Good evening every everyone. We're going to start at 6 I mean 7 o'clock. Um just coming down from executive session so I apologize the delay. Thank you. 7 o'clock. Okay. Thank you so very much. It is the time is 7:01. 7:01.
Madame clerk 250. 34 250. Just All right. Madam clerk, we're about to start. Yeah. But and 59. So another Yeah, I do math. Yeah, thank you. Okay, the time is 7:01. Um, we're about to
start our city commission meeting, a regular city commission meeting for Tuesday, July 15th. Madame Clerk, can you please read the role? Commissioner Florimmon here. Commissioner Jean here. Commissioner Smith present. Commissioner Smuckler present. Commissioner Sue
present. Vice Mayor Chernoff here. Mayor Michael Joseph, I am here for sir. Next is invocation. Pastor, Mr. Mayor, matter a moment of personal privilege, please. Yes. Thank you. I just want to apologize to
everybody here and those that are listening at home. There was an executive session that could not wait. It was supposed to be done in the middle of the previous meeting. I'm shaking because I'm sorry you had to wait. I apologize. We are here because
of you and you certainly did not deserve to wait an hour, but it was something that timewise it couldn't wait. So, I appreciate you. I'm grateful for you and I'm hoping you'll forgive us all. Thank you so much. Thank you. Uh I think we echo the same sentiments the commission. Next is
invocation. Uh Pastor Ariel Vasquez, Third Day Church, North Miami Beach. Thank you. What an honor. What an honor it is to before we start the meeting to pray. All right. The Bible says seek first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness and
everything else should be added. So that's what we do this before we start. We just want to seek God's wisdom and that it may be poured in in this place that we receive his great blessings. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we want to thank you for this moment. As we start this meeting, we put you first that you
will govern, that you will give wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to the mayor, commissioners, and to and to the staff into this great city of North Miami Beach. Bless this city. We thank you for what you're doing and what you're going to continue on doing. And
we pray that there will be one accord, one spirit, and one alignment that we will all go forward and seek the best for each and one of us. In your name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Pastor Vasquez. Next is pledge of allegiance.
I aliance 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. For all. All right, we'll go, Madam Clerk. And um
can you please we'll go to number four because I know we have a presentation regarding one of our from our commission conference but can you do the we'll we'll do it after four do we have any requests withdrawals deferments or additions please? Okay.
Under presentations item 5.2 2 which is titled special presentation recognizing Mario Diaz that is to be deferred to a future meeting date. Per the manager's request um item 9.17 under consent is to be withdrawn and
that item is for approving a change order to the contract with Sprry Point Services Inc. for billing and customer service moderation modernization services per the request of Commissioner Smuckler. item under the discussion item
15.2 which is titled health insurance renewal that is being requested to be moved up and heard before the consent agenda. Under the consent agenda item 9.4 4 per the request of Commissioner Smith that
is being requested to be pulled from the agenda and that item is titled approving contract with multiple vendors for the purchase and installation of office furniturees. Which number again? That was item 9.4 under consent
resolution number 2025-73. That's that's a request for an item to be added titled TPS community project. This is being sponsored by Vice Mayor Shernoff and Commissioner Smuckler and all and all the others too. Mayor and
Commission, right? We we decide it's Commissioner Vice Mayor Chernoff and myself have agreed to do it all together as one. Yes. Thank you. and commissioner noted um that request is going to be heard under legislation which will now
be item 11.7 a copy of that resolutions were all left in your respective areas Mr. Mayor oh also under the discussion per the city manager's request item 15.4 title budget
update that will also be withdrawn from this agenda. All right. Thank you so very mayor. Yes. Do sorry. I need to move some items. I haven't mentioned that yet. May I?
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Okay. So, um 9.2 is a um the minutes. I need to move that for discussion. And then we have um move 9.13 to the legislation. Nine 9
9.13. What is that? I just have a question. It's about the traffic calming manual. I wanted to know if um Okay, we're going to move it up. Okay. And then we have um Okay. I have item 9.23, which is 159th Street.
I have some amendments that I'd like to propose and I believe Madame Clerk, you have it right. Yes. One second. Okay. Wait. I I would like Madame Clerk to tell me what the health insurance What did you say? You're going to take it out of discussion and make it of something to vote.
It's going to it's being requested to be heard before uh the consent agenda. Okay. Oh, it's we're it's still up for discussion. Okay. Perfect. All right. Yes. Uh Madam Mr. city attorney and mayor. The item Carl Anderson vers city Miami North Miami Beach discussion
and possible action. We're going to pull that. Okay. Um thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh item 911. I want to see if you can move that to legislation. What was that one about?
That was the merchant business association program. Okay. Legislation. All right. Do I have a motion? I just have a question and forgive me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't all these pulling and moving around have been told
to the clerk first? Yeah, it should have. Um I don't know why it's happening. Well, we'll we'll Well, it's the the reason it's happening is because we need to come back with the process and procedures so that it it'll
just make everything much smoother. No, no. I like I said, I'm working with um with the city attorney as well as the city um city city manager to resolve that. So um Thank you, M. As amended, can can I have a motion in a second? May I have the respond to the just briefly to to
Commissioner Smuckler Commissioner where that's where possible when that's occurred in some of these cases if someone knows in advance it is absolutely the best practice to notify the clerk
and have it noted on the agenda that someone wants to do that. However, it would be difficult when you have a consent agenda to not permit a member of the commission who wants to discuss an item to have that right and it should
happen right after consent agenda. So, we we should try for that but okay you you do have rights each of you to have individual rights as an elected official. Right. Mr. Mayor, when you prepare that procedure, working with the attorney and
the clerk, would you also prepare about who's pres who's presenting a proclamation or who's presenting something? Many of the things that come forth should really be from the mayor and all the commissioners. If we're going to recognize uh
former manager Diaz for a job that he did for the city, it should be from all of us. Oh, I I I I have no issues. But it wasn't presented that way. So when you I'm just asking when you do that. I think having phone calls, can I be added? And having phone calls, of
course, everybody can add it. We're all here to do it together. So maybe that should be something that should be part of your procedure. So when when he comes back at some other time, I would be more than happy to include all all seven of us on there. Yeah, absolutely. That's the way it
should be presented. Okay. As um do I have a motion and second to approve commission commissioner? Wait, Commissioner S. Commissioner, with all due respect, with all due respect, what hang on, hang on, please. You haven't been recognized. Please, please. All right. I'm going to make a motion
and a second to accept the agenda. So move. I have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. Now we're going to go. Mr. Mayor, I wanted I would like the city clerk to repeat all the moves so that we're all clear. Last time we had something on the
consent agenda that we did not know about and we voted on and by the time it was there it was too late. Commissioner Commissioner Sue to your point you've added several items to this agenda. You've you've pulled c certain items on this agenda. You've done stuff that you're speaking you're speaking as criticism towards it. So that I
understand your standpoint. We do have a packed agenda. I I assume the clerk and I adhere to the clerk standard and and keeping recordkeeping. So I'll move forward in that because we we really do have a busy agenda. Um that being said, there is a a conf a conference presentation we should have had. Um I
think it's um what is it called? Hero. Um the hero life ring initiative. Is she here? Yes. Please come on up. Please. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And she's been very patient. She's been here since like 4:30. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
And our apologies. Let's go around. And our apologies. Right. Yes, we did vote. Yeah, we did vote. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. We're gonna do a presentation up here or come around. No, she's doing a presentation. Oh, you're just doing Oh, I thought we were coming around. All right, but go
ahead. Go ahead. Sorry. No, sir. This initiative is something that I was looking at and became ideal about as far as the safety of our residents, mayor and commissioner, in primarily in the Snake Snake Creek Canal, but around the
waterways in North Miami Beach. and I've invited um Aiden's mom to come give us give you a presentation about what she has to offer us. Hi, good evening, mayor, commission, staff. I am Aiden's mom, the proud mom of Aiden Spencer Perry, 17-year-old high
school junior who recently lost his life when he tried to save the life of someone else. Aiden and I were out walking our dog one evening when we witnessed a young driver lose control of his car and ultimately landed in the lake. When Aiden and I ran to the lake
to try to offer help, my son had tied up my dog to a post. And when the driver opened the car door, my son answered his call for help the only way that he could by jumping in. Unfortunately, when my son jumped in, his head hit a rock. He broke his neck and my son died.
The driver of the car also died in front of me. The words my son said when he gave me his phone, we were calling 911. M, you talk to them. the last words my son ever said to me. It wasn't until losing my son that I realized that there was nothing available in such an
emergency. As you can imagine, living through what I live through, having my son die in front of me is something that has forever changed my life. And I knew I had to do something about it in my son's honor. My son died a hero. He received the Carnegie Hero Award for his
last most selfless act. It is in his honor that I am here today as president of the Aiden Perry Good Samaritan and Scholarship Fund and founder of the Aiden Perry Hero Life Ring Initiative. In my son's honor, I created the initiative where we place life rings
like the ones you see here in front of you with my son's hero image in on it by bodies of water. So the next time there's a water emergency, there's something available that a good Samaritan can use to save a life without losing their own life in a process. It is the well-known fact that even the
best swimmer can be drowned in a water emergency by somebody who cannot swim. Way too many times I can tell you as I now sit on two task force, one for the state and one for the county. The numbers are staggering about the number of people who drown either trying to rescue somebody else or watching somebody who's in the water who can't
swim and they have to watch that person drown. There's nothing else to do that has to stop. So in Aiden's name, we created this initiative and we started it in February of 2023. And I can tell you that since that time through my foundation, I've donated over 500 of these hero life rings. We started in
Broward County. We are in Palm Beach County, Miami Day County on a county and a municipal level. I recently got back two weeks ago from South Carolina. We're going national. Everywhere there's a body of water is a possibility of a water emergency happening. You can't
predict where they're going to be, but you must be proactive. You have to be proactive to save a life. So, by having one of our hero life rings available, you can do just that. And what we do, we uh the life rings, we have a partnership with Dayrix, the manufacturer. So, through my foundation, we donate you the
first uh life rings to get you started. We have partnerships worked out. So, anything beyond that, we have at cost pricing and our message is throw, don't go. All of our rings have a sign like this that we go on top. You want to call 911. You want to get the first responders available. Then you simply
take our rope, you throw it in, and you're able to rescue somebody. So that by the time the first responders arrive, you've already saved a life. And the the first responders, their work is done. So I'm here today to plead to you to help me continue my mission to keep the
promise I made to my son that night when he was already gone. But I promised him I would not let him be forgotten. I now live my son's legacy. Every one of these life rings that I put by a body of water increases the chances of continuing the work that my son started that night. It increases the chance of a life being
saved. So, I'm here tonight to have hopefully have you join my mission to help me help you save lives in your community, make your waterways safer by installing Aiden's Hero Life rings by your waterways. Thank an honor. An absolute honor. And I hope
it's one of many we'll install. Yeah, but we're going to give you your first 10. He free. Yes. Um but um thank you. Um and again, we apologize for the delay. Um uh uh before I start, I want to go um have my commission speak on this.
Commissioner Smith, please. I just I want to say that we have a woman here who lost a son almost 20 years ago to cancer and she has become a national advocate for cancer research for children and to
give children with cancer a better way of life with each other that they can play and enjoy even when they have IB. What you're doing for your son is bringing his life to save how many did
you 500? We have no idea the count you're going to save. We've already saved lives. I have it on video and it's the most rewarding thing. I mean in his young life that he gave he saved. So my heart breaks for you having children of my own. But I can't thank
you enough to making us aware cuz we've lost lives in our canal. We have where I live. Two little boys lost their life a few years ago. So to make us aware and please I appreciate if you tell us her
10 are beginning. If we need 10 or 20 more, let us know how many we need to make sure that that Aiden's life was not given in vain. And bless you for coming and and sharing it with North Miami Beach. Thank you, Mr.
Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to uh thank you for taking the time to come out um and uh bring more awareness to water safety. Um our thoughts and prayers to you and your family um and we will help in honoring the memory of your
your son. Um I just had one question. There is something similar that I've seen on uh the Cohen Bridge. Is that the same uh is it the same um sir uh it's the Cohen Bridge? Yes.
Yes, it's similar to that sir with um with Aiden Perry Foundation. They post it closer to the water. So it' be posted on a wooden pole. Sorry. Yes, ma'am. Sorry. It would be posted closer to the water. That one is posted on the on the fence to the right
park there. And what the Aiden P the Aiden Perry Foundation does is they initially they show us how we're going to be posting them on wooden poles closer to the waterway to make it more accessible. Okay. Okay. I thought that was just probably a like an initial very similar. Yes, sir. Very similar, but it's not the same organization.
Okay. All right. So, we to your point that that was Parks and Recreation uh posted that um last year. Okay. Um just for in cases of emergency. um not not uh not the same, but uh we we've met and we we talked about working
closely and and Okay, good. together. Good. Cuz one of I remember, you know, years ago, one of the first um you know, unfortunately had to go visit a family along with um um uh then commissioner, now mayor, uh uh Joseph, um just to show
some support for a child who had lost his life at that very bridge. And so, um, it's happened so many times in our community and our canal. We're happy to support. Whatever we can do, we're here to support. Thank you so much. Thanks, sir.
May I ask how much it costs for one um set? Yes. So, the first 10 we give you and then beyond that, any one you purchase, we have an at cost price from Datrix, the manufacturer of the life rings, which is $60. These are the same exact life rings that they sell to freight liners, cruise lines, commercial
vessels. They come with a lifetime warranty. The signs um they're $34.50. If you go through our partnership we have with Broward Signs. If you have your company in your city can get it for a better price, you can use that and our company can personalize them. Put your city logo on them and any other verbiage
you want at no additional cost. Beyond that, if you put a a traditional wooden post, which is like the one most um cities and counties use, it's about $10. It's a six-foot wooden post that goes into the ground two feet and sticks out of the ground four feet. Beyond that,
it's a bag of concrete. And depending on where you put the life ring, if you put it parallel to a body of water, we recommend 50 ft of rope. It's $10 per 50 ft. Um, if you have an inlet or a bridge or something where it's a a drop down, we recommend 150 ft. I mean, sorry, 100
feet and it's double the price for that. But you purchase that all on your own. So, if you buy it in bulk or through your city or even if your parks or public works has um a wooden post or some of the cities have transferred to the metal post, you can use that as well. And other than that, it's just a
hook. So, it's under $100 per ring. And then usually it's a collaborative effort with parks, public works, and the parks department as far as the installation of them depending on where you all decide to put them. And and then you also collect funds to to donate to other organizations.
Yes. So we are the Aiden Perry Goodspar scholarship fund, a 501c3. Our main purpose, we help students in need on their academic journeys with scholarships and everything that you could imagine. Through that is the foundation. So yes, we do accept donations because we are nonprofit. All right. So through my contingency
fund, I'd like to get um 10 for our city. No. Well, I'm I'm just telling you what I'm doing, but if everybody else wants to do it or if we want to do it. But regardless, I'm still going to do it out of my contingency fund and out of my personal um fund. I'd like to give you
another 10 to give to um so please get my information. I'll give you my card. Yeah, Commissioner, just just so I'm clear. So, the first 10 they donate is the ring. Um, we still purchased the um the other the other items, the rope, the post, the
signs. So, I'm just I just want to be clear. Are we are your 10 for the additional needs of her first 10 or you're or you're saying 10 more rings? 10 for our our city and I'm going to give her on my own. And whatever you're missing from the
contingency, whatever you need, let's make it 20 for sure from our city. 20 for our 20 for around our city. between her and I just wanted to be clear. Thank you. Um Commissioner um thank you so much for being here, your bravery um your presentation,
everything. I just want to thank you for that for being here and also um Captain and PD for um bringing this to our attention. I wanted to also ask as it relates to um C citywide, have um can we make an assessment to what we may need
for a city our size and maybe the commission can sponsor something where we can all kind of do a collective scope of the work, you know, all the pieces, all the thing, all the things on to really make our city equipped for something like that, a full-on program.
Well, the police are going to tell us how many you need, right? You're going to do the research on how many to do the canal, even eastern shores, wherever they're needed. Yes, ma'am. I'm going to do an assessment and give you a rough estimate of how much we think that we could use
because whatever isn't covered, we'll make sure it's in the budget next year so that we are covered. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you so much um for your strength and and turning that tragedy
into um an opportunity for other people to not have that same situation happen. Um I'm thinking of how can we advertise this to more residents so that they know how to use this and what it's used for and you know so on and so forth cuz a lot of times you see these things and
you think it's only for for like the you know law enforcement or you know the lifeguards. So I'd like but to your point we there is something more that we do. So what we do when we do have the installation to honor the initiative, you have a dedication ceremony to announce that they're officially in service. And what we do is
we have you all come, you invite the first responders, the community and make it a learning experience. We have either from someone from the fire department, coast guard or lifeguards do life ring demonstrations. And you usually most of the cities who do it, they take a video, they share it on their social media, on your website, and letting the community
know that they're there and the why. And then what I do as part of you joining team A and be part of your city when you have your night outs or your water safety events in April. We come through my foundation. We bring our setup. We give we bring a lot of life rings. We give demonstrations for the community because to your point, it's very
important that people they see them there. They understand the why. We make it clear these are emergency device. It's not a toy. It's something to be used to save a life. And I can tell you the community loves it. We encourage from the youngest child to grandma, grandpa to use it because anybody can use it to save a life.
That's wonderful. Thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor. So sorry for your loss. It's got to be something that you're never going to forget and unfortunately I'm sorry that you have to deal with it. Mr. Manager, I would like to do a proactive campaign to our whole city
because we have lakes, we have canals, we have the Snake Creek Canal, we have the Fingers and Eastern Shores. I think every homeowner should have it in their backyard that lives on water. You know, who knows when a tragedy could happen. Why wouldn't you do it? Well, that's where you can help me
because like I said, it takes a village. So, what I do, I work with the cities and the counties, the municipalities and those lakes in the backyards and those communities are private property and I need your help by them seeing the lead that you're going to set for them to follow to inspire them to come into their HOAs. I have no problem meeting
with the HOAs, but because it's private property, I have them in the lake in my community as HOA president had a meeting. I got it approved and they're in there. It was easy. But once they see it and you set the example, maybe put out a a little educational program of the importance and the why, invite them to our groundbreaking ceremony and
hopefully inspire them and hopefully they'll follow your lead. Jasmine, you here? We need you to help promote this. Mr. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Just real quick, I I think the demonstration needs to be on social media and played constantly, constantly,
constantly. And so that not everybody comes when you have that kind of ceremony. Uh I always tell the people that do come, please tell your neighbors that couldn't come. But it's not enough. And you know, um what Commissioner Chernoff just said, Vice Mayor Chernoff
just said, we do we have a little body of lake that people don't even know, Pwick. We have half a sky lake with a big lake and people don't even know. So when you make those assessments, if you can see where there's public access, what we have control over, that's where
we want to also include it. Yes, ma'am. Where there's public access. Bless your heart for taking your loss and giving the rest of the world a gain. Thank you for your support. I can't do do this on my own. And it's my goal to make this even bigger than here. So
bigger than Florida because I believe everywhere there's a body of water there should be one of our life rings or a life ring there. So thank you all so much for your time. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh next item on discussion 5.1 hurricane
preparedness. Um Chief Pineas. Thank you chief. Good evening mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. Uh we have a video prepared for you from the PD. Uh but just briefly want to remind the residents to please obviously be prepared, be informed, be proactive, use
the police department as a resource. If you're not sure about anything, just keep up to date, follow us on our social media platforms. We will be putting out along with the city, any potential storms are are could impact South Florida and our city. So please stay tuned uh to that. Uh with that, uh turn your attention to the screens and please
play the video. Hi, I'm Officer Laura Gonzalez from the North Miami Beach Police Department. I'm also the lead coordinator for the City of North Miami Beach Emergency Operations Center. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. What I want to
know is, are you ready? It's important to be prepared and have an emergency plan in place. Here at the city of North Miami Beach, we have been preparing to assure our communities remain safe during a storm. As the
season approaches, here are a few tips to help you prepare for a storm. Gather essential supplies such as non-p perishable food, bottled water, working flashlights, and prescription medications. Prepare your homes by checking that all window and door shutters are easily accessible, trees
are trimmed, and outdoor items are properly anchored. Have an evacuation plan for your family and your pets. During a hurricane, follow official warnings, remain calm, and stay inside. Do not drive, but if you must, do so carefully and stay away from flooded
streets. As always, call 911 if needed for emergency assistance. You will find more information on Miami Dade County's website www.mmiamidayade.gov/hurricane and the city of North Miami Beach website www.citynb.com. Stay informed by following the city of
NMB and NMBPD social media accounts and by downloading the NMBPD mobile app for real-time updates. From all of us here at the city of North Miami Beach, we want to make sure you are ready for hurricane season. Chief, did you have anything else?
Okay, where are we at? Hold on. Public comment. Public comments. Madame clerk, could you please call the citizen? Sure. Good evening everyone. The mayor and commission of the city of North Miami Beach has opened the meeting for public
comment. At this time, there is a threem minute line time. There is a threem minute time limit for each speaker. Speaker, when you're called to the podium, please state your name or the name of the organization which you are representing. The mayor and commission of the city of North Miami Beach
recognizes the importance of civility. Please exercise towards everyone. And our first sign speaker is Whitney Podi. Thank you. Okay. Good evening everybody. Um, mayor, commissions, residents of city of North
Miami Beach. My name is Whitney Pedote. I reside in Lazul Residency. Um, as a secretary of centennial committee, I'd like to make a proposal and ask commission to um add a event to
the timeline. It is a barbecue/block party to represent or celebrate the 100red years of celebration of the city of North Miami Beach. The three proposed location is behind city hall between the block, Snake Creek behind the library or
at Fort um fountain where um that's one proposed since we are in budget season. I would like to allocate some funds for a barbecue or block party for that. since we only have two events and really our task force/committee is hijacking
certain events throughout the year but our proposal to add an additional event depending on sponsorships um who's donating funds to the city to make sure that we have some you know some marketing visibility for celebrating for
NB 100 years second topic I would like to discuss Yes, it is regarding I would like to invite all of the commissions to um public utility commission board. Um usually is one week
before the um actual commission board. There's a lot of um information to digest and I believe the NB water team is working very hard to put NB water um in the right directions. I know they have some big plans and because there's
a lot of information, I would like to invite everybody to come upon the actual commission board and listen in because there's a lot of information and a lot of finance. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask one of the
PU commissioners or the chairman or um a utility director. And then I believe our last point um I like as a concerned resident is what is our go what is our CIP um master plan for the city? Not
utilities or utility on the utility side but on the like the public works side versus parks and wreck. I see a CIP dashboard but I don't see a CIP plans. And when it's come to getting some grants, especially from the
state, you must have a CIP plan in place to get, you know, money encumbered. And I believe that's all. Thank you. Thank you, uh, vice chair for taking call. Uh, next speaker. Thank you,
Daniel Pierre and then Bruce Lamberto. Yes. Yes. I would like to say hello to every commission is there anyway. My name is Daniel Pierre. My address is 15240 Northeast 10 Court.
So I mean tonight I am here tonight for one reason. So every time I'm coming here to the mic, I'm always talking about the same thing. always cuz I need help. Something have
to be done. Every time I'm coming here, I'm coming for the same reason. Something have to be done. So where I live, I never see something like that by the
way the people driving just like they driving just like just like you live in I 95. Those people they don't care. They don't care. You got a kid. They drive any kind of way they want.
But only way I see you could help me cuz I remember last last three or four months I almost got killed. But I already said that before the guy coming in my gate almost killed me.
So okay I keep coming here for the same reason. What I what I ask for the speed bump that's what I come in here that's what I ask everybody come into my house Daniel something have to be done you
know some sometime the people they don't want to come in here sometime they say well when I come in here the commission not going to do anything so that's a waste time I say it's not true if you don't come in here to tell what you get in your neighborhood this commission
they cannot know everything what's going on. You here to bring the thing to the city wall. Let them know what you deal with it. So I cannot deal with that anymore. I need help. I need those thing to be done. Please,
please. But if I if I could do it by myself, I could do it by myself. Is spend my own money. I could do it. But it's not that cuz I am the resident. So anything happened to the city I am always there whatever the election I'm
here I'm vote do I do my job why the little thing like that when I need help especially in that neighborhood where I live people don't they don't come to the meeting cuz that's they say nobody not
going to listen to them they don't do anything but everything going to east but this time I would like something do done in my neighborhood why I cannot do they speed b so that's why I'm coming here cuz anyway last week you don't see
me cuz I lost my brother oh sorry that's the reason you don't see me sorry if you lost so anyway please guy do something for me all right okay thanks thank you um I I know m uh mckenry is
here and I public works so please reach out to Mr. Pierre, that being said, can I Mayor, can I Yes, Vice Chair Vice Mayor, this is why when Colleen came up to us and said where um traffic circle should
be or speed bumps or whatever that there's so many other opportunities in our city for them. So, we need to take these addresses down and investigate them and definitely do something. We can't have them keep coming back. What's the thing? Well, to the to the point of the manager, I know this has been
investigated several. Miss um M. Mckenry, can you come up because I this has been going on. I want to make clear to the residents to everyone that this is not something that I know um Mr. Pierre has come here several times, but if M Henry can to elaborate Thank you,
Mr. Pierre, for for your Thank you. Thank you. Can you elaborate what has what has happened u to mitigate the the issues that Mr. Pierre has brought up? Thank you. Uh good evening, mayor, commission, um city attorney.
