--------- Hey, hey, hey. Hey crazy. Heat. Heat. Are you cool? Heat. Heat. N. Honey, honey. Hey. Hey. Hey.
Hallelujah. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Welcome to the city of Miami commission meeting for April 9th, 2026. I apologize
that we're getting started a little bit late. We had some te technical difficulties with our system, but we're going to get going right now. We're going to start the meeting with some presentations that we have for folks.
These are um we are recognizing staff who participated in our fit city challenge and they came out on top. Fit city was started a couple of years ago by myself and former mayor because we
believe a fit city is a city that serves our community well. And it's a lot of fun. We kick it off with a 5K and throughout the month we have these various challenges. who loses the most weight, who hydrates every day at eight
glasses of water, who gets their cholesterol checked, who gets their blood pressure checked, all kind of things like that. Just so that we are a healthy, fit city. And we get prizes. And this is another way of
telling our staff, thank you. You know, I never use that, right? Just in case. So, let me show you what she gave me. I have never in all the years that I've chaired the meeting used this ever. So, our first uh recognition
is Miss Medina. Are you in the house? I think this is the one that she put he Okay, here we go. >> Mister, how do you pronounce your first name? >> Jasmi. >> Jasmy. Oh, Mr. Jasmy, please come
forward. I'm gonna call everybody. Paula. Paula, are you here? Okay. Paula Maer. Walker. First name starts with an A. >> Anes. >> Anerys. I don't want to mess up anyone's name.
>> Okay, this one. Lilia here maybe. What's her how you pronounce that? >> Liba. Yeah. Paula. >> Paula. Paula. Paula. Jasmine.
Paula. >> Anerys. >> Anerys. Lea Bueno. Bueno. Bueno, are you here? Pronounce the first name. First name. >> Dam. >> Dami.
Bueno. Is he here? Not yet. Michelle Valdez. And Maria. Last one is Maria. It would be delgato but I l o is at the end. See
espanol but deficil Michelle. Okay. Maria. Okay. Would any one of you like to talk about your experience with the fit city challenge? Go ahead.
>> Well, it was very uh rewarding to have the opportunity to to do this with my peers and it feels good to have one and that this is here to motivate us to be healthier.
>> Yeah, it really make me feel motivated um to keep going, keep exercising, being out there. And it's super healthy, you know, it's a healthy competition. >> It's it's a great way to kick off the year with the health challenges and to
participate in something that the city uh brings forward to help us be fitter and healthier. And we have a new mayor who is just as healthy. She did the Miami half
marathon. Come on. >> And a city that exercises together stays together. When you're healthy, you have less folks calling out sick. And this wasn't just about physical health. It was about our mental health as well, our
spiritual health. So, thank you guys. We had fun competitions between the police and the fire department and communications and all of the departments came out. So, thank you guys for participating. Thank you for being the stars of this and we look forward to
doing it again next year. Maybe we can do it at the half year mark because we kind of give up our our New Year's resolutions, goals for health, and it just keeps us it just keeps us all motivated. So, thank you. Thank you.
Oh, wait a minute. Come. Let's get a picture. Under the seal. Under the seal. Congratulations. And at this time we are going to have Pastor G. Doton of Tabernacle 7th Avenue 7th Day Adventist Church to lead us in
prayer. Good morning. >> Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I'm going to invite us at this time if we can just bow our heads for prayer. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with gratitude
and humility, recognizing that all wisdom, authority, and leadership ultimately come from you. We thank you for our city, for its people, its diversity, its opportunities, and even
the challenges that call us to grow stronger together. Thank you for our city officials who serve faithfully and selflessly. Grant each one wisdom beyond their own understanding.
Give clarity in moments of complexity and give courage when decisions are difficult. Help each leader, oh God, not to lead for personal gain, but for the good of all, seeking justice, practicing
integrity, and walking in humility. Lord, give each leader listening hearts that hear not only the loudest voices, but also the quiet cries of those who may feel unseen and even unheard.
Let compassion guide policies and fairness shape those decisions. We pray for protection over our leaders, their families, and over our city and over our great country of the United States. Strengthen our leaders when they
feel overwhelmed and the weight of responsibility is upon them. Remind each one that their work makes a positive impact. May each one serve with purpose and a renewed vision. Bless our city with
peace. Let it be a place where people care for one another and differences are celebrated and respected. May everything done on this agenda today reflect a commitment to do what is right, what is just, what brings life
and hope to each and every person in this city. Keep our leaders, oh God. Bless them. bless their families and bless each and everyone who's here present. This we pray in your name. Amen. Amen.
>> Thank you. Thank you so much. Commissioner Rosado, would you say the pledge of allegiance for us, please? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Mr. City Attorney, would you please read your statement for the record? Yes, madam chair. Thank you. George Weissong, city attorney, city of Miami. Detailed information about the processes, order of business, rules of procedure, and scheduling or rescheduling of city commission meetings can be found in
chapter 2, article two of the city code, a copy, which is available online at www.municode.com. Any person who's a lobbyist pursuant to chapter 2, article six of the city code must register with the city clerk and comply with related city requirements for lobbies before appearing before the city commission. A person may not lobby
a city official, board member, or staff member until registering. A copy of the code section about lobbies is available in the city clerk's office or online at www.mminicode.com. Any person making a presentation, formal request, or petition to the city commission concerning real property must make the disclosures required by the
city code in writing a copy of the city code sections available at the office of the city clerk or online at www.munico.com. The City of Miami requires that anyone requesting action by the city commission must disclose before the hearing any consideration provided or committed to anyone for agreement to support or
withhold objection to the requested action pursuant to city code section 2-8. Any documents offered to the city commission that have not been provided 7 days before this meeting as part of the agenda materials will be entered into the record at the city commission's discretion in accordance with section
2-33F and G of the city code. the agenda and the material for each item on the agenda is available during business hours at the city clerk's office and online 24 hours a day at www.mmikeggov.com. The meeting of the Miami City Commission is a limited public forum. Any person may be heard by the city commission
through the chair for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the city commission unless modified by the chair. Public comment will begin at approximately 9:35 a.m. and remain open until public comment is closed by the chairperson. Any person making offensive remarks or who becomes unruly in the city
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comments submitted through the comment form have and will been will be distributed to the elected officials, their staff and city administrations throughout the day so that the elected officials may consider the comments prior to taking any action. Additionally, the online comment form will remain open during the meeting to accept comment and distribute to the
elected officials, their staff, and the city administration up until the chairperson closes public comment. Public comment may also be provided here live at City Hall located at 3500 Pan-American Drive, Miami, Florida, subject to any and all city rules as they may be amended. If the proposition is being considered or rescheduled, the
opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the city commission takes action on such proposition. When addressing the city commission, the member of the public must first seek their name, their address, and what item will be spoken about. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids, and services for this
meeting may notify the city clerk. The city has provided different public comment methods to indicate, among other things, the public support, opposition, or neutrality on the items and topics to be discussed at the city commission meeting in compliance with section 286.01144C, Florida statutes. The public has been given the opportunity to provide public
comment during the meeting within reasonable proximity and time before the meeting. Please note, commissioners have generally been briefed by staff and the city attorney's office on items on the agenda today. Anyone wishing a verbatim record of an item considered at this meeting may request it at the office of
communications or view it online at www.mygv.com. For PZ items today, PZ items shall proceed according to section 7.1.4 of the Miami 21 zoning ordinance. parties for any PZ items including any applicant, appellant, apples, city staff
and any person recognized by the decision-making body as qualified intervenor as well as the applicant representatives and any experts testifying on behalf of the applicant, appellant or apple may be present physically at city hall to be sworn in by oath or affirmation by the city clerk. The members of the city
commission shall disclose any exparte communications to remove the presumption of prejudice pursuant to Florida statute section 286.0115 and section 7.1.4.5 4.5 of the Miami 21 zoning ordinance. The order of presentation shall be as set forth in
Miami 21 and in the city code. Staff will briefly present each item to be heard. The applicant will present its application or request to the city commission. If the applicant agrees with the staff recommendation, the city commission may proceed to its deliberation and decision. The applicant may also wave the right to an evidentary
hearing on the record. Uh for appeals, the appellant will present its appeal to the city commission followed by the apple. Staff will be allowed to make any recommendations they may have. Please silence all cell phones and other noise making devices. Lastly, this meeting can be viewed live on Miami TV, the city's
Facebook page, the city's Twitter page, the city's YouTube channel, and the Comcast channel 77. The broadcast will also have closed captioning. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. Mr. City Clerk, would you please read your statement?
>> Thank you, Chair King. The procedures for individuals who will be providing testimony will be sworn in for planning and zoning items and any quasi judicial items on today's city commission agenda will be as follows. Members of city staff or any other individuals required to be sworn in who are currently present at city hall will be sworn in by me, the
city clerk, immediately after I finish explaining these procedures. The those individuals who are appearing remotely may be sworn in now or at any time prior to the individual providing testimony for planning and zoning items and our quasi judicial items. Commissioners, are you comfortable with all the notice provisions set forth in these uniform rules and procedures? we established for
this meeting. >> Yes. >> Thank you, chair. Thank you, commissioners. Chair, may I administer the o? >> Yes, please. >> Thank you, chair. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. If you will be speaking on any of today's planning and zoning items, those are the PZ items. May
please have you stand and raise your right hand. >> Todd, I'm getting some feedback from the audience that they can't hear you. Really? Yes. They said they can't hear. >> My apologies, chair. I'll I'll speak
closer to the microphone. >> Better. >> Better. >> Do you solemnly or swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give at today's hearing is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? And your response is >> Thank you, chair.
>> Thank you, Mr. City Manager. Do you have any items that will be deferred or withdrawn from this agenda? >> Good morning, Madame Chair, Madame Mayor, Commissioners. At this time, the administration would like to defer and/or withdraw the
following items. SR1 to be withdrawn, RE4 deferred until April 23rd, and BC2 deferred until April 23rd. That completes our items.
>> Could you repeat that again? I'm sorry. >> Absolutely. SR1 to be withdrawn. RE4 deferred until April 23rd. BC2 deferred until April 23rd.
>> Thank you, >> Mr. City Attorney. I believe we have a pocket item. Chair. Um I I have the pocket item in my position. >> Would you please read the title for the record? >> Thank you. It pertains to um a uh a pocket item board appointment uh by
Commissioner Escalona. And basically it's a resolution of the Miami City Commission appointing a certain individual as a member of the code enforcement board for a term as designated herein. The appointees name is Moshi Mala and um obviously being nominated by Commissioner Rolando Escalona to the district 3 seat on the
code enforcement award. Thank you chair. >> Thank you gentlemen. Are there any items that you would like to have withdrawn or deferred from this agenda? >> No. >> No. >> No. Madam Chair, I just have some co-sponsors that I want to um >> I can do that later.
>> Our city clerk is going to do that. >> Okay. >> May I have a motion to set the agenda? >> Motion moved. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I >> I motion. The agenda is set. And at this time, anyone who wishes to speak for
public comment, please step forward five at a time. >> Good morning. >> Hi, good morning. My name is Luis Saras and I live at 7171 Southwest 5 Terrace and I'm here to speak uh uh regarding the LLM Trail
development. Good morning uh honorable mayor and distinguished members of the commission. My name is Alisa Zaras and I'm a real estate broker in the city of Miami. I raised today in strong support of the Lubvel Trail. I'm very familiar with the
property. It's a Day County Police property. I live about five, six blocks from there. It used to be a transportation terminal. As a matter of fact, I'm very surprised why they haven't been cited because the buildings are kind of falling apart and it's the property that looks the worst in the
area. Miami Day County faces a uh persistent teacher shortage largely driven by the high cost of living in Miami Day County compared to the salary that they receive. Affordable well-located housing will be will play a large role in retaining and obtaining
new teachers for day county public schools. >> The location is excellent in my view because it sits right next to two important corridors three blocks away from 826 about four blocks away from A36. So, it's very helpful for any teachers or staff from Miami Day County
Public School to move around the county and uh they'll be very well located. So, I urge all of you to vote in support. Uh this is a great uh initiative. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, Mayor Higgins, Chair King,
Commissioner Zorasa Stewart Ages, chair of the Miami River Commission before you for four items real quickly. Thanking Commissioner Gabella for strong sponsorship of the Alipata CRA. The Miami River Commission strongly supports
the creation of the Alipata CRA. The Miami District is the Miami River District is in Alipata and it's probably the largest portion. So we strongly support the Alipata CRA. Commissioner Pardo, I know that you've worked closely
with Commissioner Gabella. He's expressed your appreciation for that. So, thank you very much, gentlemen. Uh, Commissioner Gabella, Mayor Higgins, we thank you also for your efforts to clean up Wagner Seabold Creek. That is the
most polluted body of water in the state of Florida. And I'd like to mention strongly that that pollution does not originate in the Miami River. It is solely uniquely to this particular tributary and it originates largely from
the area around 20th Street. Mostly human pollution species to be specific. So we strongly support the little machines, the little vacuum cleaners that will be in the water. They in no
way replace the large scavenger 4550 ft boats. Those do a wonderful heroic job, but they cannot go into the shallow waters and the narrow waters of Seabold. Commissioner Partardo, we strongly support the funding for Fort Dallas Park
for the Fort Workers House. That is a historic in the city of Miami and um thank you for that. Willie Gort is something that did not come up before the river commissioner, but Vice Chair Merley uh Brett Beau and I strongly
support the creation of the Willie Gourd way. Many people remember Willie Gourd as a commissioner. Few people know that he was also mayor. >> Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Uh commissioners, mayor,
city attorney. My name is Chaplain Stanley Young, uh 500 Northwest, uh Second Avenue here in Miami. Um I always enjoy coming down here sharing with you guys concerning
the issue that uh I've see on a weekly basis on the streets of Miami. And that's really the plight of those who are coming out of our prisons and jails. Mayor, I have called your office several times to try to get a meeting and sat
down with you and the city manager to really uh go over what you are doing and what really needs to be done uh in this particular area. But I'm speaking on a PC uh PH item, PH 1 2 3 4 5 and six. I
love to see what you're doing concerning housing. You're moving greatly. Chairwoman, I want to say uh thank you for the firsttime homes buyer. It's really uh really helping those ones who are getting into that home that they
really need. But we we still need to continue to push. They still need to develop homes. People need to live in. People need to habitate in. Cuz I meet homeless people every week on the streets who need a place to stay. an
affordable house to live in. So, uh I'm here to uh encourage each and every one of you continue to press forward, sir. Mr. Ros, Mr. Roso, I want to meet with you. I want to talk with you concerning this particular subject. I understand
it's a passion of yours. And I just here to share my heart. I'm not here complaining. I'm not here to pull nobody down. I'm not I'm here to lift us up. You know, when I pull you down, I go down, too. So, let's continue to work on housing. Thank you. God bless. May you
have a wonderful day. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Elvis Cruz, 631 Northeast 57th Street. For item PZ1, it's important to know the big picture on citywide density. In 2016, the planning department calculated Miami's maximum
density potential, and they found the city was already zoned to allow the construction of eight times more housing units than were counted in the 2010 census. So, we were already zoned to enable eight times that population. That
factor of eight was before adding subsequent special area plans, before adding or transferring bonus density for affordable housing like this item today, before adding bonus floors to transit oriented developments or via transfer of
development rights which then can then buy transfer of development density. before any live local act buildings, before ADUs, before adding rapid transit zoning, before adding transit station
neighborhood developments, before adding Commissioner Partardo's 48story high-rise condos on Watson Island, before all the upzonings that have happened since 2016, before adding Commissioner Partardo's doubling of density in Edgewater, before adding any
other height and density bonuses that have been invented since then. There have been several. It's hard to keep track. We don't have the infrastructure to handle all that density. It's not just about traffic. There's also portable water supply, sewage treatment
capacity, garbage disposal capacity, per capita park space, and hurricane evacuation time. Miami 21 and the comp plan speak of protecting neighborhood character and scale. At a minimum, you should exclude historic districts and
NCDs from this legislation. Please stop the insanity. Please vote no on anything that increases height or density. In closing, I'd like to ask everyone here who is uh in opposition to PZ1. >> Thank you. >> Please raise your hands and be >> Thank you.
>> recognized. >> Please. No clapping. No clapping if you want to like that. >> And madam chair, one thing. I know there's a policy not to mention a commissioner's name specifically so they're not weaponized politically from from the outside and I think I think I
think that that should be followed if that's the policy. >> Why is that not a freedom of speech issue? >> Um thank you for everybody. It's that's a sticky it. They say it, they
catch me off guard. I've said it and for me, I don't care if they say my name or not. Um, and I try I try to to to get it through. But, you know, >> for the record, I don't care either, but
if there's a policy, then there's a policy. >> Good morning. Good morning, Madame Chair and Commissioners, mayor and city manager. Terrell Fritz, uh, director of the Flaggler bid, but speaking today as a
homesteaded resident at 111 East Flaggler Street in downtown Miami on the DI4 issue. We continually hear that residents contribute 58% of the DDA budget, but most of that contribution
comes from non-homesteaded units, investment properties, rentals, and second homes that function as commercial real estate. Homestead residents contribute under 9% of the DDA budget, and the per unit cost, often less than
$100 per unit, is minimal. This is not a double tax. It's a modest contribution towards cleanliness, safety, and public realm improvements that drive property values and livability. Most importantly, downtown Miami should not be viewed as
competing districts, vertical versus downtown versus Edgewater. We have an identity issue. The word downtown is used to mean both the historic Flaggler core and downtown Miami as a whole. Yet, anyone flying
into MIA can quickly see where downtown Miami is. It's a dense, unmistakable skyline. Flaggler is not It's a part of downtown, but it is not the entirety. Downtown Miami should be understood instead as a mosaic of neighborhoods.
Bickl Village, Bickl Key, West Bickl, the Flaggler Mixed Neighborhood, Miami Central, Miami World Center, the Arts and Entertainment District, and Edgewater. each at different points in the development cycle, but all interdependent. There will be moments when stronger neighborhoods support
those still emerging or those that have seen better days. But the DDA is the only mechanism we have to address the downtown as a whole. The question is not whether residents are overpaying. It's how we ensure that this modest
contribution continues to deliver real value to downtown Miami. I'm going to now ask uh invite you all to join us this weekend for Heritage Days on Flaggler to celebrate 130 years since Henry Flaggler brought the FEC into downtown Miami. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Henrietta Schwarz and I live at 2627 South Beayshore Drive. Um, thank you all for being here and listening to us because residents take their time to come here
and speak to you and want to speak to your faces, not to while you're looking at your screens or your phones or talking to others. You started the meeting with a great thing which was complimenting people on
health. health and wellness of this city is so important and you're giving a proclamation today for it. Yet, we are seeing our parks disappear. I am in favor of RE8. I support Commissioner
Partardau on that initiative and I hope you will too. on PZ1. Let's get to the gorillas in the room because as you notice there are many people here on PZ1 and they are looking
to you, Madame Mayor, to offer something to the residents because 25 of us showed up to a PAB meeting where this was deferred. 36 of us showed up to the PAB meeting that was
cancelled because it was held on Passover. Wow, that's not an important holiday for anybody. And now here we are asking you to reconsider because this is not a holistic amendment and everybody
knows it because given a little in the mail, the developers go bananas and then you tell us you can't do anything because you're going to be sued. Well, we know differently. You have the power. You are sitting here. You are our
representatives and the residents are here begging you to reconsider an amendment that is going to dramatically change the face of historic and NCDS. Thank you for listening to me. >> Thank you. Good morning.
