Park View Island with associated funding MB10 and then MB11 referral to the finance and economic residency committee to discuss the appropriate mechanism to fund a trans transformative tree canopy project
in targeted areas. is throughout Miami Beach MB11. Thank you. Okay. So, so I think we have multiple sponsors on this. We have the tree canopy in North North Beach expanding it through multi-disiplinary approach.
NB10, we have NB7 uh expanding the pilot program for the u the planters in North Beach. And then we have NB11. That's generally everywhere in Miami Beach. I have a few questions, but so these items work in conjunction
with each other. As everybody knows, we have large portions of our city that have no trees and shading whatsoever. And it's costly to drill through the concrete and figure out how to plant trees so people have shade. Now, we did do a pilot program in on 78th and 79th
before we even and I'm not seating my time. I'm just asking a question. How are those trees doing that we planted on 78th? I mean, are they thriving? Are they? Sure. We actually have photos um for you and sure we can show them. So, we tried to plant on our own with the
city and I'm I'm not saying that they didn't look great, but it wasn't really what we what I think that we need to be doing in terms of transformative planting. And we know that in order to transform it, we need like $15 million. And I would say that $15 million is not
even enough money. So, this is two things. There's your item, Commissioner Suarez, which is a feasibility study, which is, I guess, the initial study that we would need. And then there's the item of actually putting something on the ballot and asking our residents to
vote for trees and shade in a meaningful way. Um, so it's twofold. Because we need like we're saying 15 million for trees. I would tell you that a feasibility study is going to come back and say that we need $30 million to
green this area. Why do we want to green the area, Commissioner Fernandez? Because when you look between Oh, you're not It's just so expensive to do one parking garage. But why does it have to be on a ballot? Yeah, I would. Well, I mean, if you can because I think we need to bond out money for this. I think that
we actually need to issue a debt unless you can find, you know, the 15 or $30 million. We have all of our other capital projects are underfunded right now. They're completely underfunded. And I'm not going to try to to pretend like
we're going to find the money when every other when we're going to have all of our payo funds are going to have to be used to fund all these other projects that are in the pipeline. I think trees need their own if you want transformation then it needs to be its
own serious funding mechanism and it's going to be expensive. Um I saw that in my memo it says $15 million. That's just for one what how much of is that that's not for the entire city. That's just for that one area of North Beach. Correct.
Before you answer that, Amy, um I'd like to vote to extend the meeting for another 15 minutes. Okay, I'm fine with 15 minutes because I waited 6 months to get these tree items. Her trees are not sexy. There is no building involved. There's not a lot of money involved. The
only thing involved with tree, we're voting. Yes. Yeah, we have to we have to extend the meeting. It ends at Oh, yes. I vote to extend the meeting. Meeting is extended to 1:45. Thank you. And and so I would propose that I mean that we put this on the ballot because
what we found and we did I've been working on this for years. 78th and 79th Street when we don't spend significant amount of money and figure out how to cut through the concrete to plant the trees. What we got was kind of a mishmash and it is so expensive because
it was poorly planned and these are areas where we don't have canopy bus there. First of all, there is zero tree canopy. We have seniors a lot of our multifamily residents in affluent areas they have beautiful tree canopy areas
but in some of our you know more humble areas of the city there isn't a tree to be found anywhere. Commissioner Rosing and that's something that we should all be dedicated to. I don't think anyone here is against the trees. I ever I mean I sponsored an item, you sponsored an item. Um I think Commissioner Vice want
people to be shocked when we say let's put this on the ballot because I really do think that that's what we need to do. I don't necessarily think we should be I I don't think we want to set a precedent of putting projects on a ballot to bond out. I think let's find the money in any
which way possible. Um a and and and make it happen through the finance committee. I think that's the right approach. Uh you know I mean look if we have to tighten our belt a little bit but look and another thing when you go down Meridian Avenue that that is
probably one of the most iconic streets in in America. I mean it's always like 15 degrees cooler. It's beautiful during the day. It's beautiful. It's even more beautiful during the night. North Beach should have something like that. Um, and you know, lo and behold, there's a huge
project pending in North Beach right now. You know, I hope the people who are watching u looking at this, maybe that is something that can be funded uh to to to really invest in North Beach. If if
you're going to be set to to put a big project in North Beach, this is a a fundamental uh generational investment in the community of North Beach. Um just an idea, but I I don't think I' I'd be in
favor of putting on a ballot. I think there there's definitely many more ways that we can um attack this approach. So Amy, if you can discuss um there there's the pilot planters, correct? Is was that an effective program because the last you have some pictures? Sure.
