Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The time is 6:30 p.m. and I am calling the council meeting to order. And my colleagues, please take a moment to come up here to the days. With that, Madame Clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Fernandez. Council
member Cuadra Garcia >> present. >> Council member Garcia >> present. >> Council member Hzburg. Council member Sanchez >> present. >> I saw earlier council member Fernandez.
I saw him but Mayor Diegas >> here. >> Mayor, you have quum to start. >> Huh? >> Did she call me? >> Yes. Uh she she noted your attendance. All right, everyone. Please rise for the invocation which will be given today by Councilman Garcia. >> Gracious Lord, thank you for bringing
this group together as we discuss the matters before us. Keep our hearts open and our minds focused on what is right and just. Let us always remember the trust placed in us by the people we serve. Guide our words and actions tonight. Amen. >> Thank you very much. Please remain
standing for the pledge which will be led by Councilman Sanchez. Thank you. You all may be seated. With that, we are on the order of business. I have a few uh changes to make to the agenda. Um I am going to go
ahead and move that we combine items 8D, 12B, uh and 16F. Uh that's one. Another change is to add a resol a new business item as 16 I regarding a resolution concerning Cuban independence. And
thirdly, and last on my part is to defer item 15A to the June regular council meeting at the request of the applicant. Is there a motion on Well, are there any further changes before I proceed? >> I'll move it. >> Okay, it's been moved. Second, >> caution. >> Yes, sir.
>> Uh, did you mean uh 8D 13B or because you said 12B? >> Yes, I I have 12b being the uh or or which is the other item dealing with Optimus Park. >> It's 8 13 >> 12B. >> Oh, I thought it was >> or I'm sorry. 13B.
>> Oh, so okay. So, so I I mis I misnoted in my record. So, just council for clarification purposes. A D 13B and 16F will be the ones that are combined. There's a motion. Yeah. Councilman Garcia, >> if we could move 16F, 13B in that order
after AD uh after the presentation of the of the manager. >> Uh a after 8. >> Yeah. After 16F then >> forward to consider them concurrently though. >> Yeah. >> Uh as part of >> concurrently then. Yeah. >> Okay. Um Okay. So that's in the motion. It's been moved. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. I I'll oppose. No. The eyes have it and the agenda is amended as stated. We are now in public comments. Madame clerk, >> good evening and welcome to the council meeting. As I always state, if you're
joining us via Zoom and you would like to participate in public comments, the only thing you need to do is click on the reactions icon selecting raise hand and our IT department will allow you to speak. If you are joining us via zoom or
via telephone because you also want to participate in public comments and if you wish to speak just raise your hand by pressing hashtag number99 and if you are in council chambers and you would like to provide us with public comments please it is a moment now to um reach
the podium and state your name and address for the record. We will afford you three minutes to speak and welcome there. Bonnie Cron 14770 Lewis Road. Good evening, Mayor Diegas,
council members, Mr. Peterman, Mr. Gastasesi, and staff. Uh before I get to the main reason why I came tonight, I want to make two quick comments on the agenda. Um first, I think that the proposed improvements for the Optimus
Park are reasonable and necessary and I support they're being funded and implemented. Secondly, I would just question why a zoning and and u planning and zoning committee has to be
only people that are related to the construction or real estate industry in some way. Uh to me that seems not fair. I think it should maybe be half with those kind of people and half lay people
so that you don't have just one mindset there. But that's just my opinion. Um, now for the reason I came, I wanted you to take a good look at the town seal. Nowhere do you see any high-rise
apartments on there. Now, I know full well that the original plans by Mr. William A. did have some apartment buildings included in this town, but they weren't seven stories and there weren't so many of them because he did
not intend for this town to exceed 30,000 people because he knew the infrastructure, the roads, the schools, the access for emergency vehicles. He knew that they this town could not support more than that because we're
only six square miles and a lot of some of that is water. So I just wanted to come to say that I feel I feel very disappointed and disillusioned because I
feel that you all had a chance to sort of make a stand against the avaritious and harmful blight of overdevelopment. Um, I had high hopes for all of you and I thought that you were a council that would hear our voices and really protect
us, but you failed to do it. I spoke out against that sevenstory building. I spoke out about the monstrosity going up on 154th Street at the Palmetto and I spoke out about this ACOM uh last
apartment complex, but it just doesn't seem to do any good. Um, I don't do social media of any kind, but I'm told that there was a lot of condemnation on social media after the vote to let that
uh construction go ahead. Um, it it's I don't really see any reason to come here and take time to talk and give your opinion when it seems like you will always ultimately decide in favor of the
influential people with money rather than act on the common sense and environmentally sound words of the people whose quality of life is impacted by your actions. There are many things that this council does very well, but
this was a huge mistake I feel on your part because the last thing that this town needed was more residents. And I think you saw those statutes that would have given you just cause for
opposing the if the live local act had been brought into play. there was a way to get around that because I think we would qualify to not have to have those things here. The Grahams would have had to develop that land the way the zoning
was set up and we should have done it in a way that it would not increase our town population. That the zoning should never have been changed to something that will allow all those new residents. We will probably have over 36,000 people
here. So, I'm just saying I feel like you were to blame. You betrayed us and I feel very sad about it. I wanted to tell you to >> Thank you, Bonnie. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker. >> Good evening. Dave Bennett, 15830
Northwest 83rd Place in Miami Lakes. Um uh I want to thank those members and uh citizens that spoke at the charter commission um meeting committee meetings. The uh charter commission has been going on since January. We've had
relatively little input from our uh um our residents. We've uh done our really our best to try and come up with some solutions. Um many of the um council members, some some several council members spoke up. There's um one
thing that concerns me when the questions do return to you. I I just wanted to go over my concerns. Um the idea of reducing the town council from the seven members a mayor and four at large excuse me uh six at large to five
council members I think will significantly reduce representation in within our town. Uh I know the I guess the final um decision will be yours as far as you want to put on the ballot. It was very um it was very frustrating when
we had so many uh people online and that came that spoke out against that and yet uh the four members uh of the charter commission wanted to continue to do that. I agree that if it's this question needs to be brought up every 10 years
apparently that the people will decide and I'm hoping they'll reject the idea of reducing this council. I think seven members adequately handles uh what we need to do here. I don't see there's too many complications with five. If one or two are absent, we're down to three. And
we're down to three. That means of the three they got two of them is going to going to appoint a mayor and a vice mayor and then you have a council member and it becomes logistically a problem. Um I just wanted to speak about that here. Um I'm also here I got one minute. Good. The um I'm also on the committee
for the blasting committee. Um we have sponsored a competition at the high school level to um basically um sus out what uh the blasting that we all have been feeling um basically impacts our
properties and the students have been amazing in producing some of these projects for us. Um it's been such a nice turnout that I think next year for the science fair I think I'll sponsor it again. Uh this year I sponsored it because I really thought there was some
really good science that could be gleaned from this and it would directly affect our homeowners who are experiencing the blasting and the vibration. I'm hoping that uh during the awards ceremony, one or more of you could at least join us and celebrate with the kids. I want to thank you for your service. Have a good night.
>> When is when is that ceremony? >> I think I believe it's set up for next week. We're gonna I'm meeting here now at 7 o'clock and I can get you more information, but I think it's uh we're dealing with Clarosel getting things organized. So, but uh we have to do it before the end of the year, so we'd like
to do it. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> sir. >> Uh good evening, mayor, vice mayor, members of the council, and town manager. My name is Adonis. I live on 16511 Stone Haven and I'm here as vice
president of the Loch Ness Homeowners Association. I'm joined tonight in spirit of our all our volunteer board as you all are aware representing 148 family homes in Loch Ness community proudly established here in 1972. I did
have a slide deck for you all, but I will share it with uh manager Peterman and he can share it with the rest of you. Uh just to showcase some of the activity that Loch Ness HOA as a community has established over the course of the since December of me moving into Miami Lakes. Um I did want
to give out some shoutouts to some of the members of your staff. And so I'll start with uh town manager Eddie Peterman. Thank you for the quick commitment to our speed hump replacements and introduction to the South Florida Water Management District to protect our lakes and C8 canal zoning
director Danielle Angel and co- compliance team specifically Lordis Aried Carlos and Brian for the response detail ordinance guidance that they've given the the Loch Ness community as we move forward in correcting a few things that have not
been that have been overseen over the years. park director Jeremy and his incredible team including Andres, Manuel, and Beatatrice for helping us secure venues and guide our neighborhood library program. So, we are we did
approve a $860 to buy the free little library and we will start implement uh we've uh followed the the process to get that installed in one of our parks. uh Rachel and Orio for the seat click fix desk. Uh they have provided guidance
and how I can share that with the how we can share that with the community. Some active initiatives on uh to Lochness and I would love to invite you all for the grand opening of the free library or whoever in uh the council can join. Um
we've actively stepped up a active neighborhood. We're doing a by weekly on Sundays walk to bring awareness to why we shouldn't park on sidewalks as an example and also why it's important to the elderly and the um my wife who walks
around with my seven uh my 10-month old daughter. So we are and again everything that we've been doing is to proactively showcase hey we're doing this fun community event but it's also to bring awareness of some of the co the ordinances that make Miami Lakes great. Uh the other one that we uh another fun
event that we did and thanks to parks for helping us coordinate that is the chalk it up Sundays where I did have a picture of some kids that from the community that went and drew artwork on the sidewalk. With that I know that I'm coming up on my time so I do have a few
other things and I will moving forward will come more often representing the 148 residents. If any of you have any comments or questions or guidance even for Lochness and my new role as vice president for the Loch Ness HOA, I encourage you to let me know and thank you all for your time today.
>> Thank you so much. Next speaker. >> Okay, Mayor Council, Town Management, Carlos Andre, uh 14530 Date Pine have Okay. Uh thank you uh for those of you that uh supported us for law enforcement awareness month. Uh we had a few events.
So appreciate your support um for law enforcement and the public safety committee. Um wanted to speak in support of uh Mayor Davis's item about early voting. There's no price in democracy. Uh so definitely got to get those uh early voting days and you know um in there um in connection with what's going on with the charter. Um the reason why
I'm here is the same reason why I was here last month and I know that I've been lobbing with uh some of you about related to MLOp. Um MLP is is is really just it's a diamond in our in our town. It really just provides so much for our students uh students of you know
athletes students learning learning all types of things. It's it provides future. I used to play there. I know some of you have played there when you were kids growing up and the magic of that town of that park and and hearing Jim Hamilton talk about that park and how so many parents came together to
make that a reality. Um and and and really just the overwhelming support of parents. And they might not be here because they have jobs or they're taking care of their kids, but I can tell you I talk about this around town and parents want this. They want this. You know, we just finished our our flag football um
at you know, Miami Lakes Rolex Park and and you know, people were ecstatic. Brandy Fields is gorgeous. There's no reason why the Optimus shouldn't be in that same shape. So, in this report, which I'm so glad that you know, director uh you know, Badgetown put this together. Please support it. The money
is there. We're not asking for more money. Let's get this going and let's plan for the future of this town to for us to be competitive. Okay? We're Halia is doing so many things to their parks. We're losing people to Broward County for, you know, athletic, you know,
sports. We shouldn't do that. Our town is gorgeous. It's a beacon northwest Dade and we need to continue that investment. And I just ask you all to please support this and uh let's get these wooden poles down. Let's get these new lights up. Let's get these back stops repaired and let's go play ball.
Let's get this started for next uh season. Thank you so much. >> Thank you very much. Next speaker. And while we wait for the next speaker to come up, I just wanted to encourage those in the audience that live here in the town to please stay uh behind. We're going to be pinning our new major uh at some point tonight. So, it would be nice
for for us to have a willing audience uh uh to go ahead and celebrate this important milestone. But with that, sir, please go ahead. >> Hello. Good evening, everyone. Uh my name is Sylvia Janes. I live in 8756 Northwest 168th Lane. Uh I'm here to
discuss the uh pickle ball improvements that were done to Optimus Park. Uh the problem we're having is uh PSN's lights and I've called the county several times have not been repaired. So we're getting an enormous amount of people from that park coming to our park and when we go
play as the residents, we don't, you know, we can we sit there an hour to play. So, I was trying to see if it was possible that the tennis court next to the next four pickle ball courts if that could be turned into four more pickle ball courts because the tennis court's usually empty has the lines for pickle
ball and yesterday I played pickle ball there but it's not the same the net is lower etc and stuff. So, uh obviously I'm going to go play now attired and pickle ball attire. So, that's all I wanted to mention to you guys. It's It's causing a problem for us. And if there's
any way that the park could be extended to 10:00 at night, the lights instead of 9:30 because some of us work during the day and we get there like at seven to play. So, thank you very much. That's all I wanted. >> Thank you very much. Next speaker. Going once. Going twice. Madame Clerk,
anyone online? >> I No. No one with a hand or raise. You want to go ahead and note the public comments we got by email. Then >> I do I do want to share them. So we have one from Mr. Abel Fernandez in regards to planning and zoning and how the
vacancies are filled. Uh one from Mr. Boris Foster in regards to special taxing district section one and budget changes or charges, I'm sorry, budget charges. Uh public comment, written public
comment from Miss Hope Reynolds in regards to objecting to charges from the special taxing district section one a rules protecting planning and zoning board and in opposition to the PNC nomination that council member Cuadra
Garcia is doing. And as those are the three that I have, I also had two that I was gonna state for the record, but they are regarding item 15A which was deferred earlier. So I don't know, town
attorney, should I state that for the record, the oppositions that we got or should I wait till next month? >> They want you to put them in the record. They gave them to you today, so put them in today. >> Very well. So, we got an opposition, a letter of opposition from that item 15A
from Beamanda Investments LLC signed by Mr. Rub Ruben Sanchez. And the other one in opposition was from Miami Lakes Professional Center Condominian Association,
also in opposition to the Education Royal Learning Center. And that one was signed as well from Ruven Sanchez. Those two I received earlier today. And I just wanted to state for the record, although the case has been deferred 15A to next
month. And that is all for written public comments. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. We're now on 7A appointments. Um before we go to council Garcia, I'm going to go ahead and read my usual statement, but first I want to take a moment of personal privilege to address Miss Bonnie Centron. Obviously,
we don't normally answer questions while we're in public comments, but being that this is appropriate to your topic about why it is that we uh have these requirements to serve on the planning and zoning board, that is because uh professionals in those fields typically deal with the matters that come before
them, right? Whether it's related to permitting, uh design or land use and and uh planning and zoning um and land use generally. Um so that is why we have that that requirement, right? because these matters can be complex and I understand your disappointment with
respect to the Lakeside project. But the reality is that the laws that govern that project militated in favor of us approving it if we wanted to do what was best for the town, right? Because it wasn't a policy decision. Again, it was a quasi judicial decision. And I understand that there are some residents
that still um you know have read the law and want to interpret it a different way than what it actually states. But the real and but that's exactly why you need that sort of technical expertise on these boards because a lot of times these legal um mechanics can be misunderstood and and as a result put
the town in legal jeopardy. So that's my concern. I mean one example is the way that the term covenants was being loosely used at the last meeting when we had that consideration and that there is a legal distinction between conditions to a site plan and a covenant that is recorded with the land. That's an
example of why we have uh these requirements. Um, and I guess it also answers your your question regarding the Lakeside project. But I want to take a moment of personal privilege to acknowledge what you said and to address it. Um, you know, at this time um, with
that, we have three removals due to absences and we have one appointee, Anna V. Torres, to economic development committee by Councilman Alex Sanchez. Is Miss Torres here? Okay. Well, regardless, uh, you know, we want to thank her for agreeing to serve
on this board. And with that, we will go to Councilman Cuadra Garcia to introduce his motion. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, my recommendation is to appoint uh Mr. Anivva G. Perez to the planning and
zoning board, a real estate broker. Um, I am uh requesting my colleagues to wave the said uh requirements of the categories listed above. >> I'll move.
>> Wait, was there a second? >> I'll second. >> Okay, it's been seconded for discussion. Councilman Fernandez. >> Well, I I'd be a huge hypocrite if I were to turn it down. I mean, I I served on the I chair the planning and zoning board and I'm a realtor by trade. Um, so
you know, I I do agree that uh that he has the knowledge to be able to serve on that board. >> Vice Mayor, >> thank you, Mayor. Um, yeah, the the fact that the the nominee is a real estate broker doesn't
really uh affect me. Uh, I I actually don't know, uh, Mr. Perez. Uh but um what I would say is I started off being okay with this and then we got those comments from uh Miss Hope Reynolds uh from Mr. Fernandez and
they actually seemed to make a lot of sense and then even then just out of deference to you I I was willing to still support it. Uh but but then I actually took a look at the roster uh uh the existing roster of the PNZ and I noticed that it's actually mostly not
people who fit the qualifications. It's mostly people who have been waved in and I I would like to see a start of the committee coming back. Um I don't know. I think this item is probably going to pass anyways, but I'm going to be a no only because I'd like to see that
return. I don't know the individual. It's has nothing to do with them. It's just even with with my own once they decide to retire on their own, um I'm going to be seeking someone who actually fits the the qualifications. Further discussion >> through the chair.
>> Councilman Garcia. >> Um, thank you, Vice Mayor. I mean, your your points are valid, of course. Um, however, I I do believe that the experience that Mr. Perez brings, the the fact he's lived in the town many years. Uh, he understands um, you for
many years what the town's going through and he follows his experiences alone, I think, will bring um, you know, much needed experience to the town. Uh now we as the as the councilman said he he was the chair of the council and real estate and that gives you an understanding.
Yeah we'd love to have you know engineers we love to have town planners you know things like that but um in this case I think the experience alone and the the time he's lived in the town warrants us to to wave wave that and and accept them on the board. Thank you.
>> Any further comments? Seeing none, I have been advised by the attorney that this requires a supermajority vote to wave this rule. Therefore, uh, madame clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Fernandez, >> yes.
>> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Hburg is absent. He will be joining the meeting a little later. Council member Sanchez, >> no. Vice Mayor Moretta,
>> no. >> Mayor Diegas, >> no. >> I'm sorry. >> No. >> So, the motion fails. >> With that, we are now on item 8A, the monthly uh police report, presented by our new major, Major Eddie Oua.
Good evening, mayor and uh council. Uh so for the month of uh of April uh we show a uh 43 43% uh reduction in reference to our uh our crimes for the town. Uh so that continues to be obviously a steady decline on our end in
reference to comparison to last year. Um additionally for for the month uh we issued 231 citations. Uh we provided 48 written warnings, 51 verbal warnings and 21 parking tickets for the month. Uh we also had uh the coffee with a cop last
month. I'm sorry, last week on Friday. Uh it was a nice event. We did it at the mayor's cafe. Uh you know, it was very nice event. Good nice turnout. Um and I'm opening uh to you guys if there was any questions or any concerns in reference to the police.
>> Who wants to go first? Councilman Sanchez and then the vice mayor. >> Major, good to see you and looking forward to what's going to happen now in a few moments. before the next council meeting. Um, obviously school is going to cease for for the summer and we know in the
general consensus of the area usually when that happens those you know teenagers they like to roam around and sometimes look into cars and homes. Is there a different strategy? I don't need to know the strategy, but will there be a different strategy for monitoring those types of environments or
residential environments, making sure that you know breakins are not happening um to the extent that they have in the past and things of that nature. >> Yeah. Predominantly what uh what the plan of action is going to be pretty much uh moving forward is we're going to do something relatively not exactly the same, but something relatively similar
to what we do for Grinch Busters. >> Okay. Um, so we're going to, you know, do high high visibility, especially like in Main Street, like uh our typical places like uh Publix that those uh extended places that are very prone to, you know, like the vehicle burglaries and stuff like that. Obviously, the lock or lose is going to be a very important
part of that, too. >> Um, you know, and obviously, you know, with uh with outreach and and high visibility is pretty much the focal point of how we're going to try to, you know, to mitigate those crimes from occurring during the summer the summer months with the juveniles. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> You're welcome.