>> Good good morning. Debbie Doulson, 4205 Lennox Drive, Coconut Grove. Um I'd first like to speak about uh RE8, the allocation of funds. Um, I'm very much in favor of this because we all know that West Grove needs affordable housing
that and and the residents can't are increasingly unable to uh find that there. Uh, over almost 60 years that I've lived here, I have seen so many changes in West Grove. And I've worked at I've volunteered at the Coconut Grove
Crisis Food Pantry for over 10 years and have met person after person after person that needs a roof over their heads that they can afford. We can help at our food pantry with food, but we cannot help
with affordable housing, but that is something that you can do. So, I hope that all of you will consider this and approve um approve the the funds allocated I'm sorry for affordable housing, park improvements, and
playground equipment in district 2. How can you say no to the kids? My sister, my own children, and now my grandchildren are playing in the same park, the neighborhood park close to where we live. That's three generations.
And it's our responsibility to keep those parks safe, have good equipment, and maintenance for the future, for the next generation. PZ1, the transfer of of development density. You're going to hear a lot from
a lot of people. I just like to say that this may be good for district 5. That's I I understand that and I I uh uh think that's fine, but not citywide. Not for the NCDs, which explicitly target
control density. One size does not fit all. So, please exclude uh historic districts and NCDs from PZ1. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning.
>> Good morning, commissioners. Um I'm not going to jump in right now on PZ1. I was one of the gorillas that was there at these meetings. Um so, if it was deferred to Pab, which I used to be the vice chair of, I think you should wait until Pab hears it before
taking it up. But I'll leave others to that. I wanted to thank uh Commissioner Partardo for paying attention as he has uh to the West Grove and trying to get money to do that. But um it really layers into my more important messages. I think this the commission and the city
are really making a mistake putting all and I know Christine King this is dear to your heart concentrating on providing roofs over people's heads which is important. We have a housing crisis but highrises are not the only way we should go. You should uh bring Liz Plater's
eyebrook back here again. She has lots of ways we can increase our density without just building highrises. I built 20 two dozen homes in the West Grove back in the 90s and early 2000 when when land admittedly was cheap.
Maybe you can't do single family homes, but eyes on the street, people walking their dogs, kids, they don't really exist so much in highrises. There's a place for highrises, but not in our neighborhoods are are which are growing extinct. So, I' I'd like you to leave
you with that. One last thing with regarding to RE4, which has been deferred. Thank you, Mayor, for doing exactly what you said you were going to do, and I will just leave you with this. I would like to reduce the burden on you commissioners. I really
think we need nine commission districts. that's going to come before you because there's a ballot initiative that's going to be coming up. And I'd like you to think about neighborhoods and how you each could represent the neighborhoods where you can concentrate your efforts
and be more responsive to the people. And the city lays out perfectly in nine districts according to the voting rights act. And if you will just really take a hard look at that, I think you'll be happier. Your your citizens will be happier. Let's go to nine districts and let the people vote on this. Thank you
very much. Thank you. >> And thank you, Mayor. >> Good morning, >> John Doulson, 4205 Lennox Drive, Coconut Grove. Um, want to say really strongly support the uh allocation of funds for it's in RA8 for Village West. A lot of
good stuff has happened this year. Veric pool's about to open up. There's a lot of really good stuff going there. Keep it up. That's the right thing to do. In terms of PZ1, transfer development density, we really need to protect our NCDs. one size does not fit all and
we've got to do something about the density increase one. So I' I'd say no. Also, since you uh didn't show up, P&Z didn't show up and the public didn't have a chance to comment on it. At the very least, let the public have a meeting with PZ before you vote on this
thing. And one last thing, I want to echo something that Andy just said. I am thrilled to be looking at you guys in this commission, which is a relatively new commission. We've swapped a bunch of people out. Some bad actors are gone. We've got a new mayor. Uh I'm really
thrilled with what we've got up in the das now. I want nine of you, not five of you. We have a 100,000 people per commissioner that you represent. I'd prefer to have it down there at 35 or 40 like a national average. We're at the bottom eight of a hundred 100 cities.
Give me a chance to walk your district and really get to know people. So anyway, keep up the good work and let's get more of you with the stronger Miami Commission. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. I'm Reynold Martin at 3325 Perville Avenue in Coconut Grove. I'm
here on behalf of St. James Baptist Church Homeowners and Tennis Association of Westgrove and Grove Rights and Community Equity where I serve as a president and I want to thank you for commissioning all that you're doing in Coconut Grove. We certainly need the help. We've been displaced. you know how
much we've been displaced in that area and the money that's being proposed to for affordable housing is is phenomenal and we appreciate the effort that you're making in our community as well as trying to protect our parks. I grew up in Coconut Grove and I'd like to see some things improved there especially in
the parks where our kids, you know, spend a lot of their time. Uh we oppose u u the what is it? SR1, not SR1, I'm sorry, PH1. And um I I
think that Miami 21 protects the NCDs. We need the protection. Please consider what's happening with us in Coconut Grove. Like I said, one size does not fit all. We need protection in in uh District 2, and we would appreciate your consideration of of of of not passing
this if it negatively impacts us in that district. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Kyle Hazlewood. I reside at 1424 Northeast Miami Place and I'm here to speak on DI4 in REA. As a young downtown resident, the rapid
redevelopment and revitalization of my neighborhood is very inspiring to me. A robust urban core signals a thriving metropolis. This is why the DDA is so important to our neighborhood. Having an organization that's charged with stimulating small business growth, ensuring our streets are kept clean and free of graffiti and attracting
businesses to our neighborhood that would otherwise take their business elsewhere ensures that during this pivotal moment for downtown, smaller players are not left behind. If the DDA did not reinvest this money into our neighborhood, what would our neighborhood look like? How many businesses that we enjoy would not be there? How many storefronts would still
be boarded up while new towers rise? If you have a million-doll property, you pay around $450 a year to the DDA. That's $37.50 a month, which is around what I pay for Netflix and Hulu. And those companies definitely don't beautify my neighborhood. Investing in downtown should be a top
priority for our city. This sentiment is also why I support the allocation of funds from the public benefit trust fund for affordable housing and park improvement within district 2. In my view, it is only fair that funds collected within our district be reinvested into our public spaces. With more and more development occurring in
our district and more people moving to our neighborhood, it will only become more crucial that we invest in maintaining our parks and affordable housing. Additionally, people come from all over the county to enjoy our parks. So, it's important that we combat wear and tear and invest in maintaining them. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning.
>> Good morning, Madame Chair, commissioners, madame mayor, town manager. My name is Elette Rodriguez Diaz, administrative director with Miami Date County Public Schools. Our address is 1450 Northeast 2nd Avenue. My suite
is 776 Miami, Florida 33132. On behalf of Miami Dade County Public Schools, we are here in support of item RE13. This item advances affordable and workforce housing, prioritizing our teachers and the Miami Dade County
Public Schools workforce while allowing for on-site educational space to support our students and the community. This item also reflects strong alignment between the city and the school district, including our shared goals of
housing stability, educational opportunities, and building a sustainable workforce pipeline. We appreciate the partnership and look forward to moving this work forward together. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Marlene Irvin.
I live at 306X Washington Street in North Coconut Grove. Uh good morning to all of you and mayor. Uh I'd like to speak on RE8. I support this investment in affordable housing and parks in district 2. Directing development related public benefits to affordable
housing and park improvements is a very constructive use of those dollars especially when it helps neighborhood stability and quality of life. So thank you to go unnamed. >> Thank you. Uh second on PZ1, please do not move forward with this expansion
without evidence that the current program is working and without a clear understanding of the cumulative impacts of development as outlined by Elvis. If this item advances, NCDS and historic districts must be expressly carved out
and if added density is being granted and the name of affordable housing, then affordable or workforce housing should be required as part of this proposal. Uh on the changing of the mayor's election, it's too narrow and risk creating more
confusion. This is not real reform. The broader stronger Miami petition supports a more comprehensive approach. evenier elections for both the mayor and the commission, expanding representation from five to nine districts, and fair redistricting rules that keep
neighborhoods whole and prevent partisan manipulation. 20,000 signatures have already been submitted and are being verified to get this on the ballot. So, why don't we look towards that? Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Good morning.
>> Good morning, Madam Comm uh Madam Oh, Madam Chair. Uh, council members, good morning or commissioners, madame mayor. Sounds good to say that, Mr. Banager. Good morning. State Representative Alex Rizzo, District 112, uh, 601 West 43rd
Place in Halia, Florida. Thank you for allowing me over, uh, Flaggler without many problems. Um, I have the great honor of representing a large portion of the city of Miami and I'm here to speak on RE13, affordable housing and
workforce housing. I am in support in general of this item. I think that Miami is poised right now to show the rest of the state and the rest of the nation what we can do when we start using land
to help ease one of the worst situations that we have and it's a housing crisis. So, not just the number of units, but the affordability of units. And it's it's making people leave Miami date county as you know. And so, we even
though Florida is growing, South Florida is growing in different sections and different areas. And so I think that uh obviously the final details um and working with the school board need to be hashed out. But I think that with this
you can do so many things with this one agenda and you can lead and Miami Dade and city of Miami can lead in so many places. City uh um county of Hillsboro is starting to close schools. Broward County is closing schools. Miami Dade
County is now starting to talk about what they do with land and the number of schools that that have to be part of a contraction, but it's a re-imagining of what the school system can do with its municipalities. So, I I urge you to move
quickly. Uh, obviously look at the details and work with the school board, but I think that working hand in hand that this can be something that is laudable for the rest of the country. Thank you very much. Thank you and thank you for your service. >> Good morning. >> Uh good morning, Madam Chair. My name is
Antonio Divine. I live at 328 Southwest 71st Avenue, Miami, Florida 33144. And probably I am one of the nails that uh through history uh bother a lot this
city because I tend to fight for the citizens right. I'm here to speak about ER uh 13 the apartments uh or low income housing for teachers
which I support because I feel teachers is a profession that is forgotten. They are underpaid. They don't have enough to pay sometimes the housing here and they have to live very far to get I live one
block away from where that's going to be built and that land is totally abandoned for years. I've been complaining to uh different mayors through the years to
fix it but nothing has been done. Uh so I do support the building but my fear is as now is that for the longest time the neighbors been
asking to put some kind of speed bumps or something to stop the traffic around there. And I just can't imagine the amount of traffic and the speed that we're going to have once those apartments are built. I mean,
there are 425 units. So, we are a small neighborhood. I've been living there since 1977 and I seen how the neighborhood has
deteriorated. I see coconut grove going fantastic. Apatha looking beautiful. And just now under ro uh commissioner Rosado I seen that they planting trees fixing at least the sidewalks. >> Thank you.
>> So please put your heart and make the right choice. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning madam chair. Madame Mayor, commissioners, uh my name is Carolyn Donaldson. I am
the vice chair for Grace Gro Rights and Community Equity, Inc. I'm here to convey that Grace strongly supports agenda item RE8 which allocates
15 million for affordable housing and park improvements in district 2 as proposed by Commissioner Damen Partardo. These funds were generated from development within the district and
should be invested back into our communities and supporting housing in Little Bahamas and enhancing the quality of life for families, seniors, and for children throughout the neighborhoods.
However, as it relates to PZY one, we must be clear. Grace cannot support this item as presented. Under Miami 21, neighborhood
conservation districts, NCDS are essential protections that preserve the character and the cultural identity of the grove. And so we would like to guard against overdevelopment and
displacement. These NCDs must be explicitly carved out of this legislation. Absent that protection and the satisfactory reddraft, we're obligated
to withhold our support. We're not opposed to the development, but it must be responsible, must be balanced, and it must protect existing residents.
Development should not come at the cost of displacement. Good morning. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. Good morning, chair, board members, mayor. Thank you so much for
your time. My name is Janine Pickkins. I am an Overtown resident and small business owner. I previously submitted a one-page proposal requesting the establishment of a small business microrant pilot program and I provided
clarification to staff on February 13, 2026. I want to reiterate for the record that this is not an application for an existing grant cycle, but a request for board direction to establish a
consistent and transparent framework for Overtownbased small businesses. As the board considers multiple grant awards and development related funding today, I am requesting that the existing Overtownbased small businesses be
intentionally included in these opportunities moving forward. I respectfully request staff review and guidance on next step. Thank you. I had to read to make sure I I stay within time. Okay. Um thank you so much for your time and um have a great day.
>> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning everyone. Uh Paris Wallace 2678 Tiger Tale. Um thank you so much for being here today. I'm here to speak on two things quickly. The first is RE8 uh which I support. I think it's much needed funds um and very well stewarded
by our commissioner and D2. Um secondly, I'd like to talk about PZ1. Um like everyone has said, I'm also opposed and think NCD should be carved out, but I really think it goes to a broader issue. um when everyone here raises their hands because they have to come and speak on
these issues. I think it's because there's no master plan. We don't know what we're building towards. We know what the problems are. We don't know what we're building towards. And the leadership that I see around the DEAS today can definitely figure this out. So, as opposed to having plans that make
us all show up with uh upset, tell us where we're going in the next 10 years, in the next 25 years, tell us the plan, how we're going to get there on affordability, infrastructure, uh what the city is going to look like, and so we can come up and support you
and say, "Yes, we are for this plan." And when a proposal like this comes up, you can say, "Hey, here's the master plan. Here's how it fits within this master plan. Here's why it makes sense. here's why we want your support and we will come and we will help you do that work. But as long as we have a
disjointed unclear future, it's very hard for us as a city to be able to understand where we're going and to support the wonderful leaders who we put on the deis to be able to represent and build these plans. So, thank you so much for your time and hopefully you'll reconsider and send this back to to Pab
and the Pab meeting will happen and so the residents will actually get their say on this. Thanks so much. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, Madame Chair, members of the commission, mayor, and city manager who's pulling off a suit I could never pull off. Um, my name is Joseph Sols for
333 Southeast 2nd Avenue, Sweet 3200 in beautiful downtown Miami, Florida 33131. Many of you know that I've had the honor of representing the DDA for nearly a decade as external counsel, mostly focused on um soliciting and garnering health and human services as well as infrastructure funds. I've had the
opportunity to work under four separate chairs. Um, mostly working with Chairman Reyes, may he rest in peace, and his staff. Um, and then most recently with Chairman Rada, who's really hit the ground running. I got up today because I wanted to talk about my family's personal story to the DDA and not and downtown Miami, not so much my
professional capacity. In 1968, my grandfather, who came from Cuba and New York, immigrated to uh Miami and with four other Jewish Cuban retailer families, three others, purchased 144 East Flagler. part of my family still owns that building today. Um, they were not real estate folks. They were
retailers. 1968, they came here one year after the DDA was was created. My father and my grandfather, my uncle, over the next 40 years had up to seven stores in downtown Miami. A sports, Planet Reebok, Nike shop. And I will tell you, as somebody who grew up in Westchester, but
spent all his time in downtown working in those stores, the DDA over those 40 years was an incredible partner. Really was. Is the DDA perfect? No. No organization is. But I wanted to say that over the last 40 years, my family has thrived and now not so much in retail with the DDA as partnership. We
got to employ over that time a lot of folks that lived in the area. Want to share that story. I remain available to speak with any of you. Uh but the DDA's work is important to our urban core. Is there refinement that can happen? Absolutely. But please don't abandon the work that they're doing. Thank you all for your time.
>> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, Madam Chair, Madame Mayor and Commissioners. Uh, Liliana Coyaso, 2011 South Biscane Boulevard, sweet 26000 Miami, Florida, 331 31 33131. Um, I would like to uh read
into the record a letter that was transmitted to the honorable mayor and members of the city commission um from Joseph S. Geller, school board member, District 3, uh, from the Miami Day Public Schools. Dear Mayor and commissioners, I write to you in my
capacity as a member of the Miami Day County Public School Board representing District 3, which includes the Bickl community. As you engage in ongoing discussions regarding the role and future of the Miami Downtown Development Authority, I respectfully offer my strong support for the agency and its
continued work in the urban core. I have seen firsthand the meaningful and sustained impact the DDA has had on public education in downtown Miami, particularly at Southside Preparatory Academy, a school located in Bickl that
serves families from across the broader downtown area. The DDA has consistently demonstrated that it is more than an economic development entity. It is a community partner through initiatives such as food drives, toy giveaways, and direct engagement with families. The DDA
has provided critical support that helps ensure students are able to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Most significantly, the DDA has played an active role in advancing the expansion of Southside Preparatory Academy.
