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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=VBBsUYb6bOY

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where we recognize extraordinary individuals that are residents, that are staff, and today we are recognizing our town's parks department because it is parks and recreation month uh across the nation. And uh for those who don't know, we uh our parks team is led by directory

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directory director Jeremy Bagdown. Um and he's been doing excellent work with this team since I came into office as mayor. Myself and my colleagues have worked diligently to make sure that we improve all our parks, not only the big ones. To date, we have replaced four different playground uh structures. Uh

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we have also replaced the rubber matting uh rubber playground matting at Roy Oaks Park and Veterans Park. And we are also now on the precipice of uh redoing the last two basketball courts that we have in the town and have needed uh this update. So with that, we are issuing a

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proclamation to recognize their hard work. Uh Jeremy, can you bring your team up here to be recognized? Round of applause, please. [applause] [applause] Excellent. So, we'll go ahead and read this proclamation from the town of Miami

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Lakes, Florida, proclaiming July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month in the town of Miami Lakes. Whereas parks and recreation are an integral part of communities throughout this country, including the town of Miami Lakes. Whereas parks and recreation motivate

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physical activities by offering space for popular sports, trails, and many other activities designed to let active lifestyles thrive. Whereas parks and recreation programming and educational activities such as out of school uh time programming, youth sports and active

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play are crucial towards childhood development. Whereas parks and recreation elevate a community's economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of the local tax base, heightened tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses

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and crime reduction. And whereas the town of Amuakes highlights the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources. Now therefore, I, Joshua Diegas, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the mayor of the town of Miami Lakes and on behalf of the town

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council and 33,000 Miami Lakers, do hereby proclaim July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month. Congratulations. [applause] Would you like to say a few words on behalf of the team? >> I I'll keep it I'll keep it brief, but

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thank you, mayor. Thank you, council. Um, as as the mayor mentioned, our our parks are unique to our community. Our parks are extremely extremely valuable to us. They were master planned into the community before homes were built. We there was always this idea of a park being within walking distance of every

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home. We don't have that everywhere else in Northwest Miami Dade. So, we definitely have a treasure here and the team here does a great job of of conserving that treasure, of doing their best to continue to develop it, move it forward. And and there's a saying in in Florida Parks Recreation Association that it starts in parks, but it's

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actually parks are for life, right? You learn your kids first program at 2 or 3 years old, you're part of that mommy and me class. They transition to athletics. They eventually become young adults, hopefully play in some of our young adult athletic leagues. They move on. We have some of our senior program uh participants here. They move on to

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senior programming. So, it's a generational experience. Uh, I like to tell the team that our job is to create memories and experiences and that's what parks month is about. It's valuing those experiences in parks, in our programs, and in our case overseeing the trees as well, the beautiful landscape that we

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have here in the town. So, thank you again to the mayor. Thank you to obviously administration that is behind our parks uh our parks department and our organization. So, just a big thank you and this is just a month, but we do it all year round. >> Thank you. Here, let's get a quick photo

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and then uh we'll be on our way. Thank you very much. It's 6:27. We will start sharply at or uh promptly at 6:30 p.m. I don't know. Thank you very much. Uh, ladies and gentlemen, we are starting this meeting at 6:30 p.m. Madame Clerk, please call

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the role. We are called to order. Good evening. Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> present. >> Council member Sanchez, >> present. >> Council member Fernandez, >> present. >> Council member Hzburg, >> present.

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>> Council member Garcia, >> present. >> Vice Mayor Morera, >> present. >> Mayor Diegas, >> here. >> Mayor, you have quorum. >> Excellent. Everyone, please rise for the pledge of allegiance led by Councilman JC Fernandez. Thank you. Please remain standing for

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the moment of silence led by Council Member Sanchez. Thank you very much. You may be seated. And council, we are now on the order of business. Uh are there any deferrals, additions, or or deletions? I believe Councilman Sanchez, you indicated that

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you had some uh changes to the order of business. >> Yes. I'd like to move 16 G&H. I'd like to combine those two and move them to right after public comments along with items 10 A and 10B, the committee reports. >> I'll second. Well, uh, before we get there, are there any other proposed changes?

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>> That was 16 A and B. >> 16 A and B. >> No, 16 G and H combined. >> G and H. Okay. >> And 10 A and 10 B. >> And 10 A and B. Um, both of those being combined and taken up after uh public comments. >> If there's no further changes to the order of business now, Councilman

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Fernandez, you may. >> I'll second. >> Is there What? No, you you're moving it. >> I thought he moved. I'll >> Yes, I'll move to make the changes. >> All right. Is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. >> The eyes have it. The agenda is amended

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as stated. Madame clerk, we are now in public comments. You're uh uh go called upon to go ahead and read the rules into the record. >> Yes. Good evening to everyone. As I always mention, if you're here for public comments and you would like to speak, just approach the podium, state

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your name and address for the record, and I will afford you three minutes to make your statements. And as well I always like to welcome the public that is remote. The only thing the people that are participating online for remote public comments. The only thing you need

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to do to speak is raise your hand by clicking on the reactions item and our it will allow you to speak. We will see the raise hand. If you are also participating online but not through the

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computer but through your phone, please raise your hand by pressing hashtag number99. You called one of the many numbers that we provide and we will allow you to speak and as I always state public comments will be heard now at the

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beginning of the meeting and once all are heard public comments will be closed. We provide three minutes to speak to everyone and all comments and questions from the public shall be directed to the mayor in a courtous tone. So, thank you very much.

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[clears throat] And again, if you want to participate in public comments, please do so now. Just approach the podium, state your name and address for the record, and welcome. >> And again, there's no there's no turn uh order here. Just as you want to come up

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and you see that a speaker is wrapping up, you're free to come up to the podium. Just state name and address for the record and then you may continue with your comments. Sir, welcome to the town council meeting and thank you for coming. >> Hey, at the base of the microphone, you'll see there's a button. >> Always good to ask.

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>> Much better. >> Can you hear me now? >> Okay. My name is Sam Budlong. I live at 14411 Lake Child's Court. I've been a resident of Miami Lake since the early 1980s. Here are my comments. Over 60 years ago,

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shovels met Earth and Lake Patricia was born. Soon to be included with Lakes Katherine, Hilda, and the surrounding neighborhoods. A community was created where families with children could be raised, educated, serviced by nearby

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shops, all within the confines of Miami Lakes, a community of neighborhoods. Over 40 years ago, these same neighborhoods objected to what is now GMX's proposal to build entrances and exits at 67th Avenue. Overwhelming

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community opposition caused GMX to cancel all of those plans. Sound familiar? Today I hold in my hands petitions signed by hundreds of members of these same neighborhoods, some of whom

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participated in the objections of 1984 that universally condemned and object to the current GMX project as being ruinous to these neighborhoods. The exact same project as was objected to in

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1984. For the benefit of our mayor and council, you residents here tonight to express your objection to this project have in your hands a colored page that expresses your complete, utter, and ceaseless objection to the current GMX

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proposals. Please raise that colored page over your head to show your sentiments. Thank you very much. Now then, for the reasons more directly critical of this project, it has been found that GMX at its recent meeting in this chamber

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failed to make any mention of the dangers this project would expose to two school zones, each located within a quarter mile of the graty. They failed to mention the redundancies from already existing nearby travel paths. They seemingly failed to include Hyia in

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their community outreach. they failed to justify its claim that the sole rationale for the project was quote population growth end quote when the facts are that these neighborhoods are not now and have never been the subjects of population growth. They were 100%

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built out many decades ago and that the nearest population growth is far away to the west of I75. Such oversight is simply not acceptable when considering both the consequences to people, their families, and their neighborhoods, but also to the immense and wasteful

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expenditure of taxpayer dollars. Mr. Mayor and town council members, I and my fellow neighbors respectfully ask that you tonight, not tomorrow, or your next meeting, listen to your constituents to put forward and pass a resolution not

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only rejecting this project forever, but also that no building permits ever be issued by this town relating to any work associated with 67th Avenue and the Gratany. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. [applause] Next speaker.

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Next speaker. >> Colonel. Welcome. Am I on? Yes. Thank you. William Perez, 7280 Miami Lakeway South. So, I want to talk about the CMX package from a NEPA n environmental policy act environmental

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law point of view. I have probably seen in my Marine Corps career hundreds of these and I'm going to tell you a huge flaw this one has. It fails to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. If this project takes $1 of federal

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funds, it has to comply with it. If it requires a federal permit because it's going through wetlands, and it is, it has to comply with it. If it has environmental impacts on the human environment, it has to comply with it. This is what it says, and I apologize. I'm going to summarize. It's less than a

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page of what it says for environmental considerations on page 155. It says based on the results of the environmental evaluation completed to date, which is not included in the documents by the way, no adverse environmental impacts have been identified as a result of proposed

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improvements. We haven't seen the data. It hasn't been provided to you. And this data covers things such as noise pollution, air pollution, water pollution, water runoff, impact on

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the environment, impact on the canals, impact to the lakes and the fish that we have. They have given us quite literally less than half a page and they said uh based upon the stuff we've done you know I'm going to tell

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you what it is because I've seen this be language before and my lawyer friends are laughing this is like we did something and we hope it's good enough and we hope no one here knows anything about environmental law you do and now you do and your obligation is to get this evaluation and study before you

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prove anything and then we can have a really good discussion whether or not it is compliant with what we need it to be. Thank you. That's all. [applause] >> Thank you, Colonel. Uh, next speaker, you're welcome to come up to the podium. Yes, ma'am. Come on

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up. >> Good afternoon. My name is >> You can pull it down. There you go. >> I'm petite. Uh my name is Lordes Tea. I am a resident of Miami Lakes since 1988. Um actually a resident on Lake Child's

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Court. We are in the Lake Patricia area. And I am here to support the no to the on and off ramps to the Gratney because it will affect our area adversely. uh the traffic, people cutting through Lake

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Child's Court just to get to Miami Lake way south and avoid the light. Uh Lake Sarinac, uh Lake Candlewood, all those are cut offs for people. They just take that so they

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can get home quicker. But Mr. Budlong already expressed our uh um concerns and I think he did a very good job. So I'm not going to bore you with that. I'm also here to represent um the group of

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senior citizens that regularly attend the parks in Miami Lakes and yes they do a very good job. The programs are excellent. However, the programs have been cancelled for the senior citizens.

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As of June 26, 2026, we have no exercise classes, the computation classes have been cancelled, the sewing classes, anything to do with senior citizens. So, I heard you that yeah, the parks have

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been improved for the youth. However, what about the senior citizens here? This is for our health. We need these classes. There are people here. >> Raise your hands, please. Raise your hands. [applause]

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Raise your hands. That benefit from these classes. >> And uh mayor, you should drop by one day. I think you did. >> Yeah, you did. And I invited you to come in and meet our uh citizens and and meet

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the teacher. and uh you you couldn't at that moment come in because you were on some other mission. So I do invite you to come if we ever resume classes, which I hope we will. And I heard through the grapevine, this is all today, that

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there's no more money for the senior citizen classes. >> We need it. >> And if you don't know about it, please find out about it. You are our representatives. you represent the citizens of Miami Lakes. Uh we voted for

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you. Uh so please, you know, get on this because we do need our classes back. It's not only for our exercise, for our health, but also for the social point of it. There's a lot of senior citizens in

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Miami Lakes who are single and they socialize there. So, I don't know what you can do, but please get on with it. Uh, I also heard through the grapevine that in September the day county school

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budget comes up again and we'll see. We will see if there's money for you guys. That's not acceptable. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much. [applause] Oh, uh, your your address. I She did

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give her address. Yeah. My address. >> Oh. Oh, yeah. >> My address. Sure. Lord Estes Tea, 14311 Lake Child's Court. >> Yeah. >> 33014. >> And I see our parks director is standing up, so I I think he wants to learn more and be able to maybe clarify any

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misunderstanding as far as that goes. But thank you very much for your comments. >> Thank you. >> And thank you all for taking the time to be here. Uh, next speaker, you're free to come up. Okay, I see you in the back there. Excellent. Oh, okay. Well, we'll start with you first. Go ahead. >> Hello. My name is Iana Colomo. I live at

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14031 Lake Candlewood Court. I'm right at the end of Lake Patricia. I remember a few years ago when Mr. Angelo Garcia came knocking on my door for my support and I mentioned to him then the noise of that gratne and the noise has gotten

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worse and worse and worse from my home and I invite all of you to come and have a picnic lunch in my backyard. You tell me the day. I get the tent, give you the food, the drinks. I want you to walk

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around Lake Clare and all those lakes, Lake George, Lake Success. The noise, the decibel level of that area is over 80 dB, any time of the day, continuously.

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Now there's plenty of studies that state studies that have been published by the NIH uh study by the World Health Organization. Traffic noise above 50 dB causes disease. And what are those

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diseases? They're run by stress. Your brain cannot shut down. When you have that noise all the time, your brain interprets it that there is an emergency and your adrenal gland starts pumping out cortisol and adrenaline causing

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vasoc constriction, getting overweight, uh, insulin resistance and they're manifest themselves as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, which I am a type 2 diabetic 16 years after the good

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old grant atne went up and dementia, tonitis, hearing loss, all from traffic noise, all from expressway noise. We don't want that thing there. When that thing was

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built, they promised us noise abatement. No noise abatement. There are only little walls that probably just shave off even five dB. I challenge the town of Miami Lakes to do their own noise abatement studies with an independent

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company. We don't want any any entrance or exit to our area. It will destroy our area, not only with noise, with crime, excess crime, because there's plenty of studies that show when you have an expressway in and out. criminals come

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in, they have a nice exit, there's going to be more crime to that gasoline station, which is they're gonna shut it down to that shopping mall and to us that live there that moved there because it was a quiet nice place for our

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children. My daughter grew up in that neighborhood. We could go walking to the lake and go fishing. There's a lot of traffic. We still have children that go around in their bicycles. All that is going to be gone and there has been nothing in their

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plans for the safety of our children to walk to school or to do anything. >> Thank you. >> So, no. >> Yeah. Thank you. [applause] >> Next speaker. Welcome back. [applause] >> Hi guys. Derek Cintron, um 14821 Lewis

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Road, Miami Lakes, resident of many decades. Um first of all, with this um gratney proposal, it's not going to work the way they supposedly want it to work.

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It's not going to alleviate the stress of western Hy alleia, northwest Hy alleia, all that area out by I75, western Miami Lakes. This does nothing to help any of that. Nothing. It doesn't

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take one car off of those roads. Um, instead, it just kind of shifts them through other roads to then eventually get to the same roads that are backed up. So that's just on that alone, it doesn't do anything to address the

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problem they're supposedly trying to fix. Second of all, as I always have said whenever I've I've spoken to the council, please try to look at this as if this were happening in your backyard. It may be for some of you. I don't know

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exactly where everybody lives, but uh you know, as residents of this town and as stewards of this town, that should be your number one consideration. Like, if this were in my backyard, would I be going bananas or would I be cool with

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it? And if it's going bananas, then you have to say no because you don't want to let other people step on the faces of all our of all our residents in order to further some other agenda. And that brings me to the last thing. Um

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I know it's it's been tough in recent I'd say probably the past 10 years. Um this town has been under a lot of pressure from outside forces. The county in particular. Um I don't know if anybody else has noticed but uh you see

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a lot of big airplanes flying into Opaaka now. Huh. I mean I've noticed it. Um, there's a lot of outside pressures on this town and if if you guys don't stand up to them, they're going to bulldoze right over us. They will they will they

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will keep on stuffing things down our throats until somebody says enough. And you guys are in the hot seat now. So, it's your turn to say enough and put a stop to it. And I hope that you guys do that. Thank you. [applause]

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>> Thank you, Derek. Uh, next speaker, please. [applause] Next speaker, wishing to speak in public comments. Going once, going to I see. Okay. Excellent. Okay. Sorry. Welcome. >> Welcome.

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>> Joe Placeres, 14415 Lake Cana Court. Um, the real problem here is we already have an existing bridge on I75. The Royal Oaks community complained and complained and complained and I'm sure a lot of council members in the past blocked it off. Why don't they open an

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entrance and exit ramp over there which is the actual cause of the problem? Number two, why don't they fix the 154th Street exit where I75, the Granny and the Pomemetto goes into there and most of the traffic is left going into the west side of Miami Lakes.

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There's nothing that's going to be done over here. We got one in 57th. If they say the traffic is going to go into ease off Miami Lakes, go into the Pomero. Have you seen the ramp going south after the Pomero got fixed and then it moves the express towards 103rd? Notice

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there's no more traffic on 154th. Guys, I mean, this is probably a formality. This is probably approved because they're going to get money for the state. You guys are going to be up in election in November. I don't know when this is going to be approved, but it almost sounds and smells like it's already

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approved. This is just a formality. It's not going to work. Thanks. >> Thank you very much. [applause] >> Welcome to our former chair of the elderly affairs committee, Die Wixs. [applause]

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>> I had to be here for this. I love it. >> I was here from when my legs was born. I helped Christian it. I've helped build it, especially with the seniors, which I love. and to bring all this traffic in here, you're going to destroy it. It's hard now even getting out of our houses

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with all the traffic. You open that up and that'll be the end for us. So, please think about what you're going to do and I hope what we're saying tonight counts. Thank you. >> Thank you, Die. [applause] Miss Reynolds, come on up.

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What a gentleman. Esparansa Reynolds 8465 Meneras. July 2026, the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. While watching HBO John Adams series, Benjamin Franklin says

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that nothing could have united the colonies in their effort to become independent from England like receiving a letter accusing the Philadelphia Congress of treason against the crown. The same has happened to us in section one. We are united in one effort and

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that is the dissolution of our special taxing district. We have had enough. The level of frustration is evident. We submitted many objections during the last council meeting without a positive outcome. No need to repeat them. What we

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want is to understand the next steps to dissolve the district. Ordinance 24331 explains a petition is required from an HOA or property owners. Lakeland Ellen has 141 properties or 17% of the

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district owners. Do we petition as an HOA or do we gather 86 signatures to meet the 10% threshold? The petition must be approved by the town. Therefore, we ask that you provide us with a town approved form to discuss it with the

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community at our next HOA meeting. When submitted to the town, we must acquire the support of more than 50 plus one. and we then only have four months from the date of the resolution approving our petition to return it to you. Am I

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correct? So, please consider this my public records request. I will be sending it to the clerk when I get home. Thank you so much and thanks for listening. >> Thank you, Miss Reynolds. [applause] Next speaker. >> Welcome to the town council meeting.

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>> Oh my god. Was that a good Oh my god or a bad Oh my god. >> Hello. Uh my name is Patrice Morales. Uh 6291 Lake Patricia Drive. Born and raised here uh my entire life in Lake Patricia. So I've had the luxury of uh

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living and enjoying what I think is probably one of the gems in Miami Lakes. And I think a lot of people seek that area for what it is. Um I don't think it's a secret about the concerns. You all know what they are. Nobody has to

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repeat them. Anybody can put anything in a binder like this gentleman mentioned like this. A lot of jargon, a lot of numbers, a lot of confusion. However, you know, we are here in 100% opposition. I know that there are

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suggestions, modifications, so forth. But we are 100% against it due to all the reasons and the impact that it will have on this area. I personally

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feel this is just a fix for things that have been unable to be corrected in other areas for whatever reasons those are. And I I'm sorry for those in those areas that have to deal with this traffic and problems. And there has not been a

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resolution for 20 years for this problem. However, this area is not the solution. So, we ask you, we appreciate your service to us and appreciate anything you can do to put a stop to

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this. I understand there is we have a voice. If in fact that backhand shakes have not already been done and our voices are going to be heard, please listen and do that. Thank you. >> Thank you very much ma'am. Next speaker.

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[applause] Welcome sir. Kind of kind of prepared it on the fly. Um, hello. Um, Oscar Castro, over 50-y year resident, growing up on Parkinson Drive and owning my house now on 13901

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Lake Candlewood Court. I oppose the on andoff ramp being in my backyard. I've driven to 57th Avenue over 30 years and never thought of an off-ramp on 67th being necessary. Living in my peaceful street that borders 138th would be

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intolerable having an overpass. The noise from the Gratney is enough. As my other residents have stated, the study is full of holes and further studies, assessments with the data is needed before moving forward. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Oscar. [applause]

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Next speaker. Welcome. >> Good afternoon. I'm Maria Kas. I live at 15925 West Preswick Place, Llman. I understand all the concerns. I also understand that Miami Lakes Way Drive and 67th and the Palmetto are horrible

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to get through. So, if this can alleviate, we need something. Too many things have been built, too many buildings and too many people for such small area. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next speaker.

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Welcome. Oh, welcome Pat. >> Thank you. >> Patrick Conungle 15860 West Preswick Place. Uh, tonight I don't talk about the the guardgate. Tonight I talk about a memorandum that's been written by our

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honorable mayor and I support it and I hope the rest of the council will too. Mr. Peterman's work with the town has been um nothing but outstanding as far as uh the work for the citizens of uh Loman. I also stand before you as the

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elected president of the Loman Homeowners Association. It's important to post to point that out because I've been never opposed, never a nay vote against me, but it's great to be able to count on our town manager and his team that stands here today. and I hope that

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you'll all join in and support his um resigning of the contract. The next memo I want to bring up, however, is one written by um I guess someone who opposes that. By the way, it's written. I would like to point out that I hope

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that that's just an assumption on my part. However, I believe it's political. If you date back to November 3rd, 2005, I mean 25 in this chamber, you'll see showboating that took on that was not in

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the best interest of this town. You can watch the video. I hope we oppose that amend and uh move forward with our city manager being Edward Peterman. Thank you. Thank you, Pat.

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>> [applause] >> Next speaker, Miss Moss, you're come on up. >> I'm going to turn the channel just a little bit. Um, I think the residents have spoken. It's been a long time since I've been here and seen the chamber packed to this level. And I hope when I

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come back and talk about the airport, they'll all be sitting in the chairs behind me. But tonight is not about that. And tonight I do know why I'm here. Just for the record. Oh, my apologies. Lyn

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Mtos 16340 Woodwalk. I want to talk tonight about Fourth of July. I want to say a very special thank you to our communications and special events

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director, Clattyel Decardness. Probably a lot of people don't know that not only is Clarisel, and I'm going to call her Clarisel because she's someone I've known for 20 years, not only is she responsible for communications, and that

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means website, email, calendars, social media, she oversees all of the council appointed boards and committees, 150 or so events each and every year.

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But back to the 4th of July now. If you've ever stood in a park with 5,000 kids and it's pouring rain, you know what she was going through that night. Did she panic? I I'm going to refer to my notes because I wrote a couple things

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that I thought were important. Did she panic? She didn't. She didn't react. She led with incredible grace under pressure. calm, professional, clear-headed, even

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as everything kept changing up to the last minute. And her communication with the community was second to none. I was home ready to throw in the towel, not go. I love the Fourth of July. I used to be on cultural affairs. And then I got that message

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that she posted saying, "We're paused for a moment." And I waited. And then I went to the park and so did everybody else. And if it hadn't been for her, if it hadn't been for her passion and her commitment to the town and to the residents, we

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wouldn't have known. We would have assumed it just delued. It's not happening. She kept us informed. Not only about this, but so many things. She's an unsung hero. And I just want to say thank you so much. You mean the

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world to all of us. And thank you. Fourth of July was beautiful. It's not a single entity. She's awesome. She is. I love her to death. Wasn't just on her. Felicia Salazar and the amazing cultural affairs committee. Thank you so much.

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Your work is exceptional every year. My friends who are the owners of Light FX Pros did that fantastic stage and the lighting and the fireworks. They're to be commended to. And the parks department. Let's not forget that I missed the presentation cuz the council

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was so packed I couldn't find a parking spot. I need one more >> consideration. I It's okay. I want to say thank you to the parks department because their work goes unnoticed many times too and even after a deluge that park was awesome. So to all of you,

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thank you for your service, to your commitment to the town, to all these amazing people and please give a big round of applause to Clarisel Cardis. >> Thank you Claris Jennifer. and be recognized. [applause] >> And uh I will extend uh for for anyone

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that uh that speaks that needs an additional 10 seconds to conclude, you will get that opportunity as well uh to wrap up your remarks. Welcome. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Miriam Campus 6801 Dun Court, Miami Lakes, right across Casabana.

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Um I'm here to talk about something different. I'm having a lot of problems with the trees behind my house from the fountains uh of town houses. I spoke to the lady there in charge of the association and she said the town will

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not allow her to trim the trees and my my pool on my patio is always full of leaves and things like this. I have broken two of my cleaning barakudas. you know, they break all the time and uh I

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don't know what to do, but it's really bad. I I hope that you My neighbors say they don't come because nothing is going to be done. Those trees don't give no flowers, no shade, no fruits. So, they should be trimmed a little bit at least,

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you know. Uh it's really bad for us. If you can help us out, I will really appreciate that. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Miriam. >> [applause] >> Uh Miriam Jeremy is gonna uh Miriam Jeremy's going to talk to you a second to get more information on that. Uh next

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speaker in chambers. >> Anyone else? Uh okay. Mr. Cruz. >> Yes, sir. >> Good evening, Mayor Councel. [clears throat] Um, a lot of people had this sign and I

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concur with them and I believe that this should be no remember you guys were elected by the people for the people. So there our interest should be first. On a different note, there's an item in

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your agenda today for uh to establish a search committee for a new town manager. the position. We have created the Miami Lake Civic Alliance this year. Some of the directors are here. Some of them couldn't make it. And this is our official statement from the Miami Lake

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Civic Alliance and his residents. Recommendation to establish a new town manager search committee. Dear mayor and members of the town council, the Miami Lake Civic Alliance, representing a broad cross-section of residents who care deeply about the future of our town, respectfully recommends that the

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town council establish a town manager search committee to lead a transparent, inclusive, and comprehensive search for a new town manager. We believe Miami Lakes des serves a leadership selection process that reflects the higher standards of good governance,

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transparency, and community input. Dedicated search committee will ensure that all qualified candidates are given fair consideration and the final selection aligns with the long-term vision and the best interest of our town. We fully support allowing the

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current town manager to reapply for the position if he so desires. At the same time, our residents believe it is essential to explore all available options and alternatives to identify the best possible leader for the future of Miami Lakes. This recommendation comes

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directly from the voices of our community who deserve the opportunity to participate in a process that is open, impartial, and focused on excellence. We respectfully urge the council to take this important step towards strengthening public trust and ensuring

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the continued success and prosperity of our town. Sincerely, Miami Lake Civic Alliance and his residents. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next speaker, I believe I saw Okay, Mr. Armesto.

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>> Good evening, Mayor Diegas, Vice Mayor Moretta, and town council members. I am Eladio Jose Armesto and for identification purposes I am the former president and current treasurer of the Lachlman East

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Homeowners Association as well as the president of the Loch Ness Homeowners Association. I'm here to respect respectfully make three simple points. First, Miami Lakes deserves a renewal of its executive

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leadership. Our town has grown. The challenges facing our community have evolved. And effective government requires fresh ideas, renewed energy and new perspectives.

