Test test test. One, two, three. get started with the special presentations. The time is 6:10. >> Yes, please mute your phones. Council, please come up here. Perfect. Okay, we got Councilman Fernandez coming in now. We'll wait for you to go ahead and
start. >> So, he thinks Perfect. So, we're going to go ahead and get started and we're going to begin with a special presentation by the Mamul Lakes Bar Association. And so, at this time, I want to introduce Melissa Alvarez to come up, the president of the
bar, and to present the award along with Meliss Castillia. Thank you everyone. So, good evening mayor, council members, and everyone here in attendance. Um, on behalf of the Miami Lakes Bar Association, it is my honor to present
our 2026 scholarship award to a gentleman by the name of Gabriel Diaz. If you want to come up. The purpose of the scholarship was to recognize an outstanding graduating senior from within our community that has demonstrated not only academic
success, but leadership and commitment to their future. And Gabriel exemplified all of those qualities. We had a committee that voted for him pretty much unanimously to to award him this scholarship. Um, he will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
so he'll be wrapping Miami Lakes over in Massachusetts. He plans to study computer science and environmental engineering and we are incredibly proud to support him as he begins this exciting journey and we have no doubt that he has a bright future ahead. Congratulations on this well-deserved achievement and we wish
you nothing but the best. >> Let's go ahead and present them the check and get a few photos and then we'll get uh to the proclamation. Don't spend it all at once >> or do >> Well, it's his money, so >> because tuition is much more than that.
>> True. True. Next up, uh I want to invite uh representatives of the National Sluroma Foundation to please come up. There she is. I remember you. Welcome back to Mammly's Town Hall. And uh we have a special proclamation uh
here proclaiming June 29th as Sler. I apologize. >> Exclar awareness day in the town of Miami Lakes. I apologize. I may uh mispronounce it as I go along. Um but the proclamation reads whereas
>> scleroderma is a rare chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as an autoimmune disease where the word scleroderma comes from the Greek word sclerero meaning hard and derma meaning skin. Whereas a scleroderma patients
immune system becomes overactive and attacks its own tissues through an overp production of collagen which can cause thickening and tightening of the skin as well as serious damage to internal organs including the lungs, heart,
kidneys, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. Whereas scleraderma is a highly individualized disease with the symptoms ranging from very mild to life-threatening that affects an estimated 300,000 people in the United
States including families across South Florida and is found in every age group with the onset frequently being between the ages of 25 and 55. Whereas prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment by a qualified physician can minimize the
symptoms of scleraderma and lessen the chance for irreversible damage, but there is not yet a cure for the disease. And whereas founded in 1998, the national scleroderma foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization where its
volunteers work diligently throughout the month of June. recognized nationally as sclerodma awareness month to raise awareness, promote research, and support individuals living with this disease. Now, therefore, I, Joshua Diegas, by
virtue of the authority vested in me, as the mayor of the town of Miami Lakes, and on behalf of the town council and 33,000 Miami Lakers, do hereby proclaim June 29th, 2026 as scleraderma awareness day. And I want to thank you for all
your consistent advocacy efforts. Again, like I said, I do remember you and I hope that uh someday we will have a cure. But I want to turn it over to you to go ahead and say a few words uh to those who are watching. >> Yes. Thank you. On behalf of the National Scaroderma Foundation, Florida
and Puerto Rico chapter, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the city of Miami Lace for recognizing June 29clerma awareness day. As a person living with Esclarma, this proclamation
is especially meaningful. Thank you, Mayor Diegas, and the city of Miami Lace for being beacons of hope for our Esclar Derma community. Thank you so much. >> We'll grab a quick photo now. All right, is 6:15. We will come back at
6:30 to formally kickstart the meeting. Good evening. The time is 6:31 and I'm calling the June regular council meeting to order. Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia. >> Council member Hzburg,
>> present. Council member Fernandez, >> present. >> Council member Sanchez, >> present. >> Council member Garcia, >> present. >> Vice Mayor Moretta, >> Mayor Diegas,
>> have >> Mayor, you have quorum. >> Excellent. Thank you. Everyone, please rise for a moment of silence, which will be led today by Councilman Steve Herszburg. Thank you, mayor. Ask everyone to bow their heads. Dear God, we ask for your
guidance and wisdom this evening. Help us listen with respect, seek understanding, and make decisions that serve the good of our community. Amen. >> Thank you very much. Remain standing for the pledge of allegiance, which will be led by Councilman Sanchez.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You may be seated.
>> Council, we're on the order of business. Are there any additions, deferrals, or deletions? Councilman Fern, >> I'd like to pull from the consent 12B and 12 C and 14B. They're all in regards to uh Optimus Park, so we don't So the folks here don't have to wait all night
for those. >> Wait, so just to be clear, you want to move or pull 12B >> and 12 C >> and 12 C and 14 >> 14 B >> and 14B >> sometime sooner. I'll let you make that call. >> So you want to take that up right after public comments, maybe?
>> That'll that'll be amazing. >> All right. So after public comments, we have 12B, 12 C, and 14B. >> Mr. Mayor, >> Councilman Sanchez, >> I move to move items 10 A and 10 B, the committee reports to after public comments.
>> Uh, both reports. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, so let's let me get that. >> 10 A and 10 B. >> 10 A 10 B. Anything else, council? through the chair.
>> Uh, Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. Um, I apologize for not being there. I just not feeling well and I don't want to expose anybody to uh to my germs. Um, I'd like to pull my item 16H >> 16E. >> Is it E? I'm sorry. I apologize. 16.
>> Oh, which one was it again, Councilman Garcia? >> Uh, 16H, I believe. Oh, >> H. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Show show that item withdrawn. And with that, council, is there a
motion? I'll move. I'll >> move the amended agenda. I'll second. >> It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. No. >> The eyes have it. And the mo the agenda is amended as stated. With that, Councilman Sanchez, I think you wanted
to be recognized for a moment of uh personal privilege. >> Yes. as as we know, um we lost the godmother of Miami Lakes not too long ago and she meant a lot not just to Miami Lakes but to Miami date county and to the veteran community um in in the
South Florida area. Because of that, I would like to request a motion on the floor to lower the town of Miami's flag to half staff for the remainder of the month of June. >> Is there a motion? There's a motion to >> lower. Um, hold. I'm looking at the
attorney and he's I think he wants to say something. >> We just got to double check that we can do that because I think we have to do that in coordination with county and state officials. >> No, only the No, of the fine. >> Okay. So, it's been moved. It's been
seconded. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. I. >> Excellent. The motion carries. Yeah. And we are now in public comments. Madame clerk, >> good evening. Please, as I always state, please um if
you're here today and you would like to provide public comments, the only thing you need to do is approach the podium, state your name and address for the record, and we will give you three minutes um to to speak. And as well, we always welcome the public that is
online. If you wish to speak um and you're remote, the only thing you need to do is raise your hand by clicking on the reactions icon and selecting raise hand. Nit will allow you to speak. We will as well give you three minutes. And
if you decide to call in during the meeting or you want to listen to the meeting and you want to participate, the only thing you need to do is raise your hand by pressing # number99 and we will allow you to speak as well. And please, as we always state, all comments and
questions from the public shall be directed to the mayor in a courtous tone. And to ensure the orderly conduct and efficiency of the meeting, public comments will be limited to three minutes. Welcome to the meeting and again welcome
>> lower lower on no >> where you were where is it good >> no Jim so on the mic itself >> it's green >> it's on okay is uh speak into it >> my name is Jim Hamilton >> there we go much better but can you raise it a little bit more just so we
can hear you louder >> Jim Hamilton I live at 8528 Glen and Karen Lane in Miami Lakes 33016. Mr. Mayor, to the council, to Mr. Peterman, uh, and representing the Optimus Club of Miami Lakes, and also as
a resident of Miami Lakes, I just wanted to thank the council for your continued support and commitment on the park department's ideas about replacement items and into the Optimus Club of Miami Lakes in the park. Some replacement
items uh will make it a safer environment for the kids. We have over 1,300 kids that use the park through our activities each year. And by replacing the light poles that are uh dangerously bad, and in improving the lighting to
LED, which will save money, we get both uh a safer environment and a cost efficiency for for the town. We appreciate your support on that. We also look forward to working with the contractors that will be working on these park improvement uh programs. So,
we'll change our schedule uh of activities to accommodate whatever work is necessary uh particularly when they're changing light poles and other things that you know that we need to shut down on. So, again, I just really wanted to be here to thank the council
for your support. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next speaker. Are you on? Yeah. Uh good e good evening uh mayor uh council members staff. Um my name is Felicia Salazar uh cultural affairs committee 6875 Queen Palm
Terrace. Uh I'm here today to invite you to our fishing tournament and we've been doing it for over 20 years and uh it is a tradition. So, it's for Father's Day this coming Saturday, uh, June 20th from 8:30 to 11:30. And, um, we want the
whole community, people watching and those here is, um, it should be fun. I mean, one time we had 100 kids, but we hope to have as many as possible this weekend. um as part of our um
town and and count uh country and um 250th anniversary, I think we should all celebrate the freedom that we have to enjoy all these activities. Um again, uh the first 30 participants are going to get free live bait. Uh and uh but you have to bring your own fishing rod and
and line. Um we're going to have raffles. We're gonna have um a lot of um you know, we're hoping to see if we can get someone from the fish and life. I don't know if it's enough time, but uh we had it one time and he was very helpful with the kids. And again, we're
going to have raffles, uh goodies, food, and and so forth. Just snacks. And also, um since we're not going to be seeing each other after that, the Fourth of July, as you know, is our big event, and you're all welcome to come. It's going to be a
big one. Like I said, it's 250 years of independence and we're going to have lots of lots of activities for everybody, young and old. And um please spread the word for the fishing tournament and our Fourth of July. It should be fun. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Next speaker, >> Bonnie, excuse me, Bonnie Cron, 14770 Lewis Road. Um, good evening, Mayor Diegas, council members, Mr. Peterman, and staff. Um, uh, I have been reading
the detailed and well researched information that Hope Reynolds and Boris Foster have been diligently accumulating and circulating. Several homeowners have added their words addressing you, the
council, directly. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the homeowners in district one have been treated wrongfully due to the erroneous way that their special tax taxing district has had
their share of the taxes assessed. The argument brought forth by Mr. Foster who is a lawyer and by hope are clearly stated and they're very easy to understand. The assessment for section one has been
calculated incorrectly. It would seem to me after reading all that they have written. And it's up to you to correct it. That's my message. The ball is in your court. Uh you have a chance to write a wrong
and I beseech you to do the right thing and change the way those taxes are assessed. I think it would not be too difficult to do that and it would show that you really are looking out for we the people for the people in that
district have been wrongfully charged. Thank you. >> Good evening, Mayor Diego Council. My name is Roman Garcia, uh 7664 Northwest 180th Terrace. I am one of uh three committee members that represents the MLO flag uh committee. Just wanted to
give you guys a little bit of an update. We just uh came back from Bradon from the AA World Championships and our our travel team that represents our organization in 16 and under won the World Championships. Our 14 and under, 12 and under, and 11 and under all finished top 10 in the world in
Bradenton. And we came back last week and played in another tournament in South Kendall. Our 16U went up against 18-year-old kids in that division, winning the championship there. And now our 16U will be representing Miami Lakes at the AA World Championships in Iowa
City at the Junior Olympics in Iowa City at the end of July. So, I just wanted to let you know uh we're here to support the the items that are on the agenda tonight for the the enhancements to the park. It just shows we want to continue to grow our program to continue to give the the kids the opportunity to to excel in their in
their fields. Thank you. You have a great night. >> Good evening, Mayor Diegas, Vice Mayor Mora, council members, and town staff. My name is Karolina Cuba, 1961 Northwest 52nd Avenue, and I'm a student here in Miami Lakes. Tonight, I'm speaking in
support of item 16L, the youth advisory board. This is something that began in 2024 through the efforts of my peers and I because we believe the young people deserve a meaningful way to participate in local government. I want to thank Vice Mayor Mora for bringing up this item and the council for considering
this opportunity for young people. When the original resolution of the youth art advisory board passed in 2024, my peers and I were excited about the opportunity of having a direct voice in local government. Unfortunately, the board then was never established. And while
that was disappointing, we never stopped believing in the purpose behind it. If you think of it, young people are not just the future of Miami Lakes. But we are also the present. We attended schools, participates in his programs, and we also volunteer in this community and are affected by every decision made
by this council. Therefore, it is it is it is the removal of the residency requirement is crucial as many students who are invested in the tunnel Miami Lakes may not necessarily reside within the town's boundaries. So removing this barrier will ensure that the board can represent the students as intended to
serve. The youth advisory board will provide students with an opportunity to engage in civic life, learn about local governments, and show their perspectives. By establishing this board, Miami Lakes has not only given students of voice today, but it's also investing in the leaders of tomorrow.
What began as an idea shared by groups of students in 2024 now has the opportunity to become a reality. That is why I'm standing right here in this podium today, just like I did two years ago, asking for your support on this item. Thank you.
>> Good evening, Carlos Andre 14530 Dade Pine A here in our beautiful town of Miami Lakes. Uh mayor, council, town management, thank you for the opportunity. Uh just want to start off by uh thanking some of the folks from our hardworking staff here in the town. Um you know Jeremy and his team uh
working to get tree trimming. Working with FPL for tree trimming with them has been a nightmare, but Jeremy has made that, you know, smooth and very supportive. Omar getting street lights repaired now that we got that carry forward. Um and NDSO handing, you know, really just responding to calls timely. Um shout out to Deputy Belly and Beck
Ford um for always being there on the call. I want to also uh it feels very good to see a lot of people here from the MLP. Um you know I congratulate this council for taking the right steps forward uh to fund uh you know the park maintenance um items. Uh as we know we
love to say in the chamber we say it all the time. We love to you know this is a place to live, work and play. This is the play. You know we we're you know we just heard uh Roman talk about you know different compet competitions he put in. Competition is critical and we're being compared all the time to other cities and here it is. we're we have now an
opportunity to compete even more of our parks. Uh so I'm very happy about, you know, seeing all these items already getting work orders approved and uh a supportive community here to show you that uh we're we're leading the cause. Thank you. Good evening, mayor,
council, staff. My name is Homero Cruz, 8515 Northwest 169 Terrace. Coming in front of you on item uh 16 uh K, which is has to do with the resident notification of HOA restrictions
presented by Councilman Garcia. uh give you a little bit of history. When we did not have a town and we were part of Miami Day County, Sangra Development had uh accomplish uh an agreement with
the county that in order for people to do an addition or do anything in their houses, they will have to come with a letter of approval from Sangra before the building department can go ahead and issue a permit. Since we became a town and we had our own building department,
I've been arguing this all these years that uh we don't have that. Uh we have just a piece of paper that we give the the owners. They'll read it and sometimes they don't even come in front of the HOA. In our case in Royal Oaks,
we have an HOA and we have an ARB. And we are very very picky on our bylaws and how people should conduct themselves. I have I serve on the planning and zoning board. I've seen cases for a zoning hearing where we go ahead and approve them and I know that they're not
in accordance with the bylaws. What happens then? People spend 20 $30,000 and then the AARB or the HOA cannot approve those plans. So what do we do? What do we tell them? You have to rip it
off. You can't do it. Like right now, let's say somebody wants to come in front of the building department in Royal Oaks and say they want to enclose the garage. Under the building code, there's nothing that says that you cannot do it. But our bylaw says very clearly that you have to have a twocar garage. So you go ahead and issue the
permit, they build it, they take out the garage, and then maybe a year later they want to come in front of the ARB or we do an inspection or the runs that we do twice a week and we realize that the house has no garage.
I'm asking that we should not complicate things. We should make it easier for the HOAs and for the owners. How? the same way we used to do it back in the days with Sangra. Don't accept any plans if they don't come with an
approval from the ARB and don't issue a permit. Same thing happens with a metal roofing. Under our new code, we can allow metal roofings, but there's a section in Miami Lakes where metal roofings, I know Jim
Hamilton wanted to put one in his house and he couldn't because the bylaws there don't allow a metal roofing, but Jim did the homework. He went in front of the HOA before getting a permit. So, I'm asking you to please consider having
this requirement before anybody can present plans and issue any permits. Thank you. Good evening. Patrick Conungle, 15860 West Preswick Place. I'm also the elected president of the Lloman
Homeowners Association. I come to you tonight very disappointed that there's been no movement. Uh I've twice I've presented to you publicly what you've asked for and we still don't have any movement on this. Um the building we
continue to do patchwork over patchwork to make it safe for the guards that live in that uh provide that are occupying the building and that's um that doesn't do anybody any favors. We also as residents feel we deserve something that's pleasing to our eyes and our
neighboring business has requested some cleanup also but there's not much I can do for that. So I'm asking you to please consider the information is been provided to you at least acknowledge it. I'm available if you have questions. I've made myself multiple times
available to you and nothing's been asked of me since I've submitted information. So I ask that you take it serious. please the lock lmen residence and move forward with our guard house. Thank you. >> Hello. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, council
members and staff. My name is Wayne Reinhardt. I live in Llman. I've lived there for over 23 years. I'm the past president of the HOA. I started as as president back when day county was in charge of the special taxing district.
That's a long long time ago. And that was pretty bad because going through their procurement department, it was horrible. So like when the AC broke in the guard shack, I would just hire my handyman and go to Best Buy and buy one and put it in. I paid for it out of my pocket. Just like all the security
cameras there as well as the the screen and the concrete poles holding those cameras I put in and I paid for. Okay. So I dealt with the county which was like almost impossible and then you gentlemen took over the special taxing
district and I was very encouraged that now things were going to happen fast. It's not happening fast enough. It is very very bad that that building and I'm surprised somebody hasn't gotten hurt either going in or out of that building.
Um I would I would ask you guys to please do what you can to let's get a decent building put up there. Okay. Um if you're short of funds, I don't know Mr. Gustessi you'll know but if if there's some private funds that that can
be raised you know I can I can raise it in Llman but let's please move this along I beg you okay the residents of Llman as you saw in the numbers we pay three times as much as any other
association I know the main reason for that is we have a rover and all those other associations don't so I understand why it's a little high okay and maybe we don't have as many homes as some of the HOAs, but we deserve this. We deserve this.
And I've had many discussions about a restroom for the for the security guards, the the Grahams, which Bob Graham used to live in the neighborhood. He committed to using those restrooms at the golf course, which is like 30 feet away from from the there from the guard
house. And I've talked to all of them and they're fine with walking that 30 ft. And then uh Charlie Duke at the golf course, he's remodeled them and they maintain it very well. So the bathroom, thank God, is not an issue because bringing the sewer line
across the road and and building the bathroom is very costly. So we don't have that expense. So it's pretty much four walls, a couple windows, and an AC unit. So I ask you guys to please do whatever you can to move this along for the residents of Loman.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker. >> My sound. We're here for the security guard, the gates. >> In this in this period, you can speak about whatever you'd like. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. My name is Kalisto Milang, 16422 Northwest, 82nd place. Uh uh I'm tired of more money getting spent and we don't resolve anything because those security guards don't do anything.
Just throw pictures all day. Those pictures, if you want a picture right now, if somebody goes to steal something in your house, that happened to me before and I ran. I called the cops. I went to security gate. They didn't want to give me the license. I did all kinds
of stuff. Nothing got done. The biggest problem we have is not even the security guard. It's the little doors that kids are riding with the bikes at night. They open all the cars. Okay? They know sometimes that they can't get through the security, but they open all the
guards. They they just open the doors. They go through the sidewalk and they ride around bikes at 3:00 in the morning. Sometimes I get up at 4:00 in the morning and I see them and they ride around. They open everybody's car. They take everybody's, you know, glasses,
phones, computers, and nothing gets done. You know, just like I ran by the security gate. I saw them putting an air conditioning on. That air conditioning cost the city $4,800. A Goodman. With
$4,800, I could get a five ton unit out of my house installed. I spoke here a couple months ago and I keep saying we're bleeding money. Why are we spending all this money? You could that little air conditioner could be replaced
with a with a split unit. It would have been six 700 bucks. It's $300 to install it. I don't know why we're paying all this money and money coming out and money coming out. It doesn't make sense anymore. And now I hear too that they want to make a bathroom at the park.
$800,000 for a bathroom that wants to get done at the park. It is It It's It's crazy. It's crazy. Come on. You guys went to school. All of you guys went to school. I didn't go to school. I can't read and write, but I'm
a self-made millionaire, believe it or not. Okay? I own 27 properties. Jay-Z knows me. But come on, man. Try to do things cheaper. Run the city like if it was your business. Run the city like if it was your
business. I'm not trying to tell you you're stealing money. I'm trying to tell you you're s you need to save money where everything in the city gets paid double or triple. Why does that happen? Why? Why? I want to Nobody ever could
explain that to me with the government. Why are we playing more money when you could get somebody to do it cheaper? We don't need those guardgates anymore. We don't need them. All it all it all it creates is traffic. Everything is traffic. You don't resolve anything.
You know, it's I don't know. I can't fix the city. But I'm just trying to tell you to think before you know you guys do something because I can't understand a couple years ago $1,800 for a fan. Now 4,800 bucks for one unit
>> for a one and a half ton unit. $4,800. I don't know if both of them got replaced or four. >> Sir, I'm sorry. Your time has expired and I have to be fair to all the other individuals that want to speak. >> But it's Councilman Cuadra Garcia has made a motion to extend the gentleman's time by
30 seconds. Is is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been seconded by Councilman Fernandez. Uh Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Hsburg, >> yes. >> Council member Fernandez, >> yes.
>> Council member Guadra Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. >> The motion passes. >> Thank you. You have 30 more seconds. Madame Clerk, please put that back on
the clock. And for those that already spoke, you have 30 additional seconds uh should you choose to come back up. you ready? >> So, you know, it's all I'm asking is, man, come on. You guys have a college degree. You know, I know how to run a
business. I can't even read and write. I'm not embarrassed to say it because I could do anything in my life. But it's embarrassing when you get somebody like me up here, you know, and tell tries to tell you guys, you know, how to run something. You know, look at Boule. He's
running a country that nobody's stealing money. He's doing the right thing. You know, you guys could do it, too. Find somebody. Carlos got my number. Find somebody. I have an air conditioning guy I called before I came here. >> He would have done that down for 2,800 bucks.