Through staff time, advocacy, and sustained engagement, the DDA helped support efforts to bring forward a new school facility in an area that has long needed additional public school capacity. Equally important was its role in championing an innovative concept,
integrating affordable workforce housing for teachers within the school itself. This forwardthinking approach strengthens our schools and helps address broader challenges facing our educators and our city. Even in more recent efforts, the DDA continues to
create opportunities for our students. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Good morning. Good morning, Madame Chair, Commissioners, Mayor Higgins. Happy to see you all. My name is Camilo Mahia. I am the senior director of Cardless Miami. We are at 3250 Southwest
3rd Avenue. We are a member of the public land for public good coalition and I'm here to speak on DI1 and basically just to make the same arguments that we have been making for years. Uh now that this item has come up
again uh we really support the district commissioner's goal of be building affordable housing in the project but we feel that um community participation meaningful community participation is going to be vital uh for any project. Uh
we believe that community members should also have a seat at the selection board and we think that um community participation uh leading up to even a community benefits agreement uh should be the norm not only for this project but for all use of public land by the
city. And while we're at that I'd also like to say that we support RE13. Uh needless to say, we have an affordable housing crisis and helping our teachers remain in our community should be a priority for everyone. So, please vote yes. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, uh Chairwoman King, Madame Mayor, members of the commission. I'm Kley. I'm CEO of the Underline and I'm here to uh speak in support of RE13. Uh the Underline we all know is a 10mi transportation corridor that connects
communities. Uh within our quarter, we have approximately 114,000 residents and 24 schools that we help serve. Uh but we also understand the importance of affordable housing and workforce housing. And having that access to transportation quarters from a regional
perspective is very critical to the success of the city of Miami and Miami Day County as a whole. So this particular project referencing uh RE13 not only supports teachers but also supports our community. Uh workforce
housing is good policy to help support and help fund and it essentially allows the uh ease of recruiting highly qualified educators to come and actually live and work in Miami Day County. So, the Lim Trail uh is a regional spine
very similar to the underline and these four blocks that are being proposed to be built really provides an advancement in regional connectivity and helps us move forward with the Miami Loop which creates additional regional connectivity from a mobility safety and accessibility
standpoint. So, using the public trust funds makes sense. It's good policy and it really helps to build out community serving infrastructure. So, we support this item. We support our teachers here in the city of Miami and we support connectivity and we're asking you to
vote yes on RE13. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, mayor. Good morning, chairwoman and commissioners. My name is Angela Ramuso and I serve as a legislative aid for county commissioner Natalian Orvis. I'm here today on her behalf to express support on resolution
number 13 by sponsored by Commissioner Rossado. So, this 4.8 8 million allocation is a direct investment in affordable and workforce housing that is something that our families urgently need. It's focused on real resorts uh results, more housing opportunities and
better infrastructure for your community. So, we appreciate Commissioner Rosado's leadership on this and we respectfully ask for your favor support on this resolution. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Geneva Claus
and I live at 355 Southwest 26 Street. Um I'm here with PAC today and I'm here in support of RE13. Um we definitely support the item for more affordable and workforce housing. Um we just want to add our caveat that
um a lot of affordable and workforce housing doesn't necessarily reflect the salaries that people are making in Miami Dade County. We know that the calculations that when they're done countywide or citywide, they get skewed up by the very wealthy. Um, so for
example, an average teacher salary is $51,000 a year in Miami Dade County. That's a little bit below 60% AMI as it's calculated right now. um that salary income is less for custodians,
for maintenance workers, pursuit service workers, that all are employed by Miami Dade Public Schools. So, we just want to make sure that the income charts and AMIs are actually reflective of the people that we're supposed to be housing in this facility. We know that thousands
of people are leaving Miami Dade County, um city of Miami every year because they can't afford to live here. So, we absolutely need affordable housing. We definitely support the building of affordable and workforce housing. We just ask that it's actually representative of our workforce. Um, for
example, um, 120% AMI, the market rate can be charged $2,600 when the average studio apartment is $2,100. So, workforce housing that we're subsidizing with our public dollars is actually more expensive than just market rate
apartments. So, we just need to make sure that it's actually reflective and helping our community. I also want to while I'm here um support um the GSA lot to actually create affordable housing and public benefits on public land. It's a really rare opportunity that we get
something that we can actually include the residents um of that area in the process and create benefits for them. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Andre Barnes, the director of the Miami Police Athletic League. I just wanted to say first of all, thank you to the commissioners and to the mayor for all
the support that you've given to our over 1100 kids that we serve throughout the city of Miami. Um all of the programs that we have include athletics, mentoring, and academic support for the youth in the city of Miami throughout all districts and we want to be able to continue to support those youth as we
continue to try to help especially those underserved communities that we have. I also want to say thank you for your support with PH3 um as we did the CDBG grant and granting us those funds to help support our youth. Um those funds will go towards increasing the amount of
girls that we serve. So we have a couple of new girl programs that we're starting as well as our mentorship program, specifically our explorers who have done so well. We have over 70 police explorers as well as our academic support that we have with our STEM programming which we currently have at
Edison Park um in Little Haiti, but we want to expand to the south end. So, we want to continue to say thank you to those kids and to the community and we want to continue to just hope that you bless us with your support as we continue in 2026 and beyond. So, thank
you very much. >> Thank you. Thank good morning. >> Good morning. Uh, mayor, city commissioners, my name is Robert Krabsy and I live at 3229 Mary Street. I had to take off work to be here today. I don't want to be here today, but I know
exactly what happens when you allow loopholes like PZ1 to pierce our neighborhoods. The last time an ordinance like this was in front of the Miami Commission, a loophole promising transit oriented benefits was put in place without any public notice or
comment. Because of that, the planned five-story development right behind my single family home, a project called the well, was allowed to morph into a 123 foot tall concrete behemoth. Now I get to watch that tower rise over my bedroom. It will be filled with
multi-million dollar condos and a massive parking garage. The transit benefit was a complete fiction meant to pad the profits of developers while my community is the one paying the price. So, it's evident that if I it is evident that I do have to pay attention to
these, I have to miss work and stand in this room because if I don't, my home and my neighborhood will continue to pay the price. And that brings us to why we are here today. Zoning codes exist for one primary reason, predictability. When a family buys a home in Miami, they do
so trusting the rules of their neighborhood. Neighborhood conservation districts aren't just arbitrary lines on a map. They are promise made by the city. This new TDD amendment breaks that promise. We all recognize the need for affordable housing, but pasting that
label on a policy doesn't change what the text actually does. This amendment acts as a backdoor for hyper density. It allows a developer to purchase air rights and dump a massive outofscale luxury project directly into our project our protected neighborhoods without
adding a single affordable unit on site. The fact is that this amendment bypassed the PAB and landed on your agenda tells us everything that we need to know. Legislation that is actually good for a community doesn't need to hide from public scrutiny. Look at the room today.
Not one person has been in support of this ordinance. >> Thank you. >> If you if you one second, if you pass this amendment without protections, you are sending a clear message. You are declaring that no neighborhood in Miami is safe and that local zoning can be o overridden by the highest bidder at the expense of its residents, the people who
actually vote. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Uh good morning, mayor, chairwoman, and commissioners. My name is Katy Santos, 2150 Coral Way, Miami, Florida 33145. I am the executive director of Transit
Alliance Miami. We are the city's foremost advocacy organization for quality transit and I am here in support of uh RE13. It is a critical piece for connecting Miamiians to more opportunity by addressing two of our three of our biggest challenges uh and issues of the
decade, affordability and traffic. The investment proposed in this item of more than 400 affordable housing units for Miami's teachers and the building out of four blocks of the Llham Trail is exactly the type of investment that our residents need in this moment. Housing
and transportation are eating up our residents paychecks and the solution also has to tackle both. That is why we believe that RE13 would be a smart use of the public benefits trust fund as the project scope is practical and attainable. It ensures that the people that keep our schools running can live
in our city and it creates a impact that goes beyond this project into the citywide uh investment. Uh, plus it creates an opportunity for those that live in the new development and in the neighborhood uh to access new local businesses uh that will be created in in
the retail space in the development uh safely on foot or by bike uh by building out the Leland Trail a little bit more uh to get more exercise and to access uh greener spaces all in one project. Folks today have mentioned quite a few
reasons why this project is a smart one. I'll add another one. Uh there is a 10 every 10 minutes a bus runs by on West Flaggler that connects people that will live in this development in the neighborhood all the way from FIU to downtown uh all without ever needing to
access a car. Um finally, I do want to also mention uh speak on the discussion item one uh and just mention once again community members know what they need and if there's an opportunity for uh them to be at that table uh in how public land is
used that is critical. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Thank you. Good morning, mayor, commissioners. My name is Melody Torrren. I reside at 2080 Northwest 13th Street, Miami, Florida. And I'm here in support of RE13. And I'm also a member
of Pacted. Um I'm also a mom of a teacher who up until recently taught government and economics in Day County and loves teaching. He's a passionate teacher, highly rated teacher, taught kids not just about our lo our government but also about our local
government. He asked every one of his students to uh find out what district they lived in, who their representatives were and come back and talk to them about it, find out who their representatives are. Unfortunately, at the end of the school year last year, my son couldn't afford to live in Miami
unless he lived in at home with me. So, he moved to Portland, Oregon. He's making more money. Cost of living is less. He loves Miami. He regretted the move. But we need to build housing so that we don't lose more teachers that
care about our kids. So this RE13 is really an important project and I highly support it and hope you will move on. Secondly, I just wanted to thank my commissioner Gabella for u the Alipata CRA. Highly support it. Hope we can get this going. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Jose Sagar. My address is 515 Southwest 63rd Court. I would like to take a brief moment to thank the lady that just spoke as I am grateful for having great teachers. They
actually I gave a very difficult time and I apologize to all of them but they they still managed to teach me. Uh today I am here to state my full support of RE13. I accidentally happened to live pretty
much next to the proposed area which is on West Flagler 70th Avenue which also is going to be uh included I believe is going to be the formation of four blocks of the Llam Trail. The area this project will bring a positive impact to our area. It'll bring positive residents,
teachers specifically, plus the impact fees that the project generates get then also reinvested into the area and we need much investing. There's still there's many things to address. I'm in full support of it. I think it's great and
our teachers desperately need it. Given the work they do and perform and what they are paid, it is appalling that we pay they need the resources. If we can't pay them better incomes or
salaries, then we need to provide housing and we need to provide other resources so they can have a life of dignity given the impact the positive impact teachers have on our just our our lives. They touch everyone's lives.
Thank you. I'm in full support our E13. I can't wait to see it built. God bless. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Hi. Good morning. My name is Jamila Stevens and I reside at 31801 Habibiscus Street, Miami, Florida 33133.
I'm representing the executive board of the Coconut Grove Homeowners and Tennis Association, also known as HODA, and currently hold the office of second vice president. I hereby declare that HODA's executive board in is in support of agenda item number RE8, which an allocation of 15 million is requested
for affordable housing and park improvements in district 2 as proposed by district 2 commissioner Damen Partardo. I further declare that holders executive board cannot at this juncture support agenda item PZ1 in which approval of a resi a revised vision version I'm sorry of the city of Miami's
affordable and attainable mid-inccome transfer development density program is sought on PAP's March 18th meeting there was a mention of community outreach being conducted the last meeting was cancelled so I'm not quite sure what proof we have of that Miami um 21
contains neighborhood conservation district NCD overlay that protect coconut girl from overdevelopment and to preserve its character. Therefore, unless the NCDs are removed from the legislation as presented herein and as a satisfactory reddraft is um preferred,
we are obligated to withhold our support. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, uh Madame Mayor, Chairwoman King, commissioners, Chris Rup, Date Heritage Trust, 190 Southeast 12 Terrace. I'm here to speak in favor of the DDA as a cultural organization.
We the DDA u encourages networking with other arts and cultural organizations around the downtown area. We also operate as the Bickl uh area visitors center with appropriate funding from the DDA. We're able to welcome visitors locally, nationally, and of course
internationally um to our neighborhood and we provide information on transit, on arts activities and and more all about downtown. So, um, they really provide us great opportunities, great networking opportunities with with other arts and culture organizations. It's it's a very meaningful program for the
DDA and for cultural organizations in general. Um, also, um, Commissioner Partardo, your, um, item about parks improvements and affordable housing in in your district. Fabulous. And I want you to know all of you that Date
Heritage Trust is a partner in parks and affordable housing. And we have a beautiful program called Historic Places Green Spaces where we take K through 12 students into city parks that have historic resources. Uh recently we received a grant and put in some of our
own uh funding to put a new roof on the oldest residence in Miami, the Wagner Homestead in Lumus Park. It's lovely. And um previous to Mayor Higgins um joining the city of Miami, she was our champion for something called the preservation of naturally occurring
affordable housing. a wonderful initiative that preserves affordable housing in existing structures, preserves the green space, restores these lovely structures that add to the community aesthetic and the community fabric and preserving neighborhoods is really what we're all about obviously.
So, there's ways to do affordable housing without towers and it's meaningful for the neighborhood. So, thank you for your great work. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Thank you. Good morning, Alisa Margulles, 3333 Rice Street in Center Grove. I'm here for PZ1, RE8, and RE12.
Commissioners and mayor, not all legislation has to be one sizefits-all, especially in a city as diverse and complex as Miami. What works in one neighborhood is not automatically good a good fit for another. In the case of PZ1, the residents of the Grove NCDS did
not ask for this. In fact, we are here respectfully asking to be excluded from it. No one here denies that Miami needs more affordable housing, and in areas that can absorb additional density, we support making that easier to achieve.
However, residents of the conservation districts are already paying the price of overdevelopment. We live with sidewalks that are routinely closed for up to two years during construction. Traffic is not just a daily inconvenience, it's soul crushing. And
with an easily achievable low threshold to transfer density, the potential for exploitation will be too tempting for certain developers. Ask yourselves in the NCDs, who exactly does stand to benefit? Is it the luxury condo with 380
plus parking spaces that already stretches the credibility of its transit zone designation? or properties along 27th Avenue east of US1 where additional density won't solve an affordability crisis, but it will result in more gridlock. Adding more density without
first fixing the inadequate public transportation system and infrastructure gaps will not solve the NCD problems. It will only magnify them. Regarding RE8, this not only benefits our benefits our West Grove family, but will help to increase much neededed green space.
Please support this initiative. And finally, thank you, Commissioner Rossado, for sponsoring RE12. It judiciously benefits our seniors and is grounded in community needs. To the city manager, who's not here, so I take I say to you, mayor, please, as you consider
implementing new programs, I urge you to put in strong guard rails. You have to protect our seniors. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Morning. >> My name is Maria Marieva. I am LD Miami Circus Arts Center program director and
I'm heat coach. I'm here to support Miami DDA uh for vital yas performing arts development art programs. DDA boosts arts program in downtown Miami through their grants. We are applying
every year and this help us to create and uh deliver youth programs training in dance circus um for kids for all abilities and it also activates public spaces in downtown Miami where we
deliver all final products. So it is very important to support Miami DDA as family friendly um events around Miami. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning.
>> Good morning. Uh, mayor, commissioners, my name is Jeff Taylor. I live here in Coconut Grove, 2801 Florida Avenue. I've got two items. I'll be quite quick. So, first, I wanted to express my support for RE8 to help fund the land acquisition, affordable housing, and
parks projects in D2. Thank you, Commissioner Partardo, for you and your team's work on that. Secondly, uh my ask is to please exclude neighborhood conservation districts from uh PZ1. As you've heard from many of our neighbors here in this room, uh we support
reasonable development. We simply ask uh that areas like the Grove be excluded because of already uh challenges with overdevelopment. So, please exclude the NCDS from our from excuse me, PZ1. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Good morning. Morning, Madam Chair, commissioners, madame mayor. Mark Burns, executive director of the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District with offices at 3250 Mary Street. Um, I'm here uh one of
my board Hello Better. I'm here uh for one of my board members, Mr. Monty Trainer. He was unable to attend and he he prepared a written statement in support of RE8 that he wanted me to read uh into the record if that's all right, Madam Chair. Thank you.
Dear honorable mayor and commissioners, I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed resolution authorizing allocation of 15 million from the public benefits trust fund to the affordable housing trust fund and parks and open spaces trust fund. As a
longtime resident of Coconut Grove and the city of Miami, I have witnessed firsthand both the growth and the challenges our community continues to face. This investment represents a thoughtful and necessary step towards ensuring that Miami remains a vibrant,
inclusive, and sustainable city for residents of all backgrounds. The allocation of funds toward affordable housing is critical. As housing costs continue to rise, many long-standing residents, essential workers, and families are increasingly at risk of
displacement. Supporting the development and preservation of affordable housing within our neighborhoods helps maintain the cultural fabric and economic diversity that define Miami. Equally important is the investment in parks and open spaces. These areas are vital to
the health, well-being, and quality of life for our residents. Expanding and enhancing green spaces not only provides recreational opportunities, but also contributes to environmental resilience and community connectivity. This balanced approach supporting both
housing affordability and accessible public spaces demonstrates a forward-thinking commitment to equitable development and long-term planning. I respectfully urge the city commission to approve this resolution and continue prioritizing initiatives that strengthen our neighborhoods and support the people
who call Miami home. Thank you for your leadership and dedication to our community. Monty Trainer, thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. Sorry. Good morning. Thank you all for being here. Um I'm not I'm Monica Bison
and me like several of my friends and neighbors here uh live in Park Grove and I'm not going to speak. Don't worry about that. I'm just going to bring a a petition that has been signed by many of us in Park Grove and it's a petition
opposing the expansion of density transfer program in Coconut Grove. It has been signed by many of us uh many many and it also includes uh a description of um of why the opposition
to this uh program. Uh who should I give it to? >> To our >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Good morning madam chairwoman, madame mayor, honorable commissioners. My name is Melissa Tapenz with offices at 200 South Biscane Boulevard, Miami. I'm here
before you today as a board member of the downtown development authority and most importantly the chairwoman of the DDA's urbanism committee. I wanted to just take a moment to give a little bit of historical context on the DDA on one particular issue and that is the DDA's
role as the area developer of the downtown DRRI. The downtown DRRi consists of 927 acres that by state law, as the growth management act appeared in 1985, was downtown. This includes Bickl,
the central business district, as well as the arts and entertainment. For 40 years, the DDA has served as the developer of this areawide development. And it's really important to note that we've been very successful specifically
in the development of the Bickl area. With that said, we have significant remaining credits as part of our DRRi. Specifically, over 5,300 residential units yet to construct as well as almost
2,700 hotel units yet to destruct. These um I these developments are in the future of the DDA. And this is separate and apart from the other services that many of the members of the DDA have presented to you all in the past. So we
want to keep in mind that the DDA's work, it continues. um it's part of state law and any type of future role discussion needs to really incorporate our role as developer of this area providing infrastructure resiliency
methods um and advocacy before our state regional and county governments. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good morning. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Uh I'm uh my name is Cliff Lash. I live
at 2811 South Bay Shore Drive and I also represent the South Bay Shore Condo Association which has about 3,000 members, a handful of which are here. Um, I'm here to support RE8 which is excellent policy and we are happy that
our commissioner proposed it. Um, I'm here to oppose PZ1. All the arguments have been made. I'll barely summarize them. Um this isn't part of somebody said earlier it's not part of any coherent policy at all. Um
and if it and labeling it as having anything to do with uh affordable housing is as was pointed out earlier just inaccurate. The only thing it would do would be to allow transfer from highdensity areas to what should be a
protected area like an NCD to build very high-cost housing. So it wouldn't achieve in any way the supposed effect of affordable housing. Um NCDs were created for a reason to conserve the the communities that were there, the
ambiance that's there and cons and to be consistent with the infrastructure in place um to support the housing. The higher density in Coconut Grove has already had some pretty delletterious effects as somebody pointed out. You
can't really walk on the sidewalks most of the time because they're closed for construction. The roads are really badly clogged now. It's not the right place for higher density housing, period. Um, and certainly it doesn't provide in the
slightest any affordable housing. So, it's hard to see why there's any policy reason to support this whatsoever. Um, it's it's been pretty clear there's not a single resident or any of your voters in favor of this. So, the question has to be why is it even on the
agenda? Why would anybody pass this and make it law? Um, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, chairwoman. Uh, my name is James Torres, president of Downtown Neighbors Alliance here speaking on DI4. On March 26, this commission saw exactly
what downtown and local residents have been dealing for years. Commissioner Escalona called for a sunshine meeting to ask a basic question about the downtown development authority. Commissioner Miguel Gavella attended. Uh Miami Dade County Commissioner Vicky Lopez showed up as well. And what did
the DA DDA do? Nothing. No one from this hostage a agency even bothered to show up. No explanation, no accountability, just silence. This tells you everything that you need to know. If this is how the DDA treats elected officials asking questions in public, imagine how they
treat downtown residents. We have been ignored, brushed aside, retaliated. Just this week, the DDA retaliated against our own organization when we asked the agency that we very much so fund the double taxation to share in a Easter
event. They declined. This message was simple. If you ask, you are criticized. If you get there, they're going to shut you down. This is not how a public agency behaves. This is how an unaccountable racket behaves. So, since there are so many
unanswered questions at the Sunshine meeting, I would like to offer a few more. Isn't it true that nearly half of the DDA staff makes over $100,000 a year? Isn't it true that the DDA spends over $700,000 on a luxury office space,
parking, furniture, and related office expenses? Isn't it true that the DDA spends roughly 3.5 million a year on salary and benefits? Isn't it true that just in the 18 months the DDA handed out over 3.2 in corporate giveaway checks?
Isn't it true that the DDA gave $450,000 to FC Barcelona, $100,000 to UFC, $175,000 to college football? Isn't it true that the CD the CEO of this taxpayer funded agency makes nearly $265,000 which is more than the governor of
Florida and California? So the question is very simple. How much longer are downtown and Bickl families expected to keep paying this hostage tax to fund an outdated bloated tax agency >> and news a issues? Thank you. Appreciate you. >> Good morning.
