here yet because our fiscal year does end for a little break, right? That's that's pretty good. Um, so we want to welcome everyone. We are working. No, no, we we always work. You know, holidays, um, no matter what, that's what we do. Is that Clark
up front? Hey, Mr. Clark, how you doing? See Phil up here? The whole principal. We got everybody. The North Miami, you know, Miss McDonald, you you don't you don't play. You bring you bring out the best of us and all of us. Again, good evening everyone. Welcome to our regular
North Miami meeting. It is July 8th, 2025. Um before we start our meeting, I would let let's um that's so much we have on the agenda and and and this is our last meeting before
we go on break until end of August. So, we'll be gone for a couple weeks. Um and again, we have a couple of presentations. So, we will start with Madame um Madame Clerk, roll call and then we'll get to the pledge of allegiance by Major Paul from the North Miami Police Department.
7:01 p.m. Mayor Desameé. Yeah, me too for the click. Mayor Desome here. Vice Mayor Timothy here. Councilman Burns here. Councilwoman Estran present. Councilman Charles present. Mayor, you have a quorum to proceed.
meeting. Please, please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. And now we're going to have the invocation by Pastor Sour. Is she? And if Pastor Sour not here yet, anyone from the North Miami Police Department could definitely She's here.
Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. There we go. I was actually looking for the wife. Pastor, how you doing? Good evening everyone. Good evening. Special greeting to Mayor J and the
members of the council. We have a full house of us. Full house. We have a full house tonight. My goodness. Wonderful things are going to be discussed tonight. Father God, in the name of Jesus, we thank you for this day. We thank you for
tonight. We thank you for everyone. I thank you for everyone that's here. I acknowledge you as the one in whom we live and move and have our being. Which means you're the one in whom we count for
everything that we have, for every thought that we think, for every decision that we make. Lord, many issues will be presented tonight for discussion. May your wisdom be imparted to those that will be that will present the issue
and the responses to those issues will be honorable to you and benefit our city and its citizens. We thank you for tonight and it is in the great name of your son Jesus that we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Please um let's continue remaining
standing for one moment of silence for the victim of the horrible flood horror of that happened in Texas earlier this week. Also, Mr. Mayor, while we're taking a moment, we send our condolences to David Lawrence Jr. and his family. We
have a school named after him, our namesake K8 School. He lost his twin eight-year-old daughter, granddaughters, Hannah and Rebecca. Their sister Harper, 14 years old, survived.
There are 130 people dead in the flooding and more than 161 individuals missing. Thank you. We do have a lot of prayer we do need nowadays. Thank you so much, Councilman. And for the victims in
Texas, we have a full agenda, but madame manager, any addition, deletion, amendment, deferral to the agenda. Yes, we do. We do have um items K and I that have been requested to be added to consent. Perfect. When is hold on
and then on K. Hold on. You say K is which which item K is this is for a prior, right? And then grant. Yes. And I I is
is a code designation from 2014 that we missed. Anything else we could add? Not not on consent, but we are also adding on tab D and tab you you taking out. You said I'm adding as a co-sponsor by her
request. Got you. Councilwoman Estimate Urban on tabs D and F. D and F. Um, vice mayor, what is what's the le um the the funding for Kagney Park. Okay. And F is a $400,000 for the um
Okay. Thank you. For the flood. Thank you. Which flood is this? We hear flood. Okay. Well, they'll explain. Okay. Thank you. So, Mr. Attorney, are we set? Yes, Mayor. The agenda is set. You may proceed. Awesome. Thank you, sir. We're going to go down for a couple of presentation. We
do have a lot. And the quicker we do it, the the quicker we're going to go, but in in different orders. We we'll have the North Miami students um from the North Miami Educational Foundation scholarship followed by you'll do park who um and yeah, you have your own. So C
council member you could do park and um office of the year um vice um councilwoman and then council councilman will you know we could do we could do the things together with the what they call it the the north Miami education since we are educators
right council yes Good. Good evening everyone. It gives us a great pleasure and honor. We want to welcome Miss Andrea McDonald who is the staff contact to our North Miami
Education Foundation which is a committee aside from all that she does in the city. I I do want to say this is not about Miss McDonald, but the work that she does is really commendable, especially at the she retired
three time. And the minute that I became mayor, I begged her. I said, "Miss McDonald, please, you can't do this." She said, "I'm retired." I said, "Please, please." So, we made a deal, made a pack. So, she's here. We're going to say, "Thank you." And for two years, I know. and every time she's keeping me
up to what we do and she does such an amazing job even when she was at the city manager's office this is something that she's passionate about and the group of people from FIU vice president here to Mr. Clark. So, we got principles here. We got everyone as we welcome and
do what we do for our kids in North Miami as educators and I know from Madame Clerk, from Councilwoman Marius Irving, Councilwoman Vice Mayor Cassandra Timothy and Councilman Kevin Burns, we truly truly appreciate the work that the board does with our kids
because you guys are preparing the future of tomorrow for us. With that being said, I'm going to allow Councilman France Charles because he's much younger and I don't have my glasses. Yeah, please. Yes. Yes. She's going to come.
Oh, you're going to do it. That's even better. So, call her. Call her. All right. Uh, Miss uh McDonald's, you know, um Z4, you know exactly how we do it. um just uh give you the mic in a in a minute, but I just want to say thank you to each and
every one of you and to our parents and uh I have a few uh bosses in here. I have Miss uh Daniel uh whom I had the pleasure to work uh with at uh Lindsay Hopkins. Uh not only I was a student
there, but also a faculty member. Um Miss Daniel, I just want to say thank you. this thing um so that people will see you because come on now uh you know on heels um and of course we have um Dr. Napoleon in here whom I had the pleasure
to work with at uh our lovely um turn and he's here doc just stand up and uh be recognized and um among all um lastly uh Mr. Lucian on the other side. I've
been working with them um side by side at Miami Central Senior High for the past 16 years and going into 17 years. Mr. Lucian, please stand up. All right. Thank you. So, um with that, uh Miss D4, I'm just going to pass the mark and then
you got the mic. Go on. Good evening. This my name is Andrea McDonald. As they said before, straw Um, my board members, I would like for them to come up as well. Um, Clark
Reynolds, Steven Maul, Niece, Daniel, Tatia Philippo, Dr. Napoleon. I don't know if Major Mock is here. No, he said he would. Okay, he would try to make it. All right. Okay. First of all,
the North Miami Educational Foundation has been in existence since 2012. We started the scholarship program in 2014. So now we are in 2025. So that lets you know how long we've been working hard. We had an investment of $750,000 from
Olita Partners because of Biscane Landing, which is now Solomia. And um we have invested those funds. Clark, our shrewd businessman, has invested those funds. We started out with 750. When I looked at the report
this morning, we had 800 and some thousands. So, thank stock market. So, this this what we do is use that as an endowment to give the students and right now we're giving $60,000 a year. Uh we have like 15 students. They get
$4,000 each, 2,000 in the fall, 2,000 in the spring. So, with that, I'd like to say that the first one is Veronica Brooks. She's from her school was Dr. Michael Crop. And now she's at Florida Southern College studying music.
Yes, Veronica. What's that? Yes. Yes. Please help. I guess in alphabetical order. Okay. My next my next student is Rebecca Bianime. Rebecca is new to the scholarship
programs uh high school Miami Northwestern. She's going to Howard University studying biology premed and she wants to be a pediatric surgeon. All right. She she's on she's in the district next
to D4. Okay. My next student is well Nyla Crawford. She had to leave. She had class. Uh she's from ATM Alonzo and Tracy Morning. She's at Miami Day College studying biological science biotechnology
concentration. The next student is Joshua Deodon. Doc Joshua comes from Doctor's Charter School, Miami date college now studying civil engineering. Next student is Sophia Garson. She comes
from North Miami Senior High and she's at Bellum Bellamine University studying finance and accounting. Berlin Laraveville, I don't know if she made it. I don't think she Oh, Berlene. Okay. She's from North Miami Beach
Senior High. Now she's at Miami Date College. Berlin. Berlin studying speech pathology and aiology. My next student is the third student in the program. He's a brother to the other two brothers that we graduated is Cody
Lucian. He's from Manior Edward Pace High. He's a student in Miami Day College studying mechanical engineering. Y Ruth Val Saint I don't know if she made it. Ruth Ruth but anyway Ruth is from
Turner Techch. Her sister also was a scholarship recipient. Uh Ruth is at Florida&M studying healthc care management. Now those are returning students. We had seven students that have been receiving the scholarship and they can receive it up to four years.