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Leadership renewal is not a criticism of the past. It is an investment in the future. Every successful organization understands that periodic leadership renewal strengthens institutions and

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prevents stagnation and complacency. Second, this discussion has absolutely nothing to do with our current town manager as a professional. He is a decent man and has

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done a decent job. We appreciate truly his years of service. This is not personal. In fact, the intelligent and experienced gentleman that he is, he probably understands that this

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conversation is not about his tenure. It's about what is best for Miami Lakes. Across the country, the average city manager tenure tenure is approximately 4 years.

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Where the current contract renewed, we will have the same manager for a total of 12 years. That's a remarkable tenure. But there comes a time when every organization benefits

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from executive leadership renewal. Third, we support Mayor Joshua Diegas's vision for Miami Lakes and his desire to leave a principled and lasting legacy.

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Leadership is not measured only by keeping what works, but by having the courage to embrace positive change. Executive leadership renewal should be a

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part of that vision and a part of that legacy. Finally, my friends, regardless of how you vote on this issue, we respectfully urge Mayor Diegas and the

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council to cease the opportunity to do what is best for Miami Lakes. Embrace executive leadership renewal. >> Thank you, Mr. Armesto. >> Yes. Thank you. And bring the ideas that we need.

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>> Thank you very much. >> Former councilwoman. Oh, no. First, we have another resident before we go to Councilwoman Roro or former Councilwoman Roro. >> Okay. Kalito [clears throat] Millian, 1642 Northwest, 32nd, please.

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Um, I wasn't going to state my address. I was going to state the code, but uh uh I spoke to some of my uh neighbors and they're afraid to come here because this they're afraid of the city going after

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them. I'm here to defend everybody here. Everybody. I agree 100% what Mr. Romero said. I support the committee 100%. Uh I'm not politically correct. Uh, I

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I've been here like four times already. I don't know if you like what I say or you don't. I really don't care. Uh, I'm a Trumper all the way. Uh, I am tired of telling you guys, we're

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bleeding money. We're bleeding and bleeding and bleeding and bleeding. It's your money. It's not their money. And I want you guys to understand that. You're here for another reason. I am here to support Mr. Romero, okay? Because the

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manager of this city makes $380,000 more more than Ronda the Santis, okay? And more than uh than the politicians up there next to Trump,

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but I bet you guys didn't know that. I know that. Okay, that's all I got to say. If you go after me, go ahead. I grew up. >> Nobody's going after you, sir. And so that's a little a little much. So with that said, Matt Councilwoman Rano.

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[applause] Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Marilyn Ruano, 15515 Northwest 83rd Avenue. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak to you this evening. Um, I'm here to support two items. The first item that I'm here to support is the creation of a manager selection committee. I had the privilege

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of sitting on the deis when the last time that we did that. Um, and I also had the privilege of renewing Mr. Peterman's contract the previous uh the last time that it was renewed. I want you to give I want you guys to consider giving yourselves the opportunity of going through that selection process. It

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is it is an exciting process. It gives all of you and it gives the residents an opportunity to see what talent exists out there, what other candidates can come to the town of Miami Lakes and bring fresh ideas. It also gives our current manager the opportunity to shine

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and to show that he may by far be the better candidate to be selected once again. and it gives you the opportunity to renegotiate his contract, start from scratch and and allow yourselves that opportunity and give the town of Miami Lakes um an open and transparent

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process. So, I I do fully support uh Council Member Guadra Garcia's item. And I'm also here to support the ordinance to define a capital improvement for special taxing districts. I've read it and I think that it's I think that it's perfect as it is. I think that it's a fair process that's being proposed and

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as one of the council members that debated that heavily in the past, I think that this ordinance was served the special taxing districts very well. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. [applause] Former mayor Pizzy, welcome back to town hall. >> Good to see you. I'm glad uh after 10 years the building's still here. It's h

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we must we must and I saw the the attorney who did the bond uh for the town is in the back. He's going to speak later. So, it was his bond money that got it built. Just briefly, uh I'm actually here tonight uh Mr. Mayor because uh my old friend uh Sam Budlong uh invited me to his house on Sunday to

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watch a soccer game. Uh and then he turned off the TV and locked the door and would not let me leave his house until I read five volumes about the interchange project on Leelum Road. Uh and uh because we voted to study it about 10 years ago. Um [snorts] so uh I

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did that and I stayed at Sam's house until he forced me and brought me to the meeting tonight. But what I would say uh Mr. Mayor uh and council members, number one, uh Mr. Manager, thank you all for your service. It's good to see everybody and I appreciate your service to the community. Uh briefly, I looked at everything. I'm kind of familiar with

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this project. We ordered it about 10 years ago. Did it be studied, so I'm kind of familiar with it. I read all the the volumes in Sam's house. I talked to engineers. I'm convinced at this point that three things would happen from going forward with the project. I think

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we're going to wind up spending millions of dollars in tax money. Um, we're going to take two of Miami, some of Miami Lakes's most tranquil and peaceful and storied neighborhoods, Lake Hilda, Lake Patricia, that are the heart and soul of Miami Lakes and we're going to risk

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really ruining them by putting them in the middle of a of a of a highway freeway interchange. And I don't think we should do that to them. The second thing is I don't think we're going to really alleviate traffic congestion that much. I actually drove around Miami Lakes, you know, when I get my haircut

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at the Miami Lakes Barber Shop. Um, and by the way, rest in peace, the funeral for Mario. Rest in peace, Mario, the owner. I just left the wake with the family. But when I So, let's give our condolences to that family. Great people. But when I leave the barberh shop and I want to go to the palmetto or

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the rigatney, I just drive past Lake Hilder on the right, past the barber shop and the little gas station, the shell station on the left and I make the right at 138th Street and right in front of Flanigans in a few blocks is the pomemetto and you could take that to the graty uh takes two minutes. When I when

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I'm when I leave Church Elevate uh by Richard and the Marathon Station, I just go down to Red Road and make a right and the Ratiggoni is right in front of you. So, I would say that if you want to get to the Vatigney in the Palmetto from

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Leland, you simply make a right at 138th Street and it's a half block away. If you want to get to the if you want to get to the gatigney from uh from Miami Lakes Drive, you simply drive past Elevate Church. You make the right on on on Red Road and you run right into

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taking. It's you can almost walk there. So, understanding that bottom line, uh I don't like when I'm mayor, I'm not even going to repeat myself once, but what I will tell you is that I promise uh I'll end with three points, Mr. mayor

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and vice mayor and again thank you for your service. Based on that analysis and based on 20 years familiarity with this and based on studying everything I think there were three truisms about going forward with this project. Number one number one for the reasons I've stated

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it makes no sense whatsoever because it make you it'll do absolutely nothing to alleviate traffic congestion. So it makes no sense because you're not going to alleviate traffic congestion because there are other routes that have existed for 20 years. Number two, uh number two, you're going to spend millions of dollars. And finally, in number three,

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you're going to risk wasting millions of dollars to accomplish one thing, and that is the destruction and ruining the quality of life in Lake Patricia and Lake Hilda. And these are neighborhoods that have existed for a half century. I ask you not to do that, and I ask you to kill this project. And thank you very

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much. I appreciate that. >> Thank you, Mayor Pizzy. [applause] You want to come up? Yeah. >> [applause] >> How you doing, Mr. Mayor? >> Doing well, thank you. Can you bring the mic a little closer because we have people watching online. Perfect.

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>> How you doing, Mr. Mayor? >> Well, uh on the behalf of a lot of other senior citizen, we are they are sitting here on behalf of them and for myself. I don't know why they closed the exercise classes and I appreciate if you help us

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to open that because a lot of us we need it. It's not a big issue. I don't think so. And I think you can help us out there and we be appreciable so we can go back again our classes. Really quick, uh just for the record, can we get your name and address and then our parks

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director is going to speak with you? By the way, were you able to figure out what's going on there? You want to just announce it to everybody? uh since there seems to be a few public comments about that. Yeah. And we normally don't do this, but he's going to provide you with a response. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> No, thank you. >> Thank you. I appreciate Jeremy, you want

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to go ahead and answer? >> I needed the name and address. >> Oh, sir, what's your name and address? Uh before the record >> and his wife. >> Oh, okay. Perfect. So, she'll she'll give you the the name and address. >> We have so many people here. Okay. >> With the same problem and I want to know

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everybody. >> There we go. >> Okay. try to help because we need it. >> Oh, and and your name and address, please. >> Areli. Okay. Areli scan 15130 place, Miami Lake, Florida 33016. >> Thank you very much. Director Bagdown

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has an update though on the senior classes for the >> Exactly. So, he's going to address it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Yes, Mayor and Council. Um we were uh through the grapevine and we heard that um there is going to be a possible ceasing of the remainder of the year for funding and what has been said

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is that there's potentially no potentially as mentioned there may not be funding anticipated for next year either with the school board for the senior classes. This is the classes that are held through Miami date county public schools through the HML senior program. Um, at this time we have not

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received any official word from the district, from the program manager, from the HML senior programming. I have already emailed him directly as of this evening to ask for an official update as to what is going on with the programming, but there is nothing that has been brought to our attention that

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is official at this time. >> Thank you, Director Backdown. And so in short, what that means is we need to get together with our school board member Robert Alonzo to go ahead and make sure that in their upcoming fiscal uh budget that they include funding for this. Uh Miss Pearl Tarver Hman, his predecessor

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was very big on making sure these classes were protected budget after budget after budget even when uh the the school board was going through bad times. So I will get you have my commitment. I will speak with him. But of course, I would encourage all of you as well the same advocacy that you're doing tonight to also just shoot him an

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email. um he'd love to hear from you. He's a Miami Laker himself and I'm sure would take up the cause, you know. So, thank you uh Director Bagghdown for of course and thank you thank you Director Bagdown for getting that information. Sir, you may come up. Good evening everyone. Um my name is

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Tony Lamb. My resident is 6716 Orchid Drive and uh we've I've been here for over 30 years. Raised my kids. They're all adults, professionals like you all. I want to first of all thank you each one of you working as a team to doing what's best for this city and I see

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great improvements and continue to grow as a city and with that being said I want to I want you to all support uh Mr. Peterman renewal contract. We've known Mr. Peterman for many many years. In fact, he was in public service prior to

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coming over here. And um he was the chief of the city of of Miami, the fire department, and that takes a lot of dedication and sacrifice and making the difference in many people's lives. And with that being said, he's making a

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difference in this town, not only as a city, for the people of the city and for the employees and personnel and the community for this city. So, with that being said, uh I want to I want you to support a renewal of his contract bases on his integrity and his record. Thank

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you so much. >> Thank you very much. [applause] Next speaker. Anyone else in chambers wishing to speak? Mr. Carlos Andre, chair of our public safety committee. >> Yes. Thank you, mayor and council. Uh I applaud the audience here. We're definitely an active town. Love to see

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everybody passionate about something that makes a difference in their neighborhood. Uh just want to start off by saying I want to thank our building department. And now that the the building is uh nice and full, we have the best building department in Miami Date County. I want everybody to know that they are phenomenal. They've been great with me and everybody that I work with as well. I want to thank uh in

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communications department, Isabella is no longer with us, but she served our committee as well and other committees as well. I'm here to show support as well from the public safety committee on Ray Garcia's uh new business item that was presented last meeting on allowing signs on the swailes. This was uh pretty much, you know, born through our

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slowdown signs. Um, this campaign works. Um, we've gotten positive feedback with this ordinance. If it passes, we can now put our signs on the swale and um, also it gives the ability of the council to have signs in the future put in the swale um, that obviously they approve. Um, I'm also here to um, show my support

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or just uh to state that there is an allocation that we're asking for. This is not new events. This is not more money. This is just an allocation of funds. This is part of the uh, town manager reports. And I want to say something that I'm very passionate about that I've spoken to a few people and it's actually um the par three. Um Councilman Hsburg, thank you for

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bringing this up. Part three is very important. We're talking about traffic here tonight. We need to control our destiny. This would be controlling our destiny. We accept this donation from the Grams. Uh that's a lot of land. Um I suggest you move forward. I I like what you have together as a 90-day plan with the town manager and also consider what

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is it going to cost to maintain that property. Put that part of your budget workshop. So again, let's control that destiny. Thank you. Thank you very much. Any other uh in uh speakers in chambers? Anyone else wishing to come up to the microphone at this time?

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Seeing none, Madame Clerk, are there any online public comments? >> Yes. I'm going to call as I see them in my screen with a hand raised. Mr. Abel Fernandez, welcome to the meeting. Please unmute yourself. >> There you go.

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Thank you. Uh Mr. Mayor, uh, Town Council, Madame Clerk, uh, 3 minutes is not enough to speak for such a huge agenda, but I'll do the best I can. In regards to the 67th Avenue on and off, uh, at first when I heard about it, I

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thought it was a prudent idea. Uh, but after reading uh, and hearing the comments from those affected, I cannot support the building of that. as I looked into it and found out that even the Halia residents did not even know

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about it. And more concerning is what's driving this. So I think we need to take the elephant out of the room. On the Halia side, there's a lot of building going on. You'll see apartment buildings right there on that possible interchange. Then you look at Halia Miami Lakes that's going to have a

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charter school inside its property. This is not coincidence. And number three is Halia wants to make a move to annex the land on 57th Avenue just on the other side of Miami Lakes, which is that commercial area. They need more

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interchanges for that. So, I'm against this uh and I hope that you do not move this forward. in respect to the uh comment that the through through the mayor that the Miami Lake Civic Alliance said that they were speaking

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for residents. They they don't speak for me. This I come to this podium either virtually or in person. So they don't speak for residents of Miami Leaks. They're not an elected board. You are. Let me say something about what's

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happening with this selection committee proposal and not renewing the manager's uh contract. Uh first of all, yes, Mr. Peterman is a friend. He's a fellow chief as I was with Miami Dade Fire Rescue. I want to make it clear about

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one thing that has nothing to do with it. We we seem to have the word leadership that we need renewed leadership. Well, guess what? Every two years we can have renewed leadership in this town through elections. Part of the B board as it is now this November will

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be up for election and in two years another one. That is renewed leadership. Vote them out if you're not happy with their decisions. But the manager is an executive manager and he's doing a great job because I've asked where's the

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performance evaluations? Are there key performance indicators? Is there an action plan? because he's not performing. I don't see that. But we want to get rid of a manager without finding out what he's really doing. In respect to one of your charter

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amendments uh regarding the town clerk, the town clerk should continue to report to the town manager. If uh that is the process with a in a manager form of government,

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we should leave the clerk under her. And uh finally, am I given 10 seconds, Mr. Mayor? >> Yes, you have an additional 10 seconds to conclude. >> Okay. Uh let's let's stop looking for

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problems because you have an answer. Um we've asked last time in no in November of 25 to sit down with the manager and identify the issues. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, uh Chief Fernandez. Next speaker, please.

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>> I see I'm going to call them Mr. Frank Fernandez. If you want to speak, please do so now. Followed by Mr. Frank Diaz. Those are the participants that I see and then I have many written public

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comments that I need to share with everyone. I don't see their hands raised. So, I want to state that I don't think they want to participate. So, if I may >> go ahead. >> Yes. Let the record reflect that my

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office received an email from Jose and Grace Fernandez in regards they're opposing the project of GMX. I shared all these written public comments I have shared with the council, but I just like to state them for the

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record. Their names, Mr. Gabrielle Fernandez as well sent an email in opposition to the project of GMX. We received an email from Mr. Boris

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Foster from Monday, July 20th regarding special t taxing districts. It was addressed to all the elected officials. It included as well a new business item of a council member. Let the record reflect his opinion.

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We received an written public comment from Miss Hope Reols today at 113 regarding the town manager um contract.

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And in her written public comment, she included a lot of information and just want to state for the record about special taxing district and again about the manager's contract.

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Another written public comment from Miss Hope Reynolds from today at 6:00 a.m. included the email from Mr. Boris Foster that was addressed to the elected officials regarding the special taxing district.

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Okay. And I'm going to state for the record all the written public comments received in the last few days. I'm going to start with Mr. Luis Goyaso, former council member in support of item 16B. in

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support of the manager's contract to be renewed. Written public comment from Mr. JP Garcia in support of the current town manager,

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Mr. Peterman for his contract to be renewed. Miss Katushka Barerero, Mr. Julio Barero, Danielle and Aaron Barero. All in support of town manager

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Peterman's renewal. Mr. Serio Diaz in support of the city town manager Peterman's contract to be renewed. Mr. Luis Espinosa in support of the town manager's

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contract to be renewed. Mr. Ray Valdez in support of the town manager's contract to be renewed. M Miss Hope Reolos sent us an email which was forwarded from Miss Bony

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Cynthron who is in Italy right now with her family but for Bony Cynthron's written public comment in support of the town manager Peterman's contract to stay in office to stay with us. Miss

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Jacqueline Jebian Garcia Richard public comment in support of the current town manager Peterman Mr. Jim Hamilton and Rosalene Hamilton

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in support of Mr. Peterman's contract to be renewed. Mr. Tom Fabricio in support of town manager Peterman's employment contract. Mr. Anthony Garcia in support of Mr. Peterman's town

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manager's contract. Mr. Antonio Lamb in support of town manager Petermanman's employment contract. Mr. Albert Eras or Harris in support of the current town manager

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Ed Peterman's contract. Mr. Mike Ania in support of town manager Edward Peterman's contract. Mr. John Alimman in support of Mr.

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Peterman's town manager contract. Miss Connie Penna in support of the renewal of town managers Peterman's contract. Mr. Mario Morales in support of Mr. Peterman's contract.

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Mr. Eeno Ooa in support of the town manager's contract to be renewed. Mr. Enrique Suarez in support of Mr. Town Manager Peterman's contract.

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Miss Diana Jane in support of town manager's contract. Miss Victoria Martinez in support of Mr. Town Manager's continued service as town manager.

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Mr. Peter Peter Montanes in support to of his employment as town manager Mr. Edward Peterman Mr. Ricardo and Martha Gonzalez in support yes I'm trying to read fast

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in support of town manager Peterman's contract renewal Mr. Lewis O Martinez in support of town manager's contract Mr. Peterman, Mr. Serio Penton in support of Mr. Town

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Manager Peterman's contract renewal. Mr. Fred Senra in support of Mr. Peterman's contract. Mr. Juan Penna in support of the renewal of Mr. Peterman's contract. And I'm I

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said Mr. Juan, it's Juan Carlos Penna. Miss Miss Marlin or Marlene Gonzalez in support of renewing Mr. Peterman's contract. Miss Omida Torres in support of town

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manager Peterman's contract. Miss Elsie Alvarez in support of Mr. Ed Peterman's contract. Mr. Lester Bareras in support of Mr.

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Town Manager Peterman's contract. Mr. Eios Vani Pino in support of M the renewal of Mr. Peterman's contract. Miss Leetti Rodriguez in support of town

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manager Edward Peterman's contract. Lety and David Rodriguez. Mr. Mike Martinez in support of town manager Peterman's contract. Mr. Mario Morales

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Jr. in support of Mr. Peterman's contract. Mr. Adrien Basti Oaste in support of Mr. Manager Town Manager's contract

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Peterman. Miss Lynn Matoss in support of the renewal of town manager's contract. Mr. Nicholas or Nicholas Mata in support of town manager Edward Peterman's contract.

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Mr. Danny Cardoso in support of town manager Edward Peterman's contract. Mr. Jorge Alvarez in support of the renewal of town manager Peterman's contract. Mr. Antonio J. Sanchez, better known as

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Tony Sanchez, in support of town manager Edward Peterman's contract. Andres Mijares in support of Mr. Town Manager Ed Peterman's contract.

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Miss Natasha Cabayero and Jose Cavayero in support of the contract of the city manager Edward Peterman. Miss Glattis Himenez in support of Mr. Ed Peterman's employment contract,

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Mr. Jose Bueno in support of Mr. Town Manager, Edward Peterman, Mr. Albert A. Del Castigo in support of Mr. Edward Peterman's contract and renewal

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of his contract. Miss Lordes Bareras in support of Mr. Edward Peterman's town manager contract. Mr. Anel Martinez and Gloria Martinez in

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support of the renewal of town manager Ed Peterman's employment contract. Mr. Re Palasios in support of town manager Ed Peterman's renewal contract. Mr. Abel Fernandez. He spoke earlier but

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he had sent a written public comment. So I recognize it. I I acknowledge it as well. In support of Mr. AJ Garcia, also in support of town manager Edward

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Peterman's employment contract. Mr. Thomas Bejo in support of Mr. Eddie Peterman's town manager's contract. Mr. Danielle Barero in support for renewal of town manager

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employment's contract. Mr. Bobby Costa in support of Mr. Ed Peterman's contract. Miss Elisa Martinez in support of Mr. Peterman's continued

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contract. Miss Vivian Alman in support of Mr. Town Manager Peterman's contract. Mr. Rafael Luces in support of town manager Ed Peterman.

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Miss Andrea Graham Reichi in support of Mr. Peterman's contract. Mr. Pierre Jebian or Jebian in support of Mr. Manager's contract. I hope I did not leave

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any email. There were many sent. I just want to stay for the record. They were shared as I always do with the mayor and council. And I always just state for the record the name and the subject matter. >> And that's >> all right. I think I'm going to give you

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a a proclamation just for that reading. [applause] What do you guys think? >> You did a great job, Gina, as always. Thank you. Council, we are now on items 16G and H, which have been combined and we're moved up to after public comment.

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This concerns the uh Gratney project uh as it is known uh informally. Um I'm going to go ahead and begin if Councilman Santis will indulge me since we're the ones with an item on this tonight. Let me begin first and foremost with contrary to the comments made by

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some who clearly don't know how this government operates and you know who have opinions based on bad information, we are not going to hunt anybody down if you disagree agree with us. Right. We care very deeply about the town. Right.

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I myself grew up on the east side. I grew up at 7220 Pointiana Court when my f and my family and I have been here since 1989 and we continue to stay here. Our law offices are here and the majority of of my family lives everywhere from you know like the the

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Lake Sandro area on the west side to Willow Lane. So, if there's anybody who has a very unique appreciation for the situation that we find ourselves in, I would argue it's me. I grew up here when they still did the arts and crafts show there on Main Street and I my sister and

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I would buy the Sandard and the pop guns and everything. I've I've gotten to see how the community has changed over the years, right? I'm not happy with all of it and a lot of it has actually been out of our control right now. But every single person on this day is has run on

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a platform of reducing traffic in this town. And for those who don't know, we cannot just have a blanket moratorium on development especially for indef an indefinite period of time. That would be a violation for example of the US constitution which prohibits private our

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government from restricting private land and its use to an unreasonable degree such that we affect the taking. In other words, that you know, even if we haven't seized the land, the government has so restricted your ability to use it that it's basically non-functional and we've taken that that property right away from

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you. But beyond that, in in [clears throat] the state of Florida, when we're talking about development approvals in the '90s, there was another law that reduced that standard, right, to what's called an in in ah, pardon me, an inordinate burden. It's the Bert

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Harris Act, right? Which allows developers to sue local governments that again unfairly burden, if you will, their property rights and they can sue the town and not only get their development order, but also get their attorney's fees reimbured.

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Unfortunately, about 3 years or so, give or take, a state senator proposed and was able to pass what's called the Live Local Act. Now the live local act in essence and by the way it is becoming more and more popular and despite what

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has been put out there on social media does not have the opt out provision that it claims that it has. Unfortunately this law allows developers to completely bypass the public hearing process and therefore the majority of the town's approval process and and in essence

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leaves it in the hand of bureaucrats to do one thing. Do they meet the standards or not? If yes, we you have no discretion. You have to approve the project. And on top of that, it grants them everywhere up to a 75% property tax ex exemption. Um, in some cases smaller and and also allows them to build uh

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higher than normal, right? That they can go to the highest structure within a mile of that proposed project. That's a high level overview of of how the land and zoning framework has changed in the state of Florida. but also just to explain to you why unfortunately this

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council has had less and less options as the years have gone by to be able to have more rational smart growth policies implemented. So in that context, in that vein, right, I bring it up because in order to solve traffic, we clearly

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cannot restrict development the way that we used to to ensure that it is more in line with the community aesthetics and community standards that we've long had. Number two, we know that we cannot widen our roads. They simply were not designed for that, and we wouldn't want to get rid of most of the trees that would be

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involved if we were to do that. So that's not an option. The only option really left to us to really have any sort of meaningful impact on traffic is more highway access. I understand again I'm an eastsider. I grew up here on the east side my entire life. And this

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project by the way just to be clear predates me and and it is not a town project. This is a project that was started back when GMX was MDX, the Miami date expressway Authority, which has since gone away after this project. In fact, would have been started a lot sooner, but for the litigation between

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Miami Day County and the state of Florida. So, that delayed this considerably. Prior to that, actually, the city of Halia actually was aware and has been aware of this project and for a short period of time, former mayor Carlos Hernandez actually held up this project from being able to move forward.