Sure. Maybe we may maybe PJ maybe can we show the pictures of the pilot? Sure. And and good afternoon for a sense of history too. Um these um we're kind of calling them tree pits. Um kind of they're very different because normally you wouldn't just dig a pit in the ground and put a tree. But I think, you
know, Commissioner Roseman Gonzalez was trying to be very innovative and just see like might this work because no one wants to give up parking and that is kind of one of the biggest challenges in North Beach is that the streets are very um small, they're very dense, there's a lot of buildings and there's not a lot
of open space and we have, you know, small sidewalks that are barely wide enough for ADA requirements. So, we did something kind of innovative. Um, so PJ, if you want to show that slide, you can see how the trees are doing. We planted six satin leaves in sort of the triangular areas um um at the diagonal
parking. Public works did that in house. It was um a pretty big effort for them. They had to take a look and and and take a look at the underground infrastructure, even broke some old pipes. They had to, you know, do cut into the concrete um create all the different mechanisms. So, if you go back
one slide, you can see the trees. There's um six in the ground and it's hard to see them in front of um you know with the with the words um it's also in your packet. Um they're doing okay. We wouldn't say that they're thriving. It's been about a year and a half and right now they're looking a little sad because
it's the dry season. In the next couple months we would be able to see how they're doing. We never expected these trees to thrive and become really nice canopy trees. What we expected is they would provide some short-term vegetative relief. Um, so in in how they were planted, we think they're doing about as
expected. Do we expect them to be 15-year big canopy trees? Probably not. So, if you want to be a little bit more visionary thinking, I guess the the NB10 where you have the tree canopy in North Beach. Yeah. Um, that's something now.
Where are we with that? Is that So, sure. So, for this one here, one the commissioner had asked we look at another option. So instead of doing the tree pits, we would actually do these, but doing underground infrastructure and doing less of them. So that was another proposal we we actually put through the
item. Um, and that would be about $180,000 um to expand what we currently have or add more underground infrastructure and that would be like a million dollars, but we'd have to give up some parking. So that's for this particular item. So we gave a couple of options. And how
many trees? I have to leave. I'm not in love with the treat pit idea simply because it was a little bit awkward and um I don't think transformative enough. I don't really care if you guys want to do the treat pits. Um I'm on board with it. I'm on board for anything that would actually green the area a little bit.
I'm also in favor of the feasibility study. I have to leave right now. Um even after all of this, I could see that you're not on board for the bond idea. So I will um we'll find the money. We just don't have to put it on a ballot. Okay. All right. I'm, you know, I think
that I don't know. I mean, that's fine. Um I don't know how you're going to find the money. It's been hard. I I I a year and a half ago, we passed um an item to plant some trees in a parking lot. That has not been done yet. Just a practice. I don't know where that item is in the
pipeline. Um I wish that the item um had been heard, but it was not. I just think from my perspective, you know, if you're borrowing money over 20 to 30 years um to plant trees that may not even last that long, you know,
hopefully they do, but you don't know that they would would. I mean, usually you want that money for for uh for hard projects, you know, roads, buildings, our our our infrastructure system. It's not ideal. And I think we had extra
money for this. And you can look I mean you can bring it back next month and find ways that we'll tell you just for purpose of million that would be my motion for for purposes of transparency. Part of the reason why I can't support this is that I'm separately working with staff uh
with the with the attorneys at looking at a housing affordability bond. And for me that's like something that that is more in line with some of our pressing needs. Uh, I know the trees are a pressing need, but I think we have other revenue sources that we could use for
that, including grants that we might be able to apply for. So, could my motion on this item be that it comes back next month and Jason can find the $15 million for the transformative tree canopy like Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Fernandez. I think he's going to need more than a month. Two months. I think
he's going to need more than a month. And and like seeds for that money, Vice Mayor Bod. So Jason, can you start um buying printing ink for the printer in the basement so we can just but but I
actually have a serious thing. Um so you know we all want trees for a lot of very real reasons like it it the cooling mechanism and walkability and you know North Beach has no trees except until you get to the park basically. Um,
literally Park View Island is called Park View Island and there's nothing. There are no trees there except for the little tiny green space that was created in 2016 transformed into this lovely park. So that kudos to that. But the and I think Commissioner Fernandez is
