Board member Ramro Inguano, board member Lin Matoss, >> present, >> board member Marilen Roano is absent, board member Javier Leoto, >> present. >> And board member Juan Carlos Fernandez,
>> present. >> Very well. So now we proceed with a moment of silence or a prayer led by the deputy town attorney Lorenzo Coella. >> Let's bow our heads in silence. Um, dear
Lord, uh, we thank you for this opportunity to be here and gather, uh, residents of this town and staff members and, uh, all, uh, elected body, representatives, um, here all together, uh, to look at, uh, this do great
document, which is our charter. It's our constitution. It what binds and holds our city and most important document in in our in our town. Uh we ask you Lord as as we're going to be in the next uh several months looking at this document and thinking about ways that we can make it stronger and better and and uh a
document that will serve all of our residents, visitors and business owners. Uh that you please guide us and and give us uh your your Holy Spirit to guide our conversations so that we may do the right thing always uh to serve you. Uh and we ask this Lord and always in your name. Amen. Amen.
>> Holy Spirit. Now, the town manager, Ed Peterman, will lead us into the pledge of allegiance. >> 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. >> Okay, very well. We're going to proceed again with the order of the agenda, public comments. And as I always state in every meeting, public comments will be heard at the beginning of each
meeting and each speaker will be able to speak for three minutes. All public comments from the public shall be directed to the chairman and no person other than the chairman and the person recognized by the town attorney as having the floor shall be permitted to
enter the discussion. Public comments as always are allowed here in council chambers but as well online. So if any member of the public wishes to speak the only thing they need to do is raise the hand by clicking on the reactions icon
and selecting raise hand and town staff our IT department will allow them to participate. So I don't see we don't have any participants.
So and is anyone in the public here wishes to speak? Please just approach the podium and state your name and address for the record. No public comment. So no public comment,
Mr. Town attorney. >> Okay. So uh welcome all of you. Uh it has been 10 years since our last uh charter review uh commission gathered. Uh and in that commission there were several uh sweeping changes to our charter. Uh and there will be uh I'm
sure uh with this commi commission that is meeting uh this board uh there will be more changes uh that will reflect uh the growth of our of our town. and and our town was very different 10 years ago and uh today we're we're all going to kind of have the opportunity to start um
thinking uh staff is gathering some of its um concerns and and I definitely and Gina will be pre presenting uh some things that we've seen in the charter uh that are inconsistencies and and cleanup uh and you will all have the opportunity
to also uh weigh in and provide your feedback. Um it's really important what you're doing. I think it's one of the most important things um service that you can do as a resident of of this town is be part of this committee. Again, the charter is our constitution. Uh once uh
you make whatever decisions you decide, whatever changes you will vote as a body, uh it will go for a referendum. It will go before the the council, but it will ultimately go for a referendum before all of our residents for a final vote. And once adopted, it's it's the law of the land. It's the law of this
town. Uh so you know congratulations to all of you uh and I will be praying for all of you uh because this it's a it's a monumental task that you're all undertaking. Uh tonight is really trying to get our ducks in in a row as to what we're doing here. And again uh you'll have before you the charter and you should read it and and and and again um
have thoughts as to what you would like for that charter to look like um as far as changes are are concerned uh going forward. um as a and I'm going to go into some of the rules that kind of will regulate uh your your decision-m and and
your uh actions as as as a body uh shortly. Um uh we will also be voting for a chair and a vice chair uh and we'll be doing that in in tonight's meeting. Uh and we'll also be talking about um our our schedule uh and
procedures. So I'm going to kind of go a little bit out of order uh and talk first of all. So we set expectations uh we have to be done by the last week of May. Why? Because whatever you vote on
ultimately has to go before the council and then has to go and the council's role then is is pretty much ministerial at that point because then they they're the ones who are going to instruct whatever you vote to go uh to the elections uh department so that it can be voted on by by the residents. Um and
that's going to take some time, right? Because also what you vote on has to be done in a specific format. it has to be done passed by resolution um and then forwarded on to to the elections department. Uh so that being said we are proposing two meetings a month to be on
the first and third second and second and fourth Thursday of every month. Okay, we know that many of you are not going to be able to make it to every single meeting. I want you to be at every single meeting. think it's important. Uh it's it's unfortunate that
we don't have a full um you know, we don't have all the members here tonight, but but things happen. It's going to be difficult. You're you're volunteers. You're not getting paid to do this. Uh but uh to the extent that you can, we'd like you to be here every second and uh for Thursday. Uh and it'll be here in
chambers at 6:30. Okay. Um, and because this does require also your consent, I would like a motion, a second, and a full approval if possible. >> All in favor? >> I >> I
>> All right. >> Any against? >> All right, the eyes have it. Thank you very much for that. See, the most difficult part of the night is over. All right. Starting in January. Yes. Starting in January. All right. So, yep.