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So, the city of Halia has been aware whether they want to acknowledge it or not or maybe they may have forgotten that this was still in the works because again the lawsuit took a while to settle with MDX and GMX but they have had the notice. We we ourselves have had uh

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meetings about this. There was going back to 2016, former council members Lama and and uh and not Hernandez, Rodriguez uh had a traffic summit here in which this was one of the pieces of the solutions that they developed. Mayor

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Sid at the time even did a video of himself, uh Vice Mayor Lama and a a former Vice Mayor uh Rodriguez actually going to the then NDX board's meeting to advocate for this project. Again, years

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later, after a lot of litigation between the state and the county, the lawsuit has been resolved, and GMX now is the entity that stands, and they are now uh in essence brushing up uh brushing off the dust and putting this project into fruition. We do not have a direct say in their

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decision-m process, right? They are still in what's called the PD&E uh phase of this. The short version of that is that they're still studying this, right? So, we can provide input. I myself ran full disclosure on supporting this project and I'll explain why and it was

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on my website. I brought it up at the mayoral debate that we had in 24 and I do not want to mislead you at all about you know what I've said about this in the past. I understand that approving this project will not relieve traffic on the west side. I'm well aware of that. But the

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issue that we have in this town when it relates to traffic specifically as to Miami Lakes Drive is the knot that exists there. You have everybody trying to get in and out by and large through the Miami Lakes Drive exit and entrance and the Palmetto. You have people swarming there from both the east and

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the west side. The idea and there are plans to eventually have some westside access to the highway system, right? But the idea was to have one on the west and one on the east. The idea is that you start to push cars to other parts of town in order to have faster egress and

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e ingress into the town and relieve the congestion that occurs daily, especially when school was in session at Miami Lakes Drive. Now, for that reason, I was a supporter of the project and from the comments I heard at the public hearing that GMX held in chambers here, cuz I

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was here, Councilman Herszburg was here, Councilman Sanchez was here, I don't recall, were you here, Councilman Fernandez was here. And the comments there that I heard at least primarily re revolved around concerns on ramp B. That would be the the egress, the off-ramp

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that would create a lot of issues for the Lake Patricia Shopping Center, necess necessitate a a ramp. So, it seems to me as if that is where the majority of the consternation lies. Before I continue, I've been informed and I just want to share with you, he's in the audience. Please don't kill him,

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though. But we do have a representative of GMX here, right? Uh he is the chief operating officer, Claude, uh Clauddio Defier. Would you mind standing? Uh, thank you. Please wave. If you have questions on this project, please get with him and I think he can clear up a

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lot of misconceptions. With that said, I think the prudent move here tonight based on the comments that Colonel Bill Perez made and other comments that have raised been raised by various members of the public that we should go ahead and take some more time to further evaluate this project. Again, they are still

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right now in the study phase. There's to my knowledge not an immediate uh decision needed or or pending on this. I just want to again stress that this is not a project that the town controls. It's not using our money. It's not seeking our approval, though they I'm

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sure they would like our buy in. So, it's going to happen one way or the other if they so choose. But that's on them, right? But they're here to answer any questions that you may have. And with the item that I had tonight about expressing support minus support or rather excluding support for ramp B

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because initially what I was proposing was to voice generic support for the project but also voicing that we would like them to have a design that takes away the ramp B right which I I don't think anybody was really anticipating even way back in 2016. I think it would

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be prudent for us to go ahead and lay uh these uh items on the table. Councilman Santis, I don't know if you agree. um you know and go ahead and take the time to get more feedback from all of you. Try to see if perhaps you know with the GMX representatives here they can assuage some of your concerns and then

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give us an opportunity to really check whether or not you know they've they've met their standards with respect to the the Clean Water Act as the colonel was mentioning and other environmental standards. I see the manager is on the mic. What would you like to say? Yeah, the the chief operating officer from GMX

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is available if you'd like them to he could answer questions, you know, >> and I told him not to kill him, so it's okay. So, be nice. Um, and we and before I make the motion, you said you have a question. >> Yeah, for GMX. >> Okay, go ahead. Uh, Vice Mayor Mora. >> So, my question to um the gentleman from

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GMX is where we are in the project as, uh, the mayor mentioned is the PDN stage. Um, to what extent is GMX still actually open to our public input? To to you had an entire crowd of people here

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who voiced a very strong opposition. Is that going to convince you or you know what else do you need from us basically? >> Okay. So, I want to take a step back. So, I come humbly again. My name is Claudia Federia as the chief operating

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officer of GMX. Um, we're not looking for a fight. We're not looking to trample the resident's opinions. Uh nothing like that. In fact, we're here because of the original request from the council to study and and and incorporate this project. There was a resolution that was passed in 2016 by this very

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council and it was supported by the not this one, not you sitting, but the town of Miami Lakes Council. So, we were requested as an agency. You're correct. At that time, we were MDX. We are now GMX. And it was also supported by the the TPO at the time. Um, you are correct

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in what the mayor was saying. It was because of the litigation between MDX and GMX at the time that this project didn't come forth at that time. Um, now that we are out of litigation and GMX is full and kicking, we are now fully funded on this project. Um, it's been

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approved by our board and we're ready to take the next steps. So, where we are right now in the PD&E, that's the whole purpose of the PDE. We there are contrary to I guess some of the beliefs there's no backdoor deals, handshakes. This is not a done deal in any way,

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shape or form. The whole purpose of this project and the PD&E is to come and listen to the concerns of the citizens. We have done that. We've we've listened um we had a public hearing and so we're now here in front of you asking for support. Right. I I do want to make a

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couple points though. We are not FDOT. Uh GMX is fully self-funded. We are uh we are funded 100% by toll dollars through the gratne is one of our expressways. So we have nothing to do with the projects that are on 154th or

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elsewhere. So there's no money coming from federal grants. So it doesn't require us to do any sort of federal requirements or from the town of Miami. So this project is 100% funded by GMX. Um the other thing is [clears throat] we've we've spent a lot of money already

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and time looking at this through the PDE. We are scheduled provided what the conclusion of the PDN yields now to move forward into construction uh in next calendar year like so starting in 27 but it won't happen unless we have the support from the council right. Um so

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that's that's really why we're here. One thing I did want to say we're we're putting a lot of effort on state road uh 924. You know, we currently have a project that's starting on the eastern end of 924 to mill and resurface and take care of some safety issues. We're also going to look forward to to moving forward project now in next year to add

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some uh ramps that connect to the turnpike from 138th Street, which we consider the the western side of 924 for us. We're going to mill and resurface all of 924. We're going to paint it. We're going to make it aesthetically beautiful. So, the agency is putting a lot of effort right now to to beautify

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and to modernize 924. Once it's done, we're we're going to shift our our our efforts and our our resources elsewhere. So, this is the time we're here asking for your support. So, I have my technical team and I want to make sure that there was a lot of misinformation I

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think that was done. These PDEs are very, very comprehensive. I can tell you we don't look at it by opinions or anything else. We look at it from an objective standpoint of view. the traffic studies that that we've looked at do say that you have a current

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problem clearly on 154th and 57th, right? This project to your point is is helping the town as a whole, right? We when we look at projects, we look at them holistically. We don't look at them specifically whether it has a specific impact in a specific area. So, I have my

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team here and I'm I'm more than happy to provide any answers or questions that that anyone may have. But the point I was trying to make was that this is a very holistic approach. Right? We're looking at this and the studies do yield objectively that you have a current problem now and in the future you will

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have a much worse problem. And this project does alleviate a lot of the traffic congestions that occur today and will occur in the future. So we're here simply asking you basically what would you like us to do next? So the PD has not concluded at this point.

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>> I have an answer to that. Um, one of the things I've always articulated when it comes to that intersection is it should I I don't have a problem with ramps. I just have a problem with off-ramps. Meaning, I don't mind on-ramps that get traffic out of Miami Lakes. I just don't

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want to see cars speeding off of the Gratany right into the front of the gas station, uh, right into a school zone, uh, and backing up our streets. Um, one question I have is because I I I remember bringing that idea up back when

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we had the first uh public comment stage which was in the conference room in the back >> and in that one I I stated this opinion that it should just be on-ramps. Uh but I also said hey if if you have to do an off-ramp um and then I proposed an

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alternate design uh where the off-ramp hugged the existing graty a little bit more than the current design. >> Sure. >> Which in turn mitigates uh so much noise going into these backyards. My question is you you did say that you have been

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listening to the people throughout this PD&E and that you have been implementing some changes. So my question is how exactly have the plans changed based on public input since those early days? >> Okay, so I do want to make a distinction. The PD& is the study, right? It's basically where we develop the concepts and we study the

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environmental impacts, the social economic impacts, etc. Um, so the offramp was was uh the concept was put in there because it it alleviates the traffic from 57th and also 154th, right? when we had the public hearing uh we did hear those comments about the noise and

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the proximity of the homes etc. Right now we're still in the PDNE concept. What I can tell you as GMX and as the COO we will work with with you all and and the residents to provide mitigating efforts. Right. So we understood the decibel noise. So we're we would try

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during design to push that ramp as far south as it possibly can. The problem with doing that is it's basically has to go over 138th Street and there's a limited amount of space until you touch down to 67th. So there's only so much we can actually move it to the south. In terms of sound walls, we could we I'm

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willing to entertain that. You know, buffers with landscaping. There's a lot of mitigation efforts that we're willing to and take. Again, we're not trying to fight. We're really trying to make this project um as best as it possibly can. >> And then I guess this I'll make this my last question. Um, and thank you for

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letting me go this long. Um, is on what is it? On-ramps only. Is that completely off the table as far as GMX is concerned? >> No, I'll restate. If it's the wish of the council to just move forward the project with the on-ramps, that's

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something we can take back. Obviously, we have to go through my board. Um, but again, we're not going to do something that's against the wish of the council nor the residents. So what I ask is obviously you all represent the entire town of Miami Lakes, right? Not just the

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residents along 67th because in my experience, you never have 100% support of a project, but you as council members have to look at the project as a whole holistically. Will this project improve the town of Amal Lakes as a whole and in the future? And then it's

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up to you. If the council's wishes is not for us to to provide an off-ramp, then we'll go back and we'll redesign the concepts. But um one thing I do want to say now is the time to make some sort of decision or very soon just for the sake that the way their schedule's built

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is it's fully funded in our work program. So we're looking to complete the PD in the next couple months and looking to go into construction. So >> I have a question for you. This would be design build in terms of when it's issued. >> It's slated currently to be a design build project. That's correct. >> Okay. Um, can you explain to the

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audience what that means? >> Right. So, in order to expedite projects, the typical construction would be you would design a project and it would take several years and then once that design is done, then you would go into the construction phase. The design build process is basically combining those two. So, you're designing and

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you're building at the same time. So, the things that can be designed early on in the project and then start with construction that would happen. So, it's by switching to that methodology, we would save about two years. >> Yeah. And then also in terms of the uh um you know the residents input the

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engineers that eventually are selected to design the project they would be incorporating um everything that's been said. >> Yes. I I I'm actually committing myself personally to be involved in that. So once we would select a design build contractor I would come back and we would present back I would be willing to come back to council and present to you

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the mitigation efforts that we've incorporated into the project. So, why don't we do this? And I'm going to go to Councilman Sanchez uh as you know, the sponsor of the other item that was along the same uh lines of as mine. Um we'll we'll go to him to close and then you know what we'll do is we'll defer uh

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this to the next uh council meeting. That way the residents that are here can have an opportunity to speak with you more fully about the project and get as much information as they'd like. And then we will make uh a final recommendation. That's really all you're asking uh from us is a recommendation with input on on what would be

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acceptable. We can make that at the next meeting. Councilman Sanchez. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um thank you for everyone in attendance. We really appreciate you coming out. It's great to see a full house for our council meetings. Not what it it usually is. For the residents that are here that want to

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know who, you know, which one of us really represent you with all of us. Some of us live on the east side. There's four out of seven that live on the east side, myself included, the mayor, the vice mayor, and councilman Garcia along with the town manager. So, you have strong representation up here for the east side. Um, you know, things

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that you bring up. Now, I did the day of the public hearing, I did speak during public comments about the existence of the off-ramp and and the detrimental effects that it can have. That was with a very little bit of information. I did some more digging. I did some more research, but there's still information

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that was brought up tonight that I would like to know more about. You know, the environmental effects. I understand that we didn't receive federal funds, but environmental effects still affect everyone, especially when most of the houses on the east side of Miami Lakes have water that comes out of the wall, comes out of the ground. So, that feeds their plants and everything else like

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that. So, it's a whole ecosystem type of of system. So, it's not just the traffic, it's everything else that's encompassing from the plants to the animals to everything else that is Miami Lakes. Not just that, part of my research was finding out what

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is the the LOS rating of 67th Avenue. And I was given that information in two subdivisions from 138th Street to Miami Lakeway South and from Miamiway South to 167th Street just south of the Palmetto Expressway. They're both rated Even

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though the northern portion above Miami South is already is is closer to an F. It varies from D to F, but on traffic times they're 5:00 rush hour, it's enough. So to have those cars come off into 67th Avenue, it's just a nightmare. You're just adding even more vehicles

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into a street that's already congested, which feeds those vehicles into the areas where you heard the residents speak, into Lake Patricia, into Lake Charles, into those areas where kids want to play outside and they can't because of too many cars coming through. So I think that the project is is a great idea. the on-ramps to get cars out

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of Miami Lakes is a great idea. But we also need a solution to get cars out of Miami Lakes through the north end. And I understand that's not GMX, that's more FOT, but if the agencies get together to try to find a solution for that northern portion to get those cars out, I think it can be a big help. However, I do

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concur with the with the the mayor that we do have to table this for now uh and discuss this at a later time when we have more information till we can do much more due diligence and provide an answer on behalf of the town. So with that, I move to table this discussion until >> Before you do that, I do have a point of

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order to make that I actually need to make to our parliamentarian, which would be the attorney because I just realized uh something. So technically there's been no motion made. So is this a motion to table or motion to defer? >> Defer defer >> defer to defer.

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>> Okay. So go ahead and make the motion. I'll >> motion to defer until more information is provided pending environment. But I think we need a date certain. So I would say the next meeting. >> Oh, defer to the next meeting to the August council. >> I'll second that. Oh, it's been seconded by council member Fernandez. Uh, all those in favor say I.

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>> I. I. >> Oh, >> sorry. I want to I was trying to get your attention to say some words before the deferral. >> Okay. Uh, really quick. >> So, go ahead. >> Thank you, mayor, and I just want to thank you for being here and to the audience members. Uh, I think that um I think the majority of the council, I'm

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not going to speak for them. I can speak for myself. uh realize that that that uh exit ramp is especially next to the old our oldest neighborhoods and our oldest um uh shopping center is something that most of us are not happy with. So, and

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the only way we'd be interested in entrances, I mean exits, I'm sorry, would be if they were environmentally friendly. And also, there's a there's a school zone right there. Councilman Coyazo, myself worked hard to expand that school zone. Uh, and there's a a

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small little small little neighborhood there that will won't be able Yeah. won't be able to exit if there's a looking at the at your thing wouldn't be able to even exit at all. It would be very hard for them to exit because the ramp would be right pretty much 50 40 feet away the crooked palm uh neighborhood. So, I just if you keep

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that in mind, I mean, I I let's defer this. Let's think about it. But also, those are the things that those residents will be stuck in there when especially in the morning when traffic is hard. So, if you can take a look at that area because I know they would be stuck there and won't be able to get out. It's already hard. That's why we moved the the um the school zone. So,

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then cars will go out there slower instead of they were racing through there. So, if you can keep that in mind, but I'm for deferring this and and taking a look at and listening more to the opinions. Thank you. >> Mayor, if I may, if you give me one moment. >> Okay. >> For conversation between us, honestly.

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>> Okay. So on on there's been a motion made but uh so are you saying and I'm getting a text from the deputy town attorney. Is it your position then that once a motion is made and seconded we need to vote it up or down >> once you make a motion to defer? Yes. And there's no debate. >> Got it.

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>> Those are the Robert's rules of order. >> Okay. So madam clerk please call the role on the motion to defer. >> Mo motion to defer both items 16 G and 16 H. Council

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member Cuadra Garcia, >> no. >> Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Hzburg, >> yes. >> Council member Garcia, >> yes.

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>> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. The motion to defer to the next regular council meeting passes. >> Thank you. Uh, Manager Peterman, >> do you want it to come back as one

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combined item? >> Yes. >> All right. So, uh, thank you very much for being here tonight and thank you for agreeing to meet with our residents. Again, for those of you that want to get more information directly from the source, this is your guy here. So, I would just ask though if you can please meet him in the lobby there um because

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we do have a full agenda that we have to uh uh get through today. Thank you. But you can rest assured that there will be no further action on this item tonight. So you can meet with him for as long as you'd like. >> It would that that is that would be out of order from what we normally do. If you want, you can make a request to the

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clerk and and >> Oh, okay. Well, c can you ask the question to her so she can relay it to me because uh I just want to tee up the next item at least. >> Okay. This is highly irregular, but go ahead. >> Thank you very much. You [clears throat] didn't mention building permits at all.

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Isn't that within the purview of the town to decide? And doesn't that play into whether or not the project can proceed? >> We don't have any uh oversight over issuing permits on any of the expressway systems, whether it be GMX or the FD expressways. They they do not come to us

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for permitting. >> Building permits are not part of the process. Thank you. >> All right. No problem. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you all for coming today. We are now on items 10A and 10B. Let's take up 10A first. That would be the committee report from

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>> from special needs advisory board. >> I Oh, they're some of my favorite a >> some of my favorite committee children. >> They they've been so patient. >> Good evening. >> They have >> I'm Maline Santana, vice chair of special >> Actually, would you mind pausing a second while we let them clear the

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chambers? Thank you. I think it's quieted down enough. All right, you may you may proceed with your report. >> Good evening. I'm Maline Santana from the Special Needs Advisory Board Vice Chair and this is >> Jesse Ora,

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>> in case you didn't know. um the report to town council. Okay. As you have in front of you, maybe um we still had a wonderful um so far three months, four months from the last time. Um our

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commute, our class dojo is still in effect. The dance is still in effect. Since our last um uh report, we had the Fourth of July um special needs sensory room, which was a hit. Unfortunately, everybody got rained out, so we had a

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bunch more people. Um, we have installed uh two communication boards, one at Royal Oaks and one at Veterans Park. We had the animation graduation. Thank you, Councilman Herzburg. Where did you

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go? He attended it. Um the next thing that we're going to be doing um will be requesting for two more communication boards.

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One will be at the youth center and the other one will be at Optimus Park and hopefully we'll get a pickle ball clinic that we uh that someone has approached us with and special special Olympics.

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>> That's it. >> So with that, >> I believe you you the committee wanted to request approval on the procurement of two communication boards, right? >> Yeah, I was about to make >> Oh, they did. Okay. >> All right. So, Mr. Vice Mayor, you're recognized for a motion. >> Thank you. I'd like to move to approve the requested item, specifically the two

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park communication boards. And uh did you also need approval on uh what was the other thing that you brought up? >> The pickle ball or special Olympics? >> Not yet. >> Uh I think we approved the event, but you haven't yet come. >> We haven't set up because it's summer, it's too hot, and then we're thinking

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maybe more December, January, so more people can attend and not be so hot. >> Okay, I second that. >> Great. >> So it's just the two-part communication boards. >> Perfect. So it's been moved and seconded. Any discussion on >> just to clarify it that that is money that's already in the committee. >> Correct. Right. Thank you.

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>> I have a question. >> Okay. Councilman Sanchez, >> are you reallocating are you taking funds away from another project to fund the project for the communication boards? No. No. >> That's only one. >> Follow-up question. Vice Mayor Mora, >> not after the vote. >> After the vote. Okay.

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>> Yeah. It's about another part of the report. >> Got it. Okay. Anyone else on this item? the approval of the two additional communication boards. All right. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The motion carries. Mr. Vice Mayor for your question. >> You know, we we we had a kind of a crazy

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situation with Fourth of July uh and and the rain. Um you know, again, as one of the public comments mentioned, it it was a huge triumph of our communications team. But I did not get to Mary Collins Center because I was with an elderly

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resident and there was no way that she could. >> Totally understandable. >> My question is what was the situation like in there? Cuz my concern is we created a sensory room and then if you have a barrage of people coming in, did did that cause any sort of disturbance or anything like that or was everything

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fine? >> It was minimal. It was minimal. Um it was a lot to do with the band. There was it's a big band so they would go in there to get some fresh air AC and get to eat. And also there was some a little

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bit of miscommunication because the room across was available to them but of course we were there lights are on. Everybody came into us but it it was still a hit because the room is so big. >> Got it. And then just the other uh last comment is the animation graduation. I

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did want to apologize. I did originally state I was going to be there and then I couldn't make it. I'm so sorry. Uh, thank you to Councilman Herszburg for uh, >> Understandable. Thank you. >> Alrighty. So, thank you all. Anyone else have questions of our wonderful committee members?

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>> All right. You see, knocked out of the park. No qu no further questions. >> All right. I see that Colonel Bill Perez is not here. Is anyone here representing the Veteran Affairs Committee? They're 10B. All right. Uh, seeing nobody from that, I'll move to defer their report to the

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next regular council meeting. It's been said. Yes. Can I interrupt? And on the veterans committee, they had one ask which was to >> sensitive. >> Huh? >> Is it time sensitive? >> I don't know, but I just in case it is time. All it is is there's no money.

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It's just to authorize the committee to be a co-sponsor with a uh an event called the Heroes Fishing Tournament. That's right. Yeah. >> So if you could authorize them, it's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The motion carries. They they

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are permitted. You can go ahead and inform them that they're permitted to go ahead and add their name as an official SP a co-sponsor of the event. With that, we are now on item seven, which is appointments. We have Christina Gonzalez to public safety by council member Ray Garcia. Is Miss Gonzalez in the room

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with us? Oh, she was earlier. Oh, okay. Well, uh, regardless, congratulations to her on her appointment. We did have a resignation and we did have, uh, a removal due to absences, uh, for for purposes of the record. Next up, we are

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in manager reports beginning with 8A monthly police report by Major UA. Welcome back, Major. >> Good evening everybody. Uh Major UA obviously for the Tanam Lakes. Uh my uh report's going to be brief. Uh we are

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currently down 30% uh on overall uh crime statistics. Uh something that I did want to bring up in reference to our residential burglaries, there is a miscalculation in reference to that. There's only three uh so that'll reflect in next year. One of them was miscatategorized in the system. So

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that's being corrected. And the other one is being uh deemed unfounded. So that did not occur. So that that it'll reflect for next month's uh report. Uh, additionally, um, in reference to the traffic enforcement, uh, for the month,

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we've issued a we've issued 151 citations, uh, provided, uh, 10 written warnings, 32 verbal warnings, and issued 48 parking tickets. Um, as a closer stats, that's pretty much what we have for the updates. Obviously, for July,

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we've heard uh, you know, people's input. I know that we've had, you know, obviously the weather was uh was an issue and a concern, but overall it was a great event and uh everything went went very very well, especially on the police side. >> Well, thank you very much, Major. I kind of wish I had brought you up beforehand

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so that all the residents can hear the great work that you and your officers are doing, you know, so or your deputies now, I suppose. Um a we'll go to you in a second, but I just wanted to again say thank you as always for your great work and please thank your men on our behalf. With that, we'll go to Councilman Cuadra Garcia for a question and then we'll

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we'll go down the line. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um Mr. Major, um I've reached out to our town manager several time very concerned uh on speeding um on 154 Street. 154 from the

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Palmetto to 67 sometimes is becoming Hollywood Speedway. We have signs that say don't even attempt to do it and they still do it. Uh I've been next to individuals with my golf cart. Uh it

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does 24 and they fly by me at 37 40 45. I mean they're speeding. I know that we can't be in at all places at all times but you know I [snorts] I ask that we consider uh looking into uh 154. I know

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it's at different times. Is there is there a time frame focus for for it a concern? Cuz we do it daily uh especially considerably in the morning >> going uh going u eastbound uh at the

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curve at the tennis courts. Uh it states clearly 20 miles an hour. I've seen them take it at 32 at in the in the 50s. All kinds of speeding goes by. >> Yeah, that's actually part of our uh our traffic enforcement. of the details that we do do. We run radar there like just

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>> often just but is there is there a specific time frame that you would like me to focus on or is it just throughout the day? >> It happen it could happen at any time of the day. >> Okay, no problem. I I'll make sure to relay that information you know to make sure that my guys are obviously concentrating their efforts there as well as the 87th Avenue which obviously

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we we know it's been a concern in the past. Um you know along other other avenues as well but uh I'll make sure to address it accordingly. >> No, no problem. Um, Councilman Herszburg, do you have a feedback? >> Yeah, just quick feedback. Uh, first, thank you for everything you do. Thank

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your officers. The quick feedback is just anidote. I woke up at 4 in the [snorts] morning because one of my kids had a nightmare and I see uh, you know, Miami Lakes troop Miami Lakes patrol car going slowly down the the street. That's nice to see, right? With the lights on in our residential neighborhoods. Uh, I

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guess it's 4, so not that many people see it. So, I'm seeing it now. They're out there. They're patrolling our streets. I really appreciate that. That type of high visibility is awesome and I I know something you guys recently did around a year ago. Just keep it up. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you very much, Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, Mayor. Again, great job for July. I mean, I know it wasn't easy, but you guys were like always awesome. I guess my question would be I I've noticed a lot of these electric dirt bikes going through Main Street, going inside the the circle, uh on the

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sidewalks. I mean these I saw today three kids are wearing helmets but again uh what is the rules and regulations when it comes to these ebikes? Uh >> they're treated just like any other bicycle. So if you can pedal a bike you can pedal a bike. Yeah. >> Even if they don't have pedals.

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>> Correct. >> Um >> yeah. So that there's there's obviously like it's it's treated very similar to like uh like a lower CC bike. So those are those are ebikes. Those are regulated just like any other bike. I mean there are some electric bikes that go a lot faster than others obviously.

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Um >> but they have to follow the rules the rules of the road. >> Correct. >> Like any other bike. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's the traffic enforcement and the like the bylaws and everything like that are all the same for any pedestrian even a vehicle uh for bicyclists as well. They all they all have to you know and there's obviously

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uh specific state statutes that are specific to uh >> these are state. We can't we can't we I mean we can try to lobby to make some changes but we have to stick with state statues when it comes to that. Yeah, I mean currently right now because there is nothing addressing ebikes in specific, they're treated like bikes

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like anything else. I I knew I I do know that there are some areas that apparently have you know you know uh ordinances in place in reference to uh to combat that, but >> um you know that's that's up to to you guys in reference to see what changes

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you guys want to make. look at uh because today it was they were going on the street then they were going on the sidewalk and then they were interrupting traffic and I'm just worried not only their their their safety as well. I mean they obviously a lot of power in these things a lot of torque and these kids look like they know how to handle it.

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>> Yeah. And and obviously you know like you know like how how uh Quad Garcia had advised I know that we can't be everywhere at once but you know if you if you see it just make sure to give us a call and we'll be more than happy to go and address it. Just letting you know on the on the weekends at night time they can't because you have that

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covered. Thank you for for that. >> But during the day, during the week, especially during summertime, I've seen them access all those ebikes everywhere. Uh and they're they're not following the the rules of the road. So just uh I appreciate you. >> Thank you very much. Um, before we go over to my other colleagues, uh, I just also want to

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point out, I think the manager already raised it to your attention, but every time I go lately to Gerardinos, I'm noticing that there's, you know, all these rich kids in their, uh, brand new Mercedes that sell parking the handicap spot that, you know, to go into the dry cleaners or to go pick up their Starbucks order. Very appropriate in my

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opinion. Um, but they're obviously taking away from seniors and others who do need to be closer to the shopping centers. So just my request would be just to continue to stay vigilant on that and you know to appropriately cite them in in in accordance with what I know Sheriff Rosie and with our tax

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collector Dier have been working on together to uh you know clamp down on those that have an improper handicap pass or who are taking up those spaces. Um with that Councilman Sanchez and then we'll go to Councilman Fernandez after that. >> Well, we're halfway through the summer. Things are going pretty well. the kids,

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you know, they're they're I saw a group of kids on bikes the other day right off Miamiway South and they were doing, you know, non non what's the word I'm looking for? A group of there were like 10 or 15 teenagers on bikes and they weren't doing wheelies or anything like that. No,

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>> no, no. Like a cohort of of of teenagers and you know, they were doing good things. So, I'm happy to see that. So, we're officially over the hump as we're less than a month away from school beginning. Um, so as that's coming up, I believe before the next council meeting, school will already be back in session. Are you gearing up for what's to come, the the traffic patterns all over again,

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trading the officers of what's to come for Bob Graham, Miami D educational, Miami Tech, I mean, Miami K8, is that already in your purview? >> Yeah, we we already have that set. It doesn't change at all in reference to what we do. There hasn't been any, >> you know, any change to nomenclature in

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reference to our traffic patterns at all. Yeah. So, uh, we're going to address it like how we do every year in reference to our, you know, beginning of school details and stuff like that, like nothing nothing has changed on our end. Um, but if you guys see anything of any concern that you guys want to, you know, bring up to me that we need to address, we'll do we'll do so.