Uh my my original question was relating to something else, but actually Councilman Sanchez brings up a point and I was going to say I I'm not necessarily certain that um the close of the school year may bring more burglary issues and
I'm sure it might, but what I see and I know it's a resident that a lot of it's an issue that a lot of residents have brought up and it's the kids on the bikes popping wheelies in front of the cars. Is is there a way that that detail can somehow be not just more visible but
also more out on the street because what I've come to understand is it's just impossible to catch them in the act. Uh is there some way we can I don't know hide behind a bush or something. Uh especially on Fairway Drive. That's where they they're always there on Fairway Drive. >> Yeah. I mean in reference to to that
part of that is going to be our unmarked unmarked vehicle details which will obviously be uh you know consistent with with those types of behaviors. Uh the unfortunate thing for that is obviously it's like uh any typical uh traffic crime we would have to catch them in the act of doing so. Um where it becomes
difficult is obviously there there are laws for to allow bicyclist to be on the road etc but obviously their behavior is what isn't allowed. So that's that would be what we would curtail. And then uh to my original question which was um I actually never noticed the inclusion of parking tickets in here. Where are we
giving parking tickets? Like where geographically in the town in Main Street or >> No, it's not nowhere in specific. So uh we've we've given a lot like for example Sanchez has brought up to our attention in reference to uh I think it's 139 if I'm not mistaken or what what street is that? >> Oh
>> like along like along the along 87th Avenue that little turnaround that comes out. So, if you're going south on 87th Avenue, right before the bridge, if you make a right on that soil area between the homes and the bridge, cars park there quite often. >> Yeah, it's at a little auxiliary road. Uh some of the the residents typically
at overnight try have a tendency of parking there. >> Uh so we've been doing that. Obviously, uh you know, hear about like New Barn, the the shopping centers, a lot of it too. Obviously, the handicap parking has been a big a big thing for us as well. So, >> Gotcha. Thank you. >> You're welcome, >> Councilman Garcia.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh well, first of all, congratulations early, but welld deserved. >> Um I know there's a lot of talk about teenage takeovers going on all over the country, and I know we had a little rash of that a couple years ago in Main Street and the curfew and the job that
you're doing and and at the events and along with the Grahams is has prevented that from happening in the town. And I just want to congratulate, you know, you the, you know, the department and and everything, all the plans put together and what you're doing now to prevent that from happening here in the town.
So, I just want to say it's happening everywhere else. It's not happening here because we've really really uh been very tough with teenage curfews in the town, which is very important. >> So, I want to thank you for very much in the past and the future. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Yes, Mr. Mayor.
>> Councilman Guada, >> thank you. want to take a point of privilege uh have by the way congratulations uh major um I spoke to the uh town manager a couple days ago to advise them of uh speeding that's going on I don't
know if uh the manager uh has shared it with you um all the way from um I want to say it's 169 to the school area there >> 79th Avenue correct >> yeah right uh they're using that road there to speed >> Mhm. Mh.
>> Um, so if a person's making a left on 163, uh, and they have a vehicle that's blocking their view some, you know, they're they're speeding. Uh, I I I can't tell how fast they're going, but you could pretty much tell they're they're they're speeding. So, I wanted
to see if there was anything that could be done. Uh, >> yeah. So, um, I mean, technically, even before your your concerns were raised, we we typically do do run radar there. Uh predominantly we've been pretty unsuccessful because it's not the first time that we've gotten that complaint. I
know typically a lot of times like uh visually a lot of times it seems like cars are speeding and then when you actually go out there with the radar and stuff like that they're might be one two three miles over. Um so but with response to to your concern I I do have
my traffic guys out there. Uh they're you know they're predominantly just moving around in reference to time. So we're not hitting it every day at the same time. Uh so we're doing it pretty much all during the daytime and on the afternoon guys with my NTU guys. So my traffic guys which which a lot of them are here um they're they're addressing
that and as as of right now we haven't had any like anything in reference to fruitful that's come out of it but we are addressing it. >> You're welcome. Anyone else? All right. Well, thank you. We are now in item 8B to be presented by Director Santos public works monthly
infrastructure report. >> Yeah. >> Is the director here? >> Yeah, he's online. Good evening, council. >> Okay, perfect. >> Welcome, Omar. >> Good evening. So, I'm going to start just highlighting three projects that one uh one would be the Palmetto
underpass. We pretty that project is pretty much completed. The last piece that we had pending was the the improvement to the paver. So, I'm guessing most of you have have seen that. We have some cleanup work to do and some green uh space restoration that will be ongoing in the next month. But
that project is is pretty much completed. Next project would be our 59th Avenue project. So our consultant they are finalizing our 60% submitt. They have just two disciplines pending to submit to them which are lighting and
landscaping. And once that is completed which they have told me they're anticipating within the next two weeks that will be uploaded to our DOT uh server so they can have the reviews ongoing. We've also been coordinating with aviation and other entities to get
ready for permitting and other and reviews that are part of the of the design process. And lastly, when it comes to the projects, we have our Park West pedestrian and bicycle improvement project. The reason I'm bringing that one up is that we're anticipating that
starting during the summer. We want to take advantage of the summer months as much as we can. This will be enhancing uh predominantly about Goen Road. We're going to be adding bicycle facilities uh protect uh buffered bike lanes. So you you're going to have a nice bicycle
facility in that area that will eventually connect to Mont Rose. And my last item before I open up for questions would be uh highlight on on again on the canal bank phase one repair
estim estimate that I presented last meeting uh at the request of the vice mayor. We brought up some some more breakdowns and a recommendation as to what we can do to move forward with these repairs in the future. So, if you
go to that section of my report, the two options are there. And then I I broke it down a little bit further as far as unit cost per linear foot and then uh a unit cost per average property length, which turned out to be about an 87 foot
section. So, this will be uh the width of a of a of a property where there's roughly 30ome in that area. So depending on which option we we go with, you have your unit cost there. Um based on what
we've seen and on the report, we tend to recommend going with the filling the the cells that are are void and repairing those with concrete. And also if there's some some broken uh segments of the of
the plastic sheeting, we can repair those too. And uh any wash outs, get those repaired. The the thought process behind that is that a lot of the the sections that haven't washed out, if we reinforce the ones that have washed out,
we potentially can elongate the life of those and obviously is less costly uh for in the long run. But that would be and that would conclude my report on this. So I open up for questions. >> Mr. Mr. Mayor, now that we're on this
subject, I'd like to see if you can give me a couple seconds to talk on this. >> Okay. Yeah. So, we're in the discussion portion. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Um, you all know that this has been this has been my project from
from day one. Um, with all due respect to the professionals, um, I am not going to support one penny putting residents money into this canal embankment with whether it be one, two,
or three. I've asked uh the town attorney uh to please look into to see if we can go after legally uh these contractors for phase two and three that have been broken since the
day they they were broken before we even started. So, um I need to find out what's going on through the the manager and and through the mayor. What are we going to be doing uh with this? Because it's it it seems that we're we're letting this take time and time and
warranties are expiring and and and going and going away. So, can you tell me uh Mr. Man uh Mr. Attorney, what's going on? Do we have anything? >> We were going to meet with you.
>> Yes. And it got cancelled. Um there's different things we can do if if a council wishes to look at it and investigate it and see if if there's any uh liability on the on the part of the contractor. I think for for three it's much more open since it's much more
recent than two. I think three is about a year or so. uh and and the warranty did may expire, but but there's other types of theories that we could look at whether it's a a latent defect rather than than a real defect. Um, but again,
that's something that we would rather really have a conversation one-on-one with each of you and decide how you feel because whatever we do decide to do would cost would require a full and a more in-depth uh u in inspection
of of of the properties and what is causing any of the so any of the damage. We know that we already did one for section one, right, Mr. Manager? And that one was completed. Yes. >> But we haven't done one for section two or for section three yet. We've done it internally >> but not with a professional engineering
front. Right. >> And that's what would be required. >> I I I ask that we don't keep wasting any p time. Time is of the essence and that's what happened to to two. Now we lost warranty on two. Um we should have
I've been talking about two for for the longest. So, please, I ask my colleagues to please let's not forget about this because I'm going to be I'm going to keep talking about this until I turn purple. >> Anyone else? Uh, wait. Before we go to
you, I know the manager wanted to address something or you're you're good. >> Whenever you get done, I just want to interject at whenever the >> Mr. Vice Mayor, you're recognized for a motion. >> Uh, thank you, Mayor. Before I make that motion, uh, director Santos, I just wanted to confirm and I apologize if I didn't hear you because uh, I stepped
away from the dis for a second. Are you recommending uh, out of option one and two, are you recommending uh, that the council adopt option one? >> Well, as a strategy to start, so what I didn't mention is one one of the options
that I would like to explore is approaching this as an invitation to bid. So, we'll get a contract similar to what we have on roadway, which would be canal maintenance and repair as needed. So, then we would have a multi-year contract with a fixed rate and then as
as we uh fund it, then we would issue work orders. >> Okay. Uh thank you for that. So, with that in mind, I'm going to go ahead as he said to start um I'm going to move option one so that we can actually start repairing some of these damaged cells.
Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> It's been seconded by Councilman Fernandez. Any discussion on on option one? >> Yes. C >> Councilman. >> So, we're we're going to But Mr. Vice Mayor, you're approving to spend money on on on this. >> Well, if you want it to get fixed, we
got to spend money. >> It should have been fixed a long time ago with a warranty. I've been talking about this for the longest. So, I'm not going to approve to spend one single penny of our residents money. >> Okay. But through the chair, >> the quorum, remember,
>> you're you're talking about coming up to this dis and you it's talking about this issue until you turn purple. I understand that. I understand being passionate about a subject, but you're talking about could a would a should have. That's in the past. Do you want to fix the canal bank or not? Yes or no?
And and I'm directing that through the mayor, but but the reality is we're one at a time, please. >> But the reality is >> we should have done it under warranty, >> but it wasn't. re reclaiming control of the days. I want to be absolutely clear that there is no exception that there will only be one person speaking at a
time. >> Okay, we'll go back to you for a rebuttal, but in the meantime, Mr. Vice Mayor, continue your thought, but please do so with the quorum in mind. Thank you. This issue has been brought up adnauseium and
>> an option to repair if we are looking at this as an item of danger because of erosion of the of the coastline of the canal of the canal bank then we need to do something to fix it. If there is a
legal avenue that can be taken as the town deputy attorney just came up and spoke about, then they will chase that opportunity for reimbursement. >> But we still have to spend the money one way or another. It's not going to magically fix itself. They've already
told us the warranty expired, so it's not going to come back. And so either we fix it or we don't. If we think it's an important issue that needs to be fixed, then we then we need to fix it. But we can't just continue to complain about
something that already wasn't done. I agree with you that >> certain things should have been h done differently in the past and that maybe certain staff and and and uh other councils because this is like way back in our town's history um may have
dropped the ball and not enforcing the warranties sooner. But we're here sitting in 2026 and those warranties were not claimed. Therefore, we either pony up or stop talking about it. One of the two >> through the chair. >> Mr. Vice Mayor, who needs
>> Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Remember that everyone needs the permission of the chair, which is me, in order to speak. You will have a chance for rebuttal, but the way it normally happens is we give our colleagues all a chance to opine first and then the the listening council member jotss their notes down and then addresses everything
all at once. We've heard from the vice mayor. We have two other colleagues that want to speak. The first one I saw was Councilman Sanchez. And then we will go to Councilman Garcia for their comments. And then I promise you that once everyone we've done a first round, then we will go to you for a rebuttal. Councilman Sanchez.
>> Okay. So, warranty terms. I'm going to bring it down to to the the most simplest terms. Cars. All right. In the last meeting, we discussed warranty for cars. Cars are 3 years, 36,000 mi on average. There are some cars that are 10 years 100,000 but that's you know those are outliers in the in the in the
average time of warranties. When it comes to the warranty of this, based on what the on the research that was done, it's five years of warranty for phase one, which right now the item that's being discussed is specifically budgeting for phase one, not two or three. Specifically, only phase one
expired in 2019 before the pandemic before any of us were up here. >> Expired in 17. So even more backdated. So, at this point, we can't go back in time and say we need to fix something that was under warranty because there's
no historical there's no historical data, no documented proof from 2017 that shows that it's in the condition that it is today. Everything nothing lasts forever. Nothing. But in order to fix it, we're not going to do the all-in approach. We're going to do a a phased
approach, which I am fully in support of because the warranty, as you just stated, expired nine years ago. Phase two and three will will cross those bridges. But right now, what is in front of us is phase one and I am in full support just because it expanded. It expired so many years ago and we just
can't go back in time and be able to fix it. What we can do is take action now in a responsible manner in a manner which is a phased approach like I just mentioned that takes care of the residents of phase one which I believe you you are a resident of phase one and it protects your home your land but just
kicking the can down the road hoping that one day a warranty will come back is not a proper way of addressing this. We've spoken on up here about things that take action sometimes take most of the time take money if it's Brazilian red pepper trees or fixing sidewalks or
in this case fixing a canal embankment. We can't go back to 2017. We're in 2026 and as I said before it's not an all-in approach is a phased approach to do it properly. We're not changing all four tires. We're changing one because the other three are working just fine.
>> Thank you Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, Councilman Guer Garcia, I I totally understand your passion on this because you've lived it. It's it's in your backyard. You see it every day. Uh, but I think multiple things can be true.
Yeah. We we we need to learn our lesson when it comes to uh making sure uh in the future that any project that we do, we make sure that we check the work before that warranty expires and jump on that warranty 100%. We need to make sure
we do that in in um sections phase two and three. Um and if there's any money we can get back 100%. Um you know it hindsight is 2020 and I wish we would have been thinking this way back and you are correct. We should have been thinking that way before that expired.
The reality is phase one needs needs work and we got to fix it. The other thing is residents, some residents have taken it upon themselves to contribute to the degradation of this by literally sticking poles inside of this and creating issues. I' I've walked it with you many times. I' I've I've when I
drive uh down 170th, I see it constantly, but multiple things can be true. Let's see if we can get some money back when it comes to phases two and three when we do the repairs, but we need to start repairing phase one. I wish we can go back in time to 2019 when
this first started happening. Unfortunately, we can't. Let's try to learn from this and not do this same thing again. And let's at least start the process and seeing if we get it to bid, maybe we can save some money on on on on future um future projects, future maintenance, and get some reimbursement
if possible. So, I'll that's the reason I'll be supporting this item, but I agree with you that this should have been done years ago, 100%. Um before we go back to Councilman Cuadra Garcia, I want to state for the record that Councilman Hzburg has now uh uh sat here on the dis and councilman Hersburg just to bring up to speed, we are in the
monthly infrastructure report and there's been a motion and a second for option one that's been presented there. Uh and uh Councilman Garcia wants rebuttal time, so I'm going to go to him. But before I go to him, do you have anything you want to opine on this? >> Yeah, I was actually following in the car on the way here. It's uh my wife's
birthday, so that's why the late arrival. >> That's okay. Happy birthday to her. >> Happy birthday to her. Um, I agree with the vice mayor. I think we have to do some sort of maintenance. I I also agree with you and you know that that we've discussed this for a very long time. He's been up here right there since 2015
discussing this issue. So, uh, it's been a very long issue, but we can't do nothing. And even if there was a legal action, we have a we have a requirement to vitigate, right? So, we got to we got to maintain there. There's no way around that. Now, Councilman Garcia for
rebuttal. >> Let me get back to the ones that were talking about maintenance. Okay. When you have a faulty product that's faulty, you can throw all the money you want at it. It's faulty. So, in this case, it's
been faulty since day one. Are you aware uh Councilman Sanchez that right after we lost warranty on project on phase one, we threw another $25,000 through it and all those $25,000 are in the water. So this is this is we have
put money. So now we're going to put money again and all we're going to do is just throw it because the bottom I guess I I keep talking about this the geo bag at the bottom is has holes. It's like I talked about the Skittles issue. If you
have a hole in your pocket and I put Skittles in your pocket, where are the Skittles going? They're going to fall. That's what's happening. So, you can put all the money you want in there. All the We're going to lose it. It's been broken since day one. It's a faulty product. I
don't have the answer, but I've said it since day one. I don't know what to do. So, I have a lot of educated people here and that's why you were all appointed so we can all work together and figure out how to fix this.
>> Well, elected but well yes. Um but um with that uh there being nothing further and let's go ahead and um not a roll call I'm going to do a voice vote. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose no.
Are you would you like to be registered as a no or a yes? >> I'm a no to spend money. >> So, uh spend money. You guys have it. The motion carries. And uh is there anything else that was uh that we need to move on in item AP? Okay. Yeah. So, with that, council, I'm going to move to reopen the order of business to move up
the the special presentations in light of the audience that we have here and to allow them time to celebrate this event um after we finish. So, with that, is there a second? >> Second. >> Uh all those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The agenda is reopened. I'd like to go ahead and
move the uh special presentations items 11 A, B, and C uh to take up immediately after this vote. >> I'll second. >> It's been seconded. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. >> The eyes have it. The motion carries. And the I and uh the agenda is amended
as stated. And we are now on item 11A, the pinning ceremony for uh the new major Eddie Ouoa. Um, and as he makes his way up here, um, with his son who is going to be pinning him a, um, there we go. Excellent. Um, I wanted to go ahead
and just say a few words, and I will open up open it up to all of you to go ahead and say a few words as well. Um, but I just wanted to, uh, state, well, actually, yeah, why don't we go ahead and take care of the pinning ceremony first, however you guys would like, and then we'll we'll say a few words and,
uh, go from there. All right. It's a big milestone, everybody. This is a major career achievement. >> Don't poke them. >> Don't poke them. >> Excellent. All right, guys. Uh, Major, I just wanted to say
congratulations on your promotion. Uh, in the last couple of months that we've been working as we've transitioned from our former major, uh, Major Gonzalez to you. You have stepped in seamlessly to me. You know, you've been extremely responsive and I think the residents continue to to see the results that you
and him were working on. And I know that you're going to continue to lead us in the right direction. And I know that you have a big crowd here. clearly have a lot of support in the in our department which is great and uh you know and honestly uh he's a man of few words but he's a man of action and believe it or not a lot of humor he just does it
through means with that who else would like to go ahead and uh speak okay let's actually work down this way and go to the end so we'll start with Councilman Sanchez >> you know for a while I called you um major select now we can officially say major you know and I know this is the second meeting where we can say it but
congratulations you know very deserving and I look forward to many many good years of of service to Miami Lakes and uh being the second coming of the traffic whisperer here in the town of Miami Lakes. I know that you had a great teacher in uh in in the major and uh and
yeah, you know, good things ahead and you know that you have the support of of this town behind you. Thank you, >> Councilman Fernandez. >> Congratulations again. I think the town is in good hands. I think that uh our future is bright and and thank you for your service. We appreciate
>> Thank you so much, >> Vice Mayor Mora. Thank you, Mayor. You got some big shoes to fill. Uh I think you're the right man to fill those shoes and uh I know you have the support of the entire department. Uh the guys back there love you. You're you're part of the culture. So, uh look forward to good
things in the future and keeping our town safe. >> Look forward to it. >> Councilman Garcia, >> thank you, Mayor. Um, I mean it's it's it's a brotherhood and a sisterhood and and uh over the years the majors have come from, you know, our town and they've been mentored just like the
major Gonzalez mentored you and Mr. and Major Ruiz. It's just it I love it. It's it's from the family. It's from the town and nobody knows the town better than than you know having you've been here for a while and part of the family understand it. So again, congratulations and I know you're going to do amazing
for the town. Thank you. Councilman Herszburg, >> first congratulations. This is a a great milestone for you and your family. >> Uh, and I I I what what Councilman Sanchez says said, we you had big shoes to fill, but if it seems like it's been
seamless and that says a lot about you and and the trust your officers have, your deputies have. One of the things I always tell people about Miami Lakes, you know, when I'm traveling or something, oh, what about Miami Lakes? I talk about, you know, what's great about it? It's so safe. We have such a safe community. We feel so safe. and that's
because of you guys and your leadership now. So, just keep up the great work and we all I know we all look forward to working with you. >> Thank you so much, >> Councilman Guada Garcia. >> Thank you very much. Uh I echo the words of my colleagues, you know, just uh I've already said it. Congratulations, sir.