It's renewable as long as they are an undergraduate student and they meet the criteria. Our new students are Rebecca Bianame student in M from Miami Northwestern Senior High. She's going to Howard
University. Did I already call her? Oh sheesh. No. Okay. Now I'm on Angelina Flur Flur. Manior Edward Pace, Barry University, and she's studying business administration. She's also the former
mayor of the North Miami Youth Council. We got them in training. Mayor, the next student is Marionel Jean Francois, North Miami Beach Senior High. She's going to Darthmouth College
studying finance which is impact investing. She's going to have CFA certification which I had to look up. It's chartered financial analyst. Uh Brad I don't think Braden may Braden
I don't think he's here tonight but Braden came from itch at Thomas A. Edison Educational Center. He's going to the University of Florida studying business and economics. Melanie Piaakov. Melanie
Melanie uh went to law enforcement officers Memorial High School. She's going to Florida State University, also studying mechanical engineering. Brianna Silva. Brianna's from North Miami Senior High
going to Florida State University studying finance. Yes. And we have Clara Freda Stammore. I don't know if she's here tonight. Clara. No. Yes. Okay. She's from Turner Techch.
Going to Florida Atlantic. Go Owls. Health Science with concentration in women's health. And last but not least is Jayla Jasine Weathers. I know she's not here. She went to Kushman High. She's also going
to Florida State and studying marketing. So that is the class of 202526. I present to you and we all should be very proud. This is our future and the future looks bright. Thank you.
Thank you. And board members want to say anything always has something to say. Where is he? Where's the president? Mr. Fi, come on up. You know, FIU, you know, Mr. Mo, FIU should really be giving us
some extra scholarship. We worked that out. I know. Thank you all for being here tonight. This our future has never looked brighter. You know, if you ever think you're down, if you ever think, "Oh, things are not going so well." You look
at these faces. Our future is in good hands because of these wonderful people. And it's because the city negotiated a phenomenal deal to get scholarship monies for these people. Doesn't come out of your pockets. It came out of a
corporation's pockets. And your kids are getting paid to go to college. What a gift. What a marvelous city. Thank you so much. Good work. That's your phone. Thank God we got that out of the way. I
know. Yeah. I'm going to call you. And now we let's just wait as they are exiting the chamber and our next presentation will be done by our vice mayor Cassandra Timothy.
Congratulations to all of our rising stars here in the city of North Miami. Um and it was an honor to host the reception, the mayor and council and I for the students. So today they thought they were presenting. I would like to invite Mr. Ernie Taboo to the p to the front,
please. I didn't have a chance to honor you at my state of the district, so I wanted to do it tonight. Um, I'll be honoring two organizations that have been instrumental to our North Miami community. Taboo Fitness was created to deliver affordable and unique training for individuals who strive to be their
best self. Taboo Fitness creates custom specialized programs that combines resistant training, weight training, cardio, flexibility, and for all body types with our with their state-of-the-art equipment, inclusive family culture, and a consistent regimen. We are they are here to help
you acquire your idea results. And Taboo Fitness has been a great support in the community. Um they've they're always there at our back to schools hosting um training and agility training for the students. Um we hosted a tennis camp where we were able to tackle childhood
obesity in our city. And most recently we've hosted a eightweek challenge where over 30 um participants lost over 50 pounds. Although me and Chanel didn't finish the challenge, you know, but it was a great workout. Um, a lot of
our residents are they're actually petitioning now um me at this moment to extend the program and to in order to ensure that we continue this program in the city of North Miami. And not only is Ernie a North Miami resident, we went to North Miami Middle School together. He went to North Miami Senior High, went to
Turnitech. Um, but he also have his business here in our city. So, he is committed to not just um he's just committed to improving our community, improving our environment, of course, improving our overall health. So today I honor you, Ernie, and thank you for all that you do in our
community. Um, she also forgot to mention that we went to University of South Florida together. Keep in mind I never seen her on campus, so we don't know what she was doing. Um, but I am great. Hey, how you doing,
Dave? I am grateful to appreciate this award. Um, I just want to say thank you all for supporting all the participants that been in the gym. Um, that that actually gave me a reason to wake up each morning. I want to thank my son, my wife, my kids, and everybody that was
involved in tack the the board. Um, I thank you guys just for being there and changing the city of North Miami from where it was to where it's at now. You guys are doing an amazing job. So, this award is not only for me. I can say it's for us all. Thank you.
And then last but not least, Extended Hands and their founder, Tracy Sellers Montgomery, is here. They're a 501c3 nonprofit organizations whose mission is to provide support services to pregnant women, children, and families in underresourced communities by providing
educational training, mentoring, referrals, and resource tools for long-term self-sufficiency. Um, I've hosted my ELF workshop where we've given out new clothes, not used, but new clothes, carters, jackets during the winter time. Um, Extended Hand has given
us over $1 million in new products to our North Miami community, from diapers to wipes to toys to clothes. And what you do for our families here in North Miami is greatly appreciated. And today, we honor you, Miss Tracy Cellers Montgomery. And I thank you for all that
you've done for our community and for being one of my biggest supporters, for being our biggest supporters, and for all the work that you did. I know you were not prepared for this. They thought they were doing a presentation tonight, but they weren't. But I thank you, Tracy. This is really, really, really amazing.
And I would also like to just thank the great city of North Miami for allowing Extended Hands to be amongst the great uh families in the community. We've gotten a head start. Our country is going through unprecedented times right
now, but thanks to all of you, we have gotten a head start. We're on the ground. We have the diapers. We have the clothing. We have the basic essential items for the members in the community. So, we're here anytime you need us.
There's your council woman, there's your council men and women, your mayor, your vice. We just love the city. And so we're we are servants at the core of our hearts and we are here to serve. So if you need anything for your families, just reach out. Extended hands. That's
it. And we are appreciative. How many waiting for? Next, we're going to call C. Is it Councilwoman Mary Estim Irving followed by Councilman Kevin Burns? All right. Good evening everyone.
Um, tonight I have the honor of repres presenting to you officer of the year. One of them right of the month I pro I was told. Thank you. One of them is officer Kenton Turner as he comes up. Whereas the city
of North Miami recognized individual who displays extraordinary bravery, initiative and professionalism in the face of danger. Um whereas officer Turner of North Miami Police Department, the finest um midnight shift uniform patrol section took shift and courageous
action during a dangerous shootout incident uh at 13700 Northeast 6th Avenue. And so today, um, Mayor Alex Zume along with Vice Mayor Cassandra Timothy, Councilman Kevin Burn, um,
myself, Councilman Pierre France Charles to whereby declare officer Kanan Turner's day in the city of North Miami. Officer, some more. And we have another one. Um, Officer
Sadel Joseph, Officer Sadel Joseph, a Prague member of the North Miami Police, um, utilize deescalation protocols, issuing clear verbal command while maintaining emotional control despite the subject's increased aggression and
refusal to comply. So, on behalf of mayor and counsel, we pronounce this day to be your day in the city of North Miami. The other officer of the month is Officer Alexander Crespbow. Alexander Crespbow, the first to arrive
on scene, chose to wait for backup rather than escalate a situation, showcasing resistance, sound judgment, and commitment to officer and communitya safety. So on behalf of mayor and counsel, this is the the real short version, but on behalf of mayor and
counsel, we present to you officer of the month, and we thank you for your service. And of course, um well, I'll mention officer Mario um Penna, officer of the month. Right. Okay. All right. So,
officer um Pena um after receiving a bolo from um fellow officer actively engaged in foot pursuit, officer Penna immediately joined a search effort and tactically located the suspect, successfully detaining him without incident and
removing an intimate immediate threat to the community. And so, we also are honoring him today um on behalf of mayor and councel officer. and and I'll leave the last one. What is it?
Oh, just mention their names. Okay. So, no. And so I there's another officer that's not here, but we will mention his name. Detective um Sal. Oh, you are here. Oh, I apologize. I
apolog Let let us know you're here. Um whereas Detective Salin of North Miami Police Investigative Section displayed extraordinary determination, attention to details, and compassion in resolving a violent and sensitive case involving a vulnerable member of the
community. Um and this happened um in November 2024. And so and like I said, this is abbreviated version. So on behalf of Mayor and Council, we thank you and we appreciate your service. So thank you for all you do. You know, I've been presenting all of these great
officers of the month, but ladies and gentlemen, we have the woman that is that is the chief of our police that we're so proud of, which is no other than Chief Gauze, and I'll give her the mic to say a couple words. Good evening, everyone. Good evening.