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>> Okay. And then with regards to with what Councilman Garcia said about the ebikes and microobility and all that, I know Dural is one of those munic municipalities in Date County that has an ordinance for that, but they also able to enforce it through their local PD department. Is that something that if

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we were to bring it that you would be able to enforce a similar ordinance that to control microobility? >> If you guys are doing it, you guys are doing it via code. So, it'll technically a code violation if you guys are going to, you know, no different than what you guys did with the with the scoot with the the little scooters that they used

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to have here for rent. It's going to be something very similar. Um, again, if it's if it's something that can change in legislature in reference to uh, you know, if it if it's a county code or if it's a or obviously, you know, uh, like a state statute change or an addition,

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then yeah, absolutely. We can uh, we can address those things. >> So, if you have, for example, an ebike that takes a red light, is that something >> that's a red light? That's a red light infraction. That's different. >> Okay. Even if you're on any >> meaning, if you want us to address something specific to ebike, it's a little different as opposed to any traffic infractions, we can like a movement infraction.

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>> Yeah. that that's that's a state statue on its own. >> Okay. >> Yeah. No matter what the the bicyclists even whether cycling or an ebike or anything like that, they still have to abide by state statute. They have to ride on the right side of the road. It can only be side by side, etc. Like it's

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like they there's Pelaton rules in reference to to abiding by that. So those are those are all functions. But again, like everything else is like >> speeding. If we're not there, we don't see it. It's the same thing the kids on the bikes. If somebody goes through, it can be an adult. doesn't necessarily have to be a kid. They go through a red

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light, which is pretty common for bicyclists. That can be addressed, but it has to be in our presence. >> Right. Right. Thank you. You're welcome, >> Councilman Fernandez. >> Thank you for all that you do. We appreciate it. I have a couple questions. The first is in regards to

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street parking. Does the officer do or the deputy rather do they have a discretion as to how many times that violator gets a warning before they get a ticket or is there a certain amount if they get a warning once? Is it recorded

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and the second time they go out there do they automatically get a ticket? >> No. Parking is just like anything else. It's discretionary. we can no different than even a traffic violation as long as it's not a, you know, felony in nature. You know, the officers have discretion in reference to issuing citations.

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>> I appreciate that, but maybe I wasn't clear enough when I say street when they when they is that including on on a street on a residential street. You were including that. >> So, there there is law that you technically can park along the street as long as you're not blocking uh people's

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driveways and there is an ability for cars to drive past it. So obviously I know that you guys have no overnight parking and all that other stuff. So obviously that addresses a lot of that. But uh no different than like um you know the the challenges that we face in reference to let's say Bob Graham when

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we were dealing with you know the parents staging inside Royal Oaks was that that was one of the major issues is that we we can tell them to move along obviously because they're long lines. So it it beca it becomes an issue in reference to creating uh you know a hazard because of how long these lines

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are. But a lot of the residents were complaining about them being parked in their grass or blocking their driveway. And then obviously we don't want somebody driving against like against traffic for three, four, five blocks. So that that's really what we focused on, but like um you you can park for a

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periodic period of time on the on the road as long as there is access around your vehicle. >> Okay. I wasn't aware of that. Thank you. All right. I'll I'll talk to you later on the other issue that that whenever you want, but thank you. I appreciate it. Okay. Uh, anyone else from the council

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with any questions, comments? Thank you very much, major. >> No, you're welcome. >> We are now on item 8B, public works monthly infrastructure report by public works director Omar Santos. >> Good evening, mayor and councel. Uh, I'll stick on the topic of cyclists on

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the road and I'll highlight the park west project that's getting ready to begin. We're going to be adding adding bicycle facilities along uh the roads balan and Montrose. So that should help with that item.

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And another project I'd like to highlight is the 59th Avenue extension. We are in 60% plan review by outside agencies. These are FDOT and it's already with Miami Date County Public Works. In addition, we've completed the plans

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review from Dr. or Durm, I think, and we're in the works of getting submittal to South Florida Water Management District and MDAT has also received the plans and they're working on getting that to FAA. So, with that, I'll conclude. >> Thank you. Uh, questions to director

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Santos before I go to the town manager. >> Quick question. Uh let's go uh right to left. So let's begin with Councilman Guad Garcia, Councilman Garcia, and we'll we'll go to Councilman Sanders, and then we'll go to the manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um I I wanted to

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take a moment of uh public uh privilege, point of personal privilege to ask because uh there's an issue that I've brought to the town manager um reference uh mosquito issue uh in the area. Um, do

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you have the address, uh, Mr. Mayor? >> No, it's on, it's a warehouse on 60th Avenue, and they were cited, as I advised, they were cited by code enforcement and referred to mosquito control by day, uh, from day county. >> Okay. Any any update on uh, are they

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planning to vacuum that water out anytime soon because it's getting greener by the day? >> Yeah, I I don't know. Uh I what I could tell you is we like we do with anyone we normally provide uh if they have no previous offenses we provide them a

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warning then we have a few days to give them an opportunity to comply. If they don't comply on reinspection then we cite them. So they've been uh they've been warned uh taking the first step. I don't know that spec I know the item but I don't know the history of that building. So, I don't know if this was a

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warning or straight to citation, but public uh I'm not public works, code enforcement is on it, and they've they've uh they've moved forward with enforcement action. >> Thank you, >> Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, and congratulations. 60% is

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is a great milestone. I know we spoke today, uh manager, Mr. Manager, about Caterpillar that you're working with them, but it might be a bottleneck maybe. Um, I would ask if you don't mind working with the mayor. Perhaps the mayor can meet with them. Uh, I know you

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represent the town and you you're you're a proponent of this project. Perhaps you can get in front of it uh before it becomes an issue later on or gets into legal issues. Maybe maybe uh your meeting with them could address some of some of their hesitation and maybe get

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us to the point where we don't have to, you know, we can do this um on our time frame and don't have to worry don't have to get into legal issues in the future. >> Um just to clarify uh you were talking about Caterpillar. >> Caterpillar. Yes. Their little sliver of land. Yeah. That that there's still a

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little debate. They're they're baiting with us. >> Well, look, here's my perspective on that. I've I've personally attended at least two meetings with uh director Santos and with the manager over at their headquarters. Yep. >> They have met with them even before I

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got involved. >> They have been gentlemen because been all men but you know they've been gentlemen every time we've been there. >> But frankly it does seem as if they are reaching a point where they are uh you know moving the goalpost right. We have

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we have changed our design to incorporate so many of their commentary and it just seems like something new just keeps coming up. This project needs to happen right for the good of the residents. Again, it's a public safety issue as well as a traffic issue at, you

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know, at the very bottom of that list. It's also a convenience issue. >> Um but first and foremost, it's a public safety issue for those kids there at the educational center. Um, and additionally, again, we have been more than accommodating to work with them. We're going to continue to work with them. In

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fact, I believe we're working on having them come to town hall at some point, right? Will we be reaching out to them? >> Yes, sir. I sent them a reply to their email and said that when the gentleman, I think he's based in Illinois. When he's down, he asked to get together again and I invited him to town hall so we can meet and continue our

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conversations. >> 100%. >> Yeah. So, we are taking every step possible to avoid that. That's why we re-engaged with them. Fortunately, I mean, the individual who who basically got them off the, you know, the wrong footing that we were getting off to at the beginning, unfortunately, she is no

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longer there. Um, her her her uh her successor has is a great gentleman. Um, but it just seems as if again the goalposts keep getting moved. So, I'm I don't want to predict what's going to happen in the future. All I can tell you is that we are absolutely making every opportunity avail or taking every

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opportunity available to go ahead and avoid any litigation. Um, but they also need to understand from our perspective that we have been more than accommodating when it comes to their concerns about safety, right? Um, and some of the the the solutions to their

453
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problems are out of our control because we were made to modify the the road design. But we've come this far. It wouldn't make sense to turn back now. I'm pretty sure they're gonna I'm confident they're going to see that. But more importantly, I think we're all waiting to hear back what the feedback is from the various agencies before we make any final decision. And again, I

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you have my word. >> Trust me. Again, as somebody who has been very clear that I don't want to be involved in any more lawsuits than, you know, if we don't need to. Um especially if they're have a very low chance of success, I'm going to do everything I can to uh to make sure we're not in that

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position. >> No, it's great to hear we're doing everything on our end. Right. >> We 100% are. you know, we we have met them at their headquarters. Now, we're going to bring them over to ours. >> Mayor, before you leave 59th Avenue, I just want to state one thing, which is my plan is next week we have a special call meeting for the setting of the

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millillage. And I don't want to convolute it with too many other things, but I am going to bring one item for it's a procurement item for your consideration, which is we want to do an appraisal of each of the little slivers of land so we can know what the value of

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those lands are and what the value of the land west of the roadway through the aviation property. We believe that our roadway is going to enhance the value of that property and we want to get that valuation. We have a proposal that Omar is still tweaking with the appraiser,

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but we believe it'll be ready to present to you for procurement approval that will be paid from the capital account. >> Mayor, I have a question on that. >> Well, just so you know, the the order was to come to Councilman Sanchez. So, as soon as we finish with Councilman Sanchez, we will go to you, Councilman

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Sanchez. >> Well, thank you for all the great work that the public work public works department does. Just wondering um do you have an estimated date for the groundbreaking of the bicycle lane in Park West? >> Our goal is within the next 3 months and

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what we currently have pending is the completion of the negotiations with the inspection contract the CI we received a response back. So we've we've already gone one round of of negotiations. Um, so if that is successful within the next

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few weeks, we should have a executed contract and start planning to get our pre-construction meetings with FDOT and the rest of the team and then get into into construction. But again, within the next three months is our goal to break ground. >> Okay, that sounds good. Thank you,

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>> Councilman Herszburg. >> That's okay. The town, we'll talk about it. I'll be up at, you know, one o'clock local, but we'll talk about it next meeting. >> Okay. Uh, anyone else questions of director Santos? I know the vice mayor's in the back there. Does he have any

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questions? >> No. Okay, perfect. All right. So, we are now on Councilman Council Member Fernandez's favorite item 8C, alternative color schemes for the proposed Northwest 77th Court entry feature. If this passes, I might go back to re revisit my item to paint the one

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there on 67th Avenue. [laughter] >> Director Backdown. >> Good evening. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Jeremy Bogdan, director of parks, recreation. Um, the item you have before you comes off of council direction and discussion at looking at uh the upcoming exit feature for 77th

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Court at the same time as the mayor just mentioned, potentially looking at adjusting the uh mirroring entry feature at 67th Avenue. uh before you you have three proposed alternatives that start with a lighter more brighter color that move transition into a warmer beige and

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then a darker uh gray color tone. Um this is kind of a a span of different options, but at at any point this can be something that we can discuss further if there's any other options uh the council has in mind. >> With that, any questions?

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>> Any questions from the council? Uh Councilman Cuadra Garcia, >> go ahead. >> I think that Make sure you hit your mic. >> Y >> I think that the color um I don't know what you call this if it's called sandalwood or topaz and what it is.

468
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>> This one on page 18 would probably be the the best choice uh due to the fact that uh you it probably won't get uh as dirty. >> Okay. >> And I mean that's my my two cents. >> Okay. Anyone else? Uh Councilman

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Herszburg. Thank you, Vice Mayor. First of all, you asking for for us to make a motion direction today and make a decision. >> Yes. The the goal here is to look at direction at for the 77th Avenue entrance feature. >> Okay. >> Um, you know, it's funny. I look at these and people say, "What happened to

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color, right? Things used to used to be a lot more color in life in like the 90s and ' 80s." But anyway, um, I digress. The problem I have with one and two is they're going to get dirty all the time. Just dirty. you know, oh, we're we're going to be calling the town manager telling him, "Hey, pressure clean. It

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doesn't look good." So, I'm dead set on three because of that. I like the contrast and we won't have to clean it as much. I think it's an easy decision. I don't know if someone if I don't know Councilman Fernandez's position if you want to make a motion, but I'll may I >> Yes. >> through the chair.

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>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. So, I all of them are fine with me. Honestly, I probably the last one is my least favorite, but I understand One and two are my favorites. The point is, I think, to get the sign up. I don't necessarily I I think

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there's [clears throat] there's good and bad in choosing, you know, the the color scheme, but I I think that the point of my original item was to get a sign up. Um, and then we can I'll I'll hear what the rest of the my colleagues have to say. But I I do like one and two. I

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understand the concern about getting dirty, but uh that's something that we have to we have to just face in the future. One second, Councilman Gracia. Uh, Mr. Manager. >> Yeah. I just want to be clear that one of the options, uh, Jeremy has labeled

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one, two, and three, but the actual current color scheme of the 1067 is still obviously an option. So, we actually have four options before you. >> Yeah. >> Councilman Garcia, >> thank you. Vice Mayor, I know the the mayor the mayor brought this up a couple years ago. He wanted to bring up some

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color, but it was way too It was just done. It was a couple months after. want to see how it I would like to hear honestly because I know he wanted to bring some color into this. So, I'd like to hear from the actual mayor when he gets back. Uh do you guys want to maybe push this back a little bit until he gets back on?

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>> Well, I have a question for director if you don't mind, vice mayor. >> Uh what is what's your preference? I I don't want to make a decision. I'm not good at this stuff. What's your preference? I >> If you say go one, I go one. I'll vote however you want me to vote. So to the point that the council has already brought up, one of the reasons we went

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with that softer gray tone was because it was kind of not too dark and not too modern, but gave us the flexibility as far as maintenance that it would hold up to both sun UV longer as well as any rust deposits, anything from irrigation. So it was a kind of happy medium. Um,

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but to uh Councilman Garcia's point, the discussion previously was the mayor looking at other options that would move away from that. So essentially on our end, the darker tones are easier to maintain. There is less chance of degradation of the actual colors of of

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anything getting on it. Um, and it's a simpler piece to maintain. Um, but that is for discretion as far as what we want moving forward. I have a couple of comments and questions on this. Um, what is the current maintenance cycle,

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specifically pressure cleaning on the remainder of our monuments and entry features throughout the town? >> They are as needed. >> As needed. So, there's no actual cycle that's put in place. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> With this area, is this area where um

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the proposed sign is going to be, is that one is that area irrigated? >> Nope. >> Okay. So we don't have a rust concern the way we might have in other areas. >> Correct. There are some um it is adjacent to some bushes along the edge. I have to go out there and see what bushes are. If they have any seeds or

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any type of fruit, that would be the only other concern in that area. But correct. There is no rust irrigation system in that area. >> Yeah. My my my main concern with the darker tones, uh I'm really glad you brought this up because when I drive by the one by the graty, um I miss it

484
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completely. Um because it just blends into everything else cuz it's it's kind of boring. It it's gray. >> Um I really love option one. Um obviously that's probably the biggest magnet of all of them for dirt. Again, you know, I'm

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Councilman Fernandez is going to love me on this one, but you know, I I really don't like the idea of of picking a an option that none of us really like over saving a couple of bucks when we could we're talking about just sending a guy out there with a pressure cleaner to to

486
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rinse it off every so often. Um I I think the town of Miami can afford that, guys. I I I really do. Um and it's it's a very nice thing. I'm coming back to you. So, yeah, if it's up to me, I go option one. >> Councilman, uh, >> a motion then. >> Okay.

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>> If I may, um, there are solutions to problems, right? Seeing is one of them. I, you know, I have for for my backyard, I have a deck that is very white. Um, and every other year I I seal it to make sure that when it rains, you know, it's

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and there's even solutions of that have been introduced by town residents because they they are vendors for this product where you spray it and forget it and the rain actually cleans it for you. So just because it can get dirty doesn't mean that it has to get dirty. The same reason we wax our cars, the same reason that we wax that that we seal our

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driveway, our paper driveways and our and our decks in the backyard, everything like that. So, I feel like maybe yes, it's it's a little bit more of of a of a front that expense for a long-term savings where we don't have to send somebody out to pressure clean it because it's been sealed, you know, and then just take that into into account

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for for the ripple effect costs to maintain this type of project. But I agree, the lighter color is going to be way more. There's a reason why the underpass on Miami Drive is white. It's not gray so that people can see it. It stands out. And the gray one, I agree, the one on 67th Avenue, I know it's

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there and I still miss it um at times because of the gray color to it. So, I do I preferably like the the second option, the beige color because it it feels homey. It feels warm, which is Miami Lakes to me. Um and I feel like the one the white that's above on option

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one is more to our neighbors to to the south and to the west. But I I feel like if we see that, we don't have to be out there as often pressure cleaning. Right. So my vote is for option two. >> Yes. >> And then the only one other consideration that staff took into this is also looking at the uh wall that is

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not covered by Bush along 77th Court. It is closer somewhere in between that beige and white. So the perimeter wall that is in that area is closer to that beige and alabaster color. >> 87th >> 77th. So 77th. >> So does that mean that going with the

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beige or alabaster is actually going to make it blend into that? >> It's going to match. So the adjacent home of what we're looking at right now, the identified space is covered in bush. So there is a contrast regardless. When you go down a little further south and you start to see the wall where it's not covered and obscured by any bushes and

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it's closer to those colors. So that was another consideration of why there was light options chosen so it would match the area where it was going. >> Okay. Um I'll just see if my colleagues agree. Um I think option two, the beige is a little too old school for my taste. So I'm going to go with option one. I'm going to move option one and see what my

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colleagues say. I'll second. >> Second. Uh any any discussion? Any yes or nos? All right. Uh those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those against say nay. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you, director. >> We are now on to item number 8 D.

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>> Yes. >> Change in October council meeting date uh by manager Peterman. Yes, this is mine. The uh International City Managers Association annual conference and educational symposium in October is being held on October uh from October

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16th through the 21st. We currently have scheduled our October council meeting for October 20th. So, what I'm requesting so that I can go and take advantage of the educational portion is uh to move the council meeting from the 20th to the 13th.

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I I'll sec I'll make the motion. I'll second >> and then there's a second. Did you want to discuss anything? No. Uh my I guess question is and um if our budget director could show up that'd be great. We're past the budget period on this, right? >> Okay. So So we already have an adopted

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budget. Okay. So I have no problem with this. >> Any other discussion? >> Seeing none. Uh those >> I want I want to be clear. This would be in ne because it's October, right? So it would be in next year's budget. So it would be still with funds that have not been approved yet. But

501
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>> no, no, he's not asking if it would affect us budget. >> No, no, no. When I heard budget, I I almost started to have delirium tremors, >> but to do with the budget. >> Okay, >> we're good. Uh, so seeing no further discussion, those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those against say nay. Motion passes

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unanimously. With that, we are on to the attorney's report. Report on resident notification of HOA restrictions. Mr. Deputy Town attorney 8:44. >> So there's two things. Um, Mr. council.

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I was going to say Mr. Mayor, vice mayor, but neither of the Mr. Vice Mayor. All right. So, there's two issues. There's two matters that are uh on a report. One was with regards to um HOAs. So, you know, generally there's there's a lot of issues when you have

504
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and you try to combine HOA information on a municipal web page. uh among them is the state really has established certain types of frameworks on how a HOA manage and retain disseminate their information that kind of conflicts with the way that cities are required to uh

505
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additionally also uh being able to put the web page of the of the city has to be specifically towards promoting a municipal uh items and municipal purpose HOAs are completely different even though they live within the municipality they're governed by completely different rules and they have different purpose

506
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also uh it does open the the city a bit um with regards to uh potential uh liability in putting information on HOAs in our web page. So for all those reasons, I would suggest that we we

507
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don't uh at this time put any information with regards to HOAs other than if you want to list that they exist, that's fine. If you want to list and that's to the extent that I would I would really suggest. >> Thank you. Any questions of the attorney on this item

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>> because it was okay with Councman Garcia and then go to the vice mayor. >> How about just contact information and links to their websites? We can't even do that. >> Any contact information? >> The >> the problem is they changed. >> Please uh speak into the mic.

509
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>> I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Councilman. The problem is that the the change >> the the notice address everything changes and now the residents going to say but the town told me and we're going to get in the middle of a dog fight. I

510
03:10:23.520 --> 03:10:40.880
mean when residents have an issue with their HOA it's bad enough when we've got a room full of people here. You know we've got enough issues of our own bringing those in as lawyers we we get very very cautious and very concerned. No, of course >> there's there's a two other reasons that

511
03:10:40.880 --> 03:10:56.160
legally that just as additional there's a lot of reasons why it's a bad idea, but one of them is under uh chapter 119, we have to be very careful as far as public information and how we redact that information. Once you start putting information on our web page, even links that contains maybe information of

512
03:10:56.160 --> 03:11:13.200
somebody else that's maybe part of that HOA, then you you could run into the risk of, you know, running a file of maybe some of those public records. It's it's it's possible. The other part too is uh there's very specific laws uh and it's statute I think 720303

513
03:11:13.200 --> 03:11:29.439
uh that mandates how associations uh on their online portal have to uh maintain their information and and and uh protect certain information uh that's on there and and have certain data. So by us putting that link on our web page if they're not maintaining that and we're

514
03:11:29.439 --> 03:11:46.160
addressing people to that to to those web pages we can open ourselves and be found responsible. I mean, there is that possibility. There's a lot of open issues there, uh, Councilman, that could could open the town up to to liability. >> All right. Um, because the spirit of it was just to make the communications

515
03:11:46.160 --> 03:12:02.560
better with the with with the residents and the town and the HOAs to try to avoid time spent and money spent on changes and things like that. So, I guess we're going to have to come up with another way to educate the residents to make sure they're looking at the HOA. before the HOA first. Make

516
03:12:02.560 --> 03:12:17.600
sure the HOA approves before, you know, just there's got to be something we can do with that that doesn't put us in. Can we do maybe um every once in a while just uh maybe something our communications departments uh on our communication department website or on

517
03:12:17.600 --> 03:12:33.200
on our Facebook website? Nothing we can do. Not even on our TV screens. >> I can't suggest it as your attorney. >> Okay. >> If anybody has any ideas. >> Yeah, you were next. I just wanted to ask um mayor when you were on the neighborhood improvement committee um at

518
03:12:33.200 --> 03:12:49.600
that time they had like constant relations with the HOAs right and if I remember correctly uh uh chairman uh Rudy uh he mentioned >> thank you he mentioned um that they were

519
03:12:49.600 --> 03:13:05.600
kind of going to cease that because it was so difficult to keep in touch with these HOAs it was kind of like hurting cats >> so Yeah, the the founding resolution for the neighborhood improvement committee required that there be quarterly meetings with the various HOAs and condo boards in the town as a way of keeping

520
03:13:05.600 --> 03:13:22.399
everybody interconnected and to keep the town aware of their challenges and and figure out how we can work together. Um at the time when I left the committee to run for office in 2018 that was still going strong and you know that was driven in part by uh various efforts we did you know to boost attendance whether

521
03:13:22.399 --> 03:13:39.040
it was you know working in a lake presentation by professor Cinto Dr. Cinto with our lake uh quality uh studies or other um you know uhformational items that would be a draw for them in addition to talking about their issues. Um, I do recall that

522
03:13:39.040 --> 03:13:55.040
conversation that Chair Yoredo was saying it's becoming more and more difficult to keep that up. So, I think if I recall correctly as well, he was kind of uh asking us to change our resolution. I thought we did. Didn't we make it more uh I'm going to defer to Councilman Hersburg who seems to have more recollection of this, but what

523
03:13:55.040 --> 03:14:10.880
didn't we do it as bannual? >> So, correct. We it was an item I brought up early on in last year for the town to get the contact information for the HOAs, not to share it, more for us. So, we knew we can call the HOAs, we can try to figure out when their meetings were

524
03:14:10.880 --> 03:14:26.640
to to go to meetings and whatnot. And then that was brought up that the NIC had that issue. We did they wanted to do it. They wanted to get rid of it and I believe we told them to do it twice. They did have an event not that a few months ago that was HOA related. I don't

525
03:14:26.640 --> 03:14:42.560
necessarily know how they contacted the HOAs, what type of outreach they have, but I mean the town does have a working list. I don't know how recent it's been updated of the HOA, what their, you know, who their management company is, and some of them, some of them we might even have when their meetings are. So,

526
03:14:42.560 --> 03:14:58.319
internally, we have information. Uh, but yeah, there the NIC is supposed to continue to do that, and they did have something HI related within the last few months. That's when, uh, Ron Miguel came. I believe that was that that event. >> So, it's it's still there.

527
03:14:58.319 --> 03:15:14.399
>> Yeah. And vice mayor, we go back to you. No, it was just to say, look, I I think I said when the item first came, I I expressed some opposition and and it came primarily from uh my own experience with HOAs and that, you know, one second

528
03:15:14.399 --> 03:15:31.439
you have a great board that um is on their game and and uh um makes sure to update the town on on its registered agent, its its mailing address and whatnot. Um, and then the next you have a completely different board that is

529
03:15:31.439 --> 03:15:48.479
derelct in their duties. And I also think it's important to mention, you know, we have a lot of HOAs in this town because I think we it's easy for us to think of like the big ones, the the Royal Oaks, the Lake Glenn Helens, the Lman's, but then you have like the

530
03:15:48.479 --> 03:16:02.880
really little ones. Um, and you have sometimes masters and what do you call the ones below? Uh, subordinate HOAs. um >> sub associations >> sub associations thank you uh where where it can get complicated I just

531
03:16:02.880 --> 03:16:18.239
think that um we complicate our lives a little bit that is a private what gives rise to uh HOAs is is private contracts right everyone asks how do these HOAs have so much rights well it's because it's a private uh delegation of rights

532
03:16:18.239 --> 03:16:35.760
to an HOA um and our our our state condones it through uh uh the Freedom of Association and the freedom to privately contract. We are a the opposite quite literally. We are a public entity. You know, they look public in the sense of

533
03:16:35.760 --> 03:16:51.200
they they go through elections and all that stuff, but at the end of the day, they're just a board of directors for a corporation, for a nonprofit corporation. Um, and I if if they can't figure their stuff out, we're not going to be able to figure it out for them is my biggest thing. And again, just from

534
03:16:51.200 --> 03:17:07.920
my experience dealing with them and being in one, I can tell you it can be a nightmare. >> Uh, next person before we go back to Councilman Garcia, is there anyone else who would like to speak in the first round? Seeing none, Councilman Garcia, you're recognized in the second round.