>> Good morning. Uh good morning ma madame mayor, madam chairwoman, uh commissioners. It's a real honor to be here and I'll be very brief. I'm here in strong support of RE13. Thank you, Commissioner Rosado for sponsoring this. Um, my name is Julio Robina. I'm the
former mayor of South Miami and the former state rep and very proud to say the ones who started the London Trail Project back in 2001 when we were able to for those uh activists out there, you're able to stop government at times when things are not right. We were able
to stop a corridor and today it's becoming a beautiful corridor and I'm extremely proud to say that the London Trail Apartments for Teachers is a must. It's long overdue. I'm a product of D County Public School Systems. And let me
tell you, housing has gotten horrible for teachers, especially with the salaries paid this day. Also, I'll end with this. I I have to speak about this as the former lawmaker who wrote all pretty much the rewrites of laws for condominiums and homeowner associations
in Florida. I want to remind everybody that December 31st of this year, you must be in compliance with the state statute that says you have done the structural integrity report for all these condos, old and new, that are
three floors or higher and you must fund your reserves. If not, there will be an avalanche of letters and probably fines and so forth moving forward. Everyone needs to comply. I'm very happy to say that I'm working with Ralph, Mr. with
Commissioner Rosado, uh, Commissioner Gabella, and willing to tell you if you've got any constituents that want to know what this is about, cuz everyone's procrastinating and thinking this is not going to happen, half of Miami's got my phone number. I'm sure a lot of you do.
Have them call me. I'll be glad to help him. And again, thank you and thank you for what you all do and have a great morning. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, Madam Chair. Billy Corbin, my time's up already. Um, Billy Corbin
on CA5. Uh, you guys play and the taxpayers pay and we just want to stop the games. Last year I was here, I told you don't cancel or postpone the election. It's unfair. It's unethical. And it turns out it was also unconstitutional. Judge after judge,
court after court told you that. And you kept spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on outside counsel to lose, to lose, and to lose. And now you're going to pay $150,000 to Ailio Gonzalez to pay his attorneys who rightfully sued the city and won. And there's no
accountability for it at all whatsoever. Why do we even have outside counsel? You have a law firm with 29 lawyers right here in the city attorney's office. Okay. The reason is is because it's a hustle and it's an entire cottage industry of lawyers who get paid millions of dollars to lose lawsuits on
behalf of the taxpayers and they're incentivized to do it. They're incentivized to drag it out. They're incentivized to file frivolous uh appeals so they get paid more money and there's no accountability. You guys voted to spend $400,000 in taxpayer money to settle a lawsuit against the
police chief for uh sexual discrimination, gender discrimination, racial discrimination, and he still has a job. There's no accountability. I suggest a policy of disincentivizing. How about a resolution that when you lose a lawsuit or an appeal, you dock
the pay of the city attorney and his deputies? I bet you'll start getting a lot better legal advice then. Or how about a resolution that the commissioner Damen Partardo who masterminded this unconstitutional scheme, how about he pays out of his personal or his pack, he
pays Amelio Gonzalez's fees. Commissioner Rosado and Commissioner G, you want to chip in too? You guys also voted for this scheme. Finally, I want to thank you, Commissioner uh or chairwoman for your new moderate take on the unreasonable ban on the public saying the names of public officials at
public meetings. I appreciate that. Uh sometimes you get complimented, sometimes you get uh you know uh uh criticized, but I think the flexibility is important and I appreciate it and shame on you sir for trying to censor us and silence us today. >> Thank you. >> Okay. You're living proof that the
system you don't change the system, the system changes you. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, mayor, commissioners, Mr. Manager. Uh my name is Christian Molina, 3058 Southwest 19 Terrace. I'm here to read a letter on behalf of county commission, former county commissioner
Rebecca Sosa in support of RE13. Dear mayors, members of the Miami City Commission. As a former Miami date county commissioner and a lifelong educator, I am proud to offer my strong support for Commissioner Rosado's proposal to invest in teacher housing and advance the Lelum Trail, two priorities that have defined much of my public service. Before my time in
elected office, I served as an educator in Miami County Public Schools. That experience has never left me. I've seen firsthand the sacrifices our educators make and I have long believed that if we expect excellence in our classrooms, we must ensure stability in our teachers's lives. Too many of our teachers are being priced out of the very communities
they serve. This proposal recognizes a simple truth. When teachers can afford to live here, our schools are stronger, our neighborhoods are more stable, and our entire county benefits. This is not just housing. It is an investment in the future of public education across Miami Dade. I'm equally encouraged to see continued progress on the Lullum Trail,
a project that I proudly supported for many years. During my tenure at the county, I worked to help move this vision forward because I understood its potential to transform how our communities connect with one another. The Lullum Trail is more than a path. It is a corridor of opportunity, promoting mobility, health, and environmental sustainability while linking multiple
municipalities together. Completing these critical segments brings us closer to realizing a truly interconnected Miami date county. This proposal reflects the kind of regional thinking I have always advocated for. Our challenges, whether in education, housing, or infrastructure, do not stop at municipal boundaries. Our solutions
must be just as expansive. By supporting this item, you are supporting our teachers, advancing a long-visioned regional asset, and investing in a stronger, more connected future for all. I commend Commissioner Rosado for his leadership, and respectfully urge your support. Sincerely, former Commissioner Rebecca Sosa.
>> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else here who would like to speak? on behalf of any item on this agenda. Seeing none, public comment period is now closed. Gentlemen, may I have a motion to
approve the minutes, the commission minutes for February 12, 26, February 26, 2026, and March 12th, 2026. >> So moved. >> I have a motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
>> I. >> Gentlemen, are there any items from this CA agenda that you would like to pull for discussion? >> No. No. >> None. >> No. >> May I have a motion for CA1, CA2, CA3
that will be amended, CA4, and CA5. And our city clerk is going to tell us about the amendment. >> Thank you, chair. CA3 will be amended pursuant to a substitution memo dated April 8, 2026. Thank you. >> All in favor? >> I
chair. I didn't catch the mover and second. My apologies. >> So move second. >> And that would be unanimous. Thank you, chair. >> Thank you. Gentlemen, of the PH items, are there any items that you would like to pull for discussion? I
>> just have a commentary on page 10. on PH10. >> PH10. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> No. Okay. Commissioner Pardo, if you'd like to. >> I just on PH10, I just wanted to highlight the importance of that item because it will lower emissions
downtown. It'll be connecting the port electrically and there won't be any diesel being used anymore. So, that should make a nice difference in the quality of the air for downtown residents. So, >> thank you. May I have a motion for PH1,
PH2, PH3 to be amended, pH4, PH5, PH6, PH7, PH8, PH9, PH10, PH11, PH12, PH13
to be amended and PH14. >> Excuse me. Excuse me. Whoa, whoa, whoa. PH13 to be amended in what form? I I can I can respond to that madam chair. PH 13 the map uh which is attached to the
legislation had a typo on the speed. It was 137 should have been >> No problem. >> So that's just been corrected. >> Madame chair if I could just confirm. I wanted to be added as a co-sponsor of PH3. >> Our city clerk is going to do that. He's going to address the uh items that will
be amended and also speak to co-sponsorship. >> Thank you. And chair, I'll briefly I'll reference um PH3. PH3 will be amended the third whereas clause to change the amount from $162,8961 to $162,000
>> and PH10. >> Oh, >> PH3, I'm sorry. >> Yes. And I believe the city attorney explained the amendment for PH13. >> Okay. May I have a motion? >> So move. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? I >> I >> items passes. Gentlemen, are there any
items on the re agenda that you would like to pull for discussion? >> No. >> Uh I do want to just make a brief comment on the one that has to do with the public benefits trust >> RE8 RE8.
>> I'd also like to comment on RE8. >> Okay. RE8 and RE13. I'd like to pull RE8 and RE13. >> RE13. >> It's also public benefits. >> Um, Madam Chair, I wanted to mention RE1
um should be tabled because it's um contingent upon the adoption of SR4, >> but we're going to um SR4 had an issue with it. So, we're going to revert that to first reading. So I would respectfully request that RE11 be
deferred to April 23rd. >> May I have a motion? >> I have a motion and a second to defer RE1 to April 23rd. All in favor? >> I I >> Motion carries. Okay. May I have a
motion for RE1, RE2, RE3 to be amended, RE4, 5, 6, and 7, RE 9, RE10, RE 12, RE1 14, 15, and 16.
>> Chair, my apologies. I believe you referenced RE4 in the block vote. >> R4 was deferred. >> I'm sorry. Um, RE4 was deferred, so not RE4. May I have a motion? >> And chair, just briefly, RE3 will be
amended pursuant to a substitution memo dated April 6, 2026. >> I have a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Um, Commissioner Gabella, you wanted to discuss RE8.
>> Right. I briefly just want to say that uh there's three commissioners and they're asking 21 million for the three uh and I understand this is a first come first uh serve. That's the way it is. No problem. Uh however, my portion is 1,369,934. The problem is that between the three
centers that are now asking for 21 21 mil, you know, uh there's a shortage for my end at at 542 550. So, can I ask uh somebody some of you guys to, you know, to chip in so I can make up for my 542? >> So, also um I I'd like to
>> and I don't want to take away from what you guys are doing. >> I'd like to weigh in on this one because if we pass RE8, there's no money left for RE13. And this fund uh is intended for
affordable housing, parks, and the like. We all have issues in our community. I don't believe the way this fund was set up is equitable for the entirety of the
city of Miami. Um it was not intended to do so. And with the allocation to date, we have district 2 has received almost 18
million of the money. District three has received almost 13 million of the fund. I have received seven almost six million and commissioner Gabella has received 1
million. >> I got I got 1 million. >> Yes, you did. I did. >> You got 1 million. 1.3 with the remainder. >> No, no, no, no. I Yes. Okay. No, go ahead. I'm sorry. >> With the remainder of the money, each of our districts have needs from
this benefit. I have a park in my district that is going to be closed because the playground equipment is so outdated and unsafe that they're closing the park with no funding insight with a
hope to receive funding in October during the budget cycle. Two months before school is out, summer recess, my parks are going to be closed and I have several parks in the district. Also,
affordable housing for teachers is important. I am a champion for affordable housing and not just apartments. Uh, I'm building housing for first-time homeowners for low to moderate income families like teachers
and I'm utilizing vacant lots in district 5 to do so. I appreciate that affordable housing looks different for everyone. But it is unequitable how this money has been spent and it is unfair
because I was told by staff I had to identify a project. So, I identified a project. Then I was told by staff, "Nope, you just had to ask for it." The uncertainty of how you would obtain this money because if you had told me that,
"No, you just have to ask for the money," I would have asked for all of it. But I did what I was told and I identified a project and I cannot in good conscience vote for your item, Commissioner Partardo. Although it is
needed, but there are parks throughout the city of Miami and there are commissioners who have not there's no money for D4. None. And he's asking for $4 million. If we grant you a request,
there's no money for him. And also, this should have this pot of money. And let me just read from it. It is important to note that just because a project contributed into the fund is located in a certain district, it does
not mean those funds shall be used within that district. It's not because one district includes you receive the money into this fund from one district more than other
districts that that district should get the lion share of the money. It's not fair. And in today's prayer, the pastor talked about compassion and serving the entirety of the city of Miami. And I would like staff to figure
out a way that this is more equitable for everyone. Perhaps use the calculation that we use for CDBG dollars where it's based on need in the district or just divvy up what's left and make
everyone whole where we all get about the same amount of money. Um it seems like almost 18 million is the threshold here. I don't know that staff can bring us all up to that, but whatever is left, let's make this more
equitable for all of the districts because it's just not fair. Commissioner Partardo. Well, first of all, I want to say I have compassion and I understand there are needs across all of our districts. I want to make that very clear. We have allocations in our budget that address
many of those needs and many other pockets of money. This specific pot of money is about T6 and above developments that are contributing a public benefit into this fund. T6 and above developments primarily occur in district
2. When you talk about district 2, it is under so much stress for development. It doesn't matter where you go, people can't get to their buildings. The traffic is unbearable. You know, the thought is, oh, well, district two, it it has these condos and quality of life
in district two, the entire district, whether it's Coconut Grove, you open the paper, people want to move to the Grove, people want to move to Miami. Where are they moving? District 2. The residents in district 2 are fed up. They are dealing with undue pressure. You saw it at the ultra meeting. You know, half
marathons that blow the horn every morning. People get woken up at 6:00. Construction noise. They're woken up at 2:00. They're woken up at 4. So that's not equitable. That's just not equitable. Everyone wants to travel and come through all these places. And these developments are asking for concessions.
They're asking for setbacks. They're asking for variances. And the public benefit money that's originating from that development is going into that pot of money. We have designated very concrete projects for that money. That's why we're here taking it. And by the
way, we're not taking what we contribute. there's more left that comes from district 2. So, we're not taking the full amount. We're just asking for our fair share that not only has been appropriated. We have been talking about this with residents for 8 months. We've been talking about the playgrounds,
talking about buying property in the Grove. I mean, these are identified specific things, not just something where we decided, hey, let's let's come in and try to take some money at all. We've been extremely courteous, responsible, and respectful. We understand the needs are citywide and we
support all of our districts in that effort, but we're here at the table because we're ready and we shouldn't be held back. >> Commissioner Cabella. >> Yeah. So, my response to that is I I understand fully. And by the way, what you meant was that uh the allotment that
uh that my district was allotted the 1.3 is what you meant because when you said we gave you the money, so what? >> No, no, no. But no, I got you. I that was me. Bad. My bad. But no, here's the thing. While I understand that your uh
residents put up with this and the money is generated there, the other problem, the other side of this is that her district in my district, my district for example, I have the Camila's house on 7th Avenue, I have the the health system, which is a revolving door of people that get arrested, the
homelessness situation and all of that. And then on top of that, the GSA site uh has been in my district, which is an eyesore for years. So while you guys generate the money but at the by the same token you guys don't have all this stuff in your neck of the woods. What do
you guys do for years? People not you but people have been dumping into Alipata. So you got to take that part of the equation also because you guys that that I know about you know you don't have this this kind of problem that you know that that I'm talking about. You see what I'm saying? So while I
understand that you guys generate the funds, you know what I mean? You know it's not exactly you know and and and I agree with the chairwoman you know, I don't want to hamper you. I don't want to hamper your your you know, what you got going on. Uh because I think we we all need to help each other, right, as
as as colleagues that we are, you know, uh and I'm all for that. But but you know, you know, I think it's just a a bit much and and I will vote for it, but I I hope in your heart you can find what the chairwoman is saying and and she's
correct. You know what I mean? And what I'm telling you is that, you know, it's not, you know, when you speak about it that way, it makes sense. But then the other equation is that we have problems in our district that were dumped upon. Okay? And and you know, so it's not I don't see it as an equitable, you know,
uh, solution. However, the the other side is I and I said it to the city manager when we had our meeting, you know, the way this is done, first come, first serve, but I don't think this is this is correct. Is if I didn't find out about it, nobody knows about it. Hell, you know, I mean, I'm late to the party, gentlemen. Okay. Now, I'm going to abide
by my rules. Now, at the at the bare minimum, what I want is that what you guys are are doing. U Rosado, I have nothing against your your thing. I want to help you, too. Uh but here's the deal. I'm short uh $5 and $42,000. Okay?
Because if you uh it's 213 between what you're asking, what the chairwoman did already, and what you're asking, it's 213. Okay? And the the the total is 22 22,27,384. So what I'm owed is 1,369,934
with 08 cents. Okay. Meaning that there's 822 384 left from me the way it is, but I am short 542550. So what are we going to do about that? >> Commissioner. >> Yes, sir. >> You said 542,550.
>> That's correct. >> I will take it out of our funds specifically. I want you to understand something. I believe and work hard for all of our districts. You know that there's an contribution specifically made for Alipata, $2 million a year out
of Omnic that we shephered. We all know we have many entities and different pots of money to help in all of these projects. So like you, I don't want to be in a diametrically opposed on anything. There's enough, you know, if you believe it's an ocean with lots of
fish, you believe it is ocean. You believe it's a pond that you need to fight for everything. That's a different story. I think it's an ocean, lots of fish, and I'm happy to help you. >> Commissioner Part, I don't understand how the OmniCA can pledge $2 million to
Alipata because you can't use the money outside of the boundaries of the correct CRA. >> Correct. We're pledging it back to the general fund for the administration to use in the area. >> Okay. >> Wait a minute. Back that up again. You you're doing what again?
>> Yeah. One CRA cannot give outside of its boundary boundary. So we gave through Omnic CRA $2 million back to the city. >> So therefore, you should be able to >> So who's that earmarked for now? >> For Alipata. >> Oh, what you're saying is that you
couldn't go do it the other way around, >> right? Okay. >> So that money is available to him today >> if he wanted it. >> Okay. For for Alipa. >> For Alata. Correct. But again, my argument stands because again, if we pass RE8, there is no money for RE13.
None. Zip. >> Madam Madam Chair, >> Mr. Manager, >> can I provide some updated data and historical on the numbers so that we're all kind of like singing off the same sheet? >> I may, >> please.
So the fund was established in 2009 >> and I'd like to share if I may um the different revenue streams how much each district has generated uh during the life of the funds. So, district 1 uh
generated, and I'll use estimates, please. I don't want to get into cents here, but uh little over 1.3 million. District 2 little over 21 million. District 3 almost 13 million.
District 4 did not uh generate funds for the fund and district 5 almost 3 million. of that the expenditures to date not including the two items that are before you today. District one has
not expended any of the dollars. Uh district 2 1 uh $1.1 million. District 3 $ 122.7 million. District 4 has not expended any funds and district 5.3.
with the concession um that district 2 made today to district 1, that makes district one um whole for what um they're trying to accomplish. With that said, what district 4 is trying to accomplish, we now have brought the
delta the difference to about let's see here the exact numbers $496,193. So, after taking Commissioner Partle's item um out of the existing balance, we also had a deposit into the fund Tuesday
afternoon that is we're anticipating is going to clear. We're waiting for an e checkek that was deposited into the account of roughly $2.5 million. So between the remainder of Commissioner Partardo, what he leaves in the fund and the additional 2.5 million that was just
received that we're awaiting clearance um in the fund. The delta for the district 4 project is approximately um $496,000 of which the commissioner and the administration have been in conversation. and there is uh enough
dollars between district funds um and other identified revenue to cover that expense. So that's where we're at today. I just wanted to provide an update for everyone on the days. >> Thank you. >> Okay. But it's still not equitable. It it's it's still not equitable. Now, if
you're going to tell me that you're going to find the money so that my parks, they can order the park equipment right now, cuz even if you order the park equipment right now, if you had the money to order the park equipment right now, I'm looking at eight months of a closed park
in my district. And I believe this is time to begin a conversation about GOB money, a bond, because we all have so much need, but there's not enough money to address
all of the needs. My district, Commissioner Gabella's district, we are the ones hurting for affordable housing. We are the ones, We're not building luxury housing. We need affordable housing more than anyone and true affordable housing
because someone mentioned that today. true affordable housing, not those funky AMI numbers, you know, 60% AMI, which doesn't our teachers. And then here's an unintended consequence of designating
a a project affordable because once it's buil, you get affordable housing one year and then your rent goes up every single year by law because we're not a rent control state. And again, I'm just stating because if D2 gets this 15
million, they would have had 15 plus 17 18 15 million. I'm rounding up from the 17 that was identified. That's 18 plus another 15 when we all have need. So he should, and I'm not he he's his own
advocate, but he should be grateful that you found $4 million and that D2 is 7 30 plus million dollars out of this fund. It's not fair to the rest of us. Commissioner Partardo, I'm going to allow you to speak. And I know, and
again, this speaks to because I want Commissioner Partardo to have what he's asking for, but I'm talking about equity throughout the city of Miami, and I'm the first to grab community benefits. I stopped the Watson Island deal to get
community benefits, didn't I? Because there is such a need. I ask for community benefits from every developer that comes through D5. ask them. I have a reputation for that. I try to cobble up money for our districts because I
understand that the city doesn't have the funds. But again, I can't support Commissioner Partardo getting another 15 million on top of the 18 that he already received just because you found four for Commissioner Rosado. What about the rest of us?