I'm sorry. Go ahead, J. >> To assist um in this process and make it easy for you, I will I think tomorrow you'll be getting an invite so that you have it in the calendar. I of all the three or four months. We don't need them. That's fine. But you're going to
receive the invites. Please accept. And always feel free to reach out to me. You all have my emails and I will try always to respond promptly. >> So the role of myself and Raul uh Gastasi uh who is the the the town
attorney, myself as your deputy um is to pretty much help and guide you in this process. Since the charter is a legal document, there are things that are things that we can add to the charter and things that we cannot add to the charter. So, uh, we'll help guide that
conversation and and and help you as you, you know, determine what are things that you want to amend in in the charter. And that's really our role is to facilitate that conversation. Uh besides uh myself, you have Gina uh the
I mean missing Guanza, the uh town clerk uh who is here to again do the roll call, make sure that you all have u make sure that you're all notified as to our public meetings uh and also make sure that anything that uh you wish to uh
distribute or disseminate to to the to the other members or uh wish to distribute uh is done. So, she's the custodian of records uh for the the town of Miami Lakes. Uh that being said, and again, I'm going to jump around a little bit, okay? Is anything that you write uh
anything that you put on uh your your social media page, anything that you uh email, any anything of of that nature that really is is of a a document of sorts is considered a public document. Now, you are a public board, so anything that you have is a public document. And
that's important to know because if a public records request is made uh and Mr. Lysoto knows very well the subject uh it needs to be uh provided to the person who has requested that public record. Uh so it's it's important that
again you you keep that in mind uh in case that ever comes up and also if you have anything that you wish uh to be made part of the the record that you do provide it to uh Miss Inguano so that way we're able to comply with any record requests uh that are made in a timely
fashion. Any questions on that? Yes, Dr. Bennett. Just quickly, last time in 2016, what I recommended as chair then was that everyone to go ahead and make their a new personal email address and do all your correspondence through this
email address with Gina. Don't use your general one that you use for yourself and your business and your correspondents. If you isolate it, then all the records will be in one place. And if there is ever a public records request, they can it'll be one place. You don't have to worry about searching it and you don't have to worry about
them going through any personal records. So, I recommend, you know, a Gmail account. Um, I've already set one up and I'll be sending Gina my, uh, my new address. Um, following. >> That's certainly good advice, Dr. Vett. >> Thank you. >> Uh, it's not required, but that is good
advice. Um, with that being said, the other part is Sunshine Law. And I'll just be very brief. All of you have experience. I know that I'm not dealing with noviceses, but just quickly understand that anything with regards to this meeting, with regards to the charter is
something that you must not have a conversations amongst yourselves outside of this venue, outside of the second and fourth Thursday of every month. Okay? Uh and that's sometimes in a small town like Miami Lakes. I mean, we're small, but we're not that small, but we all
know each other. We all see each other in Publix. We all see each other, you know, at different events. Um and it's very tempting I'm sure uh to have that conversation u avoid it. You should not have that conversation um at all. Uh
because again that violates sunshine. What is sunshine? Sunshine is a any type of communication between one or more board members mean two or more board members of the same uh body uh discussing something which may which will or may come before you for a vote.
All right. So in a nutshell that's what sunshine is. don't have any communication. What is communication? Communication could be Facebook. Uh it could be posting on something. Hey, look, you know, you know, we should change this in in the charter and then all of a sudden, you know, uh Jav puts that and and then Hector is is
responding to it. Uh you know, that's a Sunshine violation. Uh it's a text communications. Uh it's a facts, it's conversation. Um it's any any communication whatsoever. Okay? So, avoid it. All right? And then of course where it becomes a problem is when you
have these text messages uh if you do and you violate it and then it becomes subject of a public records request. Now we have you have egg on your face and the town has egg on its face and there could be serious penalties to it. Among them criminal penalties. So please avoid doing that at all costs. Yes.
>> Can I intervene? Just says and something that not everybody kind of puts two and two together is aware of that you can also not use a third party to get around sunshine. So you can't go to your buddy who also knows so and so and say hey can
you tell so and so that this is what I'm thinking. You cannot use third you can't use any of us. You can't use any third party to try and circumvent the sunshine law. >> Any questions on sunshine? >> I I have a question. Yes.