>> Thank you, sir. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. Uh Major, would you like to address uh the residents or any other words? I mean uh like I mean I obviously have I've been doing this already for quite some time here in the town and uh you know I'm going to reiterate the same thing I've always reiterated. You know I'm very grateful
for the opportunity. Uh I look forward to obviously continue you know the the excellent service that we've always provided this the resident of the Tanami Lakes. But I'll be remissed if I uh if I don't give thanks to the troops to my guys the guys that are out there actually you know handling the calls
being the face of uh of the town. You know, unfortunately enough, like I, you know, obviously I'm I'm at the the the tip of the spear, but the guys behind me are truly the ones that are carrying all the weight, and I'm extremely grateful for their for their effort and their work, and I look forward to continue to work with them.
>> Excellent. And uh just as you know, uh you know, you have a new lieutenant. I believe you wanted to go ahead and introduce him uh for us. >> I do. I do. Uh so uh so that is uh Lieutenant George Casiano. Uh just a quick uh brief little overview
on him. He's got uh 14 years of service in in police. Uh he did uh Miami Gardens and uh lateralled over to us. Uh he has a multitude of experience uh from investigations to proactive work he's done. He's been on the gun task force. Uh I extremely well-rounded. Uh you
know, and I really really look forward to uh for him working with us. I think he's a great addition to the team and uh you know, I just uh give him his moment uh for him to say a couple things. >> Absolutely. Go ahead. >> Welcome. >> Welcome. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. So, as the major mentioned, yes, I did begin my
career with Miami Gardens and fortunate enough I lateral over in 2016 where I began my career with the Miami Day Sheriff's Office. Uh, fortunately, I was selected and I'm humbled and honored to take the position of lieutenant for the town of Miami Lakes and I'm looking forward to the partnership between the
town and the Miami Day Sheriff's Office. >> Excellent. Well, welcome to the family. >> Thank you. >> With that, uh, we're going to take a fiveminute recess so we can go ahead and get photos with everyone. Don't worry. I I got it. >> Before that, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to say one thing. >> Sure. >> I have the great honor of saying that I already have Lieutenant Casio Casiano's
phone number. Right, Casiano? >> Wow, that was fast. >> It's just so everyone has it. So, you put it on your speed dial. It's 305 sheriff. >> With that, it is 7:28. We will come back in 5 minutes. So, everyone be back by 7:33.
That was corny. Everybody. All right, ladies and gentlemen, the time is 7:33 as promised. >> We're done. >> Yeah, we're going to have move to the next question. >> That'll be quick. That'll be
>> Yeah. No, no, 7:33 because I had said five minutes. So, with that, we're going to ask all those that no longer have business here to please step out of the chamber and we're going to go to the town manager to introduce our latest member of the family. >> Yeah, the parks director will introduce her.
>> Okay, perfect. Perfect. Hold on. Let's just give him a minute uh to filter out. >> Can we read now? Okay, with that um to introduce our new team member and uh if we can please have the doors closed. >> Matt, can you can you close the door
there, please? Thank you. All right, so we got that. Okay, with that, go ahead. >> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Jeremy Backdown, director of parks and recreation. Um today I have the uh privilege to go ahead and introduce to you guys our new parks and
administrative uh specialist. She is taking over just so you guys are aware for Jessica Faralls who left us after eight years of serving with the town. Um she moved on out but with that comes new talent. Um we're definitely excited. Uh so with that I'll go ahead and introduce
Beatatric Achalabi who comes to us from proud graduate of FIU both her uh undergrad and her masters uh from FIU. She is actually in the process also, side note, of going ahead and securing her certification as a landscape
architect. So, she's already taking one test out of the five. >> There's one problem, Mr. Director. She spilled coffee all over the hallway earlier today. So, >> we will get to that. Get to that. >> I'm just kidding. Well, well, she did, but I was just making a bigger deal about
it. And, you know, I love my Panthers, my fellow Panthers. So, >> Beatatric um is a resident. Uh, so she is a Miami Laker. Her family still resides in town. She grew up in town. Um, uh, she is currently taking over everything that is reservation and
rentals for pavilions, indoor reservations. She is also, no pun intended, she is a sheriff of our department. So, we've had other sheriffs introduced. Uh, she keeps us in order with all the administration, making sure a lot of our uh, a lot of our deliverables are being submitted and a lot of internal things within the department. So, with that, I go ahead
and introduce Beatress Achilabi. >> Well, there you go. Please come on up. Good to see you again. It's just a hazing ritual that we do for new employees. So, >> okay. Cuz I was told not to to do a speech and then not to do a speech. So, but thank you for having me. >> Of course. We love to have fun, you
know, with that. Uh, how do you guys want to do the photo? >> Yeah, we could do like a quick photo. Why not? >> Mr. Mayor, she's she's landscape architect. >> Yep. >> Yes. >> I am. >> Oh, no. Run. >> Save yourself. I need you to recommend as much mulch as possible.
>> The director knows what I want to talk about. Very interested to see what her opinion is on the mulching in the town. We got budget coming up. I would like to see that. Thank you. >> She doesn't know what we're talking about, bro. >> All right, guys. Well, let's take let's take four minutes just to come down to
the well and you know, someone can staff if you guys want to just take a quick photo just to welcome her officially into the team and then we'll get on underway with the rest of the meeting. Yeah, it was All right, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to continue with the meeting. We are now
back on item in in the section in section 8 rather the manager's reports and we are going to resume with 8C report on 77th court exit feature presented by director Bagdam. >> Good evening again mayor and council. Uh the item you have before you uh comes in
uh response to a new business item that was brought up to look at the efforts of introducing an exit leaving the town of Miami Lake sign on 77th Court. Um staff came back with the preliminary cost of something similar to what we recently established on 67th Avenue. Um the goal
here and the recommendation is to take a look at what this cost for this style of uh exit feature is going to be and use that as a planning uh as a planning note in our upcoming budget cycle. So with that, you have the report in front of you. Any questions at this time? I'm here to assist.
>> Okay. Well, be before uh we get to that, I'm going to go ahead and turn over to Councilman Fernandez for a motion. Yeah, I I'd like to move to uh to get, you know, the the the funding for us to be able to install the sign. >> Excellent. I'll go ahead and I'll second
it. Excellent. Second and then we'll go to the vice mayor for discussion. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh just a quick question here in the in the item, uh it it refers to a specific line item in the budget. Uh but it does so by the account number only, uh not by title. So, I
don't know where that money is coming from. That's the the same capital account that we utilize for the 67th AB feature. It's entry features overall capitalized. >> Okay. That's all I needed to know. >> Yeah. And he's proposing for the uh 2627
budget. So it will when you get the budget proposals when we submit them in the summer, this will be one of the items and then that'll be up for your consideration to fund for the uh fiscal 2627 budget. So really an approval of this item of of council member Fernand's
item is an instruction to staff to include it in the proposed budget. >> Correct. >> Okay. Got it. Thank you. >> Excellent. Any other uh questions or discussion on this? Councilman Sanchez, >> what would be the exact location of the exit sign? >> So that is still being determined. Uh we
have already I've already spoken with Omar. There are some FDOT requirements in that land area because it has FT FDOT area, but it is on the portion just before it expands and kind of before the sets of homes on your eastern side. The goal is to catch people right before that bend to let them know that hey, you've already exited the town and those
homes which to the councilman's uh efforts here. We've received calls of service on trees and stuff like that and we have to explain that that is outside the town boundaries. >> Is there going to be an electrical component to it >> at this time? No. what you were seeing is just the furnish delivering installment of the of the entry of the
exit feature. Um, we can always look at installing solar down the road and so forth. >> There's no canopy there, so it's it's primed for solar. >> It is primed for solar. Um, and it's just going to require then uh just going through FOD on there. >> The one that we have that is like it right now on 67th Avenue just as you pass underneath the Gratney, does that
have an electrical component? >> That has a solar component to it. >> It does have a solar and it's strong enough to be able to light it up at night. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. >> We had to do some trimming, but yes. >> Okay. And just to to make sure that the project is done in completion, how much more would it be to add the solar component so that we're not coming back to it later?
>> I don't remember that cost off the top of my head. Um I'd have to come back to you with that. >> Okay. >> Councilman Quad Garcia, unless you have anything else, Council Sanchez. >> Jeremy, is this pretty much what the facade is going to look like? >> This is ex what you see there is the
exact same mockup of what we installed at 67th. This is not exactly what you'll see. This is just staff's rendering to show you leaving of the town. Um, but yes, this is what the design will look like. >> Is this right close to that church that's uh >> it's got it looks like the Arabian
>> the Greek Orthodox church. >> Okay. Yes. >> And how how far off from the road is it going to be? I'm worried about some of the guys, people that travel through there that are tipsy that might not see it. And uh >> that's a separate issue on the driving with tipsy. But uh as far as the
offsets, there are mandates, uh by FDOT, which we I would confer with, uh public works and Omar to make sure it meets all the requirements. >> Roughly how far off the road? >> I don't know that I don't know off the top of my head. >> Okay. All right. Through the chair, >> Councilman Garcia, >> thank you. Uh I know Mr. Mayor, you
brought up an item a while back um about um the color being a little giving a little more oomph. Since we're doing this, I think it would be a good idea if you could look into the color scheme the mayor was looking at to not only do this one, but the old one as well. Okay.
>> So that they match up uh or order it at the at the color that that the mayor was was talking about different colors from the last report. I think you came up with a report. >> If you can bring that report back, we can take a look at it again. Okay. And we can do maybe we can do that to all the the entry features. Make it give it a little more oomph.
>> Red mulch. No mulch, but the color scheme to give it more room for the mayor. >> Guys, unity. I don't need anything to divide us. And mulch is a great divider, right? Councilman Herszburg. >> Correct. >> Okay. But yes, but on the funding for this, um, all those in favor say I. I.
I. All oppose. No. >> The eyes have it. And then just come back to us to approve the final color. I know we had a color a couple color swatches to consider from, but just Yeah. But thank you very much, director. Um, well, okay. It's you again. AD Miami Lakes Optimus Park enhancements.
>> Uh thank you, mayor. Uh so the item you have before you uh comes in recent um com uh conversations from the council to look at how are we going to address some of the immediate concerns at Optimus and what is the plan that we have for the the improvements that are needed for safety um for some of the deterred
maintenance and infrastructure that we have that is degragated as well as looking at ways to reduce the annual cost on some of the maintenance and so forth. So, the plan you have before you goes over tackling the immediate concerns, which include Field One's
remaining six wooden light poles, removing them, replacing the required amount of new metal poles with all LED fixtures. It also includes all the back stops, dugouts, and fencing improvements for all five main fields.
um includes the installation of safety ballards at the corner of 67th and Miami Lakeway North protecting the closest field to that intersection. It includes the concrete pads and bleachers for fields one through five. The installation of the pathways throughout the entirety of the park, so creating
that interior portion of the park's uh circular pathway, creating connectivity through to each field um and also traversing into the middle to field five. uh as well as the purchase and installation of a pre-fabricated restroom building, its required slab and
all connections to utilities required. That amount is um what we anticipate having by the end of this fiscal year. Um and that's why that that number that you see there of 1 point make sure I have it here >> 1.916 is our total anticipated amount
that we would have in the account. You also have an item before you that is moving some of the impact fees that will get us to the 1.6 six with an anticipated 300,000 that is coming within like like I said this fiscal year uh for future impact fees. So that total and that approach is looking at spending
what we have and what we know we're going to have in a few months. >> What are the uh regulatory hurdles if you want to call it that as far as uh that we have to get through if we can get into that um you know just so we can have that discussion simultaneously or or whatever. What what do you prefer on
that front? Um it just for transparency I mean it's listed there as well with some of the asterisks as far as what is going to require permitting. A lot of improvements on the schoolboard property uh will require their entire build uh building their permitting. Um it is not
our town uh building department that permits it. So it would go through their process and their timeline. Um, as well as there are some conversations that we are having with the JUA in regards to some of the more substantive substantial improvements and if that triggers a uh
um an adjustment required on the JUA. >> Well, um I'm going to go ahead and and move the town staff proposal as presented. I'm actually really happy that we're at this point, right? This is something that myself, Councilwoman Rorano when she was here and and former Vice Mayor
Goyasa were advocating for to improve in place, right, at a much lower price tag than what previously came before. And I think that this is what the 60% of residents were asking for at the time when the ballot measure failed, which was simply to allocate the money, but using what we had, the pay as you go.
What we have in front of us is an approach that is going to make substantial improvements especially on life safety issues and other regulatory issues such as the ADA walkway and everything else. Um adding a restroom which was the main issue that uh was raised by proponents of the bond back in
uh 22. Um so I think what we have here is again a fiscally responsible plan that does not uh involve uh new taxes and u and gets the park up to the the the proper posture right with a plan as well for the future. um you know uh that we will be addressing you know when we
get there right again the phased in approach. So I I'm in full support of this and it's been seconded by the vice mayor who I will go to first to go ahead and make his remarks and we'll go up and down the days. >> Thank you. Yeah this is pretty much exactly what I think uh I I know the the mayor's mentioned it. I know Councilman
Garcia has mentioned it that we've been after something within the the budgeted funds and uh or at least within uh expected funds as well. Um I think that this is a critical investment. Um and then I did have a couple of questions.
Uh specifically item one, which is the um the replacement of the wooden poles. I I noticed that it mentions uh installation of new modern metal poles. But then the old wooden poles that have already been replaced, they were
replaced with concrete poles. So is there an advantage to these metal poles as opposed to concrete? >> There is. There are pros and cons to each. Um, everything that is new is going to be installed on steel. Um, as far as what was so the newest pole and
field one, the one that we had to take care of, uh, that is steel. So that's very upgraded, but the remainder of the fields are concrete. Um, concrete will be longerlasting. Prices come out to about the same. We went ahead and took a quick evaluation of that. Um while concrete itself is cheaper than the
steel, the cost increase for delivery because of concrete weighing so much is where then it starts to balance out. Okay. >> Um steel also gives you the flexibility long term. If there are upgrades to the lighting systems, LED takes an even more advanced turn and we have to then replace them in 15 20 years. Steel's
easier to remount than concrete. Concrete eventually will not have the support needed for new fixtures and new crossarss and so forth. >> Okay. So, so the concrete is less futurep proof. U it's more longerlasting but not future proof technology wise.
And then the metal ones um may maybe don't last as long but still lasting long. >> They're anticipated to give you more than 40 years both. >> More than 40 years. Okay, great. Um other than that, uh yeah, I I really like the proposal. Um, I I like the
I I'd never even thought about this issue until I actually read this item and I brought it up at the at the uh agenda briefing. The the Ballards uh at the corner of 67th, obviously that's a a very hightra corner. Uh I wasn't even aware that accidents had happened on that corner and and I was informed that
they in fact have and that's absolutely terrifying. So that I think that's a an enormous safety improvement to to bring in uh safety ballards and yeah it is at the end of the day for for better or for worse a a signature park in our town and we'd like to see it in good condition. So uh this is a step in the right
direction >> through the chair. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you. I want to thank the staff uh director. Um I think the residents spoke that they wanted us to address uh needs not wants and take care of the park to
at least a minimum standard. And this plan is is what I call KISS. Keep it simple. And the the last word I won't say um the only motion friendly motion that I would make and my colleagues would um would take consider is to keep
simplicity part of this adding the bathroom at this juncture might create some issues. creating a structure on land that's not uh uh that's the schoolboard land might create some issues that might slow down the slow down the basic project which is the fencing the lighting. What I would
recommend is uh because if we go with the initial, we're not going to do all the lighting. We're just going to do the the six, right? But for an additional if we forego the bathroom this time around and we complete the completion of the lighting,
it's only an additional $195,000. That way we'll get all the fencing done, all the lighting done. Yeah. Sure. We'll get the ADA requirements. We'll get the back stops done. Um with money that's already there in the MLP, right? money with uh uh we
basically have the money already to to do that except we might have to take some money from uh from some carry forward uh perhaps but the money is pretty much already there. Um and we forego the issues that have plagued Optimus Park improvement for decades
complexity. If we add the bathroom now it's going to add to the complexity. If we forgo the bathroom and do everything else and then do the bathroom next year when we can actually replace the money uh needed um we're going to have new
every the parts look uh new and then we can go along with the bathroom. So that's just a friendly amendment that I would I would profer because it'll add to complexity. Remember complexity always kills us. This has to be the the most cost-effective simple uh effective
plan that I've seen since I know since before I was here. I know the mayor was here for years. Councilwoman Rouano, other councils, other mayors. Uh, and and my item I would also like to ask my colleagues if if you if you because this is a team effort going back
councils from the beginning of of of the town if we could all co-sponsor the item together as a team. Um, and because this is a team effort from decades going back decades. >> I'll second that motion. >> Um, I'm going to go to Councilman Herszburg and and then we'll have a
round of discussion on the amendment. So, Councilman Garcia, I I agree with you. That was going to be my comment. Um, the bathroom I know is a is a big want, but before the bathroom, all I heard about for years is drainage. And I know there's some drainage improvements
that are not very costly in plan B. That should be in plan A, in my opinion, because what's the purpose of the fields if you can't play on them? I know that I know it's not perfect and maybe you can give us a little bit more more input on what that drainage is because it's not a lot of money. So must be a a more, you
know, basic improvement, but any improvement on drainage, I think should be a primary concern. And I I think you hit it. I I agree with your point 100%. The bathroom is the most complicated thing. We're talking about a permanent structure. I want to do it, but I I
agree that that might be better for phase two, and we can look at some more bigger improvements for the field in this phase one, including um the lighting. And the lighting is is a cost saver at some point, right? Because we're spending a lot of money maintaining these old lights. These old
lights use a lot of electricity. So I there is a long-term cost savings in in prioritizing the lights where again I I understand the bathrooms are very important, but the bathroom is just a cost and and we're we're trying to use not that much funds to make the biggest improvements possible. So I want to hear
the input from everybody else. I want to hear your input too and what the most important improvements we can do for this park because at the end of the day uh your your knowledge in the park is something that I value a lot. >> I'll reserve my comments but I'm going to go to the vice mayor in a second but I had a question for you. Uh we
currently rent a trailer bathroom correct >> two. >> Two and what is the cost to the town every year on that? >> Annually is 22,400. >> Okay. Thank you. >> For both. >> Thank you. I just I had that question in my briefing and I and I didn't get a response in time. But Vice Mayor,
>> well, that actually makes me now ask a different question, which is how much would we save in power by switching to LED annually on on on the remaining lights, the the $995,000 of of lights.