So, as councilwoman stated, I have the distinct honor and pleasure of leading these amazing officers for the North Miami Police Department, and I just want to say congratulations to you and thank you for your bravery and your dedication to keeping the citizens of North Miami
safe each and every day. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. And I hope that you see this as us recognizing you for the great work that you do. I also want to thank uh mayor. If you all recall, we were here a couple of uh months back in the last quarter and our officers of the
year did in fact get the award that they were supposed to receive and it was $250 for each of the officers of the year um which they were presented with today. So, thank you all and thank you for your
continued support, mayor and council and to our community. Thank you so much. Thank you. We have What's this? Yes. Honorable Kevin Burns gonna do our last presentation. Who do um who do we have from Ernie? Are
you here from the parks and wreck? Ernie from parks and wreck. Jorge. Oh, come on. Reason I had to ask is our uh parks director had has just left us and um relocated to
another uh job opportunity in another state and we're going to sorely miss Christine, but she wanted to make sure that we did recognize the parks and recreation m month. And so on behalf of the city council, we like to show our appreciation and recognize that this
month is parks and recreation month and all the fantastic things that you all do to keep our residents healthy, keep them playful, and it gets done in the parks. So at this time, I'd like to present you with the proclamation naming it parks and recreation on behalf of the whole
city council. First off, I want to thank everyone. I want to thank the council, city staff, um, for the support that they give us. Um, I believe that the backbone of a great city, um, is a good park system, keeps kids out of trouble, um, keeps
everyone active, healthy. Um, and we wouldn't be able to do it without the support of the city council, city administration, and our staff that we have up here. So, let's give him a round. Hold on. I'm coming. I'm coming. Fix it. Thank you, Ernie. I I I do want to say
that it it does starts in the park. When I was 16, I started working with the city of North Miami in n 90 96. Um, my last year of high school, I was an intern and since then, so I know Ernie and a lot of the guys from Parks and
Recre, they know me when I was 16 working in the city of North Miami. I had a lot of hair. I had So, it was actually n There we go. There we go. It's a It's a lot of years. lot of you.
You showing your years in the city. It's a lot. Thank you. And now let's go back. No, I wasn't. It's I was in elementary school. Thank you. Thank you. And now we're going to have a quick real quick presentation
by our is let's do then we got a couple of I know we're trying to get the city event but we have the state lobbyists who will do and Angela. So which one is longer? So let's just let's go. I'm I'm playing with you. Are you doing it or the Okay,
I have some. Okay. May floor will do our update of city. Good evening. Yes. Yes. mayor and council and through the manager. We do have Mr. Clarence Williams who is our senior public advocacy director representing Becker and Polikov.
He's on the phone. This is Mayor Des. Hi, how you doing? Mayor Timothy, members of the council, um it's absolute pleasure to be with you guys. It's even only in TUDI. Um my apologies for not being able to be
there. I have a present to shoot actually early uh tomorrow morning uh to talk about the amazing amount of nothingness that's going on up here in DC. Uh it's it's it's it's super quiet, nothing happening. Um no, seriously, as as one
of the uh speakers mentioned earlier, we are in unprecedented times up here in DC. A lot of interesting things going on. Uh so I want to give you a quick uh overview of some of the things that are happening and and how those things may or may not affect the city of North Miami. Uh you'll note that in your
packets you have a PowerPoint presentation that I prepared for you. I'm going to dispense with that in the uh in the uh in consideration of time. Um but certainly use it for your reference any questions you might have uh after this evening. Certainly you guys might get in touch with me. Uh give
me a holler. be my uh my profound pleasure to answer whatever questions we can. Um so unless you've been hiding in a rock somewhere, you you know that we've been working uh freishly up here in the House and Senate uh on the president's reconciliation bill. Uh that
bill contains uh the vast majority of the president's uh platform uh going forward uh going forward. Um little bit about what reconciliation is and what it's not. Um what it is is a process.
It's a procedure used uh in the Senate to allow a major piece of legislation, only one that affects revenue, um to pass in the Senate by a simple majority vote. As you probably know, uh in the US Senate, for a bill to make it to the
floor takes 60 votes. So when you have a margin of only three, you need extraordinary measures to get that done. Uh the reconciliation process is 45 years old. It's not new. It's been used uh now 23 different times with varying degrees of success and failure um to
pass uh uh some large pieces of legislation. Um in this instance uh the house uh started with the reconciliation package. They passed that back uh on uh May 22nd with a 215 214
vote. Um that was followed in the House uh this past Monday, excuse me, Tuesday with a 5150 vote uh after they had made some changes to the bill. Um and then um final passage back in the House again
with a 218 214 vote. Now what a reconciliation bill is not. It is not an appropriations bill. It is an authorizing bill. It allows the US Congress to spend monies in certain
ways. Uh there are a number of uh um funds that were created, but until they're actually funded by the appropriations bill, they have no effect. Um the bill that was passed uh by the House and Senate and signed by the president is going to impact the
deficit by about $3.25 trillion over 10 years. uh for FY26 it's going to hit the budget for somewhere between 131 billion and 161 billion. Uh we're still uh having analyses done on the bill, see what the actual effects for FY26 and
beyond are going to be. Um there you've heard about a lot of the things that are going to be problematic, but there are a few good things that the city will be able to take advantage of. Uh, one of the things that happened early on in the process um had to do
with municipal bonds. At one point that was number one on the list of things that were probably going to get cut. They decided not to do that um in an abundance of caution. So that's one good thing. Um they have created a new a
housing credit of 12 1.5% for low income housing um to make sure that our housing stocks don't decrease over the uh over the foreseeable future. Along with that uh they created a permanency for the new market tax credits uh as well as
opportunity zones. In fact, they'll probably be doing some more work on opportunity zones to provide an incentive credit for creation of workforce uh housing. Um, and I'll be happy to come down anytime you guys want to talk in more detail about the
opportunities there. Um, they also created a revenue sharing piece for uh renewable energy. Uh so uh as we have a half dozen or so programs um on solar uh energy um our programs in those areas um
we can cost share uh based on those. Um they also have a new conf a conservation fund about $13 million if it's funded completely by uh Congress uh that will help with um uh conservation programs uh
land management, land cleanup, especially in the PAOS area. Uh these are some things that we can take advantage of in this bill. Um on the not so good side, you've heard quite a bit uh conversation about this. Um,
the best way to put it is this is a fairly sizable unfunded mandate to the states and local governments. Uh, we'll ultimately see how this plays out over the over the next uh year or so. Uh, the biggest piece of course is the modifications that they made to the
Medicaid Medicare program. Uh, specifically to Medicaid. Um the early um um feedback from the Congressional Budget Office is that it is likely to result in about 12 million people uh
losing health insurance uh over the over the uh next 10 years. Um that number is likely to go up a bit with some other adjustments that were made um to Medicare and Medicaid that
could include another 5.1 million people losing their healthcare insurance. um SNAP benefits, uh supplemental nutrition. The supplemental nutrition program has gone through some alterations that are going to result in the cost share change um that the states
will pick up about $64 billion and add the cost to run the SNAP program. um that is separate from uh the beneficiary u rules that have been modified to include work programs um and a number of
other things. Um as well for uh states and local governments that have high rates of errors uh there's a penalty that can be anywhere from 5 to 25% uh based on what that error rate is. Um
there are a significant change to the rules on reauthorizing the FCC's spectrum um allowance. Uh the FCC has been wanting to offer some of the spectrum, some of
the broadband spectrum uh at option uh for a number of years, did not have the authority to do so. This will greatly affect and impact local governments uh how they contract for internet and broadband services and those types of things. We're keeping a pretty close eye on what those things ultimately look
like. Um, fortunately, there was not a whole bunch of uh cuts or recisions done in the transportation spectrum. Um, reconciliation and executive orders uh notwithstanding pretty much uh many of the programs that we have looked to for
support from the federal government on the transportation side uh main in effect. Um and in fact we have noted that a number of these programs um are starting to roll out. They're rolling out about 2 to 3 months late but they are starting to roll out. I will say um
that one of the things that we will have to watch out for I've already had one of my uh loud uh excuse me one of my county uh up here in Virginia get this uh call from DOT expressing that they needed to change some of the language in their grant
requests. uh this is going to be universal. DOT is going to be a particular stickler stickler about it. They were looking for words. They're not really concerned so much about the substance. The warning that this particular kind got was that uses of words like equity um uses the word uh
such as disadvantage. Um they were given kind of strict instructions on use this instead of that. They are straight up tbt this whole thing looking for certain words. uh and and so it may be as simple as you know doing the the uh find and
replace uh feature on the computer to to root out these words. Uh the substance of the programs the things that you're looking to do uh on the infrastructure side though there does not seem to be a significant change in what we'll be allowed uh to do. Just how you describe
is going to be a big thing. Uh and I've been working with your fantastic team to make sure that we stay on the right side of that. Uh so we'll keep you uh informed of those things as they go forward with the conclusion of the reconciliation bill this past Thursday
um and signed by the president on Friday. Now for the next few weeks, we're going to be full speed ahead on appropriations. uh uh despite the significant um cuts that are are you know kind of
pre-ordained by the reconciliation bill um the effects of things that are immediately important to us for instance uh uh some of the things that we are requesting in uh appropriations earmarks so far there's no hint that there'll be any problem with air marks so we'll go
forward as normal um and we should be able to proceed along that way the Senate will actually start marking up some of their bills this week uh in three of their committees. Uh we suspect though that they will not make the September 30 deadline. Surprise. Um I
don't know that they've done that more than three times in 47 years. Um and we certainly won't do it this time. But there's a a tremendous amount of incentive for the majority to get the appropriations bills done before the end
of the calendar year. um if if you're laying down, you know, any money on this, December 23rd is when we expect that we'll we'll have the bills out and then we'll be full speed ahead trying to get that done. But again, it won't make the September 30th date. We expect there's going to be a short-term CR um
that follows on the hills of the current CR that we're in. Um but we we expect to get to some bit of normalization um as we go forward. Last thing I'll mention, um, we have not less than about
two to three dozen authorities that need to be, uh, dealt with for the end of the calendar year to go along with these appropriations pieces. Significant like billions of dollars uh, need to be reauthorized on programs ranging from healthcare to infrastructure. They're
currently working on the FAA reauthorization um issues dealing with FEMA, issues dealing with the National Flood Insurance Program, which I hope will now get some priority with all the horrible things that have been going on around the country. Um
but all these things have to be done by December 31st. So, uh Congress is going to be fairly busy over the next 2 to 3 months. Uh but we will do our level best to keep you guys ahead of everything that's going on. Um and with that I will
take any questions that anyone has. Thank you. Thank you sir. Um no I don't think I have any questions. I don't know if anyone from the DAS have question. I mean we all obviously know what's happening. We see what's going on and we know your job is not easy. Um and we
have other presentations. So we want to say thank you. I don't know if any other members have any any additional question other than the the presentation you just um gave us. I mean, it is what it is. We all could see what's happening. Um it's
tough and we going to have to do what we do as local governments because it's it's also coming from the state. So, it's the federal, it's the state and addon, etc., etc., etc. So, if there's any questions, I do do we have the is the state going to present or it's only the federal? I'd like to please. Okay. Yes. Go ahead,
please. So, um um Clarence, so thank you so much for your presentation. I want to thank you for um the services that you render um to us. Um I would just to like to just highlight that this body will be
looking for money for the water plant, looking for money for um well, just putting it out there um for if you could give us direction with with with funding for parks, you know, that that sort of thing. I know that we'd be very
interested um in getting um as much help that we can for that. Uh just absolutely and those things are are certainly top on our priority list. Um we do know that um the committee is actually considering our water treatment
uh um plant uh request for $2.7 million in planning funds. Uh certainly we've got a kind of a strategy worked out on how to proceed. um upon getting those funds so we can kind of get things up and moving as quickly as possible. Um there's a chance that uh talking about
some Clarence sorry Clarence Clarence that we can find some is able to hear us um within those ranks as well as some other pieces that are still Can you stop him? I'm just trying to ask him a questionative with um our parks.