>> As a non- voting member, am I also uh >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> to some extent. >> Um I would completely avoid it. Um there's so all of you are voting members with
the exception of um Councilman Fernandez. And the reason that I would say no is that you're going to be participating in the discussions and the conversations. you're part of this body. Um, and so there may come a time where
you may want to move an item forward even though you can't vote on it and influence the vote one way or another. So to the extent that you're able to kind of do that, I would avoid uh any conversations. So for instance, there may be something which one of you want
to push forward and you feel like hey look, I'm I'm going to use first name basis. Is that okay for everybody if I use first name basis? I don't want to offend anybody. But let's say uh you know, Councilman JC over here is is talking to Jav. He's like, "Man, you know, I'm seeing this big issue and it's a big issue in, you know, in Miami date
college and and I think that you know, we got to push it, but it's going to sound a lot better if it's from you, Councilman, and it comes from me. You know, go ahead and present it and then I'll make the motion and then, you know, we'll we'll we'll get the votes that way." You're violating the sunshine essentially. You could, right? Uh so
avoid it alto together. Okay. And as tempting as it may seem, now you can have a conversation with your other colleagues all day long. So any other council member can have a vote because you're not going to be voting on the item it itself. So if if you have
and and again I would be careful on that one too because could be that it's not coming up before this body, but then later it comes up before your body. So you got to be a little bit careful. But but that being said, in in in an open forum, you can get advice from your other colleagues and and find out what
their their thoughts are and then report back over here. That that would be okay. But I would do that also in public. I'd be careful about not doing that behind the scenes. Okay. >> Now, from any other resident, you can have a conversation. That one you're okay with. All right. Um All right. So,
we've covered Florida Sunshine Law uh and Florida public uh records law. Any questions on those items? No. anything I'm missing? I'm looking towards how because I mean I I call him for advice all the time. So if I'm missing something, keep >> I'm trying not to put on my lawyer hat. >> No, please.
>> No, no, I it know just to reiterate that everything he says and obviously the suggestion from Dr. Bennett as well is you know one other suggestion that I've always given in and you know with my boards is uh when you do create those independent emails also is if you do get communications at your regular email
addresses just simply forward them into that box. So that way you you have one repository of everything. That's always very helpful as well. Um and obviously it's just being you know as as uh as Lorenzo was explaining is just be more cautious. You know if if you have any hesitation or any doubt is always reach
out to any of the staff members uh who you can have those conversations with rather than internally. Um and if you're out in public is just you know just being more cognizant about everything. It's it's you know it's about trust in from the public. it comes directly by your actions. And the more strict you
can be about it, even if it's going above and beyond what it's required, uh the more trust people are going to have because if they know that you're really tight about it and you're just not having these conversations that h maybe it's in the gray area, it's always going to come out much better and they'll have more trust in everything in the in the whole process and that's really what we want here.
>> Mr. Inguans, am I missing anything? >> I think between the two attorneys. >> All right. Um, >> one last suggestion though. I think generally what we did is any questions, we put it through Gina and Gina it to whoever we need it. >> If you have any questions or money
concerns, go through Gina and you're covered. >> Yeah. >> You know, and then you don't have to worry about anything and then she'll route it to whoever she needs to route it to >> and then they'll get back to you or, you know, or to the whole the whole committee. >> Equally, if you have any questions moving forward, you can always call me or or call Raul. I mean, we're pretty
much available. We're pretty accessible. Um just you know we can we can filter it out. Um all right so that's pretty much covers public records law and sunshine. Anything missing? Gina we're good. All right.
So the other part is and and about routing through through Gina Dr. Bennett that and that's that's a good point is that um as you will elect the chair and you will elect a vice chair. The chair will work with the clerk as far as the agenda. uh there are items that you're going to want to put on the agenda,
right? Because you're you're going to have ideas of of things that you you want to see uh changes and things you want to add to the charter, things you want to discuss. So, the way that that's going to work is you're going to email the clerk. The clerk is going to you're not going to email each other, just
going to email the clerk. The clerk will then have the discussion with the with the chair and that will be how the agenda will be constructed. You're not to contact the chair directly. I I would avoid that at all cost. Okay. Whoever the chair is, we don't know.
>> Uh whoever you decide. >> And let me just add 10 years ago I did participate in the um previous commission and um I think it was very organized. Just um food for thought. We had like six meetings in three months.
The first meeting was in January. It ended in March. And um I was looking at the minutes reviewing in the last week just to provide you this information. We went in order. So of course in the January meetings we start in the order
of the charter. We're not going to be jumping around and I think in every meeting and again um Dr. Bennett and Mr. Inguanso that you were part of that former commission er review. I think you
basically discuss like two sections of the charter per meeting. You and I'm giving you this information just it this is a different board but I think every meeting was probably two hours maybe two hours and a half. I don't think there
was a meeting that went longer. It was a respectful um commission and you had you know exchanged a good thoughts but just so that you can understand you're going to go in order and yes you're I'm going to work with whoever gets elected as a
chair but you all can provide me emails saying hey on this section I have the following thoughts can you please add that to the agenda because it is the agenda of all of you of the board. Okay. So, I just wanted to you and you will have deadlines that I will share with
you because we do have to always respect to make an agenda well in advance. So, I will give you all this feedback via emails once we set the schedules so that you know when it's the deadline to provide me your opinions so that I can
attach to the agenda. Okay? So that we meet the deadlines. >> Perfect. Um the next thing is and you have here in your uh agenda is a conflict of interest and the code of ethics ordinance. Um and this is Miami date counties. We also follow Florida.