Um yes, we have met with Mr. Daniel Pierre at his home. Um he has a um urgent dire need for um traffic calming measures. Um and which kind of justifies why we are introducing the resolution to bypass the two-third consensus. Um he
has had vehicles crash into his fence. It's and um uh quite a few near misses. um in this particular situation, um this would be a perfect example as to why we need that resolution to really help our residents. This is on here tonight. Yeah, that's that's the that was the
item that was pulled from consent. Okay. Yeah. I I don't know through that being I just like I said, I'm just glad that we're moving forward with it. I don't want to delay like we're going to we're going to mitigate those issues in a subsequent meeting um just so we we can have a more productive meeting. But
Commissioner Smith because I know we have a real fast I just want want him to know that repeatedly we I have mentioned yours when anybody else I said what about 211 what about 211 I mean 11th Avenue court 11th court but we're having legislation as he says
to hope to give teeth because traffic calming has a problem with the city making the decision. the county is involved and they need a traffic study and the traffic study doesn't always go your way. So, we have legislation
tonight. If it passes, they'll be able to do what you need in your home. Hopefully, it's been pulled. It's been pulled, but it's it's No, but it's pulled for it for discussion. Discuss, but it still get But but that being said, I Sorry, Commissioner Smith, you finish up with
us. I'm sorry. No, I it could still get seven votes. We're going to discuss it, but tonight it it's on the agenda. It might not be till 2:30 in the morning, but I'll call you. No, no. We're going to try. We're No. We're going to do our It's not going to be at 2:30. No, no. We'll We'll do We'll We will do our best. Um Thank you so very much,
public um public works director. Next speaker, Madame Clerk. Next speaker, Bruce Lombberto. Good evening, Mayor Commission. Bruce Lamberto. Uh last last week we had the public utilities commission and u all
these items that you see on the on the agenda tonight for your approval uh we discussed them and we feel they're they're greatly needed. Uh we also heard from a a consultant who uh investigated our system. We have a lot of water
leaks. We're losing a lot of water and a lot of revenue. um he he recommended that we start uh getting on a program of replacing a minimum of 2% of our system every year
to catch up to all these uh the maintenance that's needed. The underground maintenance we have many we have 551 miles of of underground piping. 2% of that is 10 miles. So it's still a substantial amount. the commission voted
to um recommend that we spend at least 1% we we allocate funds for at least 1% five just to get started but we this needs to be an ongoing program for every every year on an annual basis. So I'm hoping that u you you would also
consider that recommendation in the future. I'm sure it'll come up on maybe in the next agenda to approve this allocation of funds to uh improve the underground. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next speaker,
Leslie Sardinia and then Ruth Oen. Hello everyone. Sorry, I'm very sick and I just arrived last night from Atlanta. My dog is pretty sick, so I'm here because I think it's very important. Uh last month I said at least you're not
going to Vegas and for some reason it was on the last item that night for the record Eastern Shores. And for some reason it was on the last item that night about your trip to Japan. I know you have 10,000 at your
discretion yearly, but why wouldn't you be putting your money back into the city for the elderly, the children, the parks, or the life preserver donations that were just presented to us tonight. Um,
North Miami Beach is not Japan. It's not ever going to be Japan. I mean, we've got a long way to go before we're Japan on the city and the cleanliness and all of the things we're doing. We're just not doing what we should be doing for our city. Now, going to Japan,
excuse me, Michael Joseph, mayor, if you please. Going to Japan is not something that the city needs to be doing right now with the money. We need more parks. We need more things for schools.
Speaking with commissioners since the last meeting and hearing what has transpired with different things, monies getting moved around without anyone knowing is unbelievable. You need to implement the budget control resolution for transparency and accountability that
all received that all received many emails from your constituents constituents in regards to this matter. But who responded? I had a few that did respond. Can you all be transparent and not just
a few transparent? When your constituents send an email, it would be nice to get a return reply. One of the things that the city needs are speed bumps on 164th Street in particular. I saw public's works placing
cones out showing where the speed bumps were going to go and we were all very happy to finally see that was going to come. And now it's been tabled. I don't know if that's the correct word. because it needs another study. How many studies? How many consultants
do we need? How many studies to stop the speeding on 164th Street? I know the guys I mean I know you guys have gotten a lot of emails from people on 164th and the side streets, but not too many responses. The
transparency is non-existent. You don't feel the need to be for some reason. I don't know. But you need to be transparent. You need to speak to your constituents. We're the reasons why you're up there. Thanks, speaker.
Ruth Oen. Good evening, mayor, commissioners, and staff. I'm here today to express concern over the proposed $450,000. State your name for the I'm sorry, Ruth Oen Sunray East. uh your proposed $450,000
expenditure on new office furniture. While I understand the need for upgrades, I urge you to consider is this the right time? I just came back from three weeks in Orman Beach, north of Daytona, with a population of about
45,000 people, similar in size to North Miami Beach. I did not see any buildings with graffiti or any signs that needed updating. It was a pleasure to drive around town. North Miami Beach still has
outdated, broken way found finding signs throughout the city. Signs that residents and visitors see on a daily basis and that reflects on our city's image. With our centennial year approaching, shouldn't we prioritize how
North Miami Beach presents itself to the public? Before spending nearly a half a million dollars on internal improvements, let's invest in the visible public-f facing aspects of our city. Let's fix what the public sees
first. Thank you. Next, speaker. Maria Hawk. Good evening, mayor and city council. My name is Mara Hawk. I live in this city and um today I would like to
address the trip to Japan and other issue. It amazed me that on campaigning time there are so many promise made to us. However, as soon as you are hired to
represent us, everything shift. On this note, I ask that what is the purpose of this trip to Japan and please tell us how this trip
represent us dollar for dollar. I will highly ask that you all review with the fairness the city's residents deserve everything that have been approved since you are occupying those
chairs. We fighted before for the things that are surfacings again. So we are prepared to do do it again. Please do not use the tax money for the
trip to Japan. And if you must, please bring proof on how you spent that money. On another note, I really do not appreciate that on our last commission meeting after Miss Christina Snell Grove
and other residents including me. Um the mayor instruct our police to stop and mute our clap or the gesture that people were making
on those public comments. Miss Enel Gruff as well as others were civil and respectful. All the comments were based on facts. The opinions were not rude. There were no yelling or obscene
language. If it's okay to single out a mayor or a commissioner that do a particular good thing, is equally acceptable to single out those that represent me that don't do a particular
good thing. In fact, is my freed speech right to address my representatives in any manner I choose as long as is factual in my opinion and most
importantly if it is not threatening. 15 seconds. I resent any show of this detour on this city. I resent the use of our police force to stop up us from clapping
or our right of the speech. But the good news is we weren't stopped from speaking. Should that day come, I assure all of you, our city will be in the news again
because free free speech is our right in this country. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, Trisha Harris and then Kathy George. Good evening everyone. My name is Trisha Harris. Um, I'm here from Highland Village
and there is something on the agenda for this evening regarding two 10story buildings and a parking garage. And um, the residents of Highland Village are concerned with the exiting
of Highland Village. When we add this, I believe it's 293 more apartment complexes to the Highland Village area. As to we are already having um issues
with getting out of Highland Village now with the new building that's going up and all the parking that is on the swailes. And when a UPS parks on the side of the street closest to the building that was built a few
years ago, it blocks the traffic and we're having to wait to get in and out. And now we're going to be opening up 139th Street to a two 10story complex.
and we're just worried about having the proper ability to get in and out of Highland Village. Um, a lot of residents have asked me about it. I really don't know anything about this project other than when I saw the signs go up. Um, and
with the construction now, we have a construction at the very front of the 130 uh, Highland Drive where we're having to go over a metal bump. Today they dug up an area by Roland Veloo's
house which is on the cusp of 20th and Highland Drive and now we're having to go over another bump which does not have the seal going down. I don't know if they're finished because they started today and people were complaining that
when they go over it it's loose. It makes bumps. Um so that's two of the things that I was going to bring up. Um, the other thing is I want to invite everybody to our back to school event that's coming up soon. Um, we're working
very hard on a great event and I want to thank everybody for everything that you guys do for us. And my other thing is I recently visited Chicago. I rode a train. I rode buses that really
work. I mean, they really, really worked because I'm a person that would not step on a bus in Day County. And I'm telling you, Chicago on time. If it says it's supposed to be there at 7:00, it's there at 7:00, 7:15, 7:20. It runs every 20
minutes. I wish Miami Day County could get it together because it really does work. And I would actually take one, but I wouldn't take it in day county right now. Have a good evening. Thank you. Uh, next speaker, Kley Joim.
Good evening, mayor and commission. My name is Ketwasher and I reside in your leader. I want to thank you all so much for what you did for the family of John Filom this evening. Uh Miss Agnes was really
pleased about it. So thank you. Now I want to talk about resolution R20 25-96 R2025-97. I am hoping that tonight you all finally make a decision when it comes down to
these traffic calming situation in North Miami Beach. It is very important. We have children out there. We have elderlys that walk in some of these sidewalks. I'm not sure anymore, but
definitely 174, 175th, all throughout the city, you either find potholes or outdated streets and all we keep hearing is Miami Dade County, Miami Dade County. But we
need to do also our due diligence and make sure that we keep our residents safe. So, we need for you to make a decision about traffic calming. some of the funds that you all are spending elsewhere could be spent about putting some good traffic coming into North
Miami Beach, especially with this um centennial happening in a few well I guess next year in a few months I think that you all need to notify your resident of what's happening because not
all of them are aware that the city is going to be 100 years old and you have activities happening. So, please make sure that you if it wasn't for Commissioner Lens Su and others who have
um alerted some members of um the city, we would have never known that this was happening, that there was a board or anything else happening. So, I made the time to go in one of these meetings um last week.
Also, please start these meetings on time. My mother is 102 years old. God bless. So, I'm on She's on bow time right now. I could do better with my time than sit here an hour and a half, two hours
waiting on this body to come and start these meetings. When we the resident take the time to come here, it is a hardship. Some people leave work. Some people leave other things they have to do in order to come here. So please be
mindful of this especially the times that we are living in these days because no one's sure what's going to happen. So please make sure you start these meetings on time so we could go home. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Next speaker, former commissioner Barbara Kramer and then Mr. Kazan. Good evening, Barbara Kramer. You know, I wasn't going to speak tonight. I figured he needed a good break from me, but thanks to the mayor and his snarky
facial expressions because one of his colleagues pulled a consent agenda because perhaps they want better clarification or to add something to the resolution. I'm up here. You all are here for a reason. Collaboratively, you'll do better. But I don't see that
happening. The consent to item regarding the trip to Japan was walked on to the agenda last month, rushed through a vote that in reflection doesn't seem accurate and should be revisited. So if it's okay, mayor, for you to do that, so it
is okay for a colleague of yours to pull important city matters, especially about traffic, to the deis for discussion. And while you're tripping to Japan and looking to spend almost a half a million dollar on furniture for the city,
consider what our city looks like. The sign code in our commercial district is not adhered to. We redid it. We made people over 10 years ago remove their signage because it was over 25% of the storefront
and we made them do it, but we've done nothing since. Um, our street signs, our wayfinding signs are so dated and so dilapidated. We have not rebranded our city in decades. Yet, here we are 15 months away
from our centennial. I'd really hope you all will consider and take more pride in the way our city looks. These buildings with the graffiti on them again are cracked. I want you all to observe these signs. They're cardboard, okay? They were temporary
signs. the old ones from the 80s are cracking and faded and and and they're just so um ugly. I I don't have a a a better word for this. It's embarrassing and we need to take more pride in our community. 100 years is just around the
corner. We need to show something for it. Thank you. Next speaker, Mr. Kazan. Good evening everyone. My name is Mubarak Kazan. Um, it is so important to speak into the
mic. I tell everybody over the years speak into the mic or your votes would not be counted. So the last meeting I looked on an 80in screen YouTube saw this meeting June 17th 2025
at about 3 hours into the meeting when that consent agenda came up on the Japan vote. I call it the Japan vote. And I only saw three people moved their mouth.
One sounded into the mic. That was the mayor. The other two they moved their mouth and I figured yet they said I. Two did not move their mouth for either I or opposed.
and three moved their mouth for opposing. Kind of like that vote failed. The Japan vote failed. The entire consent agenda failed.
And that is what you've been doing all the while. You've been playing big. I think I had to correct the city attorney tonight. He had like the phone about the mic about 3 feet away. Can you speak into the mic? He came in like a foot and a half away and still couldn't hear him
properly. It is important that you speak into the mic. Don't play big and talking about big. Mr. Mayor, you choose to be the layers on for the PUC meeting, the public utilities commission meeting and for the entire year. You have not come
to one meeting. Give it to somebody else. Who is more important? I think you added Commissioner Charoff. He was coming to every meeting. If you can't make it, give it to somebody else. Don't play big. And then you have clapping. I
heard at your conference you are clapping. Why prevent us from clapping? Why turn the police department against the people? The police department and us, we support each other. But when you
use your position to turn them against the people, then there's a division in the community. Street caring. We need to discuss that because you want to force it that you can put your um your caring wherever about the place. But I'll tell the
people tonight that came from the CIT funding where street caring supposed to be. And we collected for the last 20 years or so over $60 million. $60 million. And guess what? Most of that
went to a trolley that is very much underutilized. And you say that 10,000 people a month use the trolley. You never went to one of those mega churches. That holds like about 10,000 people. So if you can
compare the poultry lot of people that travel on that trolley and you claiming that 10,000 people use that trolley, I've got a bridge to sell you. Thank you very much for having me. Thank you. Next speaker, Mr. Mayor, that was the last sign speaker.
Okay, we'll move on to the next uh agenda item, announcements. Uh Madame Clerk, uh oh, public announcements. Uh communications. Yes. Hello, my name is Jasmine Joseph. Go ahead and take it away, AV. We have
Hello, residents of the city of North Miami Beach. We're excited to invite you to a series of upcoming community events designed just for you. Here's what's happening in your neighborhood. Kicking off the month of July, National
Parks and Recreation Month. Let's build together and play together. July 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Farm share drive-thru food distribution at the Kevin R. Sims Aquatic Center.
Walkups are welcome, too. Supplies are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. July 22nd, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Reminder to residents with appointments confirmed on-site DMV services at the
Julius Litman Performing Arts Theater. Due to high demand, July 25th, 9:00 a.m. to 400 p.m., the Honorable Dariel Fernandez, Miami Dade County Tax Collector Mobile Office will be on site at city hall in partnership with state
representative Wallace Aristed. Open to seniors July 16th through July 23rd and open to residents and the public July 23rd to July 25th. Don't miss this convenient opportunity.
Also happening on July 25th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. senior lunchon sponsored by the esteemed Jackson Health System at the McDonald Center. July 26th at 100 p.m. the Peruvian Cultural Celebration at the North Miami
Beach Library. Come and enjoy the festivities happening July 27th, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and also August 12th from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. UMC free mobile health
clinic. This mobile unit is offering completely free health services. No insurance, no appointment, and no cost. Clinics run monthly through December. After school program registration begins
July 28th for North Miami Beach residents and August 4th for non-residents. Make sure you visit citynm.com/rectrak. Happening August 5th at 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. National Night Out located at the North Miami Beach Police Department.
A community building event that promotes police community partnerships to make our community safer. Happening August 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Free community Zumba at Ulita Park Community Center. An energetic,
fun-filled workout for all fitness levels that brings neighborhoods together through dance and movement. Happening on August 12th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. school supplies giveaway and health fair. Pre-registration is
required. located at DS Center. August 13th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 151st Street Station visioning workshop number two focused on environment and development. Your voice, your vision,
your future. TransHub on the way. NMBB residents, it's budget season. Important dates to remember. August 7th, budget workshop number one. August 26th, budget workshop number two. September
8th, public hearing number one. September 25th, final public hearing number two. That is the conclusion of the events for July and August. North Miami Beach residents, we look forward to seeing you
there. Let's connect and celebrate community together. I'm here if you have any questions. Thank you. Communications. We haven't had that in a very, very long time. And thank you for giving a presentation. I'm sure that's going to play on repeat on channel 77.
Yes, we are. Thank you to Jason Hope who helped us put this together in a short period of time. and we hope that we refine it through the next commission meeting. Commissioner Smoke No. And welcome back, Jason. We're so happy to have you. So lucky to have you both both of you. Welcome back. So,
thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good team. Next, next on the uh commissioner reports, Madame Clerk, Commissioner Florimmon, thank you so much. Um, thank you so much everyone for your participation and um for those who came up and spoke during
uh public comment, thank you so much as well. Uh, just want to um to ask if if we have do we have any um any understanding about the um I I've been hearing about an item
that's supposed to be presented tomorrow at the county commission. And I don't know if there's any particular uh understanding about that from management or from our staff. No, the update was update was already it was already sent out. Yeah, it was sent by email. Okay. I didn't see that. And um because of like the sensitivity
of it all, like that's why it was Okay. All right. Thank you. All right. I appreciate that. Um, you know, I was just listening to our public comment and and you know, the reality is that we we have a big opportunity up here to really come together and I think that, you know, as it relates to um, you know, um,
some of our residents, I I think there's a great opportunity to to really collaborate. I don't think that we have to necessarily be adverse to one another, but we can all provide uh, insight into really where our city
is headed. I think that's um you know something that's really really important. Um we we have to be efficient and we have to get some some wints for our for our municipality especially going into this 100 years. Certain things I've heard about signage and things of that sort. These are things
that I totally 100% agree on. Um because I remember when I came back um after my 20 uh 2010 and I saw the wayfinding conversation that I was having having about 10 years prior still hadn't been
um still hadn't been realized and so you know now we're fast forward 6 years later and so it's it we we have to get some more wins and I I think that beautifification is definitely one of them. I was happy to um I'm happy to support what I saw in the CRA earlier. I
know we're expanding on that conversation about how we're going to beautify 163rd Street from Golden Glades all the way to Biscane Boulevard, the medians. Um and so signage and things of that sort that we can definitely work on to improve the beautifification of our
city is is extremely important. Um so I I value those comments that were made and you know, I hope that we all can work towards a collaborative effort to move our city forward. That's what we need and that's what we should be doing. Thank you, Commissioner Jean.
Commissioner Jean, sorry. Good evening. Thank you everyone. I'm wanted to kind of piggy back off of Commissioner Flormon in reference to um the Centennial and um have has the deck been prepared for sponsorship?
Yes, Commissioner. The deck has been prepared. Um staff is prepared to have a conversation if we can get to it uh later in the agenda. All right. because I also wanted to see if we can get synergy with the communications department and the CRA in
reference to, you know, the fund the fund sharing that can happen there. And um like we talked about the banners that could potentially be put up within the CRA and they can kind of share those um those costs. Uh I wanted to thank the
team that put together the the hurricane preparedness. We had a lot of residents come out for that and that was a very successful event. Uh also wanted to ask about the library outreach. I know we talked about that last commission meeting um having that joint meeting
that talked about parking and um potential development that the community is worried about. So I still haven't gotten an update about that. Also, ARPA, we're we've been I've been talking to ARPA talk for for about six, seven
months now, and we still don't have a comprehensive plan of how to fill in those um those opportunities, if you will. Um so, looking for that as well. Um I know I heard the Centennial timeline. Is that going to be shared
with us this meeting? answer. I want to give a big kudos to our procurement department and our parks and our public works department for putting out a great uh the for the roundabout that's going to be um that's I'm not I'm
not sure if the corner of silence is on so I can't talk about it per se but um thank you all for that. And with that I want to definitely speak to our manager and our department heads. you know, we you are the backbone of this city and
without you, we can't function well. So, I want to commend you all for keeping us moving forward, but I also want to challenge you guys to work closer together with this new team so that we can really find synergy uh especially as
we move forward together. Um uh what else? What else? Sorry, guys. All right. The second thing I wanted to the other thing I wanted to talk about as well is grants. Um there was a grant that I had shared with um the team. Unfortunately,
the grant deadline passed and we were not able to apply for it. Um we know we have a new grant department. So my ask is also that we get a full report of the grants that have been um awarded where we are and when commissioners are my
fellow colleagues asks for grant funding that people are actually actively looking for these grants but also not allowing these deadlines to pass where these opportunities for funding are going down um without us actively pursuing that. So thank you. That's my
time. Commissioner Smith, thank you and thank you again everybody for your patience tonight. Uh I explained why we had to be late, but it's still very discerning for all of
us, including us up here. Um I want to say from day one I have been talking about teaching your children to swim, that they have to learn how. My children at six months old were taught to grab a hold of the side. They call it
drownproofing infants. It's imperative and accidents happen on top of it. But unfortunately, the man in the car, if he had only known how to swim himself and could have gotten out, that would have
been two lives saved. Um, I want to say that the problem that I see up here, I want to share with you tonight. When you go to Sunny Isles, you go down Collins Avenue and you went to Sunny
Isles. When you go to Aventura, you go around the circle and you went to Aventura. When you go to Miami Shores, you go from the bay to the expressway and you went to Miami Shores. North Miami Beach. You
go 135th Street. Half of the on the east side it's North Miami Beach. On the west side it's North Miami. You come up 135th Street on Biscane Boulevard and it becomes county. Then it becomes North Miami Beach. Then it becomes
North Miami. Then it becomes the city again. You go into Sky Lake. Half of Sky Lake is North Miami Beach. But if you go east of 22nd, it's the county. You go to Pwick, it's the county. You go
south of Pwick, I mean, it's a city. South of there, it's the county. We are so divided. We're a very difficult street uh municipality to get work done. I don't know if the
answer is to work on one neighborhood, but the deterioration that public talks about me, you know, meeting after meeting, if you live here, you see it. You can't be blind to it. So, we as the commissioner have commission have to
work stronger and harder to get funds, to get the right people to use the funds, and to make sure that this city starts to shine again. economic development. We are trying to bring business here. We are trying to
bring more revenue and more places for you as a resident to enjoy. And you know what? It's hard to get people to come right through the city and want to put their dollars here. So staff, administration, fellow commissioners,
we have been talking about the benches that are sitting in warehouses since I was a young girl and I was learning how to wear skates. I we've been talking about that. I got old and gray and we're still talking about the
benches in the warehouse. Just things like that is a perfect example of we're not doing it right. And you know what? This time is to encourage you to have a safe summer, to have a healthy summer, to take care of each other, to
make memories because we never know what tomorrow brings. My God, I'm praying for the people that were flooding. Can you imagine to send your child to camp and instead of picking them up in the car to take them home, you're picking them up
in a coffin? I mean, I can't even turn on the TV. But together we can all honestly do better. I hate to be a Debbie Downer. Is that what they call it? Maybe I shouldn't use anybody's name because we
don't want to offend anybody, but you know what? We have to do better. The public is right. And I have to tell you, I will be too old to walk to the benches when the benches finally get installed so I could sit on one. We have got to start to move
forward and move forward, right? Positive. So, I'm I'm addressing administration. I'm addressing staff, but I'm addressing us, including me. We have got to pass legislation. We have got to make the the staff
understand where the priorities are. The centennial's coming up. We're going to light flames and light the place up. and when they turn on all the lights, they're going to see the grime and dirt. Let's light it up and have them see the
beauty. So, I just thank you all so much. Commissioner Smokler. Um, thank you. Um I I know that in the announcements they said that next week Friday that the tax collector Dariela was going to have
his mobile clinic here on ne on Wednesday. It's it's not 100% set in stone but it's it looks like it is happening. And if anybody's interested please reach out to me or to com uh Vice Mayor Chernoff. But next week Wednesday
um he will be at the cow here in North Miami Beach. Um, Commissioner Vice Mayor Chernoff and I are working hard to have a cafeito with uh Dariel. So, um, we look forward to having you all here for
some cafeesito and also the most important event of the year other than the centennial celebration. Um, the book bag giveaway um on Tuesday, August 12th. Well, I'm sorry I said book bag. I meant
book supplies. We give a lot of book supplies because book bags they can get anywhere. Everybody's giving out book bags. We're giving out book supplies. The the the school supplies. The kids really need these school supplies and um
they'll always be used. So um that is Tuesday, August 12, and this is being done by the commission of the status and woman. And finally, um, I want to give my condolences to the family of David Lawrence Jr. for the loss of his, uh,
beautiful twin granddaughters. Um, he led the campaigns for the Children's Trust. And here in our city in our library, we use, um, the so many services from the Children's Trust. I had the pleasure of meeting um, David
Lawrence Jr. a few years a book and I I I think I have his book in in at city hall and if anybody wants to uh read it, I'd be more than happy if I still have it there. I I'd be more than happy to uh lend it to them. It's it was a wonderful um his life story. It's it's really
special. So, um I'm our our condolences uh to his family and um wishing everybody a safe summer and um as Commissioner um Smith always tries to emphasize that you know children need to
learn to swim and and it's really important. So, please make sure the children are are learning to swim. I know my my granddaughter was learning to swim um at like three months already. So, if I could take a second of your time, did you explain that um David Lawrence
lost grandchildren in that flood? Granddaughters, twins, twins, twin granddaughters. He actually had three kids at the camp. An 11year-old and the two sevenyear-olds were part of the traffic in Texas. Our blessings to him and his family and
all the families. Commissioner Sue. Good evening, colleagues, residents, and staff. This evening, I want to use my commission report to speak candidly and transparently about matters that have weighed heavily on me for several months. As someone who ran on a platform
of openness, collaboration, and ethical governance, I believe it is my duty to raise these concerns. While I would prefer to address them privately, our form of government requires us to co govern in the sunshine. For that reason, I feel compelled to bring these matters
to light professionally and with great humility. Recently, I took the initiative to meet with a neighboring city's mayor and their administration. As a new commissioner, my intent was simple. To be the ambassador of goodwill, introduce myself, learn from
others, and seek ways to strengthen regional collaboration. No policy decisions, no private deals, just professional outreach. Before the meeting, I was informed and invited the interim city manager to join me. He
later called me and said that he would not attend, citing a legal opinion from our city attorney, Mr. Geller of Greenspoon Martyr LLP, advising against it. That alone raised questions, but what followed was even
more troubling. That same evening, I received a call from someone completely unaffiliated with our government. This individual somehow knew intimate details about my conversation with the interim city manager, internal legal guidance,
unpublished resolutions, and even which commissioner I co-sponsored them with. None of which had been made public. So I must ask, why is someone outside this government privy to confidential legal matters? Where is the line between
transparency and the breach of attorney client privilege? How would someone not employed by the city have access to my schedule or internal communications? Is our city attorney sharing privilege information externally? And if so, with
whom? If the answer is yes, it represents a serious trust of breach of trust. At best, it compromises the integrity of our processes. At worst, I hesitate to imagine the implications. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated
in event. I've observed a broader pattern, one that raises concern about fairness, professionalism, and whether all commissioners are being treated equitably. Each of us was elected by our residents to represent their voices.