Uh it's one of the decisions of the administration to start building a firewall between some things that they decide are decidedly local. Uh but there are still, you know, ways to skin the cat. So we're going to work aggressively on that as well. Um certainly to the
extent that we can meet every need that we need, we're going to continue working as we always have. Is he able to hear us? Clarence, are you able to hear? I can. Okay. You mentioned something about reapplying for a 2.7. I I have no idea
what what and I know some council members. What is that? Because we need at least 200 million which I I know nobody here would ever say that we'll get it right now with what's happening. But what is this 2.7 million? I don't know. Mhm.
Sure. The $2.7 million request was for uh design and planning for the water plant. Um, with ear marks, you're never going to get anything over $3 million, especially in the house. Um, this year we're being told, last year
they had a 1% of discretionary funding available for um, earmarks. This year is actually half a percent with two years worth of requests. Um, so 2.7 was the top end that we could uh ask for. That'll give us our planning and uh um
uh hopefully some funds to start the implementation process. It will also provide us with the impetus u when we're talking to the agencies about grant funding the larger sums once we've got the planning monies in place kind of follows in some of the implementation
funds you know come to us. Okay. I have no idea what what's what's what's going on here but okay. Thank you so much sir. We truly truly appreciate it. We do have our state um lobbyist who would um go ahead and do her presentation. Thank you so much um
sir. Thank you sir. Yes. Got all right. Um do I move this? I have no Stephanie. Is she able to? They coming. It is coming right now. Okay.
Yay. Duna. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for Wonder Woman. Thank you so much. Beautiful. Wow. Thank you. All right. There we go. Good evening everyone. Um, mayor and council, good evening. Can you
guys hear me? There. No, you can. Okay. Sorry. Um, I know how to catch a catch a hint. This is a full agenda, so we're going to go through this very quickly. Um, but I I will say that Ron and I have been working together to put together a more comprehensive report for you guys
specifically concerning city issues. Um, we are going to go very quickly over some of the bills that either passed or that show some genu genuine concern moving forward. Uh, DC is not the only place that is experiencing unprecedented
times and unprecedented uh legislation and budgetary restraints. So, I will go through this very quickly. This session, we saw a continued and increased uh strongarmming of you guys' ability to
govern yourselves. So, utility relocation is not necessarily 100% one of them, but it is something that you guys should pay attention to. What this does is it allocates $50 million from the state communication services tax to reimburse service providers for
relocation expenses mandated by local authorities. What you need to know from this is that it takes money that would have originally come to you but now will go to utility services, but it also means that the the cost for utility relocation will not come out of your
budget. Wait, what do you mean out of our our budget? It ensures that infrastructure projects proceed without requiring local governments to bear the cost. So if FPL has to do something and there's some relocation fees associated with that that has to do with any type of road
work that is under your realm of responsibility, you would not have to pay for that. Okay? But it also takes halfcentent sales tax program money that would have come to you as well. So it's a give and take. This is a really long bill that does a
lot of modification for your planning and zoning. What you guys need to take from this is that it will have a huge impact on the amount of time you have to respond to folks who put in a request for
who put in applications. You will have to identify a minimum amount of time and if you do not reach that time period, you will get fined. and or have to give back application fees. We can go over that at a later date, but that is something that you guys can keep on your
radar. The next really big issue that is coming next year, you will see the House put together a House Select Committee on property taxes. This is an initiative that is important to our current speaker and the House Select Committee on property taxes is going to require a
referendum on the question of eliminating property taxes on homestead properties. It will be a new $500,000 homestead exemption and a million homestead exemption for 65 year olds for anyone 65 and older with a 30-year ownership of
their home. It will also allow the legislature to increase homestead exemption to any value by general law. It will modify the assessment increase limitations by 3% every 3 years for homestead and 15% every 3 years for non-homestead. And this will also
eliminate foreclosure on homestead properties. So if a if a property of homestead is homesteaded and they are unable to pay their taxes, should this pass and the voters vote on this, you would not be able to foreclose on these homes. The CRA bill was a major bill that took
up a lot of time and energy this year. I see the interim city manager. This was a very this was a big deal because had this bill passed, it would have essentially gutted your ability for the CRA's ability to continue to get funding
for new projects. The termination of existing CRAAS, it would have revised the termination schedule for existing CRAAS to the earlier of September 30th of 2045 or the date that is currently there. And it would have prohibited new projects. So, the biggest takeaway from
this is A, we can probably expect to see this again, and B, I would recommend that any projects that you guys have for your CRA that you start working on them and allocating the funding for them appropriately should this pass again. This came very close to passing. It got
tacked on to Senate priority bills. It was a really big deal. So, I'd pay attention to this again next year. and it it it it became a monster of its own with with legs and arms and multiple legs. Next, I'll go over budget
requests. This year, we strategically decided to have two budget requests. One of them was fully funded at $287,000. Rain and I have also been working together to make a list of grant opportunities. We will be meeting with D to try to get as much of your water
projects within the D grant programs as possible. so that we don't have to deal with line items. Dealing with line items becomes extremely difficult especially in this type of climate where a lot of things are approved or not approved just based on politics. Uh we we have a
really great relationship with the DC office. We'll continue working with them on grant opportunities and district priorities. This was something I believe we were working on prior to I think that you guys were supposed to have a meeting to give us what your priorities are so that we can work on grant opportunities for that. But as soon as you guys can
get that to us, we'll start working on that. And we are asking collectively for your priorities for 2026 by October 1st. This was an extremely long session and there's a short break between this session and next session. So the sooner we can get the priorities, the sooner we
can get them to your legislators and start working them on your behalf. Thank you. I'm going to let Ron go and then Dr. Ron, if you have questions, let us know. Okay. Perfect. Hi. Good evening, everybody. Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners, Ron Brown with
Ronaldo Book's office. Ron asked me to let you know that he is out of state today and could not make it. Um, and he apologizes. Um, I wanted to touch on a couple of things that Katyas said um about the budget. So, your funding request was funded um in a budget where
uh over $600 million was vetoed. I think it's important to note in that context that critical um success um in the environmental category only. I'm sorry, what did you say was funded? I didn't hear you. Well,
your funding request is funded the Northeast 121st Street drainage project, right? the drainage. And I just wanted to point out in the context of of what a success that is um in the environmental category only 1.7
billion dollars of requests came in. They only funded just under $450 million and of that 21% of it was vetoed. So the success that you've had um should be noted and congratulations to your staff
for having always uh put together very good projects for us to submit. Um the subject to sewer improvement project as you know was not funded. I think that uh Katya mentioned that's something that a grant project would be right to do and we're putting all that together as well.