Miami counties is stricter than the state of Florida's code of ethics. Um and and really what I want you to to understand of this is you know during your time here as as a as a board member u be again as uh Jav said Mr. Leoto said
is be just vigilant. Be a little bit more cautious as to folks who may be approaching you or asking things of you or they give you a nice gift. You know, if you do this or whatnot, you know, that's inappropriate, you can't do that. U and and I'm I'm being very light on it. Read it. If you have any questions on it, ask. Also, if you feel that any
item comes up, can't imagine what it could be, but if you feel that you you may have a conflict or uh you you feel that you should abstain from voting, understand that as a board member, you must vote unless you have a conflict. that that's Florida law, right? You you are an extension right now ser serving a
a purpose of of government. Uh so you you have to follow to Florida statute as when it comes to to voting and for conflicts. Uh again, if anything comes up, anything at all that you feel a little weary about a situation, please
call me. Please talk to me first before you you take any action and we'll we'll speak it through and and we'll we'll come up to a I'll I'll try to guide you uh in making a decision. Okay, does that make sense? I don't want to go through the whole thing cuz there's a lot of things here that pertain to you. There's a lot of things here that do not pertain
to you. The majority doesn't. There's a few things, but the majority is again use common sense. Okay. Um, right. No. Any but anything you want to add, Mr. Guano, on that Jav code of ethics as
it pertains to this board? All right. If you do, please jump in. All right. Now, we get to the meat and potatoes. Your first decision tonight, you must elect a chair and a vice chair. All right. So, the way that this is usually done, again, it has to be done out in the open
uh is someone can make a nomination for a chair. Uh then that has to be and you cannot vote on that. Uh and then it's seconded and then we'll do that the same for the we'll have a vote and then we'll do the same thing for for the vice chair. So, yes. >> And briefly, again, I haven't shared
this with you. I thought it would be a good exercise if all of you can you know give an introduction of who a little bit about yourself for a minute >> because I know you all know of each other but it's good information. I think it's relevant. This is being live streamed. This is being recorded. It's
going to stay always. It's a public record. If you can just say a short statement about yourself for the benefit of our residents as well and we may start with Dr. Bennett. I'm going to start in the corner. Well, then good evening fellow commissioners. Uh Dr.
Dave Bennett, please call me Dave. I don't you know titles are only one in my office. I was the uh chair of the commission in 2016 which was pretty hectic at the time between running two practices and also doing that. Now I'm semi-retired. Um I'm willing to
volunteer for chair or vice chair. Um I don't see any problem. We did really good. Um last time we were done in about three and a half months. The committee was incredible. We had great We had Metha in that committee among others.
And um if anybody understood the town charter, she did. And I you know, I'll miss her dearly this time around. Um I um as I said, I have I'm semi-retired now, so I have more time so things are a little bit easier. So I will volunteer for chair or vice chair if you need in
case all of you that are still working don't have the time to to uh be the liazison. Thank you. All right. So, so my name is Hector Abad, a school social worker with Miami date county public schools. Um, I've been a resident of the town since
2001. Um, like I said, you know, in the past, I've raised my family here. I work here. Uh, I've been the social worker at Goldman for over 30 year. Well, 25 years, I'm sorry, that's 98, 27 years, 95, 30 years, I'm sorry, at Miami Lakes
Middle 18 years. Um, again, I was the chair of the educational advisory board. I was one of the founding members of the mental health task force. Um, personally, I don't care about titles. So, to me, it's not about nominations or I just want to do whatever is best uh
for the residents and like I said, I'm looking forward to listening to your ideas to what things you feel like needs to be improved. I would love to hear have more residents actually show up and give some input. Uh, but other than that, like I said, I'm here to serve and
do whatever's needed of me. >> Hi everybody. Good evening. Ramen Guanso. I've uh also moved to the town of Miami Lakes in 2001. I raised our family here, three children who attended local schools and are now in college. Um, been involved with the town in a
couple different initiatives. I had the pleasure of serving with Dr. Bennett on uh this commission about 10 years ago. um also had the opportunity to serve on the town manager selection committee which did a great job obviously because it selected such a great manager. So um
it's a pleasure to be here again to serve with you with Dr. Bennett and all of you. Really looking forward to the process. So thank you. >> Good afternoon. My name is Javier Leoto. Uh I proud resident here. I'm also raising my two sons uh who are attending
school here locally. And I am currently the general counsel at Miami Date College where I've been for the past nine and a half years or so now. Um and before that I was a regional general counsel for the Florida Department of Children and Families. And before that I was at uh I was in private practice and
now I'm practicing a little over 20 years coming up on my 21st year of practicing law um here in South Florida. I'm also very involved in the community. I'm the media past president of the Cuban American Bar Association which is one of the largest uh bar associations in the state of Florida uh and very
involved in its various committees including its proono committee and or its proono legal services organization as well as its uh Cuban American Bar Foundation. Um I'm also a proud member committee member for many years of the neighborhood improvement committee and been involved in various aspects here in
the town and I'm looking forward to this process and u as uh Mr. Minister Guanu has stated as well is you know I want and the others I really looking forward to hear from the community members you know in addition to what our thoughts are going to be on this and seeing what's been done is you know we're going
to be setting what our charter is going to be for the next 10 years and uh you know I think it's very important to hear what our community members you know we're we're as we say we're growing beautifully and I want to make sure that we continue to do that uh and uh hearing from the community members is going to be first and foremost. Thank you.