>> So, looking at it's it's going to be there. So, there's there's one thing to address there. So when we go to new poles, the warranty is going to give you 25 years on average. So that's 25 years of no maintenance, nothing. So that the newer poles will have a a more substantial return on the investment
there. As far as the power, you're looking at 30% reduction across the remaining amount. Just field one, some of the prelim preliminary numbers we looked at power-wise, just field one was about 5,000 a year. That is a conservative number. um taking a look at the amount of kilowatts used per hour
based on the FPL's current rate for sports field lighting based on the six poles that are there. >> So if you multiply that by the remaining just 28 poles you can go ahead and see what that amount I don't have that exact amount on me
>> but that's how much is spent overall. It's not necessarily a savings number like we don't have an estimate on the LED or we do >> as far as the cost or as far as the >> I'm I'm specifically referring to power cost like the cost from FPL >> the total amount of utilities not the
total amount I have of what we spent right now. >> If we don't have the number it's okay. It was just the mayor brought that up and and I was actually curious like if there was a break even point or what it was, but my my only uh concern on this is um the the the bond issue was and and
the park issue overall um the people who supported and I was one of the early supporters of of the park improvements um before it ballooned, you know, exponentially. Uh but the main thing that was constantly brought up by the
supporters of those who wanted improvements was my kid has to run three miles to get to the bathroom. And so I do think that the bathrooms need to get done. Uh uh and and not in a porta potty. And I get it. This is a very
fancy porta potty, but it it's still a portable bathroom on a trailer. Uh, I'd like them to be able to use the restroom on a concrete foundation slab and a proper building, not, you know, uh, a trailer. Uh, so, so, uh, primarily
because what I heard from the residents, uh, was the bathroom, the bathroom, the bathroom, the bathroom. Um, I I'm I'm have to stay away from this one a little bit because I know it was a priority to the residents other than but again like I'm just I I like the whole thing and I
and I think eventually all of this needs to get done. All of it including the extra stuff that's um after the the 1.916. >> Uh Mr. Mayor >> Councilman Garcia and then uh well hold on just hold on Councilman before you proceed. I just want to make sure I get
a good lineup here. Would you like to say something? And and Councilman Sanchez. Okay. So then after Councilman Puad Garcia, we will go to Councilman Fernandez. >> So basically, uh yes, I heard somebody state uh that $22,000 for a portable
product, porta potty. That's that's money down the drain. You're throwing money down the drain. So >> yeah, whatever you call it whatever you want to call it. Uh so basically I think that the you know get the right do it
the right way you know. So um my other uh quick question is are all these numbers um do we have to decide on this today or we or we can digest this because I mean I mean how do we arrive at all these
numbers? Have we gotten um have we gotten estimates? I mean three estimates. How did you guys get to these numbers? So, there are estimates, there are contract values from our contractor as um as uh Councilman, I think it was Hersburg about the drainage and why it
was so costefficient this time around. It's because it's just positive drainage. So, it's just re um readjusting the um the degree of the fields slightly a little bit of earth work um and that's through our contract vendor that already provides maintenance.
uh contracts, some estimates, and then some of them are just market value analysis looking at what costs are online. But nothing will be uh 100% other than our contracts and our estimates that we have. Um like the building for instance, the pre-fabricated uh is a estimate based
off what the typical cost for those pre-fabricated structures are with the distance of the site utilities. Those are all estimates. I would say that that one is probably the one that we'll need to get designed and go out to bid to give us an actual exact number. The rest for the most part are looking at
projects we've done. The Ballards we just recently did there at the uh uh at Miami Lakeway and Miami Lakes uh drive. So we've done that recently. These are all numbers that are current estimates or contract values. >> Councilman or Well, sorry. Go ahead. >> Is the park contributing to some of this
money >> and the Optimus Park contributing to some of these are all >> You mean the Optimus Club? Yeah, these are all town funds through park improvement funds and capital funds that we've had for Optimus. So, no, there are no other outside funds other than the town's funds. >> So, we have to make decisions on this
today. >> The agenda's been out for a while, though. Uh so, I think uh I think that's fair game. I think everyone has a responsibility to get prepared for this meeting and um so again, the the agenda was stitched together how long ago now, Madam Clerk? >> Last Wednesday.
>> Last Wednesday. So that's uh that's almost a full week and that's more than enough to at least review these numbers. It's not a very long agenda this time around. So I just wanted to point that out with that. Council, do you have anything else? >> That's it. I'm uh >> Okay, Councilman Fernandez, it's it's no
secret that I supported the bond. Um I promised the residents that, you know, they turned it down. I that's 19.5 million. I don't think that anybody here is asking for that. Um I I appreciate what you're doing. I understand why you're doing it. I I just can't support
that. I think that I I'm all in. I I want to just move forward with the funds that we have. I would actually ask my colleagues to consider the the rest of the improvements over a three-year plan, for instance, 500 grand each year from general fund. If we can begin talking
about that, I know we're not going to I'm not asking anybody to decide now, nor is it even on the agenda, but just to start thinking about that because we we got to get it done. I mean, there are things that are on here that have to be done. We've been pushing it, kicking the can down the road as been said. So, I
just ask that, um, that we that we vote yes for what's being proposed from staff. Thank you. >> Well, um, before I go to Councilman Sanchez, I just want to point out though that right now we're voting on the amendment, which is swapping out the bathroom for the field lighting. Correct? >> Yeah. So, yeah. So, that's that that's,
you know, just that's going to be the first vote we take before we go back to the main item. Councilman Sanchez. >> So, I'm a big supporter, and I said this before, of a phased approach. Um, I've taken it, you know, on uh I'm taking that approach on the project I want to do at Bram Educational Center with, you know, it's going to be over two years
doing it little by little. Now, the bathroom is something that, you know, I know we're all adults and we can hold ourselves for an extended period of time. I was not only a player at Optimist. I was also a coach at Optimist all the way from T-ball to 14U. And you know, it gets to a point in time in the
middle of the game where they have to run literally across the field because the portaotty that was right behind field four was either locked or the lights were off and there was no way of getting the lights on. So they would have to run across the field over to the clubhouse to use the restroom. Um the lights, yes, they they I do agree that
they do need to be repaired, replaced, not repaired, but replaced to LED, you know, with the 30% savings on the electrical bill, you know, over I for I don't know what term it would be. it would be that cost savings would pay for itself. But um I do support the fact
that it needs to be a restroom just because I've seen those kids and sometimes they don't make it to the restroom, you know, and it's it's I know some of us here have younger children, some of us have older children, you know, everything from from infant in diapers to military service members at
this point. But we have to remember that not every child has the same phase in life. When it comes to the to the item about the um the drainage improvement, um I don't see any numbers with regards to that on the not like on what wants to
be done now and what's remaining in the 1.508. Um I would like to see numbers on that. Obviously, it's not going to happen tonight unless you have them there. >> So, what I do have in the report is what's listed under field regrading for five fields. So that is adjusting just the pitch of the fields to positively
move water off the fields, but it's not retaining the water. It's just to assist in the actual drainage of the fields to get it playable quicker. But the the ideal solution would be a subterrain drainage that is under the field itself to actually pull the water downward. >> Right. But in order to do that, we would have to basically
everything. So the concrete the concrete path that we're trying to create, the bathrooms, the lights, all that would have to be removed and then reinstalled in order to do that type of project. No. >> No. because it'll be in the field of clay. So, it wouldn't be on any built surfaces. It would be in either clay or in uh sod.
>> Okay. Okay. But yeah, but as as somebody that up until two years ago was a coach at Optimist, I do see the urgent need for the restrooms and the lights phased approach because you can't tell a four-year-old to wait two years for a restroom that it's going to be, you
know, close but not close enough right now. >> Um, Councilman Garcia for rebuttal. >> Thank you so much. Um, gentlemen, we all we would love I would love a bathroom. It's definitely needed, >> but that is not the point. The point is, and I'm going to ask the the town
attorney to come up is we're >> everything else that we're we I've put here and they've put except except for the bathroom is basic maintenance. It's maintenance. We're we're replacing existing infrastructure. We did it with the uh lights in the tennis court. We
redid the tennis courts to pickle ball and the school board was okay with that. >> That's what we're asking. Now, everything I've asked in the report, I made it clear to the manager and and the and and Dr. Lopez and the director is what can we do to
get our chances as close to 100% that the school board will be like, "All right, this basic maintenance, go ahead." If we add a structure at this point, I want a bathroom. That's why I want to do it the next round phase two, right? or bifurcate the bathroom from the lighting. Now, you play ball there. I play ball there with my kids. I
coached for a long time. For 13 years, I was there. >> The lighting hits your eyes. My kids I've got hit in the face because of lighting. If we do the lighting, we need to do the lighting right now all together. I'm sure the park director will agree. The only reason I say of
course we need a bathroom, but that's going to complicate the issue. And that is what stopped this progress from this park for decades. Complications. We have an ability here to do all the lighting, all the fencing, all the back stops and become ADA compliant in this in this
plan without call getting causing the eye of of the joint use agreement or the school board slowing us down. And we can do it within a year and we have the money available. Let's bifrcate the bathroom, push it to phase two. Let's approve this with the lighting and
everything. Get it going within three months. The director said he can start start at least with the lighting or at least some fencing and we can see some progress. Once everything is moving along, we'll come back to the bathroom when we can find a funding source and we'll build the bathroom and we won't have to worry about complicating it. The
bathroom is coming. If we put the bathroom now, we are doing the same error that we've made for the last 20 years and complicate the issue. Uh Mr. Cobia, can you express to us what your thoughts are on adding an actual structure to that area as opposed to not
adding a structure and sticking with the maintenance proposed in the um in the first um proposal by the director and the manager? So without going too much into the weeds of of the JUA, I will say this, >> whatever we as the town decide to to do
or move forward, >> it will have to be with coordination in coordination with Miami Day County Public Schools. So if it is something that they would find offensive with regards to how the language in the JUA, we would know then and we'd be able to
not proceed and or or make a decision at that point of how we we want to move forward. So, if you decide tonight that that's something you want to look at, we can definitely move forward in looking at it. And if we can't, then we can. >> Would you say there's more of a chance of that issue coming up if we build a
structure as opposed to the basic maintenance we're proposing of redoing old uh you know, just changing the fences, changing things around, changing adding lighting, and adding ADA requirements, by the way, is required for anything. It's not like we're adding this is required by federal law. they have to connect the dugouts to the to
the to, you know, to the uh in inner track. Would you say they would be more inclined to push back if we build a structure as opposed to not build a structure like we did redoing the lights and the tennis courts and redoing the pickle ball courts? I >> I think anything you decide tonight is is an improvement on what is existing
and are things that are necessary. They're not I think as some of the residents say they're they're uh asks, not wants or vice versa, right? They're needs, not wants. Needs, not wants. Um, I think a bathroom is is is something that's needed. Again, it's it's not the
legality. We'll we'll deal with Miami County Public Schools when we get there and we can have that conversation with them. We're not going to do something that's going to trip up that agreement. >> But why take the chance? That's why I asked my colleagues. We have an opportunity to do it all. Let's just start with the fencing, the lighting, all that stuff. We can get it started
done in less than a year. Once it's all started, then we come back to the bathroom and then if something happens with the bathroom, we already started everything else. Complexity is what's killed uh fixing Optimus Park for decades. I ask my colleagues just to think back and and I know hindsight's 2020, but we have an opportunity here to
just get basic things done. Get it started and the bathroom will come. Trust me, the if you ask most residents, hey, if we start the bathroom and might stop everything, would you uh consider waiting another year for the bathroom? They've waited decades for a bathroom there. They will wait another year. So,
I asked my colleagues, I add to my motion, let's change out the bathroom uh with with the light total lights. We'll bifrocate the bathroom uh to uh to next year or another plan that has nothing to do with the submission for this initial plan. That way, guys, there's no issue
at all um with and I think we could defend that. We definitely I I feel we can defend it as a town to the school board saying, "Hey, all we're doing is replacing old stuff." Guys, let's not take the risk. It's going to bite us eventually. It will because it always has. So, please, I just ask you to guys
think about that and let's put the bathrooms for next year. It's only one more year, guys. And it's 25 I know $25,000 is a lot of money, but we're going to save that just in the lights alone. Thank >> Hold on, guys. I'm going to speak and then I just want everybody to know that the uh we have some chairs that want to give reports. They're waiting to get
back to their families. So, um so let's not beat this horse horse to death, right? But what I am going to say is that I I agree with the council member that and I before the record I first want to begin by saying that I know the amendment is well intended and and your heart's in the right place there but I
believe that the complexity that has killed this project has been the scale of it. This sub this entire proposal is substantially scaled down. I understand your concerns about now throwing in a structure into the mix here but this is something that myself and the and the manager discussed already with our our
schoolboard member where we need to get to that point. Um, and this is exactly the sort of plan that residents, I believe, would support. Again, it's a phase in approach. It's fiscally responsible and and not involving additional taxes. And it fixes, as you put it, the maintenance of repairs that have been deferred and deferred and
deferred. I don't believe that this is going that the prefab structure is going to be what causes a delay here. And there's nothing that stops us. And my understanding is that with some of the other uh projects that are being discussed, we would still have to go get permitting from them regardless. But I again I also to the the defense of the
Optimus Club, right? This was an issue they made front and center of the campaign. I think it would it would be, you know, putting them in a bad position now to then say, "Oh, we could have deferred this the entire time." I would rather, you know, proceed with with the town's proposal as it is that includes
the bathroom going first being that that was a central issue that was made in the campaign. I I sent the entire proposal to Chris McCall earlier who did not raise any objection. Um so I think uh it would behoove us uh to proceed with the town plan as it is and for that reason
on the amendment I would just uh state that I will be a no and but I will be moving to move forward on everything else because it meets exactly what I think the majority of residents have always been asking for. with that. Uh, Councilman Fernandez, you had Oh, you no longer want to speak. And then
Councilman, uh, well, I saw Councilman Cuadra Garcia first and then we'll go to Councilman Hsburg. >> Thank you. I know that I've said things in the past that make you guys uh, think that I'm a comedian, but $800,000
for a restroom? Come on. I mean, I could build my house if it burnt down for half this price. How can you tell me where? What kind of bathroom is this? Huh? Is this a bathroom in Dubai?
>> No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Come on. >> Thank you. >> Where do we get in these numbers? >> That's what I asked. >> Feel free. >> $800,000 to build a bathroom. >> Feel free to vote no. Councilman Harsburg. >> Is that okay? So, two thing. One, I on
the bathroom cost in my in my meeting. I mean, I think there there might be an opportunity to move it closer. I think a lot of the big cost is the sewage lines. There might be some value engineering there. Given the way sometimes we budget, I'm very optimist that uh optimistic that the $800,000 will be
lower and there will be money for the drainage, which I when you know when when the whole bond issue was discussed, the biggest issues I heard was the the fields are not playable. You can't play. It's always flooded. So that's why I want to see drainage. And I agree with you in the lighting. I I played sports at night. I played baseball. I played
football. And yeah, lighting is very important. I'm sure you agree with that too. It's a safety issue and it's also a cost issue. Um, that's why I'm I'm I would support this amendment because the other reason why is because we're asking for 1.9 million. We know the money's there. I'm not making any promises and
I'm voting for additional 1.5. I don't know where the 1.5 is coming from. I don't know if it's where we're where we're getting it from. I know we have money now. So, I want to focus on what I believe is most important. Um, and that's the feel of play and making
this a good place for kids to play sports and the bathroom's important, but you know, I I just it just is something pulling me away from that and and wanting to focus more on the lights in the field. If this amendment passes, I'm going to move forward with it anyway on the other side. But I I agree. But I do
have a question for town manager or town attorney. Is there a difference between because building a building is a capital improvement. Is there a difference in the JUA regarding a capital improvement and or just replacing something or maintaining because that's my concern.
Are we going to get somewhere where we got everything else doing but then we're just waiting on the bathroom? Obviously you guys can come back to us and we can change our minds but that that's my concern in the JUI. >> Right. So, so again like I mentioned whatever we do we have to go through the the so if if it's if you decide to move
forward on on the project you can you can bifrocate and say listen move forward on everything that's maintenance and and take a look at the bathroom and see if you can move forward on the bathroom. I think that that the the school board is going to be um is not really going to object too much to the
building of a bathroom. Uh but again >> it's an $800,000 bathroom. It's not a small project. >> Right. So I don't want to I don't want to really app. So we'll see how this motion goes. But >> let's just keep our ears open about that issue. That's we'll see where it goes.
>> Councilman Sanchez and then the the director, but then let's move it, guys. >> And then about the JOA at Optimist, does the bathroom, let's say that this goes through and the bathroom, does it need to be available for the students during the day when they're at PE? >> No. Right now, the way the school board is operating, they they went ahead and
put up a they erected the new fence and under their new guidelines, all their PE actually must be maintained on property. Now, they would be utilizing it for extracurriculars. So, if they have any sports events or anything like that, that's the only time they really exit the school lands, but as of right now, there is no direct school use of an
external bathroom outside of their bounds within the fencing. >> Okay. Yeah. Because my worry is that middle school students can be very messy inside of the bathroom and then you know if they don't maintain it, we have to maintain it. >> Yeah, we we experience that. It's typical for a lot of these parks that
are sharing land with with schools. So, but they don't they don't have school use of that exterior restroom. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Did Did you make your comment? >> And then the one item that I wanted to just to discuss the vice mayor's question with regards to the power uh usage right now. So optimist right now
last year we spent 113,000. So a safe number somewhere between 20 and 30% reduction of that total number would be your uh your LED efficiency if converted. >> Okay. Thank you. With that said, madame clerk, please call the role on the amendment.
>> Yes, council. And again, the amendment is to forgo the bathroom to bifurcate the bathroom until next year for phase number two >> and add the lighting to complete the lighting >> and adding the lighting. >> Yeah. Correct. Council member Cuadra Garcia.
>> Uh, are we voting on this? >> Foroting the bathroom. >> Okay. Hold up. >> To forgo the bathroom. >> Let me just say if if I say yes. Is that >> No bathroom? >> No bathroom. >> No bathroom. Yes. >> Cuz I don't want to get >> council member Fernandez. >> No.
>> Council member Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council member Hburg. >> Yes. Council member Sanchez, >> no. >> Vice Mayor Mora, >> no. >> Mayor Diegas, >> no. >> The motion, the amendment fails.
>> With that said, uh, Vice Mayor, I believe you had um a a motion to to allow us to go ahead and deal with the committee reports. >> Yeah. Uh, I I move that we just by unanimous consent uh take up the item of the two committees and then return to this item.
>> Okay. Okay. If no one has any objection to hearing the committee reports out of order, I will go ahead and begin with the economic development committee. Mr. Kasmay or Chair Kasmay. Mr. Vice Mayor, please take over. Thank you guys. I appreciate that moving
that around. All right. Cool. So, first of all, I just want to say thanks for making this little fill-in worksheet or whatever. It makes my life a lot easier versus having to just kind of make stuff up here. So now at least we have a sort of idea of what we can talk about. It helps
organize things. So I appreciate that. Um so I'll just kind of go over how things have been so far. We've been doing pretty good. Attendance has been good, solid in our committee so far. We've had a couple new members. Um and it's been going pretty well. Um we had a recent member kind of step down, but I know we're in the process of looking for
a fill in. So um if anybody out here is looking to join the EDC, we are available. So I'll kind of kind of run through what we've got going on. Um, I'm just going to go through this little worksheet that you guys put together for us just because it makes life easy. So, um, I'll start with the budget. So,
2526, we went over the approved budget from before. Um, I know we're going to have more of a budget discussion end of this week, right? There's like an actual committee budget discussion, I think, right? On the on Friday. >> Next week. Next week. There we go.