>> 30 seconds. I'm sorry. >> The 30 seconds are up. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. If I may for one second. >> Okay. And then I'll jump in after you. >> Just just to maybe the same thing. that this issue, the special taxing district is a public hearing, is it not? So, they'll have another opportunity to come
up and speak if anyone just so just to make sure everyone's aware of that. >> Now, before we go to our next speaker, I did want to take a and this is very rare. Um, normally I'm not in favor of this because it holds us uh up. But I just want to explain to you that as we've explained to Councilman Guad
Garcia before, >> huh? >> I'm not trying to misuspect anybody. >> No, no, no. I'm not taking offense. Let's face my opinion. You know, I have my opinion. You know, >> I I understand. But let me let me speak, please. I'm trying to answer your question. I'm trying to answer your question. >> I don't want to embarrass. I'm not trying. Nobody's embarrassed. I'm not
trying to tell you guys that, you know, I'm better than you guys or anything. I'm just trying to tell you >> this is normally why we don't engage in back and forth, but I'm trying to answer your question. Right. Things in the government are naturally more expensive because by law, we are required to put a bid out for the services and materials
that we receive. we can only select from those that are ultimately go through that process. Um so it's not as simple like in our everyday lives with business trying to go to a retailer to try to get a unit or to try to get additional office supplies. Um we it's not that
that simple and that's usually what drives up the cost a little more because there's only a couple vendors perhaps that are willing and able to do the work or can meet the requirements to be able to bid on the work in the first place. So that's usually what happens. So, it's I just wanted to clarify that that it's
not as simple as um as what at at at times Councilman Quad Garcia has stated that we just go and find a contractor from a friend and then we just hire them to do the work. I just wanted to clarify that that that does for all governments add to our cost. Just wanted to explain that.
>> Can I ask Can I say one more thing? >> Just one more thing. I have friends that work in the government and they work for ICE and they work in the government and when October comes around they have to spend all the money that's there in the bank because if not next year they get less money. That's why the government
pays more money. What I'm trying to say is you guys need to you know trying to fix the problem you guys need to fix it. >> Thank you. Next speaker. >> Good afternoon, Mayor, Councilman. Uh, Eric Sanchez, 9030 Northwest 162nd
Terrace. Um, wanted to come here because I think it's a great opportunity since the Optimus is here to ask for money uh for works. Um there's a very big problem happening at the Optimus and I think the council needs to know about this. Um there are
coaches that are allowed to coach who are assaulting umpires, assaulting other coaches, uh and when there's reports made about these things happening, they reprimand the person who reports it being me. I gave them a lengthy report
detailing things that happened with a coach and as a result of that report without insulting anybody, without giving anyone, calling anybody any names, simply laying out the facts, I was dismissed. And I think that there
needs to be pressure on the optimist that this cannot be allowed to happen because it's a liability issue for the public for coaches to be allowed to be a coach when they're assaulting umpires. And not only assaulting umpires, assaulting other coaches and berating their own kids, dropping fbombs, you can
see the kids how they react to how the coach demeans them on a daily basis, her own kids. So, uh, and as a result and as a reward, the optimist decided to name this coach an all-star coach as a representative for them to represent.
This is what Miami Lakes is about. So I think that this council I ask that they hold the optimist feet to the fire and ask more questions and demand more from them. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker.
Anyone else in chambers? Okay, madame clerk, anyone online? >> Yes, we have several participants. I'm going to call them as I see them. Mr. Abel Fernandez, I see you have your hand raised. Welcome to the meeting. Please unmute yourself.
Mr. Fernandez, >> I see your name in the screen, but we don't hear you. >> Why don't we come back to him and go to another screen? >> Very well. So, I'm going to call Mr. Adonis Sardinas, who also has the hand
raised. Welcome to the meeting. Please unmute yourself. >> Good evening, Mayor Diegas, Vice Mayor, and member of the council. Uh, I come to you all the way from Tampa, Florida today as I'm traveling for work. Uh, my
name is Adonis Hardinas. I'm the vice president of Loch Ness Homeowners Association representing 148 homes on Loch Ness Drive joining you tonight. Uh just wanted to provide some quick updates from our last conversation. Uh first and foremost, I we thank you all
for all the efforts and all the city employees that we've been in communication with over the last few months. I wanted to bring your attention to Street Light that's located on Stone Haven. There's a case number 20629 317 that was submitted back in se in
December 17th. uh the resp uh if we could put a little bit more uh light on it to see no pun intended to get it repaired. Uh based on the communication with the public works manager uh due to
that there's not enough uh request or uh demand to replace these uh light post. Uh we have not been able to replace the one in over a year. So it was uh first reported May 2025. Just wanted to bring it to your attention. Uh uh in additional updates uh sidewalk
obstructions in Lochness. I wanted to thank Cold Compliance for really stepping up and assisting the Lochness community with addressing some of the concerns of the residents. We still have a handful of offenders and we are collaborating with Deputy Robin Amadore
on a handful of residents on how to best approach these these residents and educate them on why obstruction of the sidewalk does impact some of our community members like our seniors, parents, and joggers in the community. Stay safe.
Item number three I have on my list, uh the speed humps update. Uh we look forward to the asphalt replacements on Loch Ness Drive. I personally jog every morning and I do jog with my family and I do notice a few of our residents and some guests like Amazon deliveries that
don't realize I think that the road that particular road is 25 miles an hours and they have a tendency to just keep going. Uh so we are the community based on my conversation with a few residents they are looking forward to the speedome. So I thank you um Mr. to Peter uh mayor ma
city manager Peterman for those efforts optimis park we are looking forward to the enhancements to optimist parks I've communicated that with park so thank you all for your efforts with that update number five that I have for you all on our last on my last public
comments we spoke about the investment that the HOA has made to a little free library we're close to installation and I'm just keeping it top of mind so when we do have a date uh established. We would love someone from the town to join and and in closing, thank you all for
your continued partnership. The Loch Ness HOA is engaged and very grateful for the town responses. Uh with that, Adonis Sardinius from Loch Ness HO8 and I wish everybody a good evening and a happy early Father's Day and a happy 4th of July for everyone in the chambers
tonight. >> Thank you, Mr. Sardinius. Uh next public comment. >> Yes. Another person, another participant that I see with a hand raised. Michelle or Michael Benites, welcome to the meeting. Please unmute yourself.
>> Hi, Michelle Bonitz, 16422 Northwest 82nd Place. Uh, Royal Oaks. Um, I wanted to bring up to the attention of the guard gates. I know Mr. Kixtoang spoke about the guard gates earlier. The guard gates are basically useless. Um, I got
hit by the pole of the guardgate and when insurance companies asked for videos, there was no videos. There's just nothing. The security company we have right now, it's not the best, I would say. And communication wise, town
of Miami Lakes was very good. Now, with the security company, it was horrible. Um, we just got a paper now that our HOA was going to be raised. How is our HOA going to be raised when we have that new community that they're building in the back with those $2 million cookie cutter
houses? Yeah. I you know, it's the same thing with the air conditioner. How can an air conditioner cost $4,800 when it's just it's impossible to just keep on bleeding money and the HOA really here doesn't do anything? Anything has
to go with Town of Miami Lakes. Uh yes, you could have a metal roof with Town of Miami Lakes, but no with Royal Oaks. So, something has to happen. on either getting rid of the guardgate and the HOA period or you know putting better systems in place but something needs to work cuz for
example the accident on my car I had to pay out of my pocket because there was no video there was no proof but it was my fault yet I would have run that poll and I bet you anything that video would have appeared in a quarter of a second. So, you know, some something needs to be
put in place with the whole Miami Lakes District. >> Thank you. Uh, next speaker, >> Mr. Abel Fernandez. >> Uh, yes. Good uh, good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Town Council, Mr. Manager,
Town Attorney, and Madame Clerk. Abel Fernandez, chapter 119. I'd like to talk to you regarding uh the possible uh catastrophic vote uh in November to cut our
uh taxes and uh government needs taxes in order to operate and unfortunately uh this was an illthought process that was put forward to the voters and I fear
that the voters are going to approve increased ing this tax exemption and I hope that the um I hope that the town Mr. Fernandez, I think you accidentally muted yourself.
>> Not allow uh sorry it said that the host was not allowing me to talk. So I it wasn't me, it was the host. >> If I can reclaim 15 20 seconds on that. Uh Mr. Mayor, I am sure that you're concerned as many of us are because
critical services need to be funded. Um, I think our our budget is lean. You guys are doing a great job. Um, but cutting our taxes is is is going to be catastrophic. I I I it's beyond belief
that our uh that our senator for the state for our area, Mr. Brian Abula, and our house representative, uh, Tom Fabricio, both voted for this disaster, and u uh, shame on them for what they did. In regards to uh Councilman Garcia
asking police officers to car carry Narcan, that is not necessary. Uh I did some reviews on numbers. Uh the town of Miami Lakes does not experience opioid overdoses. This is an additional cost
that we would have to fund the Miami Dade Police uh sheriff's office for and it's not necessary. We've got four units, four ALS advanced life support units in this town that can cover any type of incident in which uh Narcan H or
Naloxin is the correct word. Narcan is the brand that would be needed. I I I don't I don't support that. That's that's fluff. I don't know if it's for election purposes or but you know this is the same thing as the useless idea of
drones and the useless idea of us putting chargers in town for electric vehicles. Uh, I I ask that you try to get Councilman Garcia to uh Con Ray Garcia to concentrate on real issues
like broken sidewalks, lights out, uh, and then these ideas that just add to our expenses unnecessarily. Thank you for your time, Mr. Mayor. Thanks for the great job you are all doing. Uh, I am concerned, as I said, about what's going
to happen with the tax in uh, in November. >> Thank you, Mr. Fernandez. Next speaker. >> Next speaker is in the screen with a name of AM. I only see the initials. AM. If you want to participate and speak,
please unmute yourself. Now, speaker with the initials. Okay, moving on. I don't see another speaker in screen. I do have to state um written public comments that my office has received. So, if you allow me, this would be the
time to do so. I'm going to start with a letter received from Miami Lakes Professional Center Condominion. This is in regards to item. It's the quasi judicial item
that we have in the agenda. It's item 15A, Education World Learning Center. they sent an email and I disseminated that email with all the elected officials. So I just wanted to state that for the
record and I'm going to start naming individuals who sent emails to my office in regards the the common denominator is the item on the agenda 14A ordinance in second reading the nonadvaloran special
taxing district. All of these emails are objections to that item. Email received from Rosio Garcia objecting to the budget. Item 14A. Mr. Tommy Gijen
in objection to the Miami Lake section one budget. Mr. Miguel Fgeras objection regarding the section one budget email from Mr. Harry E. Ballinger
objection to Miami Lake section one budget Mr. Frank Albaes again in objection to Miami Lakes Section One budget. Maria Santelises
in opposition or objection objecting to section one special taxing district budget proposed. Miss Tina Gajinar in opposition to Miami Lake section one budget. Mr. Boris Foster
in objection to the same budget item 14A Mr. Renee Canbert in opposition to the proposed budget of Miami Lakes section one email from Mr. Objection from Mr. Thomas Tanyill and his wife, Miss Annie
Tanihill. Two different emails in objection to the same item. 14A email from the well the name that I have here is PAC pack and it's from Lake Glenn Ellen HOA
in opposition as well. Miss Stephanie Gomez in opposition to the Miami Lakes Section 1 budget. Email from Bertha Alvarez in opposition
to Miami Lakes Section One budget. Miss Susanera in objecting to the calculations done regarding same item 14A. Mr. Albert Aguiar in opposition to the calculations done to the Miami Lakes
section one budget. An email from in opposition of course to Miami Lake section one item 14A of Miss Hope Reynolds and in said email was included the opposition or the objection
from Miss Bony Cron and from Mr. Pedro Gonzalez. So, let the record reflect that all these individuals objected to item 14A. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. And before we
move on, I want to acknowledge a special guest who is with us in the audience today. We have Judge Christopher Benjamin with us. Sir, please stand and be recognized. Thank you for joining us today. He's an excellent jurist and thank you for coming by. With that, we are now
going to the combined items 12B, 12 C, and 14B. I'm aware that 14B is an ordinance on second reading. So, at this time, I'm going to ask the attorney to go ahead and read the ordinance into the record. >> 12B, correct?
>> Uh, well, um, 14B. That's the ordinance on second reading. >> 14B. Okay. 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 implementation, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you, Mr. Attorney. This item is uh a public hearing item, so I'm going to go ahead and open it for public
comments. This is 14B. Anyone in chambers wishing to speak? Seeing none, madam clerk, anyone online? >> Again, 14B. >> Again, the individuals or participants online, if you want to participate and
provide comments, item 14B, which is an ordinance in second reading regarding the budget amendment, please unmute yourself now and welcome to the meeting. Okay, seeing none, public hearing is now closed. And now council, uh rather I'm going to
go to the manager to go ahead and introduce the items uh before we go to a motion. >> Yeah, this is you the item you saw last month. It's unchanged from last month. It is moving uh the money that we have in uh park improvement impact fee funds,
moving it into the MLP capital account to fulfill the uh the list of items that the council approved at last month's meeting to move forward with the improvements uh primarily safety and ADA compliance uh improvements at the U
Miami Lakes Optimus Park. >> I'll move it. >> Okay. Uh it's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Okay. And again, this is for three items. Uh but madam clerk, go ahead and call the role.
>> Okay. So, regarding motion 14B, budget amendments, >> it's for all three. It's for all three. >> Okay. But because it is an ordinance in second reading, item 14B in addition, >> you prefer that we take it in. Okay. Because the motion initially uh when we
were amending the agenda was to take them up together. >> I I think to vote on the ordinance has to be separate. >> Yeah, I I would vote on the ordinance separate and then vote on the resolutions for a procurement item separate. Mr. >> Okay. So, let's let's go ahead and vote on the uh >> and I'll explain why the ordinance is a public hearing. The other ones are not.
>> Okay. All right. So, 14B. Uh Madam Clerk, please call the role. >> Yes. Ordinance in second reading. Item 14B. Council member Garcia. >> Absolutely. Yes. Council member Sanchez, >> yes.
>> Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Hersburg, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes. >> Ordinance in second reading, item 14B
passes. >> Excellent. Okay, so taking up the remaining items, 12B and 12 C. >> I'll move both. >> All right, it's been moved. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> I'll just say it's long overdue, but I'm happy to vote for it.
>> Uh, Councilman Cuadra Garcia on that item. >> On that item, I am in in favor of uh doing the fence. I'm in favor of uh doing the lights. That's great. That's a
positive. But I think that we need to uh shop uh shop the price. I hope. Do we have to strike this today? >> You mean do we have to vote on it today? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I would I would make a
recommendation that we do one more attempt to uh shop for a better price. >> Mayor Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, my my only concern because while normally I I am inclined to agree, my concern is with
the school year. Um, right now they're on as it is a pretty tight timeline uh to get it completed. I think it's around October. Um, and and then the school year starts and the the the programming starts, I think we want to try to avoid
interruptions to the programming. And I I want to say given that this is a both of these are piggyback contracts, I don't really know that we're going to find substantial savings. Um, but that being said, you know, I'll leave it to the will of the council, but uh, timing I think is a is an important factor
here. >> Okay, Mr. Manager, anything else you wanted to add? >> Yeah, I just wanted to make sure that everybody is clear on both of these items. We're competitively bid. We are using a method that's called piggybacking, which is to the vice
mayor's point is to accelerate the implementation. the first one which was the uh fence item. We're piggybacking on a uh contract that was let by the city of Miami. Uh so that was actually they also benefit from the economies of
scales that we do not. So the city of Miami uh get much better pricing than we do because of their size. The second one, which is the lighting item uh for the replacement of the wooden poles and the uh fixtures, is a contract out of
Klay County that uh we're also was also competitively bid um in actually 2023 if I'm not mistaken. So, it actually even is benefiting from the fact that now those prices that were negotiated are even two or three years old, which we
should be lower than today's pricing. Thank you. Any further discussion? Councilman Herszburg. >> So to the manager, I guess the question is you're confident that if we went out to bid, your position is that there would not be much savings if if any at
all? I I I I tend to agree with the vice mayor and and the councilman Cuadra Garcia that obviously we prefer, but the issue then is timing, right? >> Correct. So your your position is that these are are solid prices regardless of
what if if we even were to bid? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Anything further. >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. All oppose. No. >> One nay. And with that the item carries.
Congratulations. We've got it done or at least the first steps. So thank you very much for your time. Uh and we're moving on now to item 10A. That would be the report of the public safety committee.
Uh good evening again, Carlos Andre uh with the public safety committee. Uh this is our bianual report uh to you all. Uh thank you for the opportunity and uh for supporting our first responders. the uh wanted to go ahead before I get into you know the uh order of business
here with uh the report to council just wanted to uh stress out you know our budgets right um I know that when we were having uh the workshop I want to say a few weeks ago um you know one of the things that we were requesting is to go back to our budget the way it used to
be at $4,800 and I made some some numbers um you know some representations of numbers and I want to make sure that I'm I'm very clear. So now in the actual column of the report, you see $426. That $426 is really offset by the
$10,240 that we got from sponsorship funds. So what we've spent on what I call our operating expenses has been $ 31.66. That's our operating expenses. $6,500 of that was to pay the car show
expenses and then $1,000 was donated, which you know we all know, right? So, I know it's kind of weird because it's a small number of 426. So, the way you get the math with that is that you would add 10,240 to the 42 426 and then you you would go ahead and subtract the numbers
that I gave you. So, I just want to make sure that's that's clear. Um, sorry that it's not as clear in this uh presentation, but I also think that it's very important to report to the council what we're projected to spend for the rest of the fiscal year. Um, and I also said that um during our workshop that we
have uh $1,700 uh projected to be spending. Uh we have $4,800 available. Now, I do want to call to the to the council's attention that during our January report to council, we made a request that was approved anonymously to
earmark uh $2,300 for next year's car show. Okay. So, I want to make sure that I know that probably we I can have a discussion with our budget officer, you know, after this meeting to make sure that that happens. But I just wanted to, you know, bring that to your all's attention. Um, and I have the minutes in
front of me from the January meeting. Okay. So, um, that's when it comes to to funds where we're at now. Um, current initiatives, we uh we attended uh the NIC meeting with the HOAs. Uh we uh
launched our radio frequency identification pouches. Uh that's to make sure that folks can't steal um key fob signals. The um we uh did a back to nature on April 18th, which was a shredding event. Law enforcement awareness month. Thank you
all for your support. Uh we had coffee of a cop. We had u presentation at uh the chamber. We uh launched our slow down yard signs which has been a very good campaign. We've received nothing but positive feedback from the community. Um lots of requests from different folks around
town uh to get it at their parks, at their homes. Um and uh just very happy overall with the support for that campaign. We um were uh correctly I actually just gave the our major the uh golf cart public safety uh or let's just
call it uh let's just call it public uh golf cart safety tips for now. We'll call it that. And essentially what this is is and um I even remember our uh town attorney Gasti speaking about it is we're we're going through the ordinance that established the golf carts going
over some of the requirements in place and uh just making it very proactive. We're working with the golf cart Miami golf cart club uh to make sure that we get get it out there. Um and just putting a lot of um you know stress on you know safety that some of the concerns we've been hearing from residents you know like kids riding in
the carts without you know car seats uh people overcrowding carts, people riding on you know golf carts on sidewalks. Uh so we want to make sure to bring that attention you know especially now in the summer to the community. Um we are going to be partnering up with NIC for the lifering uh demonstration PSA as well.
And then what we have going on right now, I actually just um I want to say last week uh received approval from um you know the Grahams on the uh summer safety tips. What we do for that is just you know bring up four examples of of summer safety issues that we keep having. Put it on the Miami Laker, put it on on social media. Uh we have a
swimming lessons initiative that I'm going to be asking for the support of this council on um in the uh organization here of of our new report. We have the annual deputy and fireman recognition in September, national coffee in October, and we have our cars for heroes on November 14th. So we
actually moved it up a little to November. Uh it's going to help out a lot with the weather. Now, new initiatives going down here in the order of business. So the uh Miami date county has what is called the zero drowning prevention program. Um, and I, as you all know, I keep saying, you know,
almost every time I come up here to talk about a different item during public comment about how important is for us to compete with other municipalities. Uh, so we felt in public safety, and this was actually something Johnny Torres thought of a few years ago about, you know, having swimming lessons. Uh, so zero drowning um is a program. They work
with a lot of municipalities. Um, and they want to talk to us. So, I don't know what it would cost. I'm hoping it's free uh because it is the county that's doing this and reimbursing um us for any expenses. Uh, but we want to um instruct staff. I already have an email that was introduced to uh to Jeremy and to also
to uh Glatt Clarisel uh to start the conversations with this program. Might not be in time for this summer, but you know, we'll get it lined up for next summer. Uh so that's that's the u the request that I have um you know, for this and uh that comes with creating a
budget line item for uh this event, the swimming lessons. Creating a budget line item for back to nature, which was our event that we had this year. I want to separate that and make it sure it's very clear, transparent for to our residents, you know, the different events that we hold and and how successful they are and how much they cost. And uh that's
essentially um what I'm doing here. And uh the estimated amount that we have for the current fiscal year for the um the back to nature is $400. Might be a little more expensive next fiscal year because they helped us out this year. And then uh the last item on on our list
here is uh uh the communications department has requested that we present to you all our new uh public safety logo. Essentially, it's what we have right now, just a little modernized. Um we we tend to to love it. Uh but yeah, those those are essentially, you know, the items that um I'm presenting to you
all. And I'm open for questions. >> Thank you, chair. Any uh questions or comments? Councilman Sanchez, you're recognized. >> Mr. Chair, thank you very much for all the information. I I very much appreciate everything that that you've put forward, everything you've done and everything that you're going to continue doing. You know that I've been a very
big supporter of the public safety committee. You know, safety just not in our homes, but in our streets, you know, with our businesses, it just it creates a great ecosystem that is Miami Lakes. >> However, um on the other side of that coin, we know what's what might happen
in November of this year and we have to be, you know, save save a penny for a rainy day. being an accountant, you know that very well, which is why at the day that we had the the budget conversations with all the committees, we stated that we were going to leave it flat. I wholeheartedly support the the swim
initiative. That would obviously be for next summer. Um, I would have to recommend tableabling that for now, putting it on on the back burner, per se, just until we see what the results are in the November ballot for the tax the property tax reduction that they are proposing in Tallahassee. um you know
and and and we you know we we hope that we hope for the best but it uh prepare for the worst and this is one of those situations this year it you know it's a outlier type of year but I applaud that initiative and you can count I I'm pretty sure on all
of our support to continue helping the public safety committee even if I myself have to help you with sponsorships for the carals or anything else we have to start seeking other avenues of of funding just because of what's coming down the pipeline but I thank you for everything that you done from the car shows to the coffee with the cops to the
first time ever the open house at Station 64. I applaud all those efforts and know that you have our support, but we also have to live in that world where we don't know what's going to happen come November. >> Right. >> All right. >> Thank you, Councilman Sanchez. Um, for my own part, uh, seeing no other
comments at the moment, um, I guess I I I want to echo first and foremost, uh, Councilman Sanchez's points, but I also wanted to ask the amount that you're requesting this $400 for the Back to Nature event. Is this a a line item transfer of money you already have, or
are you asking for additional funds? >> No. Uh, not additional funds, just to have a separate line item so that we can identify. Which line item would you take from then? Um, I think it would be under possibly the events uh public safety.