exactly right and and we have bigger more pressing issues. We have pipes that are failing. 80% of our pipes citywide are at or about to be at fail failure, give or take 75% 80%. Um, trees are incredibly important for many, many
reasons, but I I'm not sure that I'm willing at this point when we know that we're looking at a tough budget year um to spend 15 or $30 million from our budget where it doesn't currently exist to try to do something which will have
to take away parking from residents in North Beach, which lest anybody forget is a drama that you can't even imagine. I mean, we've tried this this pilot program that seems to be working okay, but there are a lot of problems with it. Um, we're
losing a parking garage for a while. Um, the people who live up in 87th, um, a 78th, 87th all the way in that quarter don't even, you know, can't realistically avail themselves of the parking garages at 72nd or 67th. So, street parking, you know, for people who
can't walk great distances is a huge issue. And I'm I'm really concerned that unless we look at this really holistically, like what does it do to parking? What does it do to transit mobility? What does it do to, you know, does it help speed things uh slow traffic down? Maybe it's a traffic
calming measure some way or another. But I'm not I'm not ready at this point to to just say, okay, let's get trees planted. Let's find it. Because I think there's so many other interrelated issues that we we're not addressing at this point. And there are three items. And I would I would say let's defer it
for a month or two. and have them kind of be merged together into one feasibility study and say, "Here's what we could do. Here's how it's going to affect parking." It might have the benefit of slowing down traffic where people are speeding. You know, is there an opportunity to reach out to property
owners and say, "Would you like us to plant a tree on your lot?" Because that might be an option. They're not huge lots, but they're little, you know, they're little yards and a lot of them are paved over. So, what if we did a collaborative program with property owners saying we will, you know, you pay the cost for the tree and we'll provide
the labor, whatever that might be. And that might be an option, but I don't think we're there yet. Okay. So, how about Jason? Um, if I can because you're right, there's a number of items that are that are here. Uh, one of the makes
sense to consolidate, right? Well, yeah, there there's there's one item if if when they do the tree pits around $180,000 to put this in. The one item which I think you might be landing on is is is the master plan which is I think is the 10th one. Yeah. So, it wouldn't be a master plan. It would be a feasibility analysis and this is in
response to your um item commissioner Suarez to bring a multi-disciplinary firm in and take a look at where we can get trees. It becomes a transportation issue. It becomes a right-of-way issue. So, it's a holistic approach. So we estimated about $250,000 which could be
considered for next year's budget process and we're looking at certain corridors because that was your request was to look at these, you know, certain areas and that is really kind of where we're at there. A lot of money. Yeah. So, so but this this might be a thing
that we could defer until we know who's coming on board for blue zones because again blue zones is all about green walking safety public rights of way that are more user friendly. This is deep in the wheelhouse of blue zones. So maybe there's somebody who would come on and say you know what we would like to
sponsor the cost of this study and if we do it this month versus in six months from now it's not going to make a difference. Yeah. I'm okay I'm okay with deferring this for the next six months. Okay. So, we'll show we have plenty of time. So, so we'll show all three items were were heard and to be returned in
six months. Great. Thank you. We're we're out of time unless there's an uh I think uh we got one more minute and so how about just five more minutes? I'd like to extend the meeting. Jason, what was that? What were those three items that were called? 7, 10, and 11. What? Not O OB or NB? MB MB 7, 10, and 11.
We're going to show as heard and we return in 6 months time. And then let's do last but not least uh NB20. Okay, so let me read that in NB NB20 referral to discuss adding infertility treatment as a plan for uh benefit for plan
participants insured under the city's selffunded health insurance plan. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm proud to sponsor this item because I believe it touches on something that's deeply human and that is our ability as
a city and as an employer to support the dignity and the dreams of our workforce. And so today we're beginning a conversation about modernizing our self-funded health plan to include in to to include fertility benefits. And this
is more than just a medical coverage adjustment. I believe is a reflection of who we are as an employee and how we value the personal journeys of our employees. Recently, over the past few months, I heard from many uh members of
our workforce, but specifically a city employee who suffered a miscarriage. And after she sought answers and she was looking for testing, she was looking for diagnosis, anything that might help her understand what happened.