One of the other things I don't I don't want to be the one that brings all the bad news but um one of the other things that they did pass in the very last part of the session as you know it was extended in the implementing bill that implements policies in the budget is a
type of a Florida doge pro uh program right so they now have uh the ability the governor's office has the ability to now go into local governments and request um documents request histories request anything that we got the letter. You got the letter. Okay.
So, um there are some penalties that go along with that for non-compliance. So, I know that you and your staff will be keen on looking at that. Um another thing that did not pass that was good for local governments is any change to sovereign immunity or these lawsuits against government. The caps remain the
same. Each year that gets closer and closer to passing. I think though that um as Ron would say, the the taxpayers's money is ultimately going to be impacted um with excessive lawsuits against any local government. That um seems to be a
process that works now the way it is to where if there something happens tragically to somebody, they have an ability to um get compensated for that. But other than that, it's it's should stay the same. Um, one other thing that I did want to
mention, um, there's a two or three preeemptions that are important. The Live Local Act, this is, I think, the third Live Local Act. There are two preeemptions again in that bill. Um, the bill requires local governments to allow affordable housing projects on commercial, industrial, and religious
institutional properties. Um and uh they local governments must approve qualifying affordable housing projects through an administrative process without requiring resoning, special approvals, variances or amendments. And um that's pretty significant.
It is. So they bypass the the council pretty much. Yeah. Okay. So now when the residents come for these construction, these don't come to us. Go to the Santis. Yes, ma'am. Or your state representative. No, the state rep can't do nothing only. Go
ahead, ma'am. One other bill uh that passed is a Senate Bill 180, which is deals with emergencies. It's a kind of a comprehensive bill, but two provisions in it create more preeemptions for local governments.
There's a now for one year after a hurricane makes landfall, the counties that are affected and 100 miles outside of those the track of the storm are affected by this preeemption that um
they're pro you're prohibited at that point. Sorry, you're prohibited at that point for proposing or adopting a moratorium on construction or redevelopment. Um the second um the second preeemption in this bill deals with the tracks for hurricanes Debbie, Helen, and Milton. This bans new
moratoriums and stricter regulations that are retroactive. Um applies until October 1st of 2027, but it's retroactive to August 1st, 2024. Um so that's quite I mean Florida's not much more than 100 miles wide. So that
affects quite a lot of cities. Um, as Katya said, we have a comprehensive report that deals with a lot of the other bills that you would need to kind of dig into um that we're happy to send um and answer any questions you may have. U so thank you.
Thank you so very much. Um Katya, I think I'm good. Um members of the council, any Thank you guys. I I we I think we all could see it's not only at the federal level that it's happening at the state and you're right, we did receive the
letter um all cities, all 411 cities, but obviously they were targeting some cities and the letter basically and I think May Floyd did an amazing job analyzed the the the request that came in from the governor's office. So basically the same thing that you see
at the federal government in terms of the Doge. So they want to do some sort of similar thing with local government and basically they say they will come and do all checks of the books and and what just to make sure that we are in
compliance. The issue that I have with that is they're not saying what they are coming to check. So the idea is they DEI is the first thing that they mention and we know the code word for DEI is black people stuff. I mean we a city of we are
we are a migrant city. We are a city of very diverse city but you know majority of our folks are black. So when we hear the keyword and they put it this is a government talking to us and they're going to come in and check and check our DEI stuff. We don't know what's DEI. So
first we need to define or they need to tell us what are you coming to check? What is it that you considered that's DI? So, we have we got some work to do and we want to say thank you to you guys because we know it's hard and we know at the federal level we not getting nothing. So, um thank you.
I want to speak to that just very quickly. I think Clarence spoke on it just I would pay attention to key words. If there are programs that you have in place that are funded through the state, I would go through, make sure that key words are taken out, reaffirm, and the law is the law the way that it is right
now and we have to abide by it. um they set the rules, elections have consequences, this is where we are and we move accordingly. The other thing that I want to say is it is an era of immense amount of preeemption. So what you can do as a city, I would do you
look at the laws, we'll send them to you. You can we'll send the legislation to you. Those that passed, those that didn't pass, those that didn't pass. If there are opportunities and things that you guys want to work on, I highly recommend you guys working on them. We can have those conversations outside of this moment. But yeah, they're
chat GBT is free for everybody. You can run them through. It's it's cruelty also. That's the name of the game. So, thank you again. You guys have a wonderful appreciate it. Thank you. Yes, sir. Question. Yeah. Um just want to say thank you for uh the presentation and um thank you uh Miss Sla. I have a questions uh for
you and um you were talking about uh for um for the city just to send the priorities for everything and then I remember on the day that we uh voted on the resolution to renew the contract of all lobbies and then um I met with you
in the lobby over there and we had a conversation oneonone and I asked you a question about our water treatment plan and then the answer that you gave me was not so pleasing. Uh so I just want to ask you uh where we at and uh in our working to um you know
I know we're working on some funds at the state level for the water treatment plan. I don't know exactly. I just want to tell you as one of the top priorities that is something that needs to be done and we have to work on it like today. I you could either jog my memory now or
later. Um yeah, your answer uh if I may was um you guys fired the city manager. No sir, that wasn't talk about that. Um Yes, ma'am. That was just right there. I said just right there by the elevators. Um you talking to Charles,
I am you know one thing I will tell you. I don't easily forget. I am a educator and I know and that's exactly what you told me. I didn't want to since you asked me to refresh your memory. I just want to tell you exactly that was a priority of the former city manager. No, no. You told me that um you
guys fired the city manager and then that was on and that was the end for me. So that's the reason why I'm asking where where we at at this point. Okay. Where is this conversation? Okay. But thank you for the comment and the the recollection and the jogging of the memory. Much appreciated.
I add um Absolutely. I think funding for a project like that would be a prime uh project for the resilient grant process. under that heading, there's a lot of different um grants that that would likely apply for
uh or qualify for. And I really recommend that you and your the staff of the city, which I know they're looking at it now, uh put that in as one of the projects. I think that that's where the larger sums of money are now going to be had. Um and it does go through the state
um executive branch for approval uh through D. Um so that's that's what I would encourage for funding for such a critical project. Yes. All right. So again, that's notes for city administration, but I just want to make sure that I put it on the on the record because this is one thing that we
are working on and this is a project that cannot wait and um both at the state level and also federal level. This is something that we need to set as a priority because we need it. We need it as now because we cannot wait for a crisis. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much guys for the presentation and we're gonna ask finance please keep your because it's 8:10 and thank thank you Katya thank you and tell Mr. book. We we appreciate him and all the work that he does. And Katya, I'm sorry, not not
Katya, Miss Miss Reyes, we are ready is as you could make it real quick, but let me say one thing before Miss Reyes speak in terms of getting anything from the federal especi the state don't have no money or at least they're not giving it
to us or they haven't the last 15 or 20 years. So I would not any pri priority I mean basic things. The governor veto my my pantry food giving to little amounts. So I know if he veto $100,000
he we definitely not getting no if anyone I'm sorry to announce this North Miami and I and and I'm going to get more and to do this a little bit more. Please do not think that you're getting a water plant. It's not right now. This is not the environment. We should not be
fooling with people. The time is not federal. You could see it. We could talk about what we could do to do that, but we got to be honest with where we are. We could try, but we need to say we still need we need, you know, with all due respect, Mr. Mayor, we are here to advocate. We still need to push.
I I I know there are hard times. It's been clearly stated. I think the world knows, but we have to continue to push. We have to continue. Here's the problem and and with that council woman and and I will definitely I will let the community know obviously and and they know since I brought the idea we were pushing it and
I'm going to be very very honest with folks. Yeah, we we need to push but we also don't need to be spending money and and doing things that's not we already know. There's nobody right now who could tell me that we're going to get a hundred million from the federal government if they slashing social
security and Medicaid and all these this. So we got to be clear on that one. If we if somebody want to go and do it without I'll be more than happy to support, but I'm not going to spend my time and energy at least to let the people know this is where we are. This is what we do. We we we we need the
plan. We all know we need that. But they also knows what's happening. We we we see it. It's clear. And we'll have a better more discussion with that. I'm just saying myself as the mayor, the council will do whatever they need to do. But the residents know if we're going to do this for the next few years spending money and doing this, we got to
look at the reality. The state, we won't get nothing. We know that we needed $200 million from the federal government. That's what we need to get this thing. If somebody could con convince me that you're going to convince this administration, I'm 110% for it. But other than that, Miss
Good to go. I'm sorry. Uh, Mr. Mayor, with all due respect, I think we need to stop being Councilman. Councilman, can I finish? No, no, no. No, no, no. Can I finish? No, sir. Sir, I need you. No, no, no, no. Listen, Mr. Attorney, let me finish. Sir, I don't care. I understand. Okay. Well, we need Listen to what I'm saying. I am
not the one working out in every meeting. You You need to let me speak. You are going to do it now. Well, let me say this. I am the I am the I am the chair of this meeting and I have we have not Well, no, I I have not recognized you. Once you finish, I'll get the floor. That's fine. I will get this thing need to stop and it has to
stop now. You've been doing it for way too long. Are you Are you done? You have no kids in here. Excuse me. Listen, you have no kids. Charles is 55 and councilman elected councilman of district 4. And I demand that respect. You've been disre disrespecting us for way too long and
you need to stop and the time is now and if you want I'll get the floor Mr. Mr. Councilman and just like anyone uh listen I I I need the floor. No. Well, I have not if you are the mayor but I am a councilman and I reclaim the floor and
let me know when I can speak and I'll take my time and speak until I am done and I am sick and tired of your behavior. You've been doing it not in good faith. You've been doing it in a way to get people in trouble in here. You need to stop. And the day is today. Okay.