>> Is it next week? >> There there's a special call meeting. >> I know. I got to turn something in by Friday, I think, is what it is, >> I think. Yeah. Okay. whenever it we have a special call meeting. >> Cool. All right. No worries. >> Budgeting >> on on committee budgeting. Yeah. >> Either way, I won't harp on the budget. That's that's basically what it is to say. So, I'll just kind of go on into
the events that we have going on and we'll talk about the budget next week. Um so, basically the EDC, we kind of split ourselves between uh June 4th. Gotcha. Perfect. Thank you. So, the EDC, we split ourselves really between two um main events. I guess we've got our one big event at the end
of the year, the business boot camp, which is the one that's held here in the town hall. And I believe that's the one that actually you guys approved and is more of uh considered an official event. We also work with the um local chamber and the local BNI's to host networking
events. Usually in the previous years we were a little bit more sporadic with it and we were kind of giving money on on a whim because we give $500 basically to the restaurant that is either catering or the um place of business that is providing food to the um to the people visiting. Um, and before we were kind of
doing a little bit sporadic with the uh with the chamber as was happening. But this year we decided to be a little bit more organized with it and we're doing it once per quarter. So it kind of limits us to just around $2,000 in the year for those networking socials and it's been working out pretty well. Um, we're just kind of aligning with the
chamber on certain events and and where it makes sense. Like for example, we've got one tomorrow, May 20th in Trails Cottage. So if anybody is available available for that, it would be awesome. It's going to be our first one not in a restaurant and Kimberly's going all out to provide vendors, local vendors, local food. I know you guys know how she loves
to really go all out for the town. So, we're looking forward for that. Um, another thing that we're starting to take a little bit more initiative in this year is the Best of Miami Lakes. The past couple years, um, I actually didn't know that the EDC was the one that started that and then it kind of transitioned over to the town. Um, and
it kind of faded away. It still exists, but, um, it's not really getting as much push and notoriety. So that's why this year and last year we started, but this year we're going to dive into it a lot more is pushing best of Miami Lakes using our marketing dollars to really push that in the newspaper, push it online and really get it going cuz I
think and the committee thinks that that's a really great opportunity for Miami Lakes to kind of push its own businesses, kind of market itself in its own way. And it's just a fun engaging um competition, I guess, you know, that gets the community involved. So we really want to focus on that and make it more of a mainstay in the town. Um the
business boot camp, we're in the planning stage for that right now and um Romy and the vice chair Carlos are doing a fantastic job really putting that together and spearheading that. Um we're focused on making it just like last year in terms of focused on what businesses can do now, small businesses. So in this
case, it's going to be a lot of talks about AI and that kind of direction and how you guys can help and promote your business that way. Um that's it for our sort of events. When it comes to future projects, we're really just focused on growing Main Street Live and helping out the cultural affairs committee. We've
already committed and worked with the local chamber and the local BNI's. We've sort of done a um a front sponsorship, I guess, where we front $500 and then they'll front another $500 and then we kind of work together to put $1,000 into each of those Main Street Live events,
push them on social media, push them online. And I think it's worked. We've gotten a lot more traction on Main Street Live this year than we did last. So, it's cool to see it growing. Um, and it's great working with Felicia and the culture affairs committee with that. Um, but other than that, that's really it. We don't really have any things that, you know, shaken things up too crazy
right now. Just kind of maintaining the status quo and organizing what we have. But that's about it from me. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Any comments uh to the chair, questions? Uh, Councilman Fernandez, >> thank you. Thank you for your service, Matthew. We appreciate it. How's your dad? >> Good. He's doing better day by day. Day
by day, he'll be back. >> Tell him that we all send him. I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Definitely. He's definitely in all our prayers. Uh, Councilman Herszburg, you had a comment or question. >> Yeah. Well, first of all, obviously, we miss him and we we we look forward to having him back to all the events.
>> Um, I appreciate your comments on on the on the sheet. I'm glad that someone found it useful. >> No. Yeah, it was nice. >> Um, no, but you're good. But I do um two things. one. Yeah. From you, because this is actually a board that usually gets a lot of um interest
>> when you have an opening, >> how do you how do you think is the best way to to get that out? Because that's something I think we got to work on as a town to get those openings back out there and out in the public because make sure people know how to do it. But how what do you think is the best way to do that? >> I mean, honestly, the best way I think
is what you did just last week where you went to the chamber lunchon because that's really the like the center, the mainstay of the business community here in the town. I think that's a great opportunity. the local BNI's I think is also a good opportunity to kind of go in there. You know, they have the visits the I know that the BNI Miami Lakes, the
original one is I it's like 7 in the morning and they do it there in the uh 7 in the morning. They do it there in I thought I heard a whisper in Main Street. Um there in the Miami Lakes Hotel and then um the other one is once a month BIS connect and I'm actually a
member of that one and there's Zoom and they meet once a month that first Thursday of every month in Chelas at noon. So that's another one and that's a good opportunity and I can help promote it there as well in the BNI. So I'll work on that as well. >> Any other comments, questions? Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
>> Thank you guys. Appreciate it. >> And we are moving on to elderly affairs. Come on up. >> Good evening, gentlemen. Um I'm here with the elderly affair. Hopefully I'm asking for like $6,000 more this year to
our budget because we the economy is what it is. Everything is more expensive and we're having more people come. We used to have like a hundred people come to our bingos. Now we're getting 135 to 145 as the baby boomers are here. Um
this year, what else? D where it's going to have our movie night. We still go to the movies in the afternoon. I'm sorry. We go to plays. We have other senior events like our Halloween party and our Thanksgiving and our Christmas. Um, what
else? Programs. And this strengthens our community and reduces isolation for some of our seniors. Um, in addition, we're bringing back the senior Olympics. I don't know if anybody remembers that. We have trying we're going to try to do it for late October or early November. So,
the weather's great. And really, that's it. We just have a lot of people. We have a lot of fun. Most of you come. Some of you don't come, but most of you do come. and participate with us. Is there any what?
>> Oh, the lunches went up. They're pricier because it is what it is. And um and we have more people coming. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh before I turn it over to some of my colleagues, I will say obviously we'll take up the the
question of the the increased uh budget the 6k more uh later on once you submit the formal budget and and and we'll take that into consideration. I did just want to ask uh as a clarification point in the in the report form that you
submitted uh there are I what I want to say is just a repeated entry. It's the senior Olympics uh as a new initiative or event requiring council approval and then a new budget line item request also senior Olympics. That's that's the same event you're asking for 2500 total for for that.
>> So I Right. Because we're also going to hopefully get sponsor money. >> Okay. I just wanted to understand that we're not asking for 5,000 that we're asking for 2500. Okay. Thank you. And then um you're you're back in charge. But any other comments? Uh Councilman Quad Garcia. >> Council Garcia, you're recognized to
proceed. >> Thank you, Mr. Is it 2500 or is it 6,000? >> 2. Well, in I did two papers. I don't know why. Maybe because I'm confused about it. The one that I did yesterday when I added it up, it came to 36. I
don't know why, but I only wanted another 2,500. Maybe whatever. >> You know that I'm all for it. Anything to do with the seniors, I'm all in. >> I mean, you know, they're their biggest tax for they they worked in this community. They pay taxes in this.
>> Absolutely. And they will be deserving. >> Most likely it will be a 100% yes. But can we get any type of sponsors? Can we >> do we do sponsors all the time? Either they come in Oh, I'm sorry. >> No, you're fair. >> Either they come in or they pay for the food, but we do get a lot of sponsor
money because we I know the other committees might get mad, but we are the biggest and the most, you know, we do the most. We're constantly doing at least four times a month we do stuff, you know, and we spend money.
>> Okay. And I know you do it responsibly. >> Yep. >> We do. We really do. >> Okay. >> If I may, Mayor, >> Councilman Herszburg, >> on that I I would ask uh something I'm interested in when you present your budget is obviously we know what the
town funds, but I would really like to see how much sponsorship funds so we really understand your total budget. get that from Noah or >> so I think that would make us see wow this total budget is actually pretty big and I we can understand where the re request comes from >> remember that we have a lunch once a
month right >> and the food alone runs like 1,500 >> right that that's what I'm saying I would like to see how much you're getting in sponsorships also >> I'll ask from no >> because that's something that we we've discussed the last budget season is trying to encourage more sponsorships
but if you show that you already are having a lot of I I I know you are, but seeing the raw figures would be nice. >> I'll ask for it. >> That's all. Yeah. >> Good. >> All right. Councilman Sanchez. >> Well, the EDC just I mean the um elderly
affairs committee does so much, you know, and it's it's it's really that glimmer, you know, that happiness that I see in the seniors every time we go to the bingos and to the to all the parties and, you know, those the socials. Um the only thing that I that I would ask um is on the first page of the report to
council if you could update who the appointments are by the what >> the appointment. So on the first page of the report to council it has all of your members their position and who appointed them. But you have the appointments of of elected officials that are no longer um elected officials that they they've turned off. >> But that's who appointed them,
>> right? But they get transferred over to whoever fills the seat now. So for example in your attendance report it shows the proper individual who they're appointed to. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So >> so whoever took their seat would be the one. >> Exactly. So for example whoever whoever was appointed to Manny Sid now is is my
appointee. >> Oh okay. >> Because he transferred with his own. So >> Okay. >> So and then I would technically assume his appointees but since he's already here I assumed Manny Sid's appointments. So I I would ask that but you know I I'm in full support and I think and
especially now with with the senior center that now that's going to be the next project that's going tohead especially over the summer months. We're very aware >> the thing but if we can't get a center we will be happy with Mary Collins. >> Right. Right. And this is a discussion that you and I had last summer where you
know residents you know reached out because there were no nothing to do in the town for the seniors but summer camps also have to play a role in the community. Um but yeah you know this is a big supporter. I'm always going to be a big supporter of anything to do with with elderly affairs and uh yeah >> with the voting.
>> Yeah. >> Well, what I guess my question to you is what do you need from the council tonight motionwise? >> My understanding is I was told that you need approval for the senior Olympics. >> The senior Olympics to restoration of that event, >> the senior Olympics, right? >> Just to authorize them to do the event.
I'm sorry to talk over you, but uh but just Okay. Just authorization >> because they say they're going to get sponsors for the 2500, right? Well, some if you give us the money, we're still going to get sponsored because it might be more. Remember, we're going to feed everybody that goes. We're going to do clean up the park
because hopefully it'll be on a weekend. There's We might need police. I don't know. >> If if it's going to be money, I think that that's better served through the budget process. >> But if it's just adoption of the event, >> then they can do that now.
>> Either late October or early November. We want to do it when it's cool. >> We can't really do it in the Christmas because it's too much and before Thanksgiving. We're going to try to fit it right in the middle. No one might have a date already, but I >> what we can consider as part of the
budget process uh is what we can do. Um but I'm in full support of the idea of bringing back the senior Olympics. I used to volunteer with Councilman Coyaso there all the time and Councilman Mingo and Councilman Llama. Um it was a fun event. I remember they even did it at D Christian one year. Um, as far as the funding, we'll we'll talk more about
that, but I don't see the council having an issue authorizing the event, but of course with the caveat that they would probably want to prioritize sponsorship dollars for the event, but but we'll we'll bring that back when we uh discuss the committee budgets in the budget season. >> Okay, so that's it for me. >> That's it, ma'am. You did great. Have a
great Thank you, Madam Chair. >> With that, council, we are now back where we left off on item eight. Tony, we need Jeremy back >> on the main on. It's it's it's okay. Uh I'm calling the the the vote. U >> Okay. >> We are now on item 8D on the main motion
without the amendment. Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Hzburg. >> Yes. >> Council member Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council member Fernandez. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia. Ma'am,
I've lost I don't know where we are now. >> Motion to approve. A David uh >> Optimus Park. >> Yes. Motion to approve the town staff proposal. >> Okay, he voted no. No. >> Council member Sanchez. >> Yes.
>> Vice Mayor Mora. >> Yes. >> Mayor. >> Okay, I'm going to get the vote. >> I'll vote yes uh for mine and then you can ask him now uh before you close out the vote. >> Council member Fernandez on the main motion. I >> All right. All right, the motion passes >> by your vote. It passes unanimously. So,
uh, congratulations on on to my colleagues and to staff on finally getting this over the finish line. >> Yeah. >> Again, in a fiscally responsible manner with that, before we uh Yes, >> companion item 13B. >> We're getting there. He's gonna present
the item now, you know. All right. Uh, Vice Mayor. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I and I'll let the the the staff come and present the item itself, but I did want to move 13B. Uh and then after they present whatever they have, I I'll make my comments. >> All right. >> All right. So,
>> director back down or >> you got to read it into the record. >> Oh. Oh, okay. Oh, sorry. Yes. Second. >> All right. Item uh 13B, ordinance first reading. uh an ordinance of the town of Miami Lakes, Florida, amending the town's fiscal year 2025 2026 budget established by ordinance 25-346
providing for expenditure of funds providing for amendments providing for repeal of ordinances in conflict providing for imple implementation providing for severability and providing for an effective date. >> Mayor so moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been seconded by council member
Garcia. Any discussion on the amendment? >> Yes. Uh, Vice Mayor Mora, >> I'd actually like to make a move a an amendment to this item based on what we just discussed. And if you bear with me for one second,
>> sorry, I'm used to having my iPad. I don't like these uh physical papers. Um, I would actually like to direct uh since we have the budget amendment already open. Uh, I'd actually like to go ahead and uh move that $80,000
uh be transferred from the fund that we set up uh at the budget amendment for the field regrading. That way it could be taken up at the same time since we are going to tear up the field. >> I'll second that. Any discussion? See? >> Yeah. No. Great. Great idea. >> Okay. All right. All those in favor say
I. I. All oppose. No. >> The item passes for procedure. So it's really on on the other item 80,000 moving it from the from the second section to the initial section and adding it to the 1.916. >> Yes. >> Oh. So what you're saying is you need
budget authorization, not just the official transfer >> because the item that you have now on the table is just the budget amendment to move the money that's currently in park improvement impact fees to the project to the capital account. >> Okay. Well, we'll go back there then, but in the meantime, we we have we we've
already moved the line items, right? We've approved that transfer. Um the I guess what I'll do then is I'll go ahead and move uh to amend our previous vote on 8D to permit the budget authorization necessary to expend those funds. Uh 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 motion carries. Um okay. With that we uh well 16F I guess we covered council Garcia right when we when we discussed 8D.
>> Yeah. The only uh addition to that is that we we I I wanted the co-sponsors that everybody to co-sponsor to vote yes to that item. >> I I'll I'll co-sponsor it. >> I'll co-sponsor all of us. >> Okay. Every Well, everyone except Councilman Cuadra Garcia, you know. So,
um we want to respect his vote. So, >> I make, you know, a motion that those who approved it would be a co-sponsor on the item. So, we can go ahead and >> I'll second that. All those in favor say I. I. >> All oppose, no. The eyes have it. the co-sponsors except for Councilman Cuadra Garcia will be added to the item.
>> Okay, with that um there being nothing else on 16F, we are now on the consent calendar. Is there a motion? No, >> mayor. Mayor, >> you got to as amended >> the budget amendment 13. >> My my apologies. You're right. You're right. Um I I I have been uh I was a little thrown off, I guess, by your by
your initial motion. Okay, so on on 13B, the main motion moving the the funds and approving the amendment in general. Um, all those in favor say I. I. >> Roll call. No, >> I have to do a roll. >> Oh, because this is an ordinance. Okay. Yeah, cuz I'm not looking at exactly where this falls here.
>> 13B. >> Yeah. I just want >> Council Member Hzburg. >> Yes. >> Council member Fernandez. >> Not here. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council member Garcia. >> Yes.
>> Council member Sanchez. >> Yes. >> Council member Fernandez. Yes. >> Vice Mayor Mora. >> Yes. >> Mayor Diegas. >> Yes. >> Item 13B, ordinance in first reading passes. >> Yes. Thank you, Vice Mayor, for catching
the procedural issue. And I apologize to council member Fernandez who has had to come back and forth. >> Okay. So, with that, now we're on the consent calendar. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> It's been moved by the vice mayor. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> It's been seconded by Councilman
Sanchez. All those in favor of the of passing the consent calendar, say I. I I all oppose. No. The eyes have it and the motion carries. The consent calendar passes and we are now on 13A non-adver special assessment rates for security guards and lake maintenance special taxing districts. Uh presented by
director backdown. >> An ordinance of the town council of town Miami Lakes Florida approving adopting an uh a nonadalorum assessment role for fiscal for special taxing districts. approving, adopting, and ratifying special assessment district rates for special taxing districts, including but
not limited to security guard and all mo and multi-purpose maintenance, providing for severability and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you very much, director. >> Yes, good evening. Um, the item you have before you is essentially the base
budget request needed for the special taxing districts in order to maintain their current level of service. Um the budget only includes existing services and the current level for your consideration and under direction from the last workshop. Uh staff has also put
together the items for consideration for additional um service level within uh the exhibit C. Um, just note that none of those items are currently in the budget and that any adjustments um to
some of those uh improvements would require also then a uh recalculation for the administrative fees. Other than that, any questions from the council? >> Uh the I I'm going to turn over to my colleagues who has questions on this item first.
>> Um >> the Councilman Herszburg. >> Thank you, mayor. So I I guess we discussed at the workshop, but I think it's it's important to state it now. The the reasoning some of the my understanding is the reasoning we have some increases is because of the reserve
requirement. The reserve last year gave a decrease and now it's back to what it really should. Can you just or maybe the budget director can explain that briefly? >> Good evening, mayor, council. Um in last fiscal year the council uh voted to
reduce the contingency reserve to or cap it at 5%. So since the contingency reserve was capped at 5% that provided um the residents an opportunity to receive a reduction to their assessment rate. However, now we've entered into a new fiscal year or we're going to be
entering into a new fiscal year. So based on inflation and different and other um items we the assessment rate would be increased very minor um Miami Lake
section one is being increased by $843 Lman by $50.50 50. My Royal Oaks section one is being reduced by $109 and Royal Oaks East is being increased by $70. As far as the
lake maintenance, the Lake Patricia is being reduced by $1744 and Lake Hilda is being increased by $62. >> So, for example, ROIC East is being reduced by 109. next year that number is
now going to go back up because that's they're taking care of the the >> next year there is a possibility that that specific may increase slightly not not by $109 but but it may increase maybe $20 depends on on what is voted on for their budget specifically
>> and I I know we have a list of like proposed improvements none of that's in this budget >> no okay got it and and what about the the lock lmen proposed improvements what what are what's going on with that. We discussed it a little bit in the
workshop. It's sort of like in the middle. I don't know. >> So, at this point, um it is currently as an additional consideration as far as the status. I mean, the HOA has already showed their support for something of that nature. Um the one thing that we have discussed going back and forth over
is and there's been previous council uh action on this is on the capital improvement portion of it. Um at this time there is no language within the ordinance that outlines capital items. This is the existing guard gate and
guard house for lockman. So it would not be in terms adding any services to the existing ordinance that governs the lock lmen uh uh special taxing district. So in that case by that reading um it would
be something that you guys can approve to move forward with. But at this point all that is uh funded here is a design with an anticipated cost. >> So design design cost is the the cost to for design is in >> is no is as a separate item. It is not
part of the the base budget as part of the ordinance. >> Yeah. Correct. >> That's all I wanted to make sure. Thank you. Thank you mayor. >> Anyone else? >> I have a question. >> Council Garcia. >> Thank you. Um um this is this is amazing.