and what to expect in the future of her reproductive journey. But because our plan doesn't cover infertil infertility related services, uh once a diagnosis is suspected, she was left without support
that she needed um during uh that very vulnerable uh journey. And I think anyone who who is experiencing anything like this should be covered by our health insurance. And that story is not unique. Uh it underscores the
limitations of our current policy which unintentionally I believe uh withholds care when it's most uh needed for a lot of the members of our workforce. And it's something we don't hear about a lot because it is kind of like a taboo issue. Uh people won't generally come
and speak up about miscarriages. People won't come up and speak about whether they have low sperm counts or not. is something that is deeply personal, but the fact that people aren't speaking about it doesn't mean that they haven't been touched by it and that they don't
need medical coverage for it. So, by updating our plan to include fertility benefits such as diagnostic uh testing, um IVF and other related services, we're not only responding to real needs of our
workforce, but also positioning the city of Miami Beach as a competitive employer. And that is a very important public purpose in here because we do want to continue standing out as a good place to to to to work at. Uh cities and private employers across the country are
recognizing that inclusive family building support is not just a benefit but it's also a strategic advantage in the workforce uh market. So I want to recognize uh our human resources assistant director to take it from here.
They've been doing some tremendous research on on how we can support uh our workforce and also be competitive by offering uh this type of benefit in our plans. Good afternoon committee members, commissioners. My name is Lorena Bravo.
I'm the assistant uh director for HR. I'm here on behalf of the department and uh the director Malar Pizar who could not uh be here at this meeting today. Um like the commissioner pointed out, I think uh fertility is been at the forefront of uh discussion at the
federal level, at the state level, and uh for uh most employers in terms of how to recognize the fact that Americans are having fewer children, they're having children later in life. And that age being a factor um that age is a factor
in fertility. Um it's affecting uh their ability to to procreate. uh naturally. And so um if they have a goal of to build their family, they're having to grapple with uh the cost of relying on alternative uh reproductive therapies.
Um um if you I I mentioned the federal and the state level. Um recently the administration issued an executive order uh in February uh seeking guidance uh to um explore how fertility could be a
covered benefit. um through insurance. Um at the state level, there's a bill pending um seeking to add fertility preservation uh to the state group health insurance plan. Um and so um it's
something that's very avanguard and and you know it's seen to invest u in in employees. What's the fiscal impact? Is there any? Sure. So um our uh third party administrator Sigma um estimates
that adding uh infertility treatment coverage will increase uh 1 to 2% above our claims um our claim level. So it will it would add um uh one to 2% of claims and then it would also affect our
stop loss individual stoploss expenditure um to the tune of about $76,000 a year. There's a small increment. What is a one 2% translate? 2% of claims on a yearly basis would translate to about $576,000.
Out of how many claims total in general do we have then? Um I think this year we're projecting as of um the data available at the end of January, we're projecting claims of uh 28.9 million. And and is this something that
is is it set in stone? Is is it moving forward? Is this something, you know, let's say no one takes advantage of it, can we pull it back in a couple years or is this um forever? As a self-funded plan, you
have total control over the benefits that you add to your plan. Um I thought the purpose of um this referral was to initiate the dialogue on I'd like to enhancing the plan. I'll second it. And I will say just you know um insurance in this comp in this country is super
complicated. I'm not going to weigh in on that, but I will say just for the record, um I had to go to urgent care a couple weeks ago, one of the many times I had the flu or whatever was floating around. And um the doctor who is great said that he doesn't take our insurance because that he he gets paid $15 per
visit because of Sigma. And so that, you know, Sigma has room to maneuver. And I don't know if you can negotiate what the benefits are and how much they charge us for adding new benefits, but their their profit margin is quite thick. And so, you know, if there's any
anything you can do um you know, but I move it. I mean, I second it and I would and just and and just quickly direct fiscal impact. Is there a direct fiscal impact to our budget with this? Well, it would certainly add uh the uh estimated
amount to your pl to your plan costs. It's it's us not not our budget. What's that? It's us as employees who offer this. Exactly. So, but but just just for the public knowledge because we had this discussion in my in my office directly to the city's budget. There's no direct
impact. It's to the fund. Right. You have reserves that you could utilize to pay for the 1 to 2% increase over Let's call the vote. Okay. So, this would So, if I may, return to the commission with a favor recommendation to add infertility treatment as a benefit to plan participants insured under the
city's self-funded health plan. It would have to be made. This motion would have to be made by Commissioner uh Bot and and seconded by uh the chair, David Suarez. All in favor? Can we have a Can we have a roll call vote? Commissioner Bot. Yes. Commissioner Suarez. Yes.
Thank you. Thank you. Meeting is adjourned. Thank you.