Hi, I'm Lynn Moss. I'm a 31-year resident of Miami Lakes, proud Miami Laker. I have sat on the planning and zoning or served on the planning and zoning board for 5 years. I am appointed to the unsafe structures board for Miami
Date County. Been doing that for a number of years. I'm a realtor with ReMax, 43 years in the business. I have an interesting um insight on property values and what happens in our town. I've been involved in a few things over
the years. Youth activities task force, cultural affairs, public safety, every special event board and community service board. I think that's been here I've been part of. And I'm the proud operator and co-founder of the
award-winning Miami Lakes Food and Wine Festival. And I want to echo some of the thoughts that have been shared. I think the single most important thing to me is feedback and input from the public and also from the town staff who are truly
boots on the ground and their input is invaluable. So I'm here to work hard. I don't need a title or I don't need to sit at the head of the table. I've done that. Um I'm here to work. I am anxious to get started. Let's do this. I'm
honored to serve with all of you. This is a great group of people. True Miami Lakers in every sense of the word. So, thank you so much um for all being here together tonight. It's a great a great start. Thank you. >> Okay. And with that, um we'll open the
floor for nominations. Nope. Okay. I'd like to make nomination. Uh Javier Leota for chair, please. I was going to second. >> Okay, >> we have a second. Any discussion? >> Well, let's let's do a vote first on the
chair and then we'll go to the vice chair. >> So, I'm going to proceed with a roll call. Board and I'm going to go just in order. Board member Abad. So, we're just voting for >> board chair. A motion by board member
Inguano, seconded by board member Bennett, nominating Javier Leoto as the chair of the board. Board member Abad, >> yes. >> Board member Bennett, >> yes. >> Board member Inguanzo,
>> yes. >> Board member Matoss, >> yes. >> Board member Javier Leoto, >> yes. The motion passes. So, congratulations. We have a chair. >> And let me explain also why I interrupted Dr. Bennett. Um, one of the
rules that we have to one of the body of rules that we have to abide by. I forgot to mention is Robert's rules of order. And so, you had a motion on the floor which was seconded. So, you had to address that motion first before you can entertain a second motion. So, that's why I interrupted you, Dr. Bennett. No offense. >> All right. So, now we will go on to the
second, which is the uh the vice chair. I would like to nominate Lin Moss for I second it. >> I'll second that one. >> That's awesome. Um but I'm going to decline that and I'd love to nominate
Romero Guansa for vice chair. >> I'll second. >> Okay. So, we had a motion, a second which was declined. She would have to accept. >> Thank you though. I appreciate the vote of confidence. And so we have now a new motion in a second. So we need a vote on
that. >> You like to call the question just so I could hear it one more time. So who we nominating once again? >> Romero. >> Okay. >> Right. Wait for wait for the uh >> So the motion on the floor is to
nominate Mr. ing board member in Guanso as the vice chair and it's a motion by a board member Matos which was seconded by chair Leoto. The roll call. Board member Matoss.
>> Yes. >> Board member Bennett. >> Yes. >> Board member Abad. >> Yes. >> Board member Inguanzo. >> Yes. >> Board member Leoto. >> Yes. Congratulations,
Vice Chair Guanso. The motion passes. >> This board is in good hands. Thank you. >> So, the uh before I turn the the gavl over to uh to Mr. Lysoto. Uh again, before you have included in your packet
the town charter, uh you should read it, uh understand it as best as you can in layman's terms, uh and uh be prepared to to have discussions as to what changes you would like to see. Uh as far as uh
deadlines, um we discussed as far as when our first meeting is, but as far as getting you the items for you to discuss with the uh the chair, uh Miss Inguanzo, when when do you when would you like that to happen? >> Yes, I'm going to draft an email
tomorrow just letting everybody know what would the deadline be so that we can all, you know, be on the same page. We abide to the to the rules. Okay. But I'm looking at the calendar so that we are all on the same page.
The first meeting I believe would be missing second. So we're looking at the 15th and correct me. I think >> we stated the motion that passed >> was the second Thursday
>> and the fourth Thursday. So >> the >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> 8th and the 22nd. >> 8th and then the 22nd. >> Okay. >> Very. >> So you would want the items a week before. >> I would like them a week before, but I'll put it in writing so that everybody has it and I'll send the email tomorrow.