535
03:17:07.920 --> 03:17:23.760
>> Yeah. No, I I appreciate the feedback. Um, town attorney and um, yeah, well, I guess we'll have to figure out another way of of improving communication between HOAs, the town, and their residents. uh maybe through the NIC again, maybe redouble our efforts in that aspect. So, I'll I'll reach out to

536
03:17:23.760 --> 03:17:40.399
them. Thank you for your feedback. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Uh with that, uh we are on 9B feedback to be provided by on the town charter ballot questions before I I speak. I'll I'll go to the town attorney to go ahead and present the item and get it teed up for us to

537
03:17:40.399 --> 03:17:55.840
have a discussion and vote. >> So, there's two resolutions. Uh one is on the question that you approved. uh that the mayor uh pushed forward uh and that is a charter question that you as a council are putting forward to to the

538
03:17:55.840 --> 03:18:10.880
residents if you approve it. So uh before you you have the actual resolution. There's two small changes after discussion with the mayor. We sidebar and and and they're important. Uh, so I'm going to read it out into the record and the question would be, shall the town charter be amended to revise

539
03:18:10.880 --> 03:18:28.239
the council vacancy procedures to provide that the mayor nominate a replacement within 45 days, with council confirmation with an additional 30 days, comma, for vacancies with more so striking out less more than 6 months remaining. And then and to provide that

540
03:18:28.239 --> 03:18:44.080
if the mayor's office becomes vacant, the vice mayor completes the term. So the sentence that you have before you that says to require a special election for vacancies with 6 months or more months remaining that would be stricken out. >> If you want me to read it again into the record. >> Yeah, read it one more time for the

541
03:18:44.080 --> 03:18:59.600
record and then uh we'll go uh or I'll I'll make my motion. Shall the town charter be amended to revise a town council vacancy procedures to provide that the mayor nominate a replacement within 45 days with council confirmation with an additional 30 days for vacancies

542
03:18:59.600 --> 03:19:16.479
with more than 6 months remaining semicolon and to provide that if the mayor's office becomes vacant the vice mayor completes a term question mark. >> Thank you very much. Now colleagues uh before I make my motion again the issue with the prior version of this ballot

543
03:19:16.479 --> 03:19:31.439
question that was proposed by the charter revision commission and to be clear that one is still going to be on the ballot because we have no discretion to prevent that one from appearing on the ballot but this is meant to be an alternate question that I think better uh solves the issue that we had with

544
03:19:31.439 --> 03:19:47.520
that section which namely was the mayor needed more time um to go ahead and make the nomination. uh and I used the 20 um the seed six situation that occurred uh when that vacancy happened right in the middle of the holiday season which led

545
03:19:47.520 --> 03:20:03.040
to a lot of confusion and a lot of uh scarring. So I think changing it to 45 days for the mayor to nominate is more than uh enough time. I think also having a firm timeline on which the council must act uh achieves an important policy objective which is that we need to have

546
03:20:03.040 --> 03:20:19.520
a decision one way or the other. Um and then if it does not if that nomination for whatever reason does not succeed in being appointed so you know by council confirmation then either the council will set it for the next regular election or a special election that they're choosing. Um which I think the

547
03:20:19.520 --> 03:20:35.120
the and and it leaves the the time frames 6 months less and six months more intact as they currently are in the charter. That is the spirit behind this. And I also want to include that the that the attorney has advised me based on his discussions with the department of

548
03:20:35.120 --> 03:20:51.200
elections that they're advising that this item be go first. I personally am fine with moving it in the middle of the list somewhere or whatever or not in the middle, but you know somewhere else in the list, but I've been advised for the ease of transmitting it to the department, it would be better just to put this question as question one. Is

549
03:20:51.200 --> 03:21:06.160
that is that accurate? >> The the problem is is that when we transmit the questions, we have to transmit them as two separate items to the elections department. So, >> so it either goes at the bottom of the list or it goes at the top. >> Okay. So, it's it's just that and obviously, you know, I think that this

550
03:21:06.160 --> 03:21:21.760
is an important change. I think the one that that came from the Charter Revision Commission is quite deficient, you know, for the reason I put in the record last time. Um, so my motion would be to go ahead and transmit this resolution as item number one, um, as uh, as it is

551
03:21:21.760 --> 03:21:38.080
stated before you. Is there a second? I'll second it. >> It's been seconded. Any discussion? Uh, Councilman Herszburg. >> Thank you, Mayor. And and I the that cleared it up because I was confused on why why it was six months, but now it's no more. And I understand um the item. I

552
03:21:38.080 --> 03:21:54.960
guess the question I have is based off this item. If this item were to pass and that means it would have more votes than the one the commission pro provides. Even if this one has 60 and that and the commission has 55, this one prevails, right? >> That's how it works. >> What happens if there is no

553
03:21:54.960 --> 03:22:10.880
confirmation? because it's a 66 council usually, right? I mean, it's it's a six person council. Then what does what does it say? >> Well, similar to what it's basically preserving what's there now. If if the nomination fails, then it goes to the next regularly scheduled election or the council can schedule a special election

554
03:22:10.880 --> 03:22:27.600
much as what we did in seat six. >> Okay. I mean, I that's fine and I I agree with this language. Um because of the timing, I think I think I didn't see a need to really change that language too much. Does that is this question sufficient for for that

555
03:22:27.600 --> 03:22:43.040
purpose? >> I believe so. Okay, I'm fine with it. >> The reason why it doesn't mention that other step is because it doesn't change what's already there. Yeah, >> perfect. I have no problems with this. I'll I'll be for it. >> Thank you, Councilman Hersburg. Any anyone else? >> Seeing none. All those in favor say I.

556
03:22:43.040 --> 03:22:58.080
I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The motion carries. We are now on the CRC uh proposed amendments which I believe we're here mainly to discuss uh their ordering. Um so uh Mr. Attorney, you're recognized to present the item.

557
03:22:58.080 --> 03:23:14.960
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Councel, the the item that you have on on your desk is um very similar to the item you saw the the last time. Uh the only which you you did pass uh and you instructed me to come back with a new order. uh and based on the numbering and how um they were

558
03:23:14.960 --> 03:23:34.399
provided uh I have added those the only one that I I placed as I think it's there as number eight um no not number eight number >> okay um are there >> number five >> oh sorry >> is the um appointment of the town clerk

559
03:23:34.399 --> 03:23:51.600
>> I'm sorry I missed that what was it >> yeah so number five was the appointment of the town clerk with appointment by the the town council put us that's where it it is numbered now. Uh correct. Okay. >> Um so questions of the attorney. Questions of the attorney.

560
03:23:51.600 --> 03:24:06.960
>> All right. Seeing none, does that mean we're ready to vote? >> Okay. So then all in favor say I. I. >> All oppose? No. >> The eyes have it. The motion carries. >> You are free to transmit away. >> Oh, thank you, >> Mr. Mayor.

561
03:24:06.960 --> 03:24:22.399
>> Oh, uh my apologies. You're absolutely right. So, okay. Okay. So, we did not yet vote. I'll go ahead go ahead and move it. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> It's been moved and seconded by the vice mayor. All those in favor now say I. >> I. All oppose? No. The eyes have it. And

562
03:24:22.399 --> 03:24:37.279
now the motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Attorney. And sorry about the confusion there to my colleagues. >> Just remember resolution can be passed by voice. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Or ordinances uh especially ordinances on second reading need to be

563
03:24:37.279 --> 03:24:58.640
uh roll call. Okay. So with that, transmit away, Mr. Attorney. And we are now on item 10, pardon me, 11A. Um, so we go to the manager for an introduction. >> Yep. Jeremy. >> Good evening. Again, Jeremy Bdown,

564
03:24:58.640 --> 03:25:15.279
director of parks and recreation. Uh, this evening, I have the pleasure to introduce to you the town's new arbor coordinator. Uh she comes to us with a background um in plant science with a minor in horiculture environmental horiculture and a recent grad of University of Florida's agronomical

565
03:25:15.279 --> 03:25:32.239
program. Um Michelle St. Flor who we have here with us um has been with us now since the tail end of June. So I believe it was her first day was June 22nd. Um she's already transitioning into the town and transitioning to the team. We look forward to her extensive knowledge in the biology of plant life

566
03:25:32.239 --> 03:25:48.000
and adapting it to our arbor and our tree canopy and continuing to grow our our canopy beautiful. So, with that, I introduce Michelle. >> Yeah. And despite the fact that she's a Florida gator, we still hired her. [laughter] Boo. No, I'm just kidding. >> Um I'm excited and honored to be joining

567
03:25:48.000 --> 03:26:05.120
the town as arbor coordinator. Uh I'm excited for the opportunity to care for uh our community's um urban forest as well as to grow it too. And also I look forward to working with you all. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Uh oh wait, sorry

568
03:26:05.120 --> 03:26:22.239
the hazing is not over yet. Councilman Council Member Sanchez from the Navy has a few words. [laughter] >> Well, I want to say welcome to the tunnel lakes. You're going to see there's a lot of passionate people in the town about our canopy especially, but we also have a lot of passion about mulch.

569
03:26:22.239 --> 03:26:37.760
>> Mulch. >> So, we want to make sure >> there is a mulch genocide going on in this town as we speak. >> So, you know, >> and he's the culprit. [laughter] >> So, we do we do have someone that is, you know, very passionate about mulch and the natures natures of mulch and and and some and there's other individuals

570
03:26:37.760 --> 03:26:53.760
that like to use Wikipedia to research the the effects of of mulch and cancer. So, I just want to make sure that you know that that I appreciate all the education that you have and we, you know, we look forward to the knowledge that you can bring to the town with regards to all plant life, not just our canopies and mulch.

571
03:26:53.760 --> 03:27:08.720
>> Thank you. >> I'll do my best. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Councilman Cuadra Garcia. Yeah, you might want to wait here a little bit. >> I I knew he was going to come. >> Well, this is not the mulch guy, so but you know, but yeah, [laughter] he's the mulch guy, but we'll get to him next.

572
03:27:08.720 --> 03:27:24.720
Dr. Garcia, >> I'm going to ask a question for Dr. Mulch. Um Michelle >> Michelle Michelle does uh does mulch >> bring uh termites? >> Does mulch bring? As far as I know for

573
03:27:24.720 --> 03:27:40.479
mulch, what it can do is uh create an environment of high moisture. And depending on how much mulch you apply, it could be bad for the plants. Especially for palms, if you put too many too much mulch, it can kind of rot the bottom of the palm because the roots

574
03:27:40.479 --> 03:27:57.600
do need to breathe. >> But my question is termites, have you heard anything? If I go to uh uh Chad GPT right now and ask her uh does mulch bring uh termites, what would she say?

575
03:27:57.600 --> 03:28:13.040
>> I am not. >> Chad GPT is an it. We're not assigning it a gender. I have not done extensive research on termites, so I cannot give you a certain answer right now, but it is possible that the mulch can attract

576
03:28:13.040 --> 03:28:29.760
the termites as it can create a favorable environment for them. >> That's it. Thank you. >> I like a rebuttal, Mr. Mayor. [laughter] >> This is the mulch guy. >> I guess this is the mul anti-mulch corner. I'm not a mulch fan. I'm an anti-mulch, just to let you know. Um,

577
03:28:29.760 --> 03:28:45.600
welcome. This is a very important position for our town. >> Like we all said, there's a lot of people that are passionate, rightfully so, about our canopy and um you I'm look forward to working with you. I I spoke briefly with the town manager about your qualifications and it seems like this is

578
03:28:45.600 --> 03:29:02.720
a great pick and yes, I like to limit the amount of mulch both for fiscal reasons and aesthetic reasons in my opinion. But we'll have those discussions soon in budget season, guys. So, get ready. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, Mr. Vice Mayor, this is our park frolicker.

579
03:29:02.720 --> 03:29:22.399
>> I am the park frolicker. Um, first of all, I'm so sorry you you showed up here to deal with shade trees and beautiful canopies and you got stuck talking about mulch. >> No. Okay. It's all part of it. >> And just wait till you start talking about Brazilian peppers. Uh, >> staff staff knows staff knows.

580
03:29:22.399 --> 03:29:38.239
>> First and foremost, I want to welcome you. Thank you so much for, you know, uh, uh, taking a chance on us and and bringing your knowledge to us. Um, I I wanted to ask and maybe it's more of a question for Jeremy because it actually came up today. It would it be within her role to be in charge of determining like

581
03:29:38.239 --> 03:29:55.040
what when our our swale trees need medication or some sort of treatment because they look sick or something like that. >> No, that's something that we'll still take a look at internally. Um, both myself, you also have Dr. Jose Orana back there, our green space superintendent. So, we have an extensive history of knowledge for the town. So,

582
03:29:55.040 --> 03:30:11.840
we we've probably dealt with it. So for the meantime she'll be mainly relaying with us. Um but yes down the road she will she's already gone through uh IUS which is internet um >> which is the UF's version of introducing the knowledge of tree trimming. She's already gotten certified basic tree

583
03:30:11.840 --> 03:30:27.760
trimmer. So she understands that aspect but more indepth items directly with uh arbor care would be something that we would still look over. >> Got it. Perfect. Welcome again. >> Yes. Thank you so much. Is there anyone else? Yes, >> Council Member Fernandez, this is our

584
03:30:27.760 --> 03:30:44.160
traditionalist. >> Welcome, >> Council Member Fernandez. Yeah, just in you're recognized. >> Thank you. Welcome. I I just Yeah, I think they've said it and you're going to hear it from We are passionate about our trees. We love them and I'm sure that you are too with your background. So, I just wanted to welcome you.

585
03:30:44.160 --> 03:31:01.239
>> Thank you. >> There we go. So, we got mulch guy, pepper guy, tree man, you know, navy guy, you know. So, we got a couple here. All right, Mr. Manager. Yes, we have one more staff member that in the public Santos will introduce.

586
03:31:06.239 --> 03:31:22.560
>> I will keep mine short. So many of you may not know but in public works we have a subd department called general services. This department is in charge of amongst other things keeping rooms cold is one of them. my favorite

587
03:31:22.560 --> 03:31:38.319
>> and just the maintenance over all of our facilities. It also serves as a they assist parks with pocket park maintenance and just general facility maintenance. So with that, I am pleased to introduce our new facilities coordinator, Elasier Rayo. He comes to

588
03:31:38.319 --> 03:31:54.920
us with a background in logistics coordination and planning and he will be working handinhand with the department manager for the general services department to ensure that all town facilities are maintained well and and serviced. Um,

589
03:31:54.960 --> 03:32:11.439
>> good evening everyone. I just want to thanks God to this opportunity that you give it to me and I appreciate and I just want to do my best and happy to be part of the town of Miami Lakes team. Thank you so much. >> Welcome.

590
03:32:11.439 --> 03:32:27.840
>> Thank you so much and welcome to the town of Miami Lakes. >> And GSA also handles our uh oversight of our fleet which is >> of what? >> Of our fleet. >> Oh yes. >> Angela is definitely going to love him then. >> [laughter] >> Welcome. >> All right. Well, thank you very much.

591
03:32:27.840 --> 03:32:44.880
Uh, we are now on 12A, the consent calendar. Is there a motion? >> I'll move the consent calendar. >> It's been moved by the vice mayor. Is there a second? Seconded by council member Garcia. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All oppose? No. >> The item. >> Omar, don't leave. >> Oh, yeah. I'm like, you know, who's

592
03:32:44.880 --> 03:33:00.479
objecting to the Omar? >> All right. The the eyes have it. Uh the consent calendar is passed and uh before we continue on to ordinances on first reading, I want to uh I realize there was something I forgot to do at the top and uh you know just in case I hadn't

593
03:33:00.479 --> 03:33:15.840
made the motion previously, but I I need to reopen the order of business. Uh is there a second? It's been seconded by the vice mayor. Um all those in favor of reopening the agenda say I. I. All oppose, no. >> The eyes have it. Um, and it's very

594
03:33:15.840 --> 03:33:31.840
simply to combine the other big uh topic tonight, which is uh my item and council member Cuadra Garcia's item uh item 16 A and B, I believe they should be taken concurrently at the same time. Um, you know, it just is more efficient that way. So, with that, um, all those in

595
03:33:31.840 --> 03:33:48.399
favor of the amended agenda. Yes, >> can I rather, um, I'm sorry, but you're right. I haven't even made a motion yet, but go ahead. >> I was going to also just recommend I don't know how colleagues feel of just bringing up the Quasa judicial if they're here. uh so they don't have to wait. >> Is the are those here for the site plan? Are you here for the site plan approval?

596
03:33:48.399 --> 03:34:05.439
>> Okay. >> Okay. Yes. You know what? So let let's uh let's deal with that. So then let's move 15A uh to our next item. Right. That will be the next one we consider. So 15A ahead of ordinances on first reading and then we will combine 16A and

597
03:34:05.439 --> 03:34:22.399
B when we get there. >> Right. >> I'll second. >> So okay. Well I I'll move it. It's been seconded by Council Member Fernandez. All those in favor say I. I. >> All oppose, no. >> No. >> Now one no. Uh the eyes have it and the agenda is amended as stated and we are

598
03:34:22.399 --> 03:34:39.040
now on 15A which is a resolution a quasi judicial public hearing which therefore we will go to the attorney for his required statement. >> Please be advised that the following items on the board's agenda are quasi judicial in nature. an opportunity for persons to speak on [clears throat] each

599
03:34:39.040 --> 03:34:56.080
item will be made available after the applicant and staff have made their presentations on each item. All testimony, including public testimony and evidence, will be made under oath or affirmation. Additionally, each person who gives testimony may be subject to cross-examination. If you do not wish to be either cross-examined or sworn, your

600
03:34:56.080 --> 03:35:12.319
testimony will be given its due weight. The general public will not be permitted to cross-examine witnesses, but the public may request the board to ask questions of staff or witnesses on their behalf. Persons representing organizations must present evidence of their authority to speak for the organization. Any person presenting

601
03:35:12.319 --> 03:35:32.800
documents to the board should provide the town clerk with a minimum of 10 copies. Further details of the quasi judicial procedure may be obtained from the clerk. We're here on hearing number PHP2026-0195 VR2026-0196. The applicant is store all acquisitions. The folio

602
03:35:32.800 --> 03:35:51.600
is 3220220006160. Location 14180 Northwest 77th Court, Miami Lakes, Florida 3316. In accordance with the town of Miami Lakes Land Development Code, store all acquisitions is requesting per section 13304 site plan approval and per section

603
03:35:51.600 --> 03:36:08.239
13305 a variance from section 13-786 C to allow the new construction of a four storage of a fourstory self storage facility. >> Mayor Mayor. >> Hey. Uh well, yeah. Uh Mr. Manager,

604
03:36:08.239 --> 03:36:24.640
>> I just want to introduce the item a >> Yeah, I was going to say where where is Susanna today? Susanna is in northern Spain. >> Oh, wow. >> She's celebrating. >> I'm Susanna. >> Oh, boy. Now I'm scared. >> Yeah. [laughter] So, >> all right, Mr. Manager, go ahead. >> And as the town attorney stated, this is

605
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for a site plan approval with a variance. This the uh the code allows this is for a storage facility that's going to be uh on Perimeter Road, 77th Court uh just uh almost to 78th Avenue. And the only thing is the code allows

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the proper height, which is what they're going to build out, but it it it says that it's restricted to two stories, which doesn't make sense. There's something that we got to fix in our code. So, what they're looking for is a variance to allow four stories that would conform with the 50 uh 50 foot

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height. It's the very same uh variance that this council approved for the storage facility that's over on the east side off of Red Road by the Bank of America and the Taco Bell by Costco. The very same exact uh variance because they had the the same exact uh conflicting issue. >> So just to be clear then staff's

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recommendation is to approve. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. With that with the >> Oh, I'm so sorry. Yes. I need to swear in whoever is going to speak. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear to say the truth and only the truth? So help you God.

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>> Perfect. Thank you. And as well, I need to state for the record that the elected officials, mayor, and all the council members have provided me, the clerk, the exarty communications disclosure forms. >> And before you proceed, sir, I apologize because we had not sworn in, I just need

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the manager who has now been sworn in, to go ahead and answer my question. Does staff recommend approval of this project? >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, now you may proceed, sir. >> Well, I'm sorry. I think the mic may be turned off.

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>> It's on now. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor, commissioners. Thank you very much for hearing this uh this evening. Uh, and I know you've had a very long night. So, first of all, my name is Felix Partardo.

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My offices are at 2100 ZO Street, sweet 303, Coral Gables, Florida. We have a a very very brief uh presentation, but uh just so you understand, this is a very unique site.

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It has uh chipped out a corner of the site that has a 150 or 141 ft antenna on there that was actually built before Miami Lakes was incorporated. Um furthermore uh what makes this uh

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interesting is that uh in this area which started as an industrial area because it is zoned IU uh C and because of that um many of the buildings in the immediate area are over three stories or

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four stories if you will. Uh this is a self-s storage building. We I have built or we have built self- storage buildings all over the state of Florida and it just does not look like a self-s storage building. It's very compatible with the existing buildings or more modern

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buildings in this area. Uh the great thing about uh the use of self storage is that the amount of parking is minimal. uh so the impact on the existing uh office buildings that are in

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that area is negligible if at all. Second thing is we were able to maneuver around the existing uh tower uh and we were asked by the um architectural committee to please buffer uh with

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landscaping heavily buffer uh the area around the existing antenna uh because for years they the u uh Graham family has tried to get them to beautify that area and they just have not been able to. We gave them our word we would and

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they were very very appreciative and they wrote a very outstanding letter of recommendation uh for uh our uses and our intention. Um if you could put please put the site plan up.

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Okay, sorry that one. Uh you could see on the upper right hand corner you could see the area that's chipped out. It is a long-term lease. Uh but that is a chipped out area that makes it very very difficult to negotiate the square

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footage that you would need to be able to make it a competitive um project. If you could go to the next one please, you could see here that the entrance off the major street which is on the bottom, the full alley which is on the top uh that

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is for service vehicles, emergency vehicles and just plain circulation. on the uh upper right hand corner. Uh you could see what we uh did that was requested by the architectural review committee and you could see the blowup

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over on the right hand side of the antenna area and how we have just absolutely uh smothered it with trees uh both low and high uh to be able to cover the fenced area etc and and make it into a much more palatable uh area. Next

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slide please. You could see here that this does not look like a self-s storage building. It looks more like an office building. And um we've done this before with very strict codes such as in Ker County u Sarasota uh many many areas

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that really and city of Hollywood and u uh people are always amazed that it isn't an office building. Uh if you could go to the next slide please. So that front view this is where you come in. It's it's a it's a horseshoe semic-ircular type of thing. And we have

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the parking immediately to the u right abudding the uh the front sidewalk. We've only used an accentual color uh in the canopies uh to make it clear for people that are coming in um customers that already have a unit there or new

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customers that are coming in. They have full access. It catches their eye. And you could see also that the the signage that we put up is very very subtle. Next slide, please. This is the rear view from um what is

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not the principal road, but it's an access easement that looks like a road. So therefore, in this access easement on the back, you could see that we also have fenestration glass. The part on the left, we took the landscaping out so you

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could see what the that side of the building looks like, but right now they have that fence around it. Next slide, please. And there you could see more fenestration over on the corner from the backside. We have removed in the rendering purposes so you could see the

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building better and the articulation in the building. Um you could see there uh clearly that we have uh fenestration, we have movement staff was was uh very happy with this and so was the architectural review committee. Uh they

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were very complimentary. So we have removed there maybe more than uh 20 trees just so you could see the building. But as you saw in the previous landscaping drawing that it is uh completely full. Uh next slide please.

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This is the copy of the letter uh from the association and uh endorsing endorsing this and they thought that it was a very clever use of the this particular parcel and that concludes my presentation. Mr. Mayor, >> thank you very much, Mr. Partardo. Um

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before the the vice member has asked me a question regarding the public hearing. We will get there in uh in due time. Uh but first uh questions only of the applicant. Um, not discussion yet. Are there any questions among my colleagues

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of our staff or uh the applicant? >> Oh, yeah. You can also ask. >> Yeah. Well, first, Councilman Fernandez and Councilman Garcia, >> I think I asked, but I'll I'll ask it. Did this go through planning and zoning? Did they have to go through >> PNZ?

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>> I don't know. I don't believe because I normally when it does go through PNZ, they they'll reflect it in the staff report and I don't see it. So, is isn't Justin here? Uh I thought I saw him earlier. If he's available, maybe he can answer that for us.

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>> Yeah. Uh and maybe in the meantime. Okay. Well, we have our deputy town attorney to stand in. Okay. >> Sorry. >> Did this go through PNZ? >> It did not go through PNZ. No, this type of item as per our code goes directly to you. >> Okay. Got it. >> It's for site plan approval with a variance. >> Okay. Uh with that, Councilman, do you

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have anything else? >> All right. Councilman Garcia, >> just a quick question. So the it was approved for two stories. The variance is for four. So the was the twotory var twotory plan approved. >> Yes. The the twotory goes to four

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stories. The overall height we are under the overall height which is 50 ft which is the rightway width in the front based on the zoning. >> Yes sir. The issue the issue becomes is that our code is silent when it comes to the actual height for these type of

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storage facilities. But since it's considered a commercial uh building in in our code, commercial buildings can go up to a height of 50 feet. So it says two stories, 50 feet. So what he's requesting is in order since the code is is kind of a little vague when it comes

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to to this issue to allow it to be four stories interior. >> Absolutely. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And with that, >> further questions? >> Hey, Councilman Garcia. >> Chair, um I'd like to get a little clarification. Um, what is it that I am going to be

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voting on? >> 15A. >> I know it's 15 alpha site plan approval to uh approve the site plan and a variance to allow them to do four stories instead of two stories, but the height that they're building is actually

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less than the height that they are allowed to build. They're allowed to build up to 50. I think the plans are 48 or 47 or somewhere in there. >> We're about five feet under. Yeah. Are there any other questions of staff or the applicant? All right. I'm going to

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open the public hearing. The public hearing is now open for uh comments on 15A. Seeing no one in chambers. Madame clerk, is there anyone online line wishing to speak on item 15A? >> There are no participants online. >> Excellent. Okay. So, with that, I'm

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going to close the public hearing. The public hearing is now closed and I will go ahead and move the item for approval as presented by staff for the reasons contained in the staff report. Second, >> it's been seconded by the vice mayor. That's what I heard first. Uh and uh with that, is there any discussion on this item?

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>> I just want to actually say um I was actually kind of commenting it off to the side while you were presenting it. Um I want to thank you for bringing a design that really does actually you're saying it and then it's actually blending into the overall area. It it

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Yeah, I I really like that design. Um it does it doesn't Yes, it's not orange. Thank you. Or or lime green. Um it actually I commented it looks like the headquarters for public storage. It doesn't look like a public storage. >> It's funny that you say that, >> but you're not the first one that has said it on this design. >> I thought it looked more like the aloft,

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but you know, that's just me, you know, [laughter] >> and that's what that's what we really like to see here in Miami Lakes where our buildings really almost grow out of the earth rather than get imposed on it. So So it really looks nice. Thank you for that. >> I think that's a good way to explain it. Councilman Herszburg, >> I I share the sentiments. I think it's a

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nice design and someone wants to develop an industrial building on industrial land, I'm all for it. Looks good for me. >> Very good. >> Thank hiding the antenna. [laughter] >> That's a big win. Councilman Fernandez, >> ju just a comment because I want I think for the rest of my colleagues. So if I

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always say we can when we come when it comes to building I mean nobody wants to see more building but when it comes to we can always restrict building and say no when there's a variance involved but here they're they're building they're asking to build within their max amount

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of of of uh of height and more importantly I think the the reason or because just the the business itself it doesn't doesn't really impact traffic I think he stated but if you just think about how how many times somebody goes

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and visits one of their storage facilities. You know, you could leave something there and not pass by for months and months. So, this is the really attractive for the town. I'll just leave it with that. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Anyone else?

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Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the role on item 15A. >> Item 15A, Council Member Fernandez. Yes. >> Council member Sanchez. >> Yes. >> Council member Garcia.