So, it's um account 548. Oh, >> yeah. They're all they're all >> So, yeah, it would be >> the one that has uh that says 13905. >> Yeah, bifurcate the 13905 right to 400. Um, >> okay. Uh, madame budget director, is there any
issue with that? Sorry, I don't know if I caught you off guard. >> Good evening, Mayor Council. Um, in the last correspondence that I had with Mr. Andre. Uh, I do believe we discussed that there are some line items that he
have that are overexpended and he needed to make those whole. after those are made whole, whatever is left over in his defense line item, he then would be able to cover. >> Okay. So, so in that case, and thank you. What what I would recommend is is I'm going to follow what Councilman
Sanchez said. Let let's just not not even table it because I don't even want to put a a timeline or anything on this coming back. Figure that part out. Make sure that that all the ducks are in a row. Uh, as far as moving money around, I really do think that the committees should be given the the discretion to to
do as they deem best. That's why we put you in that position. Uh, so so I'm not going to have a problem with this. But what scares me a little bit is that we think that we have a certain amount of money and we might actually not have it is for is what I'm hearing from the budget director. So let's get that resolved and then once that's resolved,
come back and and and I think we'll probably view that favorably. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean right right now we do have available budget of 4839. That was just to bifrocate the $400. Uh but we are we do have to meet as a committee uh because it happened after our our meeting uh to discuss the budget carry
forward and what the allocations are going to be to um the budget director's point. There's going to be some transfers that uh I guess at that point the town manager will present to you all and um you know to do a reallocation of funds. >> As far as the the logo, I think it looks fantastic. Um, my one little caveat that
I throw in there is I I would not like to see us spending a ton of money just for the sole purpose of replacing the logo. Meaning, if we still have material with the old logo, I don't want any of those materials thrown away. Let's expend what we have and then naturally
replace it with the new logo uh as we run out of materials. I'm referring to like for example the uh the the cell phone or or the the the car key. Those things that have the old logo. I don't want to see those things end up in a garbage bin just because we switch the logo. Okay. Let's use what we have and
then eventually uh replace. Did you have a comment? >> Councilman Hersburg. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. One thing though about the the swimming lessons. We did this last time. I don't want to hold him back from moving forward and figuring out how much it costs if it's free. So we did it for the car show last time. I
would act I would move to approve it subject to coming back if there's a budget item and if it's at no cost then let let the committee do it because he I don't want I don't want there to be confusion that oh the council didn't approve it so now you can't go ahead and move forward I want them I I want the
committee to be able to figure out what it costs reach out to the county whoever they need to reach out to but with the caveat if it costs money you got to come back if it doesn't cost the committee any money move on forward so I'll make that motion to approve approve that that new initiative subject to it being a
zero line item or coming back to us if it requires. >> I'll second that. >> Seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none, those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Say nay. Motion passes unanimously. Anything further? >> I think do we need to approve the the I
I don't remember council's approving the >> the logo. Do we need to approve that, manager? >> I would say that's honestly up to you guys. I think it looks great personally. No, me too. I just I remember during a briefing someone said >> I suspect that over the years sometimes they've been approved formally by the
council, other times not. >> I'll just say to the extent that it's required, I'll move to approve the uh the new the new logo. Uh seconded by Councilman uh Fernandez. Any discussion? Seeing none, those in favor say I. I. Say nay. >> Motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. All righty. We are on to YTF. We're on item 10B of the council. >> Good evening, Vice Mayor and council members and town staff. My name is Haiti Prito, chair of the youth activities task force committee. I come here to
just kind of reflect on what the year that we've had so far. We've had our spring fling event that went fantastic. I did have a medical emergency, but the rest of the committee members did fantastic. we did have, you know, the same hiccup that we have every year of
the Easter eggs, sorry, the eggs. Um, but I think over the years we are having a more of a handle on it. Um, our next event officially that we are looking forward to is the Halloween event which will be on Halloween day, well night on
Saturday, October 31st. Um, as for attendance, we have been fantastic on attendance as you could see attached on page 60, sorry, 88. Um, there hasn't been any problems with attendance. I did want to bring to your attention
that, um, on our website for our page of the town Miami Lakes Youth Expies Task Force, it does say the third um, the third Thursday of every month, we have regularly scheduled meetings. If you look at page number 92, which is the
meeting minutes from August 21st, 2025, we have um under item 6A, committee meetings. I motioned to move the committee meetings to the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. So, I just want to stress
that our next meeting is going to be on the 24th Wednesday. >> Thank you, Miss Pto. Before I jump into uh any comments or questions, I did want to ask our communications director uh Miss Decaldinas. Um number one, does
that cause any issue for the liaison for the town providing what needs to be provided to the committee? Is there any issue with them moving their their meeting? None whatsoever. >> Okay, perfect. Uh and then also uh obviously you have you your office has
been informed about the change for the for purposes of the website. >> Yes. >> Perfect. Okay. Any other comments or questions? Keep up the great work. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> With that we are on to >> I think back to manager reports.
>> Well, right before uh manager reports uh there was one resignation um uh Mr. Rodriguez from it doesn't even say the committee. Uh so there was one resignation, there's no appointments. Uh and then now we move on to uh manager
reports starting with the monthly police report. Uh good evening everybody. uh Major Eddie Yo yoa with uh MDSO. Um as it pertains to our year-to- date up to uh May 31st, we are currently down 44% in
our overall crimes or targeted crimes. Uh most notably, I know was mentioned earlier in reference to a vehicle burglaries, but we are uh roughly at 59% uh decrease in that crime. Um something that did occur in the month of May is
which uh Danny Angel did address and uh helped us out with that. Uh we had an incident uh where a uh a tenant of an efficiency used uh a shared door between the the actual garage and the house.
Entered the main house. Uh stole two computers and acquired the car keys from the homeowner. uh took off and fled in the vehicle and subsequently crashed in Halia and they were taken into custody.
Um so I know there was a concern before that was raised in reference to a vehicle burglary but obviously this is anomaly that obviously none of us can really concern. Um the Danny Angel and his guys obviously have uh have addressed the issue with the efficiency. So that has been taken care of on that
end. Uh, additionally, uh, in reference to the the traffic statistics for, uh, for the month, we issued 199, uh, citations, uh, issued 25 written warnings, 52 verbal warnings, and 18 parking tickets, uh, to include
uh of um, wow to include uh, tickets for handicap parking. Um, and that is pretty much it that I have for uh for the month of May for the >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Major. Uh, Councilman Fernandez, then Councilman Sanchez. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Thank you for all
the work that you do. We we always appreciate it. I just wanted to ask you, is there a protocol in place where because what happened regarding the burglary is something serious and I think that that clearly called for you to address it with with our our building
department and code code enforcement department. But is there already a kind of a protocol in place where anytime one of the officers um has um some conversation with somebody who we possibly suspect that there's an illegal
uh living quarters? Is there a protocol where you will address you will alert our our building department? >> Yeah, absolutely. Danny and I worked hand inand in reference to not only this but obviously other other matters that comes to uh code issues. So if anything of that nature was to uh rise to the
occasion and it it's you know uh told to me I will get with Danny Angel and we'll address accordingly. >> You awesome >> major good to see you once again. Thank you for all the hard work that you do but as you know the summer months are here. school is out of session and at
least I've seen on social media instances where we have teenagers that are running a muck and they're causing um harm to animals and you know trying to go around people's cars when they're not supposed to. Is there anything that we can do to try to be more visible in
residential areas so that kids see that the police were around and they won't try to do that or any other >> Yeah. I mean I mean as as you guys all will know we have a high visibility detail to begin with. Uh obviously uh we've uh I mean the entire department as an as an agency has instituted obviously
our our overheads to be on >> um obviously for visibility purposes. Um additionally like for problem locations uh we we institute uh you know directive patrols in certain areas uh obviously to cel those type of things uh to piggyback off of like the whole thing in reference
to like the group of kids. Uh setting aside the the details that we do on Main Street. Additionally, we've been doing uh you know unmarked units uh patrolling of of the things. So even if you don't see them per se, we are out there in unmarked cars uh because obviously you know they see us,
>> they don't do much and they continue just you know going about their business regular and you know we we're being a little bit more successful in reference to addressing those kind of like little small matters with juveniles and unmarked cars. >> Okay. Right. Thank you. Thank you. >> You're welcome to the chair. Um,
Councilman Garcia, >> thank you, Vice Mayor. Major, thank you again for everything you do, and we can't say it enough. Uh, quick question. I know the um I know there's a crackdown on one of the councilman talked about the handicap signs. I've noticed a lot in shopping centers where people park in
the handicap with the handicap sign. Is that connected to the car or is that connected to the driver? Because I see a lot of young people jumping out. They look pretty spry and healthy to me. I mean, you can't really ask them what's going on, but how how do you uh tell if someone is using somebody's car with
that or maybe uh to crack down on that because I'm seeing a lot of that happen uh in >> Yeah, I mean it's it's just so it's technically addressed to the and assigned to a specific person. Uh sometimes it is addressed it is assigned to the vehicle. Sometimes the vehicle owner obviously does have the handicap
and they have other people driving them around which obviously still constitutes for them to be able to have accessibility to get in and out of their vehicles. Um so typically what we do is obviously when we're going to address those types of issues uh we obviously check the registration to that uh
placard and make sure that that is being used uh correctly. I appreciate that because I know on the weekends that's when parking gets really difficult in the shopping centers and that's when usually people abuse that that and I know you have officers here anyway. So uh and I know you're working on it. So I appreciate that sir. Have a
good day. >> Oh, you're welcome. Thank you. >> Thank you. See no others. I'll just make my comment which is uh I'm staring at the 25 and 26 the 2025 and 2026 numbers on page 13 of the agenda and uh you know last year uh I feel like we sat here
every month and kind of ugdled over these numbers uh when it was your predecessor and it was you know constantly seeing lower and lower numbers and I just want to say you really have hit the ground running um our streets are safer uh and you know a
42% reduction ction in overall crime is is no uh uh small feat. So So congratulations and and thank you for for everything you guys do. >> No, thank you very much. >> Thank you. All righty. With that, uh if there's nothing further, we'll move on
to our public works monthly infrastructure report. Director Santos. >> Good evening, Vice Mayor and Council. Omar Santos, public works director. So, I'll highlight two projects. Um, the Northwest 59th Avenue project. Important
milestone was reached. We've already we've completed 60% design. It's already with DOT in review. The next project is the Park West. I mentioned this in the last meeting. So, today's in today's meeting, you will be approving the construction award and the
authorization to negotiate with the selected inspection company. Once we complete that, we're our plan is to get construction started as soon as possible. That's why I wanted to highlight in the infrastructure report. If there are any questions about any item, I'll move on to the next. >> Thank you for doing it like that. Uh any
uh specific comments, questions, Councilman Sanch um Fernandez, excuse me. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Um, I think we spoke about this, but I just wanted to ask if I can get my colleagues to uh I don't know if I'd have to to make a
motion, but again, the the LED lighting for us just to get an estimate of cost for us to be able to put those LED lights underneath the overpass. Did Did we I know that we spoke about it last meeting. Does anybody remember what what we actually approved?
>> I I can't recall off the top of my head. I think if you'd like you can ask them to to come back to us though. I >> I don't think it was last meeting. It was the previous one. A committee came from what I recall there was a committee presentation and that was discussed >> but but we're we're just waiting to wrap
up with DOT the the project we have under the palmetto construction is pretty much completed but we're still doing the the close out as far as documentation. So we don't want to introduce anything else until we have final approval from DOT for that project. If if I may, Vice Mayor,
>> one second. Councilman Guad Garcia had his hand up first >> to our director. Um, and JC's uh question. Is that the underpass here where we just did the bricks and all that? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, basically DOT has money. Um if
if we reached out to them, they would be very happy to entertain moving those uh those uh non-efficient lights and bringing an uh LED to to those. But you
got to ask, you know, they say the Bible says ask and you shall receive. So, that's what I recommended. You reach out to them and I'm sure they'll be willing to put some uh >> the ask is a little different as they want color. They want adjustable color LED lights. >> No, now you're asking for too much,
young man. >> Who who wants adjustable color? >> Well, I understand that was the committee's proposal and that's something we're going to be working on and see if if it's even something that that the department will allow under that bridge >> for aesthetic purposes. Got it. >> Understood. Uh, Councilman Hsburg,
>> if I recall, I think the number was pretty big. >> It was because you had to some there was some estimate in that in that one. I I don't recall. >> I I want to say it was a few hundred,000. I that's what I recall. I remember saying, "Okay, well that that idea is dead." But um obviously
lighting's important and and it's it's FOD's bridge, right? >> Yes. >> So they should light it. Should they not? >> They they'll light it with what they have. Right. I guess >> I think in addition to that it would be >> right. Well, if they put in lighting, can can you just change the bulbs? Like what's so what's so complicated? No, I
don't know. Listen, I don't know. >> I I don't think it's that simple. >> Sanchez. >> So, for the last two years, I drove north on the Palmetto from Coral Gables Monday through Thursday except for the night of the council meetings and other times that we had to be here. And right
at the interchange of 836 and the Palmetto, they have those types of LED lights that change colors. Is that FOD or GMX? >> That's GMX. >> That's GMX >> from what? Yes. >> So, is there a chance that we can through FOD piggyback off GMX on whatever contract price they got on
those items? Possibly two different at those >> two different organizations. >> All right. But I mean the same way that we piggyback off other government entities, maybe we can like as a as a three-party. >> Yeah. And like like Omar explained, once the project that we did, the lane
extension with the uh bricks and all that, that project is done and closed out, >> we'll explore different options because I understand what the council's asking for is not necessarily lighting to light it up, but lighting for aesthetics. >> Okay? >> Right. And just as an aside, related but
unrelated is we had a meeting the other last week with GMX uh an internal meeting just between staff and staff uh about the project they're going to do on 67th Avenue and we already planted the seed with them about doing aesthetic lighting at 67th Avenue in the graty. So
they already kind of they didn't say yes but they said we can look at that. I think that's something we can do one of those. Okay. >> You know, so we're already looking at that. uh maybe uplighting on some of the the columns that are uh east of 67th Avenue between there and the curve. Okay. >> Uh so we're looking at that and we'll
introduce that and I think that you know we know somebody who sits on that board so that could uh help to uh push it along. >> Absolutely. And then I have one more question about the construction project on the on the expansion of the uh of the lane. Obviously construction comes with
dirt and grime and things like that. Because of that, do you think a ripple effect from FDOT is that they would clean the underpass of Miami Lakes Drive so that way our nice white walls, let's say Miami Lakes growing beautifully, can be as resilient as they're meant to be
and we can stop getting phone calls from residents telling us it's very dirty. >> So, we actually wash those, softwash them approximately every two months. It's just it is very old that >> well because of the construction I'm assuming that they got dirty much
quicker. >> Not much more but um after the next wash what I'll do I I'll let you know through the manager >> but but there is some wear to it just as because of his age. >> Maybe maybe because of their um you know maybe their budget cycle and I'm just
saying take take that one cycle off of our books so that it goes on. >> Remember that the construction project was ours. >> Yeah. the uh the extension of the lane. I mean, it was funded through FOD, but it was our project. They gave us the money through state they managed the money. It was a state appropriation.
They managed it, but we're the town. >> And is is cleaning post cleaning part of the scope. >> It would have been >> for for the direct area, not not the not the slopes because again, the town does wash those on a bimonthly by monthly is the right term. Every every two months.
>> Every two months. Do you remember when was the last time it was cleaned? >> I would have to check. >> Okay. But again, there is >> we'll assess it. We'll reassess it. The next time that we that we wash it, we'll reassess it and say, is there something more that needs to happen, whether it be touch-up painting or whatever, and then we'll come back with ideas and
recommendations. >> Okay, sounds good. >> All righty. Any other comments or questions? >> Yes, I have one more item that I needed to discuss about the report. >> One second, Councilman. Go ahead. >> Yes. With regards to the Robert Alonzo Community Center uh generator, I understand that there's been some issues
with getting designs approved. Is there anything that we can do as the elected body to put some proverbial fuel to the fire to get this generator up and running since now we are in hurricane season? >> So what what essentially slowed down the design was something unforeseen. So when
the design was begun, it was identified that in the footprint there was an existing easement for was because of that it had to be relocated. Relocation was easy to find. It's just there's additional scope with geotechnical and um survey. >> Yeah,
>> we went ahead and made that ask to the state and they funded that extra. So the town didn't have to uh get additional funding. So >> Okay. >> We just had to wait a little bit to get that approval. That has already been done and the design has resumed. >> Okay. So by when do you believe the design portion will be completed?
>> I will have to get that that updated schedule from the designer. We're currently the the PM is working on that to see what's the what's the new finish date. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Omar. Councilman Guaria, >> um thank you. Um I wanted to take a a point of personal privilege to to ask
Omar, I don't know if it's Omar or if it's Jeremy. Um we were out there a couple months ago to see the uh some issues at Barbara Goldman uh that canal area that was cleaned up.
So, basically, I had talked to the manager a couple days ago to see if we can uh transfer some type of money to get that area cleaned up. I took pictures. I sent it to him to see if we can remove those Brazilian peppers and
clean that area or put a pathway through there. And where are we? Do you remember? >> I apologize for cutting off, Councilman Guad Garcia, but that is not related to the infrastructure that we're talking about in the report. And for your edification though, I'm already working
with Senator Renee Garcia to go ahead and use some of his district funds to cover uh additional fencing and other things to stop people from uh littering and and putting other debris there. >> Thank you. And then I'll and I'll add one more thing to see where we are. >> I just want to be clear. The point of
personal priv No, no, no. The point of personal privilege is not a backdoor way of injecting something that is not uh part of what's in front of us. Um it's what it states, right? a moment of personal privilege. So, um I go ahead and finish your thought, but I just want
to be clear that we're on the monthly infrastructure report specifically. >> So, when do I ask what I want to ask? >> That's why we have the canal embankment situation. So, we can when when can I ask can I ask it now? Yes. >> Okay, great. So, basically, where are we
with the canal? We seem to be uh extending phase one and then we forgot about phase one. Now we're on phase two and we're forgetting phase two. So here that now that we have the attorney here in front of us, what can we do
legal to get these contractors cuz I feel strongly that the product they gave us, we we know that we lost warranty on one. We need to concentrate and see if we got something alive on two and three cuz we keep forgetting and it just keeps
you know it just we keep forgetting it and keep forget so I need to bring it up so we can remind it. So where are we? >> Okay, a couple of times we've had meetings. >> Brief response. Thank you. >> We've had meetings scheduled them in our office.
>> They've had to be moved for the most part. We are time barred in those complaints. It's just that simple. These things, depending on which one and when they were installed, we are time barred. But if you want to sit down with me, I've offered to sit down with you.
I've made the appointments. I'm willing to go through them one by one or give a presentation to the council. I'm hesitant to do something like that in open public all the time. I this is the one part of my job that I don't like is that I have to give away my strategies
and have some of these discussions and open public. I'll do it if I have to, but I've tried to set them I've set up meetings with you to come to our office and discuss it. I really have. >> Okay. >> We're the end of it. I think we're time
barred. >> We'll we'll do it that way. But um I'm just um I don't want time to keep passing. Um, and I'd like it to go away so I never have to bring it back, but this has to be taken care of. This is a serious issue. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Anyone else questions of staff? Okay, seeing none, we're moving on. Next up is >> item 8 D. >> Yes. >> Oh, uh, did I skip? Oh, median expansion
of Northwest 77th Avenue and Northwest 154th Street. My apologies. 8C by Omar Santos. >> Okay. So, I'll be brief the introduction. The the details are on the report, but this is an item that was introduced by council member Sanchez last year. Um, he asked staff to look
into modification to the median on the 154 near 77th Avenue to improve traffic in the area. We went ahead and and produced uh estimates and those were presented and we're bringing these up to the
attention of the council for discussion and and see if you know there's anything you want to do. >> Councilman Sanchez, go ahead. >> So, thank you very much for the information, Omar. Um, and I'm very happy to see that we can fund this
through PTP80 as a possible funding source. So I would I'll move to approve this project to extend that median with pavers at the price allocated you know estimating that it's still the same as compared to last
year but li putting it on the budget for next year as a possible not a guaranteed within the PTP80 fund. So depending on if there's things that are higher priority than this and obviously those will get funded through the PTP80 fund prior to this but if there are things
that are lower priority this would take precedent. So my motion is to approve this on PTP80 for next year contingent that it fits within PTP80. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. It's been seconded by Councilman Herszburg. Go ahead. I I
guess I just want to confirm because I'm I don't know. I'm I don't see a huge need and maybe you can convince me, but you're saying let's have that discussion during budget season. >> Yes. >> You're gonna convince me to put it on to pay for it or not during budget season. But so just tell So the motion is really to just ask staff to put it on the
budget and then we can decide where go if it's there. I mean obviously we can always decide if if we cut something from the budget, right? Um, I guess I just want clarification what you're asking for staff. >> Councilman Sanchez, >> I want staff to go ahead and pro and
proceed with the design if it's approved at the budget once we go into budget season. So after October one, continue with the design because the amount of cars of traffic that completely ignore that right turn only sign and eventually can cause accidents in that intersection
or have caused accidents is an alarming rate. And it's very difficult to enforce that no right turn when there isn't really an area for a police officer to stage to see when they're doing it. So we have to have a physical impediment, a physical barrier to ensure that that
policy of only a right turn at Northwest 77th and Miami Drive has a barrier the same way they have it in other municipalities like Coral Gables. There's a lot of medians in Coral Gables that you can't turn but only one way in order to be able to use it. So
Councilman Cuadra Garcia, >> um I'd like to uh emphasize something here. If this road was designed by an engineer by the by the county, >> um I understand that we don't I guess there there's no people are not supposed
to make a left there because of traffic there. Okay. So, my recommendation would be to put real nice decorative delineators on there that are removable. You can remove them whenever you want and you can put them back whenever you
want. Just don't close it because what happens if you have an emergency vehicle going through there or coming through there? If you have those delineators, they can run over them. And again, they're not ugly. Whoever tells you they're ugly, there's all kinds of
colors, blue, white, all colors. So, I recommend that we do the delineators, they're better and they're going to be less expensive. That's that's my recommendation. >> Councilman Sanchez, you want to respond? I'm not in favor of the del the
delineators just because of the express lanes on 95, the Palmetto I7. Oh, not I75. Cars run over them all the time. They need to be constantly replaced. They get dirty extremely fast. They can be an eyesore. And I know what the that the lineators that you're speaking of. They're about 3 feet tall. They they
bend to to the will of anything that passes over it. This is more aesthetically pleasing. It fits the demog the image of Miami Lakes with our trees, with our pavers, everything like that. And it's a a strong, you know, it's not going to be broken. It's something that's going to be there for a
long time in perpetuity. And we don't have to worry about that maintenance of having to be replacing them constantly with an extended cost. I know Councilman Qual Garcia that you are a very fiscal conservative and having to replace something over and over and over again at the cost of the taxpayer. I just see
this as a onetime investment and it's a done deal. So my question is are you going to close it when it was designed by it was designed by by an engineer or an architect? >> I am not going to close it. At one point in time that sign of no of a right turn
only did not exist. That came into play later on. That that road that median was designed many years before that right turn only sign was there. But now that it is there we have to move with the times. We have to acclimate to the times and a right turn only sign means right turn only. So all those cars that are
coming out of there to make a left illegally, how we're really we can't really enforce it. >> So this is the best way of having a physical barrier where cars cannot make a left automatically drive, especially with what's coming on the golf course pretty soon. We need to create traffic solutions now for what's going to come
later. And this is a small solution that's going to go a very long way. >> Councilman Garcia, do you have anything that you want to add? >> Uh no, I I think that being proactive is a good idea, Councilman Sanchez. um looking into it and seeing and also
coupling with the new uh all the construction that's happening with the golf course uh I think is a good way of getting ahead of the game. Um so I mean if it's preventing accidents I'd like to see some numbers and see if there how many accidents have been there over the last three or four years because that is a very u especially U-turns in that
area. A lot of people tend to uh to create their own lanes if you will especially when it's busy. So yeah, being proactive I think is a good idea and putting it on the budget just to make sure if we need to take it out, we take it out. So I I'll be for the item. >> Thank you. >> My last question, Mr. Mayor.