>> Okay. So this Sorry. >> Did you have anything? >> No. And you don't have to wait for exactly one week before. If you have things, you could send them to Gina well in advance, especially considering that the week before is the 1 of January. We're in the holidays season there. So, whenever you have them, you can send them to her. She'd probably appreciate
them sooner, better than at the last minute. This exhaust the agenda, so I'm going to turn it over at this point uh for any final thoughts or anything that you would like to add to our uh chair. >> Uh Mr. Chairman, I'd like to um give something to the town clerk to be
distributed. This is a copy of Robert's rules of order that you can keep with you just in case you want to be refreshed on something. So, if I may. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Make sure our town attorney keeps him
very close to him. >> Right. Thank you. >> So, as those are being passed out, I guess I'll, you know, if anyone else has any other uh any of the committee members who would have any other comments that they'd like to share, any thoughts?
>> So, no, I just wanted to discuss what actually Miss Inguanso had mentioned. Are we going to take it by sections? Yeah. cuz if we have to go and provide something the first I mean I'm assuming it's not January 1st cuz that's the week before it will be closed but we'll be doing article one and article two the
first meeting right >> if I may >> I know that was a re initial recommendation and um I don't know if there's any comments or other discussions I know Dr. Bennett and let me interject. What we did last time is we looked obviously at the preamble make
sure that we you know still believe the preamble is is valid and then we did sections one and two the first time and believe it or not that was our longest meeting the first one after that it got a little bit easier. Um I I don't think there's any problem. I
mean, you'll just want to mark up your copy of the current charter and you bring that with you um before you you'll send any changes that you may want through Gina and Gina will put it on the agenda. That's >> I'm also I'm also planning on sending
all of you what um the it was a report. I think the title was because this is going to be convenient for all of you. the charter revision commission report to the citizens of the town of Miami Lakes, which was an agenda that the
former revision commission put together March 2016. It was um of course um presented to the town council and there you will see the resolution with the previous the former
charter and you will see in blue instead of red lines it was blue. you'll see the proposed amendments and revisions that the former charter revision was um proposing to the town council. I think it's convenient. Um, of course, it
passed and it went to the voters in May, I think it was, but I'm just going to give you that so that you see more or less. It's a I think it's convenient for all of you just to review during the holiday seasons. Just look at it so that when we start convening in January, as
um Dr. Bennett said our charter has, if I'm not mistaken, nine sections. The first meeting in January was very important, but it, you know, it was good because it's basically the citizens bill of rights and maybe article one. And
then the following meetings, I think it it depended on the discussions the board members had, but we basically I think you basically spoke Yeah. every meeting had an article or maybe two articles in one. So that can give you an idea. I'm
gonna provide that in email so that you're all on the same page and you see back then it was 10 questions, 10 recommendations. Um it was 10 questions that were included in the ballot. It was a mail-in ballot. The mailin ballot was
in May. Um and again that was a decision that the board 10 years ago decided. It was presented to the council in March 2016. They approved and we just, you know, worked together as a group with the town attorneys and that's what we're
gonna reciprocate again, but with your recommendations and your input, not necessarily, again, let me just make this clear. We're not saying at all that it's going to be a mail in ballot. That will be your decision as a group. I'm just stating that's what it was 10 years
ago, and you will have that in writing. >> Thank you. Um, and and I was and thank you for that because I was going to ask about if we could get the report together with the edit. So, I really appreciate that so that way we can all review it. I think we have a tentative, you know, we're looking at the first couple of them for our first meeting.
What I, you know, obviously is, uh, over this, over the next couple weeks is just everybody making sure you review the charter, start taking your your thoughts of where you would like to be, and then, you know, we'll submit those requests over to, uh, the clerk, and so that way she can formulate the final agenda that we're going to have at that time. So
that way the public is aware of as well, uh, what we're going to be discussing so that way they can come here and they can come prepared and informed as to which of the provisions we're going to be talking about. um you know because I don't want to rush through anything uh and you know given you know your comments that you know the first meeting was a little bit longer it might be
because one it's a first meeting but secondarily is also it's you know those these are pretty as as most charters are your very important things are always vary at the very beginning so those always take a little bit more time and so you know I don't want to put too much on that on that meeting um but let's
let's uh take some time let's review it and we'll make that final decision uh come closer but I think that's a good sense We'll just take this through in order unless anybody else have has any ideas of how you would like to take this forward in the next coming months. >> Mr. Chair,
>> yes, I have been working um with my executive staff and the clerk's office. We have gone over some areas that we would like uh to suggest as recommendations uh for the for this
charter revision commission to consider. So, I don't know how you want us or me to present those to you. If you want them to be presented in a written format and just give them to you up front. Do you want me to hold them and then just present them as you go through? If
you're doing one and two on a certain day, we just present the ones for one and two. Do you want to agenda uh me to just go through all of the recommendations we have on uh one of your meetings? So I I don't know how you want to um consider those.