Um so so basically we have two of them that are on on brackets. uh the 109 10 and 1744 those are going to be those are going to >> decreases
>> decrease and the one right next to it which is the one that affects me is going to increase lovely so I'm going to be a no thank you >> anyone else Councilman Sanchez um to
address the public comment by Boris that he emailed over to us um with regard ards to the operating costs. How is the operating cost figured for section one? >> The same way the rest are and it's based on the total units within that special
taxing district. >> So originally um we had it uh cut across all six districts. It was then by council action that we adjusted to account for the amount of time if one district has 600 verse 900. There are 9 there are 300 additional mailers going to one district that is going to take up
a little more of staff time. So the decision was made to base the rates, the administrative rates off the total units of the entire special taxing district budget. >> So it has nothing to do with how many guard how many guards there are. They have rollovers, nothing like that. It has to do with more of the administrative function to run that the
special taxing district needs like mailers and everything else that falls of up to 841 homes. Correct. Versus 100 and change in other areas. >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It takes a lot more time to >> it's a level of service for the amount of units. with with the services offered by SFM
>> or the gates or anything like that. Right. Okay. Just wanted to address it to make sure that that was uh was brought forward. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Councilman Garcia. >> Just a question. Uh just to address what councilman Garcia said and I know be the reasons why it went up real east but um
is there any savings we can glean to instead of you know the $70 hit you know we can make make it more in par with uh what others are the only ones that increase by 20 $30 you know they increase that much. Is there any savings you can gleam in the budget uh that
could >> get us down some some at least give them some tax savings some savings >> um maybe 10 $20 is there anything you see >> in order to do so it would drop the level of service compared to the remaining districts so and if I yeah if
so in order to make up that that 20 $30 you're looking at a a change in level of service that would no longer be aligned with the remaining districts >> okay so changing like the level of the guard or changing the level of maintenance >> the level of maint maintance items, >> the the the amount budgeted for guard house repairs, all that would be a drop
in level of service. >> We removed flowers, we removed all that stuff, right? The >> Royal Oaks East has no flowers. >> No flowers, no nothing that Okay. Um >> and and if I'm not mistaken, um I don't want to put Melissa on the spot, but if I'm not mistaken, I think Royal Oaks East carried one of the higher
contingency rates and I believe had one of the reductions last time using that, which is probably what's causing this imbalance. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. May. Mr. Mayor, >> hold on before I want to see if does anybody else want to go? All right, this
will be the last round of discussion. Councilman Quad Garcia, >> Jeremy, uh reduction of service. Uh how much lower can we go? We got bubble gum everywhere on the floor of those guard gates. I got videos and pictures. I
mean, how much lower can we go? So, I mean, and know the guard gates would be dirtier and and and more uh less maintained than than than what what they are now. >> Yes, you would reduce the amount of
funds for the guardgate repairs for the repairs to the guard house itself and so forth. >> Disappointed. >> One question. >> Okay, Councilman Herszburg, again, we're in the second round. Does uh the does the the reading does this budget take into into account the increase the
voluntary increase to SFM? >> The no that is the only thing being accounted for is the same base level of service that we have maintained. Anything that changes from we've approved last year is reflected in the exhibit C which is additional service for consideration. >> Okay.
>> There is nothing additional added. There's no increase of SFM rates. >> This ordinance is an increase anything. It's just base level pursuant to last year's budget. >> Correct. >> Okay, great. So, I mean, we're not It is I mean, I think we are at minimum level. I have some ideas uh that I'll bring up
in the next workshop to revamp these completely, but I need to get community input, but for now, I mean, this is base level, so let's move forward. >> Yeah. And I just want to remind everybody, this is first reading. Um there is time between first and second reading to workshop this with staff, with residents, uh and come back with
proposals. Traditionally, remember that first reading is just an initial pass at it, right? It's not supposed to involve heavy discussion. Um, you know, because the expectation is that there will be an opportunity within that gap to go ahead and iron this out. I mean, I also have some questions based on uh Mr. Mr.
Foster's uh email uh that I that I will be, you know, asking to staff. Um, and I'm also looking forward to Councilman Hsburg's Hzburg's um uh uh I guess amendments, if you will. this uh >> overhaul then if you want
>> I have some idea I spoke spoke with the manager briefly we'll talk about the next workshop I have a a complete overhaul which I think the residents would like but we got to discuss that it won't happen this year >> that's fair yeah well regardless though you know I know you're going to work at it and uh it'll give me a chance to ask
Mr. fosters questions and more details and and to have followup with him. So, um you know, but for now, I'm going to vote to advance this uh just so we can keep this moving. So, with that, Madame Clerk, please call the role. >> I needed someone to make the motion and to second. >> I thought we Okay, I apologize. You
know, so with that, I will move it. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second. Uh all those in uh or rather, Madam Clerk, roll call. >> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Fernandez, >> yes. Council member Garcia, >> a no.
>> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> a big no. >> Council member Hsburg, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. >> Ordinance in first reading. Item 13A passes.
>> Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Uh, >> okay. The the vice mayor wanted a moment of personal privilege while we have the director of parks with us. So, Mr. Bagdown, please approach the mic. Uh the vice mayor had uh some non-gerermanine items that he's going to ask you as a moment of personal privilege.
>> Thank you, mayor. And permit me to get back to that page. It was a used to this whole paper thing. All righty. Um I wanted to quickly ask you and I know I came up to you earlier to ask about this. We did have a
resident who came up to public comments today inquiring about the possibility of converting one additional tennis court at MLP into a pickle ball court. Uh could you kind of just fill my colleagues in on what you told me, what
the possibilities are, what options we have available? >> So evaluating the request for additional dedicated courts is something that we have fielded uh in the past with other members of of the pickle ball community. um and looking at other communities in a way to look at how we can still meet
some of that demand without foregoing our tennis players that we do have still frequency in the park. Um, one option that I discussed with the vice mayor that we can take a look at and I can come back with a plan for you is a schedule in which we can overlay um, not redo the courts but overlay with
temporary lines and establish a schedule in which for instance Tuesday or Thursdays or Monday, Wednesdays after a certain time in the evening when it's predominantly pickle ball players activate two courts with temporary fence uh, temporary nets and have them full
like the individual said, it's the right size net, it's the right size court and for those two or three days at a certain time, we can go ahead and dedicate it just to pickle ball, but still be able to remove it for the next morning's tennis players, the the weekend's tennis players, and still give that that use of
the court without having to make such a drastic shift in the volume of pickle ball courts versus tennis courts. >> Thank you, director. So, on that note, I'd like to actually move to direct uh the director to come back to us with a plan for that. >> I'll second. >> Uh it's been uh moved and seconded. Any
discussion? Uh seeing none, those in favor say I. I. >> Those against say nay. Motion passes unanimously. And then the last item was uh I just wanted to request an update on the Miami lake sign that was generously donated by the Miami realtors. I know that that was was going to go off of one
of the Palmetto exits. Uh just what's the status on that? I know we had to work with FDOT and a few others. Right now, we are working with the senator's office, Senator um Maria uh Rodriguez and um the manufacturer for the signs in order to obtain the proper set of plans
to submit to FDOT. That is something that we've been waiting on and and pushing and the senator's been helping us push it, but we're just waiting the manufacturer to give us those updated. They have provided some spec sheets, but with Omar's review and his understanding of FDOT requirements, we've requested some revisions to make sure that on the
first pass of the FDOT review, there are no concerns. >> Okay. I'm going to turn over to Councilman Fernandez in a second. He he wants to comment, but if there's any way that um that myself or the mayor can help on um uh dealing with Senator Rodriguez's office, let us know. We're
happy to help. We have great relationships with them. >> She she's been incredible. >> Yes. Uh, okay. Perfect. Then if you need anything, I'm I'm just offering it if you need anything. Obviously, we're we're incredibly thankful, especially to the Miami Realtors Association for donating it very kindly. So, um, we want
to get it out and display it. >> 30-year member of the Miami board. But anyway, remember, we have Eddie Blanco that is the president, the current president of the board. So, we should use him. He's a resident and he he could definitely help if we need him. >> Yeah, it's the manufacturer and the person who did the the plans for the
manufacturer. That's where the sticking point is and the responsiveness has been less than ideal. The senator has interjected on our behalf and really kind of put their try and hold their feet to the fire and we've gotten some level of the uh of plans when the the
followup is the one now where we're stuck. But I know Jeremy's on it all the time and the senators interjecting whenever she needs to where she's seeing her on every email so she chimes in. >> Yeah. And to the councilman's point, um Eddie Blanco has sat in on meetings and
has jumped in and to assist us with this as well. Yeah. >> Awesome. Thank Thank you for that update and and thank you for that privilege. Go ahead. >> Thank you for the chair. Other towns have accepted and have um put them in place. Can we ask them for their engineering drawings? >> Because I think they're unique to our
lettering. Our letters are unique. So wind structure >> and they probably don't even have that level of plans because of the location where they have decided to put them in. So an E is looking for a higher level, a higher profile location. >> It's the location. It's the FTO side of it. >> Primarily, I just wanted to know that it
was still moving forward and that we're still working towards a resolution. Thank you for that. Uh director back down. Uh with that, I am actually going to move backwards into our agenda. I realize uh we did not cover attorney's report. Um so we so sorry you're up.
Yeah, it it didn't turn on. Didn't want to turn on. Okay. Um, so for our report, you you asked us just to uh come back to you on on the effects of Senate Bill 1134. Uh this is the bill that was signed by the governor this year uh and
became a Florida statute 16604971. And what it did was to um I would say almost criminalize uh any activity that a municipality does that is not considered that that is considered DEI.
DEI is uh in essence any anything where uh to influence the composition uh of employees or promote a prof preferential treatment and special benefits of a person based on on certain characteristics based on their gender identity, sexual orientation etc.
Though the law is pretty broad in saying anything that does this is bad, it also creates numerous exceptions. So, and those numerous exceptions are those holidays, those activities, those events
that are sponsored or are uh supported uh by by either the federal government or the state government or our holidays. And then you have a series of gray areas, which is if they have significant cultural um value. So, as far as taking
a look at the activities that the town currently has, I I don't see any that we currently have uh that would be considered in violation of of the statute. Uh every single one uh from women of distinction, we have women distinction month, which is sponsored by the by the state. Uh we have, you know,
different uh Hispanic cultural month that's also sponsored by the state. Fourth of July events sponsored by the state. So, I there there's nothing really that I can see right now that is an a current activity, something that is uh sponsored by the town that would fall a foul of of the statue. That being
said, from time to time, you know, there are there may be activities that some of our committees, some of our residents may ask the town to sponsor uh or or to promote. Uh and in those, we have to be careful and make sure that they don't
fall foul of this particular statute. Why? Because one of the thing that the statute does is it kind of empowers the resident that if one of you fall a foul of it that then you can be held liable uh not only uh as as as a body but on a
on a personal uh basis. Statute is brand new hasn't been challenged. I suspect it probably will be challenged at some point uh on you know first amendment grounds to start off with. Uh but that hasn't happened yet. Uh but until that as as your attorneys, you know, we have
to tell you, you know, uh let's be careful to stay clear of any activities that could run a foul so that we don't incur any uh unneeded uh liability uh for the town or for yourselves. >> Thank you. Anyone anyone have questions to the attorney? Councilman Hzburg, >> thank you and and thank you for the
work. You all know how disappointed I am at this law. Um, and when I was speaking with other elected officials, even some people, Mayor Cava's office, I believe the county mayor's off, the county attorney's office is reviewing this and they have a boatload of events. So, I'm very interested. I asked them to make
sure to share that report once it comes in. >> But, uh, this doesn't only it's not just events, it's also proclamations. Yes. Day of Miami Lakes, you know, this is your day today or month. So we have to be careful with anything that the town
promotes even just social media posts. >> Yes. I mean saying it's a particular person's day and saying it's you know realy month or things of that nature it's not necessarily fall within it doesn't but now if you talking about a particular
cause and I don't want to name one in particular but we we can all think about which some of those causes maybe you know >> there's a few causes law obviously. Yeah. >> Uh exempts doesn't exempt but understood that. Um but that but personally we're I
guess it's important to understand there's a personal as an elected official and then there's a town side. >> Correct. >> There's both. >> The only thing I would ask is to make sure that it's not just on us that the town staff is understands because my position is a social media post done by the town that promotes something that's
not allowed would be a violation of this law. >> It could. Yeah. I I I haven't seen anything that we've really been promoting as of late that would really run a foul. But to your point, something where I think it's gray is what about a committee member that's pushing for for something and I don't know
>> or a committee or a committee that votes to push something. We're not aware of it and they're using funds like correct. That's why I think we can all understand the issues but it's on you guys to make sure staff then also make sure all these committees are aware of these restrictions. Maybe that's, you know,
some that can I make a motion to make sure staff presents uh this law to committees to make sure they understand the restrictions as well? >> Yeah, I I believe um second that Mr. Cardinis was had been talking to me and she's been pushing me uh to start back
and oh, she she left, but uh to start back and seeing the committees and talking to them about sunshine and public records so we can talk to them also about the effects of >> Is there any discussion on the amendment or on the motion that's been made? very briefly I I I think that it makes a lot
of sense. My only concern we are talking about highle legal ease. Um I think we might inadvertently just confuse a lot of committee members. I would rather uh as uh the deputy town attorney was saying have them take a look at you know
through uh Mr. Cardinz's office um take a look at the events if there's something that maybe um is is a red flag or even an orange flag, right? Um of hey, let's let's take a quick look at this event and see if it passes muster
and then in that situation they they call it out. But I think trying to get the committee to police itself, they're all non- lawyers, you know, they don't know what is and what >> right. If if I may, mayor. Uh thank you. You may. Um, I I get that, but my
concern is that they're just going to vote on something. We Nobody would had no idea. The committees are pretty independent. And now they voted on it. Oh, and they they have $200 in marketing. Okay, let's go spend the money that they have the ability to do that. We give them that right to spend money at the sta. I guess you're right.
Staff should I think the committee should be aware, but understand that at the end of the day, the staff, the liaison need to be up to date on this law. I guess I I'll accept that friendly amendment. And how about that? >> I mean, to to what you stated, we don't have to get to the weeds of it, but we
can go over the top that look, there's there's laws that could restrict what type of activities you can do. So, anytime you have an activity before you pass it, please discuss it with us or the communications department. >> All those in favor say I. I. All
>> oppose, no. The eyes have it. The motion carries. If there be nothing further, >> there's there's nothing further. Good. Unless you have any questions of our office. >> All right. So, >> boring is good. >> Huh? >> Boring is good. >> Yes, I agree. I agree. >> I want boring.
>> I agree. So, with that, we are now on ordinances on second reading, which will be a public hearing. Mr. Attorney, please read the ordinance into the record. >> Item 14A. Correct. >> 14A. Yes. An or an ordinance of the town of Miami Lakes, Florida, amending chapter 18, parks and recreation section
18-94, public demonstration, gatherings, performances, speeches of the town code of ordinances by adding section 18-94 C first amendment protected activities providing for purpose providing for codification, severability, and
effective date. With that, um, I'm going to open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak may do so now. Seeing no members of the public in uh chambers, madame clerk, anyone online. >> I don't see anyone online with a hand
raised. >> Okay. So, uh if no one wants to speak on this item, I'm going to close the public hearing on 14A. And with that, turn it over to uh to the manager, I guess, who's going to present this item. Well, this is the item that you saw last
month that deals with um an extra paragraph in our code that deals with um first amendment protected activities and in the parks. >> All right. Thank you. Is there a motion? >> I'll move it. >> It's been moved by Councilman Hsburg, seconded by the vice mayor. Any
discussion? >> Seeing none, uh madam clerk, please call the role. Item 14A, ordinance in second reading. Council member Hzburg, >> yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> yes.
>> Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Garcia, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Mora, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. >> The ordinance in second reading item 14A passes. >> Thank you. We are now in 15B
authorization to apply for the FOP public transit service development grant program FY2028 by presented by director Olivia Shock. >> That's what it says here. >> This is this is a grant application F dot to pay um it's a 50/50 match. It's
for uh for on demand service for freebie service and the town match is being paid by our portion of the PTP20. Okay, >> I'll move the item. >> It's been moved. Is there a second? >> I'll second for discussion. >> Seconded by Councilman Sanchez. Moved by
the vice mayor. Any discussion or questions of staff? >> Yes. >> Okay. One by Councilman Sanchez. Go ahead. >> So, I reviewed this item and in my research, I went back to to the most recent copy of the budget that we have. Um, and I I brought this up today with
with the town manager and right now we have a total cost for the freebie service of 461,000. where 250,000 of to pay for that is through grants. So it leaves the town with a bill of $211,000. The new one is asking for 560 total with
the town providing $280,000. So we would increase from two 211 to 280 imputing a 32.7% increase. uh because of such a high increase, is there a way where we can keep it at the 2011 and maybe go out
to try to find a different vendor like go through the procurement process to see >> sorry. So currently we estimated the additional we're estimating the increase in service that we would do as a for this grant to cost around $104,000
additionally annually per year. That would be the cost of an extra vehicle that would do that um the service to the trial station as well as service during the in town during the middle of the day. >> And again, it's about $100,000. With the freebie grant, it's always split exactly
50/50 between the town and the grant. So, the actual, I believe, total cost in the transit we have in there also had um money budgeted for the bus storage as well. I don't know if Melissa's here.
>> It is, but it's not part of the 468,000. I'm 461. There was 8,000 for bus storage >> cuz I believe the actual total we have estimated for what it's going to cost is 450,000 and then it's 225 from the freebie grant and 225 from the town.
>> But what I have I have the budget in front of me right now and what the town receives according to the budget for this fiscal year was 250,000. >> We I I can look I can pull up what we received from the grant. Um, but we received I believe again 225 from the grant.
>> I mean I only go off I can only go off what the information provided to me >> and that budget just shows the 250 that is what provided to us. >> What we have estimated with the 285 was again estimating for an additional um $50,000 in the budget to pay for half of the additional hundred.
>> Okay. And then the new service would be to the char because we already offer service to the metro rail station. Yes. Off the palmetto. So, this would be expanding on that to add additional um re countywide regional transit um expansions from there. So, we in the mornings, this would just be during
commuter times. So, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in the morning and then from 400 p.m. to 700 p.m. in the afternoons. So, we've seen a huge growth in the Metro Rail connection service that we're offering to the Palmetto. And so, that was where and I don't know if Susanna is
coming back to Oh, there she's there. I I don't know if she wants to talk at all about um how that service operates or anything like that, but yeah, the idea behind it was again providing the additional um connection to regional transit services as we've had such an expansion and growth in that. I believe we included some metrics um as an
attachment to this. Okay. But yeah, and then the vehicle would run in town service in the middle of the day between those when it's not doing the shuttle. >> Okay. So that's really where the increase is because we're adding service to the travel station, not just keeping the same company with the same routes, just adding that service.
>> Yeah, it's adding additional hours of service and we are to to go back to your previous question too about exploring other vendors and other options. We are currently preparing to bring out to put out the RFP for the service. So this is again just based on an estimate for our current costs. However, we'll have to
wait and see what the results of the RFP come back with to know the exact amounts of what the service will cost at that time. And then is it a specific vehicle that would be going to the tri rail station or would it be like a Tesla or would it be a van that can take? >> Currently we have oh sorry I say we're prepared to do another Tesla if um
that's what we're that's what we're currently working with with the freebie obviously depending on our contractor. Um freebie also launched some new vans that we've been t discussing potentially launching. Um, but at this time we'd continue with an additional Tesla that would again do that shuttle and then add
and then in town service >> if demand gets to the point where we no longer it's not feasible to use a Tesla and we'd have to go up to a van that can take eight passengers to give an example. Is there an additional cost to that or would it be the same cost? >> That's something we have to talk with freebie. I know they mentioned previously last time we were just in
communication with them or again whoever our vendor is um with when we were in communication with them they mentioned the cost was comparable to the Tesla. However, they were just rolling out these new vehicles in a couple of test sites. Um, so they didn't have full pricing breakdown for us yet.