That includes the right to place items on agenda and engage in legislative dialogue. Yet too often my requests have been met with resistance, delay, and s or silence. Last month, I submitted my agenda items early, well ahead of the
deadline. The city manager's office confirmed receipt and even identified staff support on each item. But when I followed up with the city attorney to ensure that they were moving forward, I was not met with collaboration, but with condescension and disrespect. Though Mr.
Geller issued a public apology at our June commission meeting, the behavior reflected a deeper issue, a lack of respect, not only towards me as a commissioner, but towards the residents I represent. And let me be clear, if any one of you
on this day were treated that way, I would stand up for you. and I hope you would stand up for me. Consider another example. Commissioner Jean and I co-sponsored a budget resolution last month. Later chose she chose she later chose to withdraw it in anticipation
that it might not return. I asked that my original version be placed on the agenda instead. It was ignored without explanation, discussion, acknowledgement of my role as a dulyeleed official. That silence
spoke volumes. These are not procedural mishaps. This is a pattern a re with real consequences. When some commissioners are supported while others are sidelined, whether intentional or not, the result is the same. Fractured
trust and diminished morale. Residents have noticed. I've heard from many, and I'm sure you have too. Concern not just about policies, but about professionalism. unanswered emails, off-hand remarks, inconsistent
standards, and the troubling perception that our city attorney at times act more like a legislator than a legal counsel. They've also noticed the tone of our meetings, the dismissiveness, the lack of engagement, the figurative and sometimes literal disengagement from
someone expected to guide us with focus and integrity. We all came here to serve, to make a difference, to work with honor on behalf of the people of North Miami Beach. So I ask you, my colleagues, if your proposals were quietly dismissed, if your meetings were
undermined, if private conversations were somehow made public, how would you feel? How would you feel respected, supported? Would you feel like your role as a commissioner was being upheld? I am not asking for special treatment. I'm
asking for fairness, for professionalism, for transparency across the board. And as we head into our into our discussion later this evening where I will share additional concerns related to the city attorney's office, I ask
that we set politics aside, focus on what is right for this city. Let's reflect honestly. Are we treating one another with the same standards of respect and professionalism that we expect from those who serve us?
Are we upholding the trust of our residents placed on in us when they elected us to lead? Because the culture we allow is the culture we create. And tonight we have a chance to raise that standard. Thank you,
Vice Mayor Shernov. Bravo. Bravo. Good evening everybody and again like my colleagues have said we apologize for the lateness of starting the meeting. Um Mr. Manager, assistant manager, deputy manager, once again I will ask what's
happening with the tennis center. We have not heard it on this level in a long time and I've been asking for it for two years for what's going on with that and keep getting stalled over and over again. I would like it to move forward. Please.
Thank you. That's it. I agree with I But there is something going on. Yeah, we're working. It's coming back, right? Yeah, we're working on something right now. When's it coming back? 60 days. I think there was a time. Yeah, but it's I believe it's coming back at the next commission. But that's not fast enough for me.
Okay. Thank Thank you. Um Um Okay. We need to address it and it needs to be done now. I I agree. and speed up the timelines, whatever you have to do. When um before Mario left, he said the only thing we
were put throwing it back to the seven that were applied and asking for the further to for them to do their whole presentation. So where is it? That's my question. Okay. You don't have to answer. Okay. So that that Okay. So because I want to finish up at the M conference because we have a long agenda, Madam Clerk,
Mayor Michael Joseph, I just want to move forward with have a speedy agenda because we have several items. We have a quasi edition. Oh. Oh, I'm so Oh, that wasn't the only thing. Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry. Go ahead. Um, Centennial, a thought that the young
man brought up forward about a barbecue. We used to do many years ago a barbecue in every neighborhood. We used to roll up this big thing, cook hamburgers and hot dogs, nothing more. And that got the neighborhood out. If that's what we need
to do for the centennial to get everybody out and give them shirts that say 100th anniversary or whatever you know we're doing then let's consider that. Okay. And then finally um I want to discuss the consent agenda. I don't know who puts together the
consent agenda how it's put together and it needs to be really thought of because when something is put on there that needs discussion it needs to come off and get the discussion. And that's what we our policy should No, we we are going to work on that's
something that we'll have based on this this next meeting. I promise. Well, and I understand and and again it's back to the whole do we have enough time. We don't. Okay. The I wish my colleagues I would put this in your head for two meetings a month again because I
don't think any one of us is happy to get out of here at 12:00 at night. No. No. And and let me Okay. So, I don't think that that and I don't believe that our business gets done at 11:20 or 11:30 at night. It's not fair to our residents. It's not fair to us who are
also residents. So, I would just please, you know, consider consider it. And then that's finally the farm share is this Thursday. Please join me. What you always shamp one thing I will say is this. I you know, this leg the legislation to finish up my report has been forthcoming for quite some time. We
have to tighten up our conference. I think if we tighten everything up, I think things will work out because we were doing a good job. It's the consents that are coming in that we'll put it I I'll put legislation to mitigate that and to do it the proper way because I think we like there's only been one meeting and you can look at past tapes that we really went over.
Um but I believe that if we do the legislation, we we allow staff to have some type of cut off that saying this is what we'll have. I think that would that'll mitigate some of the issue. But I'll work out with the city attorney. And one more thing, Mr. manager, assistant manager, deputy
manager, attorney, thank you for getting the resolution together that we're going to hear tonight. You all worked tirelessly to do it and I appreciate that and Fortuno appreciates that and everybody appreciates that. Thank you. Thank you. The the TPS. The TPS. The TPS. TPS. What did I say? You said you said TPS.
Next item on the commission is consent. Please, mayor, are you going to do your report? Yes, I'm finishing my report. Yes. That's all I want to report because I we have a I'm I'm trying to move the show along. Go ahead. So, the next item is the health insurance 15. Oh, yes. Health insurance. That is that
was moved on, Jacob. That's Thank you. Will you take mine? No, we have to we're doing the healthcare first because it's we have our I think Brown is here. Oh, she didn't tell me that. Okay.
Good evening, honorable mayor and commission. Uh, Jacob Newman, interim human resources director. Uh, I'm joined today by Eric Burr. There better. Uh I'm joined today by Eric Brewer, our uh senior benefits consultant with the insurance uh broker
Corporate Synergies. Uh today we'll be presenting our 2526 uh employee benefits summary and recommendations. Um our broker has conducted a comprehensive review of the market and benefits including evaluation of self- insurance options.
Um, following review, uh, the city h has not placed its insurance, uh, out for bid as we were able to obtain a competitive renewal from our current broker, uh, Etna. Uh, this carrier uh, came through with a
renewal rate that was supported by market data here in South Florida as well as broader in the state. Uh, it included analysis of our claims history as well as the um, premium to claims ratio. uh that is the amount that they
spend on uh paying claims uh versus administrative and uh profit. Um and also it took into effect the employee satisfaction uh that we uh received in in feedback through surveys.
Uh so while re recommending renewal with Etna um the options that we provide you today uh will uh allow for some level of cost sharing for our employees. So
option A is going to be uh no changes to the current plans that we offer. Um the plan design and contributions will continue uh similar as as they are today and uh this will result in an additional budget impact of the city of
approximately $470,000. Option B is going to increase uh introduce increased member cost sharing uh that reduces the cost of the plans. Uh there's an estimated budget impact of
$374,000 in doing so uh to the city. Uh that's a reduction of 96,000 from our our initial option. Uh in this scenario in our HMO and PO plans, it's going to modify the
primary care and specialty care uh physician office visits. Uh it will additionally increase the ER co-ay. It increases the brand uh pharmacy co-pay and introduces a fourth tier for
specialty uh pharmacy prescriptions. Our PO and high deductible out-of-pocket maxes um will also be increased. Uh the intent of these changes is to introduce shared responsibility uh for uh between the employee and employer for the
everinccreasing cost of health insurance. Uh this will help flatten future renewals and it encourages smart utilization. Uh what I mean by that is uh it will drive proper setting for care. Uh with the ER co-pay increase uh
for example, it is waved uh for hospital admissions. Uh so the end result is that we'll hopefully encourage individuals to go to the right setting for the type of care that's necessary such as urgent care or physician off uh physician office.
Option C is going to pair uh that recommendation for uh plan design changes with across the board increases of $5 per week uh for each of the tiers uh and plans that we offer. This is going to be an approximate additional
$93,000 savings to the city. Uh so the estimated renewal uh for the city is going to be $280,000 uh in addition to uh current current costs. Um so today we present those options for
your discussion. We'll be uh available to answer questions about that impact to employees, how we position ourselves as an employer and support uh our employees and families. Um we'll also provide recommendations uh to continue with Etna for our dental
and vision insurance. Uh with our dental plan, it's a 4.5% increase uh vision, no charge. Those are employeeonly uh benefits. Uh the city does not sponsor them. Uh and then we'll provide a recommendation for a change in the
ancillary benefit provider. Currently with Guardian, uh we're looking uh to recommend a change to Mutual of Omaha. Um this will result in an approximately $23,000 reduction for the city for the
employer paid life insurance. Uh, and it also provides for reductions in the employee premiums um for the voluntary benefits they elect such as long-term disability, voluntary life insurance, uh, hospital and cancer insurance.
And with that, I'll open it up to questions for myself and Mr. B. Have any questions? Lyn, I know we spoke about this. Uh, Mr. Newman, I was wondering if you can reiterate again why is it that we did not go out for a bid for this uh for
this new year? Yes, ma'am. So, um and and Eric may jump jump in here, but uh essentially uh it is not advantageous to the city uh for our short-term or long-term renewals to continually year-over-year go out for bids. uh it saturates the market and um
we receive less interest from insurers for our book of business especially uh when we can utilize uh renewal as an incentive to drive lower costs from our current carrier. Uh so by keeping our product off the market uh it allowed us
to come come down from our initial renewal provided uh by Etna um and have significant savings that was supported by the data our claims data uh outside market data. Uh so we did so responsibly and then we save for higher cost years
where it is in our interest to go out to market and use that competitive process. Uh so we balance it. Uh we did go out last year. uh we you know made those comparisons this year. Uh it was not in our interest uh you know in in uh the analysis of our broker and and with
support again of our employees uh we look to avoid disruption uh so there's a balance between the costs that we carry and uh the impact that has to our employees population. Go ahead. Okay. Thank you. So um and you also did a chart comparison for me with other
cities like would you care to share with my colleagues about that? Um yes ma'am you'd asked about some uh uh comparative offerings. Uh so we do look at other agencies. Um you know we may be in competition with them for talent uh
individuals that are looking for the best total compensation. So, uh, the proposals that we offer, uh, should take into effect, uh, how we pay, um, what our COLA is, what our, uh, step and merit increases should be, uh, along with the retirement benefits that we
offer because everything may be uh, impactful to families in in different ways, employees in different ways. Um, we need to make sure that we have competitive offerings. We have a very rich benefit plan. uh that is to say that uh it provides significant benefits
at low uh costs for those utilizing those services. Uh so today we we provide those recommendations should we wish to shift uh the cost. Um we have in prior years um absorbed that cost. Uh we
can continue to do so. Uh it is within our um budget projection excuse me budget projections to do so. Um but we also uh provide those options to you as a commission should uh we wish to change that calculus. Uh it does position us in
the future to u have better consumption of that coverage to help uh lower costs in the future. Uh the primary drivers of of those costs are labor and specialty drugs. So, some of our uh plan design changes are are intended to have
behavior changes that will have long-term effects to to uh cost control. You mentioned something about um we us having absorbed the the increases. How many years has it been and like what uh
um it has been at least 10 years um where our premiums have have uh remained the same. the the contributions, the plan design that we have, um you know, the the three plans with the uh typical primary care, specialty care, co-
insurance, uh deductibles. Um so those are are things that we should look at every year. Um it's not that we have to make changes. Um it's that we can do so to position ourselves better both this year as well as into the future years. Um but again, we we have to balance that
with uh the impact to our employees. um and and where that disincentivizes care or uh disincentivizes us as an attractive employer for for recruitment and retention. And what would you say is uh the
percentage increase of the insurance costs that the city has been paying from 10 years ago to now? Um I I'd have to get back to you on that information. Um it would be very significant. those those costs um over a decade um have gone have risen
tremendously. Um healthc care is is typically one of the biggest drivers uh in in costs. Um but again that that couples with uh the base pay and and other um incentives that we provide as a um as we attempt to be a employer of
choice. Thank you. I have no further questions. Anybody else? Commissioner Smith. I just want to answer that years ago we were trained that if you go out for a bid every year you the community of insurance looks at
you in a disa disfavorable way. So that was one thing we also I had the conversation with Mr. Newman prior to this and I think that as much as it hurts for us to start to have the employees cuz many years we've whatever the
insurance increase was the city paid for it. Luckily this year it's not outrageous. has been in the millions in the past, but I think we're going to have to introduce where they participate in whichever whether it's B or C some
some way in somehow that they participate because insurance is just going to keep up going up. So, if we can make it minuscule hurting on their pocketbook, but they recognize that eventually it's
going to keep going up and we're going to have to pay. I I think that's unfortunate, but I think that's the the direction we should consider. Which option was that? B or C. B or C. And that may be a hybrid of of the two.
Um option C does pair as it as it's presented. Uh pairs the plan design changes in option B plus the uh $5. Um it's not that we couldn't consider separating those and uh consider a uh modest premium increase. that $5 a week
is $20 a month. Um, and decouple that from the plan design changes. Uh, so the the $5 it's about $93,000 in savings to the city and it shifts that cost from the city to the employees. Um, and and we also save the premium for the
city go down 100,000 at the same it did when com uh combined with the plan design changes. So, Etna will give us a lower uh renewal rate if the plan is less rich. Uh meaning that there's more cost sharing by the uh employees or
or participants. Um so they they are uh can be two separate items. Can you go back to that chart with the ABC? Yes, ma'am. Right. So if if we go to B,
it'll be we save a 100,000, but the employees will also um absorb some more and and C is if we go to C, we go down another 100,000 plus
they're paying $5 and and absorbing what they're absorbing in B. Correct. So, um, and we can take a modification of of what's proposed. And I I, uh, will be remiss if I don't let Eric jump in. He may provide some clarity to my explanations or or better explanations. Um, you know, but but
essentially option B, um, shifts the cost to those that utilize the coverage. Um, you know, that's that's, um, you know, when you go to see the doctor, uh, when you have an emergency, when you get your prescriptions filled. Um whereas option C uh separate from that plan
design change would be bore by uh all employees um not just those that are utilizing the coverage but uh in in general uh so a little more spread out versus just the utilizers. So so B and C are the same. The only difference is that in B in C the
employees are paying an additional $5 a paycheck. And um so and so A stays the same. B, they're they're getting um less coverage. They're they're paying more into it. And C, the same less coverage,
paying more into it, and an additional $5. Yes, that is is correct. A paycheck is every two weeks, every week weekly $5 a week. Uh and that would be across every plan, uh every uh tier offered. Mhm. Um and so I I would suggest you know as
as Commissioner Smith um says that there is a fourth option not listed here and that is uh just option C, no option B. Um and providing some modest increase to the premiums. So basically just keeping like a but just taking $5.
Yes, ma'am. And and we believe that to be an approximately $93,000 uh reduction. Uh and that shifts the cost from the city to the employees. All right. So, I I do like that because yes, it's $5 a week for uh employee, but
it's also not um reducing all the other or or increasing the co-pays and all that at the same time, which is hurting the employees more than probably the $5 a week would.
I know everyone didn't get a chance to talk. Commissioner, did you want to make a a proposed motion? Um but before we do, may I um ask if Eric did you anything you'd like to add or or clarify about? No, I I think uh good evening, mayor,
commission, Eric Brewer, Foundation Risk Partners, uh staff. Thank you for for your time this evening. I don't have anything else to add. Happy to answer any additional questions that you may have. I think Jacob did a nice job of explaining it. The only thing I would reinforce is that there was kind of an
unlisted option there, option D, which I think to your point, Mrs. commissioner would be keeping the plan design the same from a co-ay deductible perspective while passing additional payroll costs along to the members on the plan. All right, I'm okay with that. I'm okay
with that. I have one more question. So, if you if you change the plan, how much more would it cost if they go to the emergency room with their child? Are we talking a tremendous I don't want to have them not be able to afford to go to the emergency room.
Yeah. So, so the the emergency room copay change would be taking it from $300 today currently on on two of our three plans to $400. Um, an important caveat to that being a point uh because I know we have um and this is
why the plan the gap how how because I know you guys are is it through AFLAC? I forgot which which uh Etna Etna. So, no what I'm saying like there's this do we have like a gapity? Oh, like a a gap policy. Yeah, because a lot of times when this happens to to we do
to settle the the I guess the brunt of that cost, you utilize the indemnity program. I don't know if we're using app. It's not specifically gap insurance, but we do uh offer a voluntary benefit uh through our current uh provider guardian that we're recommended moving to Mutual
of Omaha. Uh that is hospitalization insurance. Um and that can assist. Have you guys looked into American Fidelity? Um we we have not considered that option uh at this time. We certainly no because just because that because I I what I what I've noticed a lot of times you you when you feel like a plan is
short has a short like uh a shortcoming such as that particular like a high cost if you have an indemnity program that pretty much would do it like on a case like like on a per instance approach that would then you would you would say hey I had to pay this an additional cost this is I would
like the city I like that the divinity to cover that cost depending on what some it's not sometimes all of the cost but it's like 75% % of the cost to your point about the if we're raising it to $400 for the 300 that's that would be individual to individual case.
Yeah, I believe it. I mean depending how the plan is set up. I mean yeah we we have I mean so we have really a couple options for city employees. One being the Mutual of Omaha sponsored benefits hospital indemnity. Uh there are AFLAC products as well that serve a
similar purpose right where there's uh an indemnity payout uh depending on what type of claim occurs. And so I think it's kind of meeting the or des meeting the description of what you're explaining there. Um those are completely separate than the ETNA
policy. But uh to your point, if and when those types of claims occur, an emergency room claim, they can submit those claims separately. They would receive a a check in the mail essentially to offset the cost share associated with the Etna medical policy.
I mean, Commissioner Foreman knows that pretty well like in regards to the packages in that sense. So yeah, so option D would be an additional $260 a year per employee, but that'll be spent almost right away. If
we did option B, almost it'll cost them more than that at at the end, but potentially. Yeah, obviously it depends on how they utilize the plan, but yeah, agree with your point. Yes. And and circling back to a point I think Eric started to make is uh that
hospital um uh co-pay is waved when you're admitted. Um so what what that stands to do is to attempt to direct care at a proper setting. Um that if it's not a true emergency um that you
use urgent care or lowerc cost services um that goes to education. Um it goes to you know wellness. uh we we retain our $70,000 uh wellness incentive with with Etna by this renewal. Um so, you know, there's a a big education component
where we can um encourage consumerism. Um you know, but but just as an aside, I I am concerned with a rise in the ER copay that that would discourage uh individuals use. Um but again, it's it's intended to encourage proper use.
Mr. Jacob for the Etna is giving us a reduced rate of going up, correct? Because we're staying with them. Uh yes, sir. So, we uh received an initial renewal rate uh through additional negotiations. Uh that that
rate has come down considerably. Um I give the effective rate, but it it uh depends upon um the tiers, right? Okay. And the second question is, can we do a multi-year contract with them? It's my understanding that that's not
something Etna or really any of the major carriers provide at this point in time given the the healthcare marketplace that they're they're working in, but I I have not seen that. Can we ask them? And and they they are here today, but that that's specific to medical also. They do provide
specifically to medical. That's correct. Yeah. I don't think anybody I don't think any um any carrier would want to be locked into um I didn't Yeah ask because the thing is your utilization you don't know what's going to happen the next year etc. I I mean have we have we basically based on your
Oh I'm sorry I didn't I didn't I didn't know if you were finished. Okay. Um have we basically looked to see as far as projections are concerned if we've already had um some of the perhaps worst experiences in the past couple of years and that maybe perhaps our utilization will decrease. We are
trending that way. Uh we had several very high cost claimments last year. Uh that significantly impacted um you know our attractiveness in the market. Um we are on the tail end of those. Some of those claims are are leaving um our the
underwriters analysis. Um but they you know require continued um good positive years. Uh and again that goes to a healthy population. you know, investing in in wellness initiatives, um driving
um preventative care, uh continual use of of uh maintenance drugs, um you know, adherence to to diabetes and and other uh recurring conditions. You know, our employees, their spouses, dependents, um they may be with our plans for a
significant period of time. we can measurably change our uh claims, you know, by investing in healthy populations. Uh it's something we we, you know, need to continue to do and need a good partner to do so. That's that's so so key because most
people, no matter what happens, they just run to the emergency room. They don't know that that's probably not the place that you want to go for everything. And um that's where you're going to spend the most money. And also in addition to that um I'm seeing some concepts that I think are very
attractive as far as um having on-site um clinics. I know one particular organization that I've seen ATC is one of them. Um I believe you know some other cities have on-site clinics where people go and they make sure that they get their checkups and things like that.
or some cities will combine with other municipalities and have a central location that all of their um employees can go to to increase um you know those um preventative care um services because that's what's going to prevent some of
the high costs in the long run. So are are we looking at that as We are um we've kicked around some of those uh ideas where we're looking to those partnerships with the surrounding uh medical uh facilities um partnerships with Jackson uh M uh HCA uh where uh you
know we we could offer those services um as we go into our open enrollment period in in uh August we see a lot of adoption from on-site services when we've brought in uh vision providers dental providers uh on-site uh there's a huge convenience
factor ctor. Uh, and so expanding that to more on-site services or or convenience. Um, providing, you know, an on-site clinic would be ideal. Uh, that would be a longer term approach. Um, again, as I said, we did consider self insurance this year as we've uh analyzed
each year. Right. To your point, that's something we have to really look into because I know we might be leaving a lot of money on the table. We've never done that before. I know Commissioner Flormont has brought this up in prior um budget years. Um that's a discussion I think that we
should look into that next year because I know look windows right now is happening and I understand the late hour of it all. I I totally understand but that's something that we have to really take into consideration moving forward. Yeah. I think um and Mr. Mayor, that's, you know, the on-site as as well as the
self-funded um option. Um, you know, these these are things that we have to start, you know, looking at now, four, five years from now, right? Cuz at some point we have to make that decision, right? Or at some point we have to say we expect to have on site if that's going to work for us, right? We have to
say 5 years from now we project that we can make that happen and here's the best way uh you know to the best way to organize that whether it's us partnering with Aventura um uh city of Aventura or um city of um of um Golden Beach or whatever it may be
and or Sunny Isles and we say okay this is our central location if that makes sense. Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, we I would say um staff has done an incredible job of really putting emphasis on wellness with the $70,000 that Etna provides annually. You can see it in the metrics. We're
seeing higher preventive care utilization. We're seeing higher engagement with primary care, which is ultimately the goal here. You want people to uh have that relationship so that they're diagnosing things earlier, early detection, etc. On-site clinic, I'm a huge believer in. Um, you know, I
think from a cost perspective, it's something we need to evaluate. We I think that the probably the less costly middle ground is bringing u providers on site when we have big open enrollment uh meetings, health fairs, etc. to hopefully create that primary care
relationship with somebody that's local to the community. Um, and we've done a lot of that and I think you're seeing that yield itself in the claims experience that is improving. As far as a self insurance, um, also agree with that 100%. Right. We did quote self insurance this year. Um I don't think
there's a wide enough delta from an expected cost perspective to justify the maximum liability, but it was certainly competitive. I think we are um as a city from a claims experience perspective trending in the right direction where that will make sense at some point
I think in the very near future here. Um but it is something that we did market. We do have quotes for the self- insurance as well. Okay. Awesome. So just so that we can land this point because we have a long agenda. um please look into the uh American fidelity as a as an additional admity that you guys could um add to the program. And then um
do we have to vote on this tonight or we um we'd like some uh direction as to you know what's the consensus of the commission in terms of um these options? Uh and we would include with that an option D which would be a 5% excuse me a $5 across the board premium increase uh
for each level of coverage for each plan. Uh again, that's going to be the high deductible HMO and PO that we offer for employees, employ uh plus one and family coverage. Uh so $5 per week, $20 per month um that the employees would
would bear. Mr. Mayor, yes. I personally think we should pay for it all. And the reason I think that we should pay for it all is it has to be with hiring of people that it's a
benefit that we offer as a city if we start taking benefits away when we've been giving them. I'm concerned about that. I'm listen to whatever anybody No, no, no. I I like No. When you said I paid for it all, I thought I thought of a church song. So
gave it all. I I'm I'm I'm inclined I'm inclined to uh support what uh through the mayor I'm inclined to support what commissioner turnoff is saying or vice mayor um is saying. Um I just ask that if we do go that route that it is it's
very clear that as at some point we may have to uh you know in increase the employee involvement and I've seen that happen in prior years where we didn't do anything we absorbed it all and then when it was time to increase it and we didn't have a choice but to increase it
that increase was significant and caused a lot of you know rift amongst um amongst the employees and the commission commission. So I I just want to an opinion. Well, that's why I think the pain won't be so bad this year. I think it's
minuscule and I think we should I I would love to give 100%. But I think it's time for show a little bit of participation. It's so minuscule when you talk about how much don't forget how much the premium is now that we're
paying and paying for family premiums. It's It's gone up since I'm here, double, maybe even triple. So, the premium's grown substantially. I don't think that $5 will take away somebody who wants to work for North Miami Beach.