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>> Yes. >> Council member Cuadra. Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council member Hburg. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta. >> Yes. >> Mayor Diegas. >> Yes. >> Item 15A passes. >> Thank you very much for your time. Congratulations. And again, you can pass

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on the compliments to your client. >> Thank you very much. >> Have a great evening. >> If they want to build boat storage, that'd be great. [laughter] Uh, and of course, yes, let us know when they're ready to uh, cut the ribbon. We'll be more than happy to schedule one with them. Thank you so much. Have a great evening. Okay, ladies and

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gentlemen, we are getting back on the uh, main order of business, which is 14A, ordinances on first reading. Mr. Attorney, >> 13A, [clears throat] my apologies. A >> an ordinance of the town council of town of Miami Lakes, Florida, amending chapter 35, utilities, article 2, utilities, facilities, and public rights

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of way of the town code of ordinances to allow to align the town's regulations governing the installation, maintenance, and removal of utility facilities within public rights of way with current Florida statutes. Providing for amendments, definitions, registration, insurance, and demonification, termination, permitting and related

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provisions, providing for severability, providing for inclusion in the code in the code, providing for conflicts, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. Uh we are now going to go to the director of public works, M. >> Yeah, let him just to give you quick explanation of exactly what

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>> Yes. to go ahead and introduce the item. Again, these are items on first reading. I just want to note that for my colleagues. So good evening. So this is part of a review that was started a while back to check look at our code and see uh specifically to existing utility

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pools, make sure that we have the the language in our code to enforce the removal within a timely manner. During the review, we found that specifically to this section, article two, we do have um that language, but we needed to make

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some changes to make sure that we're in compliance with current law, specifically some of the statutes, and that's what you have in front of you. Uh many of the changes are related to that. >> Well, thank you very much, Mr. Santos. Again, these are items on first reading,

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so it's very non-traditional to have the uh discussion on this. >> What? Uhhuh. Oh, no. Okay. No, no. I'm just just pointing it out general for my colleagues for because we have a couple items on first reading. The vice mayor has moved the item. I will go ahead and second it. Madame clerk, please call the role.

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>> Ordinance in first reading, item 13A. Council member Hzburg, >> yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Garcia,

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>> yes. Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Morero, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. >> Item 13E, ordinance and first reading, passes. >> Perfect. We are now on 13B, amending chapter 38 of the town code, special taxing districts to be presented by

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director Bagdown. Uh after after the attorney reads uh the ordinance into the record. >> An ordinance of the town council of town Miami Lakes Florida amending chapter 38 special taxing districts of the town code of ordinances amending section 382 to provide a definition of capital improvement and to establish a uniform

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process for the adoption of special assessments for capital improvement projects with the town special taxing districts providing for severability providing for the inclusion in the code providing for conflicts and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you Mr. Attorney Mr. Bagdown or Director Bagdown, you are recognized to

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introduce the item. >> Good evening. Uh the ordinance you have in front of you looks at tackling uh two issues that we through the past couple years have come aboard have come aboard with our special taxing districts. um they come off the most recent change and a resolution that was passed in 2024 uh

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which started to add some context that started us put us in the position to look at capital improvements to look at things of changing increasing assessment rates for different uh services. So as a part of that, this ordinance here goes ahead and adopts a the definition of

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capital improvement as well as the uh establishing the process for assessment rate increases uh which is uniform with the same way an amendment to the ordinance will be done. Um so um again this is an ordinance in first reading and if there's any questions from the

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council >> for questions only. Anyone got questions? Vice Mayor M. This is just primarily to address like kind of like that gap that we had when uh Loman wanted to bring in uh the special assessment to improve their guard house. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Correct.

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>> Any questions? >> And at the same time identifying and uh putting the exact definition of what a capital improvement is. >> Perfect. Yeah. All right. So, M it's been moved by the vice mayor. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by Councilman Garcia. Madame

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clerk, please call the role. Item 13B, ordinance in first reading. Council member Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Hzburg,

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>> yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. >> Ordinance and first reading item 13B passes. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. We're now on 13C. Mayor, but yes, >> I believe Mr. Bashdown wants to provide some information.

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>> Why you interrupting my flow? >> I apologize. There is one item since we're talking about special taxing districts that I just wanted to address. I know that there was a public comment uh through the clerk's office relating to the workshop and there was a topic on the assessment rates that have already

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been passed. Just for clarification purposes on the record, these rates are passed not final till September 15th and it is not the rate that will be assessed. It is the at this point highest rate that has been approved by the council. It still can be and I want to clarify that still can be brought

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back down. That is when it comes to the time of setting the actual budget for these um special taxing districts. Just wanted to clarify that. >> Perfect. I think that will help reduce the number of pitch for forks that come after you and the budget director. But you know wait but I just want to ask our

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budget director boy to to confirm that >> just when she thought she was >> we got a different bit of information during the workshop. So >> sorry when it comes to the budget I she's the one I trust. >> Good evening, Mayor Council. Thank you for your trust. >> Why do you sound so scared?

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>> Do you want me to repeat the question? >> I'm sorry. >> Did you want me to repeat the question? Yeah. So, [clears throat] so what he's saying is that the number that we've set thus far uh regarding the STDs that is more like a cap rate like what we're used to with our budget, it's not a

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fixed assessment rate because that's kind of what I think uh Mr. Giannis told us at the workshop and I think that that's what kind of led to the confusion. So, I just wanted to clarify >> what you have approved and what I have submitted to the property appraiser which will then be implemented into the trim notice that will go out on August

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24th. um is the cap of the assessment rate. >> Okay. >> On September 15th, that is when I will have to submit to the property appraisers office what the final assessment would be if you so choose to then decide to reopen that and have another discussion to reduce the

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assessment. >> Okay. So it so it can in fact come down. >> It can come down. You just cannot raise it. >> Thank you. And I didn't mean to not not trust you, Mr. Backdown. I just wanted to hear from from our our budget master. Make sure to add them to the list. >> Any other questions regarding

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>> that? That is all. >> All right. So, with that, now continue on with my flow. 13C budget amendment for contribution of 1.56 million for [clears throat] senior center project. Mr. Attorney, please read the ordinance into the record. An ordinance of the town council of Miami Lakes, Florida,

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amending ordinance 2025346, approving the fiscal year 2025 2026 annual operating budget to recognize and appropriate a contribution from the Graham Companies in the amount of $1,560,000 for the construction of the senior center project providing for the

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increase of capital projects fund parks improvements revenues and appropriations in the amount of $1,560 $60,000 as set as set forth in exhibit A. providing for authority, providing for implementation, providing for repeal of ordinances in conflict, providing for

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separability, providing for inclusion, and providing for an effective date. >> Try not to sound bored as you're reading that. [laughter] >> Uh, you know, I got nothing but love for you, uh, Mr. Peterman. >> Yeah, real quick. This is just the as the approval for the Lakeside project,

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uh, constituted, there was going to be an contribution by the Graham Companies for that project uh, to the town. [music] They've paid it. We This is to accept the $ 1.56 million and then appropriate those funds to the capital center or uh senior center capital

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account. >> I'll move it. It's been moved by the vice mayor. Is there a second? Seconded by council member Hersburg. And Councilman Sanchez has a question. >> Yes. Will the funds be put into an account that will be interesting in order to increase it over time like a high yield savings account or something to that nature?

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>> We always we co-mingle our cash. >> Okay. So we have it co-mingled and it's always uh any excess cash we always invest it. It's very conservative. Uh Kay and I look at it with the advice of our investment uh consultant. Um but it's always it will be invested until we

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the point where we need it. So we always have that conversation. Uh when do you think we're going to need it? Do can we put it in a three-month CD, six month CD, a year long CD? And we have that conversation. And then we uh for for all of our accounts, storm water, uh capital accounts, um everything. >> When you say conservative, are we

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putting into accounts where the returns are in the decimals or are they in the single%? >> I think they're around 3 or 4% now, right? >> There you go. >> Perfect. Okay. >> Yeah. That way it can carry through inflation and things like >> Yeah, we have a investment consultant that helps us and then he helps with the

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solicitation and goes out and and puts it out in the market and then he gets the solicitation the responses back. >> Exactly. goes over it with K and then K and I look at it and then we make the decision of how to place the uh cash. >> Perfect. Yeah. Because I just want to make sure that 1.56 today, two years from now, is not worth 1.56. It just sits dormant. I want to make sure that

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it it grows with the inflation rate. Thank you very much. >> All righty. With that, uh no more questions. Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Ordinance in first reading item 13C. Council member Sanchez.

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>> Yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia. Yes. >> Council member Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Council member Hzburg. >> Yes. >> Council member Garcia. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta. >> Yes. >> Mayor Diegas. >> Yes. >> Ordinance in first reading. Item 13C

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passes. >> Excellent. We are now on ordinances on second reading which are public hearings beginning with 14A. The revised lean reduction ordinance. Mr. Attorney, please go ahead and read the ordinance into the record. [clears throat] >> An ordinance with oomph. >> Okay. An ordinance of the town of Miami

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Lakes, Florida, amending chapter 18, chapter 8, section 8-7 of the town of Miami Lakes Code of Ordinances titled recovery of unpaid civil penalties. Unpaid penalty to constitute a lean interest to be paid on leans, foreclosure, prohibition of the issuance of permits, licenses, certificates of

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use, and occupancy or zoning approvals to violations with unpaid civil penalties or leans. civil penalty reduction to temporarily reinstate prior lean mitigation schedules to require town council approval prior to foreclosure on non-homestead property

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providing for inclusion into the code providing for repeal of ordinances and conflict providing for severability and providing for an effective date >> out of boy I knew you could do it you see we deal with with enough dry material and with tense moments so it's nice to break uh you know break all that with somebody

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>> like a heat announcer I love it >> exactly you know so you know so that that's where it comes from when when I when I talk about these things. So, with that, obviously, this is the lean reduction ordinance to me with uh all fairness to the vice mayor, my colleague. It has my name on it, but this is really his item coming back with

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the revision that he and I would have worked out, but for one council member, unfortunately, not understanding what they were voting on. So, here we are now on second reading. Um before we uh well, first to get us in the proper posture, I'm going to go ahead and move the item. >> Do you not need to open up? We will

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after we get the item in front of the council. All right. It's been u moved by the mayor, seconded by the vice mayor. Um before we go into discussion again because obviously if it doesn't even get a second, you know. Yeah. So, all right. With that, we're going to move to the public comment on this item 14A. The

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public comment period is now open or public hearing rather is now open on 14A. Seeing no one in chambers, madam clerk, is there anyone online? >> No participants online. With that, we are closing the public hearing and we are now in discussion. Uh discussion on

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14A. Colleagues, seeing none. All right. If there's no no questions, let's go ahead and call the role. Madame clerk, do your thing. >> Ordinance in second reading, item 14A. Council member Hzburg. >> Yes.

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>> Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. [snorts] Council member Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Mora, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes.

703
04:02:53.680 --> 04:03:09.439
>> The ordinance in second reading, item 148 passes. >> Congratulations, Vice Mayor, and to all my colleagues. But again, this this is going to be the last one for real. For real. This time, I'm super serial as they would say as they would say on South Park.

704
04:03:09.439 --> 04:03:24.880
All right, with that we are on 14B budget amendment JAG grant. Uh Mr. Attorney, do your thing. An ordinance of the town of Miami Lakes, Florida, amending the fiscal year 2025 2026 annual operating budget adopted in accordance with in accordance with 2025

705
04:03:24.880 --> 04:03:40.479
346 to recognize and appropriate grant funds awarded to the town by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement under the Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistant Grant, JAG, uh program for the purchase of police equipment providing for the increase of general fund revenues and appropriate appropriations in the amount

706
04:03:40.479 --> 04:03:58.239
of $4,54 as set forth in exhibit A providing for authority, providing for implementation, providing for repeal of ordinances in conflict, and providing for an effective date. >> Mr. Manager. >> Yeah. This is the same one you saw last month. This is to accept the second part

707
04:03:58.239 --> 04:04:15.199
of the JAG grant this year and then to appropriate it uh to this is for law enforcement equipment. >> I'll move it. >> It's been moved by the vice mayor. >> Seconded by council member Sanchez. Um, at this time I'm going to open the public hearing on item 14B.

708
04:04:15.199 --> 04:04:30.160
Is there anyone in the public wishing to speak on item 14B? Seeing none, Madame Clerk, anyone online? >> No participants online. Mayor, >> therefore, I shall close the public hearing. Public hearing [clears throat] is now closed on 14B. Any discussion, colleagues? Seeing none, madam clerk,

709
04:04:30.160 --> 04:04:46.720
please call the role. >> Ordinance in second reading. Item 14B. Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> I approve. Yes.

710
04:04:46.720 --> 04:05:03.040
>> Council member Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Hburg, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. >> The ordinance in second reading, item 14B, passes. >> Thank you very much, Madame Clerk. We

711
04:05:03.040 --> 04:05:19.199
now move on to new business items beginning with items 16A and 16B which were combined by previous order of the council. Um and again these are uh identical top this is an identical topic to be clear um but with two different

712
04:05:19.199 --> 04:05:35.600
directions. Although I just also want to be clear about one thing that my item as it would be in any situation is not a clean renewal. Right? Obviously, there's a negotiating stage here um which the manager and the person I'm nominating that that would repres represent the

713
04:05:35.600 --> 04:05:51.439
council in those negotiations being councilman Herszburg. They would need to go ahead and discuss the renewal terms and then come back before this council for a final vote. So, just to be clear that there would be no finality in this situation if we were to go with my recommendation.

714
04:05:51.439 --> 04:06:07.199
Now, turning to the counter proposal that is before us uh tonight, I want to begin by addressing the post, the press release, whatever you want to call it, from the alleged Miami Lake Civic Alliance. Right.

715
04:06:07.199 --> 04:06:23.840
The the the flat harsh reality here is that there's not a single substantive issue raised in this justifying moving in a different direction from manager Peterman. That's the reality. In fact, I got a call yesterday from one

716
04:06:23.840 --> 04:06:41.760
of the people listed here who was to who told me that they had not even taken a vote on this at the time that this was put out there. So, I find that interesting that an organization consisting of however many people are listed at the bottom is pushing putting out a position statement paper without

717
04:06:41.760 --> 04:06:58.720
even having consulted its alleged members, right? Um before putting it out. So that raises a lot of credibility issues with me in addition to just the fact that there what when what I'm reading a lot into this and from some of the comments that I've seen uh justifying going to in a different

718
04:06:58.720 --> 04:07:16.319
direction. It sounds like a lot lot of hope and change to me. Right. I'm not a big fan of hoping hope and change as a governing strategy. That is a political slogan and that's all it all it is. Oh, it's about renewal and what can come next? Again, sounds nice, but what's on

719
04:07:16.319 --> 04:07:32.960
the other side of that, right? I will give you an a perfect example of what having a fresh start and renewal looked like in Miami Le's history. There was a point where uh manager Alex Ray left us. It was in the 2000s and was replaced by

720
04:07:32.960 --> 04:07:50.160
another individual who as a person was a standout individual. Right. To my recollection, it was his term was either at about a year or less than before the council had to go back and and drag Mr. Ray back into the town because he was not performing his duties as as

721
04:07:50.160 --> 04:08:06.000
expected. This is to say that just going out and seeing what's out there is not as harmless as it sounds. and getting a new manager that may present well on paper is not going to necessarily yield the result that we're looking for if we're

722
04:08:06.000 --> 04:08:23.680
serious about moving the town forward. The the re the slogan of hope and change runs up against the reality of the situation which is we have a manager who has been with us now going on 10 years. >> Oh, eight years. Sorry, I'm I'm exact

723
04:08:23.680 --> 04:08:39.120
I'm sorry I'm thinking about myself in in other contexts, but you're right. eight years, you know, but uh the but he's right now at the center of the 59th Avenue uh project uh at the beginning of the Mamakes Optimus Park improvements that we're

724
04:08:39.120 --> 04:08:56.239
finally getting done. He is has been an integral part of the Gratney project. Again, the man's on GMX on the that board of directors to me to go and start trying to begin a process for finding a new manager and having that person come in and then have to not only get up to

725
04:08:56.239 --> 04:09:10.960
speed on this, but then I have to because they're inevitably going to bring their people and there there's always turnover with all these things, right? So, where is that turnover going to come from? How is that going to set us back when it comes to these major capital improvement projects? those projects are obviously not going to wrap

726
04:09:10.960 --> 04:09:27.680
up within the six or whatever months it is remaining on his current on the balance of his contract term. Right? So these are very real issues and I have not heard of any you again putting aside that so far there have been no concrete deficiencies uh listed more importantly

727
04:09:27.680 --> 04:09:44.560
for me because I can even understand the desire to just want a new direction or not even a new direction but to have a manager that others have had input on. That's a that's a that's an argument that's come up here on the dis before. It's not new, but and I understand it. But in practical terms, who comes after

728
04:09:44.560 --> 04:09:59.680
him? Mr. Manager, I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong. When you and I spoke, you were very clear with me that you would not apply if if we did not agree to renew your contract. Is that correct? >> Yes, sir. >> So, if we decide to go into the this

729
04:09:59.680 --> 04:10:16.880
other direction, he's gone. And now we have to go out with the speculative future. Unless somebody can tell me they know they have a candidate in mind who is guaranteed to apply would be as good or better than Mr. Peterman. You know if you tell me that I will feel a little

730
04:10:16.880 --> 04:10:33.199
better. But right now there's a lot of uncertainty and that is going to be the the result of going in a new direction at this time. Right. there's just a lot going uh you know a lot of uh irons in the fire and him and his team have been

731
04:10:33.199 --> 04:10:48.479
uh at the core of all that. He and I have worked hand and glove on 59th Avenue. Uh he's working diligently on the Optimus Park. I kind of wish that him and staff had come up with this plan back in 2022, but that's another story alto together. But the point is that he has been at the center of that as is his

732
04:10:48.479 --> 04:11:04.160
team. And again, remember because it happened even when he came in and I'm sure he'll remember and for those of you that were even around, there's always turnover when we have these changes. The question is how big will that turnover be in which departments? How will that affect us in the middle of all these big

733
04:11:04.160 --> 04:11:19.279
projects? So, I don't think it is prudent again unless there is a guaranteed candidate that is of better of the same or better value coming in that will be in the mix and will still go through the committee process like everybody else. But unless we have that, I think I just think this is hope and

734
04:11:19.279 --> 04:11:34.720
change. It's a campaign strategy with very real consequences if we get this wrong. So, and I just want to reiterate as I close before I make uh my motion that the that this is a two-step process. So, there will be another bite at the apple at this for those that are

735
04:11:34.720 --> 04:11:50.560
are truly not satisfied with the manager's performance, right? which is the my motion is simply to have council member uh Herszburg negotiate an extension with the manager. I I'm actually partial to a two-year extension. You know, personally, which I

736
04:11:50.560 --> 04:12:06.960
think dovetales nicely with the end of my first term. After all, I don't think anybody disputes that in order to fulfill the intergovernmental role of the mayor, the manager and the mayor have to be aligned. And we are we are very much aligned to be frank. And um so

737
04:12:06.960 --> 04:12:23.840
that I think also needs to, you know, be considered. And uh so my motion would be to go ahead and consider a two-year contract extension uh for manager Peterman appointing Councilman Herszburg to go ahead and negotiate and come back to us with the contract. And if we don't agree with it, we don't agree with it

738
04:12:23.840 --> 04:12:39.120
and it is what it is. And then we we still have enough time to pursue the alternate uh committee process, you know, to look for new candidates if need be. And uh with that, that is my motion. The last thing I do want to add though before actually I I close is I again I

739
04:12:39.120 --> 04:12:55.040
want to point out that at no point not in this letter, not in any other material I've been given or anything else I've heard, no one has complained about projects being over budget. In fact, I don't think that's really been an issue here. I don't think anybody's really had any, you know, major

740
04:12:55.040 --> 04:13:10.880
complaints. You know, you know, maybe some disagreements, but major complaints with the staff that he's picked. Um, and so th those are things that I think militate in favor of at least keeping the status quo for the next two years while I complete my first term. And with that, I close and I and I make my

741
04:13:10.880 --> 04:13:27.120
motion. >> Second for discussion. >> Thank you. Seconded. And we'll we'll begin with the vice mayor. >> Thank you, mayor. So, first and foremost, I do want to echo the sentiments of some of the residents that came up and expressed uh sincere gratitude and and um admiration for our

742
04:13:27.120 --> 04:13:43.680
our manager and the service he's given our town. And I want to emphasize that my position on this is strictly in my role as a fiduciary for our residents. Um and and I say that because I truly consider him a friend. I consider him uh

743
04:13:43.680 --> 04:14:00.000
a great neighbor uh and a very ethical and good person. Um this has nothing to do with that. This is strictly professional. Um I do believe that our town uh can look not at the past. I I understand that those things happened in

744
04:14:00.000 --> 04:14:14.720
the past. You mentioned that you know that we we switched away from uh Mr. Ray and then within a year or so we had to come back and guess what? The town survived. the the town came out of that and it is doing fine. Um if we don't

745
04:14:14.720 --> 04:14:32.399
find um greener grass on the other side, we can always engage in the process again and find it. But I think staying stagnant is not a good thing either. For the same reason that we have term limits on ourselves, I do believe the executive should also have term limits. Not term

746
04:14:32.399 --> 04:14:49.840
limits in the same exact sense. Um it's more contractual. you know, when when the discussion last came around, it was more um about deficiencies or as you mentioned, things maybe being over budget or complaints from the council or

747
04:14:49.840 --> 04:15:06.239
from residents that and that's why they didn't get support because frankly, manager Peterman has done a good job. Um this is more the contract is up and do we want to go in a different direction? Um my position is I personally yes. I'm

748
04:15:06.239 --> 04:15:23.120
I'm tired of being afraid. I'm tired of being told like we don't have guarantees. I'm sorry, but especially the attorneys up here know it's the first thing we tell our clients. There's no such thing as guarantees. We will never say that a case is 100% uh strong or 100% a loser

749
04:15:23.120 --> 04:15:40.319
or 0%. It's somewhere in between. And the same applies here. The same applies with um this got louder. Uh the same applies with um uh the possibilities of of a new manager. We we may get a dud. That that can happen. I'm sorry to tell

750
04:15:40.319 --> 04:15:56.800
you that. But very easily we can also find a a phenomenal new manager. Um and as far as um the clean renewal, I have my concerns because if what we're proposing is another two years, then

751
04:15:56.800 --> 04:16:12.960
yes, he will be at 10 years. But what are the terms of that? Moreover, what if you don't reach an agreement? Because you the message that we're sending by taking this vote today is we're going with you hell or high water. What incentive is there on that side? Sorry

752
04:16:12.960 --> 04:16:29.040
again, I'm taking my position as a fiduciary of the town, but what incentive is there on that side of the bargaining table to negotiate with you for for something that's advantageous to our residents? The answer is nothing because he holds all the cards and all the leverage. Um, and so that's where I

753
04:16:29.040 --> 04:16:45.040
start struggling as a fiduciary of our residents. Um, it has nothing to do with performance. It's And then let's just say because I I I think I've heard things about the compensation staying where it's at or something like that.

754
04:16:45.040 --> 04:17:02.080
Then I I develop a different concern. my town manager is not going to be getting the standard increases um that that are customary for a town manager. So, we're not we're no longer being competitive. What again, what incentive is there now for him to work

755
04:17:02.080 --> 04:17:18.640
harder on behalf of us and on behalf of our residents? Um there there there's a lot that goes into it. I I respect the opinions of of all of the residents that have come forward, all of my colleagues. Uh, and most of all, I respect your tenure of service. Um, but I would like

756
04:17:18.640 --> 04:17:33.279
to see the the options. And I will end by saying it it is a little sad for me to see that it it not something you would be interested in doing in uh applying if we did proceed because it puts us in a position of well, it's

757
04:17:33.279 --> 04:17:50.560
either you pick me or I'm not willing to compete for my job. And that to me is like well if we do it to all of our contractors every single one of our contractors how often do we get up on this dis and we say hey this this particular contract can we see can we

758
04:17:50.560 --> 04:18:06.640
send it out for bid and see if there's better options out there and nine times out of 10 maybe that contractor is the one that wins because they they already know our system they know what we're willing to pay and then they keep the contract because they make the best bid. But why are we not willing to do that

759
04:18:06.640 --> 04:18:22.880
with one of our larger well one of our our bigger contracts even though it's an employment contract? It's the same concept applies. So yeah, I I I would like to see it again with complete respect. You you've done a tremendous job for our town. Our town is in a

760
04:18:22.880 --> 04:18:37.920
better position thanks to you. And frankly, if my colleagues don't get on board with me, I am happy to continue working with you. >> Mayor, >> no. I I'd like >> wait. Uh >> my my my >> No, no, no, no, no. That's not how this works. I don't know how many times I have to go over this. Councilman

761
04:18:37.920 --> 04:18:53.439
Herszburg spoke first, so we're going to allow him to uh speak first. >> Thank you, mayor. Listen, this is very difficult decision, right? And I've been going back and forth on it. I've spoken to a lot of people. First of all, I want to point one thing out. There's nobody

762
04:18:53.439 --> 04:19:09.439
here because there's no problem with our town manager. I agree. The idea of going after something new is really exciting, really cool. Someone called me today saying, "Hey, you guys can pick your own town manager. You can make your own agenda." We we make our own agenda.

763
04:19:09.439 --> 04:19:26.159
That's our job. Do I have issues, some issues with town manager? Yes, I spoke to him about it. Does he get into policy a little bit too much? Yes. Uh was I I it's a public record. It's an email. Me and him had a disagreement about the charter commission, his involvement. Ultimately, the charter commission

764
04:19:26.159 --> 04:19:42.080
decided to bring him back. I think that was a mistake by the charter commission, but they did it. They did it themselves. Um, but the the problem I have is where's the crisis? Where's every single person that said we should go for town? Every single person calls public

765
04:19:42.080 --> 04:19:57.359
comments, this letter from the civic association, every single person that said we should replace the town manager says the town manager has done a good job. So, we have a potential budget crisis coming up.