>> Um, cuz they do their pricing. It's it's hourly, but it's also based on kind of the terms of our contract where they get a portion of advertising revenue and we do. So, the number can change a little bit. >> Okay. >> Um, but yeah, >> that's something we could absolutely explore. >> Perfect. Thank you to the chair. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, Mayor. I'll try to be um
quick. I have experience with this because my daughter, I pick her up at the uh train station and I see in the in the numbers that the the Metro station numbers have more than more than triple quadruple. >> Yes. >> So, I talked to the manager today about
just what the what Councilman Sanchez was saying. We need a new freebie that's uh ADA compliant compliant to carpool to not only Palmetto station, but if we're going to add the tri road station, we need to do that as well because what's
happening is I and I see our freebies there all the time. Uh that is send, you know, maybe two people come out, three people come out, but it's taking the level of service inside the town, it's lowering that level of service by dramatically. So, uh I I would uh agree
with uh Mr. uh Councilman Sanchez and see if I don't know if we need a motion for you to look into a van that's ADA compliant that we can carpool to these uh to these additional areas of service and also because we can't have I I don't think we should take a Model Y off off Miami Lake streets
>> to to send all the way over there. That's a and traffic it takes me 30 to 40 minutes to get there sometimes or 20 25 and 25 to come back. >> Yeah. So that's something we could absolutely explore is looking at having an additional vehicle running during those hours. But a van that we can carpool that's ADA compliant.
>> I will say the thing with an ADA van is we do currently have one that's available in town when someone requests an ADA ride. >> But you need it for the town. >> Yes. I will say our number of ADA rides is is pretty >> sure. But we have to have it by law. We have to have it here. We can't leave the town. That's my understanding.
>> I say we do we have one available for whenever one is requested. >> Okay. Well, if that's the case, then we use that for for Palmetto. We don't currently use it for the Palmetto because the Tesla Model Y's actually have a similar seating capacity to the van that we offer because it's um like a
hybrid van. It's not a fully electric um van like we used to offer with the that was a larger seater. >> You mean a five- seater? >> Uh the Tesla Y's I believe are because they have three. >> The Model X has the has seven seats. >> Yeah, these are >> There's no more Model X's because I've seen Model X's.
>> No, >> you got rid of the Model X's. Yes, we have Model X's. Yes. Yes, we do. Trust me, I know Tesla. >> But they're the seven seaters. >> Model X is a seven-seater. Model Model Y is a five seater. >> They're X then. Sorry. I was like, I don't know. >> With the Gold Wings. Yes. 100%. >> They're seven seaters. Yeah.
>> So, that was the the ADA van. It's a Toyota hybrid. >> Sienna. I was going to say, so it has the same um >> Well, not the same because the the X is not ADA compliant. >> Yes. Yes. No. No. Sorry. Not the same capacity for that, but I meant this. It doesn't have an ADA van wouldn't provide additional seating capacity for the
Palmetto shuttle if that was your concern. the in the interest of brevity because I know we have a we have to complete the u the agenda just look into the vans. I wouldn't like the model wise to leave the town because I don't think it I think it takes away from the level of service of the town. >> Yeah, we and that would just require again additional funding. So that would
be an additional cost running an additional vehicle during those hours. >> Well, when you do the RFP, if you can get an additional van that's ADA compliant in lie of the Model Y that can be used for both. So, just so you realize, part of the RFP is asking for a
a an improved algorithm that allows a lot more sharing of rides both within town and going to the and going to the So, this is part of what we're requesting as part of the RFP uh going to the tri rail and going so that the more the the better utilization of every
ride, right? So, that less one person riders >> are going to any of them, right? which is if you're taking out six passengers over to the tri rail at one time, then obviously it's warranted to have the 20 minute over and 20 minutes back. If
you're just taking one person, it's a lot you we're sort of optimizing the amount of writers that go together with a better algorithm and that's part of the RFP. Yes. >> Excellent. Thank you, guys. >> All right. I'm going to go to the vice mayor then to Councilman Cuadra Garcia.
>> Thank you, mayor. Uh quick question just because I've never understood this part for the in town uh travel. If if I'm in town and at Main Street, can I take the freebie to Home Depot just outside our our boundary? >> No. >> No. So strictly in the boundary with the
exception of the Palmetto station. >> Okay. Got it. And and then if we did this the the tri rail. >> Yes. >> Okay. Got it. And then um the the other question was as far as the changes that that have
been discussed up here. Do you have a deadline for submission of this application? >> Yeah, it's at the end of May. So in a couple of weeks was when we have to >> so Okay. So how do we do this then? Because you need an approval from us, but then we're not sure if we would be
approving the current uh what was it? $280,000 number or potentially a higher one because you would need to go back and do the research I guess right on on how much we actually need in order to get the extra vehicle. >> No, I have the extra ve I believe the
number that we have in the thing is correct >> is with the >> with the extra vehicle that should be >> after the discussion you didn't need the extra vehicle because we would just be using the one that's currently circulating in town. Well, the the
concern was not taking uh low uh vehicle vehicles off the stream lakes to send it over there. Gotcha. >> Now, the Metro Royal in 74th takes takes it to the Tri Rail station. >> Um and then you could if you buy a ticket to Metro, isn't there like a a
free transfer over to Tri Rail? >> Yeah, I believe so. >> Free transfer to the Tri Rail. >> Yeah, because the Tri Rail is on 20 highly on 25th Street with and there's a metro station there. So why would we take somebody to the metro rail station as opposed to taking somebody
>> so we >> to 70? Yes, but the 74th is the end. So they can get to the trial station, do the free transfer and get on tri rail. >> Why? So we don't need to we can we can deal with tri rail by just dropping them off at uh at the 74th Street. It'll take
them to the tri rail station. They'll do the free transfer. They'll get on the >> tri Well, yeah. I'm sorry to cut in, but I saw that this is becoming an extended conversation and I wanted to give council Garcia an opportunity to opine. Um, so if anything, we'll come back to >> look into that. >> Yeah.
>> No. Um, thank you, Mr. uh, uh, mayor. I'm I'm a little confused here, uh, with this issue with this freebie. Uh, so basically, you can't take the vice mayor to Home Depot, right?
>> No. I but you can take it off on the palmetto and and go off the town uh perimemers. >> Yeah. So with and this actually also sort of answers your question Councilman Garcia uh or both of you. So with this
we have with our our use our agreement with CIT to use the CIT funds which is the PTP funds um for this with that in our interlocal we're allowed to go technically up to 5 miles outside of our town boundaries. When we set up our
freebie service, we made it so that it was geolocked strictly to the town boundary so that we didn't end up kind of losing our freebies to a lot of the traffic in the surrounding areas that can get they can get pulled out, you know, pretty far in Miami Lakes if you
get on the freeway for a couple of miles. Um and that was the decision that they made to geoence it strictly to the town boundary with the exception of doing just that shuttle to the Palmetto Rail station which is like just 5 miles
from the town. That is also why we can't take anybody to the tri- rail transfer station because that's >> you misunderstood. You're still taken to 74 street >> but that takes you to the tri rail station because there is a there's a metro rail station right there. I've
taken the trial many times through the metro. Trust me, I've used since I was I was one of the first people to ride the metro in 1984. That's how old I am. >> But I'm telling you, the tri rail is there. So, you don't need to have two different drop off points. You can drop somebody off of 74th. They get on the metro, they get off, they transfer to
try rail, there's a free transfer to try rail. They still have to pay for tri rail, but they can free transfer to the tri rail. They don't, you know, so if or they pay for metro, they can it'll there's there's different things you can do. I'm just trying to avoid having two vehicles, one going out of the town
going to Tri Rail, another vehicle going to 74th, and less vehicles servicing. If you look at the map that you said, the majority of the maps is our local uh main street, our local shops, the the students use it a lot, you know, during
that. So, I'm just trying to figure out the most. So the reason why we're doing this very particularly okay >> is because >> in order to get this funding from FDA FDOT requires that this be an improvement of the existing service. So we don't get additional money for
additional vehicles within town but we are possibly able to get additional funding to continue to connect to the um in to the inter intracounty and interre regional transportation network around
us. Does that make sense? So that this is something that is very important to both the county transit system and the and fat transit system that we connect to that >> and and that's and that's why it's possible that this is funding we may get
if we request something else. It may happen like last year where we lose the funding and we don't have it. So that's why we're requesting for this particularly because we're likely to get it and it's also improving our uh our highest volume area which is the during
the day like around 2 to 3:00 in the afternoon is where we have most most unmet need and we will have an additional vehicle at those times because we're not serving either the Palmetto or the Tri Rail at during >> Wait, wait, hold on, hold on, hold on. Does that make sense? >> I need everybody just to also keep in
mind the the order of how this works, right? So, I'm going to go to the vice mayor, but cool your jets. All right, let her finish her her explanation. >> The way that that sounded, it sounded a lot like we have to do an improvement, I guess, year over year. And simply adding
more vehicles does not count. Meaning, >> hold on. One of you is saying yes and one of you is not. >> Meaning what? Next year I got to take people all the way to downtown. Like, what's going on here? >> No. So, this is the public transit service improvement grant. every 3 years we have to make an improvement to our
service if we're as we're applying for funding the next two years we can apply for the same the same level of service now I will say adding an additional vehicle is something that could be considered an improvement okay for in town service
>> but it's not likely to get approved >> not a very compelling application in that the additional just to piggyback on what you were saying about adding the service to the tri rail yes currently Yes, in theory you could get on the metro rail, take it, transfer, and then
start going on the Tri Rail North. I think for us we're talking about adding that's you know obviously a multi-seat ride with multiple transfers for residents in this as we're trying to take vehicles in in that case I would just personally if I lived in town and I was taking the option if we're trying to
get cars off the road and use have people use more transit specifically those that are potentially going north on the tri rail if I lived in town I was choosing between using my car or taking the freebie to the Palmetto to then transfer to then get on a different
train to then go north. I wouldn't do it, you know. So, I think for us it's also with adding that the convenience and service of access directly to the tri rail at the Opalaka station nearby because that, you know, it increases convenience and allows for more users
who would hypothetically use it for commuting purposes that would be more willing potentially. For purposes of the vote here, the the the monetary value that's attached to this, is it attached specifically to the vehicle or is there a different monetary value associated with the shuttle?
>> No, there's no different monetary value. That's just an additional vehicle. Then then is it okay if we can go ahead and just push the approval of of your number and then later on if we want to say you know we really didn't need don't need that shuttle based because of what Councilman Garcia said instead we want that money to go towards an additional
vehicle. Is that something that can be done or no? So, if we're applying for the grant with the and we're putting in the grant application that we're doing this specifically for the purposes of adding that shuttle, we'll be bound to do that shuttle for at least the year that we have that.
>> Sure. >> You know, what if if no one is calling for that vehicle because no one needs to get picked up at the Tri Rail station? Uh, can it be going around the town doing y Okay, got it. Thank you. >> Let me finish my conversation cuz that I didn't finish it. Thank you very much.
So basically, uh I understand it now. Um so basically, um and by the way, I called it the other day. I in 26 years, I'd never used the freebie. And they told me I was coming to town hall and they told me it would take
anywhere between 35 to an hour. I said, "You know what? Take my bicycle." >> So I'm I'm I'm I don't know about that freebie. I'm really concerned about that freebie. Okay. So, and another thing, I don't know if you've guys seen it.
There's one of those Teslas that look it looks like it went to the war uh and back. I mean, they they keep them really dirty. I'm going to take a pictures to send them to everybody that you know in so you can see. I mean, that's that's not our standard. It looks like it went to Iraq and back.
>> Please do let like send um Susanna and Justin. >> I shared that with the manager the other day. >> Thank you, ladies. Thank you. Okay, >> Madame Clerk, please call the role. >> Thank you. >> Item 15B. Council member Sanchez. >> Yes.
>> Council member Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council member Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Council member Hsburg. >> Yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia. >> Is this Is this to say if we want to apply for the uh grant? Yes.
>> That's a no. Vice Mayor Mora. >> Yes. >> Mayor Diaz. >> Yes. >> Item 15. >> Excuse me. She is announcing the the result of the vote. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. What is your question,
Councilman? >> So funny. I don't understand. >> I'm I'm not laughing. I But what I need is for everybody to please maintain the quorum and allow us to move the meeting forward. This will be the last time I say it. Um, with that we are on 16A
annual facility permit by Councilman Sanchez which was deferred from the April council meeting. >> Yes. And I deferred it because that meeting I think went a little bit deep into the night. So out of courtesy to everyone else I I deferred it. But this item um is basically a uh a framework
that the city of Miami has established. They have a, you know, a great landing page that explains it all. It's an an annual facility permit where landlords, not tenants, can apply for this permit instead of having to apply for individual permits every single time. That can delay the process of of doing
improvements to to their facilities. Um, and it just creates a 365day cycle where they can create those improvements without having to take out individual uh permits. I had a meeting um with our town manager and Danny from the building department. They said, "We
have something like this already." So, if if Mr. Angel, if you're available for a moment to come speak about the annual facility permit and uh and does it replicate, you know, is it is it to the tea of what I am requesting on the NBI
that replicates what is in the city of Miami? Is this something that is already a service offered by the town? >> Good evening, Mayor, council. Can you repeat the question again? >> Sure. the annual facility permit. You know, it's I know we had a meeting and and we were going to see if it's if it's more or less the same as what's already
in the city of Miami where a a landlord can apply for a permit that's good for 365 days and they don't have to apply for smaller permits to do improvements to their facilities. It's just one encompassing permit to, you know, to expedite the process of things they want to do for 365 days. So the annual
facility permit process was established in the Florida building code back in 2003 at the inception of the Florida Building Code. And essentially what it does, it provides an opportunity for facilities that are grouped as facilities like hospitals, universities, things like that who have certified
licensed facility individuals to do change outs of annual let's say lights. They're replacing the lights to LED or any of that case. Um that has been established since 2003. >> Okay. But it's only so for example let's say that Main Street wants to open the
grants want to do an annual facility payment permit for Main Street. >> They they won't qualify because based on the classification of the group of the facility that's obtaining the permit we have very few group facilities in the Tanamas I could think of one Cortis um
and they've been uh using the private provider process over the last couple years to do several improvements in their facility but that's pretty much the only one that comes to mind. In your experience, have we ever had a a a a owner of a building apply for an annual facility permit in the town? At one point in 2009, we had Miami Date County
Water and Sewer, and that was to service all their pump stations located in town. But in review of the application of that uh of that uh of that permit application, uh to say the least, essentially, that was applied incorrectly because the way that it's
applied, it's even if you look at the city of Miami website, it's you still have to pull a permit per trade. So, using the example of the lights, you're going to pull one permit for the electrical, but let's say Cordis wants to change out the toilets. They're still going to pull out another permit for plumbing. Um, I will tell you that our
biggest landlords in town have not seen it as a feasible option. Um, just based on the way it's structured. Uh, but it is an option that's available to any and all facilities under the Florida building code. >> Oh, the Florida building the Florida building code you said has specific
facilities that can use it. Are we able to add facilities that we in the town that can apply for that? No. Or it has to be it has to be strictly for facilities. >> The Florida building code. >> Correct. >> Okay. Okay. Well, if we already have the the process, um I would like to to kind of replicate and and bring it to a
forefront as something that it can be offered by the town the same way that the city of Miami has done it so that if it's ever comes up again, you know, and or >> it's been part of our building uh permit fee schedule since 2008. >> So, it is something that we offer. Right. >> All right. something like the if you've
seen the landing page that the city of Miami has, it breaks it down to the most layman of terms. Um, and if it's something that we can we can develop maybe with with >> Yeah. You mean just the ad language on the website? We could do that. Sure. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I'd appreciate it. Thank you. >> So, no action taken. >> What was that?
>> Yeah. So, I don't need to take any action. >> Perfect. Okay. So, uh, thank you very much, Councilman Sanchez. Thank you, Director Angel. We are now on 16B, which is the revised lean reduction ordinance. um which again I'm bringing up uh in
part because of the way in which the manner in which the prior vote went where I felt that the actual will of the majority uh was to move forward something and and and in within the same vein I had publicly stated and promised to the uh vice mayor that I would work
on something that I could support. Now, I'm sure there's going to be people that are going to be having whiplash on this, and I can see my colleague over there looking at me, you know, with that such a face, but I I I met with staff. I met with the manager and with Director Angel by phone. Um, and and went ahead and
spoke with the attorney about this, uh, Attorney Ka. Um, and came back with something that I think would get me closer to supporting it. And I would ask for your favorable support when I move this item uh to continue the discussion which is uh that I'm proposing
having a lean reduction program but in a far more limited scope than what it was before. I'm proposing for staff to come back with an ordinance that reduces the window from six to two months, explores whether we can differentiate based on the types of violations
um and then further also uh provides for a reduced lean amount. But what I mean by further reduced lean amount is that instead of forgiving the the offender all the way down to a day's fine plus cost to have perhaps uh a number such as
25% of the fine still remain in place. something that that actually involves enforcing our code, which was my big frustration last time. So, uh that is my my motion. >> Second. >> It's been seconded by the vice mayor. Is there any discussion? >> Councilman Garcia and then Councilman
Herszburg. >> Um no, I understand the the whole point of this is to have teeth, but also encourage them to be compliant. uh I I would prefer a friendly amendment to see instead of giving them that entire the quicker let's say you want to
make it six months or three months or two months the quicker they come to compliance um the less we we we charge them like if they come to compliance immediately >> scale >> yeah a scale that says the longer it takes for you to pay us off the more you have to pay percentage of the fine maybe
that'll encourage people to pay it quicker >> what I would ask you if I may is just to wait for first reading on that um because I like the idea in concept, right? Um I think it actually could work. But then I also a question and it's getting later that's why so I'm I'm
just I want what I mean I bring that up just because I want more time to process what being suggested which is I understand the sliding scale concept but I also really really really do not want to cut a break to people that I feel have been you know flipping the bird as
it were to the town you know um >> mayor through the chair would you be open to instead of a twothirds cut in the timeline do it by half three months is three months too much for I think it's it's it's a happy medium and it gives the the staff time to to make the the the arrangements and maybe come up
with a uh in the second reading come up with a scale of time limits. Well, it you you have an equal floor with the rest of us if you'd like to profer an amendment, but I just can't support that because again, my my whole goal and what caused my very passionate uh response
last meeting um had to do with the fact that I that this is going to be the third lean reduction program that's been proposed and and it needs to have teeth. between the two proposals of having a sliding scale and and and even going to a an additional month and the time to
apply, I still feel we're being too le lenient on people that otherwise should have um dealt with the issues. That's what the second prong of my proposal is meant to do is to see if for example for certain types of violators right if we can you know that that that have had
time to correct for example easy violations like uh pressure clean the roof right but have deliberately because they want to send a message to the town right you know to go fly a kite I do not want to reward those people you know to be completely honest with you you know if it's an issue where you know a
contractor forgot uh to close out a permit something like that I want to help those people. Um, you know, I I don't want to help people that were just being delinquent in in their approach. >> This is nonhomestead of properties and right or we're talking >> Well, well, I'm I'm talking about uh
Well, I think this your your original item encompassed both. Correct. >> The the lean reduction would have to be across the board, homestead, nonhomestead. But this was a two-step process if you remember. One was whether to open up the window. Then the second decision and you don't have to make that decision tonight or you could do it when
we bring back the ordinance modification is then what right the next step would be to whether move forward with the foreclosure of the nonh homesteaded properties and that's uh something for all of you to chew on so you can uh discuss when we bring back the ordinance uh change.