I don't think But I think what's the yearly cost? So, $5 a paycheck, right? 200 How much? So, $260? No. 52 per year? I'm doing a year. The year thing like it's $5 a paycheck. 52 weeks. 52 weeks in a year.
48. Yeah. So 50 what? 48 uh pay periods. Um so 40 four deductions a year to $20. Okay. Um is an additional
$240. Yeah. 12 $20 a month times 12 months. Why is it 48 pay periods if we have 52 weeks? Oh, when there's a fifth pay period, uh there is no no deduction for health insurance. So, it's to ensure a a defined specific amount each month. The
insurance that we purchase is on a monthly basis. Okay. So, it's $20 a month. Then, you know, um this this may be um uh Commissioners, I know you're you're wanting to say something, but I I believe this is an opportunity to ensure that everyone does their annuals, right?
Um so you you you if you can appine on this but perhaps we do the participation and with the understanding that if the person completes their annual that that fee would that fee would be waved at some point in the year. Is that something that you think makes sense? Um
we we uh do have the ability we do have the ability to consider and and um develop um reductions in the premiums that are are charged under uh current law uh that require certain wellness uh
incentives. Um we are separately um and in the same vein working to adopt some some wellness initiatives that will provide incentives gamification uh to encourage uh individuals to get that primary care physical uh woman well man
visited once a year. So quite finish. The insurance has gone up in past years, hundreds and hundreds of dollars a month. Mhm. And here we're talking about $240 a year.
I just feel that it's time now because I I've sat here year after year as you have where the we 100% covered it. And I understand what you're saying, Vice Mayor, but the truth is is that we're in a bleeding stage right now in the city
with the centennial. So now, if we're going to do it, now's the time. And and to make it so such a minute change for them because otherwise it could be $250 a month that they have to pay, god forbid. But but to your point, look,
I I want us to land this. I know commission because I you heard everybody's point. Look, I I'm more of a whatever we can do alleviate some of the burden to our employees. I'm down for I've always been down for that. Um we have a living wage for a reason. Um this is just an addential like and it's it
might seem minute, but this is an incentive for people to come work in our city because it is a it is a a cost savings to a degree. I mean, but to your point, I don't know if you're making the motion, if you're if you're listening to if you want Mr. Mayor, can I Oh, no. Go ahead, Commissioner Joe. I
I'm leaning towards um Commissioner Smith, but I also wanted to ask what does Etna contribute to wellness for the employees? 70,000. So, how you know other than the the annual fair that you all do? How are
those dollars really used to to impact the employees? You don't have to answer that now, but are we taking a vote, Mr. Mayor, or are we We're giving direction. Do we need to take a vote or we just budget season? I mean, can do I mean, do you need the vote now or
we need direction on how do we proceed um with with there not being a August meeting and our open enrollment um occurring. Yeah. So, I think the the the consensus is option D. I'm asking for you guys to also look into the fact of American fidelity as an additional um benefit to
see what how that would make sense. Uh other than that, I mean that's I think that's that's sufficient enough to to recap. Well, we'll be renewing with Etna. um will be uh providing a change in the current uh employee contributions to add an additional $5 per uh tier uh
per plan. Uh we'll be renewing uh Etna with our dental and vision and we'll be making a change from our current Guardian provider to Mutual of Omaha. Right. Thank you. And and you're going to look into American and Yes, sir. And look All right. and and if you guys when you guys come back through the mayor with a
clear description of of how um we're going to encourage people to do their um annuals and that incentive that you're referencing um because although it might seem like a cost, but overall I mean it's going to save money long term. So just wanted to add that as well. Thank you. Thank you, Jacob. Thank you.
All right, next item, Madam Clerk, is uh consent. I know we're going to have to read it all um into the agenda. Move to approve. I got a motion and a second. Yes. Right. Second. All right. Mr. City Attorney.
Yes, sir. Consent agenda item 9.1, Commission Conference minutes of June 17th, 2025, presented by the city clerk. I believe item 9.2 was pulled for further discussion. Correct. Item 9.3, special commission
meeting minutes of June 26, 2025, presented by the city clerk. I believe item 9.4, uh, dealing with multiple vendors was also pulled. Mhm. Item 9.5, resolution number R, 2025-89,
approving a grant award for the fiscal year 2022 Edward Burn Memorial Justice Award for NMBB Police Department presented by the police chief. for resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving the posting of the fiscal year 2022
Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistance Grant by the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance in the amount of $25,652 for the grant period of October 1st,
2022 through September 30th, 2025, authorizing the city manager or designated to do all things necessary to affect effectuate this resolution providing for conflicts providing for scriven errors providing for severability and providing for an effective date. Item 9.6 resolution
number R 2025-90 authorizing the city manager to execute a grant agreement with FEMA and FDEM for the acquisition of a standby generator for the Norwood water treatment plant sponsored by the water director. resolution to the city
commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving and authorizing the city manager to execute a grant agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, and Florida Division of Emergency Management, FDM, for the acquisition of a standby generator for the South High
Service pumps at the Norwood Water Treatment Plant under grant agreement number R4673-208-R, FEMA project 677. Seven, authorizing the city manager to accept the grant funding and take any and all actions necessary to effectuate the intent of this
resolution, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. Item 9.7, resolution number R2025- 91, authorizing a budget amendment to allocate matching funds for the FEMA hazard mitigation grant project for the
water Norwood water treatment plant sponsored by the interim deputy city manager. A resolution the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving approving a budget amendment to the fiscal year 2024 2025 adopted budget to allocate matching
funds for the FEMA hazard mitigation grant project for the Norwood water treatment plant generator project and providing for an effective date. Item 9.8, 8 resolution number R2025-92 approving a purchase order with Eaton
Corporation for the purchase of two electrical transfer switch gear systems sponsored by the water director. A resolution of the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving and authorizing a purchase order with Eaton Corporation for the soul source purchase of two electrical
transfer switch gear systems in an estimated budgeted amount of $233. Authorizing the city manager designate to do all things necessary to effectuate this resolution subject to the budget appropriation and availability of funds. providing for conflicts, providing for
scriveners errors, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. Item 9.9, resolution number R2025-93 to approve a purchase order for Scotta
Software Confirmation and Integration Services with High Trihedral, Inc. Sponsored by the water director resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving the single qualified, responsive, and responsible responded
to request for proposals RFP 20- 25-8 engineering consulting services for Texas U-Turn Roadway project and authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with CTS Engineering Inc. and if negotiations
are unsuccessful to resolicit the project. Item 9.10 resolution number R2025-94 authorizing a purchase order for meters and registers with core and main sponsored by the water director.
Resolution of the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving and authorizing a purchase order with core in Maine for the soul source purchase of meters and registers in a budgeted amount not to exceed $67,73 authorizing the city manager or
designated to all things necessary to effectuate this resolution subject to the budget appropriation and availability of funds. providing for conflicts, providing for scriveners errors, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. Item 9.11
dealing with merchant business association. I believe this was moved to legislation and will be considered there. Item 9.12, resolution number R2025-96, approving revisions to the trafficcoming manual uh policy sponsored by the
interim public works director resolution of city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida to approve revisions of the city of North Miami Beach traffic calming measures manual to update certain policies and procedures regarding resident balloting and
criteria for bypass of resident approval measures. Providing for scriveners errors, providing for severability, providing for an effective date. Item 9.13 dealing with traffic calming. This item was pulled for discussion.
Item 9-4 9.14 resolution number R2025-98 directing staff to research for claiming unallocated uncollected pardon me for claiming uncollected community development block grant funds from Miami Date County.
Sponsored by Commissioner Sue. A resolution of the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, directing city staff to research and identify any unclaimed community development block grant CDBG funds for Miami date county and
directing the interim city manager to coordinate research and collection efforts and providing for implementation and providing for an effective date. Item 9-9.15, resolution number R2025-99, approving and authorizing an agreement
with Miami Dade County to provide water safety, education, and instruction services under the zero drownings Miami Dade program. sponsored by the interim parks and recreation director. Resolution of the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving and
authorizing an agreement between Miami Date County and the city of North Miami Beach to provide water safety, education, and instruction services under the zero drownings Miami date program. Authorizing the city manager or designate to do all things necessary to effectuate this resolution, providing
for conflicts, providing for scriveners errors, providing for severability subject to the budget appropriation and availability of funds, and providing for an effective date. Item 916, resolution number R2025-100,
authorization for the interim city manager to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the state attorney's office. sponsored by Commissioner Sue. A resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, authorizing a partnership with the Miami Dade County
State Attorney's Office, authorizing the city manager or designate to do all things necessary to effectuate this resolution, providing for conflicts, providing for scriveners errors, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. Item 9.17,
approving a change order to the contract with Spry Point. This item was withdrawn from this evening's uh consideration. Item 9.18, resolution number R2025-102, approving a change order to the purchase order with Cababierro, Fireman Linetta,
and Garcia LLP for extended financial reporting assistance sponsored by the interim deputy city manager resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami, Florida, approving and authorizing a change order to the purchase order with Cababiero, Fireman
uh Yanera and Garcia LLP, increasing the total budgeted expend expenditure by $100,000 for the extended financial reporting assistance authorizing city manager designated to do all things necessary to effectuate this resolution providing for conflicts providing for scriveners errors providing for
severability subject to the budget appropriation and availability of funds and providing for an effective date. Item 9.19, resolution number R2025-103, approving a budget amendment to increase the purchase order with Cababayto
Fireman Yedena and Garcia LLP for fiscal year 2024 audit support sponsored by the interim deputy city manager resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving a budget amendment to the fiscal year 2024 2025 adopted budget to increase the purchase order with Cavi
firemen Yennena and Garcia LP for fiscal year 2020. 24 audit support for the annual audit and providing an effective date. Item 9.20 20 resolution number R2025-104 approving a contract amendment with CBiz
CPA's PC for external auditing services sponsored by the interim deputy city manager resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach Florida approving and authorizing an amendment to the contract with CBiz CPAP BC increasing the amount estimated annual expenditure by $60,000 for the
purchase of external auditing services authorizing the city manager designated all things necessary to effectuate this resolution providing for conflicts, providing for scriveners, errors, providing for severability subject to the budget appropriation availability funds, and providing for an effective date. Item 9.21, resolution number
R2025-105, approving task order number two to develop a 20-year capital improvement plan for the city's water and wastewater systems with Kim Lee Horn, sponsored by the NMB water director. Resolution. The mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving a
task order for professional engineering services for the development of a 20-year capital improvement plan for the city's water and wastewater systems in an amount not to exceed $143,350 with Kimley Horn and Associates for I'm sorry, Inc. under the consulting services agreement for professional
consulting services and authorizing city manager designated all things necessary to effective this resolution providing for conflicts and subject to budget appropriation availability of funds providing for an effective date. Item 9.22 22 resolution number R 2025-106
approving a contract with Andrew Potkin as interim city manager sponsored by the interim city manager though might be sponsored by us as well a resolution the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach Florida authorizing and approving a contract for the interim city manager and providing for an
effective date item 9.23 23 uh resolution expressing opposition regarding 159th Street. Pulled for amendments. If I can continue. Yes, ma'am. It was pulled. I'm saying, okay, I I before I say what's pulled, I generally would like to say what the
item is so people know what we're talking. This item was pulled because there are pending amendments to be introduced. Uh pulled for discussion. Resolution number 9.24, 24 resolution number R2025-108 expressing the city's intent to utilize
Miami date county certified small business enterprise spons program sponsored by commissioner Sue a resolution of the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach Florida expressing its intention to utilize Miami date county certified small business enterprise SPE program to
encourage and solicit small business participation in city procurement directing the city's procurement management department to qu co coordinate such efforts providing for implementation providing for an effective date that concludes the items I'm sorry Mr. Mayor I'm sorry Mr. Mayor
one one more item we'd like to correct the scriveners era to agenda item 9.9 resolution number R2025-93 to approve a purchase order for Scotta software configuration and integration services with Trihedral Inc. Sponsored
by North Miami Beach Water Director Hamid Nikvan. A resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving the single qualified responsive and responsible respondent to request for proposal RFP 2025-018
engineering consulting services for Scotta Software Configuration and Integration Services and authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with C with CTS Engineering Inc. and if negotiations are unsuccessful to resolic the project.
Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I He has an objection. He looks like he has an objection. He stood up. The director. Okay, that being said, what's the objection? I'm sorry. No, no, no. He He was just He standed,
but it's fine. It's fine. We all um pass unanimous. Pass. Yeah. Whole motion and second. Uh Commissioner the vice mayor. I didn't second it. Yeah. The vice mayor the vice mayor motion and for which one? The consent the consent agenda. Oh, I I never
seconded it. Okay. Second. All say I. I. All right. So, next we're going into a quasi judition because this been that's the next that's next item, right, madam clerk? Correct. That is Come on. This is uh we have lawyers and um
move to introduce resolution number R2025-109 city attorney. Was there a second? All right. Second. Second. Item 10.1, resol Item 10.1, resolution number R2025-109, approving the vacation of portions of a
public rightway brought by the community development director. Resolution the mayor and city commissioner of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving the vacation of portions of an originally dedicated public rideway consisting of a 10- foot wide unimproved alley
point 0.153 plus or minus acres situated in the state of Florida county of Miami Dade lying in section 21 township 52 south range 42 east being part of Arch Creek Highlands according to the plat thereof is recorded in plat Book 15, page three
of the public records of Miami date county, Florida, and being further bounded and described in exhibit Attached here to and incorporated here and providing for findings of fact, confirming expiration and limitation of approval, providing for conflicts, and
providing for an effective date. Before we go on, I have a question. Why are we hearing this, Mr. Attorney? Yes. Why are we hearing this now before the development comes before us asking for the same thing?
I would defer that to the community development director. I'm happy to comment on it once he does, but I that was originated by that department. Okay. Can you answer that question? Good evening. Uh yes, I'm Zafar Ahmed, director of community development department. uh the basic uh vacation of
the alleyway is heard first because vacation of that is then included into the parcel of land that is going to have the development. So it just the sequential is one after the other but is basically that the alleyway is going to be part of the development
but but technically we're not having anybody ask for it until they come forward with their development. Correct. There's there's a separate application for vacation of the alleyway and and an application for the mult. No, I I understand but in
Can you clarify? Maybe there's where I can jump in and I'll be subject to being corrected by Mr. Ahmed. But my understanding is that if there is an application for the vacation, whether the other project goes
forward or not, you can still ask to have the a portion of the rightway, this 10-ft wide strip, be be vacated. If somebody puts the application in, then yes, they're asking for the vacation. whether it's ultimately incorporated into a larger project or not. You don't
have to do that in order to ask to file an application to make Yes, I understand they could do it individually, but in this case, we have a developer that's coming before us tonight asking for that within their presentation. So, why would we
we can present it together? We can do we can do it as as one item. You know, if you read it the second into the record, we can present it together. my clogs. Do you have a a position one way or the other? I I personally um don't I I can
understand taking these one one at a time um because the entirety of the project relies on the vacation of the actual right of way. So I can I can understand why that makes sense. Um, but if if legally this it
doesn't make a difference, it doesn't then we can do both of them at the same time. I think save some time cuz at the end of the day the is the multif family development that's going to be approved. Um, if it's your preference, commissioner, just as an option and again you can Oh, no. It was just a question. I mean,
it's it's kind of the cart before the hor vacating it before I discuss whether Oh, okay. I didn't I didn't I didn't quite understand what you were saying. You're saying flip the uh Yeah. do. Okay, I see what you're saying. Okay. What I was trying to say though, Vice Mayor, is an option would be to move to
consolidate the two into one public hearing and present everything related to both of them at the same time and then just take separate votes in whatever order you want to take. That's a better idea. Let's do that. Well, by motion.
Somebody make a motion to motion. I just want to understand something if I can. Um, Vice Mayor, we we voted to vacate the property where the where the um retirement home is on 19th Avenue and months later they came back with the
site. So, well, it's six of one a half a dozen other. Well, and again, my feeling is that by coincidence it's happening the same night. Okay. But the thing is they're pay they're paying taxes on it anyway. They
we had this whole discussion. How can we get, you know, any revenue from somebody getting the use of our alley? It's really their Well, I'm not I'm not disagreeing with that. I mean, so so if they ask for it, I mean, at 601 have it in another. What would you all like to do? You want
to hear it or the the resolution that's on the floor? Yeah, let's Well, I think the amount of time we're spending discussing this, we probably could have already done it. So, let's just go the uh make the motion to go the route that Joe is mentioning. No, I I'd make that motion um that we can second.
You already did. Oh, yeah. Okay. So, I'll second that motion and then we can hear them both at the same time and make separate votes. I I I passes for the record. Then, let me read the second item into the record so there's no confusion that we're proceeding with
public hearing on both items at the same time. Uh item 10.2, 2 resolution number R2025 uh-10 consideration to approve a site plan application conditions and one variance for the construction of two
10-story multif family buildings between northeast 140th Street and North Highland Drive sponsored by the community development director. A resolution of the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving of a development site plan application with conditions and one variance for the
construction of two 10story multif family buildings with a total of no more than 293 residential dwelling units, one ninelevel parking structure with 419 spaces and associated amenities generally located east of Northeast 20th
Place between Northeast 140th Street and north of Highland drive and a variance from section 24-58.4 four sub one I'm sorry subj I think that J to allow a
maximum building height of 121 ft 8 in 10 stories for both the northern and southern buildings providing for findings of fact confirming expiration and limitation of approval providing for conflicts and providing for an effective date and for the record oh again
sponsored by community development director for the record commission what you're doing is you've consolidated the two public hearings into one public hearing. Everything relevant to both to be presented in the one public hearing
including public comment. But you will then vote separately on both on each of the items. Okay. Fine, Mr. Development. Thank you very much, Vice Mayor. We should do Jennings. I'm sorry. Yeah, do the Excuse me.
City clerk, please do the Jennings. Okay. Per resolution R95-24, the subject matter of any exarty communication together with the identity of the person, group, or entity making the communication shall be disclosed, made part of the record on file with the
city prior to final action on the matter. I've received um Jenning disclosure forms from Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Smuckler, Commissioner Jean, Commissioner Sue, as well as Vice Mayor Shernoff, Commissioner Fimmon,
Jennings. Jennings, Commissioner Kenzie. Oh, okay. No, I was I was distracted. I'm sorry. I I was distracted. Um, so and thank you Commissioner Smith for uh nudging me and getting me back in uh in line here. All
right, Jennings disclosure. Jennings disclosure. All right. Um I spoken to Vanessa Madrid. Uh there she is. And I've spoken to briefly Andy uh Platkin, our city manager. Um and that's
it. And I can make my decision based on the relevant information I received this evening. Thank you. Okay. Swear. May I proceed? Yeah, please. If you plan on providing testimony on this item, please stand and raise your
right hand if you can. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to provide shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So, help your God. And your answer is I do. Thank you. All yours members of the commission and uh Mr.
Mayor uh this is a a dual application as you had discussed previously. There was there was an existing alleyway that had been uh there since 1925. Its use was subsequently discontinued for many years. There was a parallel uh component
of this that was within the city of North Miami that has long been vacated and uh uh and and is no longer used as a rideway. Whereas this portion that was within the city of North Miami Beach was a vacant and unutilized land and just
gathering uh uh uh you know debris and and you know and unckempt. And so this uh application basically combines that vacant land along with the uh 10 parcels that were
on the uh in that area. There were three uh uh uh parcels that were uh built and 10 were vacant and all of those have been com I mean seven were vacant. So those have been combined into this multif family uh two towers uh and
that's about 2.48 48 acres total and the for the alleyway was 0.15 acres and uh that combined uh uh creates u a multif family uh setup where there
is uh there's going to be uh 293 units in that uh development. Uh there's a parking garage on site uh for uh 200 uh 419 uh uh spaces uh which caters for uh you know the the number of uh uh
units that are there as well as additional parking for guests as well as uh surplus parking has been provided there by the uh by the applicant. The only variance that has been requested is an addition in height for about 10 ft because to accommodate air conditioning
equipment and to screen it uh from the uh the view from the street and u because of the law lot width and depth there's been a slight reconfiguration of the parcels uh as opposed to the zoning district that's requires a larger size
or a more depth. So that depth has been adjusted in this but overall the configuration is in accordance with the uh the zoning regulations the mixeduse development that is there. U so uh there is the uh existing uh standards the the
greenway standards have been maintained. uh the the uh the development is uh pedestrian friendly and it basically enhances the the southern gateway to the uh to the into the city of North Miami Beach and the project site located adjacent to the Biscane Boulevard
commercial corridor is uniquely constrained by historic subdivision uh lord configuration from the 1925 Arch Creek Greek Highlands uh plan. So, um, one of the things that this, uh, development does is it contributes to,
uh, the housing supply that is so much needed in the city of North Miami Beach. And, uh, it provides, uh, as a functional and a and a visual, uh, landmark, uh, for the city and for the city entrance from that side of the town. And uh there's also a part of the
urban greenway uh uh you know the traffic impact studies and the department of uh uh uh transit uh planning organization from the Miami county have looked into this and it is part of the transit uh uh greenway uh
strategies. Um there are two vehicle access points which have been uh included in there. Uh and uh you know so let me just see yeah so that's basically it and I'm
going to ask the applicant to provide their PowerPoint presentation because I did not take into the two PowerPoint presentation. I'll let the applicant provide the PowerPoint presentation and after that we'll answer questions for you. applicant, please.
Did you want to pull out your presentation? Stop. I'll go over. Go ahead. All right. Good evening, Vice Mayor, Commission. I'm Vanessa Madrid with the law firm of
Holland and Knight at 701 Bickl Avenue. I'm joined tonight by my colleagues Joe Goldstein and Erica Adams. Um, also with me tonight is the architect for the project, Jose Gara of CF Architects, the civil engineer, George Balaban, and the
traffic engineer, Adrien Dapowski, both from Kimley Horn, as well as the owner representatives Dan McKenna and Robert Xin. Um, first and foremost, I want to thank staff for their invaluable involvement in this presentation and um,
in this application. They've been efficient and very thorough and very responsive. So, I want to commend them for their work on this application. Before I continue, I just quick housekeeping item. I want to reserve some time for rebuttal in case that's
needed. Hopefully not. Um, and so we'll get started with the alley. Um, I won't go too much into detail, but just to give you a little bit of a background context, the property that we're talking about is south of the Target store. Um,
it's your eastern jurisdictional boundary with the city of North Miami and the subject alley is 10 ft in width. And it's basically a remnant of a formerly 20 foot alley that had 10 feet
on the North Miami side, 10 feet on the North Miami Beach side. The North Miami side has already abandoned their 10 ft. Um, and so we're basically just cleaning up our platting and our um title work here.
As Commissioner Smith mentioned earlier, uh the applicant already owns, maintains, pays taxes on this particular 10-ft alley. It's actually part of the current property appraiser folios. So,
it's today it's people's backyards. Um, in fact, there's an existing 1922 building that sits within the alley. So, it serves no purpose. It never has. It's just cleanup. And I'm going to go through the site plan application just
to move forward. We're going to vote on them separately, but let them do the whole presentation. All right. So, picking up with the site plan application. This is a very straightforward site plan application. We're fully compliant with code except
for one minor height variance um which I'll get into in a bit. But something to flag is that this zoning is MU. The land use designation is also MU. And the purpose of this particular mixeduse
quarter um district, which as you know were all the mixeduse districts were adopted back in 2015 um to be able to incentivize and encourage pedestrian friendly development that is
neighborhood scale framed by architecture and landscaping. Um and that's exactly what this project accomplishes. Um, it very well fulfills this purpose. As you'll see in a minute, we have two requests. As the director
described, we have two 10-story multif family buildings with up to 293 residential units. Um, the parking is attached. We are providing 111 parking spaces in excess of the required under
your new code. And um that's basically a 36% excess of parking. So we should have no issues parking our units and our residents and and guests. In addition, we have lots of bicycle racks and storage for up to 107 bicycles. So we
are trying to encourage multimodal transportation here. Uh we exceed every code requirement. For instance, the code requires that we provide 10% open space. We're providing 35% open space, so significantly above
the minimum open space requirement. And jumping into the variance request, um you'll see here this chart tells you that the maximum permitted height under the code is 110 ft, but it get it lets
you go eight stories. Or if you show that no additional density results from your added um number of stories, you can increase the number of stories. So, we did a density analysis and even if you
have a 10 or 11 foot ceiling unit um on each, you know, each level being 10 or 11 ft, we can go up to the permitted 110 ft, which would yield 10 stories. What we're asking is to remain within
the permitted 10 stories, but allow us to go an additional 11 feet and 8 in um above the maximum height allowed. We do need that vertical height in order to accommodate mechanical equipment
um for compliance with fire code and other building codes but mostly in order to accommodate the needs of the building for mechanical equipment. The added height will not be perceptible from the street level as you can see
from that pink um visibility diagram. It will be 100% imperceptible for the pedestrian or the vehicle experience. Other than the minor height variance, we comply with all the regulating plans including your street network
connectivity, your sub areas plan, and your publicly accessible and open spaces and greenways plan. All of which are expressly um included in your zoning code. So before I pass it on to the architect,
there's a major theme I want you to keep in mind. Um even though the site is extremely narrow because it's irregularly shaved, but also as you saw that block is very narrow and long, we did everything in our power to make sure
we complied with code requirements. So we preferred not to sacrifice the 10 to 15 foot setbacks. We um provided a 23 foot urban greenway required under your code which means that you have ample
sidewalks and lush landscaping, two layers of landscaping plus your setbacks plus curb and gutter. All all this important separation from the street to the building as required in your code. Um we complied with all other
requirements for design which are pretty extensive in your urban um mixeduse districts but the only thing in exchange is we needed that 11 foot um height increase. So everything else is fully in
compliance. I'm going to pass it on to Joseé Gera, the architect, and he can walk you um quickly through, you know, building configuration, axis design, and material selection. We want to know when the baby's due.