>> I will recognize you for one final question and then we're going to vote. >> Yes. Um uh uh Councilman Sanchez, whatever you're proposing, is it removable? >> No. I I think we should consider uh other options. That's just my my my food for thought.
>> Thank you. All those in favor say I. >> I. I >> all opposed. Hold on. You got to wait for it for me to call it and then you go ahead and vote. Now all the all against. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. So one nay. Madame clerk. With
that the motion carries and we are now on item 8 D report on lock Ballard's beautifification. >> All right. So this is a report in response to Mayor Diegas's item from our last meeting. The request was to bring
back some proposals to improve the aesthetics of the ballards that are currently protecting that lock exterior sidewalk and the pedestrians are walking through there. So in coordination with our parks department,
we came up with two solutions. The first one would be incorporating some green island ficas plantings. and we have a our best shot at a rendering for attached and also a rough estimate. The second is
using the existing ballards. They sell essentially slide on covers that have a a nicer finish on the exterior. So that that's another option that we we propose. then you know the rendering might be a little smaller but I I can
provide a a Zoom version of what it looks like. Uh but that that's the second option. Um as far as funding, I didn't really put recommended sources since we're entering the budget cycle. So I my thoughts were that this is something that you can discuss in the upcoming budget uh workshops for
funding. Um, I'm going to follow Councilman Sanchez's lead and uh propose similarly that option one be our choice and that we discuss it during the upcoming budget. Um, and again, if uh for whatever reason we can't fit it in, we
take it out. Uh, but again, I think it would be a nice little improvement to that particular area. So, that is my motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> It's been seconded. Any discussion, >> Councilman Herszburg or? Uh, well, I'm going to say it anyway. >> It's not mulch.
>> Well, no, I do see mulch on the bottom there. So, that's that's number one. No, number one. Number one looks so much better. >> That's the rendering's fault. Just automatic. >> I because I saw the mulch. I I got to say today I did get a call from resident today complaining about mulch. So, it's not just me. Okay. >> We We didn't put the Hzburg prompt in
there. So, it didn't >> I did get that call. No, option one looks great. So, agreed. Option one. >> Perfect. Anyone else? >> All right. All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All oppose. No. >> The eyes have it. The motion carries.
And we are now on item 8E. Report on transportation sir tax PTP fund alternatives for future transit options by um who's going to present it? Susanna. Okay. Good evening, uh, mayor and council. Um,
I'm here to report on, um, I believe it was, uh, Councilman Horsesburg's item, um, requesting alternative funding sources and alternative ways to utilize our PTP funding, particularly the 20% for for transit. Am I correct? That's
what I'm answering. Um, correct. Yeah, it was the 20%. PP >> did a little bit of research and as you understand uh we receive some funding from PTP funds every year every year. They're based on population is a percentage u based on the number of
residents that we have that the the CIT allocates to the town and we are required to utilize 20% of that minimum for transit purposes. So we get to use 80% of that for transportation projects. We use it
as a as coll not as collateral but as a a grant fun uh fund um matching funds for other projects. We use it for a lot of other things but that 20% has to be reserved only for transit. Right now our
100% of that 20% is going towards uh freebie on demand services. We are preparing to go out for an RFP RFP uh for um for the freebie service for the on demand service again. So we
shall like we're about to evaluate uh new types of on demand service but at this time that is the option we have um in uh on in addition of the 20% of the PTP funding we also have some uh grants from the state that uh also subsidize
partially our freebie operation. Now that being said, uh in order to answer your question and help you um sort of think about these things a little better, um I we went and I looked at the some of the cities that have similar population sizes and similar funding and
what do they do with their money, right? Uh I've attached all of their uh five-year plans so that you can see what kind of breakage they do on on their because they have to report this to the CIT. One of them their report is really old. I
think it's Helia Gardens. I've requested to see why there wasn't an updated version of Helia Gardens and I didn't get a respond from CIT, but seeing how they used their money, I think I know why. It's basically because they're Helia Gardens, which is the smallest municipality I was looking at, um,
they're pretty much using all their PTP funding to basically contract out with the city of Helia, uh, so that they can extend their transit services into Hayelia Gardens. So that's probably why it's not very uh difficult for them to
to prove out what what it is that they're spending. Right. The next one up then in population is Sunny Isles Beach and it's a very densely populated area and they they have two shuttle lines in Sunny Isles and they do not have freebie
service or on demand service in Sunny Isles. Um they do have service from 800 a.m. to 7:50. So about 12 hours worth of service a day in the orange line and then the blue line is a little bit less. It's like only till 3:00 in the afternoon. So it covers like school time
hours. Uh Palmetto Bay, the next one up has a shuttle to Dayland South at peak times. H which is a shuttle sort of like a fixed time shuttle and then they have freebie service with on demand. So, it's a pretty similar operation to what we do
because we also have a shuttle to the Palmetto Expressway. Obviously, they they're going to day south, which is a lot closer to them than Palmetto Expressway is to us. So, their their um their methods are probably a little more uh efficient than ours, but it
still is a very similar um setup than what we have in the town of Miami Lakes. And both the freebie both the on demand service and the shuttle are provided through contract with freebie. So freebie is providing the entire thing. Aventura has three routes of shuttle um
about uh 13 hours a day Monday through Friday and on Saturday they have 13 hours as well but they start a little bit later. They don't have service for the shuttle on Sundays and they have freebie on top of that. That being said, Aventura
chooses to utilize much more of their 20% for transit. They use somewhere around 35 to 40% of their allocated funds for transit and choose to use a smaller percentage of their PTP funding
for transportation only. and their transportation projects are basically uh bikes uh share bikes and like um you know microobility and that other stuff which really is not even real transit not really transportation projects.
They're not building roads. They're not fixing sidewalks. They're doing other stuff. North Miami Beach last the last one that we looked at. Um it's quite a bit larger. It's almost 50% larger the than the city of Miami Lakes. Uh and they have three routes. Um and and they
also have freebie and their three routes are seem to be managed by the city itself. It doesn't seem like it's under contract from freebie but I am not sure about that as to who actually manages those routes and >> may councilman Hzburg.
>> Thank you mayor. So it looks like most cities just use freebie >> as an ondemand service. Everybody that has an on demand service in the in the county of in Miami Day County right now is utilizing freebie. The county itself, Miami day county has metroconnect which
is a different service that they use as a sort of on demand to give people rights to try rail. Um so that's the other hopefully one of the services that I see that we are hoping to see come in as response to the RF RFP. We're hoping to have at least
three or four respondents. Um, you know, some of them more creative than others. So, some of them are might be a different operation system that what freebie has. And we're I'm excited to see what other ideas people have as to how to provide the service. >> And the RFP would be for the next fiscal
year or the year after >> for next. Yes, we are uh contracted with freebie through October. >> Okay. Is it your opinion that really just on demand service is the best use of these funds? There's no other better use or it depends on seeing what the RFP comes back.
>> It is what we have right now. I am not going to say it's best, better or the only thing. I you never close doors. So I'm always reinventing. I you know it's freebie their their freebies
model is free service. So by nature they don't have any uh systems to be able to charge even a a you know nominal fee for for a ride which sort of constrains basically the the envelope of what we
can do because this is how much money we have. They have to pay their people. They have to pay their expenses. This is how much it costs to operate. So how many writers can we fit into that is how efficient you're going to make. Right? You're just trying to maximize the writers. um other
other operators may have different funding mechanisms to which instead of being a completely free service and that's what I'm hoping to see out of the RFP is maybe there's there's systems where they we can sort of nominally change charge you know if if it's free
for like less than a mile but if you're going from east to west and it's a dollar or I I mean I'm making it up right now because obviously I'm waiting for them to sort of propose but >> when when do we get the RFPs back. Do you know? >> So, Rosa's not here. I think when she
comes back, she's going to be issuing it out and then we have to wait 30 days for submissions. Am I right? >> But would it be back by by September before September? >> 100%. Yes, we hopefully we should have something by September. >> Okay. So, we'll we'll talk about it again during budget season. I just wanted to see what the I honestly was
most interested in what the other cities were doing. It seems like everyone's doing the same thing. I just hope that we can find something a little different. I don't know if this is the best use of the funds. Again, there's been discussions with CIT. We talk to them all. I meet with them twice a month. Um
people, you know, other cities present what they're doing all the time. They love to do little showand tells on a regular basis. This is an ongoing conversation. I think, oh, the mayor and I were with the CIT director a couple of weeks ago. This, you know, we are in constant communication with them.
anytime anybody else has a different idea, we know this this none of this is kept secret, you know, they they request uh reports from us and presentations on a regular basis. I think I put on your agenda the last presentation we gave them, which was like last uh at the end
of last year. Um they're they're going to be asking again soon and I'm going to be presenting all the projects we're doing, all the things that we spend our money on because they want to know what we're spending their money on. Um so when and if um other products come to
the four, I think it was last year around May, they actually determined that Uber can now be responsive because their ADA requirements can be met by Uber by some changes that they had done within their organization.
No city has implemented an Uber uh deal yet, but you never know. We may be first for that one, right, >> Councilman Sanchez. >> So, thank you, Susana. It's a very
thorough report and I very much appreciate it. Um, I've seen in other municipalities, I know you mentioned that freebie is the most used. I've seen in other municipalities that there are companies that for example use a Volkswagen electric bus to to >> actually freebie is about to get those. >> Right. Right. But I've seen I'm just
saying I in the past I've seen those and I know I like to put into consideration when you the RFP is put out. I've experienced freebie myself and there's I can there's been a point of frustration at times where I've requested a freebie and then it goes from 15 minutes to 30
minutes to 45 minutes. And the reason why that's happening is because those freebies, they keep them in circulation even though they're on break. So one time I saw it and it was parked on Main Street for 15 minutes without moving. I'm like, I'm waiting for this freebie to come pick me up and it's just sitting on Main Street and I was the next person
to be picked up. So I got in my car just to see what was going on because I I tell them every once in a while, oh, I'm on my break, that's why I haven't left. I would like to for whatever new company comes into play or even freebie for whatever cars are on their scheduled break to be taken out of circulation so that the people that are waiting on
those freebies are not >> see them. Yeah. >> Waiting. You know, they don't see their weight time go from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to 45 minutes. >> So, just so you know that there's a lot of frustration that I have personally that me and Justin have with the way freebie operates their not all of it is
wonderful. Let's just put it that way. We get complaints about things like that. We get complaints about um you know if if I'm here and somebody else is picking up why are we not picking up two people at a time and that's my favorite thing like you don't have this is not
Uber you don't give people single rides right >> you are supposed to be picking up two or three people at a time and and coordinate that right so that's you know these are the kinds of thing and obviously anytime that happens to you again >> because it's important that I give them feedback with the specific time and car
number that they're doing and and I have a dashboard on my on my on my computer that I can check where every freebie is at all time and I know which car number it is that is or is not doing what they're supposed to do. I would really appreciate if you let me know so I can actually make the report right then and
there and like really give it back to them because that's you know again we meet with freebie every two weeks I give them feedback all the time on things that I see of uh you know people that have complained to us of and and wonder you know sometimes the complaints that
handle really well and sometimes the complaints are handled >> you know less to my satisfaction right >> uh but um but I would appreciate that if you gave it to me right away. Uh, as in like >> no filter >> straight out.
>> Absolutely. I will do and you know me. I >> 100%. Yeah. >> So, but no, I know freebie was the first one, but I'm sure that competitors have have come out since. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else on this item? >> Councilman. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> I apologize. Uh, Councilman Garcia,
we'll come back to you. Uh, I'm going to let Councilman Cuadra Garcia go first, but uh, we'll come to you right after. >> I'll make it real brief. actually had the same identical issue as Councilman Sanchez. I was coming to my briefing with uh Ed. I called freebie 15 minutes,
half an hour, 45 minutes. I said, "Council the freebie, I'm getting in my golf cart." And I came to the briefing in my golf cart. So, um had a real bad experience. >> Again, you got to realize that especially if it's we have four vehicles, that's all we have. If uh one
of them is taken to go to the palmetto, now we only have three vehicles out in the in the etherosphere, right? Um if if one of those is going from uh West Lakes to Costco, that's another one that is out of circulation for another 20
minutes and now you only have two vehicles. So there's this is sort of like the same thing that happens with Uber sometimes, right? And because it is a very similar service model, not funding model but service model uh only we don't have congestion pricing. So uh
basically everybody has the same idea at the same time. And then supposedly the algorithm uh decides the most optimal route for the vehicle to go and and service all the passengers. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don't
see it. Right? And this is always my my my conversations with freebie are always like uh can this algorithm be made a little more efficient, right? Can it be made more to to prevent precisely that kind of situation? >> Just wanted to share my experience.
>> 100%. Yes. And and like I said to him, the same thing. Anytime you have a negative experience or a positive one, I we also like to hear the positive ones. you know, they're also very nice to a lot of our community that has trouble getting in and out of their vehicles and they they have them as as family members
almost, right? So, they also do a very good job of being ambassadors to the town and and providing a service especially to the elderly, right, and to the disabled that cannot drive. So, you know, by all means, do please let me know so that I can make sure again and
maybe it's just a problem in the algorithm at that particular point. It's just a coincidence that you were asking at that moment, right? >> Uh, Councilman Garcia, >> thank you, Mayor. Uh, just to Susanna, real quick, I know previously the town had its own shuttle, you know, service
and then we went to Freeb. Uh, but I know we spoke about this many times about working with our sister cities and you you just mentioned that Halia and Halia Gardens have an arrangement. Halia is right there. you can get through 87th Avenue to Miami Lakes through 67th
through, you know, through 57th. Um, it might be a good idea to look into to see if there is a way to coordinate with the resources Hay Aliyah has. If we pull our resources together, we might be able to have more routes uh serve more people. It's it's all about supply and demand.
When we have only four or three or four of our, uh, you know, our freebies and one's always at the Palmetto station. We talked about this before. Maybe that's another route we can go. Maybe we can share resources with Hyalia and everybody saves money. This is the kind of thinking we need to have especially
now if if everything if if we start lowering uh if in November we have to make some cuts. I think working with our sister cities might be a way of finding efficiencies that serve everybody. So that's something you might want to look at. I like that idea about working with a sister city. Just throwing that out.
As a matter of fact, sir, our prior configuration when we had the the fixed route, it was through a contract with the city of Helia that it was operated. >> So that was actually we had to sell it back. Yeah. Okay. >> Yes. That was the the fixed route that
was discontinued in 2017 or 2019. Um it was through a contract with the city high transit services. >> Lack of use. Is that what it was that we we went with the Ubers? I mean the freebies >> there, you know, that was death by a
thousand cuts. There were some problems with the design of the route, >> some problems with the bus, the buses actually needing to get serviced throughout like from 12 to 2 in the afternoon, which is really your busiest time. And that was the only time they
could get service. There was issues with drivers and and other things. So there was a a lot of little a lot of a million little problems that were not easily solved by by the configuration that we had at the time. Is that something that we want to revisit? That's something I'm
happy to is certainly something that I I would love to revisit. >> Well, maybe a hybrid model. Uh using >> Yeah. using using the the what we've learned over the years. Uh you know, you're you're a genius when it comes to that. So the data that's come in, maybe we can find a better way. Uh it's but
it's true what the uh both councilman say. I've been a I' I've had to cancel that as well because they just it's been 40 50 60 minutes. So I would rather have a more efficient system than one that's inefficient for everybody. You know if most people have to wait 30 40 50
minutes that's not really an efficient system. Although it's free and I get it. You have to wait longer than Uber. Uh but yeah, if you could look into it, we appreciate it. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Uh we're moving on then to item 8F, alternative
locations for Miami Lakes letters. Good evening, mayor and council. Jeremy Bagdan, director of parks and recreation. Um, at the last council meeting, we discussed some of the uh struggles we were having with trying to finalize some of the FDOT permitting and engineering documents needed to continue
with the location that we were looking at uh implementing the donated letters from the Miami Realtors Association. Um, in doing so, we are we've gotten some comments back from the engineers um in which they are starting to have troubles with meeting some of the FDOT
requirements. Um, and in this conversation, we decided to go ahead and look at alternative locations where we can install these letters, have them in high visible locations, and also kind of for the most part out of the four options, look at a way to make them a little more interactive where people can
be closer to them and kind of utilize them for uh photos and something that can be picturesque. So, the report in front of you lays out four different options for implementing the letters. Um, one option is rotating through the main four parks. Uh the second option is
utilizing kind of one of our um unique parks in P74 East uh also known as Graham Park with the pond and located it within the water. Um another option looks at another high visibility area which is the uh off-ramp but within an
area that we already maintain outside of actual highway uh grounds. And then option four would look at potentially a partnership with the Grahams as far as trying to implement it within Main Street. Any questions?
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> The vice mayor and then Councilman Sanchez. >> Thank you, Mayor. So on the option one, the rotating around the parks as well as the Grand Park option
and the 826 offramp option. Are you anticipating uh power in in all of these in in terms of uh electricity for lighting >> at this time? No. Um there is no lighting that is incorporated. Um, as
far as looking at once we select on a location that we're looking at, that would be part of what will come back to you with a full scope and cost and if lighting is going to be something considered by this council. >> If I recall correctly, when when we initially requested the the FOT
location, um, we had asked for it to have power. Is that what's causing some of the issues with meeting the FO requirements? It's the entire development and engineering of the actual unit being installed in the location that it's at. >> Okay. So, it's not necessarily
>> it's not just that. >> That's one of the components. Okay. U as far as this um I I struggle with I guess the um potential logistics I guess of of the rotational one. Um and damage over
time uh to to to the unit. Um, I think that the one on the lake floating on the lake looks absolutely phenomenal. And I mean, even if it could just be a solar light, uh, just to give it a little warm glow. It doesn't have to be well lit. It
just has to glow a little bit, right? Because it's going to be there's not a lot of lighting in that park anyway. So, whatever amount of light it has will make it stand out. Um, I think that that'll make it a true a truly nice landmark in the town. Uh, and then I do
the the only one that I really don't like is the Main Street Partnership only because it's it's not our land and they they already have a monopoly on all all the cows. Let's put some stuff elsewhere. >> Councilman Sanchez. >> Jeremy, thank you for the report. I like
it. Very thorough. Um, the one that I really like is option three, but I do have two for two reasons. Number one, we don't have an entry feature at that um entry point into Miami D. We have one on the east side, but we don't have one there. Something that I discussed with the manager earlier today. But something
that does worry me, the second thing about it, I know we maintain it, >> but do we own that land or is that somebody else's land? >> It's still F DOT um maintained by us as far as the actual grounds maintenance. So, it would still be something, but it
is no longer in the highway portion. >> So, the restrictions are not as heavy. >> We would look into it if that is the decision of the of the council. That is something that we would then pursue and talk with both the designer as well as our F dot contact. >> Okay. Yeah. Because this will be a very high visibility area. Um, you know,
everyone in Miami D will see it there. I like the idea of the lake. It's it's it's very nice. I completely agree, but it'll be very hidden unless you're going to either Main Street or the farmers market or that micro area. It's uh, you know, it's going to be out of out of
sight. Um, so yeah, I would vote in favor of option three if we can pursue it. But I would think that it's still a foundational item to have the engineering for it for hurricane damage and things like that. >> Yeah, the installation itself would be installation that we'd install anywhere as far as meeting building code and and
and so forth. But the biggest thing is the location and what are the requirements for next to a highway, the distance from the center of the road and and that's where kind of the issues are arising. >> Okay. Now, I'd be in favor of option three. >> Um >> uh well, you want to make a motion to Okay, go ahead and make the motion and
then we'll continue discussion. I'd like to actually move to move forward with option two, Grand Park. Uh I think that that's honestly the nicest option. Um and I I agree with Councilman Sanchez uh on the issue with um there not being an
entry feature on 826. I'd rather find another solution for that than this one. I don't think that this one should go there. Uh but the the Graham Lake one is great. So I'll move that one. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. Councilman Herszburg, you wanted to uh discuss it? >> Yeah. No, that's that's my position. I
think No, the lake one looks awesome. I think it's a great idea. Hopefully, we can add some solar solar lights or something, but that's just different. Miami Lakes makes sense to put in a lake. Like that's all the rest are just, you know, on the side of the road. This is different. I love it. That's what they are. The rest are on the side of
the road. This is not This is in a lake and Miami Lakes in our parks. That's us. So, it option two is by far my preferred item. I wouldn't even vote for the other ones. And and and to that point, the goal of that also is if you were taking let's say this some of the ideas that we
thought as staff is if you're taking senior pictures or any type of pictures, you can be positioned on the bridge with the the letters directly in front of it and kind of catching you as well. So it was definitely definitely unique spot that we decided on >> through the chair >> Councilman Garcia, then Councilman Cuadra Garcia, and did any of you guys
want to see >> one more question? >> You know, Austin looks great. uh you know especially we do a hashtag Miami Lakes campaign along with it on our Instagram page. It' be great with the light with the solar lighting. The only um caveat I would ask you is this park
is u especially at night time a lot of kids go to this park to hang out. Uh when I was a kid I used to do the same thing. Uh we need to figure out a way so they don't have access to that little island. It needs it can't connect to the shore. It has to be you can't be it
can't be reached by you know by jumping over or jumping over the jumping on the on the bridge because the kids are going to jump there and trust me they will. >> Councilman Garcia >> um basically um at the entrance where we
had thought about it would be uh choice number one. I think that we should try to um reach out to whoever it is that we're having the issues with. Uh whether it I know that they're not responding to phone calls. Let's try visiting them and
see maybe if you know by visiting them that they might give us uh a respond. If not then uh this is beautiful. The lake is beautiful. But have we thought of placing it in the entrance of the town right where the fire station is? 67 our
entry. Can it be put there? >> Uh, I'll answer that. Yes. That that that is what we've been discussing for the longest time to do. Unfortunately, it's >> 67. You're He's talking about 67 by the 67. Okay. >> By the by the uh by the library. >> I don't think I don't think there's enough space there. >> Right. I thought about
>> the library redevelopment is supposedly doing some kind of an entry feature on their redevelopment. So, we'll have that entrance entrance captured. So, I think that's uh why they they looked at the southbound Palmetto exit onto 154 uh as one alternative. But if we're moving
forward with the lake, then we'll we'll put all the uh dot all the eyes and cross all the tees and come back to you with exactly what that entails. >> But I just want to remind you that the vote that we're going to be taking at the end of this discussion is going to be for option two. So, you know, when it comes time to vote, you are going to
have to make a decision now though. >> Option two is the lake. >> Yes. >> Lake. >> Okay. So, just wanted you to be aware so that when we we get to the vote after Councilman Sanchez. >> Okay. >> All right. Councilman Sanchez. >> So, just forward thinking. Um, how is the sign going to be anchored to the
lake? Will it be moving or just stationary? >> Stationary. We look at uh it's not that deep that pond. So, we'd have to go ahead and talk and work with uh Omar Public Works to get a solution that is going to be stationary. As mentioned, we would want it to avoid moving so that it cannot be moved. Um, and also that it's
not it's positioned in a way that it is not susceptible to vandalism and and nefarious acts. >> And then the second part of that question is maintenance. Some at times someone's going to have to go out there to clean it. You know, exposure to to to animals in the area flying over and rain and it's going to get dirty. It's white.