>> Madam Chair, I I thank >> Can I clarify some of the numbers? Yes. >> So first and foremost I forgot the most important part and that is that I think you have consensus between city attorney myself and the deis that
we definitely urge change in the legislation that establishes a formal process as to how these funds are utilized in the future. I think we all agree um unanimously. I would say that this first come first- serve basis and
the way the legislation um was written leaves a lot of unintended consequences. So I urge um all of you to come up with something that works for all the districts. I am not sure where or which numbers you're alluding to, but I can
tell you that again as it relates to district 2, the revenue that that district has produced is $21.1 million. Of that, the district without this item has only expended $1.1 million.
That's why we have the balance that we have. So, it's 1.1 plus the 15 that he's putting in for >> Okay. I have a report from staff >> for public benefits. So, whoever put this report together for me, they need to come and speak to this because it
says district 27,948698. Where did that number come from? And for district 3, I have 12,91672. Those are the deposits. That's the revenue created by each of the district. That's not how much they've expended. The expenditures are the numbers that I
shared earlier. For district 2, it's 1.155. for district 3 is 12.728 of the 12.916. >> So this came from the planning department's report of April 2nd.
>> Yep. Yep. So just madam chair uh David Snow with the planning department uh to clarify just to add to the what the manager stated when we collect dollars from those developments that are contributing that's those amounts you just read. So that's that total amount
collected. The expenditures uh and I'll I'll read through them again just so that we're clear for district 2 is is roughly of 1.1 million that they
that they've received. Uh district 3 is 12.7 and district five is 5.3. That's what you've received out of the trust. What's I'm sorry. What's the five again? 5 point. What? 5.3.
>> Uh, district five is 5.3. >> District one has nothing. They have not received any. >> No, District 1 and district 4 have not received any money from the public. >> Can I ask you? So, because the the 13
mil rounded off the 12.7 mill rounded off to 13 on District 3 was not spent by this gentleman. No, >> it was spent by the prior gentleman. Yeah. So, how long has this program been going on and how come I find out about it? >> So, the program >> what's going on here?
>> So, the program >> was the only one that was told this and certain people and the and and the other the we weren't, you know, in in the loop. >> Uh, so, Commissioner, um, the program has been around since the inception of Miami 21, which was back in 2009.
>> But how come now is, sorry, David, I'm not putting it on you, but here's the thing. How come now is when I find out about this two weeks ago? >> Let me answer that question because staff does not give you any. You either know it or you don't. You figure it out
because they don't come to you and say, "Oh, by the way, we have this." That is not This was created in 2009. I became elected in 2021. No one sat me down and said, "These are your options for funding." Staff doesn't give you that
information. Now with district three, the money has been allocated. They're not going to take the money from you and the money hasn't been spent. So you, sir, have almost $13 million because the previous commissioner had been around
since 2009 and beyond. So he knew, but we didn't. We had to figure it out. I figured it out. And that's how I got the 5 million that I got last commission meeting. And that opened the Pandora's box. And now you see what you see. But staff doesn't give you that. They don't
they they you got to figure that out on your own. And what you don't know, you don't know. >> But listen listen, I I call I call the the finance. I call the you know the people and I I'm always asking what do I got? What do I got? I mean this can't you know this doesn't fly, man. This can't work like you know. This is not
that we find this been going on. Okay. 2009 great. Koi is an expert at it because he was a commissioner for many years and then the people that get here were not so experts. Kona is not an expert. uh you might be down there because you you you've been a city manager for you know a long time but I'm not you know in tune for that. I don't
think you are either and you have to find out that has to change that has to change you know what I mean to when this is a flawed system and that's why we're here today >> and all I'm saying is that Commissioner Partardo all I'm saying I'm going to let
you speak. All I'm saying is that this should have been there should have been a more equitable way that this money was divvied up and we should not have had to figure it out on our own. That's all I'm
saying with staff. There's you I don't know who came up with that idea. First in first out, you know that it's just not fair. It's not fair because every single district in the city of Miami has need and D1 and D5
have the most need. We've had the most need, but it doesn't discount that D2 needs a park. Of course, we all need parks, but District 5 has the most parks in the district. The most parks in the district. >> In the city.
>> In the city. No, in the city. Yes. My district has the most parks in the city. And all I'm saying to my colleagues is that we should have a more equitable way to distribute this money. It's public trust dollars.
>> Commissioner Partardo. Yay. >> So, okay. So, as far as district 2 goes, we're leaving 5 million there. We're taking much less than our share. But a very important uh aspect of district 2 that is not really being considered when you say the word equity and you say the
word need. The infrastructure that is burdened on this district is horrible. What we need, you just mentioned a bond. We only have 10% of our storm water master plan funded. That's 400 million or 4 billion. It
doesn't do much good to have an affordable home when you're waste deep in water. So we have to consider resiliency. We have to consider our seaw walls. We have 4T seaw walls, six feet seaw walls. We're lucky we haven't had a climate event. We haven't had a hurricane. So when we talk about need, it can't just be I understand
affordability. It's a crisis in our city. But we have a silent crisis and that's called climate resiliency. We're not. We're in trouble and we should we should think of it as protecting our residents and our citizens as well. >> I have a seaw wall crumbling in my
district. crumbling and and that's my that's the point I am making. >> What you are saying is not unique to district two. We have flooding. I have a crumbling seaw wall. We we all have issues in our district. It's not it's
not unique to district 2. I share waterfront property as well. >> Yeah. I'm not saying it is, but affordability isn't unique either to the other districts. We have obviously affordable housing needs and issues that we try to take care of as well. You do, but nowhere near
nowhere near the amount that D1 has or D5 has. Nowhere near. >> Okay. Listen, Madam Chair through the chair. >> I think Commissioner I think Commissioner Rosaro wants to >> I do jump in. >> Sure. Mr. Manager, could you give us the total of what would be what's available
right now prior to these two items that are being discussed? Because we talked a lot of numbers. I want to make sure we all have like one number we're working from. because I do think we can arrive at an agreement today and I and I will mention Go ahead.
>> 19.201 >> that's what's available right now? >> Yes, sir. Before the two items >> and we're asking for a combined between the two of 19.8. I'm sure we can arrive at a number that
makes sense. And I wanted to point something out which is new to me because I asked for information as the meeting was going on and this is a record year for public benefits dollars. So I asked for the history of it cuz I' I'd actually not seen this before. So in in 2022, this is just going back over the
last 5 years. It's it's older than that, but in the last 5 years. In 2022, uh 1.64 was collected. In 2023, a little bit under that was collected. In 2024, it jumped to almost 10 million. In 2025, it was over 11 million and so far this
year in three months, we've collected $10 million. So, there's like a record amount of money coming just to kind of, you know, u make everybody feel at ease that it seems like we're on a really good trend in terms of having dollars to be able to distribute. So, this is this is a good sign. I didn't know this prior
to this last hour or so. Madam Chair, for the record, the money that you were referring to that was allocated to district three that was spent by the previous commissioner and approved by this commission. So I don't have any of that money >> just so for the record.
>> Okay. I thought a staff told me that it didn't staff tell me in my agenda briefing that that money was not spent. They did not. >> Hey, I'm willing to share with you, brother. I'll I'll help you. I don't mind. 542. Oh, I'll open up. >> Um,
>> I know. I followed up to see if that money was encumbered and it was and it was distributed. Yeah, >> it was encumbered. Has it been spent? >> There's a difference. >> To my knowledge, it was. >> Let's see.
>> They're getting the HUD document, the settlement. >> Okay. because I know you've had items, you know, >> while while he while he commissioner, >> while he figures that out, I just wanted to add that is exactly why the stress is so bad in district 2. There are roads in
the Grove that you cannot get through the traffic. I mean, it's some people are taking an hour to get into their building once they're in the area. There's so much uh congestion and traffic and noise and development issues that, you know, the residents are open
arms and they should be. They should be. It's not the same in other parts. I know. I I I get it. And they have other issues and other needs. >> I I agree with you, but I've got traffic in my district. You know, we border districts. I >> Right. I'm not sure it's the way this is happening with development on the
streets at the same time and people hearing noise at 2 a.m. and at 5:00 a.m. and noise waiverss that need to happen because of construction pores and people that just I mean, the the level of of residents engaging with us on that issue day in day out is huge. It shouldn't be
on their backs either. >> Commissioner, you know, you know, my people, my people would say to that that they wish that they had that problem cuz my people are to begin with looking for housing that they don't have. You see what I'm saying? We're arguing. >> I get it. Right. That's why and what I'm
conceding that we all have need and that's why I am championing that this money is equitably distributed to all of us and not just the lion share goes to one particular district because we all
have needs some greater than others but we all have a need. I believe we're what? >> Commissioner Rosado. >> I do. I I I'm open to a breakdown of the dollars given that we have 19.2 and we have projects at hand. The the project
that uh the various speakers um spoke about in my district. It is on the next schoolboard agenda. That is the level of support that it has. It is in the vice chair of the school board's district. She is sponsoring it. and our county commissioner who also had a staffer here. They're talking about it at the county because they've got to get an
easement for Londom Trail. It has tremendous support. I would hate to see this item deferred. I think we can come to a mathematical agreement like in the next couple of minutes. >> Okay. >> Uh if there's 19.2 and and >> no can I address it with through the chair.
>> So to my math what the three of you are asking for today with the exception and myself >> only two. >> No, the ask is only two. I don't have an ask on here. It's No, it's it's just it's just Commissioner Partardo and Commissioner Rosalo.
>> Mine was approved last week. I mean, last commission meeting. But again, from the position that we have, we have 19 million. That's it. So, if Commissioner Partardo gets his 15 and they figured
out how to give Rosado his money, that leaves nothing left. Well, the practice here has been first come, first serve. We've had our projects. We've talked about them for months. They are ready. I believe Commissioner Rosado, you're saying you have a ready
project. I want to go ahead and vote on my item. It's incredibly important to our district. We're ready. We've been working hard for many months to get here and we're following all the rules and all the practice. >> Okay. Again, just because the practice has been first come, first serve doesn't
mean that that's a good practice. I I >> And in the future, I think we should address that. >> But there will be no future because there's not going to be any more money. >> We're getting more as we speak, >> but today there won't be any more money. And I'm saying that this money should be distributed equitably.
>> We can call for a vote. I'm going to be a no vote because >> I'd like to call that takes up all the money. So, >> excuse me. would like to call. >> Can I can I just interject here a minute? Let's be clear on this. I have a document here that says that the uh
that you are asking for 15 mill and five. Okay. And then I have another one that says Rosado's asking for 4.8 and I have another one that you're asking for 500,000 on one side. And is that because and I'm saying it because of the math that we're doing here.
>> That's pass already. That was already I got I got my >> best night on this commission meeting. >> So So there's a discrepancy between the requests which is 19.8 combined and what we have on on hand which is 19.2.6. >> What is it? 19.8 and 19.2. We keep going
back with the >> We're not that far apart. Could we >> The point the point here is if we pass RE8, they've figured out RE13 in this moment, this snapshot, there's
nothing left. So, I'm not going to vote for this because I believe that we should come up with something that is a little more equitable for all of the district. >> We disagree, but I would just like to call the question, call for the vote. Commissioner Porto, could we not agree
to a both of us a minor reduction that gets us to 19.2? If you did 14.7, I did 14. >> I just did. I just did. I just >> What are the What are the numbers? We've had so many numbers. I want to make sure I got them all. >> Commissioner Gabella, how much did you require? 500.
>> Okay. So, so I got to rearrange. Nevertheless, okay, I thought it was 213 that was, you know, earmarked today and then that would leave at 827 384, but now you guys are saying it's 19. So, let me do the math real quick.
>> I can go to 14.6 14.7. I mean, that's re I I'll find some way to plug that hole. But remember, we're leaving 5 million there already, right? So, our items should be voted on, right? Like now, we've been planning this a long time. This has been the practice. I'd like to
see our item voted on. >> Okay, guys. I'm going to vote on the item, but I I need to calculate my my, you know, the what's your marked for me. I want to take care of that. So, I'm >> I want to make sure that I'm going to get my, you know, and I'm not even arguing, you know, which I agree with
the chairwoman. I agree the ways done. This is not, you know, correct, but I'm going to go along. Okay. But I want, you know, my stuff. You know what I'm saying? >> So, how about how about we do this? Let's go on to other items while he figures out whatever he's trying to figure out. Let's move to Let's leave
RE8 and RE13 and go to other items and then we come back so you have time to figure out your numbers. Let's move along and then >> Is it possible to go ahead and vote on RE8 and then move the other items? >> But then he has to sit here and do his math. I'm trying to give him an
opportunity to do his math. Will >> because the other item involves the math, not not this item. But let us we're not going anywhere. There's no rush. Let him do what he needs to do instead of trying to figure it out. Right. >> With this math, with this math, you what
you got left is 600,000. >> Okay. >> Okay. That's what you got left. >> And I'm at 1.3 almost 1.4 if you round it off. Right. So I'm at one 1.369. 1,369,9348. Okay. That that's what is allotted to me without any argument.
I commit to get you. >> That's what you That's what your district contributed. >> So now, so now the 600 if you if you do the 136, >> but you're not getting that, Commissioner Cabella. >> 934 minus Hang on a minute, people. >> Uh, we're short 769.
>> No, Commissioner. No, Commissioner Cabella, you're not short. You're not getting anything. That's what your district contributed. If RE8 passes and RE13 passes, you get zero. There's no more money. >> No money. >> Do you understand?
>> Or now until the next contribution, >> but he shouldn't have to wait for the next contribution. >> But he doesn't have a project lined up for that. >> But the staff said you don't have to have a project lined up. >> Okay. Okay. So, so I was going to vote on this. Yes. Based on on But apparently I I' I've been given the wrong information.
>> David, could you come to the podium, please? >> No, you No, it's not correct. District one contributed $1.3 million plus. >> Correct. >> District one has been allocated how much money from this public trust fund?
>> $0. >> Zero. >> So, >> and if we pass So, wait a minute. So, I got it. But my math was so if we are going by these numbers then the minimum that I should be allotted would be the 1.3 because that's what my my area
generated minimum. Okay. And that's what I expect. You know what I mean? So the math we we uh were short what did I say you guys? I said 769. That's what I'm sure of. So even though I have I don't have a project.
Even though I don't care if I don't have a project. You're not You guys aren't going to touch my money just like I I'm not touching anybody else's money >> through through through the chair. >> But everybody's touching. >> Yes. Commissioner Part the $2 million that you were referring to that would be available right away to Alipata. I mean,
is are those funds already uh in the general fund? >> But that has nothing to do with this math here. That has nothing to do with this math here. >> But those are dollars that haven't been tapped into that are immediately available, it sounds. >> Yeah. But you know how hard I had to work for that for a year and a half and I and I and I had to leverage of the
Omni CRA. I'm sorry to say that but I had to hold that up for like a whole year to get that Alipata CRA to pass. Why? Because the whole thing was if we had what uh was intended before a joint venture where the Alipata line was going to be added to the Omnic line. What
would happen that the day that you have a chairman from D2, he's going to rightly protect D2. And if you would had a chairman from D1, I was going to protect D1. So that would have worked out and that's why we created >> but you also would give up a lot of money because your life would have been shorter as a CRA. That's
>> not compared to what you guys got because you guys just floated a bond of $150 million. Okay, you did that and before that you guys were around for 20 20 something years which we you were going to be sunseted and that's what we did. So you guys got a lot more you know let's not even go there commissioner
because if we go there you guys in in in my view when I made the argument you guys had fulfilled the mission but the omni was fulfilled because you cannot argue with a straight face nobody can argue with a straight face to me that biscin boulevard is blighted like it was
15 years ago 20 years ago that argument could have been made 20 years ago that argument cannot be made today yet you guys got an extra uh what was it to 20 47 commission Commissioner, remember it's been around since 1987. There are parts of the CRA
that look great. That's what that's the work since 1987. There are parts of the CRA, including a third of Overtown and a lot of other areas that are not there yet. I understand that, but I got a lot of areas in my area that are not even close
to half of what you you guys have. And on top of that, I am dumped on with Cabala's house. I am I have the the the uh the health district which is a revolving door okay for everything that happens. Okay. And then on top of that we get dumped. We've had the GSA which I
want to turn that around for a number of years dumped on again. Okay. So so that's the thing. So I listen I'm not the one that raised the the 2 mill but that math forget about that math. That math cannot be put in into this equation. >> Okay. I just separate issue I'd just like to vote on this. >> So Commissioner Carter we understand you
want to vote on it but it's not ready to be voted on. I I think Commissioner >> Escalona wants to ask a question. Commissioner Rosado still has questions. And again with Commissioner Gabella, he's
I don't agree with his position because he's saying just give me what I put in. And I don't believe that that is that is appropriate. It's certainly not appropriate. >> We get $21 million. >> Exactly. And that is not where I'm going. And I don't think any one of us
is going to agree with that. that just whatever you put in is what you get out and that's not the policy. And you spoke about the policy. You said first in first out. That's not right. But the policy currently is not you get what you put in. That's not the policy.
>> But either either policy we're okay on our item. That's my point. >> Yes. Either policy because it gives you the lion share of the money and that is not fair to the rest of the districts. So with Commissioner Gabella, I I I don't understand why you would want to just get 1.3.
>> No, no, no. What I want to do is look, what I say is let's hold this off till I get the the right man. You know, >> that's what I said. >> We're going to do the we're going to do math right now with him. Okay. >> Um, Commissioner Escalona, >> Mr. Snow, >> this morning that we're referring to, District One, how much money they put
in? >> So, district one uh has put in uh roughly 1.3 million. 1.3 >> 1.3 >> is that in the last year >> that's been over the life of the >> okay >> fund >> district two
>> district 2 is 21.1 million >> district three >> 12.9 million >> district four >> zero >> zero and district five >> 2.9
>> this is over the life >> yes >> over the life of the >> yes of that money. District one, how much they have spent. >> District one has spent $0. >> District two, >> uh, 1.1
million. >> District 3, >> 12.7 million. >> For the record, that was before my time. District 4, >> zero. >> And District 5, >> uh, 5.3 million.