You can answer that while he while he picks the slide that he wants to go over. My baby's due next month. I'm having a girl. Yes, and she'd be surprised.
I already have a boy. Uh, good evening everyone. My name is Josea. I live on um 1229 Northeast 17th uh Terrace for Laurel, Florida. Um 333 um 01. I'll do my best. And it's hard because
the pointer is on one side and the microphone's this side. Do you guys have a like a microphone? It's It's all good. I can just Oh, perfect. I thought he was going to start dancing. Great. Okay, so I know it's late. I'm
going to do my best to talk about what the project is about in in a timely fashion. Um, I could bore you with drawings, but most people understand pictures better than drawings. So, I'm just going to try to explain the project through images as fast as I can. Um,
as we mentioned, uh, we have two parcels, right? And, uh, we have the northern parcel and we have the southern par parcel. Each tower on each parcel has 10 levels. Um, they're essentially like L-shaped buildings. We have one L-shaped building right here. You can
see the L-shaped building on the north property up here. This is uh Biscane, by the way. This is 139th and this is 140th. So, we have two access to the property from the main street. Um and then we have a parking structure that is
mostly lined by uh residential units. Uh as uh Vanessa mentioned um the site is very very narrow and we we did gymnastics to be able to to work this into into in I mean this kind of project into the site. Um having said that we're
we're still providing a fantastic pedestrian experience for for the neighborhood. Um the greenway is it's amazing how wide it is and how shade how much shade and landscape it provides to the to the future uh users and the
neighborhood. Um and um we are aware of the size of the building and the context of the neighborhood. Um and we do our best to try to break it down to a pedestrian scale. So for example, in this image you can see how we we like to break the the building into a base, a
middle, and a top. Uh the base is uh what the pedestrian sees all the time. And this is kind of like the pedestrian experience. This is what we call the base. Then in the middle portion, we articulate the building with some paint
and materiality. And we kind of create some rhythm as well to break up the the long facade of the of the building. And then we end up with the top. In this case, we change the color uh to also give a little change of scale and also
darker colors, darker grays, um make things a little slimmer. Regardless of all of that, um the tower itself is it's within that 110 ft that we're allowed. And the only items that are are beyond that that are encroaching into that uh
um variance that we're requesting is some of the mechanical items like the elevator um um not shafts. Well, yeah, shafts at the top of the of the tower. Um other than that uh the project has some stunning um landscaping um and
amenities for the users. Uh this is the the how we chose to uh close the garage by putting a green roof garden amenity space that the the users uh will have amazing views into the ocean and and the
open uh views towards the ocean. And we have a pool, we have a beautiful garden and some pickleball courts. Um, we also have uh other areas where we have amenities for the for the southern tower. They have their own pool at the
ground level. Uh, the north tower has a a little garden uh facing east at the ground level as well. And also I can show you right here there's a break that we we did on the tower to break the volumes. And that break is kind of like
a little pocket park where the residents can um enjoy or take their dog or or something like that. Let me see if I can find that photo again. Sorry guys. Here we go. And this is where that little pocket park would happen. Um I
think that's gives you a general idea of the project and I'll be happy to answer any specific questions about anything else. Thank you. Vanessa, you're good. I'm just gonna take a couple more minutes.
Um, so the renderings show a perfect balance of uses, amenities, landscaped areas, recreational areas, and connectivity, which is basically the purpose of this district, and we've done a great job at fulfilling that. Um, I do
have the traffic engineer here, but he can answer more specific questions if that's needed. Um, just for your purposes, know that this traffic has been studied and approved by your traffic department here at the city, also by Miami Date County. Um, the
traffic impacts were deemed to be minimal. Um, only 90 net new trips will be generated as a result of this new project. Um there were no left turns or or deceleration lanes warranted at this project because it does have double
access and um all other intersections continue to operate at the adopted levels of service. Um to conclude um this is clearly a project that will improve the area, the
neighborhood and the city at large. Um, there are significant and tangible benefits associated with this project. Over $3.3 million in impact fees, out of which police, parks, water, sewer, and connection fees go straight to the city.
And those amount to about $ 1.5 million in impact fees that will um be contributed to the city. Um all applicable departmental reviewing agencies have reviewed and approved the project and we have staff support. Also
we received unanimous um recommendation for approval from your planning and zoning board and we feel very confident that this is a very good addition to the city. So with that I will conclude and we'll open it for any questions you may
have. Okay. do it. Can you Can you wait until we hear the citizens first? Public comments. Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. Yeah. Yeah. Let's open it up to public comment. If you wish to speak on this item, please step forward.
Mr. Kazan. Good evening everyone. My name is Mubarak Kazan. Um, don't take my critics personal. Um, first of all, I'm glad that we have our own community development director in
house. We used to depend on a on on an outside firm that sucks a lot of money out from us, give us little time. And I do hope when you combine these two legislations or whatever you call it,
quasi judicial matters, you did not squash the time. You'd allow me six minutes. Thank you very much. Um, good point. Good point. Good point. But he's wrong.
the the units. You said 292 units. Two 293 units. Thank you very much for the correction. 293 units. And you have the parking space at 419, but we never heard how many bedrooms.
And I knew the new parking legislation that we have is up to three bedrooms. you could get three parking spaces, but when you have 292 93 units, you thinking that this is single bedroomedroom units,
um you would be suffering from a lot of um parking wars because right now there's a a building there, Highland Highland building or apartment or whatever. their occupants.
They went they went to the old um parking that we had legislation that we had and they're giving the neighbors a hard time where to find parking.
I know uh you know people like Roland Vu and and everybody else complain that they park they park in front of them on their private property. So if you provide inadequate parking,
the visitors and whomever is going to be forced to use target parking and Target would probably put up some signs, no overnight parking. And what you'd be doing is developing
a rift now between your neighbor your um tenants or homeowners or whatever and the neighboring surroundings. Um my terminology when you have kind of buildings like this here 15 seconds
and do not take it personally. It's kind of like a nuisance property where you put a property in a neighborhood and it becomes a nuisance instead of a enhancement of the neighborhood because there you would be
developing fights for parking and all all sorts of things like that. So, um, we thank you for the impact money, 3.3 million. I hope you guys don't squander it going to Japan and Russia and all those. Well, go to Russia. I'm glad if
you could go to Russia. I would talk to Putin about that. Thank you very much for having me. Any other speakers? My name is Trisha Harris. I live in North Miami Beach, Highland Village. And I'm here to stress the parking, the
traffic because we have three exits in Highland Village. Highland Drive, 139th, and 140th. I have been living there
for almost all of my life. I was born and raised there. I have watched the traffic. recently since the new construction has arrived that is on the corner of
139th and 140th and the new construction that was next to KFC which is called Highland Highland something. Um they are parking all over the place
instead of parking in their parking lot. Half the time there's not anybody in the parking lot, but yet they're all over the church property. The church had to put up a fence. The church had to put trees out there. The church was getting fined because people were parking in
their lot and ruining the grass outside. And I see no offense to your builders or to you guys, but I see the same thing going to happen there because you're sitting here making the statement that everybody that's going to be in your building is going to use transit.
Transit in Day County does not work. Sorry, I was in Chicago. It works. Does not work here. I do not mean any offense to the developer. I think your building is beautiful. I understand you giving us more parking
than it is, but my whole thing is when it comes to the traffic, we haven't heard the traffic person yet, but when it comes to traffic right now, if you're there at 2:00 in the afternoon or 5:00, people are waiting to get out of
Highland Village backed up for the light to the roundabout. Think about it. That's 10 to 12 cars that we're waiting to go southbound. If you're going north, once all the construction is over with,
we will be able to use 139th Street better. But if someone is parked, like we had a boat break down on 139th and when the deliveries came to the building that's
on Highland Drive, they I'm sorry, it's Highland Drive. The boat broke down on and the Highlands had deliveries being done. We could not get out of the park. we had to turn around and go down another street because they
blocked each other. So, these are things that need to be thought of as far as the traffic because we've got time. Go ahead and finish. We have approximately, let's say, 600 family homes in Highland Village. I
don't know how many there really are, but let's say back there that have to come forward to go and the traffic is starting to back up and we don't even have the second building built. And now you're talking about building another one. Do not get me wrong. I am not I I think the building is beautiful.
I'm just afraid that if God forbid something happens and the residents that are in the back have to get out, we will not have a way to get out because we're already flooded and the building that has already been built next to KFC,
their water comes to Highland Village. Now we're getting another one on the corner of Biscane, which I'm waiting to see if that water comes to Highland Village. And then now we're going to put another one to this site. I'm just a little bit worried about it. I'm getting
mega phone calls from people. So I'm talking for Highland Village residents. Thank you very much. Thank you for the extra second. Trisha, did you mention that the parking structure that it wasn't on Highland Drive? Oh, that's the other thing. You
guys keep saying it's going all the way to Highland Drive. From what it looks like on your picture, it is not going all the way to Highland Drive. From your picture, it does not look like it goes all the way to Highland Drive because there's a
triplex or I don't think it can. That's why I was going to say there's a triplex on the corner. Right. There's a triplex on the corner. They're not going that far. They have not purchased um the master's property which is also right next to the triplex. So it would be prior to I don't believe
Gaston sold his um property either for where he has his rental office. So I believe it's from from the corner. It's just two properties in. I don't believe it goes all the way to Highland Drive, but they keep making the statement that
it goes to Highland Drive. I think that needs to be verified by the city representatives so that it gets corrected on the paperwork. Thank you, Treasure. Thank you very much, Mr. May. Okay. So, wait, can we look can we look
into that, please? Uh, no. I mean, yeah, not us, but can the city you want to do the rebuttal now? Oh, let me do my uh madam clerk, the other no Jennings the Jennings. Yes. Just go ahead.
No, she has to read the Oh, per resolution R95-24. The subject matter of any exarty communications together with the identity of the person, group, or entity making the communication shall be disclosed and made part of the record on
file with the city prior to final action on the matter. Mayor Joseph, I think I got a call from uh I think the attorney on the project uh and the resolution. Real brief. Uh
some city staff members u manager. Um and but I can make a decision based on the evidence presented to me this evening. Thank you. All right. So So we're up to Do you want to use a rebuttal now or do you want to have us to have the discussion or you want to close public hearing, mayor? Oh, yes. Close. Is there another
speaker? Seeing none. Seeing none. Mr. Mayor, we've combined both of them. So was your Jennings for both? Oh, is yes. I will. Thank you. Um, thank you. Um, Commissioner Smith, yes, my judings is I can make a decision on both items based on information presented to me
because they were similar and in scope and and and parties involved. Thank you. So, thank thank you. Thank you. I did hear that um Commissioner had to be nudged to do the um but I was nudged. Thank you for doing that, Commissioner Smith. Commissioner Smith just told me to do
the same thing because so my Jennings disclosure was for both items that have been combined for this particular conversation. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So, Jennings is clo public comment is now closed and I guess it's your opportunity um to to address.
Yes. Thank you, mayor. Let's start with her latest statement just for clarity. I think she's mentioning the the resolution title. Um the the description says generally located east of Northeast 20th Place
between Northeast 140th Street and north of Highland Drive. So, we are not touching Highland Drive. We're just north of it. So, to clarify on the record, the two access points for the project are 139th and 140th, not Highland Drive.
The other thing I want to clarify is the ratio of bedrooms and parking spaces provided per unit breakdown. We have 103 twobedroom units and 164 one-bedroom or
studios. The ratio that we calculated based on the parking provided is two spaces for the two-bedroom units and one a little over one space for the one-bedroom and studio units. Now, keep in mind that the construction or ongoing
development around um this area most likely applied your old parking code. we're implementing your new parking code and exceeding that. So, just want that to be clear. Um the the reference I made about bicycle parking being provided,
it's extra. It's intended to be an amenity for for residents. We're not relying on that in any way to supplement parking. As to traffic, um you have to remember there's a very large development east of
us which is the solo project. That is a committed development that was studied and included as part of our traffic study. Um that particular project will be responsible for optimizing signal timings with Miami date county. And so
the intersection of Biscane Boulevard and 143rd will be operating at adopted levels of service. one that s once the signal optimization is complete. So I think I've answered all their remarks. Um but with that we'll open it up for
you and we're here to answer more question. Thank you. I will start off from my right. Commissioner Smith. Thank you. Uh thank you. Nice to meet you Vanessa. You called many times but you asked if I had questions and I did not. That's music to my ears. So, um, my
question though tonight is twofold. The B first floor, the first floor is not is going to be what? The ground level. The ground level. Yeah. So,
oh, the one with the pedestrian and the vehicular. It's higher up. Oh, well, I don't know if you rather see a floor plan or or the rendering. Um, no, just tell me. Okay, good. So the ground level is essentially um there's a few units on
the northern parcel and there's also a few units on the on the southern parcel. Um those units that are at that level are walk up to units so you can access it from the sidewalk and the rest is um the garage obviously. We have a drop off area for the south tower and then we
have the parking garage for the north tower and we also have a lot of mechanical and like equipment that it's required for like any any building. So, uh, that's that's the use of the of the ground level. Thank you. I just wanted to make note that the public knows there's no retail
because the way it lights up and it's an it's a residential neighborhood. I wanted to make sure they knew that. I also we are in the process of developing art for public places. Yes.
And do you have plans to put some art Yeah. for the public to enjoy on this building? Yeah, we're trying to share right now an image that might help with that if it goes. There we go. So, we have allocated out three areas where we think it makes sense to to have art. Uh,
one of them would be uh to line the garage um facing south. Uh, the other option would be uh number two right there, which is like a stairwell that is like a perfect location to have some kind of mural. And then on the ground level at the uh southern parcel, we have
a little plot of land that we could have some kind of a sculpture as well. So we've we provided three three places where we're open to to have some kind of public art. I appreciate that. So um in studying this project, what I want to just say to
the public is that uh two things. Number one, when a developer buys a piece pro parcel of land and considers their cost, they have to make sure that they're going to have enough floors and enough
units to recover their basic cost to build the building and buying the property and all the extras that goes into permitting and architecture. And so when it comes to this, I'm sure they figure it out. And they were short
if they would take down to nine stories and then not ask for the extra feet for the equipment. So I I don't find that at all offensive. Um I understand what the resident said about traffic. I live in
an area where there's only one ingress and one egress. But unfortunately with development, with more revenue for the city, with people wanting to live in Dave County and no land left,
traffic's going to always come before us. It's an issue, a big issue. But hopefully the ingress and and egress on two separate blocks. I doubt that many of the residents here
will go down to Highland Village Highland Street. I think they'll go out 137 139th and 140th. Um but there is no it's very difficult to have a compromise. Do you want a beautiful building? Do you want to be
progressive and move forward and and do you want to have um the revenue that's so greatly needed in our city to clean it up? So all that notwithstanding, I I just can't see the objection. I see
the difficulty and making it work, but I don't see the objection. Um do you have an idea when they're going to break ground? And do you have an idea when the the roof topping and it'll be finished? to complete a project. Project completion is expected to be by
2027 and obviously groundbreaking will be as soon as we get our building permits. So 2027. Okay. So I have no further questions unless I hear what my fellow commissioner say and brings up something else. Thank you
and thank you for the artwork. Thank you, Commissioner Florbot. Um, so the the conversation that we're always having up here is is um relating to affordability and uh we had that conversation yesterday. I know that it's tough to really
project what the cost of each unit is going to be or you know what you're looking to do. Are the developers here by the way? They are. We have Can they can they present themselves? Oh, okay. All right. Good deal. So yeah, you're the guys. Um and um you know at
the end of the day especially looking at the area uh you know we we we we are um always talking about uh Highland Village and trying to you know bring up um the aesthetics and um the infrastructure and
really make it um a place that is not forgotten when it comes to North Miami Beach. So yes, this is going to do some of that, but in addition to that, um are we looking at affordability and what are we doing to mitigate affordability? Um because if you're thinking about quote
unquote comps, solemia is not it. Um those numbers are definitely very high. Nexo, I think, is the one that's going to be on um on Biscane. You know, those are not affordable. Everything is market rate. I know it's kind of hard to build
anything affordable, but what are we what are we looking at as in terms of pricing? There's certainly supply in the area, including new buildings, as the neighbors have mentioned, and I think having competition is healthy to keep your prices low. Um, this will be a
market rate building in comparison with other comparable market rate units. Uh, we're looking at a range between 1,800 and 2500 depending on the size of the unit. Uh but it's it's very reasonable for the area.
And you're doing up to how many bedrooms and and um up to two bedrooms. Up to two bedrooms. Got it. Okay. So studios, one bedrooms, one bedroom, and a den and two bedrooms. Got it. Yeah. But other than that, you know, like Commissioner Smith mentioned, it's
uh when when do you break ground and when do you expect to be done? Um and uh because you know, these units can't hit the market quick enough, right? Um, so that's um that that's where where I stand, but I fully support the item and um you know, you guys have uh approached
us with the utmost professional um professionalism and given us the information we requested. So I'm ready to support the item. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Smuckler. Thank you. So, um, when I came here
tonight, I was 100%, um, going to vote for this. I I think it's beautiful. I think it's perfect. It's what Highland Village needs. Uh, it's going to be it's it's the right fit. Um, and and I
do go often to either Trisha's house to drop something off or to pick something up. So, I I do see the the situation with the parking at the church. the other day I had trouble getting out because of the construction that's going on. I couldn't get get out. I had to
wait for the UPS truck and the construction truck. So, so everything Trisha is saying is so to the point, but you know, she she and again I and I and I love Trisha and I was like, I'm still I'm going to vote for it. I'm going to
vote for it. But and Trisha never asked, by the way, to not vote for it. But when Trisha got up here and said um that it's going to be a problem getting in and getting out and and I started to think, well, I have that problem in Eastern
Shores. There's a development that's coming up and we all love the project. We think the project is beautiful, but we have a problem with the entrance and the exit. And you know, it's good for the goose is good for the gander. So,
um, I'm I'm not going to be a hypocrite and and vote no on one project and and yes on this one. So, for just for that purpose, intention only. I'm I'm going to vote no. I I I suspect it's going to pass and it's beautiful and I and I wish
the project good luck and I wish the building a success, but I just want to give you my reasons as to why I'm voting no. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Good evening. Thank you for your presentation. And thank you for the owners for buying the
land and wanting to develop it. We do appreciate you coming to North Miami Beach. Um, can your traffic guy come up for a minute? Yes, of course. Good evening. Address the resident's concern. Oh, good evening. Adrien Dubcowski with
Kimley Horn offices at two Alahhamra Plaza and Coral Gables. So can you please address what she was saying about the backing up of the lights or the other stuff that you Yes. So there were several issues I heard. Uh one was related to loading and
trucks um loading on street. Um we have our loading we have separate loading for the south building and the north building. It's all internalized to the building itself. So that loading won't be occurring on street. Um related to access, our driveway is located on 20th
place. Um there's two driveways. is it's north of 139th and then also a driveway on 139th on the north side. Um the access to that site where it's located, it's closer to 140th. Um so it's actually easier for traffic to enter and
exit the site via 140th and avoid the congestion of Highland Drive and that signalized intersection to the south. So we we expect that most of the project traffic will be using 140th rather than Highland Drive and and adding more traffic there. And then also looking at
um this type of multifamily development um it essentially generates 90 trips in the peak hour. So that's about a a trip and a half per minute during the peak hour. So it's not in extremely intense use.
Okay. And you did in your analysis, you did take the number of units and how many times they would be coming in or out and when they would be coming in or out. Right. Correct. We for concurrency purposes and what the county and the city requires, we look at the AM peak hour. Uh so it's
1 hour during rush hour in the morning and then one hour during the rush hour in the afternoon and and load that project traffic onto the roadway network as well as account for committed developments. So Solomia for instance was included and Solomia needs to
optimize the signal timings out at 143rd and Biscane Boulevard in order for the intersection to operate at the adopted levels of of service standard. Is there a light on 139th or 140th now at at No, at one it's at Highland Drive.
That's the only light. That's the only drive. Well, it it incorporates 139th. So, if you're coming southbound on Biscane, you can turn onto 139th at the light or Yep. Correct. Correct. Right. Okay. All right. Thank you. Uh,
community development. Planning and zoning approved this. Yes. 6.0. Uh, yesterday the planning and zoning board approved it 6. Okay. Thank you. You guys had a an interesting dilemma of
the parcel in order to be be able to build and to build. You did be build a nice building. It looks beautiful and I do appreciate you know that you're coming into North Miami Beach and you know hopefully your prices like you said will adjust to the market and you know
they're not going to get filled if it's not working with the market and everything and hopefully the owners are going to if they're going to rent they're going to keep on being the owners and taking care of the building. So, don't sell so fast. Um, but good luck. Thank you.
Um, Commissioner. All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I wanted to um also echo the fact that the project looks um great. To Commissioner Ferron's point about the market rate, I think that's a conversation that we constantly have about workforce, about
uh affordable or, you know, we've gotten out of the range of talking about affordable, but workforce. And I think to our um great director, that would be something that I want to champion us to really u encourage folks that come to us
to um give us at least some units that our workforce. Um it's not something that we can we can ask for with with a condition, but these are things these are conversations that we have every quasi. every quasi we ask about um the
market value. These are things that you should provide to us when before public art the things that are important to us outside of tax and impact fees and such. Um so and we were also looking to see what happened to the library impact fee.
That was supposed to be something that we kind of talked through. We never heard about that. Um thank you for the information about the traffic study. I want to I want to be able to maybe come and see the footprint because when you talk about the existing infrastructure,
the incoming um developments that going to go online, can this footprint really take on all these people? I mean the answer is obviously yes, but I want want to see it. So that's something that maybe the commissioners can be privy to
sometimes for us to actually do these site visits where we can conceptualize it and that helps us kind of have a better perception of what it is. For the open spaces, is it access only to the resident of the building or will it be to the general public as well?
It's it's designated open space for the project itself. Um and it's intended to be an amenity to the residents. Now, the urban greenway is a publicly designated open space in your regulating plan. So,
that's for the enjoyment of the entire neighborhood. How big is that that space? It's it's a 23 foot um greenway and width. So, it's pretty pretty large. All right. I also wanted to um tap into
police and public works for the complaints that were mentioned about the parking situation and the overlapping. What are we doing to actively mitigate that if anything through the manager?
Um Madame Kushner, the uh the community development department and this the city is going to start a comprehensive plan update process and part of that process includes uh interaction with the citizens and the communities and one of the main interactions we have is with
the uh residents of Highland Village uh as well as some other neighborhoods for any changes to the land use code or this thing. if we need to amend the comprehensive plan and the land use guidelines based on which we could
change the code. So we cannot change uh street widths or other uh uh development regulations unless we uh put that into the land development uh and the comprehensive plan guidelines the policy. So there that development would
be first then we can go back and revisit some of the regulations. So if that development is first, what's the timeline for is it when it goes online or is it during the construction process? the process that we have for the comprehensive plan we uh we're
required to submit it to the state by April of 2026 but we're going to have interaction with the community and a discussion about and there may be cheretses to hands-on practice for you know to actually design some spaces that
we could reconfigure and that's going to be part of the exercise for the comprehensive plan update. So there is going to be a lot of interaction and community participation in that process. All right. So, to get more of a direct answer to my question, right? So, you said April 2026.
That's the uh deadline to submit the comprehensive plan to the state. Where does that fall in line with potential groundbreaking of this particular project? You have? We are probably going to be close to completing our building permitting
process and if not already starting, you know, construction at that point. Thank you. I wanted to hear if we had any plans for the parking issues. I think the chief is uh so we would have to meet with the
developers and uh obviously conduct our own surveys and assessments to see how uh you know the parking would affect uh the roadways, the the residents that are currently there, the traffic flow, etc. So that's something we definitely have to uh meet with them and see how we can facilitate that. And I think that's an
important conversation because the last time we talked about um the speed bumps and we said we're is being resurfaced and d So all are all those pieces working together. It's important for us to talk about this now.
So I don't know who wants to chime in if I may. I'm sorry, but I I would have thought that prior to when this project was in the in the process of in the works, I would have thought that that
the the planning and zoning department would have reached out to police to make sure um that everything is is is is good and and and and I'm I'm talking about parking, um security, and everything.
We did Could I could I just chime in, Mr. Mayor? So, so what did it happen? So, many of the existing regulations when an application comes in stay the way they are. Is that
the the the existing regulations which are in place are not changed because of the uh because when an application comes in, it basically grandfathers into those existing applications. But as far as the overall neighborhood is concerned, there is uh opportunity and room for
mitigation and redesign of certain spaces to uh to mitigate the congestion and the the flow of traffic. So that's going to be part of the urban but not this particular development but because existing applications when they come in they go under the current code.
Yeah. But the police is not consulted. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. It's it's part of the the uh the the study process. Yes. the feasibility analysis includes uh the safety and and all of that. Sorry. So, Commissioner, if you would allow me
to continue your your line of conversation. Yes. We need a more comprehensive look at this. We I think all of us support this project, but we need a more comprehensive approach to Highland Village, right? because this is this is seem a little
disjointed with all the issues that were brought up and all the compounding developments. We need we need something more comprehensive. There's too many pieces that are going to be affected in the long term. But is it well
to to well there's going to be I've heard I don't know how far it is from that that back road off of 135th or what have you but I know there have been talks of opening that roadway and and I'm only mentioning that because there oh sorry
um when it comes the the aspect of traffic right um I think we like there has to be a different approach to Highland Village um given the way that's laid laid out. Um, currently it's it's like we're it's
like we're purposely creating a bottleneck and I don't want us to there has to be some other ways of egress that we could think of. I don't know what the possibilities are. I know that um what Solomia's um overall I don't know what their overall
plan is but I you know that's something I just want to just add to the conversation. That's all I just another thought. Is there a possibility that Solomia would bring a road down there to Highland Village? I don't know if that possibility even exists. I wanted to say
something uh if I could, you know, when they came up here, they they reached out to us one time. Yeah. I'm not sure if you were on the committee. And that's why it could come down to that. Here's a here's a big issue.