>> Sure. Is if if you guys already have recommendations that you prepared for the entire charter, maybe giving it to us ahead of time so we can start looking through it over the time period because that'll also help us assess, hey, look, you know, setting our agenda. These are really things that we need to or we can jump into, you know, maybe some of the later stuff as well. say, "Hey, look,
you know, there's not even a lot of in, you know, not not a we're hearing a lot we're hearing from from the town staff." And so we maybe we can do maybe a third one and put it into or we can decide of how we're going to do the agenda. Um, obviously with the understanding, you know, as as we move along, I'm sure
there's probably going to be new revisions and amendments coming from your staff, which we'll definitely welcome. But if uh you know unless anyone believes otherwise I think is getting it to to us sooner rather than later uh if you have it already so we can start taking a look at it. It'll give us also some eyes and some thoughts
of where we want to focus on whether it's you know for or against or even discussing or maybe you know modifying something you know give us a good road map. >> Yeah I think we're I'm just fine-tuning the final bits. I should be done before the end of within the next uh week or
two and then I'll send them to Gina for her to distribute to you uh as via email and then that way you'll have the documents there and you can take a look at them and consider them. If you don't, that's fine, too. But there the you
know, we the staff as well as Gina, we we work through the with the charter all the time and and and the town attorney. So, we have a unique perspective. I also sat on the original charter commission that wrote the original charter. So I
have a little bit of the historical perspective as to the how or why and how did we get there and why did we do this why did we do that for certain things. So uh I can provide that input you know you know if the commission uh uh likes
that or wants that u but we'll I'll prepare those and I'll send them to you via G uh Gina before the end of the year. >> Absolutely. I appreciate that >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yes. >> Yeah. The suggestions obviously coming from the staff um I understand would be
is is definitely important input because they're actually working within the government. What what's important is that the suggestions they make should be given through Gina and then provided to us so that we can consider it. You're the one who's going to be excuse me the chairman will be setting up the agenda.
So you'll be the final say I believe as far as what's going to be discussed on that evening. Yes, I think that's the final agenda and I think what uh the clerk had was discussing initially was that each of the members can say, "Hey, look, you know, I'd like to have certain topics or discussions to be added to the
agenda. It would be through her and you know, and then she would work with me in finalizing that agenda." Is that do I have that correct? >> Yeah. Will they will the town staff also be going through Gina through to you? >> I'm fine. However, I I don't think that's I don't necessarily believe
that's a sunshine evening law violation, but I I think it helps coordinate it. Uh so that way there's one one uh avenue of contact so that way it's not a lot of people trying to get together and she can help coordinate. Hey, look, you know, these are all the different things. This is how we do it. I think it's best organized that way.
>> Yeah. Just obviously I just want sufficient time to review everything that comes through. >> Sure. >> And and I think I think the manager said that he's gonna he's he's working on getting it sooner rather than later to us. Uh so that way we're ready for it. Um and in having it in its entirety also gives us an opportunity to start looking
forward future meetings as to what's going to be going on from recommendations as well. >> Thank you. >> Is that fine? All right. Um does anyone else have any comments, suggestions, discussions? Yes. >> One last question. Um so when we have
public comments, people are going to be bringing their thoughts also. Obviously those won't be on the agenda that of that evening. Would it be the discretion of the uh chairman to bring those suggestions through the uh town clerk to
the committee or will it just can anybody you know say yes Mr. Smith had a great idea. I'd like to have it on the next agenda. How do how are we going to work that >> the comments is what I'm saying. >> May I interject? Sure. Absolutely. Okay. Um I would strongly advise against that.