And I am going to speak. All right. Sir, you will have the floor. You can speak and do whatever you need to do. I also have the mic. We speak. The community knows. The audience knows. Obviously, it's the last meeting and I think somebody mentioned at the
fireworks this and this and that. First of all, we could be as open and honest as we've been. the residents could tell you for somebody to say I've not let people talk whatever the cases people could say and you say I have disrespect whatever whatever cases which is clear
in what's going on and what's happening we have a presentation going on we um I mentioned something in reference to the finance director now you throwing stuff you we've been disrespect I have been I'm not doing anything I am patient so you're going to have time to speak
okay you got to do that um miss madam manager I'll ask the council I'm going to let him speak cuz I don't know where is going tonight. I don't know where we're going to have the time to go ahead and do what we do with the meeting. It's 8:15. Sir, you have the floor, please. Thank you very much. Uh, mayor, um, just
want to put it on the record certain things that been happening in here, they just so happened and you as a leader, as our mayor, I ask that you do better. Okay.
meetings after meetings. You have some signal words that you stand out. I heard staying on the street the same way you like to say it and I know the plan and everything. Replacement plan and everything. I heard it.
You said a plan. Let me finish. Oh, okay. Let me finish. You're going to have your time. I just want to claim my time and speak. Go ahead. And finish because we need to fix that today. One thing for all. Uh we are here as the council and you are
the mayor and I need to be clear on that. Each and every one of us has one vote. You have your time to speak and each and every one of us can come to the mic and
speak and you are in a position to listen. You are in a position to lead. You are leading the city along with all of us in here. And the more you speak is the more you inviting
people into our city to do some craziness. And it's been time after time after time after time. Again, my patient has been tested. And tonight, I just want to set the record clear. I am an educator.
by trade. And here as a elected member of the city council, I am here to serve the city of North Miami, more importantly, District 4. And I do it in good faith. I don't come
in here every day and claim that I am a Christian. My act will speak for me. If Jesus were to come in here, Jesus don't need to open his arm and said that I prayed before coming here. Each and
every one of us will know Jesus or God for that matter. The way you are behaving is wrong, need to be fixed. And if anybody on on this council, I mean on
this council have the courage to call it out, it is my job to do so. I grew up in a family in Haiti and I went to school. I still remember to this day the fight that my dad and mom has to
put on to pay for my school. I graduated elementary school in Haiti, secondary school in Haiti. I had a chance to go to uh the university university system that we
have in Haiti not for too long before coming here. I came in here. I work all kind of jobs. You can name it from washing dishes. My first one was at landscaping
and I still manage to hold my name. And up to now I'm going to tell you that I have nothing but my name. Pierre France Charles. That's all I have. And I'm still fighting. I'm still working to keep this
name. I don't want to lose it just because of foolishness, because of words that come out of leaders mouth and with the intention to get folks in trouble in here.
We are not living some good times, but we still can learn how to go with the waves. I am not going to stand in here as a man, as a person, seeing my mayor,
Dr. Alex, when we fell on the floor and then turn a blind eye. I will go on and help and do whatever is in my power to make sure that my mayor is good. I'm not asking anything else from you. That's all I'm asking for.
I see you as a border. I know your family and you know mine and certain things that is happening is beyond the way we should act as a person as a leader as my mayor.
It doesn't sit well and it needs to stop. last meeting there were some words and just way before that but I just went back and um do a recollection of everything that has
been said in that meeting. It is not pleasant. It is a call to action and same thing happened the meeting before when we have the media in here on the topic of the city manager.
The mayor said and I quote, "I heard some stuff in the community. It is up to us as policy makers." and went on and he said as the mayor of the city who kind of lead the process
if he was talking referring to um Daddy Joseph if you are not here to negotiate in good faith you have already you have the votes if you have the votes I am not wasting
my time and then you went on to say if you have the votes I am not wasting my time and you know exactly the meaning of it. That's true. Any
one in the kindergarten class of city council will know exactly where you heading. It is wrong. It is deceiving. You should stop because you cannot keep on doing this time after time. And
nobody has the courage to stand and tell you you cannot keep on bullying people like that. I stand up to bully. This year will make it 17 years at Miami Central Senior High. Teaching freshmen
the lowest 25% is all in ESC. I've seen it. I've seen it. And I grew up in Haiti. I am not scared of a mask. I know a man and I know a mask. So, I'm just putting
it in here so that you will understand this has to stop. And you went on to say that I put my hand on the Bible and I said that I am going to represent the city very well.
You are here to represent your client. Again, it is up to us. If I feel and I think it is all cooked in, I am going to get up and leave.
Again, that's that's another invitation. It is all cooked in. I don't know exactly what the reference is, but again, anyone in a kindergarten class at a city council will know
exactly what you're talking about. and you went on to say that we are here to have a conversation. If you're serious or if you already have everything in, do
not waste my time. I want the resident to know that I did what I was supposed to do and I will leave. once I leave the council or women they do whatever they do
and you went on to said that you okay with the $350,000 and you will work with that and everything else. Now you said that fiscally we cannot afford this contract after saying that
you okay with the money and then you went back to said fiscally we cannot afford this contract. Said there are a lot of people who does not trust what is happening and the decision that are being made by this council.
There are a lot of people who does not trust what is happening in decision that has been made by this council. Guess what I have one thing people not know that I am not rich but I have my name.
District 4 already know who I am. They know how I am going to vote. And I see my my district four ladies and again you said and I quote council woman try
to make a point you shut her off. Mr. Councilwoman, as a person who is voted in the city, there is no way that you will even entertain such
uh proposition. Honestly, tonight y'all can do what whatever you all want to do. That's your business. I don't care. People who are watching, they're
not stupid. Everybody sees the writing on the wall. I put my hand and I quote, on the damn Bible. So
to be honest and fair, I that's just part of it. And if you think that I'm lying, I can even ask staff to play the clip because they have it in the back. So again what we need to understand this is a
place that I come to work I give my 100% if you go on and look I barely travel I make sure that I am on the floor I am here I am looking at every issue I answer the call of the residents I am
not wasting the city's money I don't throw parties is I do things that will benefit the resident. I cannot come in here to get an invitation to get my name drawn into that board and
then all of a sudden pier Charles is no longer pay Charles it is attached to something. So now to our city attorney I have a quick question. Uh Mr. attorney. It is, is it right for
me to sit in here and decide that something is not of interest and then get off and leave? Can I do that? Um, okay. So, there is a Florida statute that talks about voting for um on items
before the council. Um, so as long as you're present at the meeting and discussing an item, you have to take a vote on it. If the person leaves the meeting and doesn't come back, then no vote is required. But if you're in the meeting, you go to the bathroom, you come back, you miss a vote, you have to
take that vote if that's the question you're asking. U, so meaning that I can just decide um get up and leave after I speak in here. Is that is that the way because you don't come because I've seen it. I've seen it time after time after time
again. So all I'm asking is that we are more civil in here and Mr. Attorney I am going to charge that on you because let me finish Mr. Mayor. Let me
tell us Mr. I am not telling the city attorney to charge you to help out and fix fix that record because we cannot let I I'm not going to say we I cannot let this continue the way it
is. It is a trend that is going in the wrong direction. I was elected in district 4 to serve the district.