The big issue is they could have worked under the old code with how many parking places, but they worked under the new code even though they didn't have to. The thing is when they come before us, it says police approved. If there was issues that was not
approved, that would have been worked out with TRA before they got to us. They're bringing a pro um a plan before us. And you know one thing about Highland Village, I remember when the man built the twostory in there that
looked like Key West. He actually owned two lots and unfortunately his wife was dying of cancer. He didn't build the second one. But there's so many images and so many plans for for that area. The one thing I will say is this was a
corner unit that you couldn't even get in on the north end. It was locked every which way with the three people. Then there was an empty lot that had boats in it. Then there were several houses and across the street is a townhouse
complex that kept very nice. You can't get into that either unless you're buzzed in. So here we have a piece of property that has an opportunity to be developed. And and we say many times up here, we can agree to disagree. I happen
to also live in Eastern Shores. It's a whole different ballgame in my mind. There's one ingress, one egress with all the homes and the town houses. Here are people I do not believe will go south to come out on that street. And if they do,
they may wait in line. I can tell you there's no houses on Bis on 163rd Street, Miscane Boulevard. But you want to come east or west, you wait 30 minutes at the rush hour. And that's what it's about. You wait 30
minutes. I I can't imagine even though I respect immensely the woman that came up to speak that's a resident. She is we call her the mayor of that neighborhood and I respect her immensely. But I think it's a boon for
the community to have something new and life to that community. And I I just I think these um the the concerns we all have with affordable housing and everything else, who's to say $1,800
isn't going to be affordable housing. I mean, the way prices are going up, that may be very affordable, but I can only say 100% that what you're bringing before us as a project's not even asking us for that much. It's asking us for 9
ft for their equipment and a a alley that they already own. So, I just want to make clear to the public that when they look at that plan, that's what's going to be the boost to the community.
That may be the boost that gives gives that community, you know, there is the church has a big lot. It could be something townhousees built there someday. I I just I I hate to knock something that's good for our
city that's not asking much. I I really think that we're very fortunate and I thank them for coming to North Miami Beach. I definitely agree with Commissioner Smith, but I also want to say that we have to look at this area, especially with all the
compounding things that are going in that area. That's for sure. For sure. And and the final point, Miss This is to the managers, we need to address the intersection where Kentucky Fried Chicken is, where the light is, and that's going to be the hub of where
everybody's going to go to. So, we need to make sure that there's enough whatever they call it, you know, for the cars stacking and so on and so forth that we're bringing another development there. So, we got to work with the county or the state, whoever is the Biscane Boulevard. I don't know who we
deal with anymore. It's federal, I think. Yes, state. Yeah. Okay. So, um, Commissioner Sue, thank you. Um, I think I've exhausted you with all the questions that I had yesterday. So, I appreciate it so much.
I like your project and I will be supporting it today. Thank you. Call questions. Do I have a second? Second. We got a motion and a second by a motion by our vice vice mayor and a second by Commissioner Smith. Madame Clerk, can you do a roll call?
Commissioner Florimmon. Yes. Commissioner Jean. Yes. Commissioner Smith. Yes. Commissioner Smuckler, no. Commissioner Sue, yes. Vice Mayor Shernoff, yes.
Mayor Michael Joseph, it passes 61. Thank you all. Have a good evening. Are we voting for both? Did we vote? Oh, that that is what? So, that was further development. So, that was development or alley?
Okay, madam. Okay. Okay. So, I have do I have to approve the Do I have a motion? Second. All right. I got a a motion uh by my vice mayor and second by Commissioner Smith. Madame Clerk, Commissioner Commissioner Jean. Yes. Commissioner Smith. Yes.
Commissioner Smuckler. Yes. Commissioner Sue. Yes. Commissioner Flory. Yes. Vice Mayor Shernoff. Gladly. Yes. Yes. Mayor Michael Joseph. Passes 70. Mr. Mayor, can you ask the student
manager about the update with um the Highland Village resurfacing public work? That's public. Give us an update if you can tomorrow. Oh, okay. So, that's direction to give us an update on on what's going on with the resurfacing and the and then the speed
bumps that's supposed to come to that area. And then also, can you we add to that? Can we add to the resurfacing and and speed bumps? Commissioner Smith is act I think we have to wait till isn't there a water project going on there
water yeah the reaper okay no but I want to add to that an overview of how we should look at Highland Village going forward it's on you can't hear me uh I want to add to that let's do an
overview of Highland Good luck Vanessa with that baby good luck thank you congratulations thank you again I'd like to had an overview view of Highland Village and how should do we need to put some regulations on there
um and and especially when um they're developing and building where the construction trucks are coming in and out and where the construction will be parking etc. the workers that
needs to be addressed because it should be on the property as they're building somewhere. Um, but I think we need an overview of the community. Yeah, we do. Introduce ordinance number 2025-02, second reading.
Okay. Ma m city attorney. Yeah, we had a small miscommunication as to this ordinance. I had asked that it be pulled and uh I guess we failed to adequately communicate that to the clerk. So, and I or I would have me which which item is this? This is 11-1 11.1. So, I'll ask at this
time it be pulled. It's not quite ready. We have a very substantive policy discussion. It will be for the next meeting. M miss. Uh okay. Do I have a motion? My motion. So, we don't have Okay. So, I have a you moved it. So, he uh Commissioner Smith makes a motion. I make a motion to
to pull it. I mean to defer defer to defer till next meeting. Second. Mr. Attorney, can we make sure everything is baked? All this halfbaked is not working. No, no, no, no. Uh I'll I wrote the word pull on it and we didn't pull. Yeah. Yeah. It didn't happen. So that
being said, it should have been um not pulled. It's it should have been deferred. Deferred. But you put p but it was going to be pulled for discussion. I thought Okay. That that being said, um all in favor say I. I. Okay. Passes unanimously. Not move to introduce 11.2 ordinance number
2025-03. Second reading. Mr. City attorney. Second. Yeah. Was there a second? Oh, do I have a second? Second. Item 11.2, ordinance number 2025-03, second reading, amending guidelines for appointments of the economic development
commission, sponsored by commissioners Fleurmont and Smith. An ordinance of the mayor and city commission of city of North Miami Beach part amending the city of North Miami Beach code by amending section 2-49.7 entitled guidelines for appointments of the economic development commission of this code of ordinances
providing for codification conflict scriveners errors severability and providing for in effective date second reading public hearing. What? But it's a it's no second reading. Second, is this our second reading?
No, don't public hear. Okay. So, now we bring it before the commission. Um motion. No, no, no. We uh this this is the second. No, no. On the first reading, we have public um we have public uh hearing. Yeah, I'm believe me, I'm sure.
Uh so, so now it's it's before this is 11. Say it again. I'm sorry. 11.2, right? Yeah. 11.2. 11. Yeah, this is uh the second um this is before us. Um Mr. Director, this is your item, right? 11.2.
No, this is Oh, this is your Okay. So, yes. Um um Commissioner Smith and Commissioner Fmont. This is your item. So, this is in relationship to um I took a trip to West Palm Beach and
they have this economic program there. No, economic development commission the modification to the commission criteria. That's what I'm saying. Oh, okay. So, what they want to say is we're setting up the board and these are the
qualifications for the board. But I also want to say incorporated some of that in the fact that to get the people the the reason it reads like this is because it doesn't you do not have to be a resident. You just have to have a vested financial interest whether you you could
have um you could have a um you have to be a stakeholder in the in North Miami Beach if you own a business if you are planning to build a business here or if you have a business tax receipt. Don't you two decide that when you get
the applications? Uh whether they bid it or not. No, we want to have requirements required. The the way it read before we we have to make our we have to make the decision based on what it how it reads um as far as who can participate, right? Um but
because of some of the issues that we've come across, this is why the legislation is being presented. The legislation is being presented so that people who have um interest in making sure our city moves forward economically can participate on this
board. So, uh, it's necessary for it to be, um, for it to be, uh, documented. So, that's the reason why we're presenting the legislation. Thank you. Do I have a motion in a second? I make a motion. Okay, madam clerk, is a roll call, so please. Commissioner Smith,
absolutely. Yes. Commissioner Smuckler. Yes. Commissioner Sue, yes. Commissioner Flory, yes. Commissioner Jean, yes. Vice Mayor Shernoff, yes. Mayor Michael Joseph, item passes 70.
Thank you. Okay. Next item is 11.3, right? Yes. Move to introduce ordinance number 20-20 2025-06, first reading. Okay. Second. Item 11.3, ordinance number 2025-06,
first reading. Amending water and sewer impact fees sponsored by the NMBB water director. An ordinance to the mayor and city commission in the city of North Miami Beach. uh amending chapter 19 entitled water and sewers of the city code of ordinances specifically amending section 19-11.2
entitled installing repairing reading testing fee where seal broken section 19-12.2 entitled delinquent accounts shutting off water section 19-5.8 8 entitled annual inspection test
charges. Section 19-16 entitled turn on and shut off curb to be used by city. Section 19-22 entitled additional charge for expansion and upgrading of city's water
facilities. Section 19-23 entitled fireflow demand charge on new buildings and conversions. and section 19-31 entitled rates and charges to revise the section title and to update the miscellaneous fees and the
connection charges from new developments due to updates in NMBB's water capital improvement plan providing for conflicts severability and codification and providing for an effective date sponsored by the NMBB water. Mr. Director,
good evening mayor, commissioner and staff. Uh this item before you is the impact fee that there wasn't a studies been conducted by a consultant back in 2019 and it was provided to department in 2020. Uh most of our rate are
outdated as far as time like uh sewer connection and water connection. So we took the initiative of utilizing the existing conducted uh consulting exercise and then we considered the CPI index followed by the recommendation
from finance staff did lot of analysis and uh u you know to put the package together. uh to in overall the recommend we using the base of the recommendation from consultant back in 2020 and then we
were adding uh the five-year CPI index increase which is equivalent to 22.5% on top of the recommended uh rates for every item on exhibit A which contains a wide variety of charges from water
connection, fireflow fees, uh backflow prevention, meter inspection and etc etc. And uh this way we're trying to bring all our impact fee up to uh market condition and we can utilize the
collected revenue towards our uh capital improvement uh and infrastructure improvement down the road. What's the time frame? The time frame for uh implementation. Yeah. Completing the study so we can the study isn't completed. We're asking
for rate adoption on this item. Wait. Well, no. Um Um We have to It's first reading, so it's open up for public comment. Um do you have any addition are Oh, you have No, I'm done. Madam Clerk, can you open up the floor
for public comment? The floor is open for public comment at this time. Uh you have a threem minute time limit. Um please state relate your uh item your message only pertaining to this item. Do we have anyone for this
item? Mr. Kazan Kazan, I would be very quick. This water plant have a repetition. No matter how much we raise fees and all of these things, we never get a proper reserve. We always keep spending and
blowing out the money. I remembered in 2018 we were able to save over $38 million and one um one vendor charged us on that $38,000
spending 35% in consultancy fee. So there you had more than $10 million went away to one guy who one vendor who just really didn't do anything to get that money. So
we can bring all over the years. We need to raise this, we need to raise that, we need to raise Torah and that $38 million reserve. I did tell a couple commissioners up there, you should have been asking for an audit.
how that $38 million were spent. Commissioner Smith, you know about that. Commissioner Flurman, you know about that. Commission um Mayor Joseph, you know about that. And um Commissioner Smuckler, you know
about that wasteful spending. So we could be I didn't say you guys wasted it. What I'm saying is that you know about the $38 million we had acquired in reserves and it was blown out before at
least three of you came on board. But it wasn't too long after you came on board that money was blown away. And what I'm saying an audit should be for that $38 million how it was spent here. you you're going to wait raise a lot of
millions of dollars here, but we do not know how it is going to end up. And um maybe it's long overdue, but we do not have a problem making money. What we have a problem is how we spend
the money. And we need to be more responsible. Not because it was in some of you era. You're going to forget about that $38 million audit. You should because the fees that we will be raising here at
this time really probably didn't need to go that high if we did not squander $38 million earlier. Thank you for having me. Wait one second. Any other speakers? Okay, seeing no approve. Wait,
wait, wait, wait. Um Um that being said, public public comment is no closed. Commissioner Smith. Okay, let me apologize because I found this after I had my meeting agenda. There are definitely some corrections. I know it's first reading, but let's get
them corrected. On um on n on section 19-11.2 two on number G, it says the owner is going to be fined $60 each time that they break the seal. And then it says
that they can the city can once they break the seal a second time, the city can turn it off permanently. However, I think instead of doing that, if they break a seal a second time or they could get a second $60 fine. I think if they break it a second time, it
should go to 150. 3rd time 300. If you go to 1912-2, it says that they're can immediately if they break the seal, they can immediately turn off the water. I think it should have with notice. I don't care who did something illegal to turn off
the water if there's infants in there. I think it needs to have within a five days a notice um or three days or something, but they need to be notified they're not going to have water because you don't know that they might have thought the one time it's it's not the second or third time that they don't
pay. It's one time delinquent they could shut off the water. If you also look, it says, which I didn't quite understand because it says that um it's a $40 charge for shutting off
and it's $40 for restoring. And then on the next page, it says that it's $25. So, I'm not sure that has to be clarified. That would be under section 5C.
And uh what was a question was actually on 19-15.8 it says that it went from $25 down to $12. So that's unusual for us to go down in service. I wanted to question that. And those are my three things. I'll put them
on record and then we could go over them and see if we need the changes for second reading. City attorney. Does that um I mean we can add those changes for second reading. Correct. you you can, but the the preferable way to do it, I mean, you have a lot of options. It's very open to
you, but the the straight most straightforward way would be for you to move to amend the ordinance on first reading right now and get those amendments voted in and then we'll just conform that language for second reading.
But you have to read the whole paragraph and whatever. You do not have to do that, Commissioner. We understand the intent. If it is just first reading, so we we can be a little bit looser because the second reading language following your amendments, if adopted, will just come back you with those
changes. You still get to look at it and say, "I don't like the way it's worded on second reading." Okay. So, um I'd like to make a amendment to make the changes that I I would I'm sorry to interrupt. I apologize, but I would say that since there are three separate things, you
should quickly do each one separately. So there's because one might get voted down. Well, okay, but then we'd have to have discussion. I'm saying that do you want to raise it from $60 to 150 to 300 the third time that they do something or just Well, can't you just make the motion for
all three and then we'll you should have a separate motion on each. Oh, we have to do a separate one. Oh, well, because somebody might want to vote against one of them and vote for the others. So, um but you can certainly have discussion once you make the motion on any of them. If you don't need discussion, you can just move on. But
the one that you think bears some discussion, move to amend, get a second, and then you can have discussion. Um, Mr. Smith, before you start, do you want to go allow your colleagues to opine before you make that the suggestion? I do because you actually have to read it and figure out if you
want to just say if once they break the law and they cut the thing when you've turned off their water or when they do that, do you want to have them to have three chances from $60 to 150 to 300 or do you want to say no $60 to 150 or do
you want to say what it says that once they break the seal then we discontinue the service? Respectfully, Commissioner, make the motion to amend, get it seconded, and have that discussion. I have a discussion on that. Oh, okay. Get get an amendment on the director. So, okay.
I make the motion is why what is the reasoning for the cut off immediately? Is there a reason for it? To cut off what? Once the seal is broken, you want to cut it off immediately. Is is there a reason for that? It's not like immediately. I believe there are certain mechanism for us to
notify the resident but I have to verify it to ensure what is before you is not a bad change in this uh you know code and standard that we have it's uh restrictly we're targeting and uh proposing uh the rate change but we're talking about the
subject of the code but we will certainly you know verify it and address the comments. Right. Right. The commissioner brought up that the reading in the fine print says that after they break the seal then we cut it off and she doesn't like that.
She wants to go to from breaking it to 150 or some other number and giving no it might not be a change. It might have been wrong before because when it says here under sea there shall be no separate charge for shutting off the water supply for any premises. But in
every instance when such shut offs was originally made for non-payment of any delinquent account or violation of any rule of the city then it adds the restoring service charge stated in section 912. And here it says that there
will be a restoring charge of $125 and then the second time $250 and the third time $370. That's a restoring charge. But it also says
that if you cut it off, they're going to immediately shut off your water. We will definitely uh look into that to uh I don't want to uh provide them information as far as the process on the shut off uh uh if I'm not certain about
it, I have to look into the shut off process uh and code and to give you proper uh you know responsibility. I I make I make a motion that I sit with the management of my few changes and bring it back for second reading.
Did you Did anybody take notes of those changes that the commissioner mentioned? I I know Mr. Nickbond did. I I second that. Yeah, it's too much. I second it. You I'm sorry. I second. Yeah, but you don't need if you want those changes for second reading. I'm trying
the They've been noted by the director. We'll get with the director and we'll bring bring back proposed changes on second reading. Right. And then we'll vote on them then. Yeah. You don't need a motion to do it. Okay. I take that. propose. I take it back. Wait. Why?
So, we're voting as is now. We're voting as is. Changes beh Yes. Yes, sir. All right. Uh, madame clerk. No, I made a motion that I I get with them and that we Okay. I'm making a motion to pass this.
Do I have a second? All right. Madam clerk, is the first reading order, so please do the roll call. Commissioner Smuggler. Yes. Commissioner Sue. Yes, Commissioner Florymore. Yes. Commissioner Jean. Yes.
Commissioner Smith. No. Vice Mayor Shernoff. Vice Mayor Shernoff. Yes. Mayor Michael Joseph. Yes. All right. Next. Next item. Um. Yes, sir. Item is 11.4.
Introduced first reading number. Oh, sir. 2025-07 first reading. Um, unsolicited proposals. Second. Okay. Item 11.4 ordinance number 2025-07
first reading. Unsolicited proposals process sponsored by the chief procurement officer. An ordinance to the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida. Establishing procedure for receiving, accepting, and evaluating unsolicited proposals for qualifying projects pursuant to Florida statutes number 255-065.
Providing definitions establishing requirements for review, public interest determination, competitive solicitation, professional review, agreement, execution, and confidentiality providing for severability conflicts and an effective date.
Um d um procurement director. Yes. Is this your item? You have a presentation? Yes. Okay. Please present. Uh good evening, mayor and commission. My name is Shereice George Deposis. I am presenting uh an amendment to an ordinance for an amendment to chapter 3
of the code of ordinances uh purchasing section 3.5 for public private partnerships. Uh an overview will be quick. An overview of this amendment is to
um amend this ordinance to be in alignment with the new house bill that was passed uh in 2024. Um it changes the unsolicited proposals
uh process to allow uh flexibility for municipalities. Um overall it uh streamlines the statutory pathway to evaluate and adopt unsolicited proposals uh from the private sector. Uh it
safeguards uh and includes public hearing and uh the FAR publication to ensure transparency allowing for the flexibility and procurement. Um it's a tool to speed up the process for uh infrastructure development and um
but it does not preclude us from doing a full solicitation. So we want to update our current code um to be in alignment with the uh state of Florida statutes. Any questions? Okay.
For public comment. Okay. Madame Clerk, can you open up the floor for public comment on this ordinance? Yes. Good evening. The floor is now open for public hearing. Please speak only on this subject matter that is before the commission. Do we have any speakers?
Good evening everyone. My name is Mubarak Kazan. This from what I understanding of this is one of the most corrupt one of the most corrupt legislation ever coming out from
Tallahassee. Let me repeat. one of the most corrupt legislation ever coming out from Tallahassee. This is like me being a developer or whatever. I walk around the city like a prey in the night and I
see an open land like the tennis courts and I say, "You know what? I'm going to propose to build highrises here." And then I come to the city. I I want to build highrises. This is unsolicited proposals.
And then you go ahead and you build it or the water plant, our water plant. This would open up so much of vulnerability for public private partnership. We fought like cats and dogs to bring this
water plant back in house and a investor like me can go and hey I propose I'm going to help you guys with some um something at the water plant but I need a stake in that and you would
have no other alternative but to go ahead and compromise our bread and butter the water to get into bed bad I'm saying bed
with this unscrupulous investor just like what we did with the Mitchkan Park we split it down half for a private guy he came with the exact same thing unsolicited proposal
and Mayor Mitchkan actually threatened the other mayor at that time and I'm going call that name. But he says, "If you do this, I'm going I'm going to run for office again. I I do not know my chances, but I'm going to run for office to put you
out from office." And what they did, they went ahead, but the caveat was that they would not change the name from Patricia Michigan Park. And that is why they had the name there. But this year, our half our library compound is gone
because of this unsolicited proposal that we've had in the past. Half the library. And what they're trying to do now is take over the library and kick it away. Actually, the other um people before they were like in bed
to get rid of the library back in 2017, but things happened in 2018 that is that that prevented them from doing that. This unsolicited proposal, you tell me it come from Tallahassee,
I would believe you because they're full of it. Thank you very much for having me. Any other speakers? None's come forward, Mr. Mayor. All right, we have a couple of um um
well, Commissioner I mean Commissioner Sue was Let's close it. No, no, she Huh. Oh, yeah. Uh closing public comment. Commissioner Sue motion. She wanted to speak on Commissioner Sue. Okay. So, um I was reviewing the the statute and I think there's a couple of
things that are missing in there. Um looking at uh I think we're this one is 255.065. Uh there's like section one I six about qualifying project determinations.
There's also another reference point called um 2A. I'm going down the list, but basically there's like a lot of things that are missing from the statute and I'd like to incorporate those into our ours, you know, into ours and to
have it complete. So that way we're not skipping any of that. We have an an ordinance, let's see, there's there's financing and incentives, right? There's um the public hearing comments, the ownership and contract flexibility,
making sure that you know we also retain the ownership um providing for commercial leases etc. Also there's a requirement for independent cost benefit analysis. Um, the other one is about um specifying
pricing financial terms and uh I can send you this in a in an email for the correction if you'd like. Anyway, clarification of also discretion to pursue competitive. I think that um
so to my colleagues I I'm I'm going to disclose something with you that is uh quite worrisome for me. I think that our city has been plagued by a lot of um bad deals that we have made. There's um Mr. Kazan mentioned a lot of
things. I am very worried about that. But I wanted to disclose something and um this is a little uneasy because uh I was recently contacted by an individual who I consider a friend. um is not a registered lobbyist offering to
coordinate a meeting with me and a firm called AECOM regarding a public private partnership to modernize the water city plant. Um I was informed that the mayor and some commissioners have met with them already
and this outreach really worried me. As soon as I was reading this, I realized like this actually should go through the front door, which is either procurement or the city manager's office. So I conducted my own research and um public records including uh the office
of inspector general reports and media investigations and I found that there's a this is a pattern that AECOM usually does which is informal coordination hiring of politically connected intermediaries and non-transparent negotiations on major public contracts
in Miami date county and other jurisdictions. While I don't presume that this is their intent, these patterns raise a serious concern when mirrored here in North Miami Beach. Importance of the transparency is that we have this statute that allows us to solicit and not and unsolicited
proposals, but I strongly encourage that our our P3 ordinance includes require solicitation. The option from the statute allows us to have unsolicited, but I think we should have solicited if
we want it to be competitive. If we want the best for our residents, I think we should open this out and offer solicitation. Um, I think we should adopt higher standards for all P3s and make sure that NMB is getting the best deal and getting
the best option. Uh, at this time, I'd actually like to motion. I move that the commission direct the city attorney and the clerk to conduct a full legal and ethic review of AECOM's recent outreach and any activities.
Determine whether any violations occurred under local, state, county lobbying and ethics and or procurement laws. Identify whether any city officials participated in undocumented or improper vendor meeting. Refer any
findings to Miami date commission ethics uh and the office of inspector general report findings to the commission in 30 days effective immediately. I'd like to also suspend all city business engagement with AE and its affiliates including meetings, negotiations, and
new project proposals until review is complete. Should the investigation confirm improper conduct, ethics violations, and back channel procurement activities, the the commission shall consider a permanent prohibition on entering into any contract with AECOM or
allowing them to participate in future solicitations. I also want to develop a city policy or ordinance regard requiring that all future unsolicited P3 proposals be routed through the city manager's office for initial vetting. No
P3 shall move forward unless it is formally and publicly solicited un regardless of a statutory minimums. All vendor meetings regarding procurement be publicly noticed or officially logged to ensure transparency and fairness. And in
closing, this is not personal. I think it's about public trust. It's time that NMB lifts ourselves out of this cloudy, murky area and bring everything to light. Our infrastructure, we had lost it once. I remember the statement that
was said by our mayor. We lost our water plant once. We don't want to lose it again. We don't want to have issues where we are we're running into a position where we lose control of infrastructure. And um let's take this opportunity to
make sure that NMB stays transparent. Do I have a second? For the record, this commissioner sitting right here never being heard of or met with a con icon or whatever it's called. And I'm I'm almost offended that you're
making an accusation. I said some commissioners. Okay. Well, maybe you should name names because sometimes some could be me or the one next to me or the one next to you or or you for that matter. So, no, I did not meet with them or
speak to them or know who they are. Excuse me, if I may bring some clarity to what you said. Um first off if you notice that the resolution or the ordinance rather um is for receiving,
accepting and evaluating. So it's just a section of the process as it exists for the state statute in our current code. They do come through the city manager. They have to be vetted. um that is a process under the cone that's
very hush hush because we have the the autonomy to say that we don't want to move forward. So that process has not changed through this amendment or our current code. Now this amendment is simply highlighting the sections of the
state statute that we want to formally adopt to be transparent. This does not negate the fact that we can always uh go out to bid and that is something that the city manager, myself, the attorneys review to see if that's the best course
of action. Typically, that is depending upon the nature of the project. Now, one of the things that we are clear in um the amendment as with the state statute is the process of evaluating public purpose. That is the most important thing. And that isn't just oh does it
look good? Can we use it? But it really looks into everything, you know, who's going to take advantage of it, the community benefit, the cost. Um we look at our our um comprehensive plan, how that um weighs into our green space. All
of these things come into play and are evaluated and not just in house. They're evaluated by a third party that the um that the proposer is paying for. We set that price based on what the market is.