766
04:19:57.359 --> 04:20:13.279
potential. We'll see if it passes for two years. Um I spoke to town manager about that. He's ready to do what we'll need to do and it might be really difficult decisions for all of us to do, but ultimately a lot of that is up to us. Um

767
04:20:13.279 --> 04:20:31.359
someone talked about continuation of leadership is a bad thing. You know, I love aviation. I love airplanes. Delta Airlines is the best airline in the world, right? They've had their CEO for 10 plus years. When someone's doing a good job, you don't get rid of them. I do share the issue of

768
04:20:31.359 --> 04:20:46.720
well, this is a sort of a public position. Should they stay in power so long? I I like the idea of two years. I do believe this will be the last contract renewal if if we have one. I don't believe there should be an increase in pay. I do believe we need to have actual performance standards in

769
04:20:46.720 --> 04:21:02.880
that contract. I asked the town clerk for all the prior uh manager evaluations done the last four years. Myself and Councilman Cardio Garcia were the only ones that did it last year. Nobody else here did it. It would have helped me a lot if you guys would have done it like I think we all

770
04:21:02.880 --> 04:21:18.640
said we were going to >> I may interject. I'll be honest with you. That's because my position has been the same from the first one including the warts. >> Right. I understand that if if you there's no evaluation, it means you're doing a good job. I think we I think the contract and I think we need to do a better job evaluating it. But I went back and looked at evaluations and

771
04:21:18.640 --> 04:21:32.640
they're all very good, including someone who just stood up who stood up here and said, "I want I I would it makes sense to replace him." The evaluation that that council member provided was a good evaluation. So, I just I understand the

772
04:21:32.640 --> 04:21:49.199
want to say, "Hey, let's pick our own manager. It'll be a really cool process." It would. And the and the political geek in me really wants to do it. Okay. But I also watch a lot of town meetings as you all know at late at night and the times town manager leaves

773
04:21:49.199 --> 04:22:06.000
is one they're tied to administrations like city of Miami two they just resign because they got something else they're retiring or three they're in crisis there's a controversy there's an issue something happened there's no crisis where where where is

774
04:22:06.000 --> 04:22:22.319
what direction what specific avenue are we doing wrong what the town manager is doing wrong other Then I agree there's some intra politics, intra relationship things that we need to work on. Me too. I have my issues with with how the budget was presented last year and

775
04:22:22.319 --> 04:22:38.960
things like that. I get it and I I've let him know about that. Um but I just don't see the need for the risk because vice mayor, you're completely correct. If we go out the process, it could turn out great. It could turn out okay or it

776
04:22:38.960 --> 04:22:54.000
can turn out a complete disaster. But what we have right now is is good. It's performing. We're doing well. The town's heading in a fine direction. Is it perfect? No. We have places for improvement. But I just don't see the reasoning to change something that's

777
04:22:54.000 --> 04:23:11.120
that's working. And and again, if I had residents we had residents here saying the building department's bad, the crime rate is up. Obviously, it's not. If we had residents saying there's issues, then we would it's something I would seriously seriously consider. Even the people that are telling us we should go

778
04:23:11.120 --> 04:23:28.000
a different direction have all said to me he's done a good job. So what are we doing? Why? Let's let's negotiate the contract. I already told you no pay increase is my position. Real performance evaluation and real parameters. I'm go figure it out. I'll

779
04:23:28.000 --> 04:23:43.279
figure it out. We probably have to sunshine something right before the next meeting and we got to talk about a a timeline. Um, you know, I I if the council did go in a d other direction, I would like you to apply, I would like you to be part of

780
04:23:43.279 --> 04:23:58.800
that committee if the council goes in that direction. I don't I hope it doesn't, but that's that's where I see I just don't see the problem we're trying to solve. >> Now, we will go to Councilman Guard Garcia and then to Council Member Fernandez. Councilman,

781
04:23:58.800 --> 04:24:13.760
>> I'm going to use Thank you, Mr. Chair, for allowing me to speak. I'm going to use something that some of you might be able to use

782
04:24:13.760 --> 04:24:29.680
moving forward in the future. I went out this week and we talked about how do we know if we can find something better. I went out and I did something and again maybe all of you can learn from this.

783
04:24:29.680 --> 04:24:44.880
Somebody told me I couldn't buy or lease my wife And I'll tell you why I'm using a card scenario. Mr. Town, uh, Mr. Mayor, it was told to me that I couldn't lease

784
04:24:44.880 --> 04:25:00.960
her car for four five. Uh, I couldn't lease it for any less. I said, "Okay, you that's your best deal." I went to Palmetto 57. Then I went to another dealership down

785
04:25:00.960 --> 04:25:18.080
in Pompo. I said, "Can you do $100 less?" And they said, "No, but we can do 537." I said, 'Great, I'll I'll take it. I went to another dealership and I and I ended up at Rick Casease and the

786
04:25:18.080 --> 04:25:35.520
vehicles outside leasing it for and and and I and I want to explain to you why. Because the why is we keep saying sometimes that you know the scare tactic, we don't know if we can get anything better. This shows you that you can get something better when you shop.

787
04:25:35.520 --> 04:25:53.120
Well, guess what? That the contract is outside. I'm paying $479. Zero down. No exceptions. And somebody said you couldn't get it for so you could you just got to forget about those you can't and think of what

788
04:25:53.120 --> 04:26:08.399
you can do. I don't know if that makes any sense, but that is my two cents of the conversation. Do you have anybody in mind that you would tell to apply uh in the event? Okay. >> But we do, but I want to add some.

789
04:26:08.399 --> 04:26:25.920
>> You walked you walked very hard and and and you So why should somebody else not have to also do the same due diligence that you do in four years or in two years? You have to run again and knock on doors and get elected. Why do

790
04:26:25.920 --> 04:26:42.159
we let somebody else get elected without the fair due process? >> Well, he's already was vetted thoroughly. The first time he's picked, he's been vetted by multiple councils that have taken votes to hire and fire him over the years or extend his contract. I also want to point out, we're not buying a car here. We're talking about the leader of a

791
04:26:42.159 --> 04:26:57.680
multi-million dollar organization with hundreds of employees. The state that manages our taxpayers money. The stakes are much higher. With respect to my good friend, and he knows that I don't mean this at all sarcastically, Brian and I have uh known each other since FIU. I

792
04:26:57.680 --> 04:27:14.560
actually disagree with you that that or rather I agree with you that we are fiduciaries of the public's trust and their and their money. My concern is for the reason that Councilman Quaza just stated is that there's no there's no plan here really on how to reduce our downside and the risk to our taxpayers

793
04:27:14.560 --> 04:27:30.000
to ensure that we get again a candidate that is at the same level or better than our town manager. it and on on because of that because we're not there's no nothing I've heard to really reduce her downside that to me would fall short of the fiduciary standard that that other

794
04:27:30.000 --> 04:27:46.560
fiduciaries that u that we encounter in our private practice would have to meet right there's there's not enough being uh done there to minimize the downside and it's this is not a fear this is not a scare tactic this is reality coming from the experience that I have coming from the experience that this town has

795
04:27:46.560 --> 04:28:02.960
had right you know there there are very real consequences to getting this wrong. And again, the the biggest thing that would have allayed my concerns so far have not materialized, which is is there a guaranteed replacement that is that has has said they would submit

796
04:28:02.960 --> 04:28:20.000
themselves to the process and be a viable candidate. The answer so far has been no. Mr. Vice Mayor, >> I guess I'm I'm just a little confused here because my understanding of the code is the what this council is required to do is if we're going to

797
04:28:20.000 --> 04:28:35.600
replace our manager, there's an it's laid out in a code. The step one, hire an executive recruitment firm or something like that. They're the ones that come and make the the the recommendations. I us bringing people is putting the cart

798
04:28:35.600 --> 04:28:52.720
before the horse because otherwise I feel like we could have come prepared with that. But I really think if you're trying to follow the letter of the law, you're you're not really supposed to be putting out people right now. You're simply supposed to follow the code uh which is there for specifically this

799
04:28:52.720 --> 04:29:08.479
purpose. But >> my friend, who wrote that provision? >> Probably you. >> Yes. Well, >> so no, [laughter] but listen. No, but here's the here's the reality, right? And there was a lot of misunderstanding by people back in the last selection process that seem to

800
04:29:08.479 --> 04:29:23.840
think that the committee was the end- all beall. That is not the case because we always had considered, by the way, that provision in the first place was written into the charter at the suggestion of of now schoolboard member Robert Alonzo, who was my colleague on the time on the CRC. and uh you know and

801
04:29:23.840 --> 04:29:39.600
then from there I went ahead and made improvements to it with the implementing ordinance. So it was designed in a way where it would have resident input, but if for whatever reason there was some shenanigans that went on with that board or whatever the case might be, the council was permitted to go ahead and

802
04:29:39.600 --> 04:29:55.439
still be able to bring out their own candidate if that uh was the case. And notice what I'm saying is not to bypass them. It's just to have a candidate that will guarantee that they would throw themselves into that process and be subjected to the questioning and the scrutiny that that that involves. And it

803
04:29:55.439 --> 04:30:11.760
would at least put me more at ease that there's that there is at least a strong viable contender in the mix without even having to put our thumb on the scale. It's just about making sure that we have a viable plan B. Mr. Vice Mayor, >> yeah, just a point of clarification because I I really don't want to engage in a extended back and forth, but I do

804
04:30:11.760 --> 04:30:27.600
want to clarify. I wasn't referring to the committee. I was referring to the the the the professional firm that that our code requires us to hire. Uh that they are the ones that bring to the committee uh approximately 15 candidates. If we want to completely

805
04:30:27.600 --> 04:30:43.279
overrule the committee, that's on us and I'm okay with that. Uh a committee serves at our pleasure, but apparently except the charter committee. Uh but um my my main point was to the executive firm that the code requires us to to hire in that instance. Yeah. Well, that

806
04:30:43.279 --> 04:30:57.920
was something I added a little later. But it doesn't stop you though from making sure that they apply, right? Because the head hunter is still going to have to go based off who's willing to come over here and who's going to apply. But I agree with you. I want to go to Council Member Fernandez, who has not had an opportunity.

807
04:30:57.920 --> 04:31:15.279
>> Thank you, Mayor. First, I want to say a few things. I think the thing that we keep going back to and and Vice Mayor, you you stated that nothing to do with performance. So, so why are we pushing to have a new manager when we all agree

808
04:31:15.279 --> 04:31:31.040
and everybody agrees, even those naysayers, the ones who don't think or or rather think that we should open up and and and search for a new manager, they even are saying that he's doing a fine job. He's doing a good job. We we've received doz dozens of emails. We

809
04:31:31.040 --> 04:31:48.479
can argue, are they as friends? Does anybody here think that just because a resident is also a friend, they would if he wasn't doing a good job, they would still come out here and support him and email us and and and show their support? I don't believe that just because of I I

810
04:31:48.479 --> 04:32:03.359
don't think so. I think that they truly believe that he's doing a good job. I also want to state that I re out of all the letters of support and the emails and some phone calls, I did receive one uh uh one in in opposing, you know, us

811
04:32:03.359 --> 04:32:20.640
renewing the contract, but I received and I'll say I don't know if he wanted me to state him, identify him, but he was a former elected official um which sat mostly on the side of those who fought and were looking to replace him

812
04:32:20.640 --> 04:32:37.520
said do not replace him. He's doing a good job now. Um, he said, "The only way that I would even consider it," these were his words, "is if we had somebody in mind and you already had somebody chosen and he was going to that you knew that it was going to be the right fit and he was going to be better." But

813
04:32:37.520 --> 04:32:52.880
somebody who would at that time would say, "Let's look for somebody else is saying he's doing a great job. Leave him. Leave him where he is." So, I just don't see we're there's a problem. There's not a problem. and we're trying to find a solution to a problem that

814
04:32:52.880 --> 04:33:10.879
doesn't exist. That's my two cents. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um I was impressed by the number of people that in fact I counted over 70 who who gave public comment for the manager and you know over a hundred that that have supported

815
04:33:10.879 --> 04:33:26.160
you here and I'm sure there's a lot others. Um I think multiple things could be true at the same time. I think the manager could be doing a good job. Um, but at the same time, as a council, we have to be open to the fact that it's

816
04:33:26.160 --> 04:33:41.760
going to be eight years. Unprecedented changes are coming or might be coming, but most likely will be coming uh that will affect our budgets to over the next two years, more than 21% uh or over 20% reduction in revenue.

817
04:33:41.760 --> 04:33:56.639
And as a council and as as a manager and as a staff, we have to come up with new ideas to be able to maintain the level of service. First of all, make sure our police have everything they want to keep our crime low and make sure we keep the level of service the Miami Miami Lakers

818
04:33:56.639 --> 04:34:12.480
uh deserve. I think that these items A should always should have come first before B. Uh Mr. for mayor because if A is voted down then of course B is is is uh something we vote on but if A is voted up then of course B wouldn't

819
04:34:12.480 --> 04:34:29.039
wouldn't wouldn't uh at this point be be uh be prudent but this is my my idea or my my thinking because of these changes it is okay for us to I'm not asking for the mayor I mean for the for the manager

820
04:34:29.039 --> 04:34:45.119
not to participate in fact I want him to throw his hat in the ring as Councilwoman Rouano said it'll be an opportunity for him to, you know, just basically let, you know, just go over all his wins and give us his ideas for what he, you know, what the what the future comes what is coming for Miami

821
04:34:45.119 --> 04:35:00.959
Lakes. It's also an a good idea. It's been eight years. If it was four years, I'd say no, it's too early. But for for for that for that uh um for that firm to bring in candidates to he their ideas, I think it's a win-win because if we

822
04:35:00.959 --> 04:35:17.279
decide or if the if we hear it and we just and the manager I mean the man mayor in the end will say who he wants, but he'll be able to hear not only the ideas that the that the manager comes up with, he'll also be able to, you know, basically show his resume of everything he's done. You'll also hear ideas from

823
04:35:17.279 --> 04:35:33.520
from other professionals, not only from the county, perhaps the state, perhaps nationwide, to come in, give ideas, and perhaps if the man if the mayor decides, you know what, we're going to stick with the mayor, he can incorporate these ideas, and so can the manager into making the adjustments we need to make

824
04:35:33.520 --> 04:35:49.520
because it is going to be the most difficult challenge coming up for the next budgets if this passes. So, I don't see a I don't see an insult to the mayor and I mean to the manager. And I've talked to the manager about this. I want you to throw your hat in the ring, sir,

825
04:35:49.520 --> 04:36:06.240
because changes are coming. And even if we even if we decide we're going to allow u Councilman Herzburg to go ahead and talk, you know, go ahead and negotiate, changes are going to have to come to your to your your contract because we're not going to we're really we're going to

826
04:36:06.240 --> 04:36:21.840
lose 20% of our revenue, more than 20% of revenue over the next two years. So, there's going to have to be changes all around. So, I think this should be a hybrid. Why don't we go ahead and go through the process with a selection advisory board, have have um you know,

827
04:36:21.840 --> 04:36:37.760
pick someone that'll go ahead and bring good candidates, 15 good candidates, and Mr. Mayor, if you're not happy with it, then of course you can decide. No, we're going to we're going to keep the manager and then we can renegotiate the contract. We're putting the cart before the horse here. Um I think we should

828
04:36:37.760 --> 04:36:54.000
honestly take item A up first since it was first in the agenda. decide on that. If it's no, then we then we go ahead and vote for the the town manager's contract being negotiated by by Councilman Herzburg. And again, even that negotiation has to be the manager has to

829
04:36:54.000 --> 04:37:09.199
be open to changes. He has to be open to to diff differences and changes and and if it's going to be two years, I don't know. I think uh for if the ma if the mayor's happy with them and he decides you want to keep them, it should be four years. Honestly, it should be four, not

830
04:37:09.199 --> 04:37:25.199
two. Um, that's my my two cents. I honestly uh would would do a friendly uh amendment to to your item, Mr. Mayor, to vote on A first, yes or no, if we want to do this, and then if it's a no, then we go ahead and go to B. That's my motion.

831
04:37:25.199 --> 04:37:40.879
>> So, the mo the motion that is being made is uh to actually in essence table my item till after we've discussed uh 16A. Yes. Um obviously is first of all, is there a second? >> Second. seconded by the vice mayor discussion. Obviously, it goes without

832
04:37:40.879 --> 04:37:56.160
saying I disagree with taking up the other one first. I think if if mine fails, then it makes sense to progress into his item. If mine passes, then it obviously mutes the other one. It's not necessarily the other way around in my view. Um and uh but with that with that,

833
04:37:56.160 --> 04:38:14.160
call the role on on on the amendment on the amendment. >> Okay. So, taking the roll call on the amendment by >> Oh, wait. I'm I'm sorry. I I didn't hear you >> point of order. Is it a a table or an amendment? I think it's a is a a table to I don't know. >> Well, he's couching it as an amendment,

834
04:38:14.160 --> 04:38:28.719
but in essence, I believe in practice, it's really an >> Then I I'll I'll retract and say if we table B, do we to we address A first since it's it's first in the agenda. >> So, on the motion to table, Madame Clerk, uh there's no discussion on motion to table. So, with that, Madame Clerk, uh uh call the role on the motion

835
04:38:28.719 --> 04:38:46.561
to table B to consider A first. >> Motion to table item 16B. He's I'm writing as I'm stating it. And to vote motion to table 16B. That is the motion. Correct. >> To table B and table A.

836
04:38:46.561 --> 04:39:03.199
>> Okay. Council member Cuadra Garcia. >> Yay. >> Council member Fernandez. >> No. >> Council member Hzburg. >> No. >> Council member Sanchez. >> No.

837
04:39:03.199 --> 04:39:22.719
>> Council member Garcia. Yes. >> Vice Mayor Morera. >> Yes. >> Mayor Diegas. >> No. >> The motion fails. >> Thank you. Uh, Councilman Sanchez, back on the main motion. >> It looks to be that I have uh arrived at

838
04:39:22.719 --> 04:39:38.480
the swing vote designation. >> You're really enjoying. >> No, I'm not. No, I'm not. I have a bit of bit of a different perspective. than everyone else on this day is. Um, just to give a

839
04:39:38.480 --> 04:39:53.920
little bit of background, in 2018 I was part of that town manager selection committee where 54 applicants applied and we went round by round narrowing it down from 54 to 30 to 20 to 10 to five

840
04:39:53.920 --> 04:40:10.400
with two alternates. Speak about myself a little bit. I have an an undergrad degree from Nova South Eastern in business management and I just graduated a couple of months ago from the great University of Miami with a master's degree in public administration

841
04:40:10.400 --> 04:40:27.040
and everything I'm about to say is nothing personal. Everything is going to be professional. I understand that in past administration there was tumultuous times. There were times where there were arguments and you know and and even individuals that were on the manager

842
04:40:27.040 --> 04:40:43.840
side at the time created a sour relationship. I can only give my perspective on the last year and a half or so that I've been on this on this day is with items on that I've presented that we have all presented that have moved forward or not

843
04:40:43.840 --> 04:41:00.958
moved forward with either executive decisions or with you know conflicting information on what's on emails versus what isn't. But I also see the side of pride. We're all town residents including the town manager.

844
04:41:00.958 --> 04:41:16.878
And when I hear the word pride is the overarching that that I see where there's more emotion than needs to be. There's more personal emotion that needs to be when construct constructive criticism is given to see

845
04:41:16.878 --> 04:41:32.400
improvement. It's taken as a personal attack. When new ideas that come from a a a lack of a better term, a millennial generation comes in is treated as if it's not

846
04:41:32.400 --> 04:41:49.040
broken, don't fix it. We don't need to move forward. Everything is status quo. Everything is fine. If that were the case, iPhones would have never been created. Standalone emergency rooms would have never been created. So it's, you know, ideas are brought forward and they just are shut down because, you

847
04:41:49.040 --> 04:42:05.440
know, it's just it's a it's at least I've been told this. It's a solution looking for a problem. But I don't like to just be the status quo. I don't like to just sit back and, you know, and and be reactive instead of proactive. I like looking towards the future and seeing how things can be better.

848
04:42:05.440 --> 04:42:20.718
I've received, we've all received, I counted them 58 emails and support from for the town manager, from state representatives, from CEOs, from very influential people that deal with the things that we do in the town. We've received phone calls in favor, but I've

849
04:42:20.718 --> 04:42:38.160
also received phone calls against because obviously the public sees the the environment of the town, but we individually also have a relationship with the manager. Yes, the mayor has the brunt of it. He is the one that is really handinand with

850
04:42:38.160 --> 04:42:54.798
the manager, but we also work with the manager hand in hand. Not as much as a mayor, but we still have. And when the manager decides to take executive action and and and sometimes not follow suit with the items that we present that pass or maybe they fall

851
04:42:54.798 --> 04:43:10.560
through the cracks or maybe they don't make it to the to the spreadsheet of the projects that are going on or maybe you know items from a year ago that get presented recently because we had to be on top. There's a level of trust that we have to have with the manager that if we

852
04:43:10.560 --> 04:43:27.200
say A, he doesn't do B. And if we say that the sky is blue, he understands that the sky is blue because that is the hierarchy that we have in the town. It's the town residents. And I've said this before, it's a town residents, it's us, it's a town manager, and it's the staff. The town manager has been phenomenal

853
04:43:27.200 --> 04:43:44.160
with the staff. Absolutely. Every time we get a review from the staff, it's nothing but but glowing. But at the same time, what is the manager doing to hold the proverbial feet of the staff to the fire to make sure that what they're doing is right? I understand the pursuit of perfection. No

854
04:43:44.160 --> 04:44:02.480
one is perfect. Only God is perfect. But when things are brought forward and said, you know, it's a it's it's they're taken as a personal attack instead of a chance for improvement as constructive criticism from his seven bosses. technically

855
04:44:02.480 --> 04:44:18.320
speaking, it just it it rubs the wrong way. And this is from someone that served in the military, that took orders and gave orders, and someone that went out and got an undergrad degree from in business management and got a master's degree in public administration.

856
04:44:18.320 --> 04:44:33.760
So, do I know for a fact that there's someone better out there? I do not. Am I willing to give it the opportunity? Absolutely. But I'm going to go back to that word pride. Mr. manager, if you are proud of Miami Lakes, the same way that

857
04:44:33.760 --> 04:44:50.320
Dwayne Wade was proud of Miami, left Miami in very bad situ in a very bad situation and came right back to retire here or just not go not doing things where it's good for the town. It's serving at

858
04:44:50.320 --> 04:45:07.360
the pleasure of the town and a very good compensation on that. Council Sanchez, sorry to interrupt you, but please remember to direct the comments to the chair just, you know, given the nature. >> So, I I do want to say it's it's a very tough decision. It's one I'm not going to take lightly,

859
04:45:07.360 --> 04:45:22.798
but pride, I think, is is a big contention here is what's good for the town. And with that being said, I give the floor back. >> Mayor, if I have a chance to rebut a few. >> Absolutely. Uh, Council Member Hersburg.

860
04:45:22.798 --> 04:45:40.718
>> Thank you. All right. First, I guess I won't point out a council member. We have a very good chance of having a budget crisis. Period. That is a fact. That is a fact. There's a very good chance of that happening. Do we really think that someone should come in here in February when the when we got to

861
04:45:40.718 --> 04:45:58.560
start working on the budget in April to solve that problem? That's a good idea. I don't think that's a good idea. You want to get rid of the person that knows the staff, how this works. where the numbers are, what I I get it. There's directors. I'm when when when

862
04:45:58.560 --> 04:46:14.000
the top goes up, there can be major changes. I think we have some very good directors here. Those directors might find a different job. Two, on pay. Our town manager based off base salary is the ninth highest I mean

863
04:46:14.000 --> 04:46:30.480
ninth lowest paid town manager. So, this idea that he's over paid, over compensated, it's it's it's false. Now, I I'm telling you right now, my position is the pay should not increase at all based off the current pay right now. But this idea that the town manager has a high and I've said it before, this isn't

864
04:46:30.480 --> 04:46:45.600
something new. I've said it, I think I might have said in November, I've always said it when people call me and they tell me, "Oh, he's paid so much money." No, he's not. He's he's paid actually below market based off what other cities pay their town managers. And that's a fact. But the the problem I have here and and

865
04:46:45.600 --> 04:47:01.680
and you're right, the way that the town works is the residents come first always. We work for the residents, the manager works for us. I agree. I have had back and forths and sometimes it feels like the manager is working more for the staff than for us. He has a hard

866
04:47:01.680 --> 04:47:18.000
it's a hard position. And again, listen, you would have asked me this question two months ago, I might have been thinking, you know what, maybe it's time for a change. But I really took a deep dive and I really took the people that called me and and went and gave the comments and I keep going back to the fact that

867
04:47:18.000 --> 04:47:33.520
every single person that told me, "Oh, you should do a new manager." They all said he does a good job. And I go back to the fact of the budget crisis that we might be seeing ourselves into. And the only things that to me and I

868
04:47:33.520 --> 04:47:47.680
think to a few of you that sway you the other side is it would be interesting. It would be a new opportunity. And third, yes, there's this dynamic a little bit of the manager probably because he's been here so long of of

869
04:47:47.680 --> 04:48:05.280
taking policies to me. I had an I had an issue. I had an item today that honestly the manager wasn't pushing as hard. Guess what? I sent Gina here. Here's my here's my item. I want to make sure it gets heard. Took the item to my holding hands just like the mayor said at the sunshine meeting.

870
04:48:05.280 --> 04:48:20.878
It's not just about us, right? And we look at the residents. I barely see anyone here. I have not I've gotten four calls from residents, mostly very active residents, and you know, they understand

871
04:48:20.878 --> 04:48:37.760
the town to tell me that it makes sense to find a new town manager. But every single one of those four also said, "Oh, yeah, he's done a great job. So, what are we doing?" I just I just don't see it. And if you if you I don't I definitely don't see the idea that we're

872
04:48:37.760 --> 04:48:54.638
going to have potentially major budget cuts as a let's bring in somebody new that we've never worked with that doesn't know this town, doesn't know Miami Lakes, doesn't know our staff. That doesn't make any sense to me. So, again, I I I whatever way we go, we go and this discussion ends. But um I do

873
04:48:54.638 --> 04:49:11.760
think it it it like the vice mayor said it could be phenomenal. It could very well could be. I just don't think it's the time through the chair. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, mayor. I want to clarify my position. My position is not that I want

874
04:49:11.760 --> 04:49:27.120
to get rid of the manager. My position is that I want to give the opportunity for the manager to compete for his job after eight years along with other candidates. compare the two and most likely because of what uh everybody said

875
04:49:27.120 --> 04:49:41.680
up here how what a positive job he's done most likely the mayor is going to decide no we're we're going to we're going to keep the the manager and I and I know we had a conversation about it and um I know it feels like a personal attack because you've 40 years of public

876
04:49:41.680 --> 04:49:59.120
service to me it's all about it's an opportunity at this time to see what's to to see different ideas incorporate it into what we do incorporate into what you do and that's Why I ask? I would love for you to participate in the process. Put your throw your hat in the ring. And what I'm hearing up here is

877
04:49:59.120 --> 04:50:15.520
that most likely 90% likely, maybe 95% likely that the man the mayor is going to decide, you know what, I've seen it all, but we we're we're good with what we have. It's just an opportunity we can't let let pass. And that's my point. I'm not here to say I don't want you as a manager anymore. I'm here to say I'd

878
04:50:15.520 --> 04:50:30.958
like you to continue to compete for it. And and that is my my two cents on this. And I think we can we can do both and still pick a uh you know for the most likely you'll be our manager for the next four years. But I just think we you have the opportunity to to compete for

879
04:50:30.958 --> 04:50:46.320
the position and get different ideas. And that's my point. So that's my hybrid like I you know choice. Councilman Ronaldo said it best. It'll give you an opportunity to to you know to basically basically you know list your resume of of of achievements which are which are

880
04:50:46.320 --> 04:51:02.480
frankly very high. We're do we're moving forward. So that's that's why I think this is an opportunity we can't go by. Nothing to do with your performance. So that's my I just wanted to clarify that before we move on. >> So I'm going to close then with my remarks and obviously there's still time

881
04:51:02.480 --> 04:51:18.160
for people to change their votes, but maybe I also just like Councilman Hsburg, you know, uh was even clearer. Perhaps I also need to be abundantly clear. I continue to hear a lot of hope and change. I hope the manager applies for, you know, for his job and competes.