What is the plan to get someone into the middle of the lake to be able to clean it? >> We'll bring that back up as part of the the cost when it comes back to fine-tuning, as the manager mentioned, and crossing the tees and dotting the eyes. We'll bring that back as a maintenance plan, what it's going to require, what we anticipate to maintain it at a pearly white uh letters um sign.
>> Is it is it easy to put like a small boat into that lake to be able to get somebody out there? >> It can um we can also look at because of the depth being so short, we can see what are our other options. >> Somebody can walk. Okay. Short. Okay. Yes. All right. Perfect. >> Mr. Mayor, one more.
>> Last one. Two seconds. >> Okay. Last one. But we got to move. I like the lake issue, but I'm concerned and we should all be concerned on safety where kids can be going up there and uh you know thinking that they're Superman
taking selfies and we we need to take that into consideration and they might fall into the water. >> Thank you. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The motion carries. Option two is the
direction. Um, with that, we're now on 8G MLOP pickle ball report. >> Um, so in light of the previous council meeting in which we looked at and heard about some of the demand for um, pickle ball and kind of a in a niche time in
the evenings where the demand was exceedingly uh, higher than the courts available yet there were some tennis courts that were still being underutilized. uh staff came up with a plan before you that looks at kind of instituting a hybrid pickle ball program
that essentially operates two additional dedicated courts in the off times of tennis on a tennis court. So it'll grant us two more courts to meet more demand without foregoing an entire tennis court in its entirety. So, the program you have in front of you is to essentially
line um two new courts on the existing tennis court just to the east of the pickle ball courts um without having to touch any of the tennis net. It'll actually act as a divider between the two courts, activating those two courts in the specified time within the report. And then anytime outside of that, it
would remain being a fully available tennis court. Um which we are in this process. We kind of went out there and saw that mostly tennis is played weekdays during the morning times, not when the peak uh pickle ball times in the evenings are are occurring. So you have the report in front of you. There
is a cost associated um with the item. Um we discussed and one thing would can be just it would be absorbed within the capital uh improvements of Optimus. Mayor, >> Vice Mayor, >> I'd like to move to have uh the recommendation from staff here uh
adopted and implemented by the by staff. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> It's been seconded, Councilman Sanchez. Uh discussion. >> No, I am completely in favor of this. Pickle ball is is an overwhelmingly popular sport right now as long as it's done in a proper manner by all the users
>> that you know without any foreseeable issues of fighting and discussion among them that or tearing down of our rule signs or anything like that. So I am in favor of it but we have to also keep in mind the uh the rules of these. >> Anyone else? >> Can I just mention something mayor?
>> Sure. >> Yeah. And if this motion can also include spending, let's say just to be safe. >> I was just telling you that I have a >> follow no more than $2,000 from the Miami Lakes Optimus Capital Account. >> Mayor, do you want me to amend my motion or do you want me to just make a follow-up motion? >> That'll be easier. Just go ahead and
amend it. So, it's the authorization and the funding. >> I'll amend my motion to authorize the funding of up to 2,000 uh 2,000 from the MLP uh capital account. >> I'll second that. >> It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I.
>> All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The motion is amended and we're back on the main motion. Further discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. Item 8G carries as proposed. Next, we are on
8H, building department technology modernization and digital permitting update. and Miss Parks. Uh, good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Town Council. Daniel Angel, director of building, zoning, and code enforcement. Um, the report in front of
you is in response to Councilman Sanchez's technology upgrade new business item presented at the February council meeting. This report represents the culmination of a multi-year technology modernization effort within the building department. It began with then Councilman Diegas's 2021 convenient
business licensing initiative to allow businesses to apply for and renew licenses online and was further guided by the recommendations of the building ad hoc committee to improve technology, operational efficiency and customer service. After rebuilding operations, modernizing
our systems, expanding online services, and enhancing our existing software platform, we have now success successfully process more than 100 digital permit applications and plan reviews through our electronic per permitting system. And this is all with a soft launch with no announcements.
This accomplishment fulfills the vision established by prior council initiative and advances the objectives outlined in Councilman Sag's NBI by delivering a modern customer customer focused digital permitting platform. Also attached to this uh report is a
draft scope of services for a digital plan submitt and electronic plan review program which serves as a reference document and framework for the type of functionality contemplated by the MBI. Staff's assessment indicates that most, if not all, of these capabilities have already been implemented or are
currently being implemented through the town's existing software platform, allowing us to continue modernizing services while maximizing the town's existing investments. And I'm sure you guys read the report. So, if you guys have any questions, feel free to shoot them my way. >> I'm going to go straight to Councilman
Sanchez uh to kick us off. So Danny, first and foremost, seven pages is very in-depth. You know, there's there's a lot of information in here. There's a sample scope, everything like that. And I appreciate the work that you did. However, it's not what was
asked for by this day. What this deis recom requested was the last two pages of this report and it's this is a sample. We wanted to see what was th this I I understand that a 100 reports have
already been received but I also wanted to see what other software and something that we didn't have before. We didn't have the ability to have software u plans did um submitted digitally. So this was a good way of having a trial run without having to replace systems
and take 9 to 18 months and spend all this all these funds. It wasn't a replacement. And it was a new system that gave us an opportunity to see what was out there for procurement that could be more cost-effective that could be more userfriendly for all we know based
on the system that we have that is on an annual renewal. It's not a five 3 plus two one years. It's an annual renewal that we've had since 2019. It's just it's it's doesn't give us the opportunity to see what else is out there that could be cheaper like I stated that could be more user friendly.
And that now is what's in front of us. something that you ran with when this isn't what was asked of this of this council. I would still like to see that procurement process go through with an actual scope that shows bigger monitors that are needed. That shows this is the
type of software that we need because this was presented in February. It's been four months that it was presented and we don't have what was requested. So, I get it. You went with the company that we currently have, but we can we don't know if there's something better out there. We don't know if there's something that is easier to use. So, I
still insist on having that scope developed so that we can put it out to bid so we can see if there's something that can save us some money, save your department some more money that you can reinvest into other technologies and keep going that way. For all we know,
we're running Windows 3.1 in a world that's running Windows 11. We don't know that because all we know is a software that we have right now. And I'm not saying that the work that you did went in vain because a 100 people did get helped and we see the ability to do it. But I want to continue with down that
path of going through the procurement process and seeing what else is out there because it's something new, something that we didn't have before. So I move to continue on the path of creating that scope and putting it out to procurement when a proper scope is presented and not a sample scope.
There's a motion on the table. Is there a second? >> I'll second for discussion. >> Seconded by Councilman Garcia. Uh Councilman Garcia, any discussion? Vice Mayor. >> Uh, Mr. Manager. >> Yeah. I I I I just with all due respect,
I beg to differ with the council member Sanchez. Be the uh motion that was passed when the NBI was to come back with a scope of services and we've done that. So, I think we have complied um with the with the NBI which was to
provide a scope of services. Mhm. >> Um we have also we we are responsible for providing um and providing this council with as much information as possible so you make educated uh decisions. So the fact that
we also highlighted the fact that we have been able to with our current software uh accomplished the digital plan submitt and it was a project that was well underway for many months probably over a year uh between the building department and our IT
department. So that's it. I I if the council obviously if the council decides to move forward with a uh with the uh RFP and put a put it out, we're more than happy to fulfill that uh that wish of the council. But I'd like to just
state that we did provide the scope of services for an RFP. Um and we feel obligated to provide you with as much information and background uh as possible so you make as educated decisions as possible. >> Okay. Cas Sanchez. Um, for the benefit
of the of all of us because I I heard it from this side as well. There's a little bit of confusion. I don't think we really understood the motion. Uh, if you could elaborate and and explain it a little bit uh so that we understand what it is you're requesting. >> Absolutely. Earlier today placed on your
desk, you have this document that has 8H at the top of it is the actual NBI that did not have amendments, did not have any changes. I motioned. Councilman Hersburg seconded. Without any discussion, it passed. And it states, "It is recommended that staff return at
the March 17, 2026 regular council meeting with a project scope to begin the procurement process for the technology upgrades needed to implement the ability for architectural plans to be submitted digitally instead of printed paper. Right out of the gate, to
be able to read those plans hardware wise, you need larger monitors. Right out of the gate, this s ample scope has nothing about hardware. Has a few things about software, but nothing about hardware. So, it wasn't to go ahead and run with it. And I understand that staff understood
the spirit of it was to start implementing it, but I just wanted a scope to be developed so we could see what else is out there, what other softwares are out there through >> the chair. >> Hold on, Councilman Garcia. I'll let him finish.
>> Yeah. May >> okay uh respectfully on that point isn't the answer to this the rep how is the report that is provided as 8h uh on the actual agenda on starting on page 69 through
>> 74 uh yeah 74 with the or 7 >> 75 >> uh of today's agenda. How is that report not the answer to this the project scope? >> It's not because it also includes things for BTRs. that includes information that isn't part of this. And I understand
that it was an item on the path that um Mayor Diegas brought up, but the scope of this specific NBI was just for something to implement something that we didn't have period for online submission of plans. >> Okay. It's just it's it to me it's
filler information and instead of putting it out and listening to the letter of this NBI that states just to create a scope to so that we can approve and say yes this is what's needed start the procurement process. It was just ran with and we don't know if there's something better out there at this point
that can be more cost effective. >> Okay. I also just want to say because you know you were mentioning hardware and and software and I I'm not going to lie to you. I I read through this lightly uh because it's a it's a dense
report. Um but I did read through it and it it seems that we're good. Um my my concern is substituting what is my judgment on what is needed versus you,
the department head's judgment. And for example, as a moment ago, you were saying we definitely need larger monitors in order to read plans, but the guy in charge was paid by our town to read plans was shaking his head and
seemingly in disagreement. And I, no offense to you, I I kind of take his word a little bit stronger when it comes to reading plans because that is pretty much the only thing he does. Uh, and so if if he tells me he doesn't need larger
monitors and I don't have to waste money on a larger monitor, I'm going to go in that route. Uh, and again, credit to him because most of the time when a government says, "We're willing to give you money," they they don't hesitate. And he he did. So, thank you. Uh, but I I'm still struggling to
understand what do you do you need him then to, I guess, extract from this report the parts specific to your NBI and then put that into its own report? Is that what you're asking? Develop a scope that we can put out for procurement. >> Okay. Is is that understandable?
Is that something that can be done for the next meeting? >> So, keep in mind uh what you have in front of front of you and what the councilman asked in his NBI is a portion of our total enterprise system which is
considered community development. Within community development, you have a land track module that ensures that the GIS locations for every permit that is pulled is tied to that folio number. You have permit track, which is your plan
and electronic review submitts for building permits. You have code track that essentially oversees all of our code functionality. You have projects and planning that archives all of Susan Alonzo's variances, development orders,
things of that nature. You have a contractor registration portal that archives archives and activates all of our current uh contractors. So, in essence, this is an enterprise program that encompasses a lot of functionality
within the development community. uh Councilman Sanchez's specific item as he read on his MBI was to to intake digital plan reviews which the manager correctly alluded to, we've been working on this since 2021 after the ad hoc committee
where one of the initial successes that we had which was reported to this town council last year was the success of our business tax renewal where we collected historic amounts of revenue just based on leveraging our current technology. technology. So with the success
successes of that and we felt that it was very important to incorporate that into the report so you guys could understand what has occurred in the last 5 years in the building department. It's a lot of technology that we have put into that. Sure. Digital plant submitt was one of them and we finally achieved that. We're already up to 100 uh uh
digital plan submitts and reviews and we just launched that in April. We're working with Clarison or her team that once we go live we're going to launch this and we're going to make this a goal for everybody. So right now we are currently with the existing software we are currently uh uh successfully doing
what uh the spirit of the MBI hat. >> Uh Councilman Garcio, go ahead. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I think that no other department has made more improvements over the past five or six years in the building department, past
councils, past mayors, current councils. uh we see what when you envelop when you bring in new technologies the improvements you've made part of this report kind of says that but I think the spirit of what um and one of my new business items as well I know Danny's going crazy with with with the council
really so involved in in the building department and and what what Councilman Sanchez I think what the spirit of what he's trying to say is hey are we consistently reviewing the brand new uh software or brand new technology that's out there
that consistently gets updated. Um, you know, and sometimes you need new screens because of that or whatever. Are we consistently putting that to RFP? And that's something we should do in all our departments honestly because we really need to just make sure we're we're looking out what's even the we have a scope create the scope but are we
consistently looking out to see if new stuff have come along that can save us time effort manpower make it more efficient and in the end bring better customer service to to our business clients and also our residents right so in that spirit I agree with Councilman
Sanchez we should always be looking for what's the next thing what's the next thing what's the next thing But not you can't you can't deny that you've made incredible improvements with with the software that you've implemented and all the things you've implemented. But we do have a budget that doesn't mean we have
to use it, but if there's brand new technology that's coming at the forefront, you're you're you're the professional. You're the SM me in this. You know what's coming. Just keep an eye on it. Constantly putting it out there. Maybe something comes up. And I know this is enterprise system has a lot of different moving part. the permit track,
community development, you know, all the the pro planning, the the the the portal you have for the contractor, super important. They all have to work together. But just I think the spirit of his of what he's asking is, hey, are we continually asking are we are we doing the best? Is there better out there?
That's all I think that's why I I'm nothing nothing against you uh Danny and your department. You're constantly improving. That's I just think we just continually need to ask every year, hey, are we doing the best we can to find the the most efficient software at the best cost? That's I I think that's why I
seconded that the the councilman's item motion. >> I'm going to let him respond to you, uh, Director Angel, before we go over to Councilman Fernandez. >> I appreciate that, Mayor. And it's not really a response directly to Councilman Garcia. I'm just want it's basically to
pose this out to the council. Um, if we go this route of putting this RFP, the current vendor that we have is most likely going to bid very likely they could probably win as well too. They're currently being used by Pinerest, Palmetto Bay, and again, I'm not trying to say this is the one and all, but
there's nothing right now in the current South Florida market that is above the rest. What I will add to this council is that there is something around the corner that we've been in discussions with Miami date county to basically unify their current system with all the municipalities. You're starting to see
that push in Tallahassee with the current bills that's coming out of Tallahassee where they want to you make building departments uniform and they're leaning more towards that private provider. One of the things that's starting January 1st is that Tallahassee has to come out with a uniform building permit application. So, it goes to show you that they're in line with just
making one one one-stop shop wherever you go. It doesn't matter what city you go to. And that's what happens. A lot of challenges and a lot of frictions come with you go to one city, you have one software. You have another city, you have another software. But I can tell you right now in South Florida, there's not one that's above the rest. They have
the same. Yeah. They keep on flirting with the idea of AI. Right now, I could throw any set of building plans into any LLM model language and it could read the plans. It's not specific to a specific software. So all that to say is and it
was part of my report is we're a lean mean fighting machine downstairs in the building department. I have been part of several two software implementations here with the town of Miami Lakes and with the town of Miami and I will tell you it is a labor and a labor of love to
implement new technology. It could take 9 to 18 months and that is not a lie. And and again, I just asked this council, at what time are we going to be implementing this software? We our doors are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. We're fronting operation.
I'm just trying to figure it out if this goes through. >> Yeah. >> Councilman Fernandez. And then we'll go to Councilman Quad Garcia. >> I mean, to be honest, I know nothing about building and permitting and anything like that. You guys, you're the
expert. I'm just curious from Councilman Sanchez. Is is there are you aware of software that is superior to the one that we use? >> I'm not. But it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. >> I agree. >> So business software is very different than consumer software, but at the same
time, for example, the app that we have, this is not the first iteration of the Miami Lakes app. This is the second app that we have. We used to have a former vendor. We no longer have them, and now we have a new one. doesn't mean that there isn't something better, but we won't know unless we open that procurement process to see what is out
there and if it can be more cost-effective. The more money we keep on our side, especially with what's coming down the pipeline of the tax referendum, we don't know unless we start that process if it's something because yes, on the back end, there are a lot of departments that deal with it, but we also have to think of the
consumer side, the residents, is it easy for them to use it? The contractors, is it easy for them to use it? We don't know if there is something easier out there. Is it Windows versus Apple? you know there we we don't know there used to be a system I don't know if it's still around maybe it's on a business side of Linux I think is now used mostly by businesses but we don't know what's
out there which is why I want to search out this process to see if there was something better and cheaper out there >> I didn't know that we had to be geeks also computer geeks anyways um if I understand this correctly basically it's
simple it's basically we want going to go digital. Is that what it is? Okay. I mean, our sister, >> we currently are digital, Councilman. That's part of the report. >> We currently are digital. >> Oh, yeah. Our sister Miami Gardens is
digital. So, so what is the whole I'm trying to understand this? What is it that we need? Do we need uh do we need uh enough? What is it that we need? The whole purpose of this was to see if there was a better solution out there, another software company that can come
in and say we c we can do your online submitts. We can take care of that. The software is x amount of funds. The hardware is x amount of funds. But we instead went with the in-house that we have which was not the spirit of of this item. It was an exploratory type of item
to an idea >> an idea to see what else is out there. is it would help you that could help you assume right >> more cost effective cheaper something that's easier to use but now we don't know that because it's been implemented the only way to find that out is to create a scope that says we need this
type of software or this type of hardware and putting it out to procurement and see what comes back so if what we have is the cheapest and the most you know I mean not the the most userfriendly and the most cost effective then we keep what we have but we don't know if there is that existence out there
>> okay well let's then direct direct uh staff to look into it and and do some homework and get back to us. >> Well, look, we got to keep moving. So, we have a motion. >> Is that I mean, Mr. Mayor, is that a good idea? Have staff look into it and come back. >> Stephen Hburg. Oh,
>> okay. It Yeah. No, no. We're discussing the options that are before us. Again, if you have other ideas, you have plenty of time to get with the attorneys and and the manager, but I'm going to go to Councilman Herszburg, who has not had an opportunity to speak yet. >> Thank you, Mayor. I mean reading this I just want to get
your position clear. Are you are you saying that the town is already accepting digital plans and you don't see a need for another software? Is that basically your assessment? >> What what I would uh suggest and recommend to this town council as my professional opinion is to can you
continue to entrust me? Um I just to remind this council I assumed that role in 2021. Uh that department was in pure chaos. we were able to bring it to where it's at. And I just asked this council, each individual, do you guys get complaints during the permitting
process? Do you guys get complaints during the code process? Is there a specific complaint that we need to address? And I'll just use the words as Councilman Cuadra always says, if it ain't broke, don't fix. What we're doing now is we're continuing to when I when I
took over that and it was part of the building adhawk committee, that software that they had in that department was only at 30% full capacity. I want to say right now I've already brought it up to at least 80%. And they continue to bring out software releases and they continue to bring out software releases like like the iPhone. Every time there's a new
software release, it fixes a bug. And we're going to get there. And all I'm saying is that we're going to go through this round of RFP. And I think we've suffered from this as a town in the past is we go out to bid, we pull the bid, then when we go out to bid again, nobody's bidding because they know that the town is not serious about bidding.
when we go out to bid, let's be fully serious that what we want to bid and we want to acquire, we're going to taint because we have a reputation here just like everything else. So my recommendation is continue to entrust me. We will bring it up to standard and we'll make the building department the best building department in Miami date
county. >> Continue. >> But I just and sorry for the cross-examination here. your department already accepts because the NBI says he wants, you know, the councilman wanted to to go start the process and make sure
that we can get our architectural plan submitted digitally, which is true. Definitely something that I think the town should be able to do, which we have since April 1st. And this is not something that I just turned on a switch. One of the things that we started doing in light of C then Councilman Sanchez, and I'm sorry, I keep on saying I mean Councilman Diego,
which is Mayor Diegas, he wanted to modernize the building department. This was back in February of 2021. We're already doing that. And because we're doing that, we're like, "No, we got to make everything digital because it's not just a want. It's a it's a requirement." Florida statute now requires that we have to accept digital
plants. So, this is something that has been in the works for the last three years. We've had consultants. We've been working on it just to make sure. And we talk about cost efficiency. Right now, we're paying $45,000 a year for that program to maintain it because we own it. we go out to bid and we acquire a
full enterprise system, half a million dollars. >> Okay. So, I'm going to call the vote, but first I I'm I'm just going to state now that Councilman Sanchez, I respect the the spirit in which this item was proposed. I obviously supported it last
time. Um, as I'm thinking about it now, my concern is just the response that you gave, Councilman Fernandez, which is that you're you're not aware of another company that handles this. And yet, and you and I both know that both of us are intelligent people that go out and do
research on these items, and we could absolutely, if there was one, I think you would have found it, right? Um, so my concern with just putting it out there is that it might be just spinning our wheels, spending inordinate amounts of staff time on something that we may not get any anybody to to bid. Um, so
that that's my concern. So, um, just wanted to put out on the record that I'll be a no on this, but you know, let's see what happens. Uh, but I respect where you're coming from, and I want to continue to remind staff that for me, I'm always going to support the council's prerogative. When we give
direction, I want it followed exactly as it was passed. Um, if you're going to go in a different direction, I've always been an advocate and and normally the manager uh works with me on this, too. But if there's an alternative direction to go in, you speak to us to the sponsoring council member first before
proceeding with that alternative direction. So, I just want that noted for staff. But with that, um, Madame Clerk, please call the role. >> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Hburg,
>> no. >> Council member Garcia, >> yes. Council member Fernandez, >> no. >> Council member Guadra Garcia, >> no. >> Vice Mayor Mora,
>> no. >> Mayor Diegas, >> no. >> The motion fails. >> Mayor, point of order. >> Uh, you're recognized for the point of order. >> I'd like to make a motion to reopen the agenda. >> All right. Is there a second? >> Second.
>> All right. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say I. I. All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The agenda's reopened. What is it that you would like to move around? >> Thank you, mayor. I'd like to bring 16 L to immediately after 8H. So, next, uh,
so now. Um, and other than that, that's it. >> Okay. Um, so with that, uh, Vice Mayor Mora moves to move 16L to the next item. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second. >> All right. It's been seconded. All those in favor say I.