So we are not taking this lightly. This is just to not only uh refresh our current policy which is dated but to um uh put some more teeth into the process so we are clear on what happens. And so again this is just a
section of it. The other sections about the the receipt and the review and the financials and the comprehensive and the interim that doesn't change because that is statute and that has never changed. the process that we're trying to amend and bring some clarity to. It's just the receipt, the accepting, and the
evaluation. And then we determine what we're going to do moving forward. If we're going to solicit, if we're going to um do the the meetings that that are going to be outlined here, it goes posted on the FAR, um which is which is state statute, which hasn't changed
either. We also have the commission has the autonomy to put it out on the FAR or put it out to bid for 21 to 120 days. So we have even more time to do that. But I think we put less time than that. Is that correct? No, in we that's that's the law.
That's the law. Yes, that's the law. uh it says 21 to 120 and it gives us the freedom to do a certain amount of days and then I think I read somewhere in the in our ordinance that was 30 that the 30 days is to for the proposer to pay us to evaluate if we if we choose
to move forward they have 30 days if we say hey after they do their um the the initial uh administrative fee if we say hey this is pretty extensive we we we like it a little bit we want to see where this goes we set a fee based on what the market is and we'll be
leveraging a competitively bid contract to do that. We won't just go out and pick a firm. We'll be leveraging an existing competitively bid contract through our CCNA. Okay. I just wanted to bring a bit of clarity up to the whole process. This is just a
section that needs to be amended and put more teeth in it and transparency for us all. And so I also included um kind of a checklist. We're going to go through and make sure that all of those sections are done. the transparency, the public comment, um uh the the payment, all of those things have to be done.
Yes. The confidentiality which is in there that all of that has to be done before we even decide to move forward. And if a bid it if a bid it is a bid it is, we'll do that. Okay. And are we requiring that it's solicited or not? It it depends on the need and that comes
from us having the conversation. Uh the public purpose, it comes from um the cost. It comes a lot of things come into play before we make that determination. You know, some things are so sensitive that we don't want to even get in bed with a firm. We don't want to go that
route. We think that a bid because the market is hot in a certain area or we think that it's more um uh viable for us to look at multiple uh multiple proposals, most multiple developers kind of like we're doing with
the um with the redevelopment of the tennis center. we that that was not, you know, over the years people have been vying for that property, but we went out to bid. We followed the state statute, went out for a two-phase approach. We had a kickoff yesterday to um
Commissioner Turnoff's point, and that's going out to bid. We'll get those proposals back, the the designs back in the next 30 days. Okay. You want me to clarify that? Yes. Yes. Sorry. Okay. Remember, no, no, no, no,
no. Not a ribbon cutting. Um, remember we we pre-qualified seven firms. Yes, we did. And so over this time that I know it's taken some time, but we've kind of been back and forth, you know, with legal and the county with some things. We can't just dive, you know, face forward into a
project of this nature. So now we've brought those seven firms back. We dust them off. We we had a whole two, three hour meeting about what's this next phase. the designs we want. We talked about our uh the c the community survey that we put out. We had that information
for them so they can see. We talked about the surveys, what the pe what the residents really want, what they don't want, the community benefit. We stress community benefit. We stress small business involvement. All of the things that you guys have been championing for. We did that yesterday. Yeah. Monday.
But why don't we know it? Well, well, this was this was for, you know, just the theward. No, but we had didn't I know? No, we No, we sent that in a in a in a memo. I knew about it.
I knew about it. The the date did not to to that point. The date did not, but the process. And so, we're we're going it's happening. Okay. So, let me just put on the record that I didn't speak to anybody about the
water plant or that particular issue about the water plant. I did not. So, let's make that clear. Or Icon or Yukon. I don't none of the or acorn. So, um again, I apologize. I I found these last three things that I didn't
have a chance prior to talking to to the manager with my um process that I go through for the agenda review. And I just want to there's just minor things here so I could bring them up. And I I have to say um when it comes to
this um particular ordinance, I think because we can't afford some of the recreational and some of the needs of the city, we can't afford to build the millions of dollars it cost
today, then unfortunately we have to go out and partner. So I I find this to be an excellent avenue to do that because at the very end the commission has got to say yes or
no. If you don't want it, they can't do it. The commission has to vote on it. So under 2B, it says submit an application fee in the amount estimated by resolution of the city commission. So
do we do that before? So our how do we determine that? How does the city commission vote on that? Um, our current code has a an amount of $5,000 which is not at all feasible for that
undertaking. So once this is passed or maybe we can establish that in the interim, we can, you know, pose a new administrative fee. You know, we've done some research and some market re some market research of the area and a minimum of 25,000 is is really feasible
to get started. So, let's put under B a comma. I'm going to make a motion to submit an application fee in the amount established by resolution. Hold on. Hold on. There's already a motion. Does nobody second it? This is to amend. No, I'm making a motion to amend.
There's a point of order as to it, but when you recognize, okay, the commissioner was recognized. She has the privilege to move to amend the main uh body or ordinance on first reading. Right. I'm making a motion to amend the
submitted application fee in the amount established by resolution of the city commissioner comma to be brought forth an amount at a later date. I don't want to leave it open to when I make that motion. Do I get a
second to do that? The chair has for the second. Okay. But chair wouldn't call yet. Can I It's not going to So, we had a motion to second to amend to include that the amount of the application fee. It's asking for us, Mr. Mayor, while you
were out. It's asking for um the amount of money of a fee to be established by the commission, but it doesn't say when. I said was it before they brought a project. So, I want to just put a comma there and say to be brought forth in a resolution later.
Yeah. Move to you have to vote on discussion and vote on the amendment. Let's vote on the amendment itself. Say I I I Okay. Okay. The next thing is um I circled publish the written public
interest determination in the Florida administration register at least seven days before entering into agreement. I don't know what the Florida registration administration register is, but I just want to make sure somebody's going to take care of that because it has a time
limit of seven days. So, do we put registration by somebody? Should we add by who it's going to be done? We can. That would be by by the the procurement department. I make a motion to amend it adding comma
by the procurement department so we can hold somebody responsible for the 7-day deadlock. Second. I I I Okay. And there's one last one. It says under D under I don't know what number D is. Under D of three, it says
Oh, I'm Yeah, it says professional review pursuant to blank blank blank. If the proposal involves architectural engineering or landscape design services, the municipality must obtain a professional review by licensed expert
to ensure compliance with quality, safety, substantiability, and functional requirements. Should we add, comma, if needed? It'll always be needed. Yes, it always needs it. It's infrastructure.
Okay. I didn't know because it's under already a proposal. then we don't need to do that. And um it also says under um two little eyes 30 days has elapsed since the close of the proposal period.
An unsolicited proposal is exempt for no longer than 90 days after initial notice by the responsible public entities acceptance of a proposal. It's right in there or rejection of a proposal. Okay. Thank
you. That was it for that one. Excuse me. Commissioner Sue, can you spell the name of that company again? I'm Is it It's a E and then C O M. But one word. One word. A E O N. That's the company that came to solicit
like to to talk to me about um a potential project. Madam cler, I mean madam may Mr. City, can we ask for can did you ask for a second on my uh Well, as a point of order, Mayor, first of all, There does have to be a second.
That's you know the chair asks for that. But before you you move to that even let me just point out that um although we rarely invoke something called single subject rule um the item that we're that's before us
doesn't have that is first reading of an ordinance that's not even germanine to yeah there has to be not only some Germanity but there were two things at least. Now, I I I don't have a written copy of it. I haven't seen it or heard about it in advance, but I heard two
things. One of them has to do with an investigation of a particular company and its practices countywide. And I don't think I got everything. A second thing had to do with uh the method by which we will conduct some kinds of
procurement, not necessarily gerine to this ordinance. So those are at least two separate things that really can't be contained in any kind of a single motion notwithstanding that they're not gerine here. But I I as to the second one is
procurement. I mean whether that's a discussion item for the future or something that can go on. But on the first thing I just would like to go on record as to the so-called investigation.
Anyone who's familiar with the recent history of North Miami Beach over the last 10, 15, 20 years has seen that there have been times when a so-called internal investigation
was launched often under the opaces of a city attorney and I think it's not a surprise to anyone to say that some of those cases were unwarranted,
unauthorized, politically motivated, weaponized, or abused. I have a policy about that. We are not an investigative agency.
I'm not a prosecutor. I've never been one. The city attorney's office lacks the tools that investigators use. We don't subpoena people. We don't drag people in and demand statements from
them. Um, I don't think that the city attorney's office is equipped for that kind of investigation. Notwithstanding that I've seen it done in this city wrongly on many occasions. My policy is
there are bodies that do those investigations and have the tools and the training and the background. Like I said, I've never been a prosecutor. There is the Miami Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. There is the
office of the inspector general. There is the Miami Dade County States Attorney's Office if there's criminality involved. And my personal policy, I mean, I'll look, I work for you. And if I'm directed to do something, I
must do it. But my policy is if there are allegations that someone is acting unethically, improperly, or illegally, I'm happy to make the referral. The person who believes there's something wrong can make the referral. I'm
certainly happy to pass it along to the proper investigating authorities, but I don't want to get into this tit fortat that's been in this city. It's called weaponization and I don't want to be any part of it.
If there's a problem, let's send it to the people who have no stake in this city who are not frankly directly answerable to you on the deis that are independent and that conduct can conduct
a proper investigation. Um to to your point, um city attorney, everyone has the ability to reach out to the county ethics commission, to the ca to the county state attorney, to the uh attorney um oi oi or the the um ag if
you want to go that route. There's many of them. But to use city resources because you believe a certain thing without that to me seems if directed if directed I'll make that referral d myself. Yeah. Well let that person if somebody although some you're correct
anybody can do that. I don't mind making the referral, but I I just don't choose to have our office because inevitably someone will say, "Well, you're just doing this because somebody or some group on the commission told you to do
it." That's not what we do. No. And and like I said, this has happened in the past, you know, and without people being fully informed, I think everyone are everyone up here are adults. they know who to contact. um you
can refer them to whoever they want to refer you want to refer them to because they're a very admired invest in investigative arms that can go and also look this is another thing and they're independent and they're independent right I will say this I've seen a lot of things um and you pointed out to the
fact of how the past has been you know in the past how your office has been weaponized and and what have you and I city attorney's office well the city attorney's office I'm sorry the city attorney's office in the past that's happened a bunch of times Right. And and I think Commissioner Smith remembers how weird it got when
certain people had that ability or like when the rabbit gets the gun type of situation and it got like it was very acrimonious. I don't want to I think our city is trying to move to a more like a more forward focus. If you have an allegation, go to the authorities.
Nobody's stopping you. You have every right like any other citizen. Those that's why those offices are there. But to to elude of any to elude to something and then say I want to then use resources to back that up is not I don't think that's the proper course. I don't think that's the proper course at all.
We got a lot of things we got to worry about that's on this agenda. Um this wasn't gerine to the subject. This wasn't by no means. And I want to just move forward with the with the ordinance because like I said it's 11:28. I want all the questions.
All right. So I have a um All right. So, I got a I got a a motion in a second based on an ordinance as amended by Commissioner Smith. Excuse me. Madam, hang on. I know you've been you and the attorney have been speaking for a while and I'd like to say something about that. So, I understand
what his stand is about, you know, we not wanting to weaponize anything against anyone, especially anyone against on this day. I am assuming that whoever had spoken to AECOM may have not known that this was not appropriate to
do. Now, if they are proposing something now, the if you if you do your research on this, the Miami date I has had several reports of this type of action and I do not want our city to get involved in that because it became a
mess. And this is the reason why I'm asking mainly it doesn't have to be an investigation. Can we suspend anything until we decide on what we're going to do with our P3 so that we can, you know, in in this ordinance once we decide on
that then we can suspend any action that is going to happen about it. That's what I'm asking. What's the not that they're willing to do it or anything? If somebody approaches you to tell you, I want I want you to know I'm buying the statue. I'm in it. I'm buying
the Statue of Liberty. If somebody approaches you, you have the right to say, "Nice you've met you. You're crazy." I mean, what where's the And just because they said they spoke to somebody doesn't actually mean that they No, that's what I'm saying that it has no effect to anybody else. What I'm
trying to say is that like I don't I I've been reviewing the practice of this company and I'm raising a red flag to the res to to the they as my colleagues here to can we possibly put a suspense on it anything that they want to I mean I'm sure they're listening I don't know if
they are most likely yes okay so that being okay since parliamentarian what's happening no no right now right now we have a we have a motion in a second um I'm going to call call we have a motion second to call the question and I also had a motion it wasn't seconded Now, do I have a second for my motion?
The mayor requests for that, not the indiv um to to procurement. Um as as it relates to the um to the uh to the tennis center and um does this have any a retroactive effect on on that
conversation or No. No. Okay. Just wanted to make again this still we can still solicit through this. Okay. This this doesn't stop solicitations. Okay. So on the So the trajectory that the tennis center is on currently continues, right? Without a problem.
Sure. Just make Thank I just wonder why would we suspend this? It won't have nothing to do I know. I know. But I'm not that's not happening. There's not a there's not a there's not a second. If the motion is proper, you call for a second. If you rule the motion non-Germanine, it's not gerine. It's not gerine. It's
not gerine. It's out of order. So that being said, I have a motion in a second. Madam clerk, can you do a roll call? Commissioner Sue. Yes. Commissioner Flory. Yes. Commissioner Jean, yes. Commissioner Smith, yes. Commissioner Smuckler, yes. Vice Mayor Shernoff,
yes. Mayor Michael Joseph, yes. It passes 70. Mayor, before we move to the next item, I just want to say on the record, if anyone has a matter that they think requires investigation, bring it. Or if you request our office, we'll make a
referral. Yeah. But we're not an investigative agency. Yeah. Just take Can I just say one thing and I'm going back to Mayor Mishkan and then George Valo that I've sat with. They used to give the telephone number.
Anybody there that wants to call, here's the phone number. Call. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. 100%. Yes, ma'am. Well, look. So, okay. So, to your point, right? Wait, wait, wait, wait. To your point, this is what I was saying. I'm I'm taking a a point of perfect privilege. saw saw a couple of stuff that's coming on this agenda that even
though like because certain people don't know what we've done in the past and I'm I'm going to just pick one item because I know it was on consent. I had no issue with it. No, it wasn't FIFA. It was a state attorney. Now, it was a state attorney was we passed it, right? However, we already have an agreement
with them. We already have it. Wait, right. I wasn't notified. But no, no, what I'm saying is that one thing, what I'll say to the clerk, what I said to the clerk because we need to we need to get a handle on this because um you know, as she pointed out, she did not know about
it, right? I I I saw it as I'm like, "Okay, that's what Commissioner Sue wants to do, but we already have this agreement. We passed it last year. Don't we do it every year?" Yeah, we it's supposed to happen. I don't even know how this conflicts with it. I don't I don't No, we did every year. We do it. We It's a It's a We passed it. But here's the point. We can't know
about everything. We cannot. It's up to us. If you're going to put something on as a resolution, somebody should say, "Missioner, that's wonderful. We already have it. Honestly, we don't need you." I didn't want to just like pull it. Somebody should tell us. Pull it for I didn't want to pull your thing, but No, I didn't. I mean, I wouldn't mind to
pull it if it was actually in existence already. Well, no, we told about that. No, we have a partnership. They They have ability to have it. Yeah. Yeah. We do this every year. We do this every year. So, that's why when you said this, I was when you saw when I saw that Adam, I'm like, "Okay." Okay. And you said you to your to your
point, you said you didn't know. No, but here the part the partnership there's always a partnership between the state attorney's office. My point was that they were going to they needed this so that they could come in and have office hours. Did you? And and I don't
know what that resolution is. I I see what she I see what she's saying. She's mentioning it's similar to what has been done with the tax collector. Exactly. That was the model. If that was the model, if there was something previous it was unknown to me. Well, no, like like I said there there
we have other um I think we have a better we have to look at how we you know document our resolutions in that sense. We're going to we have to do you know job on that. I agree. And because I in the same vein because give me a point because this is important because a lot of uh a lot of
times people are trying to take the lead on certain um items or issues not understanding that we've tackled some of those issues, not understanding that there's law that's tied to those issues county or what or or otherwise. And
there has to be some type of a you know an you know an a check and balance in an education. that's this this does exist because even some of the before like for me when I when I decide to move a piece of legislation I say hey have we've done this before can you look up the can you
look up the history to see if there's anything similar so I won't be reinventing the wheel and I just I mean like a lot of times like we're like there's a lot of things that we've passed and that you know prior commissioners have passed that are still in the books to the point that you know I didn't even know that the vice
mayor was the one that did the whole 12:00 thing but he educated I really didn't. I thought it was just like a decorum type of thing, but this was actually written in the books to say, "Hey, yeah, what did he do?" He passed the resolution saying 12:00. Oh, that's right. Yes. Yes. So, I didn't know that until that
was brought up. Now, when I do write the legislation when it comes to the way we do our processes or whatever, I have to understand that we do have an ordinance that speaks to the fact of how often we speak that I have to take in consideration to the overall. That's why I have to be a
little bit more nuanced. And I ask everybody to understand that you might have a vision, but also understand there might be other things out there that might conflict and will just, you know, will will become a wrinkle moving forward or just become counterproductive. And one of those, mayor, is the
electronic voting system that vice mayor brought to the commission that you he still urges all the time that we should do that might save time. Isn't that right, Vice Mayor? Absolutely. Vice Mayor, that is Look, Vice Mayor, what one thing I will say is that there's a you know, I'm
looking forward to our sunshine meeting because we're going to have it to discuss that issue as well as the um bring it on. I know. I know. Uh as well as the issues as well as the issues tied to our decorum as um as a group as when it comes to recognizing because
Commissioner Smith said something and I want to make this and I and I think that's a good point. she I gave a a a mayoral stuff, but it it shouldn't it should have just been on behalf of the mayor and commissioner like that type of and and I'll take that into consideration for other types of of dis uh distinctions because I don't I want
everybody to feel like this is not I I just thought it was a nice thing and it was cool but I I I respect the fact that she would you know to when we mentioned the the you know celebrating um um the former manager that it she should be a collective
because that was a massive massive win a massive massive win and I was that is something that I don't know I don't know I I'm going. I'm going I'm Can you Okay, okay, Mr. Mayor. Mayor, I'd like to
Mr. Mayor, I'd like to address one thing before we go on. Why is there nothing on our agenda about the job of the new manager going out? No, we already we I think they they they worked out the the um is it
the notice? I I got an email about this is what? Yeah. No, it's being worked out. I got an email and and I gave Where did it go out? I believe it's being worked on. It's gonna be the advertisement is going out. Yeah. And and it's in the actual report.
We Sorry. Excuse me. Mayor and Commissioner, I believe um yeah, procurement um together with HR they sent out um the prior post asked you all um what you like, what you don't like, what what you're looking for. I gave an um so uh respond to that and
then they'll start um moving forward with the uh with the posting. So another two months before we No, no, no. We we we said we have to give it up and then they'll put out the posting. This is Are you still waiting for responses from us? Yeah. Okay. So if we don't respond by um
then we're fine with what we what's being proposed. No, not even the end of the week. By Thursday. If we don't respond by Thursday 5:00 p.m. then that's it. We're not responding and please proceed. Thursday, two days from now. Well, you send it out a week ago. Well, no. Do you do you need additional
time, Commissioner Vice Mayor? Okay. So, so what you Okay. So, Wednesday 5 I've gone a little bit off topic. You've heard some of the direction. I don't want to We'll be here till Wednesday at 5. Wait, but but you you hear the concerns. That being said, if somebody wants to um respond, please do so at the earliest
convenience. Let's Can I go back to the agenda? Sorry. And and madam madam procurement director when you've got and and Mr. HR when you get those before you publish it please run it past me but only after you've got the comments. I don't want to move to introduce resolution number R
2025. Vice Mayor mayor in the interest of being proactive because we have 20 minutes and at least four legislation items including the TPS item and if we don't act on it you won't have any millillage. So, can we extend now 15
minutes? Can we I'll extend for 10. Extend for 10. I'll do the 10 minutes. Uh, do I have a motion? Yeah. 10 minutes just to 15. I say we do it till 12:30 and then Yes, please. All right. 12:30.
Okay. 12 125. Can we just If we do it 12:30, we don't have to talk. All right. So, we'll we'll we'll extend to 12:15 and then you can do more if you need. Yeah. If we need um Do I have a motion in a second? Second. All in favor say I. I. All right. Item 1.5
resolution number R 20225-11 establishing the proposed millage rate. Second. Somebody second. Second. Item 11.5 resolution number R2025-11 establishing the proposed mage rate for
the levying of advalor taxes for the fiscal year 202526 brought by the budget administrator. A resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, establishing the proposed millage rate for the levying of advalorum taxes for the city of North
Miami Beach for fiscal year 202526 commencing October 1st, 2025. the calculated rolled back rate and the date, time, and place for the first and second public budget hearings as required by law. Directing the city clerk and city manager to transmit this
resolution with the pro uh to the property appraiser Miami date county pursuant to the requirements of section 200.065 Florida statutes and the rules and regulations of the department of revenue for the state of Florida providing for implementation and providing for an effective date. This item is brought
again by the budget administrator. It is required by law that the proposed millage rate, the rolled back rate and the amount by which if any the proposed
millage rate is above the rolled back rate must be read into the record as well as establishing those dates. Okay. All right. Good evening. Good evening, Miami Commission, city attorney, city clerk, and uh
and the office of the city manager. I am Sharon Stewart. I'm here to present the maximum millage for fiscal year 2526. So, just a brief um information, we receive our certified value from the
property appraiser on July 4th on July 1st. Sorry, I'm a little tired. All right. And um right now it shows that our um valuation is at $5.7 billion which is an increase of about 6.85%
or $366 million over the pre um current fiscal year. All right. So what I have here is a chart that shows the millage rate. Right now if we actually adopt the proposed millillage at 6.1 we will have four
consecutive years where the millage rate remains at 6.1. Okay. A little history on our debt. So we do have a debt service that we have to pay the proposed the millillage on that and and what it is to basically pay
for our debt um our bonded debt is um.200 2000 0. And this is a number that actually is um basically written in stone because it's what it's necessary in order to pay for the um the debt in
terms of the schedule that we have for the bonded debt that we um that the city issued in 2011. So combined we show that if we recommend and it's adopted the operating millage at 6.1 plus the debt millage at.200
that would mean our total millage for the city for the proposed fiscal year 202526 would be 6.3 mil. Um this is a chart here that represent how the impact would be on a homesteaded
property within the city. So I have it basically set at 300 and 309. So for fiscal year 2425, if we had the um average property, homesteaded property that's valued at
the property appraisers office has assessed value at $300,000. Um based on the 6.1 millillage rate, the property tax bill will be $1,830. Fast forward to fiscal year 2526. If we
keep our millillage at the same, the property value um would increase by about 3%, no more than that if it's homesteaded. And that's basically because that there, you know, Florida has a save our homes amendment where the
um homesteaded property cannot be increased more than 3% in the assessed value. So that would mean that the property that was valued currently at 300 will go to $39,000 and that would be a $9,000 change. So um
the property tax bill would increase by um $54.90 or $4.58 per month. Um so um at basically at the end now I'm recommending and staff here is
recommending as well that the um millage rate for the next fiscal year is at 6.1 is what's recommended and the debt service you know that's um basically set in stone. It's going to be at 0.200. Would you put the roll back
would you put the roll back rate and the increase on the record please? Okay. All right. So, the roll back rate. Yes. Then bring it back, please. This is it. Yeah. All right. So, this chart represents the
roll back rate. Um and the roll back rate um is 5.6914 and that would actually generate the same amount of taxes as it would um for for the fiscal year that we're currently in. So um that with that being said, the
amount of revenues anyway that would be determined on that would would be at what 32.4 million. um that's at the roll back rate but since we're not proposing that we are recommending the 6.1 the amount that
will be generated here would be um 34.7 um at 6.1 mills and the proposed rate is how much higher than the roll back rate can you just put that on the record okay that's it's in the resolution there and I didn't
yeah it's in the resolution I don't have the resolution right in front of Would you mind telling me and I can just say it. Do you have a record? I I I'll put it on the record. The proposed
rate is 6.10 was just said. The rolled back rate 5.6 is five. Well, it's 5 I'm sorry, I'm looking for it here. 5.6914 5.6914.