I was elected to do my job in here as a councilman. And I come in here every day, do exactly what I was elected to do, this kind of behavior. And um like I said, I just uh basically read some of
it and I have a lot more, but I don't want to hold that meeting forever. This kind of behavior uh Mr. um at is it acceptable? I know you you can you you can choose not to answer, but I just want to put it
on the record. I just want to put it on the record because I am going to tell you the same way people say that they pray before coming here and everything and act like the dark side of whoever doesn't even know
about the Bible is not helping. So I think it's better for us to come in here not praying, not calling God into it and then just go on and we know exactly who we're dealing with. And I am going to
ask that Mr. Mayor with all due respect you stop this kind of attack because I know the plan the same way people always tell you resident tell you I know the plan way before the election
and if if it is the will of God your plan will succeed. But I know I came in here with my hands clean and I am going to leave with my hands clean. The things that I have is my name
and from now on I am going to set the record straight. Mr. Mayor, you are the mayor of the city. You have one vote. And whenever you are speaking, we are listening to you. But that doesn't
mean that you own the mic. That doesn't mean that someone on that council need to leave on your yelling, your shouting, you're always shouting people down. It has to be stopped. And those code words that you are using and here on this day
has got to stop. It has gone too far. And this is my request and I hope that you can honor that request today and for the rest of the time we are serving in here. Thank you very much and thank you for your time. I yel back. Thank you. Thank you. And
that need that needs a break. Obviously, we all could see it's a lot of um what would what what's the right word? It's a lot of Yes. attention stuff that's going on that's happening here. Um I I'm totally
shocked because I didn't know you know that all that you had obviously is anger. All that is was there or obviously even if I did in terms of what's happening everything you said is absolutely correct. and the the attorney
cannot tell me what to do. Um, I have been elected since 2009. And I'll say this, residents, we have dis disagreed on stuff, on a lot of stuff, but they know
one thing about me in terms of what I do and how I vote and my interests in in terms of North Miami. So yes, you are correct. And if you had asked me, first of all, I don't have no agenda or and that's that's the number
one thing. People always assume all of these things that I I guess if they were on my side, they would be doing it. First of all, I don't have any agenda. I don't talk to nobody on this das once I leave here. I go home, I do what I have to do and I come back. There's a couple
of things that you mentioned that I do wanted to address. Yes, I said what I said last week and I would have said it again and I stand by it. It was not no cool word. Now that you said that, I will address it. I had six residents
prior to the meetings days before that called me and told me what was going to happen. So when you made this statement that you saying that this needs to stop or whatever, you can't tell the people what to think or what not to think. I'm
one of the persons. So if the council if I have residents calling me telling me this is a game don't do what and by the way I'm telling them arguing with them saying no because I always see the better of folks in
terms of I said no you know don't because I know residents sometimes do think things a little bit differently but when people calling you after and after telling you what's going to happen and councilman no it's every meeting that they are calling me telling me exactly what's going to happen and I'm
sitt sitting there arguing with them, telling them, "No, that's not going to happen." They know, "No, this is exactly what's going to happen." And one of them did call me that day and said, "Mr. Mayor, you're wasting your time. I know. Did you? First of all,
three of them called me and and and said, "How did you do this to us?" I said, "Did what? What are you talking about?" They said you have said you bought a manager and the manager that you have supported this is the package that this manager is bringing. Did you
do that? I said first of all no I did not. And everybody in here councilman and I'mma say it. We could say it. I'mma say what I'm have to to say. You could believe it or not. Whatever you that's that's your personal choice and the residents could believe whoever they want to believe. But I will always say
speak truth to power. I am not here for anybody's interest. When Mr. Larry Spring was the manager, and I'm not talking about years, I'm talking about a couple years. I had a company
company we just talked about call me and offered me a a job of a lifetime. They said, "You'll be set. We have the best thing." This was FPNL. I went to a one-year thing with them and the person who repres who recommended me for that
position. It it was just but there was one thing towards the end of that process that lengthy process of meeting everybody up till the the president and everybody in there they say one thing to me and I told them you know what as much as I want this I choose North Miami I
left teaching I choose to do this and you cannot you know although I I want the job I do want the money but I will make that decision because they told me towards the end there was one thing that I couldn't do and I walked away. Recently I had
another job that offered me almost a million dollars and Lord knows I everybody need money. I told them and there are people in here who know I cannot take the lead of being anything because my focus my commitment is North Miami for the next two years and if I
choose to do something else I will. So there are residents here in this city. I've been here. I mentioned since park and wreck since 97 I started working for this city. I was 16. I'm 47.
And you could do whatever you whatever you want to say or whatever you want to do or talk about the way everybody in here I don't think there's no one councilman and I really don't know who the person that you are describing
that the people here would know. You and may think there's this alternative thing in terms and I'm and I'm speaking to about me. No, there's nobody and I mean nobody in North Miami. You could go and
call and you could say that I went to them or they came to me to talk about council members here. I don't do that and I haven't done that for years. Although people assume when residents call me to complain and tell me about other things, I try to get them off the topic. And you could name the person
because I don't I don't like people throwing stuff out because you saying that I haven't let people speak. I I've been speaking yelling or do that's not even my character. I'm here. I obviously we here we working together. That was my hope. There's no mayor
there is no mayor in America that would don't want their city their city council to to get along. But that's a decision that I can I did not make that decision. I whatever how you guys decide to do your thing, that's you. I don't talk to
no one in here. And everyone from staff since I've been working here in this city knows I don't have friends. Employees are not my friends. My only friends are the residents and everybody knows that. Period. So that's
why some of them call me and they will say something to me. They ask me because they say we need some direction. Even with this thing right now that's happening. They are calling me, exing me, talk, just talking and listening. But there's no residence and you could say the name who called me who saying
there's an alternative modem and this and this and that. When they call me to tell me certain things that I do not like or do not want to hear, I don't want to be called down and be asking question. Nobody. No. And I would
not want nothing that's not of what for my city. I represent this city. I lived here. I'm a graduate of North Miami Middle, North Miami Senior High. So my investment in North Miami and my commitment is, you know, I don't have to
tell nobody. Everybody who's here will know on some things. And if I do something, Veronica, all these people, they are surprised. They're going to say, "Whoa, mayor, how did you do that when I left the meeting?" And nobody could tell me when to leave and when not to leave. Everybody's adult. That's why
I respect everyone residents or wherever. But I demand the same respect. If I leave a meeting, that mean that I do not want to be part of this. It's not no disrespect to whatever. There's some information after that resident told me and it wasn't one, it wasn't two, it
wasn't three. I made that decision if and I and I asked and there was nothing that was, you know, hiding. I asked the representative, "Are you here to really have a conversation based on what I sent her?" And that's what I said. I was good. And when I left the that meeting
and I got home and I started listening, there was some stuff that I did here. People were mentioning talking about the travel and I'm going to address I thought I was going to have time at the end of this meeting to for all this fireworks to come out, but Fourth of July just passes. It's just out now. So
yes, if you want to address it, we could do that. But as a council, all of us together, the community is seeing what's happening. Nobody could go and say that I've been this and this and this and that and all because that's exactly what I just heard that you saying some things that I don't respect. Council members,
that that's not even me. The manager, the attorney, they could tell you every week. I go in there. I have never never asked the manager or anybody what is somebody's doing. That is not my concern. Resident call me and they tell
me I take it. I do what I got to do and I leave. Now some people may assume because of my way the way I am may assume that I'm talking about them this and I always said find me that person. And if somebody come to you and say the mayor call me or the mayor came and talked to
me about this, I say call me and let's get that person. If you tell that person, okay, you said that the mayor or whatever the let's just say let's call the mayor now and let's go and see what they said. That's how we know. I don't do that. Lastly, you guys were attacking when I whenever
I'm not there. I I remember it started with um I hear with councilman Burns and I said you know what I will come to a meeting and I will you know at least address publicly in terms of councilman's Burns concern regarding
Nomi fest but then again I left last week and it came again it was mentioned about my travel first of all my travel when I travel personally I do first class if I can afford it if I can
I new coach. That's a personal decision. With the city, there is not a travel. First of all, it's a badge of honor. There's over 20 something thousand mayors for you to get an invitation somewhere to say, you know what, Mr. Mayor, we like for you to come and showcase your city, to talk to us about
North Miami, what we do. You don't think I'm proud of that and I decided to go and I invited who, you know, I need to go at these invitations representing my city. Yes. They are not gonna invite you if they see you know they it's a badge of honor and every mayor who does knows
there are organization who only participate with some mayors and I do what I do but there is not and there's no one here who would say that I've done stuff that is not in in in proper things in terms with the city that's not me I don't know who we talking about so going
back with this Nomi fest thing it started seven um 10 years ago It was staff who came to me my first year in office who said, "Mayor, we would love to see how we could do at Black History Month to change." I said,
"You sure you want me to help?" They said, "Yes." They said, "Would you be the honory chair?" I said, "Yes, no problem." And I said, "Let me say this to you guys. If I take on this project, it's going to go another another level." And they said, "We know. That's why
we're here." I said, "Okay, let's go. So they came in and that festival we took it in 2016 was the first one until 2019. Everybody