So this money was generated by the districts, right? They put in this money, >> the development within the district. >> Yes, exactly. What was the standard before? How how did you guys before our time, how did you proceed with this
money? Was the money spent by district or it was was it first come, first serve? >> First come, first serve. And the only person serving on this district that even knew about this money was Commissioner Corollo cuz he was here in 2009. We weren't. Staff didn't tell us
about it. And based on Commissioner Partardo's reasoning, Commissioner Rosado, you should get none because your district put nothing in. But that is not what I'm advocating for because I don't believe that's fair. But based on Commissioner Partardo's argument, you
should get nothing. And Commissioner Escalona, I'm not sure how much they said that you District Three generated, but I think it's more than what you got. And Commissioner Gabella, all you should get is 1.3.
>> Thank you. >> And I don't believe that's fair or equitable. >> That's not fair. So, if you're willing to just take the 1.3, that's on you. But I'm not I'm not I'm not willing to take it. So in in the in the in the hope of
uh establishing a good working relation >> commissioner we can take between their resolution and our resolution cover your your part that wasn't paid is my point. That's what I've been trying to say. >> No no I know what you're trying to say. You know, but but see the problem is but
even that math you know the math that because your area generated and now see that math is wrong because the problem is yes your area generated but then your area doesn't have I repeat house doesn't have certain issues that you guys throw
over to us that cost money to fix and to put more security and more affordable housing and the and the rest of it you know so but so you see what I'm saying she is correct when she says you know what I mean that yeah okay you generated the money, but but you didn't take all the liability. You didn't take all the
liability because if I'm the one over here that I got Camila's house and I got this and I got that and that's a liability and I'm and that's all you guys. I take that in. I'm not, you know, but that's what it is. Then then if if you look at that way, it's not equitable. >> But that's that's not what >> unless you Well, unless you tell me that
you're now going to move this house and some of the stuff that are liability to me to your neck of the woods, then you can say, "Hey, you know what? I'm entitled to this money I generated and here are my liabilities. >> Let's be clear. This money is generated by developments that are getting
variances and easements in the neighborhood. The public benefit the public benefit is always conceptually to help those residents that are being basically hurt by the quality of life diminishing in those areas where that
development happens. That development is happening in Coconut Grove, in Edgewater, in Bickl, in downtown. Those are the areas. This money is going back to that area. And we are still leaving $5 million for everyone. >> Commissioner, you guys are talking about quality of life. You're you're talk
you're not talking about the basics. You know what the basics are? >> The basics are basics. Exactly. But what what about walking on the street on 7th Avenue corridor at 7 o'clock at night a family at 8:00 in the evening so they don't get mugged and they can do their grocery stores. That requires more money
so we can put more police. That's why I'm advocating for the Alipata CRA. You're comparing apples to oranges. What you guys have over here is that oh you don't like the noise. You I understand I don't like noise either. But you know what? I bought my house next to the 17th Avenue thing and so I got to take the noise cuz that's where I bought. I
wanted to be on the river and I'm in a corner. But you know what? I got to take the noise. You know what I because that's where I bought. That's where I wanted. Same thing here. You We're talking two different things. Apples and oranges. Basically are one thing and these luxuries that you were talking about. >> These are not luxuries, sir. I'm sorry
to say. >> What do they buy? I fail to understand why they buy. It's like when the ultra thing, you know what I mean? I'm I'm the chairman of the Wayfund Trust. And here's And every year it's the same story. Oh, because the Ultra Well, did you do your due diligence before you bought the property? Do you go get peace and quiet in downtown? Because if it's
me and I want peace and quiet, you know, common sense says that I go to the Redlands or somewhere or move out where not not a lot of people. But do I actually go to downtown and then expect, you know, to now if you if you if you're there before and you bought 28 years ago before Ultra came, then you know what?
Then I believe you because Ultra wasn't there. But after Ultra is there and I'm using that argument and I'm sorry that I'm using that argument, okay? Because I don't want to pick on anybody, but but it's it's it's the fact you guys are are talking about Yes. It it bothers you. It bothers everybody. But you're not talking about the basics. I got a basic
problem that I got people on the street that I got, you know, I got to take care of that. They go into the neighborhoods. You know what I mean? And then, you know, they're not safe and then the neighborhoods are not safe. You see what I'm saying? It's it's apples and oranges on folks. >> Commissioner Rosado would like to say something, but I also would like to talk
about the development in district 2 from 2009. Bickl Bickl was built that's contributing not affordable housing. You can't go and live in Bickl and the development that occurred in Coconut Grove. That is
nowhere near the de we didn't have we don't have district 1 and district 5. We don't have an area like Bickl. That's why it's so much contribution because you've got development that happened in Bickl going into this money and the
development that went in Coconut Grove for what the folks were talking about today. Hold on, Commissioner Partle because Commissioner um Rosado wants to speak. But again, our districts couldn't contribute to this fund with development that has
occurred like the development that has occurred in district two. Bickl is almost a whole city of its own. Commissioner Rosado, >> I have a question for the attorney. Um, Mr. Weissong, are we able to make a
motion that includes obligating dollars, the next set of dollars that because we are, as I mentioned, we're on a record year in terms of public benefits dollars coming in. Last year, we collected a little over 11. We've already collected 10 in the first three months of this year. Money is going to continue to come
in. I would very much like to support my D1 colleague by making a commitment of the next $2 million automatically going to him and then I think we should absolutely set a policy. But I think we have projects at hand. I'm heading to the school board in a week and a half on
the project that was discussed today. I wouldn't like to see a deferral. I think we can come to an agreement and then set a policy after today. >> Commissioner Rosado, based on what's going on, you should get zero because your district put no money in. Now, if administration is going to find the $4
million that you gave that you found for him for district 5, I'm for it. But according to this, and all of the arguments that were made, District 4 put zero dollars in. So, District 4 should not get any. According to the arguments
that have been made now, if you want to find me the $4 million that you found him, I'm voting for everything. But if you can't do that, I'm stuck with this money should be distributed equitably amongst all of the districts. >> Madam Chair, >> yes.
>> If I may, the administration did not find any money. Additional money was deposited into that account on Tuesday. So I just want to be clear. >> Any additional money that was deposited from generated from district 4? >> No, ma'am.
>> Okay. Based on your arguments, district 4 gets none. based on your arguments. So unless you want to find an equitable way for this money to be distributed, >> you shouldn't get any of the money cuz you didn't put any you you didn't contribute to the fund. District 4, not you specific.
>> Madam Madam Chair, do you have a recommended formula? I I just like to see us come to an agreement today. >> Absolutely. I have a recommended formula. We could use the poverty guidelines that is used to distribute the community block grant dollars which distributes the money based on the
poverty ratio. Absolutely I do. >> The obviously I don't agree at all with wait let me finish. I've let you finish please. >> I'm not listen I'm the chair but I'm not I'm just responding to you. You said you don't agree. I understand
>> so expensive is because they are on the water. Well, guess what? Climate resiliency are expensive is because they are on the water. Well, guess what? Climate resiliency. Our infrastructure is horrible. Our flooding is horrible. I mean, it's we can't just look at it as, oh, these are luxurious condos. Those
luxurious condos are paying for all of us to be able to get things done in our district. Those impact fees are divided throughout all of our areas. It makes sense for this fund to go to the place that creates the disruption. I disagree again. And again, I have a
seaw wall in district 5 that is crumbling into the bay. Again, we all have needs. We all We all have needs, but D1 and D5, our needs are about shoring up housing.
Our needs is about flooding in Little San Juan. I can't even fix a park because the flooding is so bad that until the flooding is addressed in the neighborhood, I cannot address the baseball field in Roberto Clemente Park.
We all have needs and all I am saying is that this money should be allocated equitably throughout the districts so that we can all address the needs that we have from this fund. And
you have the lion share of the contributions because D2 has built up like from stuff with Bickl and the other you barely have any affordable housing which you need. I'm
not saying that district 2 doesn't need it, but the contributions were made not from affordable housing projects, from Bickl, from other luxury projects that you're talking about. And I'm I'm not going to say anything else
because I think everybody else understands where I am with this. I am merely saying that the money should be allocated equitably and we should not look at who is the major contributor because again if we do D4 you get none
because you did not contribute. Commissioner Partardo, >> I just wanted to say while you have seaw walls and similar issues, remember that district 2 goes from 60th and Biscane the entire coastline to Miami Beach Islands, Virginia Key and goes all the
way to the Gables waterway. So the the stress and the pressure for infrastructure in this district is unlike any other place. and the stress and the pressure pressure of development when you pull up, you know, the the New England Journal and anything any any any
uh periodical you're going to read about people moving to Miami, moving to the Grove, moving to Bickl, moving to downtown. That is tremendous disruption in quality of life. >> Why do they move here then? It's my question. They know that. Why do they continue moving to where the disruption is? What? And then they complain about
it. That's what doesn't jive with me. You guys keep >> They're not complaining about it. It's the reality. Before you buy a property, you do your due diligence on on what it's owned, what it is, whatever. And and that's what astonishes me from, you know. >> Anyway, I'm I'm done. >> And and hold on one second. You talk
about stress. I had a constituent whose car was damaged because he hit a pothole. We're >> No. >> When I'm serving in my district, we're
talking about potholes. We're talking about we don't have sidewalks. We just because of constituent Tuesday with a constituent coming to me and saying, "Ma'am, I don't have the money to fix my car because I hit this pothole." Public
works did an amazing job of repaving the street, adding sidewalks, trees, 52 trees, curb cuts for ADA compliance. It has changed the face of this neighborhood. But that's because
the street was so poor. It was in such poor condition. Again, every and I bring that up because every district, every one of us can tell a tale like I just did. There is complete need.
>> Anybody else want to say anything? >> What? Can I can I talk for a minute? I think we all I'm going to go commissioner Gabella. Then I'm going to go back to Commissioner Rosado. Then I'm going to go to Commissioner Escal and then I'm going to go to Commissioner Partardo. >> Okay. So what I think what today what should happen today is you know because
we have the leverage now. Okay. That this should be uh I'm not knocking it and saying we're going to take it away or I'm you know or any or what I'm saying is before we move on this number one let's fix the system. Let's let let's write let's put it in the in in the in the books what what it is. No
none of this nonsense at first come first serve you know what I mean because that lends itself to to what has happened and we do that and then we talk about you know about this. I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm drawing the conclusion that there are too many ifs here too many questions to do this today. So I say you
maintain your 4.9, you maintain your 15. Let's revisit. Let's get it on the on the books. let's let's fix the the the uh the ordinance or whatever it is you you guys call it and then we come back with what you know because now we got leverage because you guys will say no let's do it now and then later on we'll
fix it but later on the the uh the words will be in the wind you know what I mean and uh I like to uh you know do things uh in a in an equitable manner that uh you give and I give and we all give >> you asking for a deferral I don't
understand what you're saying are you asking to defer this >> I'm asking to defer yeah Okay. Um, Commissioner Rosado. >> Yes. I I wanted to hear from our city attorney. I don't think we gave him the chance to speak on this. >> Yeah. So, you asked whether the the future funds could be allocated. We would say you can't allocate future
funds. What you essentially could do is adopt a resolution saying something to the effect of the next monies that will come in will go to district one >> andor maybe andor district. >> District one. Listen, it's not only district one. It's a change it so we don't get to get into this again. So,
nobody has a, you know what I mean? That's what I'm trying to do, >> right? And we would need to do an ordinance change to fix how you guys determine to allocate those monies. >> Commissioner Escal. >> Yes. I think we need to move forward and we're not moving. Let me ask you a question, Commissioner Partardo. Are you
willing to go down to $13 million? >> 13. >> Obviously, I don't want to, but what's the justification behind that? >> You get 13, you get three, 1.5, 1.5, I get nothing. I'm okay with that, but I want to move forward. We can keep
fighting here, guys. >> 13 three 1.5 1.5 That's 19. >> I I appreciate the spirit of compromise, but that I I need to make a contribution to the school board that ex exceeds that. So, I get stuck.
>> Yeah, but you put in I I understood. I understand that's the nature of the way that the city has been resoned. I I understand that. I don't have as much T6 as as others do. But if you look at the poverty rate, those of us, the four of us sitting in in this side, we all have
a little bit above 21% poverty rate. District 2 is, you know, it's more affluent, right? So, to the chairwoman's point, we would all get essentially the same amount of money regardless of contribution. So, I'm looking for something that closes us in a little bit more than that. >> I like Commissioner Gabella's idea of
taking a pause, let it mature, a deferral. I like I I will support a deferral because this is something that is more important than just getting it done right now. Nothing is going to
happen to your project. It can go to the school board. They can support it and they can get the money cuz they're not going to put the shovel in the ground tomorrow. Let's be clear about that. So taking a pause until our next commission meeting is a prudent idea so that we can
all hash this out. Trying to because we don't solve the problem. And again 1.5 for him and 1.5 for me, nothing for you doesn't solve the issue moving forward and we need to address that. And yes, I
know Commissioner Party, you don't agree with that. Commissioner, >> Madam Chair, I just think it's very convenient because at the last meeting, you came in with your request. That request was first come, first serve. You got funded more than what you contribute. Correct. Now, I'm here on a
studied plan that has taken months where we have looked at these projects. I qualify either way. We're putting way more money than we're taking, right? And it's first come, first serve. So, I don't see any reason that my resolution shouldn't be voted on and it shouldn't
be passed. >> Again, I disagree and you know, I'm following. I don't I I >> Can we vote? >> Let Let me just say this. Um, you know, the thing is you guys keep talking about, you know, the the project's ready
to go. You know how long I've been ready to go on the yellowy area? You know, I've been at this for two years now, folks. and and even the county has given me a hard time, okay, where we now might be in a legal battle, you know, u so I think you know you know unless you've got an emergency that you know I mean
you know what I mean I don't see the you know because you guys keep talking that I got to do this I got to do that I've been at this you know for the alle for two years folks so you know when you guys tell me that you got an emergency that it's got to be done tomorrow please you know what I mean unless you can take care of my problem and and help me you
know what I mean you know I'm inclined to look I I think that this this needs to be fixed. This needs to be fixed. Let's fix it and then let's negotiate on what you're going to get, what he's going to get over there, and what everybody is going to get. >> You shouldn't pull the rug from under me. I mean, I did all the rules. I did
everything the right way. >> But no one's trying to pull the rug. >> But that's inevitably that is what is but that's exactly No, it's not. Maybe you won't get the entirety of 15 million and we get some, >> but no one is saying that you won't get
any. and we're only saying let's take a beat and look at this. Let's take a beat. Now, if you want to vote, I'm going to vote no. I think I don't know what the rest of them are. >> I'm willing to look at the 13 that Commissioner Scolona uh suggested. I'm willing to go in that direction.
>> Let's call the question. 13 million. Okay. >> Can we call the question? >> Let's do it. >> So, that would be are >> Say the numbers again. Say >> my suggestion because this is what was in the past, etc. first come, first serve, whatever the case may be. Damian
Partardo gets 13 million. He gets three 1.5 1.5. If you guys don't want to move forward with that, we can get rid of a $30 million. We can defer the rest and we can revisit.
>> But here's the thing. If if if she's right and you believe that he didn't put anything into the fund, why is he getting 3 million and I'm getting 1.5? You see, we can argue this all day long. I'm telling you, the system's flawed. I want to change the system before we move forward. I I say we we negotiate this with more, you know, um you know, uh
time. Uh is is where >> I'd like to vote on R8. >> Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? I have a motion and a second. >> That's This motion is asis. >> Is it asis or is it at 13? >> As is. As
>> Oh, no. Do unless I would like 13. >> Okay. 13. I will lower mine to 13. >> You will lower yours to 13. I I don't think I can go as I appreciate I appreciate that. I appreciate the spirit of of arriving at a consensus because I don't want to see this deferred. We have
have a very tangible project ready to move forward. I could I do four 13 and 417 and the difference you all can sort out at the next meeting. I don't have an opinion on that. >> We can defer the I'm okay with deferring. So, um,
Commissioner Porter, by the looks of it, we have three not in favor of your item. Do you want a deferral? >> Yeah, I have no choice. >> Okay. Motion to defer to the next commission meeting. >> So, >> sorry. Who's the mover?
>> Commissioner Partardo. >> No, no, I'm not moving it. I'm actually >> Oh, okay. >> I mean, I have no choice, but I'm not going to vote in favor of it. >> Okay. I have a motion to defer. Do I have a second? I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> No. One no. >> So I believe it's 32 with Commissioner
Rosado and Commissioner Partardo voting no to defer RE8 right now. And the vote was on RE8. Yes. To April 23rd. >> Yes. >> With with the directive to the city manager and the administration to get this thing fixed. >> Yes. >> To come up with legislation that more
equitably. >> Yeah. With a directive. Actually, city manager, you can fix this, but when we get to a >> more equitable distribution of the funds. >> Yeah. And keep in mind, I mean, yeah. >> Okay. Um, and that leaves re >> Wait, I'm sorry. With more equitable distribution, how do you define
equitable? >> The staff will come up. We'll define it. >> Yes, the staff will come up with it. Okay. And that leaves RE13. And I'm going to vote no on RE13 because again, District 4 didn't contribute to the
fund. So, you voted no to defer it, and we're trying to come up with an equitable way for us to all have the lion share, but your district didn't contribute anything to it. So, I'm going to vote no on RE13, unless you want to defer it. M
>> Madam Chair, respectfully, if your argument, which I think makes perfect sense, is to distribute the money according to CDBG eligibility, which is the same essentially as poverty rates, I wouldn't get nothing. I would get actually several million dollars because I have the same uh CDBG eligibility rate
as the three folks sitting to my immediate left. >> Yes. But Commissioner Partardo is not happy about his project being deferred. So you think I'm going to be unfair using his words, rip the rug right out of him and then we're just going to give
you the money? No, sir. No. You We're a team. We're a team. It's all together. one ban, one sound or in my case, I can't support that because I know Commissioner Partardo needs what he is
asking for and again you're the only one that hasn't contribute and I'm fighting for you. >> I I appreciate it. I will accept >> Can I Can I just weigh in just for for a moment here? She's right. We can't not do it for him. And >> I accept the deferral. I accept the deferral. >> But here but wait a minute. Let me just
say say one more thing. I what I suggest moving forward okay uh to the administration to the city manager and all of us let's have a little workshop okay with all of us together okay on where the monies are okay what the monies are that are available to the
districts and all of us at the same table we have to call them sunshine meeting whatever it might be so we can get educated on what what is what here in in the city of Miami uh you know borrowing being here for you know 40 years or something that go because he had you know the experience and God
bless him for having that experience and he you know got money for uh the districts but some of us don't have that experience so I think this has to be done also okay we u because I ask all the time what do I got what I'm always on top of that you know what I mean and and how what how do you the plumbing the
mechanism works you know on the different parts so I suggest we set up a meeting okay uh when when can we set up that meeting let's not just talk about it let's do it let's see where all the money is and all the pot and and and and make it available, you know, that all of us have the same knowledge of where so
so this sort of thing doesn't happen. >> If we did it early next week, we could make it onto the agenda for the next commission meeting. >> I'm going to be out of town early next week. Can we make it out of town? >> We can't We can't schedule our We can't do that on the DAS cuz you have to schedule five. You you you have to
>> Let's do it. Okay. Let's do it sometime in May. Is everybody going to be here in May? I'm going to be here in May. >> I'll be here. >> But okay, let's let's RE13. Do I have a motion to defer? >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Motion carries. >> Um, Mr. City Attorney, would you please read the title of the second reading items into the record? >> Yes, madam chair. >> And my apologies, Mr. Chair and chair. Just for the record, that's the April 23rd RE13. Just for the clarification.