>> I. All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The agenda is amended and we are on 16L. Which does that require a waiver? >> Yes, it does. >> All right. So, go ahead. You You're recognized for the waiver. >> Thank you. I'd like to move to wave section 7.2 of the special rules of
order as it pertains to item 16L. >> Second. >> Wait, what? >> He seconded. >> Second. >> Oh, no. I saw Ed move toward the mic, so I thought it was him that was I was confused. >> Yeah, I know. It was It was throwing me off. All right. So with that, all those
in favor of the waiver say I. I. All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The rule is waved. You're recognized to proceed. >> Thank you, mayor. So, first and foremost, I want to say that this item is here because of one person. That's Miss Karolina Kuba, who is here in the audience. Uh she was here during public
comments. I I don't have to even explain to you guys how impressive she is in her public speaking uh and in her own uh advocacy. But my motion here is going to be to adopt the resolution that's attached uh to my NBI as exhibit A. It
seeks to reestablish a youth advisory board for the town of Miami Lakes and it seeks to supersede resolution 24-193. Uh so that resolution was adopted back in April of 2024 just before I came in. Uh at that time they sought to create
this youth advisory board. Uh would you like me to actually pause for a second or >> No. Okay. So So at that time um the council basically said, "Yeah, we're going to go do this." But as sometimes
happens, it was more lip service than anything else because immediately after it was passed, nothing happened. No, no council member appointed anyone. No applications were were sent to the schools as the original uh resolution required. And again, but for Miss Kuba
bringing this up, this would have completely gone by the wayside. Uh, and in in so doing and in so bringing it up, she proved the need for the for for a youth advisory board. The the the spirit and purpose of such a board is to ensure
that the that the voice and the opinions of the youth are taken into account. As a great example, today we took up a very important item and that's the MLOP items. This would have been an item in which I think that the that the youth advisory board would have definitely had an opinion given that it directly
affects the youth in our communities. Um, you guys can read the the resolution uh as well as the the NBI in in greater detail yourselves, but this does envision the council members having a certain amount of flexibility if you
wanted to offer them uh shadow opportunities. You're welcome to do that. If you prefer to not be bothered, you you don't have to give them that opportunity. Uh but the primary thing is that they would be able to deliver a report to us. Uh and just as we're given
these here on the dis prior to the meetings, they would hand in their report. It would necessarily be after close of agenda because they would need to receive our agenda and then they'd be able to have their report commenting on the items that they deem are important
to the youth and then we can reference it or not during, you know, we're not obligated to. Uh but I think it is important that it be considered. Um, other than that, I I'll go ahead and move for the adoption. >> I'll second for discussion. >> Discussion. >> Thank you. >> Okay. The first one I heard was Councilman Sanchez, so I'll go to him
first, then to Councilman Garcia. >> Um, if I may ask, Miss Cuba, can you come to the podium for a moment? Thank you, Missa. If I understand that correctly, you do not live within the boundaries of the town of Miami. Is that correct? >> Okay. I just have there's a reason I
asked that question. I want to amend this NBI but first I have a question I I communications director really quick because she knows more about the committees. >> I I I submitted it with a resolution. >> I could probably answer his question
before he even asks it. Do we have any committees where that residency requirement is waved and it's not grandfathered? So for example, blasting advisory, we have the chair of blasting advisory isn't a resident of Miami, but I believe he has been grandfathered in.
>> Good evening, mayor and council. Yes, all the committee members that were um already serving on the committees and did not live here have been grandfathered in. The only committee that has uh a waiver for that rule is blasting advisory board.
>> Okay. So, it's not unheard of to be able to add a a stipulation to the resolution for this committee that they do not have to be residents. >> Well, blasting has it. So, yes, you're correct. >> Okay. So, I wouldn't be breaking new ground by introducing it to this one. >> Well, it's up to you. You
>> I just introducing is what I would be doing. Okay. Thank you, Clar. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. So, I move to amend the resolution to remove the residency requirement. >> There's no need. I'm sorry. I I don't know. I thought that my resolution my proposed resolution was included in this. Uh I had submitted one along with
my submission. Uh >> I don't have it. >> My proposed resolution uh had a very simple requirement. It actually intentionally removed the Miami Lakes residents C requirement and instead uh simply created uh a requirement that they attend one of the schools in in
Miami Lakes including HML as well since that's >> already in the resolution and I fully support. I just didn't see it. I'm sorry. I I actually didn't realize it wasn't included in in the digital agenda. >> Okay. >> I I'll um I'll I'll circulate it actually to the manager so that he can
uh um circulate to everyone. >> Okay. >> Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor. Um again, uh you're absolutely correct. Uh if they're coming to our if they're attending our schools, then the waiver should be uh should be w that should be
waved. And again, I I I want to apologize uh to Miss Koula for for dropping the ball for not uh jumping on this quicker. Um but but you just showed that it, you know, your voice your voice works. You came to us, you talked to the
vice mayor, and look, it's getting done. And I agree. I think that uh it'll be a great idea to hear hear from more students in the town. So I'm I'm 100% for this item. hasn't. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh uh Councilman Hsburg and do you
want to say something? Councilman Fernandez. >> Okay. So, Hersburg Fernandez, uh that'll be the order. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh first of all, again, thank you for I saw your emails come in. We spoke briefly and and keep pushing it to make sure someone someone got it on the agenda. Uh I don't know
what happened. Why this didn't Mr. Manager Mr. Manager >> Mr. Manager Ed, >> you're being asked a question. Is there is there a specific reason why it nothing happened for all this time when it was approved previously? Just
>> I think only one person uh submitted an application when we put it out. We advertised it. We put it out. Uh Clarisol can speak better about the the efforts that we did but we did put it you know like a newly uh constituted thing and only um Miss Kuba I think was the only one that
>> so to to you I hope that we can get people to apply and and be interested. I don't I don't care where they live or where they go to school. >> Yeah, we're going to need help, >> right? I mean, >> getting the enthusiasm going, but just letting them know. >> Exactly. I The resolution makes sense to
not have the residency requirement. Anyone, anybody in the youth that wants to get involved, I'm all for it. So, it's a good item. I hope we can get it going. The only question I have then to the vice mayor is your idea is what for them to meet like on the Thursday after
the agenda post. H how does it how do they advise us? In my head, it's like that. It's that they meet after agenda posts. Um, ultimately, I would actually leave it to them at at the date that they believe makes the most sense for
them. Um, what makes a lot of sense to me is that it's after agenda post so that they can comment on the things that are on the agenda. Uh I I'll I was able to pull up the resolution uh that I that I submitted along with this NBI and I
did just forward it right now to the manager so that he could disseminated it to all of you guys. Uh the requirements are uh to qualify prospective board members must one be a resident of Miami Lakes or be enrolled at one of the following schools. And then it goes uh
Miami Lakes K through8 Bob Graham Miami Lakes Middle of the Lakes uh Miami Lakes Educational Center, Barbara Gleman, uh or Haley Miami Lakes Senior High. I think I got them all. Um they have to have an unweighted GPA of at least 2.5 and submit a completed application. Um,
one of the major differences which is I think the reason why there wasn't a lot of interest in the past or or we didn't get back many is and that has been changed in this version is how the applications are sent out and received. In the past it was done through the
schools. Basically, we handed the applications to the school and the school decided who they were sending us. I didn't like that for two reasons. Number one, it allowed the schools to play favorites and we all know that it happens. Uh, and number two, I didn't like it because it almost forced upon us
who was on the committee. We had almost no voice in who was in the committee. It was just the schools. Each school had a representative. So, Miami Lakes Middle had a representative. Uh, K through8 had a representative, etc. And and so if
there was a vacancy, uh, I can't just select the person who I think is the most uh, qualified. I had to select the one who who uh I'm making faces. The the the one who uh who who goes to the school that has the vacancy. So, I
didn't like that. So, we got rid of it. Uh like I said, I sent the resolution to Ed. Feel free to take a look. >> Thank you. >> I know I had said Councilman Fernandez, but I I looked at the time and we really got to get moving. We're falling behind. Uh and thankfully the the conditional
use approval uh you know decided to defer. So um my one question to you is this is going to come back to us, right? >> I don't know. >> Yeah. If it passes tonight, it's a new business item. So the resolution would have to come back even though you had attached it. >> I think so. Yeah.
>> Yeah. So I have a lot of questions. I'm I'm deeply skeptical. You know how I feel about creating any new boards and uh you know so it has nothing to do with you, Miss Cuba. I think you're great and I >> Huh. No, no. My personal beef is with just endless committees, right? That's
always been my beef. As you saw today, look, look at what time you're here, right? Look how many reports we have to get through. So, you know, and to hear from different groups, it it really takes a lot of time. And uh so I'm going to review it in depth and think of uh of alternatives that can get me on board.
I'm going to vote it forward tonight, but just to move us along, but you know, I guess you and I uh will be scheduling a meeting so we can uh discuss it further. With that, all those in favor say I. I. All oppose, no. The eyes have it. The motion carries. Thank you very much, ladies.
>> All right, going back into the regular order of business. We are now wait >> the attorney's report number nine. Number nine. >> We don't have we don't have anything to report which is fantastic.
>> That is the best report ever. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Consent calendar. >> We're now on the consent calendar. Is there a motion? >> I move the consent. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. All oppose? No. >> The eyes have it. The motion carries.
The consent calendar is passed. And we now come to 13A, the revised lean reduction ordinance. Um, I just want to remind everybody, we're on first reading. There's no need to, you know, beat this up too much. So,
with that, I'm just going to move, well, after the attorney reads it, I'm going to go ahead and just move it. And I would ask that we just advance it to second reading. >> All right. Mr. Attorney, >> an ordinance of the town of Miami Lakes, Florida, amending chapter 8, section 8-7 of the Town of Miami Lakes Code of
Ordinances titled recovery of unpaid civil penalties, unpaid penalty to constitute a lean, interest to be paid on leans, foreclosure, prohibition of the issuance of permits, licenses, certificates of use and occupancy, or zoning approvals to violators with unpaid civil penalties
or leans. civil penalty reduction to temporarily reinstate prior lean mitigation schedules to require town council approval prior to foreclosure on non-homestead property providing for inclusion into the code providing for repeal of ordinances in conflict providing for severability and providing
for an effective date. >> Excellent. I move to adopt uh the ordinance as proposed and get it to second reading. It's been seconded. Any discussion? Hopefully not. Okay, with that madam clerk, please call the role. Ordinance in first reading item 13A.
Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> Council Member Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Hburg, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes.
>> Ordinance in first reading, item 13A passes. >> Excellent. We're now on 13B. Again, an item on first reading, budget amendment J A Grant. Uh, Mr. Attorney, >> an ordinance of the town of Miami Lakes, Florida, amending the fiscal year 2025
2026 annual operating budget adopted in accordance uh adopted in ordinance 2025-346 to recognize and appropriate grant funds awarded to the town by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement under the Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistant
Grant JAG program for the purchase of police equipment providing for the increase of general fund fund revenues and appropriations in the amount of $4,54 as set forth in exhibit A. Providing for authority, providing for implementation, providing for appeal of ordinances in
conflict, and providing for an effective date. >> Um, >> thank you. Oh, go ahead, Councilman Fence. >> I'll move. >> I'll second that. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Seeing none, Madame Clerk, please call the role. Ordinance in first reading item 13B.
Council member Fernandez, >> yes. >> Council member Hzburg, >> yes. >> Council member Sanchez, >> yes. >> Council member Garcia, >> yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Mora, >> yes. >> Mayor Diegas, >> yes.
>> Ordinance in first reading, item 13B passes. >> Excellent. We're now in 14A non-advelor special assessment rates for security guards and lake m maintenance special taxing districts. Uh Mr. Attorney, go ahead and read the ordinance. >> Ordinance of the town council of the
town of Miami Lakes, Florida approving adopting a non-advalorum assessment role for special taxing districts. Approving adopting adopting and ratifying special assessment district rates for special taxing districts, including but not limited to security guard and multi-purpose maintenance. providing for
severability and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you. And uh before we continue, this is a public hearing, so I'm going to open the public hearing. Are there any members of the public wishing to speak? Seeing none in chambers. Madam clerk, anyone online?
>> Participants. I see two. A I see one actually. I'm sorry. Mr. Adonis Sardinas, if you want to participate now 14A, ordinance in second reading. Welcome and unmute yourself.
Okay. So, going once, going twice. The public comment period on on this item is now closed. So, with that, Mr. Manager, yeah, this is the uh setting of the assessments. It's not the approval of the budgets,
but it's setting of the assessments for the uh nonadvalorum special assessments for the security guard and lake maintenance special taxing districts uh for next year. Thank you. Um, so with that, is there a motion?
>> I'll move it. >> It's been moved by Councilman Herzburg. It's been seconded by the vice mayor. Discussion. >> Sure. >> All right, Mr. Vice Mayor. >> Okay. So, to be clear, as as uh you clarified, we're we're voting here on on the rate, not on the budget. Um,
as far as a lot of the the public comment that we have received on this, uh, we we did receive some strong uh, objections from homeowners living over in Miami Lake Section 1. Um, they oppose, generally speaking, uh, because
it's a lot that I'm trying to synthesize into a short statement. Um, they they generally oppose the way in which the direct costs are calculated. uh they deem that it lays a heavier burden on uh Miami Lake Section 1 than on others. Um
with respect, I I I know individually pretty much every single one of those residents that commented. So with uh all respect to them, I I do respectfully disagree with them. Um, everything I've seen seems to actually indicate that on
a perome basis, the residents of Miami Lake section one actually pay less than the residents in other um special taxing districts. Moreover, I at the same time I s I empathize with
their objection. I understand the way that they're seeing it. They're seeing the overall picture of because we are a bigger community, we are saddled with larger numbers of uh wi with a larger number as a community. Um I think that
that is flawed for the reason I already stated in that um on a perome basis they are actually getting a better rate. Uh but additionally because ultimately while I did hear a lot of the objections
and considered them thoroughly I didn't see a valid or feasible alternative and in the absence of that I kind of have to go with what I have. Um so that being said I am still open to hearing a valid
feasible alternative uh between now and the budget. Um but at this rate as far as the rate is concerned I will move uh move uh or or vote to uh approve the current rate. Should we determine that
there is a better way uh between now and budget season I am happy to reduce the direct costs and allocate more to the contingency funds and then give them a savings next year. I'm happy to do that. I'm open to them. Uh, I want them to know we are listening and and we did
hear, read and and and consider all of the objections that were raised, but ultimately at this time I don't see a convincing uh reasoning to go with um something different. >> All right, we're going to go to Councilman Herszburg, then Councilman
Fernandez, and then Councilman Cuad Garcia. That's the lineup for the next three. >> Thank you, Mayor. And I I share your your view viewpoint to an extent, Vice Mayor. I spent an hour of staff today going over these numbers and the history how they got there. The way the numbers that
work is 100% section one has the lowest per household, right? Their their issue is that the the percentage of the budget is disproportional, right? Um but the other other ways that I discussed how it
could be done, this is this is a compromise. this makes the most sense because at the end of the day it's going to be paid by somebody and there are more homes, more residents asking for service. There's actually even four is it four gates that are
there. So there's even four gate guard each gate has issues. Each gate gets broken down and and I when I'm speaking with staff my understanding is section one has a large amount of calls for service. Right. if you want to come up and and talk about what your findings were in that.
>> Yes. So, we were able to go ahead and pull a report for all guard houses um and take a look at guard gate issues as well as guard house issues. And in the report by guard house, section one does have the highest reports through the uh reporting system of SFM uh for guard
house and guard gate issues. Overall, even looking at districts as a total, they are barely beaten out by total overall reports other than Royal Oak section one, which does have two guardouses, but it's a difference of three reports, right? So, the idea that
there's more residents and there's going to be more time for staff, that makes sense that and that's where and that's where staff's position came from on on how to do this. I I looked at the numbers. I tried to see where the numbers would flow. I based off the one of the suggestions from one of the
residents, I I saw the difference of about $21 a year, $22 a year. It's it's money, but it's not something that's going to move these budgets much. Uh I will say though from one thing from Mr. Foster's email that I 100% agree with
and I discussed that with staff was if a district make does a big capital improvement like Lman's been discussing that that capital improvement needs its own admin fee because no district it doesn't matter if it's section one or oaks should be supplementing the amount
of time and staff time it will require to build a new guard gate or renovate a guardgate right so that's something I think we should all discuss up here and and the third thing which doesn't have to do with section one Actually, Lachlman, which we had a brief discussion um now with the president of the HOA
and vice mayor, maybe you can help me. I know Lman has come up and asked for approval to get plans and improve their gate guard. Does do we need do they need to get a voter petition or can we just add that to the budget? Is the HOA is saying they have approval from their
HOA? That's what I'm confused about is how do we get that moving if they're asking for it? A um director Bagdown, do you have an answer uh to that? >> So with regards to the item of lock
lmen, um under the current status where there is no defined capital improvements, this would require the budgeting authority through the council and approval to go ahead and start the planning phase for the lock lmen uh redevelopment of their guard house. So it would be a function of the budget um
process and approved by council. >> And and how much was that money? How much does it cost again? >> So, it's in the report under the exhibit C that lists all the additional items. It is the total of it's phase one of uh planning of design and permitting. It's
$55,000. It comes out to $38. It's on the report. I can't remember off top of my head right now per unit. And as spoken with the HOA president, they have no concerns with the onetime increase for that $38. But they I I they do understand that
then they're going to have to pay for the building. Right. >> Correct. And then in the report, you also have our preliminary uh estimate working with public works as as far as redesigning that road and creating the guard gate in a position that will alleviate a lot of their issues they're
currently having. Um and based off that very preliminary budget and using state uh labor rates and state um estimates, it was around 400,000. That number obviously wouldn't we'll know more once we get into design. >> So maybe a question for the budget director. Do we need to make that
decision now? Because if we set the rate, there's not going to be room for $50,000. Right. >> Right. So if I I guess I'll make a motion. I'll make a motion to add that line item because it seems like the lockman HOA is requesting it and my
understanding is that that's only one that's the only STD that we're supposed to listen to the HOA. That's my understanding. So, I'll make a motion to add that line to >> Woman. Yeah. No, I know it's an amendment. Uh, let me see if it gets a second and then we'll we'll go to you. >> I'll second.
>> Okay. So, the amendment is being seconded uh by council member Garcia, Mr. Manager, before. >> Just to re reind everyone that similar to the um the millage rate that once you set the the the cap, it's the cap it's
the most, but during the budget process, you can lower it. What you're doing here is setting the assessments. It's the maximum assessments. And correct me if I'm wrong, Melissa. During the budget process, you can lower the assessments. So, you're better off setting a higher assessment now to take in those capital
improvements. And if during the budget process that doesn't pan out, then you can lower the assessment back down. >> Okay. So, if I may, mayor. So, yeah, I then I definitely am I I had the conversation with the HA president. I'm definitely comfortable doing it because if we get feedback all of a sudden that that's not what the residents lock want.
It doesn't seem like that's the case. It seems like they want this. So, let's set it, keep it high, and then let's get the feedback and confirm that's what they want. But, I'd rather have it in here now so they can start that process because it's going to be a two-year process. >> Okay. So, that's an amendment to the
amendment. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Uh, well, what is it, Mr. R? I just think that it should just be clarified that really all he's asking for is the current rate that is given to us in our agenda. Just add $38 to it. As far as lock loan is concerned, that's a
much simpler way of putting it. >> So, let's just call it like that. >> Okay. So, we'll just say that you restated, you know, >> restated what the vice mayor said. >> You clarified the existing motion. There we go. So, okay. So, with that any uh actually the order discussion was council create a buffer.
>> Yeah. 315. >> Okay. So, and again, this is only for LOM, right? >> Only for LOM. >> All right. So, I'll just to get us moving, I'll go ahead and I'll second it. Uh, all those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The
amendment passes. Okay. Now, Council Guarcia and then Councilman Fernandez. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I have to uh speak on behalf of my u my residents on my side of uh Royal Oaks
East after listening to all their objections and uh cannot support raising any more in uh any more money to these security gates, at least on my side. What I would like to recommend, I don't know if I'm
in the right uh channel to ask through the manager uh through the mayor and to the manager and to staff is to see if we can look into um living in the 21st century. If we can remove these guard gates, not the guard
gates, the security guards and implement cameras or systems where they take over these guards. Is there a possibility they could be done? Is there a possibility? Yes. Under the
current verbiage in the uh the ordinances that created them, no. They those would have to be modified. So, I believe that there's an item later on in this agenda that is a new business item by council member Herszburg for him to work with staff to develop some different options, some different
alternatives, some different uh models or methods on how to manage these uh taxing districts, plus what would be the steps necessary to make those uh changes happen and then bring it back to this council for you to make a future
decision on the management and the different uh protocols in those uh guard gates. >> That'll work. >> Okay. Councilman Fernandez. >> Well, I I just want to state for the record that that we do read all the emails. Unfortunately, I I don't respond
to all of them, but we certainly heard we we heard from the residents that that had an opinion on this. Um I I'm going to refer back. So I wanted the staff to do a little bit of research and it came back and it was told to me that the item because I wanted to know how long had
had we been charging in this manner had had we um allocated the the percentages of how we were going to be collecting administrative fees. And apparently it was I think since 21 if I believe >> 23
>> 23 and it was councilman then councilman Fernandez Tony Fernandez and he in fact lives in that section. So you know I think it would it's stands to reason that it's the fairest way to collect the these fees. Uh, and I'll just add that
um at the end of the day I I think that it the the logic is I I don't see any other way that we can collect um and we can proportion out how we're going to collect it cuz we the administrative fee is is a set is a is an amount that is going to be collected one way or
another. And I think this is the most logical way that it's it's being collected at this time. >> All right, we're going to go to Councilman Sanchez and then to Councilman Garcia. Okay, same as everyone here, we've received the emails. We received a plethora of email
overwhelming the scale is overwhelming to to the negative and specifically about one line item on this budget. The expenses account number ending in 513011, management and monitoring. So, I went through as I do with my Excel
spreadsheets as I, you know, every budget season I try to do this and added up all the homes in every single um section, every single special testing district, how much a management costs
and divided that to see what the total cost would be. It cost $41 per household for that one individual that handles all the homes. So section one doesn't have just their token individual for just
section one. And Royal Oaks doesn't have one just for Royal Oak section one. And there isn't there aren't foreign employees. There's one. And all four every household shares that. If section one would like they they they love to state how they are their own body. They have their own laws. If they would like
to have their own person, then I would pursue that. But their price is going to increase exponentially to have a dedicated person just to them. You're talking salary, benefits, taxes, everything that goes into it. So all four are sharing that one individual at a cost of $41 per household. Actually,
Loman pays $42 per dollar per household. On that one line item, which is what's being discussed here, the emails that we received are on one line item. It's not on the entire budget. is on the first line item of expenses. So, it's very fair. It's $41 per household for one
individual that handles everyone. And for what I understand, the lion share of attention that goes to section one from that town employee is is his time, the lion share goes to section one. So, it's extremely fair. And I'm I just don't see where the science the math is is mathing
on on the side of where the disputes are coming from. We actually had one email from a resident of Royal Oaks that voiced exactly what I'm saying and it's the one that was on the other side. So, it's I I get it. There was powers and
numbers and they were against it, but it's fair to pay a proper fair a a proper rate to the individual that's handling all >> how many? >> Yeah. So, almost two thou a little over
2,000 homes. a little over 2,000 homes. So I I just I don't I don't see where that is adding up. So I agree that this is proper and I agree at setting the millillage I mean at the the rate at the new rate that includes the um for for lockman for their security guard gate.
>> Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor. >> No, no, remember that. Next up was Councilman Garcia. Councilman Garcia, you're recognized. >> Thank you so much. Um I have to agree with my colleagues in this. Um, I mean the I, you know, we've all asked the questions, is this the best way to do
it? Not everybody's going to be 100% with everything, but um, I think this this the way we're doing it now, the way we parson out for for this fee is is the the I guess the the most um fair possible um, at this time. So, I'm going
to be voting yes on this. >> Uh, okay. So if you're on the second turn, so just so you're aware, but go ahead, Councilman Guada Garcia. >> And if you look, my district is being penalized the highest. Look at it. Royal
Oaks East is the highest one punished. So therefore, because of that, I cannot support this. Well, >> and I'd like to know why. How does it how do we get there? >> How do we get to these numbers? >> I I I would
>> it's a simple question. >> Yeah. And I would uh respond, but in the interest of time and the considering the the statements already made by my other colleagues that I agree with wholeheartedly, I think it would be better just for us to go ahead and vote. So, Madame Clerk, please call the role.
mayor. And just to make sure that we don't that I didn't lose a motion, we have a main motion which was um by council me made by council member Hzburg, seconded by vice mayor Moretta, and that's the main motion to approve the ordinance in second reading. We had
an amendment by council member Hzburg, seconded by council member Garcia, which was to add the line item for Lumen to guarantee the guardgate district improvement. And to that motion, we had an amendment which was by V Vice Mayor
Moretta, seconded by Mayor Diegas, which according to my notes was to um to provide $315,000 to the added budget of capital improvements. 300 >> $315 added per household to the
assessment that's already in >> that amendment that amendment that may manager Peterman just stated passed but I according to my notes we have that amend we still have to have the vote in the amendment motion to add the line
item for Llman for G guardgate district improvement by council member Harsburg seconded by council member Garcia that's the first amendment, right? >> You're right. And maybe we I mean, basically, the vice mayor's amendment was like a strike all. >> Okay. >> At the end of the day, it all it all got
to the same conclusion. >> So, we don't have that amendment anymore pending. We're voting You're voting on the main motion. >> That is correct. As amended as amended. >> Okay. I just needed >> and the manager just wanted to protect your inbox from getting inundated with the 315,000 number.
>> Okay. So may motion ordinance in second reading item 14A. Council member Hzburg. >> Yes. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia. >> Council member Fernandez. >> Yes.
>> Council member Garcia. >> Yes. >> Council member Sanchez. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Moretta. >> Yes. >> Mayor Diegas. >> Yes. >> Ordinance in second reading item 148 passes. >> Thank you very much. We're now uh on 15A. I'm going to move to defer. It
still exists. It's still on the agenda. We have to defer. >> So with that, I'm going to move to defer 15A to the July regular council lady. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say I. I. >> All oppose? No. >> The eyes have it. The item is deferred
to the July RCM. Uh 16A, Evaluation of Security Service Modernization Options for Special Taxing Districts by Councilman Herszburg. You are recognized. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, hold on. >> So, uh, mayor 15,
>> item 15B resolution. >> The pages were stuck together, so I apologize, Council Harrisburg. So, sorry. >> 15B resolution. >> Yes. 15B, authorization to accept grant funds for Miami Lakes Green North grant.
Now, uh, go ahead. >> Is there a motion? Is it on the move it? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. This is just This is an old grant. There's a grant that's about a decade old and we have to accept this from uh
FDOT and it's for a uh there's been a lot of changes on this project and Omar's negotiated with FDOT uh real well to it's a shared use path that'll go from 154 to where the project at FOT
concluded that right by more or less about where Bob Graham is and it's a shared use path um for that stretch. I'll move it. >> I'll second for discussion. >> Well, before we go to you, I just want to remind the manager that normally we go to whoever's presenting the item to
present it first and then we go to motions. So, all right. So, with that, Councilman Sanchez, you you wanted to speak and then we'll we'll open it up to everybody else. >> Miss Shaw, good evening. How are you? >> Good. Good. Just wondering the funds for this. So a third of it would come from
grants and two/3s or give or take, you know, it's a rough estimate would come from from PTP funds. >> Yes. >> The grant funds, do they have to go specifically to this project? >> Yes. This was something that we were awarded back in 2015. Um but because it was delayed due to that FDOT project
that would have interrupted it would we would have constructed it and then they would have had to tear it up doing the construction that they were doing there. So it got to delayed until now fiscal year 2027. So now as we're trying to execute the agreement with FDOT, we have to give them a new resolution showing
your guys' support or authorization to move forward with the project. Um, but with that, yes, it is specific to this project. It's what we were awarded with that scope. >> Okay. I guess at this point I I bring that up because of an earlier item that that came up during the manager's report
of PTP80 funds and me trying to find some funds for a project that I have for traffic mitigation. um you know and and to dedicate that amount that amount of funds is you know is is a heavy amount and for an area that might not be used that often. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean the goal with the project
is again as it will connect the area next to that school with 154. We're hoping that the shared youth path will help both parents or students or anybody again utilizing or that works in that commercial center that's right there um that can walk or bike to work from the residential community or again that
local school. Obviously, they're not working there, but um to have people be able to walk and bike more safely in that along that area. So, we do think there is a user population there that we hope will be uh big. But yeah, unfortunately that was decided back then when we they proposed it. But we
currently have a sidewalk that already connects to the new addition that was added by FDOT in August of last year when they completed that project where it comes down north 77th and crosses over just north of Bagram Educational Center where they created that new sidewalk where parents used to park for the middle school pickup and that
connects to the sidewalk that goes all the way out to Miami Lake. So this project would really just widen that sidewalk to create that shared use space. Correct. >> Correct. So this would end up this would complete the the the circuit. It would connect it and provide a full uh
facility for both pedestrian and cyclists. Right now where that that FDOT section ends is not uh considered a bicycle facility. So if they would end there, they would essentially have to get on the road. >> Okay. So the one that FDOT created is
already wide enough to be shared use. >> Correct. and they and they went ahead and did a crossing for the town which now we don't have to deal with that with the county. >> Okay. >> So, we just need to finish this uh the small portion considering their overall size. >> The vice mayor has a point of clarification he wants to make. Um,
Director Santos, you you gave a great explanation during my briefing um about what exactly this project is, and I can hear that there's a little bit of confusion on the dis as to what exactly this project is because uh the the actual item that's here on the agenda
doesn't really talk too much about what we're doing. Uh so could you just talk about the project? I I know you explained that um was it FDA? Uh that paid for I think over half of it. Yes. So, it ended up being a lot cheaper for us. Um, and and they did us a great
service. >> Go ahead and explain it, please. >> So, the project initially, which is the green, it was to construct the uh pedestrian bicycle facility from 154 all the way to essentially the canal crossing >> to connect it with the county system,
which we don't have jurisdiction over. FDOT came to us several years back um proposing milling and resurfacing project of 77 of court. When they provided that scope, the uh Susana and I
at that time uh mentioned that we have a project in the area and proposed them building it out for us. They agreed to do the portion that they had to they did which is from the canal to uh Lucida >> but the rest would have to be done by the town.
When we presented this to the FDOT team that oversees our funding, they asked us to reestimate the project uh essentially to show the reduction and their idea was to reduce the funds. Our argument was that even though there was a reduction
in scope because of the you know changes in cost, we would we requested to maintain the budgets the same. So we we kept the original FDOT budget and the town match. And now it's our it's our our time to or the town's time to go
ahead and do the portion that's left over. That's what this is going to accomplish. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> No. >> All right. Uh Vice Mayor and then Councilman Herszburg. >> Thank you, Miss Shock. Um the the item
mentions that it actually splits the the town match 248 uh over the course of um two years uh the fiscal year 27 and 28. Uh can you just clarify how much is 27? How much is 28 for our purposes as we go
into budget season? >> We'll have to look at that. I know we haven't gotten design quotes for it yet. >> No, that that one's already in design. >> Oh, it's already in design. Perfect. >> That that's the reason. It's just it's just a split, but a portion of it goes towards design, then the rest goes
towards construction and inspections. >> But is it like equal? I I'm sorry. I'm very bad about that. I don't know what 248 by 2 is, but >> for purposes of distributing it, but it's not it's not exactly >> 124. It's not exactly that. >> Thank you. So, so it's not exactly 124
each year >> for that component. Yes. But the cost may not exactly be that. We would have to respond back. >> Yeah. I I what I want to know is for budgeting purposes as we get into that season. I I don't want to allocate, you know, uh as we've been discussing up
here uh pretty much all day today, you know, PTP80 funds that are already locked up for this project. Uh and then later on we, you know, uh uh I don't know, bite ourselves in the foot. I don't know. So that's my main comment. >> Yeah, we'd be paying for 62 and a half%.
These are from >> Councilman Herszburg. >> Thank you, Mayor. So to to the director, so I looking at, you know, Google Maps or or whatnot, I see that FD made the larger dual use lanes, right, on 77th
Court. >> Yes. >> So this connects the two because right now if we voted no, we would just have this random two-use lanes that's connected to nothing. That that's what I see because you have to do you have to connect the southern side and the northern side. So this connects those.
So then the work that FD do actually gets used and and there's a connection there. So that's the purpose >> and this would be for the construction. So we're already on design, >> right? Okay. Got it. So you already spent money on design. >> You spent money on design. >> Okay. All right. I personally have the a
big you know in Miami Lakes and South Florida in general. I don't know how much use these bike lanes honestly get. But works have work has already been done. Money has already been spent. And right now there is a you know a path that's not connected to anything. basically >> and remember this is all because we
we've get this question what you just mentioned this is all part of a larger greenways and trails master plan so we have to start in pieces as through our areas and as we expand the system you'll get that larger connectivity but if you don't >> if you don't do anything then
>> no I mean I what's what's getting me on it was one money's been spent but then two if you go on to Google maps right now you see that FOT made a dual use lane already So, if we don't complete this, it's just this random dual use lane that's not connected to another dual dual use lane. Right.
>> And the component the section they did it was one of the most complicated parts because it does include that crossing >> and there's no sidewalks on the north side to connect to it. So, it's just is there or no? There is >> continues with the county system which is why it's important that FDOT did that crossing for the time,
>> right? Okay. Yes. >> Yeah. I mean, we can talk about the master plan a different day, but this seems to make sense. >> Anyone else? Wait, before we go to any followup, uh uh Councilman Garcia, do you have anything you want to add?
>> Uh no, not at this time. >> Okay. Uh with that, Councilman Sanchez for followup. Just a rebuttal for Councilman Hersburg. The It already connects just a single wide sidewalk instead of a double wide. So, it's it's inaccurate when you say that it doesn't
connect to anything. It does connect. It just goes from double to single. And that sidewalk goes all the way out to Miami Street. Nothing. >> All righty. Anyone else? All right. This being a resolution, all those in favor say I. I. >> I.
>> All oppose. No. The eyes have it. 15B passes. And now we're back on 16A. Councilman Harrisburg. >> Thank you, Mayor. So, this item, you know, coincidental timing, honestly, but um
when I was looking over the actually, I guess it wasn't coincidental timing. I was looking over the budgets of of the special taxing districts. I realized how much money was being how large these budgets really are, especially on the Royal Oaks side and I I you heard it
today, you've heard it from Councilman Cuadro Garcia. I don't know with with updates to technology how much there is a need for a human labor in these special taxing districts anymore. So, this is very preliminary, but we need I would need staff and and legal to start
working on it. is looking at what other alternatives there are. The alternative I like and I've spoken to residents and they seem to like this too, but again, we need to discuss how we get there and this really would only be for um the
Royal Oak sections because they have the money. Section one doesn't necessarily have the money for my idea. Um is you can remove the guards, you can automate the gates, we can have our own license plate reader, not not a law enforcement one, our own. And there's enough money there. I've done the calculations, I
believe, to hire a police officer, one or two, to patrol the neighborhoods at night. The money's there from from basic calculations. And I I can't guarantee it. So that's what we need staff because the biggest cost in all these districts is the labor. You remove the labor. you
you can we can either save pe save residents a lot of money if they don't believe the the actual human being is necessary or potentially provide a much better security service with a hybrid model. So my idea is just to have staff start
working on it, reporting back to us, and also have legal start working on what we would need to do to modify anything in these districts, which I believe the first issue, which we do need to do, is um take over the take over adopt the ordinances for these special taxing
districts, which I don't know why we haven't done it already. We should do that. And maybe that's something uh the manager can bring up at a next meeting if you want to discuss that. >> Oh, >> well, I guess let me make my motion. That's my motion. for discussion. >> Great. All right. It's been seconded, but uh let's get some clarification from
the attorney, then we'll go to we'll start with Councilman Sanchez. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh council, uh going to what uh Councilman Herszburg said, yes, that's something that we should we should have done a while ago. Uh really these ordinances were uh adopted by the town and were taken over
from the county, but they're not codified anywhere. So, if we want to make any changes to them, we first have to have them in our books. and we can start the process of how we're going to modify them. Uh and I I believe uh Vice Mayor Moretta had created a process within the code of how to start taking a
look at some of that. So while we can start definitely uh there's I think two avenues. One is legally taking these uh ordinances and codifying them into our books and then the second part is we can look at what other technology is out there and then we can you know bring it to the residents and see if it's
something that they have an appetite for. Mayor. >> Well, remember that uh Councilman Sanchez was the second, so we're going to start with him and then I'll go to you. >> Okay. >> As someone that served in the military, I know the perceived value of having a physical body. Okay. Especially, for
example, we've even approved an item to have extra screening from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. where you have a physical body there asking for IDs. And you know, some residents are unhappy about it and they feel like they don't have to stop and that's okay because it's a public access road. But I also think of a of a special
taxing district that's outside of Miami Lakes, Eastern Shores. I don't know if you're familiar with Eastern Shores or have ever gone in there. They have the same thing that we have here in Miami Lakes with a guardgate. The difference is that it's manned 24/7 by North Miami Beach Police officers. And as soon as you pull up, right in front of the guard
gate is a s is a Miami Beach police car with the police officer inside of inside of the guard gate. But to move, so within section one, there is an HOA that is implementing exactly what you're standing at. They have is now a kiosk is
the anchorage is a kiosk. And I know it's because my dog sitter, you know, resides in there. And every time I go, I have to slide in my ID. And eventually after a couple minutes, somebody comes up over the intercom and says, "Please tell me who you are. where you're going and but it's it's different. It's not having a human physical body there. But
that is an HOA is very different. If you don't get access, you don't get access and ours you have to get access and having that physical body there is the same as having a sign in front of your house that says, "Hey, I have an alarm." So, it's it's you know, it's it's a deterrent and I I'd like to see other
ideas absolutely, but at least foundationally having a a person there I think is something that is needed. >> Mr. Vice Mayor. >> Thank you, Mayor. So, I I respect and probably agree with the
spirit and the intent of your item and I I want to say thus far, I'm probably supporting it, but there is an important caveat and I think it's just phrasing the way that it is phrased. um the the the item of for example um switching to
an automated gate service or things like that that violates some of the existing STD ordinances. Uh I it definitely violates Miami League section one. I'm pretty certain it violates both of the Royal Oaks uh special taxing districts
uh which require a 247 manned guard house. uh they uh one or two of them might also require a roving uh officer. Llman I think has the the the roving
one. Uh so in order to deviate from that you would require an amendment of the ordinance which would trigger 38- I don't know which section of of our town code the amendment that I had made
um which goes through the whole petition process. And again, I I I actually kind of also agree with Councilman Sanchez on his point that there is a a strength to having a physical person, but you know what? At the same time, uh where I I
will not substitute my opinion for that of the residents, the amendment process was created to go out and get the opinion of the resident. let them make the decision of whether because maybe Royal Oaks agrees with you and says we
really don't need that. It's honestly annoying to give my ID after a certain time. Uh but maybe Miami Lake section one says no, we want to keep giving our IDs. We feel a lot safer doing it or or not just the IDs. I'm sorry. Um the we
want to keep our our physical guard Roy Oaks might say we we want virtual. Um let them make the decision. Uh so as in so far as really what you're seeking here as I understood it was let's generate ideas a on on how we can
modernize these ordinances that I do agree with and I'm happy to support and I guess what you're asking for is for the staff to come back. Uh >> right if I mayor >> uh correct there there's no absolute direction if there's no timeline here other than staff coming back and working
with staff. And that's actually one of the questions to the town attorney. what needs to be done for us to amend the services. Do we need to go back to the voters? Do they what are what are the procedures to do that? We look at your ordinance. We look at the original ordinances. Those are the exactly the discussions.
All this is is getting staff back. But I believe there is I think there is a want. I think the councilman will agree with me on at least on our on these on these sides that we're not really sure how useful the human capital is on taking pictures of guards and and you
and a bunch of you had discussed the nighttime IDs. That's not happening. I It's rarely happening. I go in and out at night. It doesn't happen. It just doesn't. So, I I really believe I believe if we went out to vote to the the owners of of of the Royal Oak
sections and we told them we can automate the gate and provide you law enforcement at night. I'd rather have that personally, but that's exactly the questions to discuss and then depending on what we need to do, of course, we would have workshops, send it out to residents. We need resident input. This doesn't happen without resident input.
And potentially, I don't know, I I take a different position. I don't know if it needs a resident vote, but that's something for the town attorney to tell us. >> The the issue is Councilman Herszburg is that you you need to have a process at least to uh have the resident input
because this is attacks on on them specifically. And I think that's something that Vice Mayor Moretta's uh we'll call the the Bora Act uh that's in our code uh accomplishes. So, you know, we can follow that or we can tweak that in the future if we want to. Uh but but definitely it's going to require a
resident input. >> I think the only exception is Llman based on what we were just discussing. >> When the county created these uh special taxing districts, they they basically stated that and it's in the ordinance
that they could go to the HOA lockman HOA and whatever the lockman HOA requested they would follow. It was advisory, so they didn't have to, but they they in in all instances they did. Why? Because the HOA and the STD is one
and the same. >> Councilman Fernandez. >> So I I something to think about. I' I've been this is my second home in Royal Oaks. I started on the west side across the street from former Vice Mayor um
Roberto Alonso. Rest in peace. But I when when this came up back then I I was scared. I I said to my wife, I girlfriend back then, I'll move out. If we move, if we get rid of the guards, I'll move out. Like, you know, to me, I like knowing it's kind of a feel-good
thing, the prestige, you know, that that was me. But now with technology, I've been thinking about it. I've actually thought that maybe there's an alternative that we can save money. The the part about the police, we have to think about that a little bit further because as a taxpayer, I'm paying for
police anyway. So, why am I going to pay again for more police when we we would probably have a roaming police officer at one point going through there? I don't know. Would it deter them to to not go through there if there was already an assigned police officer? You know what I mean? Like that's something that we'd have to think about. But I
will say that I'm open to hearing what alternatives are. That's >> that that's what it's about, the alternatives. I will say though, my law enforcement idea is that officer is only there. they are roving those specific streets six, eight hours a night. That's a completely different level of
security. Um, so but we'll see. We I don't know what the cost is. We got to determine that. It's just a matter of of getting these processes moving forward. And as the town attorney said, we need to move forward and taking that ordinance and codifying it. >> Next speaker, uh, Council Guad Garcia.
council. I hope you um consider what my colleague has presented uh strongly. I have been there for 26 years and all those guards do is nothing more than a deterrent. Okay? They have laughed at
law enforcement. They go in there, they've done all kinds of issues, things. They have burglarized cars. They've done everything. I understand that law enforcement cannot be at all places at all times. That's understandable. We have to help them be
their eyes and ears. But we have to find something better than what we have now. What's there is not working. So if we're living in the 21st century and we have all these tools available, let's consider them. This is
this is costing money to us. We're not getting nothing. We're really not getting nothing. We're paying for a service that they do nothing. I mean, I can get on and on and on and some of you might laugh at it, but you know, I have to represent the residents that are on the side on on that side. There's a
better idea and there's better tools that we can use than that live body. So, please consider it. Councilman Garcia to bring us home. >> Thank you, Mayor. I think anytime we can
take a look at alternatives. I know the Anchorage uses a uh a automated entrance to their gates for a while now and they also have customer service. You can talk to a live person if you need any issues. So the technology exists and
uh looking into it at least seeing if it's an alternative to certain uh districts I think is a good idea. So I'll be for the item. >> Councilman Sanchez. I just want to reflect back on the report that our major gives where we've only had 49
crimes year to date and we're down 42%. 49 crimes across 10,000 homes I think is a pretty good number. Not just the special housing district but townwide. So, and I think the deterrent is a good portion of that is a good reason as to why our numbers are down in addition to
our police officers. That's all. >> All right, this is coming back to us. Uh so, all those in favor say I. I. I. >> All oppose? No. >> No. >> Uh, the eyes have it. The motion carries. We are now on 16B by Councilman
Sanchez. 16B. So, Miami Lakes has an estimated population of 35,000 people. We have for hurricane seasons when they come, we have two urgent cares and an ER. In order to expand that, CCMS, which we are all familiar with, Mario Espino, we gave
him a proclamation. He is the CEO and president of the company has offered one of his he has these mobile units that go to homes in order to help residents with or the elderly community with needs that they might have. Might it be a a regular
checkup, X-rays, anything like that. He has proposed being part of emergency network after a hurricane. So, in addition to those two e that those two urgent cares and that ER, we have a little bit more help when it comes to,
you know, attending to 35,000 residents. So, my motion is to with the resolution is to direct the town manager on behalf of Miami Lakes to work with CCMS and Miami Date County Fire Department to include them in our circle of emergency
response post storm. Second motion >> seconded by moved by Councilman Sanchez. Uh seconded by Councilman Garcia. Is there any discussion on the item? Uh uh Councilman Hsburg or first let me just ask Councilman Garcia. Did you have any
discussion or were you just seconding to move it along? >> No, I'm uh this is for directing the town to look into the you know being in part they're going to come back with the details. >> Correct. Come back. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh right. So I is if it's just for the
town to come back. I mean my we don't have a fire department, right? So I'm confused on what what are we asking? So when someone calls 911 after a storm, >> the 911 would consider the CCMS mobile
unit within Miami Lakes to be a point of care instead of having to take them to Pomemetto or take them to the the ER, the two urgent cares depending on what they need. So if they need if they have a broken bone, then they go to the emergency room. But if they're having like a panic attack, they would go to a
lower level of care like the CCMS mobile, >> right? No, I I get all that, but we don't operate the 911 system. We don't operate the fire department. >> No. So, that's why it would be a three-party system. Would be Miami Lakes asking the the fire department to include them in the Miami Lakes circle of care. So, if someone from Miami calls
911 and says, "I'm having I think a panic attack or or a heart attack or a stroke." And they would include CCMS to for the ambulance to go to them. >> I guess my question, why the town asking? Shouldn't CCMS just be asking Miami date fire to I I I like Miami date
fire would send them somewhere across the county. >> Well, Miami date fire is going to send them where the Miami date fire wants that that we don't have any say in what our firefight fire department does. I like the idea of of CCMS maybe partnering with the town if there's if
there is a storm and the town saying, "Hey, they're over here in town hall. If you need medical care, come here." I like that idea. I just don't see why we're getting involved in 911s and Miami date fire. I I just it's almost like we're pushing for CCMS to become part of
the 911 system. This has nothing to do with it. We don't control any of that. >> Right. I that's all I'm just trying to figure that out. >> Uh Vice Mayor Mora, >> thank you. So I I mean I'm very familiar with CCMS.