882
04:51:18.160 --> 04:51:32.638
He's already said he's not going to do that. So, if we're going to hope and and pray, right, that he does so, he is telling us the one thing we know for sure that as far as the way things stand right now, he is saying he is not going to do that. So, we need to get that out of our minds if that's part of your

883
04:51:32.638 --> 04:51:50.240
calculus. It's not going to happen. So, we're back back then at what we said. This can either go well or it's going to be terrible. And one thing is for sure is that it is reckless, right, to go ahead and just go through this exercise.

884
04:51:50.240 --> 04:52:06.560
I mean, let's assume that he did throw his hat in the ring. And we ended up you guys then now at that point, even though I'm telling you this is the guy I want to work with for the next two years, then at that point you guys say, "Well, yeah, you know, Mr. Mayor, because you know uh Ed scored high in the committee report and because of those that are

885
04:52:06.560 --> 04:52:22.560
selected that made it to the final five and you want to work with him, we're going to go with what you suggest because of course the manager and the mayor need to work hand and glove to fulfill the intergovernmental relation of the mayor. But that would have been the biggest waste of taxpayer money ever. We would have set it a flame. And

886
04:52:22.560 --> 04:52:39.280
I'm not about that. you know ju just to go through an exercise when everyone here is more than capable of calling uh you know professionals that we all know in the industry to see who is available and thinking about you know running get if you're if what you want is new ideas

887
04:52:39.280 --> 04:52:55.040
pick up the phone call JC Jimenez in Miami Springs call Romero in Guanzo and Bow Harour call whichever manager you you feel comfortable with or that you feel embodies what you'd uh like to do. Zaryhikaba in the city of Homestead, call them up. We don't have to go

888
04:52:55.040 --> 04:53:10.320
through this exercise, right, just to get ideas. And that's why to me if the the the the the argument that this is just about seeing what's on the other side and getting ideas I I think that is either frankly foolish with all the

889
04:53:10.320 --> 04:53:27.840
respect or at least is not based in the same world of reality that I'm choosing to live in which is he is not going to apply you know for his job back and we're going to have to then make a final decision which again it could go well and I'm going to live with whatever the will of my colleagues is and I'm going to work to build whatever relationship I

890
04:53:27.840 --> 04:53:44.878
need to with whoever comes next. But at the same time, just let's be realistic about the risk here, right? If this goes south, right, if if this turns out to be on the really bad side of things, that's not going to be on me. And it's, you know, it's going to, you know, this this

891
04:53:44.878 --> 04:54:01.440
is going to come back to bite a lot of people. But with that, um, I'm going to give the manager a chance to respond. And then uh again, I'm hoping my colleagues will join me on the side of realism, give Councilman Hsburg a chance to negotiate a short-term extension uh to at least get us through the end of my

892
04:54:01.440 --> 04:54:18.320
term. Um there's nothing again, as everyone has clearly m uh made apparent, there's no urgency to do this, period. So with that, Mr. Manager, go ahead and you can make uh your your comments. Yeah, I I just want to to [clears throat] council member uh

893
04:54:18.320 --> 04:54:34.240
Hersburg's point is that there has been nothing laid on the table, nothing presented by anybody that uh that dictates that we have done anything other than a phenomenal job in managing this entire town. with regard to just

894
04:54:34.240 --> 04:54:50.080
going out there and testing the field and see what's out there. There is I I believe that any one of you if you were in my position, you would not put your throw your name in the hat. All right. I I I know I made this analogy when I spoke to council member Garcia earlier

895
04:54:50.080 --> 04:55:06.560
today is imagine a a couple, right? Uh husband and wife and the wife says, "You know what? You're really great. We've been married for eight years. You provide for our family. you're super. But you know what? I'm just going to go out and test the field. See if there's a

896
04:55:06.560 --> 04:55:24.160
better husband out there. And if not, then I'm going to come back and then we're going to stay married. It it it you know this this relation this is a relationship, right? This is a relationship that you've entrusted me with the reigns of managing this town,

897
04:55:24.160 --> 04:55:39.280
you know, this council and councils before you. And we have done a a a phenomenal job doing that. me together with my staff, you know, because my principal role is setting a tone, putting the right people in the right

898
04:55:39.280 --> 04:55:56.958
place, and then these people are the ones that deliver service to our residents, to me, to Luggina, to Raul, to all of you. You were all we're all residents here, right? So, and they do it every single day, day in and day out. And they do it at a very, very high level. And we have created an

899
04:55:56.958 --> 04:56:14.560
environment here. There's no internal chaos. There's no drama. There's everybody's rowing in the same direction. There's no complaints from the outside. In fact, if you uh look at the uh citizen survey that we commissioned uh just a few months ago,

900
04:56:14.560 --> 04:56:28.798
we as a town, so it's all of us collectively, right? those who are delivering the the service directly, those of you who are studying policy, those of us who are kind of managing uh behind the scenes, we scored incredibly

901
04:56:28.798 --> 04:56:46.400
high on that resident survey. So, um I I just wanted to kind of make those those points. I I I want to continue to serve. I want to continue to serve, but you know, I'm not going to be the uh the second choice when you're looking for

902
04:56:46.400 --> 04:57:03.440
somebody to take to the dance. You know, if if you're going to go out and test the field, you're telling me, Council Member Garcia, and I know you disagree with me on this. We've had this conversation earlier today. You're telling me I don't want you. That is that is with undoubtedly

903
04:57:03.440 --> 04:57:21.600
um you know, and I think all of you would feel the same if you were in my position. It's I'm I'm not unique in that uh in that sense. >> Uh Mr. uh Mr. Mayor, can I can I say something? Please >> go back to we go back to what I stated

904
04:57:21.600 --> 04:57:38.320
with you, Mr. Mayor. You now when your your time is up, you have to go back out and knock on doors, do the same thing. Why the the town manager's contract is up now in what? February

905
04:57:38.320 --> 04:57:54.878
>> February, you know, give somebody else, open it up, open the process. Let's give somebody else a chance. You might come back and be the high, you know, the highest bidder or the the best give an opportunity. I'll read something

906
04:57:54.878 --> 04:58:10.560
real brief. I know uh uh uh Mr. uh mayor didn't like uh what the committee stated, but it clearly states on this on this uh line, "We fully support allowing the current town manager to reapply for

907
04:58:10.560 --> 04:58:29.600
the position if he so desires." >> I I think, Mr. Mayor, you're not you're not fully sold on these individuals. I think I already just told you that I think that's a fake organization created by the alleged president of that organization to further his political organization. As I told you, one of the

908
04:58:29.600 --> 04:58:46.240
listed board members there flat out called me yesterday and said, "I had nothing to do with this." So, this position paper was out there before the entire uh board even voted on it. It's a fake organization. Period. So, yes, I'm not going to pay attention at all to what I have to say. >> The other thing I want to also clarify

909
04:58:46.240 --> 04:59:02.000
is that this is a professional manager. It is the CEO of our enterprise. It is not an elected official. And the way it works, right, is the board of directors, which is what we are, evaluates his performance and determines whether we want to renew his contract or not. That

910
04:59:02.000 --> 04:59:18.958
is how they audition to keep their job. It's that simple. So, I I just wanted to uh you know uh to respond. >> You may go back and just state so I can go ahead and uh move forward with my item and request. uh >> still no you can't because we still haven't disposed of this particular item

911
04:59:18.958 --> 04:59:34.958
as you know you know that is the way that this works. Thank you. >> So look a at this point I think every everything's been said that needs to be said. >> Um I really hope that you know for my colleagues that you know I think are being a little too rosy as far as the

912
04:59:34.958 --> 04:59:51.680
way they envision this playing out you know and almost completely brushing off the potential risk. I hope they reconsider. I don't think there's anything anything unreasonable about what myself and Councilman Hsburg um uh have been saying and uh and I almost forgot that he wanted to have another opportunity to rebut something. So go

913
04:59:51.680 --> 05:00:08.240
ahead, Councilman Hsburg. >> Uh thank you, mayor. I just I different things come up and again it goes back to watching other municipalities. I remember when Senator Garcia came up here and said Miami Lakes is different and I think this group we are different.

914
05:00:08.240 --> 05:00:23.600
We are very different when you watch how other municipalities, councils, and commissions work. Uh we're not the same. That's a good thing. Uh when you bring in a new town manager, that dynamic potentially could change. I don't know.

915
05:00:23.600 --> 05:00:40.718
You just don't know what you're getting. I like when uh someone who's been in politics a lot says, "You guys are different because we are. We're not those typical Miami politicians you see on TV." Right? I think it's a good thing. Um, making this

916
05:00:40.718 --> 05:01:03.760
change makes it harder for us to continue to be that that council. So, that's that's the last thing I just want my colleagues to think about and we'll see where we go. [laughter] >> Yeah, that's clever. It's getting a little warmer in here. I don't know who

917
05:01:03.760 --> 05:01:19.360
from facilities can go ahead and and figure that out. And it's not just because of the top. I just want to be clear. Uh, Councilman Garcia, >> just quick question to to the town attorney. If uh >> if we vote, if if it's if this item your item passes, then A is moot, right? >> I'm sorry, I didn't hear the last part. The item passes.

918
05:01:19.360 --> 05:01:36.320
>> So, if if uh this the mayor's item passes, then A is moot. We're not we're because we've accepted the the extending the contract two years and renegotiating. Is that correct? >> Yes, it's moot for this meeting. But I want to be clear that there's another stage at which Councilman Herszburg, the

919
05:01:36.320 --> 05:01:51.360
manager will get together and present the contract that will be accepted or rejected. And there's ample time within the four months provided by ordinance to go and do a search. Right? It's just if I remember correctly, it's the contract that requires that we start now at this process so we can start to get ahead of

920
05:01:51.360 --> 05:02:06.000
things. But we would have ample time between now and when that contract is brought to us to still go back out if we don't like the terms of the agreement. But yes, in terms of tonight procedurally, it would moot um item A. >> Yeah. Uh thank you, sir.

921
05:02:06.000 --> 05:02:22.878
>> Any other discussion or questions? Seeing none, madame clerk, please call the role on item 16B. >> So on the motion by Mayor Diegas, which was seconded by Vice Mayor Morera, council member Hzburg,

922
05:02:22.878 --> 05:02:39.638
>> yes. >> Council member Guadra Garcia, >> no. Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Garcia, >> no. >> Council member Sanchez,

923
05:02:43.200 --> 05:03:03.840
>> Council Member Sanchez, yes. >> Vice Mayor Morera, >> no. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. >> The motion passes. We are with that. Item 16A is mooted as discussed by the attorney.

924
05:03:03.840 --> 05:03:21.200
And what's more, we are now on 16C, landscaping solutions for Veterans Park. If you don't mind though, let us temporarily postpone that item and go into item 16E by Council Member uh Hersburg. Establish

925
05:03:21.200 --> 05:03:37.040
employee performance review policy via ordinance. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, so this is just a draft ordinance. I I just want to pass the item so we can get staff to put it on the agenda for first reading. We passed it back in February. I understand the town manager is already already

926
05:03:37.040 --> 05:03:52.080
beginning a process, but this is not just about one town manager, is about future town managers. So, uh, we want to have an ordinance down that says what the town manager is required to do annual evaluations. And you can see it there. It's no fewer than uh the first

927
05:03:52.080 --> 05:04:07.680
year every new employee has to have the annual evaluation and then every two years after that minimum and then directors should be evaluated every year it has to be in writing and provided and then if it's in writing we can go ahead and get the and get it from the from the

928
05:04:07.680 --> 05:04:22.958
clerk from the town manager but it's just making sure that that is done so if town manager does not do it he's not following ordinances so I my motion is to move the item so then we can have it in first reading next month >> second >> it's and seconded by council member Garcia. Discussion. >> No.

929
05:04:22.958 --> 05:04:39.760
>> Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say I. I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. Item 16. >> Mayor, just for clarity, what your expectation is that this is just a sample ordinance, but we bring it back for first reading next month. >> Correct.

930
05:04:39.760 --> 05:04:56.000
>> Okay. >> Okay. With that, um, Councilman Sanchez is back. So, we're going to back up to item 16, which I had temporarily postponed. My apologies. Oh, wait. Did I really skip over all the way to E? >> I think so. >> Oh, whoopsie. My bad. Okay. 16 C by

931
05:04:56.000 --> 05:05:11.280
Council Member Sanchez. >> Landscaping, >> which is Landscaping Solutions for Veterans Park. Council member, you are recognized to introduce your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um July 4th, you know, was a was a phenomenal event as Lyn Mtos pointed out and thank you to

932
05:05:11.280 --> 05:05:28.000
Claras, the entire team, not just Clarasal, but every single department, you know, they were out there, the the the the committees were out there, the volunteers were out there, the the everything was phenomenal. The only downside of that night, as I stated before, nothing is ever going to be perfect, but I think we can improve upon

933
05:05:28.000 --> 05:05:43.200
it, was after the storm, that center field that we used for the main area was completely muted out. I mean, people were uncomfortable. Shrews were were pretty much destroyed that night. So, I'd like for staff to come back with ideas of different things that we can

934
05:05:43.200 --> 05:05:59.520
possibly do. Is it airrating the grass so that the water drains better? Is it a different type of of of grass? No artificial turf. A different type of grass that can absorb the water better so or leveling it out because there's a lot of dips and dives. And I'm guessing because of people playing and running, it's going to happen because of the

935
05:05:59.520 --> 05:06:15.360
weight of individuals. So my motion is to have staff come back with recommendations as to what we can do just on that center portion where people congregate for all the events that we do in the town. >> Do I have a second? >> Is there a second? >> Seconded by the vice mayor. Any discussion?

936
05:06:15.360 --> 05:06:31.680
>> Seeing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All oppose. No. >> The eyes have it. The item passes. We are now on item Thank you. 16e by the honorable council member JC Fernandez. Disc. Oh yes. First, we need to wave 7.2

937
05:06:31.680 --> 05:06:47.600
of the rules. Is there a motion on the waiver? >> Second. >> Moved by the vice mayor, seconded by council member Garcia. All those in favor of the waiver say I. All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The rule is waved. Councilman, you are recognized to present discussion regarding installation of historical marker of

938
05:06:47.600 --> 05:07:02.878
right of way. >> On right away, I think >> it should say on right away. Yeah, I just wanted to first and that was that was my mistake. I actually made a mistake on the other item. Just one one word there. Um, so it's pretty clear as to what I'm asking. I think that

939
05:07:02.878 --> 05:07:17.920
somebody as chair of the neighborhood improvement committee who organized and with the rest of my committee, um, we we brought forth the historical tour of Miami Lakes, which I think was a great event and I I think that history is

940
05:07:17.920 --> 05:07:35.040
important. Um, it's something that, you know, I'd like for the the kids of the town to know something about our our history. And I I love the fact that, you know, it would it would just bring bring uh recognition to that area and um and that way the residents and the neighbors

941
05:07:35.040 --> 05:07:49.280
and visitors could see where this is this is where our town began. So with that, I'll ask my colleagues to support it. It's been moved by the council member, seconded by the vice mayor. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor

942
05:07:49.280 --> 05:08:07.080
say I. I. All oppose? No. The eyes have it and the item passes. And we now turn to Councilman Cuadra Garcia for grocery stores to open in Miami Lakes 16G uh pardon me uh F.

943
05:08:09.920 --> 05:08:27.200
Basically, uh simply uh I've uh been um asked by numerous residents that um when are we going to go out and talk to whoever needs to be talked to at Whole

944
05:08:27.200 --> 05:08:44.638
Foods or at uh uh Milos or you know something of of those supermarkets cuz we're just tired of Sedanos and And so my question is to staff, who here do

945
05:08:44.638 --> 05:09:00.480
we need to talk to to go out and see if we can bring one of these players into town? >> Yeah. The um the issue actually came up, I would venture to say about three years ago, two to three years ago,

946
05:09:00.480 --> 05:09:17.200
>> and the uh the task was uh given to the economic development committee. I know that the economic development committee uh and Clarisol, you can tell me a I don't know if there's anything just correct me if I'm wrong. I'm probably going to say something incorrect. Um

947
05:09:17.200 --> 05:09:33.280
the economic development committee did a campaign and they try they went out on a recruitment campaign that sent out letters. They tried to make direct contact and they made all those contacts. Uh none of the those uh kind of elite or fancy grocery stores bit on

948
05:09:33.280 --> 05:09:53.200
the item. So, is that pretty much it? Yeah. >> Right. I I I think that the Grahams because they're the obviously the biggest property owner here in in Miami Lakes with some of the uh areas that they um there aren't many that are left

949
05:09:53.200 --> 05:10:09.440
that are vacant now, but there are some that I think that they have plans to redevelop and I think that they have continually considered that. So all of the that feedback that you get that we get about, you know, the residents and the wanting to have these kinds of stores in Miami Lakes, they they get it

950
05:10:09.440 --> 05:10:25.200
too. So I think that it's it's a goal of theirs. It's an objective of theirs in some of their redevelopment projects. Uh so I think that it's something that we can work together with the economic development committee and the different property owners in town uh to see if we can make that happen.

951
05:10:25.200 --> 05:10:42.160
>> Hope everybody needs it, right? >> Yeah. She was sitting in the back earlier tonight. >> Thank you. >> I was going to make the same exact [snorts and laughter] um Councilman Fernandez. >> Yes. >> So, so Councilman Cuadra Garcia, I I love the idea. Um it is a it is a

952
05:10:42.160 --> 05:10:57.920
private matter. Like, you know, the fact is that they have to want to be in our town. I love I I would nothing more I would be more I wouldn't be nothing would make me happier than seeing a Whole Foods or a farmers market in our town. I've been told in the past that

953
05:10:57.920 --> 05:11:13.040
it's because of density. like we have the the our our demographics do support a grocery store like that with our median income and those that have that, you know, extra extra income to be able to spend a little bit more. But I think that it's our our density is not enough.

954
05:11:13.040 --> 05:11:28.400
We don't have enough of a population because we they can't go outside of our town to to hope that they're going to be get get some of the consumers from outside of the the town. But no, if there's anything that we could do, I I I don't think, you know, we're limited. Again, it's a it's it's it's a private

955
05:11:28.400 --> 05:11:43.840
matter. They have to want to to uh to come in. >> Uh just a point of curiosity, do we know um >> Yeah. Do we know if any of these large grocery chains uh have decided to take

956
05:11:43.840 --> 05:11:59.520
up a a spot at that new shopping center they're building on 186 and 87. >> It's going to be Oh, the Publix is moving, right? >> It's really annoying. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Like it's Burlington and Publix. It's a repeat basically of what they got on uh you know on 97th and all that.

957
05:11:59.520 --> 05:12:14.878
There's nothing new and innovative that I've seen so far coming there. >> The the big challenge just to answer council Garcia's point because really what he's asking for is for us to brainstorm and I think that's admirable that you brought it up. Uh I don't really think there's an actual actionable item. Uh but as far as

958
05:12:14.878 --> 05:12:32.320
brainstorming um >> when I see this item what I think of is there's two main points of real estate at issue here. One is the existing spot of the Wind Dixie. Uh another one actually three. Uh another one is the existing Publix in Eagle's Nest and

959
05:12:32.320 --> 05:12:50.240
another and that would be redeveloping in the existing Shave Center and personally don't touch my Publix just that's just me. Uh and then finally you have the space near Shattorii. If anyone has a spare 45 to$50 million

960
05:12:50.240 --> 05:13:06.480
then then I think we can go that route. Basically what I'm trying to say is we're we're kind of landlocked when it comes to that and unless >> is it still one? What's that >> still officially for now? >> For now when the last time you were there

961
05:13:06.480 --> 05:13:22.958
>> never the shopping center >> I don't go west anymore >> through the manager. >> Uh Mr. or Council Councilman Fernandez by >> I just want to add because that that is I forgot to mention that that that that parcel of land on I hope and we can speak about this because we're in a

962
05:13:22.958 --> 05:13:38.560
public setting but the count that parcel of land on 87th and 154 I hope that we continue with that live work and play in in within our town that we can one day hope that that would be a shopping center with an anchor grocery store.

963
05:13:38.560 --> 05:13:53.600
>> Recall that it is deed restricted for that purpose. I think you're right about that. >> I know. I I searched it. Remember the hospital battle? >> Okay. Anyone else? Uh before we move on. Okay. So, let us move on then to 16G.

964
05:13:53.600 --> 05:14:10.080
Uh well, actually no, I apologize. We already took the G and H. So, now let's skip over to I which by Councilman Hsburg part three parcel acquisition and readiness report. >> Thank you, mayor. So, basically this is just a direction to staff. I would and I

965
05:14:10.080 --> 05:14:25.520
I think staff might be already go getting going on it, but I want to make sure to have a clear direction from the council. I would like to have basically a a playbook that what we need to do to acquire the property and also a cost of maintaining it in its current condition.

966
05:14:25.520 --> 05:14:41.440
I don't know about you guys, but I'm looking at doing this sooner than later. uh and especially based off whatever the cost it is to just maintain its current condition. But I would like to have that report now instead of we all decide we want to get the parcel but then we don't

967
05:14:41.440 --> 05:14:58.638
know anything about uh actually acquiring it, right? Because the way the covenant works is we make a vote and then there's I believe a 90-day period. I forgot the exact period, but there's a period of time between the vote and when the deed is transferred, right? So, I want to get all that stuff out now, have

968
05:14:58.638 --> 05:15:15.120
staff report just so we have it, not to actually make the vote yet. Right. So, that's uh what the item is. That's my motion to give that direction. >> It's been seconded by the vice mayor. Any discussion? >> I I just want to point out, >> Vice Mayor Mora, >> I just want to point out because I don't know if you said it uh in your oral

969
05:15:15.120 --> 05:15:30.638
motion, but I do want to incorporate what is in your written item that the report should come back within 90 days. I think I heard something about 90 days, but I think it was in regards to something else. Um, I'd like to see that report uh come back to us within 90 days. >> Move that the report come back to us within 90 days.

970
05:15:30.638 --> 05:15:47.760
>> And I'll second that. >> Okay. As an amendment. >> Sure. >> Okay. So, uh, on the amendment, all those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. >> The eyes have it. The motion is amended. Any more discussion on the motion as amended? Seeing none. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose? No. The eyes have

971
05:15:47.760 --> 05:16:04.718
it. Item 16J uh or pardon me 16 I passes. We are now on 16J by council member. Oh yeah, we're going to temporarily postpone this until Councilman Fernandez comes back. >> Um, let me see. Here we go. Uh, we're back to Councilman Herszburg. And this

972
05:16:04.718 --> 05:16:21.520
item requires an a waiver of 7.2. Is there a motion on the waiver? Second. >> It's been moved by the vice mayor, seconded by Council Member Garcia. All those in favor of the waiver waiver say I. I. All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The rule is waved. Councilman, you are recognized to present SB4-F,

973
05:16:21.520 --> 05:16:38.798
HB1329, and SJR2-F and budget season preparedness. >> Thank you, mayor. This is again another direction of staff, maybe staff or the town attorney might have answers to this now, but yeah, K. >> Um, basically, there's there's significant changes in how we can do the budget uh moving forward, whether it's

974
05:16:38.798 --> 05:16:55.040
uh this budget season or next. That was my confusion. Uh, for example, the 10% exercise that we have to do now. Um the voting uh the voting parameters to what's a what's a roll back, what's not as well is something that we want to keep into

975
05:16:55.040 --> 05:17:10.560
consideration. And then uh to make sure the staff comes to us officially at a meeting with the numbers with the current estimates if the tax uh constitutional amendment passes what we're looking at budget loss wise. So it's direction of staff to come back to

976
05:17:10.560 --> 05:17:26.638
us. I it could be um at the next regular council meeting with uh answers to these questions in the report. >> All right. It's been moved by uh Councilman Hersburg, seconded by Councilman Garcia. Any discussion?

977
05:17:26.638 --> 05:17:43.200
>> Just as a point of information, some of this we plan to present to you uh tomorrow at the budget workshop. Some of that information and if there's missing information, we'll make sure to put it together to get it to you. And we plan to put an attorney report for August on all of the legislative changes that we

978
05:17:43.200 --> 05:18:00.638
saw at the last uh municipal attorney seminar. It's quite a few. >> Got it. >> Okay. Um all those in favor say I. I. All oppose. No. The eyes have it. The the item carries. And we are going back to our final item of the evening which

979
05:18:00.638 --> 05:18:17.680
is 16J by council member Fernandez. And first and foremost there must be a rule waiver of 7.2. Is there a motion? >> Move it. >> It's been moved by council member Garcia. Is there a second? Seconded by the vice mayor. All in favor of the waiver say I. I. All oppose. No. The eyes have it. The rule is waved. Councilman, go ahead and present your

980
05:18:17.680 --> 05:18:32.718
item. Protection and use of town league's name by businesses outside town boundaries. >> I'll I'll be brief before I just a point of order. Am I allowed me being the one requesting the waiver of the rule? Am I allowed to either move or second it? I'm just curious.

981
05:18:32.718 --> 05:18:49.760
>> Yeah. Yes. Yes. I I may. Yes. There's no conflict. That's what you're worried about. >> Yeah. Like like that's self my self-interest would be >> it's a rule of the body and you're a member of the body. So if you want to vote on I'm waving the rule. I mean I mean it would be weird if you didn't if you voted no against >> No. I'm not going to vote no. I will

982
05:18:49.760 --> 05:19:06.400
never do that. >> But okay. You're allowed to do whatever you want though. >> Okay. >> Well that said. I think this has come up in the past. um speaking with our deputy attorney, he [clears throat] he s he he he agrees and I think that he's had a conversation with um a member of the

983
05:19:06.400 --> 05:19:25.440
Graham. Would you speak on that? But anyway, it really is just about him coordinating efforts with the Grahams and protecting the name. >> Good evening again, uh Mayor and Council. Uh yes, I I did speak with Minister Chichi. Uh there is

984
05:19:25.440 --> 05:19:40.480
conversation with regards to that original document that gave us the opportunity to be able to trademark our name as a town of Miami Lakes and what that document entails. Uh I'm getting a copy of that from our trademark attorney just to uh take a look at it and see if it maybe needs to be enhanced somewhat.

985
05:19:40.480 --> 05:19:56.160
But the grants are from at least a conversation I had with Mr. ici willing and actually they desire the fact that we would kind of offered you know we'll go ahead and we'll be sending these cease and desist letters uh to these companies that are operating outside of our geographical uh limits uh in using

986
05:19:56.160 --> 05:20:12.958
the name Miami Lakes such as some of the ones that uh the councilman pointed out and and others such as like uh enterprise Miami Lakes which is really Miami Gardens right [clears throat] u and such. >> Thank you. So I'll just ask my my colleagues to vote yes on it. Oh, you

987
05:20:12.958 --> 05:20:28.480
need to move it. Uh, >> I'd like to move to um give direction to our town attorney to um whatever it is coordinating with the Grahams and issue cease and desist letters and anything that we have in our purview to protect our names. >> Move also.

988
05:20:28.480 --> 05:20:46.000
>> It's been uh moved by Council Member Fernandez, seconded by Councilman Sanchez. Any discussion on this? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The motion carries. And with that, there being no further business, this council is adjourned at 10:57

989
05:20:46.000 --> 05:20:48.240
Jesus.