Uh you're you can have public comments. You can have people give their their opinion, but I would strongly uh discourage engaging the public in a conversation back and forth because public comments are just that. They're one way to you. You absorb them. You take them in. If you think that it's a
good idea, >> yeah, of course, you are part of the you the board members provide the idea to Gina. Gina can add it to the next. >> Yeah. Public comments by definition is just hearing the public's comments, not to respond to them. Yes, we understand that. >> Yeah. Because I I' I've seen too often
times and I think the clerk can back me up on this one where we have in smaller committees that will have public comments and those comments will overtake and overshadow your work. And I think with sometimes boards and and committees can get away with it, but you
can't. You're under a very very tight time schedule to cover a a a very large document that that's important. And all of you are going to be reviewing that. You're going to be reviewing uh staff comments. You're going to be reviewing uh the what's existing, what your ideas
are, and you got to get it done by May. So, >> I I would urge that uh and and again, that's completely your discretion, Mr. Chair. I'm not trying to take any authority away from you, but you know, they're they're uh under our rules, it's three minutes for public comments. Uh
and I would discourage engaging back and forth conversation. Yeah, I was going to add one second and uh is exactly that is that you know the public comments is for us to listen to to the extent that you guys feel that there is public comment that's received that you find uh is going to be unhelpful or instructive or
some item uh for that'll be addressed. I think it'll follow that same process. it's if it's not on the current agenda for that day is to it'll be brought up for uh the future agenda for the future meeting and that'll be the responsibility of us as committee members uh sitting up here to bring it up and say hey look you know this is
something that I think I've heard it from the public I've heard it from one person I've heard it from a hundred people that this is this is a big topic and you know we want to address it we want to be able to talk about this issue and we'll go forward with that aspect of it and >> and just one thing um yeah that only that causes a little bit of a problem
because if they're going to be commenting on that day's agenda Aenda and then we want to incorporate something further on the next agenda. Obviously, we've already passed that topic. In other words, the topic has already been covered and we're moved on to the next one. >> Sure. >> That's why I'm asking about how public comments will be handled. That's kind of
why I threw the question up. >> I I think it happens like any other public uh body uh meeting in that, you know, in that experience is I think what'll happen at that point is, you know, I don't I'm not going to be treating our meetings as once we've passed an article, we're not going back to it. I think that would be a very bad
decision on our part if we were to go forward with that aspect of it. I think is this is we're going to handle it primarily in that aspect of it. If something good comes up or there's a strong sentiment coming either from uh the public and or even from staff staff could after our meeting they could come up and say hey look you know what
something we've proposed may not work well or they say hey look there's something we've proposed that they didn't think of that they think hey look you know what we can expand upon it and come up with something. I don't think it's going to preclude us from later bringing that up at a subsequent meeting uh and doing that you know but I
obviously will we would want to focus ourselves. So we are staying on our timeline as and I don't want to say okay well you know what meeting two we're going to be revisiting everything that we did all over again. It's just more of just trying to tweak if necessary if we need to. Um, and then hopefully by the
time we're finished, maybe having one big recap of, you know, one one last harrah of taking a look at things if if needed as we're going. So, when we have one final document that we're almost there, >> if I can through the chair, um, to the clerk, written public comments are that
you receive are distributed to us. >> Yes, I'm going to do exactly what I do with a regular council meeting with the elected officials. Written public comments are welcome. I receive them. I respond to the person who um wrote them and I email them. I share with all the
board members. I'll just state this is the written public comments. They're not read into the record, but I distribute them as soon as I get them. And I also provide a physical hard copy on the days in case you didn't have time to look at your emails before you meet as a board
and you make decisions and vote, you have them here. And I also during public comments when we are starting the meeting I also always say please take note that John Doe sent an email earlier
today addressed to all of you. Please take it into consideration or please review. That's it. So absolutely they're welcome as we always do with council meetings. >> Great. Thank you. Um, I had one question as well, just additionally, sorry, is
what kind of um what kind of advertising are we going to be putting out in addition to obviously the standard advertising? Are we going to be doing to to inform the community that we're going to be welcoming their comments and suggestions? >> What what I always do, I use the Laker
as our main um newspaper. So it gets it will be published um probably twice a month letting the residents know about the commission meetings and as well of course in the lobby we use the TV screens and on the town website so
people will know well in advance that's what I'm hoping that in a month always prior to a month the two meetings will be advertised. Okay. Thank you. And one quick followup to that aspect of it is the uh with regards to the lake or any other type of media if they reach out to
any of our committee members, what is your recommendation or suggestion on both from the town side but also from the legal side of how we handle any of those types of requests and responding given that we you know we wouldn't be speaking in our official capacity most likely.
>> Responding to what type of questions? if they reach out to us, they want to get comments from us, suggestions, uh, you know, if they want to interview us, uh, concerning our role here on, you know, just if you could give for us for the various committee members how you would like it to handle it or even just, uh, recommendations.
>> Sure. So, I mean, if you want to meet with anyone and hear them out and you feel that there's someone that has been very involved in in the community and you want to get their feedback, you want to get the feedback with council member or the mayor, you're all free to do so. Always be cognizant though. Any written
communication that you have with this person is subject to public records. So, you know, be cautious when it comes to that. But, but you're you're open. As long as you're not having conversations with each other and you with your colleagues, you guys, you're good.
>> Yeah. I would like to add to that that we have a great working relationship with the Laker. They usually come to me, they come to the town manager and they come to Miss Clariceel de Gardinas in communications and as um the deputy town attorney stated, we provide facts. It is
public record. They did that already. I want to say maybe late November. We provided your names um and your titles. They're, you know, they're open to maybe reaching out to you and as you feel fit. But I do um
agree with the town attorney. Less is more and just stay to facts. >> Any other questions, comments from the committee members? All right. If there's nothing else going for uh you know, I just ask is everybody is just review the town charter, review
the documentation that we're going to getting from the from the clerk as well as uh from the town manager uh about what the suggestions are for the next one. And you know, let's be prepared to move forward. And you know, I'm looking forward to this committee and hearing from all of you guys and hearing from all of our residents uh in the near
future and and looking where we're going to be in the next 10 years with our charter. Thank you very much. Uh do I have to take a motion for adjournment? Take a motion for a judgement. >> Second. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Seeing none, motion passes.
Thank you.