They're they're a phenomenal company. They have a I hold them in very high regard. My my one issue is I do see a little bit too much of government promotion of a single corporate entity. Um and to in the vein
of what Councilman Hersburg was saying, I actually do support us designating saying, "Hey, in the event of a a declared weather emergency, I think is how you phrase it here. Um CCMS can use Robert Lonzo can
set up at Robert Lonzo a and at MLOp so we have the west side and the east side covered uh we don't have to worry about you know road blockages after a storm or something like that. I I'm completely okay with that. But again in the interest of fairness and and not playing
uh favorites um and and while again like I said I hold them in very high regard. I would expect them to to win. They would need to go through a competitive bidding process to be the one selected to be there at the at those sites. So that a the mayor or the county mayor
declares a state of emergency that then opens up their their having been picked after a bidding process to be the one that is there because let's call it spade a spade. They're not there for free. They're charging for those
services. And the other concern that I have is them being private the way that they are, are they allowed to reject patients? Because again, we're talking about a a weather emergency, declared weather emergency, if they are
uninsured, can CCMS turn them away? Because when you get rescued by fire rescue, they're not asking. I mean, they're going to eventually ask for your insurance, but if you say no, they're still going to treat you. They're not going to turn you away. They're going to take you to an emergency room. My
concern is the town putting its stamp of approval on a private entity that could potentially turn away an uninsured patient and and then we are the ones that are getting into problems. So that that's my main concern. I think that
this is a phenomenal idea that simply just I I think I I'll support the item even to to allow it to come back, which is what we're voting on, but it I I have some serious concerns that do need to get parsed out between here and then is is my point.
>> Mr. Mayor, um we'll go to you then. Councilman Garcia, do you want to say anything after him? >> He seconded. >> No, I'm okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, Council Fernandez. >> Okay. Just getting a line up. So, you go ahead and then I'll close.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, requesting a point of privilege uh to correct uh item 16A from a nay to a yay. >> Madam clerk, I uh I think just can you Yes. Uh okay. Thank you. I think
>> it >> Thank you. I think he was a little confused as all that happened. >> Of course. Uh, so with that, um, Councilman Sanchez, uh, I get where you're coming from and I I believe that the vice mayor raises a valid point about concerns regarding a competitive
process. Um, but again, just like him, I'm going to vote to advance this uh, and wait back uh, on the final form of this item, you know, to f further evaluate it. If for whatever reason we have to go ahead and do a strike all amendment later and you know and shape
it more as a as an RFP, then we can do it at that point. Uh but in the meantime, let's just uh move forward. So with that, >> mayor, >> yeah, I I just want to be clear because >> what what is the council voting on because you're all saying different things. >> Yeah. Point.
>> Council member Sanchez has a written um you know, request or me or motion on here, but several of you have said different things. I just want to be me sure be sure that we comply with what the will of the council is. >> Well, okay. Councilman Hz, you want to take the first stab at it? >> Yeah, if I may, mayor, because there's a
resolution here directing the town manager to hereby authorize and coordinate with Miami Day Fire Rescue. I don't think that's what >> Well, at least to me, I don't like the idea of just because the resolution's in the MBI that it necessarily means that the item flies into passage, right? Unless it's an urging, which this is
more than an urging, right? It it's asking for something to be done. Um, so just to be clear, uh, I mean, and somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I'm pretty sure this has to come back. >> It does, >> right? >> I I guess Mr. Mayor, the item directing
the town manager to do something. >> Isn't that the the the point of the item? I'm confused in what what >> are you trying do you intend for for it to come back or >> I do intend for it to come back because we still have to anou need to be developed. We need to see if the fire department is willing to even put them in their circle of care in their
communication channels where someone calls into 911 and then they would direct them to just like they would direct them to a Baptist ER or a Nicholas Children's urgent care um something of that nature right to see if that's something that can be done. >> And if I may, mayor, I share the same point of vice mayor where right now
having the town manager push for one company to do something with Miami day. I I mean I I like the idea of promoting them maybe see I don't know if it needs to be a competitive bid. I feel like it's a service. They We let them park their car, their their van. We promote them because they're providing a service. Obviously, they make money in
the service. But the idea of directing the town manager to see if a private company, which I agree is does great work, can be part of the Miami date fire 911 system, that's that's the private company's job. That why I don't know why the town of Miami Lakes needs to get
involved with lobbying for a company. That's that's my concern with the item >> because I want them to or I would like for them to be within the confines of Miami Lakes to treat our 35,000 residents to have more beds for those 35,000. >> But I then I think we got to open ourselves up to a to a a process, not
just choose a company on a whim. That that's my only concern. There probably would be the best company, don't get me wrong, but then I think we got to open the process and maybe that's what can come back, what the process is to do that. And then I I don't know. I just just to direct the town manager to say, "Hey, we want CCMS to do this that I'm
not comfortable with." Right. Doing other things or or having it come back with what the process is and getting more information that I'm comfortable with. But just making that direction, I'm not >> Well, I think uh the councilman has clarified that he wants us to come back
to us. At that point, we'll be open for amendments there to improve it or just to outright vote it down. But again, we still have a couple actually, yeah, quite a few items that we need to get through. Um, so with that, all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> All oppose, no. >> No.
>> Okay. One, no. Councilman Hzburg. >> Councilman Herszburg is the one no. >> All right. The item carries. We are now on 16C by Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, this item stems from the public safety committee's effort that we all approve for them to
put up signs all over the town uh that say slow down. I'm sure a lot of you have seen that. Uh, our current ordinance does not allow for those signs to be placed on town swelles. After speaking to the manager, the public safety committee u as well and town
attorney, uh it's my understanding if we change our ordinance to allow town sanctioned signs, especially signs that are for public safety, um it would be more uh they would be more effective. They'd be be able to be visible uh to to the residents and to people driving as
opposed to right now they're on the side, inside the parks or not on the swailes. They're not visible. So, what I ask my colleagues is to ask town staff to uh allow us to put town sanctioned committee signs that are public safety
related to be allowed to be put in our swailes. >> I'll second for discussion. >> It's been seconded by Councilman Sanchez. Go ahead and uh uh you may discuss. >> I'm in full support of of this item. Um I also relay to my colleagues on Miami
Lakes Drive just in front of the 7-Eleven. We have a town sign that says don't even think about speeding. This is these signs of the of you know drive like your kids live here, slow down. They are very much a one-off of that sign just more into residential areas.
So I'm in full support of this item just and you know just that one example that permanent sign that we have in a median on Miami Drive is a great example of what those types of signs are. >> And I just want to remind everybody that you don't have to say me too. Um, if you agree with the item, you can just vote
yes. But, uh, with that, Vice Mayor, >> me too. >> No, I'm kidding. Um, my I guess if I heard correctly, this has to come back because it requires an ordinance change. Am I correct on that? >> It's a change. >> So, the only thing I'm going to ask is
that when that does come back, please um the town sanctioned signs, I just need a definition of what that means. All right. Obviously, I'm okay with what uh uh Councilman Garcia is proposing. Uh the the slow down signs by the um public
safety committee. Uh I'm okay with that, but let's get a definition in the ordinance >> through the chair. >> Uh as a response, go ahead. through to the vice mayor. Yes, it would be uh committee signs but approved by the
council that we allow because if it's a committee sign about a party or something, I mean it has, you know, it has to be more public safety related, but we have we're the final word on what signs we approve and the temporary signs are 2x3 that you stick into the ground and and take and take down. That's it.
>> Councilman Guada Garcia and then Councilman Herz. Uh what what concerns me I like the signs because it's about safety and that's that's that's important but what will worry me is if we approve these signs right somebody will come and put and and say okay well
you allow those signs can I put my signs and it's got this on it and and it could just turn into uh a chaos you know but I like in what what Councilman Garcia stated yes it needs to come back to us and it
needs to be approved. It just can't be any sign. But those signs that were uh for safety, they're a go for me. But but I'm worried is if we allow them, can't somebody come and say, "Well, you know, I'm going to put my sign and
mine's going to say down the street or something, you know, along those lines." >> No. >> And then we're just going to have the whole town full of things. Does that make sense? >> I mean, >> the answer is no. They can't do that. and uh Councilman Herszburg.
>> I mean, I I share the same concerns as Councilman Corder Garcia. I'll I'll move it, but I don't know how how code or the staff is going to determine what signs allow it or we just let it to be a council vote. I I get that. So, then we just got to pick, you know, signs that
we believe are okay and not I I have I have my concerns. We'll move it. Let's see what what staff comes back with. I understand this is a safety sign, so maybe it's only road safety signs that we approve. I don't I I guess why don't we approve the culture affairs committee signs then? >> I I encourage all my colleagues to get
in touch with staff in advance to give them in uh their input as they're developing this item. With that, all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The motion carries. We're now on my item 16D Miami Day County 250th celebration. This
was simply inspired by uh an email blast. Oh yes, correct. Sorry. Wait, what? says here that it requires a waiver. >> Oh, it doesn't say that on my Okay, it >> I'll go ahead and move to wave rule >> 7.2. >> 7.2. It's been seconded. All those in
favor of the waiver say I. I. All oppose, no. >> The uh the eyes haven't. The rule is waved. This just simply allowing us to light up town hall red, white, and blue s as we've done many times before. Okay. Seconded. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. All oppose?
No. The eyes have it. And we're now on 16E, which this one says here requires a rule uh of Is that is that correct or it is? I want to make sure mine is consistent with what you got there. So, >> I move to wave section 7.2, the special rules of order. >> All right. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> All right. All those in favor of the waiver say I. I. All. >> The eyes have it. The rule is waved. 16E. Vice Mayor. >> All right. The way I phrased and wrote this, I already ran it through Jeremy, uh, Manny, and and, uh, Ernie at the
parks department. They know what I'm asking for. There's a there's a long story short, you guys know I love my senior bingo. Um, the there's a storage room in the back. I'm asking them to optimize the space in there so that the seniors can stop storing their bingo
materials as well as their bottled water in the nonclimate controlled outdoor storage space which is horrible for many reasons. Uh that I don't think I could put it any shorter than that. >> Is there a second? >> It's been seconded by council member
Fernandez. Uh any discussion? >> Seeing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The motion carries. We're on 16F code enforcement fee schedule and fine mitigation reform by Councilman Herszburg.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh the MBI speaks for himself. You know, we just uh discussed extending the the lean mitigation. So, I think once we come to that conclusion, we do need to revise our fee schedule for things we've spoken about and I've
spoken about before. Right now, the fines allow someone to, for example, store a boat, and it's cheaper to just pay the fine 30 years later, even when the house sells, than it is to um to comply. So, it's not about collecting money, but it's about making our code
and our fine schedule make it more financially feasible to comply than to stay out of compliance. And right now, our our fine schedule allows people to stay out of compliance and it saves them money. So, I I'll work with staff. We should develop a a good ordinance, but
our fines need to make sense to make sure that people are following our code. That's my second. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. >> The eyes h have it. The motion carries
and 16F passes. We're now on 16G, volunteer hours by Councilman Sanchez. >> Okay. So in February of last year, the first item that I ever introduced passed unanimously to create a volunteer initiative to create to bring more
volunteers to Miami Lakes because of the ratio that is dictated by Miami County Public Schools of 1:1 hours. We can't just for certain events give two hours for one hour of work. I have been
in communication with Miami Day County Public Schools and local schools in the area too and created a form that you have in your hand that has across the top 16g which is the same one that we had before with an addendum right underneath of dates of service that says
hours calculation notes to include the following as applicable pre-planning preparation time travel to and from the event event setup and breakdown and the duration of the work event itself because schools were using the actual time the time of the event itself. So
for example, if they volunteered at the Halloween event and it was from 5 to 10 p.m. Why is it that we're giving them five hours I mean it's 20 hours for 5 hours of work. So this includes all that the pre-planning the setting up the breaking down. So I move to create to
amend to adopt this new form >> second >> to be included. >> It's been seconded by the vice mayor. Any discussion? Nope. >> All right. Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The motion carries. And we are now on 16 I
which requires a rule waiver. You want to go ahead and make the motion? >> Yeah, I'll move to uh wave section 7.2. >> Is there a second? >> It's the the waiver has been moved and seconded. All those in favor say I. I. >> All oppose? No. >> The rule is waved and you are clear to
proceed. >> Yeah. Just given the nature of this one, I'm going to go ahead and just read it completely into the record. Uh recently our our community lost Mary Collins, the namesake of the Mary Collins Community Center and a resident and leader whose contributions to our town were significant enough that we chose to
honor her by attaching her name to one of our public buildings. Uh recently during the memorial service uh that was held um in her honor at the very center that bears her name. Uh while I was there, I was struck by something there.
the despite the building having her name on it, uh there isn't a single photograph of Mary Collins anywhere inside it other than a very small one which is part of a newspaper article. Um and there's all and then there's also
almost nothing to tell the visitors who she was or why her role in our town's history matters. Um we see this all the time with courouses. They're named after people and we have no idea who they are and I don't want that to be the case here. uh we honored her in life uh by
placing her name on the building. Um now that she's gone, we should continue to honor her legacy uh by ensuring that her memory is preserved. Uh so given that uh I want to ask my colleagues to support the following two measures uh and and by this I am moving for these uh measures
to to be uh adopted. Uh, one that a portrait of Mary Collins be hung above the interior doorway leading into the main meeting room at the Mary Collins Community Center or in any other location that is equally tasteful and dignified of her memory. And also that a
poster or a plaque bearing a QR code be placed near that portrait, inviting visitors to scan it and learn more about Mary Collins, including her life, her leadership, and the role she played in shaping the town we know today. uh by doing so we can it can potentially also serve the greater purpose of inspiring
some of our youth uh and the next generation of leaders of our town. >> I'll second >> it's been seconded by council member Garcia. U Mr. Vice Mayor I think this is an excellent idea um and is exactly what what we need more right especially when
we name a facility after somebody um that that is a glaring omission. So I'm glad you caught that and that we're going to rectify that. With that all in favor say I. I. >> All oppose? No. The eyes have it. The item passes and we are now on 16J by
Councilman Sanchez. Military and student banner cycles. >> So in 2018, the Taname Lakes Veterans Committee launched the military tribute banner campaign in partnership with Miami Lakes Automo. The program has grown substantially since its inception from 29 banners displayed in its
inaugural year to more than 95 in 2026. Building on that momentum during the pandemic, Councilman Luis Goyaso introduced a complimentary senior high school senior recognition banner campaign to honor graduating high school seniors while who otherwise lacked a
dedicated public celebration within the town. The response to both programs has been very enthusiastic. However, the concurrent display of both banner types has created lo a logistical challenge. With a limited number of light poles along the display corridor on Miami
Lakes Drive, veteran banners are currently double stacked on a single pole to accommodate both campaigns simultaneously. A presentation that diminishes the individual recognition each honore deserves. I recommend that the town council approved a revised
display calendar that serves the two banner campaigns in into distinct non-over overlapping cycles. Under the proposed schedule, military banners would be displayed from November prior to Veterans Day through May, concluding after Memorial Day. Senior recognition banners would then be displayed from
late May once the military banners have been removed through November or earlier when the military banners are reinstalled. It is further recommended that the senior recognition banners when they are removed this year, the military tribute banners be transitioned to a
single banner purple display format along Miami Lakes Drive, replacing the current double stacks configuration. This change would restore the dignity and individual display that each veteran honore >> merits. All right. Uh was there anything else
that are are you changing anything that's there? Yes, I'll change from no to ending the student one in November to September for the beginning of the new school year. >> Second that way. >> Yes. Okay. >> If I can just add a comment, mayor. >> Um, yes. Go ahead.
>> I I will say right now the the student banners I I mean I think we should continue to allow side by side on the student because it gives more space. >> It's not the students, >> right? I know them. I know the I know the military banners side by side. Honestly, I notice them more when they're side by side. like when you're
driving down the street, I feel like they're more there's more presence and you notice them more. But obviously understand the reason for having a sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing sign sing signal on one each. But on the student banners I I I don't know if the if the the board runs out or runs out of space.
I mean I I don't mind having the student banners be side by side moving forward to give more people the opportunity to be up there. That's all I'm saying. The student, not the military. >> So communications director, please. During the application cycle for the
student banners, did we have to say no to certain banners because we didn't have space? >> Yes, we did. >> Okay. Okay. Was it more than the polls that if it was just students? >> We ran out of polls. >> Right. But if it was just students with
the amount that we turned down No. >> No, no, no. We we turned down maybe a handful. >> A handful. >> Um because we did close the applications when we saw that it was getting um close to that number. >> Okay. Because in total, how many polls can we use off the top of your is it more than 100? >> No.
>> Yes, more than 100. >> Okay. What does this have to do with anything >> about double stacking? >> Yeah, but but we're now not going to stack the campaign. >> No, you're right. It doesn't. If you if you're not stacking at the same time, then there's plenty of light. >> They're no longer at the same time, so it doesn't matter. >> Correct. Okay. Got it. You're right.
Because then there's then you won't run out of space. Is plenty of space. You got it. Right. >> So, we have a lot of residents. >> Right. Right. Got it. >> All right. Anything else? All right. Uh, with that, all those in favor say I. I. >> All oppose? No. >> The eyes have it. The motion carries.
And we are on K 16K, resident notification of HOA restrictions. Councilman, >> thank you. Thank you, mayor. After speaking to to Dan to our our building department, also the manager, I'm going to amend the the actual item that's
written here. Uh the whole point of this item was to improve customer service for us. our building department continues to improve and we continue to to you know ask it to to to make sure it's it's doing the best it can technology-wise and also customer service- wise. Um my
concern is are we a resource to any person who comes in gets something approved and um doesn't know what the HOA rules are. So, if we could provide if we can ask staff to contact the HOAs
and have a way for um for us to have a link to the HOA rules and and guidelines so then our our residents are well informed before they spend money on plans and already start building and and spending a lot of money on on on their
projects and then have the HOA come in later on say no this is not approved and then there's an issue between them and it causes headaches for everybody. what can we do as a staff to connect our client our our our residents to that information so they can make a proper
decision before they they spend money on plans, things like that. So, I just ask the the staff to to look into a link between that information and the HOA's information to be a better resource for our residents. I'll second it for discussion, a very brief discussion
though because again uh you know I think this coming back anyway but I just wanted to ask didn't we already have a website with all the governing documents of the relevant HOAs? I remember neighborhood improvement committee uh having that available a while back.
There was an HOA map and everything go I would encourage staff No. Okay. >> That I did discuss with with the councilman. It's I I would urge that we do not have HOA documents. It's legal documents in our web page.
>> Okay. That opens us up to someone saying, "Okay, well, no, but the town said that the HOA says XYZ." I mean, those are their documents. Those that's a private agency. We are a municipality. We can create a link to their web page. We can create information about who
their managing uh director is, who's on their board. That's fine, but that creates what I'm trying to say. >> That creates other issues. Then we got then we start becoming in charge of updating it and what information and the wrong link. >> That's the problem. >> I mean at I don't at Okay. Well, there
is an HOA map uh chair uh or uh yeah, Chair Javier Leoto just said it's just not updated. So, and I know that on there for you're in the problem. >> Okay. But what I'm trying to say is that it is there. So, you guys are going to want to look into that. All right. Um
but just uh I'm going to support the item. I just wanted to ask that question because I remember this being something that was displayed. We had asked all the different HOAs to uh to uh get involved by giving us their information like Glenn Ellen complied I know for example and a couple others. Um and I think on
that they did also have a link for those that did have a website. It does have a link to those websites as well as contact information. But anyway, just want to throw it out there uh uh for your benefit then. Yeah. I mean, we gota if we're going to do something like this, there's got to be disclaimers everywhere. They go and click inside of
that to get inside of that page. They got to click that we don't warrant anything. We don't talk about the accuracy. We don't talk about anything. We're just doing it as a convenience. Good luck to you following the link. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, look, my my personal opinion anyway is, you know, if you're
living in an HOA, so you know, you obviously you're told, >> well, >> I think some people, you know, may look the other way, but that's another story. Alto together with that, um, you know, let's go ahead and close this out. We're going to take the what do you have? >> I I have to get my two cents in on this
one because I'm going to vote no. And and it's with all the respect in the world. I think that is coming from a good place uh by by Councilman Garcia, the attorney in me and the former board member of an HOA in me is repulsed by by
by the idea of this and it's because the HOAs don't update their own documents. How are we going to keep their documents updated? Uh it's there's a lot of negative also and uh Mr. Angel can correct me if I'm wrong here. Our
current permitting uh system requires a a there's a affidavit that homeowners have to sign saying I understand that I may be subject to an HOA and that approval of this permit is not subject is is not tantamount to uh approval by
your HOA and you got to figure that out on your own. So we already have that in our our our permitting process. Um, I if to be frank, if they're wasting money because they went and got permits from the town and and only to later find out
that they did not get ARC approval, I'm sorry. That's on them because it's exactly what Steve just said. >> Some people refuse to realize that they live in an HOA somehow and but that's on them. >> Just one thing, I'm the president, just so you know, I'm the president of two
HOAs. So I I see from the HOA side, but from the town side, all the lawyers up here are very hesitant. >> If I may, mayor, quickly. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Uh I I I brought an item not a little a
little different. It was might have been my first meeting about this about the HOA issue and I tried to I worked with staff and I tried to make like a violation an update to affidavit maybe an update to affidavit where to go but you know it's just I don't believe it's
in the perview purview of the town to try to even enforce or direct people to the HOA. I share the concerns of the town attorney. What I suggest maybe we do is we look at that HOA affidavit and make it stronger and scarier because the issue is people don't care. But that's
not our problem. It really isn't unfortunately. It's it's the HOA's problem and that's where that's where I see it. >> I love the idea. Um everyone stay uh in your seats after the vote. But with that, all those in favor say I. >> I. All oppose, no. >> The eyes have it. The motion carries.
And uh before we adjourn the meeting, okay, before I adjourn the meeting, um I just this is not this time it's not Papa Bear castigating his children this time. It's me just reminding you all that we have to maintain quorum at all times when the meeting is in progress. There
was a point briefly before we got into public comments or um or around thereabouts where uh we were down to three council members here and I understand that that you were talking to residents and different ones. Um but you need to be mindful before you leave the deis of how many people are in chambers,
right? Count anyone appearing uh virtually like Councilman Garcia, they do not count for purposes of quorum which means we can't conduct business which slows the meeting down and again it's a people's work ultimately that we're slowing down. Um so so just whenever you get up out of your seats I
I want you to please be mindful to look uh back at the deis make sure we have at least a majority of the council members meaning four people up here on the days at all times. Um so please help me with that. I I did have to deputize the vice mayor briefly to uh be a
sergeant-at-arms. Um you know so but just be mindful of that. With that there being no further business we're now adjourned at 10:43 p.m. I don't know what y'all were