>> No, no, people. I'm not going along with anything until that is cleared up. I want to know where everything at. I I have to call and this I want I want that meeting. I want that meeting and I think all of you it's going to be to your benefit so we don't we don't become cryb babies up here. Okay. Let's have that meeting where all where all the money
is, what belongs to what and how it's allocated, how it's allowed. When can we have the meeting? Let's let's engrave in the stone. >> Well, let's if if we haven't had the meeting by the next commission meeting, we'll just defer the item again. Yeah. But that gives staff incentive to move along. >> But what's the problem that we can't set a date? What's the problem that we can't
set a date? Everybody's calendar is different. You I >> Okay, let's do it in May. How? But but let's do it at some point. So So it happens. We're talking about it and then it looks to me like we're just going to talk about it and then we're not going to do anything about it and then we'll have this conversation again. >> If if it's perhaps we can get it done in
April. If we can, we'll do it. If we can't, we'll defer the items again. >> And if and if folks are traveling, we can do a teams meeting >> or something. Yeah. >> So >> Okay. So I'm going back. I want to reconsider on the amendment. uh to to
his thing. I want to amend it that unless that takes place, I'm a I'm a I'm a no vote on everything. I'm I'm going to >> Oh, that's we're saying we're saying the same thing. We're saying >> if that has to take place where we get an education here on where where everything is. >> We're saying the same thing. I think
that's >> if it doesn't happen, we'll >> So, so if that doesn't happen, >> we'll we'll amend it. We'll defer it again if it doesn't happen. We're saying the same thing. Um >> George, >> ready? Uh SR2, second reading ordinance, an ordinance of the Miami City Commission amending chapter 18, article
three of the code of the city of Miami, Florida's amended city code titled finance city of Miami procurement ordinance by amending section 18-119 titled unsolicited proposals to clarify the process for evaluating unsolicited proposals received by the city and providing for unsolicited proposals to
be presented to the city commission containing a severability clause and providing for an immediate effective date. SR3, an ordinance of the Miami City Commission repealing in its entirety ordinance number 14382 adopted on July 10, 2025 as amended by ordinance
number 14422 adopted on December 11, 2025 prior to its scheduled effective date of July 15, 2026. said ordinance having abolished the Bayfront Park Management Trust and amended various sections of the code of the city of Miami, Florida as amended city code including chapter 38 article 3 of the
city code titled parks and recreation bayfront park management trust chapter 2 article 11 division 2 titled administration boards committees consent commissions standards for creation and review of boards generally chapter 18 article 3 section 18-72 titled finance city of Miami procurement ordinance
application and exclusions and chapter 54 article 1 section 54-9 titled streets and sidewalks in general placing signs, advertisement, or displays on any portion of the public rightway, street or sidewalk surface containing an a severability clause and providing for an
immediate effective date. SR4 SR4 is being substituted to add additional language. I'll read the substituted title. An ordinance of the Miami City Commission amending chapter 2, article four of the code of the city of Miami, Florida as amended, city code titled administration departments, more
specifically by amending division two titled planning, building and zoning department, division three titled department of fire rescue and division four titled resilience and public works department, chapter three of the city code more specifically amending article two titled alarm systems, burglary and
robbery alarms and article three titled fire alarms. Chapter 10, article 1, division one of the city code titled buildings in general. More specifically by amending article four titled registration of vacant, blighted, unsecured or abandoned structures and of defaulted mortgaged properties and
article 5 titled code relief program. Chapter 11 of the city code titled cable television. Chapter 12 of the city code titled amusement games or machines. Chapter 17 of the city code titled environmental pres preservation. More specifically by amending article one titled tree protection in general and
article two titled environmental preservation districts. Chapter 18 of the city code titled finance more specifically by amending article one titled in general and article three titled city of Miami procurement ordinance and articles 8 titled storm water utility fees and article 11 titled
leases of city-owned submerged lands. Chapter 19 of the city code titled fire protection. Chapter 20 of the city code titled flood damage prevention. Chapter 22, article one of the city code titled garbage and other solid waste in general. Chapter 22.5 of the city code
green init green green initiatives more specifically amending article 6 titled soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation control. Chapter 23, article one of the city code titled historic preservation historic preservation. uh chapter 32, article one
titled merchandising, bankruptcy and closing out sales. Chapter 35 of the city code titled motor vehicles and traffic more specifically by amending article 4 titled parking rates and article nine titled valet parking. Chapter 38 of the city code titled parks
and recreation more specifically article one titled in general and article four titled daycare program. Chapter 39 article two of the city code titled peddlers and itinerate vendors, sidewalk and street vendors. Chapter 42 of the city code titled police, more specifically article one titled in
general. Chapter 53 of the city code titled stadiums and convention centers, more specifically by amending article one titled in general. Article 2 division 2 titled city stadiums marine stadium and article 4 titled convention center of the city of Miami, University
of Miami James L. Tonight, chapter 54, the city code titled streets and sidewalks, more specifically by amending article one titled in general. Article two titled construction, excavation, and repair. Article six titled sidewalk and street cafes. Article 7 titled news racks on public
rights of way. And article 9 titled Coconut Grove special events district. Chapter 55 of the city code titled subdivision regulations. Chapter 57, article 3 of the city code titled vehicles for hire, pedics for hire. in chapter 62 of the city code titled planning and zoning more specifically by
amending article one titled in general article three titled planning zoning and appeals board article 7 titled historic and environmental preservation board article 12 titled parks and open space trust fund and article 13 division 8 titled planning and zoning approval for
temporary uses and occupancies permit required temporary banners and article 13 division 9 titled planning and zoning approval for temporary uses and occupancies permit required farmers market to remove the requirement for fees to be adopted by ordinance and provide for fees to be
set by the city commission through resolution containing a severability clause and providing for an effective date. Um and just for the note what was added to that the file is being substituted to include sections 20-16 35-192 35-193-147
38-148 and 5514 of the city code. This amendment will require the um SR4 to be reverted to a first reading and um it will be back on the April 23rd uh city commission agenda >> and that will be shown as as amended on
first reading. >> Thank you. Um, SR5, second reading ordinance. An ordinance of the Miami City Commission amending chapter 18 article 3 of the code of the city of Miami, Florida's amended city code titled finance city of Miami procurement ordinance by amending sections 1873 and
1811 titled definitions and contracts of other governmental entities respectfully respectively to define cooperative purchasing organization and authorize the city manager to utilize competitively awarded contracts of other governmental entities and cooperative
purchasing organizations subject to specified conditions reporting and commission notice for certain purchases containing a severability clause and providing for an immediate effective date. That concludes the second reading items. >> Gentlemen, are there any of the second reading items that you would like to
pull for discussion? >> No. >> No. Seeing none, may I have a motion for SR 2, three, four, which is first reading, and SR5. >> And um that first reading is as amended.
>> As amended. >> So move. >> I have a motion >> D1, a second from D three, >> but then he said it, but he said it first. All in favor? I
>> carries. Mr. City Attorney, could you read the first reading items titles for the record? >> Yes, Madam Chair. Thank you. F FR1 first reading ordinance an ordinance of the Miami city commission amending chapter 2 article 11 of the code of the city of Miami Florida's amended city code titled administration board committees
commissions to combine the audit advisory committee and the finance committee into the finance and audit advisory committee committee more specifically by repealing in its entirety division 4 sections 2-946 to 2-951 titled audit advisory committee further amending division 6 sections
2-11011 and 2-101 18 creating the finance and audit advisory committee containing a severability clause and providing for an effective date FR2 first reading ordinance an ordinance of the Miami city commission amending chapter 54 the code of the city of Miami Florida as amended
city code titled streets and sidewalks by creating section 54-9 of the city code titled transit shelters use and conduct providing definitions and prohibited conduct at transit shelters providing for enforcement pursuant to chapter 2 article 10 of the city code continuing a servability clause and
providing for an effective date FR3 Three, an ordinance of the Miami City Commission renaming the city of Miami Park located at 971 Northwest 2nd Street, Miami, Florida, and identified by folio number 014138 003690
from Ruben Dario Park to Henderson Park amending chapter 38 article 1 of the code of the city of Miami, Florida as amended city code titled Parks and Recreation General by amending section 38-38 of the city code currently name titled naming of Ruben Dario Park to rename name the property designated
therein as Henderson Park. Further directing the city manager to take all ne actions necessary to effectuate the renaming of the park including the replacement of applicable signage within 30 calendar days containing a severability clause and providing for an immediate effective date. F FR4 second read first reading ordinance an
ordinance of the Miami City Commission renaming the city of Miami owned park located at 342 Southwest 7th Avenue Miami Florida and identified by folio number 01 0202 03010 from General Henel Jose Francisco
Morathon Casada Park to Riverside Park amending chapter 38 article one of the code of the city of Miami Florida has amended city code titled parks and recreation general by amending section 38-28 of the city code currently titled naming of anal Jose Francisco Morathon
Casada Park to rename the property designated therein as Riverside Park. Further directing the city manager to take any and all actions necessary to affect effectuate the renaming of the park including the replacement of applicable signage within 30 calendar days containing a cability clause and providing for an immediate effective
date. F FR5 first reading ordinance an ordinance of the Miami city commission amending chapter 2 article 11 division 11 and 12 of the code of the city of Miami Florida is amended city code titled administration boards committees commissions reser reserved more specifically by amending divi division
11 section 2-145 through division 2-1 1174 of the city code to establish the accessibility advisory board stating the board's purpose powers duties composition appointment qualifications and requirements for membership providing for officers rules of
procedure meetings quorum legal and staff support assignment of personnel waiverss other necessary provisions and public notice containing celebrity clause and providing for an immediate effective date FR6 first reading ordinance an ordinance of Miami city commission pursuant to resolution number R24-0225
adopted June 18th 2024 amending chapter 40 article 4 division 2 of the code of the city of Miami Florida's amended titled personnel pension and retirement plan city of Miami Firefighters and Police Officers Retirement Trust. More particularly amending section 40-203 to
grant International Association of Firefighter Members vested on September 26, 2015 the benefits in effect on September 30th, 2010 and permitting firefighter members eligible for retirement to elect up to 7 years in the forward
deferred retirement option program based on the International Association of Firefighters Local 587 collective bargaining agreement for October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026 containing a severity clause and providing for an immediate effective date that of FR7
first reading ordinance an ordinance of the Miami city commission amending chapter 10 article four article six amending chapter 10 article six of the code of the city of Miami Florida as amended city code titled buildings unsafe structures to provide a waiver for qualifying senior citizens and
low-income residents to the cost of recovery in unsafe structure violation cases containing a severally clause and providing for an immediate effective Okay, that concludes the um first reading ordinances. >> Gentlemen, are there any of the first reading items that you would like to
pull for discussion? >> I I don't want to pull it for discussion, but uh and I want to applaud Commissioner Gabella for the idea of combining the audit and finance committees. The one thing about the item that makes me a little bit uncomfortable is that it has a quorum requirement that
is below our other quorums. Like it's not majority and I'm I'm generally not supportive of that. >> So what do you suggest? Would just that it be majority of the number of board members otherwise the item looks very good. >> I'd like to offer that as a friendly
amendment. >> No. >> Accepted. >> No. >> Okay. Gentlemen, any item would you like to Okay. Um may I have a motion >> for FR1 as amended? the friendly
amendment to um change quorum to majority FR 2 3 four five six and seven. >> So move >> second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> I >> Mr. City Clerk.
>> Thank you chair BC1 Education Advisory Board. Commissioner Escalona will be appointing Paul Dea Roles uh in Miami Day County Public Schools receiving confirmation of Tony Ula Berry as a non- voting member.
>> May I have a motion? >> Move. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> DC3 Interfaith Advisory Council Commissioner Gabella will be appointing Pastor Oed Howard Giri as a voting member and Pastor Wescar Contras as a
non- voting alternate member. >> Motion. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I passes. And we have a pocket item. >> Yes. PI1. And that's just the code enforcement board appointment. May I
have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Mr. City Attorney, would you read the PZ item title for the record? >> Yes, Madam Chair. PZ1, first reading ordinance. It's an ordinance of the
Miami City Commission amending ordinance number 13114. The zoning ordinance of the city of Miami, Florida is amended by amending article 3 titled general to zones to modify the affordable and attainable mixed income transfer of development density program making findings containing a servability clause and providing for an effective date.
That concludes the PZ items. >> Gentlemen, anybody want to pull this for discussion? >> Yes. Yeah. >> Commissioner Partardo, >> I just wanted to have a friendly amendment that excludes the NCDS. >> I completely agree. purview. >> I completely agree. May I have a motion?
>> And chair, my apologies. I believe there'll be a further amendment pursuant to a substitution memo dated April 7, 2029, 2026. >> Okay. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I >> I. Motion passes
>> as amended. >> As amended. Gentlemen, >> we have two uh meetings. We have the Southeast Overtown Park West CRA meeting and we have the Virginia Key Beach Trust meeting. Would you like to break for
those meetings and then lunch and come back to cover the discussion items because I don't think we'll get through the discussion items in like an hour and that will take us into >> Yeah, I say we break.
>> Okay. Yes. Anybody? Okay. So, at this time, the City of Miami Commission will be in recess for two hours. We are going to start the Southeast Overtown Park West CRA meeting and then we'll move into the Virginia
Key Beach Trust meeting and then we'll break for lunch and it will be two hours from that last break. Uh, we should finish these two meetings before 1:00, so 3 o'clock the latest. break
>> that we'll resume when the clerk >> Oh, okay. >> Flips Good afternoon everyone. At this time we are going to start the Southeast Overtown Park West CRA meeting. Mr. Executive Director, are you ready to
begin? >> Yes, Madame Chair. Uh, Mr. Mr. Brown will read into the record our items for the day. Also, he'll uh make a make make you aware of the withdrawals and deferral.
>> You ready? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Item one is a resolution ratifying authorized executive director to accept donations in the amount of $61,000 from various community partners for the annual historic Overtown holiday toy giveaway.
Item number two by four fifths voted a resolution with attachments ratifying approving confirming executive director's recommendation and finding in exhibit A that competitive negotiating methods and procedures are not practical or advantageous waving the requirements of
competitive bid sealed bidding awarding a grant in the amount not to exceed $627,550.85 85 to the National Church of God, a Florida not for profofit donor to write the cost associated with urgent repairs or re rehabilitations needed at 1817
Northwest Second Court, Miami, Florida 33136 by 45ths vote. Uh, a resolution with attachments ratifying, approving, confirming executive director's recommendation and finding exhibit A that competitive negotiations, methods,
and procedures are not practical or advantageous, waving the requirements for competitive seal bidding, awarding a grant in the amount not to exceed $310,000 to Smoothie Girls for FL LLC, a Florida limited liability corporation, underwrite cost associated with the
design and construction buildout phase of a tropical smoothie cafe located 249 Northwest 6th Street, Sweet 102, Miami, Florida 33136. Item number four will be withdrawn, which is a resolution by four-fifths
vote ratifying and approving the executive director's recommendation finding a competitive negotiation methods and procedures not practical that were advantageous, waving competitive requirements, and seal biddings awarding a grant not to exceed $975,000 to St. John's Institutional Missionary
Baptist Church. Item number four, number five I'm sorry, will be withdrawn which is a resolution by fourth vote approving confirming executive records recommendation and findings that competitive negotiation methods and procedures not practical advantageous waving the requirements of competitive seal bidding awarding and granting an
amount not to exceed 30 $3.5 million to 6 Miami partners LLC. Item number six, which is a resolution with attachments to retroactively approve and adopt the Southeast Overtown Park West audit for
fiscal year 2425, which is attached as exhibit A and B. >> Thank you. At this time, we'll open the floor for public comment. Is there anyone here that would like to speak on any of the items before us today?
Come on. >> Good morning. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. I am a member of the St. John Missionary Institutional Baptist Church. If we could have a few minutes, I have some >> Actually, that item has been deferred. >> Oh, excellent. Thank you.
>> Okay. Anyone else? Seeing none, public comment period is now closed. Gentlemen, are there any items on this agenda that you would like to pull for discussion? >> No. >> Nope. Seeing none, may I have a motion
for RE1, RE2, RE3, and RE6? >> So move. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I >> And I also need a motion for the withdrawal for items number four and five. >> Okay. Um,
>> Madam Chair, >> for I know it's I I know I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Those items pass. May I have a motion for the withdrawal of RE5? >> Move. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. The other
>> is deferred. May I have a motion to defer RE4? >> So moved. I'm sorry, Mr. Executive Director. >> Madame Chair, item number four will be deferred to the May 28th meeting. That >> Thank you. I have a motion and a second.
All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. And this shall conclude the Southeast Overtown Park West. Oh, wait a minute. We need to approve the minutes of January 22nd, 2026. May I have a motion? >> Move.
>> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. And this shall conclude the Southeast Overtown Park West CRA meeting for April 9th, 2026. As soon as the clerk flips the tape, we are going to
get into the Virginia Key Beach Trust meeting. Thank you. time. We will begin the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust meeting for April 9th, 2026. Good afternoon, Madame Executive Director.
Is anyone here who would like to speak on behalf of any of the items that are before us? Seeing none, public comment period is now closed. Um, may I have a motion to pass the minutes for the January 8th,
2026 meeting? >> Move. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> And our discussion item is the executive director's quarterly update. Gentlemen, did you all receive the report? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um,
there needs to be no action taken on that. >> Correct. Unless you guys have any questions about the report. Seeing none, the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust meeting is now concluded for April 9th, 2026. Thank you all. We will resume
our commission meeting at 2:30. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Part: 2
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>> Mhm. >> for April 9th, 2026. I am joined by my colleagues, Commissioner Rolando Escalona, Commissioner Damien Pardo, and myself. The City Attorney needs to read a notice
for the record. This is the City Attorney. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chairwoman and members of the Commission, pursuant to the provisions of section 286.011 {parentheses} 8, Florida Statutes, I am requesting that at the City Commission meeting of April 23rd, 2026,
an attorney-client session closed to the public be held for purposes of discussing the pending litigation in the matter of Joe Carollo versus the City of Miami, case number 2006-014464-CA01, pending in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, to which the city is presently a party.
The subject of the meeting will be confined to settlement negotiations or strategy sessions related to litigation expenditures. This private meeting will begin at approximately 10:00 a.m. or soon thereafter as the Commissioner's schedules permit, and conclude approximately 1 hour later. The session will be attended by the members of the City Commission, which include
Chairwoman Christine King, Commissioners Miguel Angel Gabela, Damien Pardo, Rolando Escalona, and Ralph Rafael Rosado, City Manager James Reyes, and outside counsel Fabian A. Ruiz. This certified court reporter will be present to ensure that the session is fully transcribed, and the
transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the litigation. At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the regular Commission meeting will be reopened, and the person sharing the Commission meeting will announce the termination of the attorney-client session. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. We are
going to begin with our discussion items. The first discussion item, DI 1. Commissioner Gabela, I believe this is your item. Yes, it is. So, uh Do we need the City Manager? I'll give him a call. Mr. City Clerk,
can you contact the City Manager to see the Fire Chief is standing in for the City Manager? No, he's tracking down Oh. He's [laughter] like, what? What? He's very talented. >> see the confusion on my face? You You want to take another one up, or
we waiting? I think we need him for all of them, though. What's uh Mr. City Clerk, would you read your um sponsorships? Thank you, Chairwoman King. I might have a few sponsor and co-sponsor announcements to make on the record. Um
Mayor Higgins will be sponsoring RE1, FL1, and FL2. Chairwoman King will be sponsoring FL1 and FL3. Commissioner Pardo will be co-sponsoring PH13, RE7, RE12, and FR7. Commissioner
Escalona will be co-sponsoring RE7. Commissioner Rosado will be co-sponsoring PH13 and RE7. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Our City Manager is on the way, so we'll give him a few minutes. Good afternoon.