And the increase is point 0 0.486 mills higher than the rolled back rate. Thank you. So through you, Mr. Mayor. So that means
that we're setting it at between 5.69 and 6.1. You're setting it at 6.1. 6.1, right? So you can lower it. You can lower it from now till the time we vote on it, but you can't go higher,
right? You can lower it to Well, let me qualify that, but you can lower it at the first budget hearing. You can lower it at the final budget hearing. You can lower it to anything you want to, but you're correct to say you cannot go above the 6.100
Z except there are some like very arduous unusual procedures if there was some kind of urgent problem. But basically your answer is correct. You really can't practically raise it above the 6.10, which is the same rate you've
had for four years. Mr. Mayor, if I may, um, whatever, you can lower it. The problem is that that they're working on the budget, and they're going to work on the budget based on what number we say. So, I have a resident that has said, "When are you
giving money back, all the new money that comes in, all the new revenue, when are you giving it back to the city and to the residents? When are you giving it back to the residents?" So, my question always is the same. What happens to the money? Where is the money? I would like
to roll it back, as I said, to the manager to 6.0 because the difference is five $500,000. But but I don't think that it behooves us to roll it back. What I do think behooves us is to pass some legislation
how that money is going to be spent so that our streets could be cleaner and our our signs could be corrected and we have more code enforcement whatever it takes. So if we're going to stick to 6.1 and that's going to be we get $2 million
more two million could we just see what we what happens to the money? Well, what I'll say, wait, wait, wait. M city city city city attorney. Well, one thing I will say is this things um I there just like the county is seeing some headwinds. We will see them
too. We've like I understand there's certain developments. Knock on wood. Thank you um commissioner. Um but like u we've seen certain developments go into bankruptcy. The one off of 19th is going on bankruptcy. We have a couple of developments that Yeah, there's a bankruptcy cell right
there. Why? So, we're looking at some arduous times coming. I want us to be I don't want to, you know, reduce the quality of service. I understand in the budget process we were able to talk more and to figure out what we will do with that with that additional income, but like I don't want us to to to lock us up
because the county and everyone else sees these sees these headwinds and now they're just saying like we're not giving like they've they've cut they've they've already started doing like cuts and how they going to raise like gas tax down to a degree, right? because they they see the shortfall coming. And that
being said, I want us to be, you know, cognizant of that and I don't want us like to tire our feet um given the situation. So, I just want us like I think 61.1 is a is a is is a is a good top level and then we we'll work out with the staff, but I don't want to lose the quality of service at all for the residents. I don't
Mr. Mayor add one thing. She gave a an assessed value of 300,000. When you find houses here that are set for 300,000 that have been sold in the last two years, let me know. There is no such thing. So really, it's $54 per
household. It isn't. It's going to be I mean, where some of the neighborhoods, Sky Lake, Eastern Shores, some of Pwick on the Lake, some of the neighborhoods, they're going to be affected. My neighbor pays $125,000 a year. A year for taxes and he's going to be low
compared to the properties that are being sold now for $6 million. I mean, I would assume that he's a he has a homestead, right? Even with the homestead, what's that 50,000 off? 50,000 off of $5 million. Oh, the three%. No, no, no. But that three No, they
don't get the 3% cap. It goes up now to How does that That was capped. That was changed. That was changed NJ. No. Well, we can't. No, that cap. It has it changed. I don't think so. No, that they have a 3% cap, but it used to be
that they could only charge you 3% more than what you're paying. Not anymore. That was the appraisal% on the appraised value. The taxable value, not the market value, but taxable value up by 3%. What the charges against that
is is a separate issue, but it it's calculated what what's capped at 3% is the taxable value to which the millage is applied. But let me say by law, Commissioner Smith, by law, and you said it right. You set this proposed rate.
Now when you do your budget, you have the privilege of deciding is this money that's generated going to be used to actually drop it or do you invest it in specific services or
improvements that people call for every meeting? The the answer is legislation to say what you're going to do with the money. That's the budget. You have to start thinking about that is the budget. No, but like that. But that's that's the discussion in the budget. So like I I don't want to um
label the point. Uh so I have a motion. So moved. I have a second. The dates just for the record. I I I I want to be sure the dates are read in the record too. I apologize, but the dates that are specified, which have been discussed previously, is that the first budget hearing will be held on
Monday, September 8th, 2025 at 6 p.m. And the second budget public hearing shall be held on Thursday, September 25th, 2025 at 6 p.m. Both at the offices of the city of North Miami Beach in the commission chambers on the second floor.
That's in the record. So, I have a motion and a second. This is a resolution, so it's a voice. All in favor say I. And this one going. Oh. Oh. On the record. So, Madame Clerk. Commissioner Flory. Yes. Commissioner Jean. Yes. Commissioner Smith.
Yes. Commissioner Smuckler. Yes. Commissioner Sue. Yes. Vice Mayor Shernoff. Yes. Mayor Michael Joseph. Yes. 70. Item 11.6. I just would like to add that the U maximum millage rate has to be provided
to the county by August 4th. So that's move to introduce administration. May I May I ask her a question before we proceed? Go ahead. Thank you. So I was I was trying to look um in my emails, but I I couldn't find anything. Are we still
using the cabalero foyer for audit services? No, it's C CBZ. They're consultant. CBiz we're using CBiz is the audit firm. So, and that's been done already because it was due
June 30th. The audit is ongoing. It's not due June 30th. Yeah, the the audit is due June 30th, but it's still ongoing. We haven't met that. I can't I'm sorry, I can't hear. No, no. Let let Commissioner Sla finish, please. No, no. I I I didn't hear him.
My question is, did did we already turn in the I thought the audit was due June due June 30th, but he's saying it's not. No, no, you're correct, Commissioner. The audit is June uh due June 30th. Um but uh we're behind. We're hoping to get that uh done August
uh before before August, late July, August. Um this is uh something that uh we've uh put measures in to fix moving forward. Uh uh we've uh been late um um with submitting uh for the last couple of years. Um so we're taking measures to
uh improve that so it doesn't happen in the future. But uh to answer your uh question directly um you're correct about that. Um but uh we uh we are not ready to submit yet. Has we filed an extension uh commissioner? Yes. You sub you tell
them that basically you're not going to meet the deadline. There's no extension. The rule is the rule and June 30th is the deadline. So for example, last year we submitted it October 14th instead of June 30th. And that's what the domino effect is because we started
very late last year. Um this year just briefly the the city commission approved the auditor's contract December and the auditors didn't get the contract fully executed and didn't start the audit until February.
When did they when did they so they didn't get it when when was uh it fully executed? February 20. So it was it was approved. Wait, why did So, so the fiscal year ends September 2024. Uh, and September 20 uh September 30th
time. Yes. Yes. No, no, no. I may. Okay. I have a quick question. Okay. What's the consequence of us submitting our budget late? The audit, you know, we it's the audit budget.
Sorry. Sorry. Audit. Audit. The audit. Uh the state it's it's a red flag. uh there is a you are basically not in compliance and to be in compliance you have to submit it on time. Uh quite honestly there's other cities also that
they haven't met the deadline too. Uh so uh it depends on what the state is looking at who they going to look at first. Well, you know what I found out? I I don't know if you guys got that email, but they they sent me an email. Doge
sent me an email. Florida Doge. Mhm. the Department of Efficiency. Yes, Florida Florida Doge sent me an email and No, I'm just saying they they it was it was and and I think I don't know if I I forwarded on. Yes,
I did. I did forward it on. Right. What did the email say? Well, okay. No, I mean I would Can you do me a favor and have that email shared um Commissioner when my mayor because I thought it was because a lot I get a lot of these emails as as mayor. They send it to the mayors of the
cities. Yes. But every mayor got a an email from Florida Doge um in regards to um you know them having um like any access. So that that has happened that's currently happening. So
move to introduce resolution number R 2025-112. I I would we'll share we'll share uh we'll share that letter uh with the entire commission. Um thank you. I have a second. So thank you so very much. Seconded. Okay. Item 11.6 resolution
number R 2025-12 approving qualified firm for RFP 2025-18 engineering consulting services for Texas U-turn roadway. This is the Texas U-turn one project with CTS Engineering Inc. sponsored by the chief procurement
officer. Resolution the mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, approving the single qualified, responsive, and responsible respondent to uh request for proposal RFP-2025-018 engineering consulting services for Texas U-Turn Roadway project and authorizing the city manager to
negotiate and execute an agreement with CTS Engineering, Inc. and if negotiations are unsuccessful to resolicit the project. Make the motion to vote. Second. Okay. So, wait. Let let her go through her presentation. The presentation isn't really necessary. It's just some homework on um on Texas
U-turn. But I do want to talk about the solicitation. It it's noted here in the um in the uh memo, but what we're asking for is to negotiate with the single uh respondent. So, we put this out, we
extended it, we got feedback from one respondent. We did go through the motions of course of an evaluation committee that included um the Eastern Shores um HOA member um our community development, our uh public works CIP. So
we did our due diligence in this. We had um closed meetings with the uh to ask questions with the uh engineering firm CTS. We got we that was satisfied. We scored and we felt comfortable to move forward.
in in because we're this has been going on for a while. I requested a proposal upfront. Well, after we went through negotiations because we wanted to see what we're in in store for and the numbers are here. What are they? 100,000. How much? 700.
No. No. Um 700 plus um the PD&E of 1.2 million. So, we're looking at I'm sorry at almost a $2 million project. And this is just to the feasibility and the study, the going back and forth with
FDOT. This isn't the design. This isn't Well, wait. That there's your $2 million. That's two. That's two million. Wait. Two. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Could I I I thought this was um remind Wait, this is I didn't think this I thought it was 700. I thought it was 7. It was in $2
million. The thing is is as they go along, if they don't see that there's possible, they spend $200,000 and they don't see it's possible. My understanding, and the manager was going to check, my understanding is then they're going to stop. You're not paying, you're paying the first phase up
to 700, but you may not pay it at all if they find there's no feasibility. Once that's established there is a feasibility, then phase two is how you go about to get it done for a million. Okay. Okay. So wait wait wait to further clarify my understanding of
this resolution. M George correct me if I'm wrong. This is not the contract that you're approving. This is authorization for procurement to negotiate a contract. That contract would still have to come back to the commission for final approval. So they can negotiate if they
can get the price down, but you'll still see it before it'll be negotiated, but you have to approve it. But but I wanted to put that number out there. So when we No, no, no. Wait, hey. The reason why that's a lot. Whoa, that is that is a lot. And the reason I say this because I've
had to the prior like I I've you know uh I understand the the you know why this has been sought off but there's and I just want to make clear because on the record because there's stuff in our I've seen correspondence that like there was some type of um a study done on in in
this regard initially unofficially and it said what can and cannot be done. I don't know if that study is incorporated into this, but I remember the former manager brought that up to me. And I understand that 700. I'm like, okay, so the 700, that's how I saw it. 700 is the m like was the max as Commissioner
Smith, but I also want to put in there. I mean, I want I want everybody to feel that we've done everything we could have possibly have done. Let me be very clear to to to mitigate a lot of concerns out of out of Eastern Shores. Everything we could have possibly done. That being
said, the the safe the cons the measures in regards to stop gaps, I want that in that in that contract saying like I don't want them to blow past 750. Like have you point if they if if there has to be measures in there that that stop them at certain levels. You understand what I'm saying, Commissioner Smith?
And a few things I just want to quickly say. Number one, his if his taxes are going up $3,600 a year from the 120,000 that he pays or 125,000, they I think people are entitled to something. There's no pull. There's no nothing. But
the big thing is this is a question in my mind of saving lives. Absolutely. It's a question of saving lives. There's no way in an evacuation. There's no way we can and I hope Sunny Isles will join in with us. Well, no, put that in I I guess put some of those conditions as an
like we we we are we're stressing that they they they look into that, but the stop gaps, I would like that to be put on that contract saying like because I don't want it to I don't want them to blow through the I need them to have like um measures or um That's right. If they see a place where need
and that we we are following up with them on those um I forgot what it's not measures kind of offramps kind or off ramps. So, so that is what the So, the first phase is simply the feasibility and you mentioned a a kind of unofficial um study happening in the
past and it was about $700. 700,000 700,000 sorry 700,000 $700 700,000 and so their level of effort came back at $6997. So about 700,000 as well, right? Um that is the off-ramp
after the feasibility. Yay or nay? Well, I I need that to be like what what Commissioner Smith point out. She she will she said it perfectly you it will come back to you for approval. Okay. And let me add if you have anything else
that you are interested in seeing in the contract. I just want those. Please email Miss George or me or both or the manager or the assistant or the deputy and any other thoughts that you'd like to see in
the contract. We can see if those are possible to negotiate and then we'll bring that back to you. But we only have 10 minutes left. I know I don't think we're ready to make a $2 million decision. No, we're not. No, we are not no. We're not going to sit. No, no, no, no. Hang
on. the reason. No, I'll clear I'll clarify a whole bunch of I I don't want to bel I don't want to belabor the point in regards to this item, right? It's gonna come back to us regardless, right? We're not voting We're not voting on it. We're not voting on it officially. And I want everybody in I we're just negotiate and I want everybody in our
great Eastern Shores to know that we've done everything we can to to alleviate some of their fears and see whatever is possible. So, we're only voting to negotiate. That's all we're we're voting to negotiate. Hold on a second already. Yeah. Yeah. Wait a second. Are we voting to negotiate
the question? Are we voting to negotiate to actual Cuz you said there's only one vendor, right? Yes. So, this one vendor is expecting after the negotiation to actually begin the work. Y Yeah. After we come back with the
contract then Yes. still is a $2 million contract potential, right? We're negoti and I also want to know what the funding source is going to be for it. What is the funding source for the $2 million for this study?
Okay, first thing is we're we're asking to request to negotiate. Okay. In the negotiations, we're looking at the number as well and this is the level of effort that goes into it. Even after we say if we come to a good negotiation, we bring the contract back, we move
forward. That that off-ramp is still the feasibility study. After that is done, we still have to come back to see if we're going to move to the next. Also understand we're adding additional me like those measures as pointed to city as you as you mentioned city attorney. So like I said we're adding mileston
we're adding milestones. Yes. That because that 250 that makes sense. Yes. And that and that's a valuable. So please uh when you go into negotiation that's going to be a catchoff. So that being said we have a motion in a second. All in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Opposed.
Wait. Who who opposed? Okay. So Okay. So we it p Did you vote for it or Okay. So it passes now. You have a point of personal privilege on that on the matter on the matter that pass. Yes. On this matter. Before the Can we extend another 10
minutes? We have six minutes left. Six minutes and we've got four items that were pulled from the cons. No, I I I I will extend to to on those four items um till till u 12. No, on those four items till 12 to 12:20
because there there's only four items that we're going to focus 1225. Those four items. Just those four items. All in favor say I. I. Okay. Just just those four um items that regarding resol the ones that were Mayor. Thank you for the remaining legislation. Just the legislation. How about voting on this? Mayor.
Yes. Sorry. Can I also get the appointments? No. Okay. Just on the on we're we're only voting on what are can you name out the four legislation so we just four but I could have miscounted there's at least two items of legislation five
no but we're just voting on four just the ones that are pulled the the legislation in the poll list mayor well no just for discussion from the consent agenda you you need to at least do that that's in those discussion I'm talking about the legislation they're not p no they they were pulling
discussion I'm talking about just the legis legislation Your pleasure is okay. Just just the legislation just for the four pieces of legislation that were pulled. So that being said that are in legislation and the clerk knows that. So that being said, we we passed this particular item
that's all right. So madame clerk, what I what's the next piece of legislation? Put me as a yes on the last vote. Mr. Mayor 11.7. Mr. Mayor, you had given Oh. Oh, yeah. On the on the on the issue. Okay. So, um I think the the city manager was speaking to one of the
residents in Eastern Shores and he mentioned the section 24-170. Did you further explore that? If not, should we um direct the the city attorney to find out if there's something we can do about that? The the community development director
was was in the meeting taking notes and he's uh he's going through the booklet and he's he's looking at all the uh points that uh were brought up. Okay. Yeah, because there there's a chance that we can get the um the developer to fund this. So, it's actually in our code already. So, I
don't um but we're exploring the the possibility Texas. Okay. I just wanted to put that on. Thank you so much. Move to appoint the two appointments. No, we have to do 11.7. The TPS 11.7.
All right. 11.7. Item 11.7. Um resolution uh resolution number R. Well, okay. There was a motion to approve it. Yes. Is there a second, mayor? Yes. We have a second. Yes. Okay. Resolution R 2025-113 resolution the mayor and city commission of the city in North Miami Beach,
Florida, approving the launch of a prior uh pilot initiative temporary protected status community legal support program in an amount not to exceed $75,000 and authorizing the city manager or designated to do all things necessary to effectuate this resolution. Providing for conflict. providing for scriveners errors, providing for severability
subject to budget appropriation availability funds, and providing for an effective date sponsored by uh the hope may commission. Mayor and commission move to approve. Do I have a second? Second. Absolutely. All in favor say I. That's number one. It's in the Wait, wait, wait. Um,
where's the determine who gets it? There's an proposal attached. We put it out. Apparently, it was solicited to at least four law firms. We got one proposal back. Uh, the proposal is actually for 50. So, the 75 has some wiggle room in it because the proposal
attached says that it's amount not to exceed 50. So, you're approving 75 in case the manager would have to come back. It's been approved by you if they're miscellaneous expenses waste any time. Correct. Because you're going to be not in session for quite some time. But the proposal attached is not to
exceed. All right. I'd like to make a a motion to appoint Commissioner Jenny Aljan as vice mayor effective September 1st and appointing Hana Thomas to the commission on aging senior citizens board. I got a board.
I recognize you. I got a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. I. All right. So we we did one. We the next item move to legislation was 911. That's that's the second piece that was move to legislation. It's item 911 from the list. Second piece of legislation. Wait, hold on one second. M Mr. Mayor, I
have personal point of privilege. I have a question for the city attorney. This TPS bill, is this going to put us in any kind of sanctuary city status? No. No. Okay. Thank you for the record. Okay. Item is there a motion on 911?
Yes. We're well this is our this is the second piece of legislation that we have. This was moved to legislation from the specifically. Okay. I have a motion. Okay. So introduce Oh, this was one that was moved to legislation. We haven't hit the pull list yet.
We haven't Yeah, we're only dealing with a discussion. Item 911, resolution number R2025-95, establishing a merchant business association program sponsored by Commissioner Smith. Yes. A resolution of the city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida to establish a merchant business
association creation program to encourage and stimulate economic growth in the city and authorizing the interim city manager to designate funds to pay for grants to eligible applicants for formation and operation of merchant and industry based associations and providing for conflicts for scriveners
areas providing for severability providing for an effective date $6,000 we need just to start the program I make a motion week we make make a motion we both I had pulled an item for a reason. Um okay I wanted to know um how are we working
with the chamber with this that's the first part and I know for economic development we really have just one staffer who's working um economic development that's why a lot of the ARPA items did not fall through because she also had those those dual roles. So,
when we have these additional programs, how how will staff be able to execute that? I wanted to put that on the record because we pay the chamber six $12,000 a year for um for them to do such similar
programming. So, how will that work with what we already have uh existing? This is a different program than the chamber does completely. The chamber, the difference is you have to pay to join the chamber. We're going to pay whether it's whether you do it by location three blocks in a row or
whether you do it by profession. All the radio station owners, all the dentists, they join a association like a homeowners association and they put teeth in their needs. So let's say a radio station needs to have a higher
antenna and they keep getting turned down. They get together all the radio stations. They have a homeowners association. and they come before us together to say this is a need for our industry to go forward and that's what it's all about and I have to tell you
it's a very successful in West Palm Beach is very successful in other communities and we want to start with six different developments and in those six developments um hopefully it'll be successful enough but we want to give each one $1,000 to start
their program and there will be coming before you um application approval for what has to they don't just get the money, they have to show us that they are going to have like quarterly meetings and whatever else is going to be involved on that application. And
it's a good it it's so successful in West Palm Beach for $6,000. I really think we need to push that forward here. The chamber can help us if they want to, but it's a whole different thing with the chamber. And I think we have more even though we only have one staff for
economic development. This is a way to bring in more funds so we can get more staff. And there's several people including administration that are also helping with this. Okay. Um, Commissioner Z,
I mean, it it's a little wobbly to me. I I love businesses. I love the concept, but again, I think that it's not hashed out well, and I wanted to know how is staff going to be really able to manage this student manager. wanted to find out.
Well, I'm very involved and I have my assistant very involved to start to get together. We already are gathering a list of who has liked businesses so we can start to contact them, see who's interested to be the first six and get it rolling. I think it'll stimulate economics in the city.
And what's the is there um does the department have a line item for this moving forward or how are we gonna pay? Uh to your point, Commissioner Jean, the request will be for you to go to to consider an economic development division that's with more staff that' be
capable to manage not just current programming, but also additional um insights that you guys foresee, particularly the Beacon Council, um and the efforts that they're going to be bringing to the city, um initiatives and programming to support workforce
development and training. And so that'll be before you as part of the budget. But in terms of this specific program, um to Commissioner Spence's point, it's really the associations establishing and managing themselves. The application is
simply the process that we oversee. Once they've established themselves and they conduct themselves as their association, we don't really engage in the work but ensure that they have a voice when they come to the city as a group so that we can address certain issues in either
proximities or um based on industries. All right. Thank you. All right. So, we have a motion. Wait, one more question. I'm sorry. 6,000 one time or 6,000 a year? No, one time. All right. Just wanted to make sure. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second.
All in favor say I. I. I. Last piece of legislation which is traffic comic. 9.4. Okay. 9. 9.4 is now resolution number R motion. No. Motion to introduce 9. No. No. It's a traffic. Wait. Wait. We have we done a traffic caling. No.
9.4 was No. No. I need to I want to I need to get I need to work. That's your prep your privilege. I need to do the traffic calming. Please. That is That's 9.13, right? Which one is 9? Which one's the traffic coming? 913. 913. Please. I want to introduce that that that was introduced 9-13
and we'll finish with that. Yeah, there second I have a no 94 9.4 we tabled. Yeah. Yeah. But like let's Can we just let's do this one we're doing is there a second to 93? Yes. Second. So this is item 913 a resolute 9.13 resolution
R2025-97 authorizing public works to address urgent traffic concerns by implementing certain trafficcoming measures sponsored by the interim public works director resolution city commission of the city of North Miami Beach Florida to authorize the public works department to address urgent traffic concerns by
implementing certain traffic calming measures and providing for conflict sever uh scriven error severability providing for effective date okay I make the motion you have you have the last two minutes you sure you want to take some time because I know this is something you've been really focused on as well as everyone else. But you No, I think this is so important to get
the ball rolling that we take control here. I make the motion to 1225, but I agree to forward just four items and that's that's it. So go on. I made the motion because I think that we need to have the control here in the city. I make the motion and I hope it passes unanimously right away. All
right, David for uh please do take this is Yeah, you have your time. Go ahead. Last time anyway. Okay. So, I know I I just wanted you guys to explain this on the record. A lot of our residents are freaking out about this emergency where the city can put it in wherever they want, whenever
they want. So, please like explain that so that we can be at ease with it and we can move this forward faster for the residents who really need it as well. Thank you. Absolutely. Go ahead. you have your time. This is the last time anyway. Karly Mckenry, interum director of public works. Um, so real quickly, this
is only in the emergency situations where we have a dire need for this because um, as we've stated earlier, there's no way around it. We have to follow Miami Dade policy and we have to go through Miami Dade. So, what this does is these documents once you approve them, we actually still go to the border
county commission, right? Because we got to adopt them. So what we're doing now, we're going to update our interlocal agreement with them and it gives us the right away now to take these resolutions and action against where there's hightra accidents. Um the trafficcoming manual gave us criterium for rating um where we
need traffic calming measures and where the scoring reaches 2.0 or more which means high you know high possibility of fatalities, high accidents, um more traffic volume, more speeding um above the the speed limits for residential areas where schools are. So those all
indicators that suggest that we now can move forward with um the traffic calming measures um in light of the fact that we are unable to get two3 consensus. Basically the commission intervenes and says um this is an unsafe area and we have to implement traffic caling
measures. Thank you. Thank you. Um so did we vote we voted for it? Right. Made the motion to vote on it. All in I have a second. Right. All in favor say I. I. I. The last item which is 159 because we're going to the county tomorrow on a lot of stuff. So we need I like to get
this last item. Yes sir. Item 9.23. 159. Is there a motion to introduce? Yes. So move to introduce. Second and second. Okay. I resol it item 9.23 resolution number R 2025-107 expressing opposition to the proposed Miami date county 159th Street expansion
project. Uh sponsored by Commissioner Smith and Commissioner Sue. Resolution. The mayor and city commission of the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, expressing opposition to the proposed Miami Day County road winding project along Northwest 159C raising concerns related to land use, public safety, environmental impact, community
preservation, urging Miami date county to halt further action in the project until full community input is obtained and impacts are um adequately addressed. Providing for transmitt, providing for conflict, preventing scriven service, providing for severability, providing for defect. All right. Do I have a motion? A second.
Wait, hold on. I this is why I p pulled it off because we have some additions and some corrections, but I'd like to get the consensus of the commission and my colleagues first. So, um first of all, there was a change along the northeast northwest um to add northeast and north northwest
because this is the whole street. They strike through until full community input is obtained and impacts are to county solutions. just cross out that whole that line. And then if you're looking at county solutions to community
concerns, adequate addresses and reflected in the long range transportation plans, those are additions. And then um the other addition is whereas the county assured the the city of North Miami Beach and
residents that the roadway will be maintained with configur with configuration of two through lanes and a center turning lane. Also, the addition is whereas the county intends to acquire portions of the cityowned property to
facilitate the roadway expansion and the city of North Miami Beach does not interpret this this acquisition as an endorsement of the five lane configuration through residential areas. And the final one is whereas
as as of the date of this resolution, the county has not yet amended long range transportation plan to reflect this modification and the rest is the same. All right. I want to also add on section two that we added the wrong the word original.
The city commission hereby expressed a strong opposition to the original proposal. It's fixed. I know, but I wanted the public to know because she read in all the other things. Okay. All right. That being said, all in favor say Okay. Um, a motion to pass to amend.
Motion as amended. Motion as Yeah. After amendment first. Motion to amend. Do I have a motion to amend? I'm second. I have a first and a second. All in favor say I. I. Do I have a motion to vote um to uh
approve as as amended? Motion. I move second appro. All in favor say I. I. I. All right. So now I'm going to we're going to close out the meeting. We're going to move everything to the next meeting. All in to adjourn it. All in favor do I have a motion to adjurnn? Next meeting. So move.
September 8th. Yep. All in favor say I. I. Motion to journ. Thank you so very much folks. So we do have a budget meeting. Yeah, we have several budget meetings. Yes.