>> I'm open to having a count uh sunshine meeting with you if that helps as well. >> All right then. Um, >> so >> being that said, I I'll >> JV, if you can work with Alexis on scheduling a sunshine meeting between us and whoever else would like to join and we can discuss it in more detail. Is there any other discussion? Councilman
Oh, right. It was Councilman Herszburg and then Councilman Fernandez. >> I I said in the last meeting I was you almost convinced me to just let's just move forward. And honestly, I understand why why you brought the item, but I'm ready. It's we're going to have another two readings going be another two
months, another three months. I'm ready to just move forward, but uh uh if if the will of the council is to give it another shot, I guess a question to town attorney and manager are we have to have two readings next of a new ordinance. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, >> because there's a new lean reduction uh
schedule which is much more stringent. This would be to open up the window which would be require modification of that order. >> So, this is like the super really really really last time, right? >> Substantially paired back from from previous. No, >> only if you say so. and extric extric it's a smaller time period but that's it
I I you convinced me last time I'll go I'll go with you again this time but that that really is we gota something's got to give and I'll bring I I do plan on bringing next next meeting uh a modification to our fines because I think that's a big issue
>> Councilman Fernandez I'm I'm going to support you on the item I with you know a lot of heartburn but you know it's Councilman Qual Garcia mentioned once you know about about he's not supporting the fines and I think we need a mechanism to enforce our code. Uh you
live very close to this problematic home. I won't name the the color of the home or but we have to drive by it and our neighbors and we have to see that every day for years and years. It's a boat parked in the in the side of the house. It's the unkempt grass. There's
no grass and we have to see it. I mean, is it fair for us to have to see it just because we're going to take away this font? We're going to give them an opportunity to come clean and to comply with us, but who who who's had to see the house for the last 10 years and suffer? I mean, it's it's an eyesore. It
really is. So, I'm going to support it. Um, I'm not crazy about doing this, and I hope this is the last time. >> Anyone else? All right. With that, Madam Clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Sanchez.
Yes. >> Council member Fernandez. >> Yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council member Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council member Hburg. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Mora. >> Yes. >> Mayor Diegas. >> Yes.
>> The item passes. >> Thank you very much. We are now on 16C, which is TV monitor for council chambers presented by council member Garcia. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. Um, now this item is has come up over the years. I'm sure it's with you with uh to
improve transparency and the comfort of residents who are here uh and presenters who have important powerpoints um who participate in in town hall council meetings and also events in the chamber. I'm asking the town to look into options
to add a TV monitor or screen um behind us either in this space right here under the seal. Uh one big TV or two TVs on either side. Um and that will I help it'll help improve uh the viewing audience's uh neck pain from looking
sideways and looking backwards. And for presenters to actually focus on the present presentation have to be look backwards and sideways if they don't have a uh a laptop. Um, I would prefer just one TV right there. There's a perfect space for it. Uh, it's higher. We're we're about three or four feet higher than the audience. They'll be
able to see over our heads. Um, and it'll be easier for for the presenters and the and the residents to take a look at that, not turn their head around. Uh, and I don't think it I mean, it's there is a cost to it, but common sense tells you most DEASes and most um town halls
have have a TV behind the deis for that very reason. So, that's my motion. >> Is there a second? Second. It's >> been seconded by Council Member Fernandez. I'll go ahead and and uh lead the discussion. No, >> I I I I agree with you. I I think I would prefer to see two of them, one on
each side. I think it's going to be more symmetrical. Uh a little bit more money, but I think it is worth it. I think it's going to benefit our residents. So, >> Mr. Mayor, uh Vice Mayor Moretta, >> thank you. Um between one in the middle versus two on the sides, I picked two on
the sides. I think in the middle nothing should be here other than in God we trust and the seal. >> Um I the the manager showed me some renderings of so the the staff is already kind of prepared to present on this >> but we'll put together a report to come back to you with more detailed
information exactly you know the the amounts for the actual equipment the wiring the any other uh switches or anything else and we'll give you probably two or three different options for you guys to uh consider. Not not to steal their thunder, but uh but but but or spoiler alert, but but it was about
30,000 for for the screens, right? For the >> for the drop down screens uh and the projectors was about 30 and about 20 uh for the television um monitors. >> So if you'd like I I can make it a friendly amendment or you can amend your own motion. What I wanted to recommend
though ra as an additional option that they can explore and come back to us with is rather than do all of that is there should be courtroom style most modern courtrooms there would be a a small monitor at the podium as well as a
small monitor at every station of the dis because really the issue is we cannot see the the audience I don't really think has that big of an issue seeing those those TVs I think that The ones that actually don't see presentations 99% of the time is
actually us because we cannot see that TV on the side and that TV over there is a little too far away. We're not going to see the one behind us either. This would give the presenter as well as us individually the ability to see and I think it would be substantially cheaper
than $30,000 because for the most part the wiring would be quite easy to run and over there I think it it's it already exists. Um so I don't know if they can come back to us with that option. >> You I I'll amend my motion to to bring that option. However, uh most of us have
laptops and most of us have already um you know enough like we can see what's happening because of that. My concern was less for us but I understand what you're saying and more for the audience that and we see it all the time especially the presenters. They have to be looking sideways or backwards and they've mentioned it many times they're
looking backwards. Oh I can't see it. My concern is more for the audience and the presenters to make sure the information gets >> we'll bring you back options that will cover the audience, the presenter as well as the uh the the people up by on the day. >> Appreciate it. >> All right. It was moved by uh the
amendment was moved by uh council member Garcia, seconded by the vice mayor. I just want to say that that is the option that I will be supporting. Um I just feel that the other TVs is just the last thing I think we need in here is another TV. Um and then uh what I do like about the idea that the vice president
proposed with the podium um mini screens, right, is that we can still use it to uh to time uh you know members of the audience so they can see how much time they have remaining and then also you know for those that are presenting make their presentations and for us because for me sometimes I have to wait
for the buzzer to go off um to help keep order during public comment that would be helpful to also for us to have the timer for us to also see simultaneously. So, um I support the amendment and with that all those in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The mo
the motion is amended. Uh Councilman Garcia, do you want to close out the main motion? Well, main motion is to again with the amendment that was approved to um add to the the main motion to have the the uh manager look into the options that that we just
discussed and come back with us next time with a cost and price and all the all the issues, everything that that takes to get it done. >> My apologies. I didn't I didn't know you had Yeah. Um all those in favor say I. I oppose. No. The eyes have it and we are
uh Okay, excellent. The the item carries and we are now on item 16D, review of transportation certex uh uh PTP fund alternatives and future transit options by Councilman Herszburg, but this requires a waiver of 7.2. Councilman
Hersburg, you're recognized for a motion. >> I'll move to wave second. >> Second. Seconded. >> It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor of the 7.2 waiver say I. >> The eyes have it. the the rule is waved. Councilman Herszburg, you may present your item. >> Feel like we should just get rid of that
rule, guys. I'll talk about it later. Anyway, I never seen it not pass, so >> it actually has uh not passed in some instances. >> I'm sure I'll I'll find the meeting then. I do like watching the meetings late at night. Um Oh, that's right. So,
anyway, back back on point. Sorry, I digress. Uh we just had the freebie discussion. Uh, if you could tell by my voice vote, I'm not a big fan of freebie, even though I did move to vote the item forward we just voted on. I want to understand what are all our
options. Uh, I'm frustrated that the law requires us to use this money on just this thing. This it's like a free Uber. I get it. There's some good uses to it. Uh we all know we could use that money for a lot better things that have to do with roads, transit, but there's a law
that doesn't allow us to and that's a whole different ballgame. But I want to really understand and have staff come back to us, especially with budget season coming up. What are all the options? Because I've heard that this is it. This is the best option. I know we
had the the shuttle bus that didn't work out very well. I don't remember it that well, so I guess it didn't. But um I I just I really want to know what all the options are so we can make a good decision because there's a significant amount of money that that we have that
comes from the P PBT funds and I really want it's just a matter of making sure that freebie is the best option or and I'm very interested in finding other um facilitators vendors of of that service.
But that's all I just want staff to come back give us the comprehensive >> requ. And uh I want to point out Councilman Hsburg uh that there is a program that Uber is running in Texas now that is supposed to be comparable or better to freebie service. Um there was an initial conversation that I had
regarding the service with representatives of Uber. However, at the time they did not want to pursue it further under the prior lobbyist ordinance and then my friend that worked there ended up leaving uh Uber and therefore and I never really had a time to follow up on those discussions. But
that program, if you want to do some research on that, might be a good alternative because they were telling me that it actually can even save the town money and have more reliable service. So, uh, if you know, so if you want to do the research into that, >> I'll I'll definitely take that in consideration and and when we start talking, but when the staff comes back
to it, I'll I'll bring it up the staff, too. >> Excellent. All right. Well, with that, any discussion? >> Yeah, just hold on, guys. Hold on. Yeah, I know you always get scared about my efficiency sometimes, but you're too fast. >> All right. So, Vice Mayor Mora, Council Member Fernandez, and what other hands
did I see over there? Councilman Garcia, did you have your hand up or Okay, anybody else? Okay, so just uh you two. Uh, so first and foremost, I did just want to point out, you know, the the use of the PTP20 money. It it it could be better used, but it also could
be worse used. It could be used on scooters um or or mulch. But um the the And then the other thing I just want to say is I'm glad that uh my my investigative spirit on uh the uh
special revenue funds and and on the PTP is rubbing off on other people. So, you know, it just shows that, you know, to to the residents that they might not understand what's happening right now on this diet, but it's really that their council members are going out of their way to investigate how best to save them
uh their their money. Uh so, I'll definitely be supporting this item. >> Councilman Fernandez, >> I'm going to support it. I I do think when you do the when you there there has to be alter alternatives. Um, and I hope that, you know, that we find out what they are. But when you do the cost per
ride, it is absolutely ridiculous when, you know, I I I wish I was in that business, you know, but but I'm I'm interested in hearing. >> I I'll keep my thoughts to myself on how these businesses came to be with someone. >> That's that's it.
>> All right. There being no further discussion, all those in favor say I. >> I oppose. No. The eyes have it. Item 16D passes and we are on 16e mobile constituent services by me. This is very simple my friends. Um unfortunately I
have had on two different occasions with two different constitutional officers some volunteers come to me uh talking to me about how some committees or rather a committee I would rather name nameless have been uncooperative in scheduling constituent services. everything from the flow event that the tax collector
does to the voter registration initiatives and education initiatives that the supervisor of elections office has tried to bring uh to our residents. So, I would like to make it codified in committee rules that they are required when it comes to constituent services to coordinate with those entities to make
it happen. Um I there's been some pretext put up as to why they don't want to do it, but they just don't hold up to scrutiny and I just don't want there to be any more issues in again getting these services to the residents. That's my motion. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Councilman
Herszburg because >> um and I I agree that you know the education, the services these these officers, the constitutional officers provide is important and we should be making it easier for our residents to to get to them. My only concern is
I mean I I guess we should trust the constitutional officers but for example 911 event I I don't believe anyone would come to that but any event there are some events that make sense and some events that don't to have sort of like an event not not a vendor but another
table there you know you understand what I mean >> this is not about that so >> okay I'm I'm confused then maybe if you can sure >> I I have I haven't heard about I understand if you want to not have to >> I I just don't want to put this committee on blast although I'm getting
close to it rather than do No, but rather than do that well I mean look the >> I need to understand >> the reality is that the elderly affairs committee different volunteers in and around that board have come to me saying that certain members have been uncooperative to helping or allowing
these entities right the supervisor of elections and the tax collector coordinate with their events right to provide these they may have happened right just as what happened with the supervisor of elections but there was unfortunately you know resistance right so rather than
that on this I feel strongly that they shouldn't have autonomy again they're denying resident services under the basis of trying to depoliticize events and ultimately what they're doing is again denying services to residents so for that I want to just codify it in this in the rules uh that they cannot do that
>> you got it I get it and at the end of the day we'll I'll I'll trust the con the the constitutional the constitutional law service that they will they would pick proper events to provide those services. >> Again, this is strictly on constituent services. It's not about giving them a right to be able to campaign or to
pontificate on whatever it but it has to be some you know again we can workshop the language when it comes back but this is just uh trying to say to insert that requirement. >> Uh any uh Vice Mayor Mora. >> Okay. So my colleagues, you guys know my my favorite event as a elected official.
My favorite event of the month is not this council meeting. It is is it is it is the bingo. Thank you. Um I I love that you guys all know that. And and so this this item in particular, I I I want to thank you for bringing it first and foremost because it it really upset me
uh to find out at the last bingo, there was a a resident who pulled me aside as they often do and says, "Hey, help me with this problem." What was her problem? Her problem was that she was about to lose Homestead because uh her her her spouse had passed away and he
was the one on on the title. And so now the the county is sending the notices, hey, you're going to lose Homestead. and the and she's like, "Oh my god, what do I do?" And then I come to find out that the the the property appraiser and the or sorry, the the tax collector was supposed to be at that bingo to help her
and and they were rejected. And when I found out about that, I was very upset. So again, thank you for bringing this. I definitely support this. And yes, obviously, I want to trust that our count our constitutional officers are not going to abuse this uh this um discretion that we're giving them. Uh
and if they do then we'll have to act accordingly. >> Anyone else? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. >> The eyes have it. Item 16E passes and we are well we already covered 16F. So we
are now my next item uh 16G charter amendment early voting requirement which requires a waiver of 7.2. I move to wave the second. >> Second. >> Been moved and seconded. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose? No. >> The eyes have it. the the rule is waved.
And so very simply here, um I don't think it's been any secret for since my time in the deis. I really believe that we need to ensure that when special elections or runoff elections occur, we must allocate some time for early voting and I think a minimum of two days of
early voting and requiring that by charter is the way to do this. I think that what happened unfortunately in the runoff election in in my race, right, is that re some residents were not able to vote because they maybe didn't know there was a runoff and did not therefore request an AB ballot on time and we're
traveling for the holidays on the day of the election. And you know, I know that they're talking about pushing the runoff date into December. But in addition to that, I still feel we also need to go ahead and give them in-person early voting the way it has normally been done. And um unfortunately the charter
revision commission has not taken this up yet. Although I know that they got a little bogged down between 14 different ballot questions and it is not my intent to throw on a 15th. Rather my motion is to propose that a question be prepared providing for what I just stated
contingent on whether or not the charter revision commission takes it up first. So if uh the charter revision commission does not take up um you know this item and roll it into one of their existing proposals then at that point you know you you would have to come to us to go
ahead and and get this approved. Uh uh oh got it. Yeah I just I'm seeing Lorenzo here. But so that would be the the in the the direction in the motion. But what is uh uh you have a a comment question? >> Yeah. No, I was just going to make a comment that it can be done a couple ways. It can be done that way. uh the
the charter commission just one of its members uh you know uh Councilman Fernandez can suggest it and and it can be passed that way. If they're opposite and they don't want to do it and you can't force them to do it, you can obviously pass a resolution and that can be rolled into one of the questions too. So there's multiple ways to skin this
cat. >> Okay. So then just uh again uh my my hope is that this passes with that instruction and therefore you can go ahead and prepare it and just again depending on whether they do it or not to roll it into one of their existing questions um or or whatever must be done on that front. So with that um uh is
there a second? Well seconded that's right by the vice mayor. My apologies. Any discussion on this item? >> Seeing none. All those uh >> vice mayor. >> Yeah the vice mayor. Um with that all those in favor say I. I. All oppose. No.
The eyes have it. Um and the motion carries. So 16G passes. We are now in 16H, the Lockile Ballards beautifification. Um which requires a a rule waiver for 6.10, meaning that I have more than three items. And 7.2. Second.
>> Uh thank you. It been moved by me, seconded by I think it was the vice mayor or or JC. >> Okay. By council member Fernandez. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Excellent. Um the waiver is approved. Uh this is very simple. Beautify the
Ballards there at the corner of Lock Aleis, which by the way, I do want to note uh are serving their job there. There was an accident there and uh and the wall was not destroyed. >> So, um with that, is there a second? >> Second. Second. >> Thank you. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion?
>> Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. All oppose? No. The item passes. And last but not least, and this was a late filed item, but it's relevant to the uh uh tomorrow, which is May 20th, which is the traditional and the real Cuban independence day. In my opinion, the
attorney has disseminated a resolution that I would like to pass and disseminate to the various cities in the county and the county commission. um you know so they can uh hopefully add their voices as well to what we'd like to see done um in the island which is 90 mi south of us where many of us uh can
trace our routes to. Um with that uh that is my motion to adopt that resolution. It's been seconded by Council Member Fernandez. All those in favor say sorry. Uh let's go left to right then. Councilman Sanchez, would you like to opine? Councilman, >> I just want to see can can I co-sponsor the item? >> Oh, absolutely.
>> I would love to co-sponsor as well. >> Okay. So, so there's a motion for for uh everyone to co-sponsor the item. >> Yes. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. All oppose? No. >> The eyes have it. Everyone's been added as a co-sponsor. And any further discussion on this item? Okay. Uh
Councilman Harsburg, >> you if you I mean I think all of us on this DAS come from come from Cuba. >> Actually, you're right. Yeah. >> Every single person up here. My mother >> it wasn't always the case. So that you know that that that was that's where that's why I made it a more generic fashion. If there's a town that should do this, it's us and it obviously is
support. >> Yeah. Well, thank you very much. But by the way, nobody leave uh after we take this vote because there's I have I have something I want to say as a moment of personal privilege after Let me take a let me take a moment of uh a point of personal privilege. Move it out of order
unless it is on this item. It's >> No, it's not. It's not on this item. It's >> okay. Then do me a favor. Wait until we just vote this out and then you know then you know I I'll let you go and then I will go. Um, with that, all those in favor of the resolution say I. I. All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The
resolution is passed. Mr. Attorney, you may disseminate as need be. Councilman de Garcia, you're recognized for a moment of personal privilege. >> Just like I said, a a point of uh personal privilege. Um, some of you that will travel on 154 over the Palmetto,
you will see the um the underpass uh pitch black. I spoke to the um just need to ask uh Mr. Peterman to put some pressure on uh on the issue with the lights. Um I spoke to the uh
the the manager of the project and he's just pointing fingers at he did it or she did it, you know. Uh so if you can look into that um because those lights have been out now three weeks and uh we we we don't want to see the underpath uh
pitch black. >> Thank you Councilman Cuadra Garcia. Now uh guys before we adjourn, I just want to make it very clear that I was very disappointed with the way we we were behaving tonight. So, uh, yes, this is Papa Bear, you know, scolding his
children. And I just want to be clear that we need to let each other finish, right? When you have the floor, that person has the floor. Let them finish. If if you see the opening where they are implying for you to join join in with them, that's a different story. But I don't want what happened tonight of
people talking over each other, uh, getting frustrated, whatever the case might be. it we need to act with the dignity and grace expected of us as elected officials right representing our town and you know we've had unfortunately a few meetings where I feel we have not lived up to that standard concurrently I need everyone to
make sure that when they get to this day is they do their homework and they vote and know how they're going to vote right it it this is not rocket science we have at least a week normally to review the other agenda items we have agenda briefings and then you know even with the new business items we have time to
do the research in advance. So, I want everyone, you know, to really make an effort to be prepared, know how they're going to vote uh in the future. And I need everyone also to make sure that we are not talking over each other and we're treating each other with respect. If not, I will be more aggressive in how
I maintain control of the meeting. And I'll leave it at that. With that, there being no further business, we are now journed at 9:59 p.m.