We are on the discussion item 1, GSA site unsolicited proposals. Yes, Madam Chair. As you know, um our office forwarded a brief summary of the three unsolicited proposals for the GSA site uh with some
brief details. None of the three address the specific needs that the city identified of the footprint that's currently there. Subsequent to that, we also got instruction by Commissioner Gabela to move forward with an RFB. Uh we're glad
to announce that we have the drafted RFB for the GSA site that will be hand-delivered to the Commissioner's office for a review. So, at this time, we won't We recommend not to move forward with any of the unsolicited, but rather move forward with Commissioner Gabela's request for an RFB for this
site. Right. And what I wanted to say was that we were looking here This is a legacy project, so we are looking here to make the best man win. You know, so let everybody come to the table and present, and and then we will all get a chance to to you know, to talk to them, to ask
them questions, and uh and and again, you know, I think this is going to be a big deal for all of us because that This is where our you know, the mo- Yeah, the the the motor pool, public works, uh uh parks and recreation, uh uh solid
waste, they all have their headquarters, right? And my argument has always been throughout the the uh you know, when I came with this and I saw this that, you know, best site was okay for a different era in Miami a long time ago when dirt uh you know, was very cheap, and you can you can afford to run very
inefficient in the sense that every everything's spread out. Okay? And I think the time has come, like I've said before, that we have to be efficient uh with our resources, right? And uh everybody that comes to my office to present this plan, I have told them that they the city needs have to be
taken care of. What does that mean? That the GSA, the motor pool, uh the the the solid waste operation, uh parks and recreation, they all have to be located and taken care of, you know, and in the in the plan. Right? And and and so So, that's what we are attempting to do with
this, that we are going to create uh a revenue stream, for example, um on the uh there are quite a number of proposals that there's going to be 1,500 Excuse me, 1,000 to 2,500 units, depending on the project that uh we all like. Uh we're going to collect property
taxes on that, but you know, right now, we're not collecting any anything on that site, right? Uh we're going to have a you know, a newer and a and better uh working conditions for the the the people that work at GSA that I know you,
Commissioner Escalona, have have visited, and I visited that site about a year and a half ago prior to you, and I know you have an interest in it, right? So, so we're going to get a new facilities for them and new equipment. Uh and also, we're going to do affordable housing, right? So, we're going to give
uh from 1,000 to 2,500 from all the way from affordable to workforce, uh and a little bit of market rate. So, at the end, it's it's a win-win situation for that uh for that site and for all of us. Anyone else would like to weigh in on
this item? Okay. DI 2, the 2025 Annual Finance Committee Board Report. Is anyone here for that? Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Commissioners. Munira Daniel, Finance Director.
Um on behalf of the Finance Committee, which is an advisory board that provides um recommendations to the City Commission on long-term indebtedness, uh the city's investment practices for the purpose of enhancing financial policies, minimizing risk and
exposure, maintaining principal funding, and improving returns on investments to ensure compliance with the city's um financial integrity principles audit, the deficient anti-deficiency act, investment and debt policies,
the Finance Committee met last year in 2025 to review and approve the financing proposal for a board of roller um lease purchase uh agreement. That was the main business that they did in addition to reviewing um
compliance with the investment policy. And that was pretty much what the committee did last year. Are there any questions? Thank you. You're welcome. DI 3, proposal from Fast Cleaning Solutions to the Miami River Commission.
Yeah, th- that's me. Uh so uh uh Brett is going to be uh doing a presentation and and what I do for I give it to you. The uh chairman of Uh excuse me, the river commission. Mayor Higgins, uh Chairwoman King,
commissioners Oracio Stuart Aguirre, thanking Mr. uh Commissioner Gabler for his excellent pronunciation of my name. You're getting better at it. You're good. My classes are helping. While Brett Bebo, the executive director, is setting up his uh computer for a PowerPoint
presentation, I'll give you an overview. About 15 years ago, the state of Florida declared that one of the five tributaries of the Miami River, namely the Wagner Seaboard Canal, which is uh immediately uh on the south side of Spring Garden, was the most contaminated
body of water in the entire state of Florida. As I said earlier this morning, that contamination does not originate on the Miami River. It originates somewhere northwest of 20th Street.
And um it is uh human uh fecal contamination. Unfortunately, because the Wagner Seaboard Canal is very shallow, very narrow, and quite crowded, the extraordinary cleanup vessel that we
call the Scavenger, the red boat that's up and down the coast of uh Biscayne Bay and then all the other tributary all the other waterways of Miami River, Little River, can't navigate the Wagner Seaboard. So, Commissioner Gabler and uh
the Miami River Commission came up with an idea to find a service provider that creates little gadgets and I sort of refer to them as the little vacuum cleaners, those little round things that all of us have in our homes, that go
underneath chairs and underneath tables and underneath counters. And if we could find remote operated vessels like that, little call them vessels, but they're really little drones, then we could clean up some of the contamination, make it manageable,
um and that way we could help the situation before it spreads into the Miami River. And that's what we're proposing today. And while Brett is figuring out how to keep how to set that up, I'll keep talking for another minute.
>> Uh are you ready? Yes, sir. Thank god. I was running out of text. Yes, sir. Good afternoon, Honorable Mayor Higgins, Honorable Chairwoman King, and Honorable City Commission. Brett Bebo, managing director of the Miami River Commission, with offices located at 1407 Northwest
7th Street. I'm joined today by Liber Lopez, Liber Lopez Jr., and Jesus Concepcion from Fast Cleaning Solutions LLC. Wagner Creek is a canal owned by the City of Miami. On the projected map,
you see Wagner Creek in Commissioner Gabler's district on Northwest 20th Street in Allapattah, and then it proceeds southeast through the health district into Chairwoman King's district in the historic Spring Garden neighborhood. Unfortunately, Wagner Creek is amongst
the most polluted waterways in the state of Florida. For decades, Miami-Dade County's DERM has taken monthly water quality samples from three locations in Wagner Creek, which the overwhelming majority of the time showed massive unhealthy exceedances of bacteria.
This slide Okay. This slide is a verbatim excerpt of DERM's quarterly report to the Miami River Commission, featuring DERM's monthly water quality sample results. The maximum highest possible bacteria reading on the testing scale is 24,196.
And on this slide, you'll see that in July, August, and September of 2025, there were six separate test results with the scale's maximum 24,196 count of bacteria. While the state of Florida's safe
bacteria standard is not to exceed 130. On this DERM slide, in April, May, and June of 2025, there were four separate test results of the maximum 24,196 bacteria count, when only 130 is the safe standard.
And on this final DERM slide, in October, November, and December of 2024, again, there were four separate tests of the maximum 24,196 bacteria count, when again only 130 is the safe state standard.
For decades, DERM, the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County Department of my of Water and Sewer Department, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, etc., have searched for the sources of this excessive bacteria contamination in Wagner Creek via smoke testing, dye
testing, two multi-agency physical searches, and more, while we continue receiving DERM's monthly water quality sample massive failure results months after the samples are actually taken. While the City of Miami's contracted Scavenger water decontamination vessel
provides excellent services along the Miami River in Biscayne Bay, it is unable to navigate beneath Wagner Creek's low fixed bridges at Northwest 11th Street, etc., therefore is unable to provide services in the subject area. Fast Cleaning Solutions LLC owns and
operates the Bacterial Managed Water Cleaning Machine, BMW. The BMW oxygenates the water with ionized air and uses various filters, killing bacteria, which makes the water quality safer for both the public and
marine life. In addition, separate water quality testing devices sample for six parameters with results available real time online. Thankfully, Fast Cleaning Solutions LLC operated one device free of charge for
an entire year from April 2024 to March 2025 in the general area of DERM's water quality testing location, Wagner Creek. Two. This table There's Let's see. Here's the bubbles in the water. Here's the machine that shoots the
bubbles into the water. Here we go. This table shows DERM's water quality testing results from the testing location every month from April 2023 to March 2024, which was before the device was operating. Next to DERM's water quality testing results from the
same location every month from April 2024 to March 2025, while the device was operating. And as you can see, the E. coli bacteria reduced by 82% while the enterococci bacteria reduced by 76%.
The proposal is to deploy seven devices in Wagner Creek, plus two additional devices, and three water quality testing devices, which would cost $360,000 for 1 year. We appreciate the City of Miami taking direct action to provide desperately
needed reduction of unhealthy bacteria violations in Wagner Creek. Thank you. Are there any questions? I I just [clears throat] have one. I'm wondering, you know, we've been looking at different kinds of systems to be able to do just that. And are you Do you
familiar at all with Seabin? Seabin? Seabin? Are you guys familiar with Seabin? S E A B I N. Okay, never mind. It It's not seen commonly here, but I was curious. Thank you. Yeah, so so uh Commissioner, what we went out there and I would urge you to
>> fully supportive. Have you seen their their results in Yeah, I know. I'm fully supportive. Yeah, when when you get there when you guys if you go, you'll see the difference from 50 ft, you know, from the middle. You can see night and day It goes to the mouth of the river, too. So, the Scavenger and they they operate in
the district. I'm fully big fan. Okay. Big fan. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. So so city manager, we were wondering uh if you can we can find funds to to fund their their project with the
six I believe it's six, right, Brett? Is it six uh uh Uh the current proposal is a total of nine machine nine uh water quality improvement machines and three devices that test the water quality. Okay, and what's what's the total cost? $360,000 for 1 year. For 1
year? Yes, sir. Commissioner, I'd like to sit down with them and discuss where they're at in terms of even perhaps where they're doing business other places. Do we have an opportunity to piggyback off a contract or something like that. So, I think it warrants us meeting. So, maybe
next week or the week after? Absolutely. Yes. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Our next discussion item is Downtown Development Authority. Commissioner Scola. Commissioner Rosado.
You are the chairman of the DDA, right? Awesome. I won my election in December. I I think it was last month that I requested a meeting with the executive director of the DDA. The day before the meeting, I look at the calendar and I see that a district
14 is added to the meeting. The meeting didn't occur. Then we had a sunshine meeting because I have questions that I just want to have the proper information because DDA overlaps over my district. For that meeting, you were I know you
you had you had a compromise, you couldn't come. I was informed by the clerk. The executive director didn't come, either. My only question is, who is going to answer the questions that I have about the DDA. Hello Commissioners, Christina Crespi, Executive Director of the Miami DDA. I'm
joining on Zoom. Thank you for allowing me to do that. I believe Chris Molina's passing out the responses to Commissioner Escalona's questions. Awesome. Um Christina Crespi, the Executive Director Oh, right. I I I got that.
You go what? Chris While you were getting these papers, the Executive Director of the DDA is on Zoom. Okay. But I don't know what the questions were that I didn't get the questions that you were asking.
>> either. So, I'm not sure. Commissioner Escalona, I I don't know the >> Yeah, no, no, no, well, now that I have Oh. These today was about exactly these. So, now I need time to go over all of these, and I would like to have a meeting with
somebody from the DDA. Do we have to do this again for me to have a meeting either with you or with the DDA Executive Director? No. So, Commissioner Escalona, I think this is one of those situations where like two wrongs don't make a
right. The You had a request with the to meet with the Executive Director. Made me a little bit uncomfortable to not have somebody present. It wasn't noticed, so I had my staff was going to participate. Uh I should not have had that canceled on you. That being said, then a Sunshine Meeting was set up, and I I had said we should have a Sunshine
Meeting cuz there is overlap between the DDA and our individual district responsibilities and independent public work responsibilities, right? We all have people running around doing different things. There's essentially three sets of bodies doing stuff that overlaps, and we should be more efficient. Um unfortunately, the meeting
was set up even though I would had said I wasn't available at approximately 2 weeks in advance. I was actually like very clear about that, and yet the meeting to I I understand, but the folks setting up the meeting reached out. I wasn't available. Somehow it went forward. I tried to contact you the day before and say, "Hey, as a reminder, I'm still not
available, but it's not been rescheduled." I didn't I didn't hear back. That being said, let's move on. Happy to work with you. I know you care a lot about your district. Uh I certainly care about downtown as well. We all care about the city. I'm sure we can work together. Awesome. >> You have my commitment. Thank you. You
got So, I'm going to go over these, and then I'm going to send an email requesting a meeting with the DDA. Yes. Either it could be you, it could be Christina. It doesn't matter to me who the person is, but it has to be one of you that can we can go over some of these. >> Okay. I'm happy to to meet whenever um
available. Thank you. Um DI5? Oh, I'm sorry. >> You know, it's okay. I was also going to say we're extending an invitation to each of you to the next board meeting because three commission seats overlap with it as well. We're also doing, which we've been announcing uh more via social
media, every other week we're walking a different neighborhood in the DDA sort of an alternating basis. We're noting things that need to be fixed. We're discussing discussing policy changes. We'd love everybody to have the same vision ultimately. Okay. The next discussion item is DI5,
permitting. Yeah, actually that's mine as well. And I had a brief conversation with uh the manager about this. Uh this is a result I know a number of us have been working on permitting issues, including the mayor and and Commissioner Escalona and myself and each of you, really. You care about this issue tremendously because it's
something that we all get complaints about. So, I'd like to formally make a couple of requests. Uh one is something that I know or two things, actually, that I've heard the Miami-Dade County does very well, and it it irks me to hear that the county is ever better than us uh at anything cuz we're smaller, we
should be more efficient, more nimble, etc. Um they have these periodic teams meetings where uh Jimmy Morales and a series of department heads are on there, and they have the meetings for approximately 2 hours, and the format is typically the same each time. The first half hour is, "Here's what's going on
new in county permitting. Here's how to pull this particular type of permit, etc." and then they open it up for Q&A in general. And so, I'd like to see us do that, but with a few conditions. Number one, that at least for the foreseeable future it be done on a monthly basis. I don't think we're at the point where people feel comfortable
and are okay with it being quarterly. So, I'd like it to be monthly. I'd like the manager to be on there and for him to decide who else to include. Obviously, the appropriate department heads make a lot of sense, but I think the manager should be there to hear the kinds of things that we hear on a pretty continuous basis. So, there's been a
number of improvements again, thanks to to the mayor, Commissioner Escalona, and others, where a number of improvements have been made in the recent past, in the last few months. I don't think the general public, I don't think the development community, I don't think the everyday citizen is necessarily aware of some of these things. So, that'll
provide a 30-minute, you know, format approximately at the beginning to say, "Here are recent improvements and how they benefit the public." And then again, open it up to to Q&A, and I think you'll get a sense of what are the complaints that folks have that maybe should be prioritized.
Um the second thing is creation or assignation, and I've I've heard internally that there's already somebody that could take on this role uh of a sort of ombudsman, which I know is is not a word that folks will recognize, but it's basically an advocate for the public. So, having somebody with a phone
number who's uh well publicized and an email address along the lines of, you know, permithelp@miami.gov, I think will go far. So, if somebody feels like, "Oh, I'm being mistreated," maybe they are, maybe they're not, but if they have like a clear point person, I think that's helpful. Right now, and I can't speak for my colleagues, but I
suspect it's the same thing. If if somebody contacts us with a permit issue, we go directly to the Assistant City Manager. That is not an optimal use of his time. He has many responsibilities. So, if we have like one clear point of contact, where if somebody feels like this is taking too
long or I'm not being treated well, etc., we have a person that can help them uh go through the break through the gridlock. And then finally, having a dedicated person for affordable housing projects. I've been I I think sometimes that may have been done, but I I've heard it enough from the
affordable housing community that they would like one person that helps them with their permits. I've heard it enough to know that it's it's either not publicized well or it's not being implemented that fully. I think these are three things that will get at some of the the pain points that
we have. But I want to make sure that you all know I really appreciate uh Assistant uh Manager Marrero and the fact that he has always been willing to listen to our complaints, certainly my complaints, and assist with anything that we have thrown his way. So, thank you all for the efforts you've
done. I think I think there's certainly a willingness. These are some things that I've heard work well in other places that could help us as well. Madam Mayor. Yeah, if I may comment, um thank you. Commissioner Escalona, I like all of us
have been very concerned about permitting. But I I want to make sure we're giving the administration the time to implement the changes, many of which have already been implemented, and others that they are literally working
night and day all week long to implement, including acceleration of affordable housing permitting. And I can tell you the way I did it at the county was not by having one person in charge of it. It was by fixing the entire system. So, I think you'll be very pleased to
know that um the team is already working uh almost on a daily basis on the new Oracle system. Right now, we have eight points of entry. We're going to have one. Thanks to the manager. He aggressively accelerated that contract so that it would be implemented sooner rather than later.
I am extremely nervous about taking our staff away for monthly meetings because every time they're away for monthly meeting, they are not in the office working. And you know, I know when the manager and I got here, even just getting ready for these meetings,
we had Commissioner briefings over 4 days and then commission over five. That meant I had the entire administration, the managers, the the highest level people sitting here in City Hall, away from their teams, away from operations, away from the garbage trucks, away from
the police stations, away from the fire stations, away from permitting. And thanks to your efforts, we've consolidated the Commissioner briefings to 2 days and then commission to one, which has freed up 4 days a month for actual work.
So, when our residents say it's hard to get things done at the city, in part it is because we, the elected officials, have asked too many times for senior-level people to be interrupted for a meeting this month, that month. And so, I'm very, very nervous about
that. I have no issues um and obviously, the manager will make the decision and and with your input, I have no issues if we want to have some kind of permitting input. I think it's much better to do that in a focused in a in a in a formal focus group setting, which I have done.
Um matter of fact, we have a task force, thank you, Ace, um working on the affordable housing covenants. The permits are not the hardest part to get. But once you got your permits, it can take up to 18 months to get an affordable housing covenant out of us here. By the way, that's just typing,
people. There's nothing hard about typing. In the county, that process takes 2 weeks. And here, it can take 6 months at a minimum, 18 months. You can't break ground cuz you can't go to financial close. But what I can tell you is every day we have teams of people working on
this. Let them work on it. And 6 months from now, let's then see how the people feel about doing this. But don't take people away from the work. Let them work and help you. Thank you. Thank you.
Okay, I think that concludes our discussion items. We have a pocket item, pocket item two, Mr. City Clerk, would you please read the title for the record? Yes, ma'am. A resolution of the Miami City
Commission issuing a fireworks display waiver pursuant to chapter 19, section 7 of the code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, titled fire protection, manufacture, sale, time of display, and discharge of fireworks to allow for a fireworks display in connection with the implosion demolition of the Mandarin Hotel to be held on
April 12, 2026 on Brickell Key, Miami, Florida. I hope I didn't let you down, Mr. City Attorney. At this time, I would like to open the floor for public comments for anyone that would like to speak on behalf of this pocket item. Seeing none,
public comment period is closed. May I have a motion? So moved. Second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion carries unanimously. And this shall conclude the City of Miami Commission meeting for April 9th,
2026. Thank you all for your advocacy. See you in a couple of weeks.