who's here who's been involved in this no during the day of the event I'm a worker. I work. I don't enjoy the concert. Staff who works there's a lot of them. And that's one thing because we always
say well why don't we just take the money and just put it because there is a component to it but staff would tell me say mayor this is one thing that we do that help us with all the stress we go out you know this is something that we could enjoy in terms of what we do help
us I said okay I understand there's another component when we created this program I said from the get-go because there was a time we used to create a lot of events in the city and they used to talk about us and I said you know what we're going to create this event but
we're going to do it in a way that's going to help the resident so for the past nine years this year the next year would have been 10 year or will be 10 whatever the case is we have been having this
event and I said I know councilman Burn doesn't know and I will need to let him know but colleagues here they voted they helped me do do this. Every piece of dollar, every dollar that we collected goes into an account that
help our residents pay their water bill. There's so many people who don't even know about the program. Nobody get paid except for the entertainments and no staff. They maybe get overtime, parks and recck, maybe police, but everybody in the work that even police do, we don't have the funds to pay them. We do
this for the resident. It's not a party that we throw that help people. I spent countless nights and weeks getting, you know, I just do it for the city. And we have people now coming from Orlando, all over the state talking about this. And
then when I went last night and I heard when I got home the other night, they were comparing that event, helping residents, and the list is high. This year alone, the utility department called me and
said, "Mayor, we have a list that's long and we need the festival to happen so that we could start paying helping these people. We give them $500 per year if they cannot afford it. They meet, whatever the case is, they they have a wonderful job that they do downstairs to run the program. And residents who knows
about it come if they can't help themselves, we help them out for whatever cases. That's why we do what we do." And after I heard that the other night, I said, "You know what? I don't need to be doing that because I don't want people to think I'm throwing a
party through." I said, "You know what? I'm done with Nomi Fest. I'm done." Because the fact that if Councilman Burns said something, he wasn't here for somebody should have said, "No, you know what? This event is although it may seem like a party but this is something that
help our residents people in all districts that knows about it to come and help the residents and every year we getting more. We're getting more. I don't even know sometime how much we raise. It's months later they say Mr. Mayor you know and then I get on the phone and call
people can you give money to help these residents. That's what I do. So again, I'm going to leave this conversation here. Um, and we could go about talking about all of these different things that we would want to
address, but what I said the other day and everybody knew and I said it about the contract and I wasn't going to address it. Again, a business person called me and I had a big argument with the person. I said, "I'm not I'm not doing it." The person said, "Mayor, I
think you need to do this to address because your they take I think people take your words and what you said in terms of the clarification. I said yes and I will do that. What I said the other day, our last meeting was I was
okay with the 350 although I know it was a lot but I said to them I said when I find out when I first met with Miss Terless she did mention to me that you know she would a little bit more money in terms of what she was getting and I
said yes. I didn't know what was that amount. It was later I found out it was 341. So when I heard it was 341, she was asking for 350. I said, "Oh my god, that is a lot of money because that would be one of our, you know, most expensive paid, you know, city manager in the
state." I said, "But you know what? I'm somebody." I gave my word. I said, I know the these people are going to chop my my head. That's exactly what I said, the residents. But I said, I'm going to go out there and let them know this is why I I did this. However,
I said not with these the packages. The amount was nothing. If anybody would understand the amount, although that that was something, but remember the negotiation was done for two people, for the manager as well as the attorney. So, that that always had to be in the back of our heads. So, when I saw those
numbers, it was not the 350. The contract was almost $800,000 from one thing in terms of the package, what they were asking. And I said, you know what, that that's something that I cannot and when the residents call me and I don't know if they talked because it was you
not two of them. I don't think they they have connection with the others. And I said, "No, I don't think my my council would be, you know, I don't think so." They said, "No, mayor, you you're very naive." And they say this, the residents say whatever they I said, "No, I I it
may be a lot of money. I understand, but I don't think I think we are going into this meeting and we're going to go negotiate the best thing from North Miami. I said, I don't mind Teresa exing the world. That's her right. She should do that as a manager, but I said, I'm confident there's no way. That's what I
told one red. I said, there's no way. So, when I came here, I sent my letter because I was not communicating back and forth with the attorney. I called the attorney and then the attorney had said to me that um please call this person.
That's how I got to um the the person that was here um representative and then we had a conversation and I didn't hear back from them and I and I and I said to her I said I'm okay with the 350 but all these other things cannot be part of it. And I thought that was that. So she said
when she came here last weekend, she said I had the conversation with her and then I said yes I did say that but the the the the revised contract that was that came back it was there was nothing. It was maybe taking a a month here. So the contract itself had issues. So, I
said what I said and I stand by what I said and if people feel that I have um any motive, anything in terms of trying to there's I don't know what what people think they are, but I'm I'm here tonight
to say whatever that you may think that I do, I do not have that time. I do not have the time to even think about what somebody else is doing and staff could tell you. I go there, I ask the question I have to do. I know people busy. I move
on. I don't wish nothing on nobody, even my worst enemy. You know that I I had one person and I'm going to say this and and and move on. one resident that was not very pleasant
to me that I thought this person was you know at least somebody that I was communicating that you know this resident you know we had a little fallout in terms of the resident but that person couple couple weeks after sent me an email
and I don't know a text that I wasn't going to reply I said listen we may be upset I may not like what you've done but when you are acting in my capacity as your council person your mayor whatever I'll do whatever I need to do and then that's where that friendship is
and that's it and move on. So councilman I do not know obviously there's a lot in your feeling you this thing was but no and I would if if I feel that I don't need to be part of something it's not being disrespectful and if residents tell me you do not need to be part of it
I'm going to listen I'm going to do what I need to do as to protect Alex and I have never I think my 12 year here if I walked out I think Mary you've been here longer maybe um two or three times whatever the case is I don't that I I
come here, I do what I need to do. We address sometime we disagree. This is the most divisive council. It did not start like that. Councilman, I've been here for almost 12 years. Yes, we had had some rocky stuff, but C staff could see it. I mean, people could see it. It's not really And then you putting
like I'm to blame for whatever's I don't know what's happening. I come here, I do my job, and I leave. That's it. I'm responsible for me. I'm not responsible for anybody. And I do not have and I don't say any code word. I'm telling you before I said it, the resident said it cuz they know. So don't go and say I did
this, whatever, whatever the case is. Um the attorney cannot, the manager cannot. Just like everybody's here is growing. Everybody could do what you could leave. You could do whatever you want. You that's up to you. But I just said I needed to address those. And after I I thought about it, I said, you know what?
Christine is not here anymore. this thing of of this attacking I I don't do I I cannot even think if I do something I even with something I wanted to do for the police department I I go in and I don't even want no flies out that's not even me and you mentioned something about the media whatever that incident
when the incident the park came in I have people right now you could ask fiola that's here the media is calling me from CNN to wherever all the dime and I do not speak to the media residents knows that when I do I'm being very careful careful one or two people I know
I may say the Haitian radio I have not even been I that's not that's not me they asked when they were here they asked did I want to speak I told them no I'm not interested I'm here I do my job and I leave
so again there's tensions are high but please this unity whatever that we want what that has nothing to do with me I'm always unified and ready to work and do what I need to do. With that being said,
if I may, mayor. Yes, sir. Um, just want to say thank you for addressing this issue. It was long overdue and I feel a lot better. If you know me, you might probably know
everybody in the room is a is they they're just my friends because I treat everyone with respect. That was the way I grew up. And my mother demanded that we respect
every individual, rich, poor, whomver. And you will see me, everybody working in here, I greet them equally. Don't ask for anything. And I give you the respect that you
deserve. You are my mayor above all. you are my mayor. I remember time after time I got called by the media um to place a few words when we have
that um event in June with the flooding following by the hacking. There was a lot of things that are flying out there. I stayed away. immigration. I said away
because I know you are the mayor. You are to lead and I am going to tell you if the council as you said it is divided. I think something is not happening and
again I am going to turn it into you as our leader. But what I'm saying, mayor, with all due respect, we are here to do a job. Yes, sir. And you know, you know, and I am not
saying this because of everything that is happening. And you speak about anger. I am not. I will never ever be angry when I'm talking to you. But certain things they
don't sit well and they need to be addressed. And you know as a fact beside everything mayor I will do whatever it take to make sure that Alex the soulmate is fine
and you've seen me in action. You've seen me. I am not the kind of person who will just come on your face and say something and then when you turn your back and say something else. This is not me. This is not me. What I'm asking, Mr. Mayor, is that we change
course. You cannot keep on going like that. Certain terms cannot be used on the DEAS. Certain things that I don't wish on my worst enemies, they should not be part of our conversation. Those are the things. Those are the only things that I need. Yeah.
Give me Give me one second and I'll let you move on. Mr. mayor. Uh, I respect you and I am going to say it again as my mayor. You are my mayor. You are the mayor of the city and I serve with you. I have a lot of respect for
you. But what I'm asking is that let's turn that respect so that it be mutual. And I don't I don't need you I don't need you to like me. You don't have to. But I will love you
dearly as my mayor, as a man of our city and a man of my hometown in Ara. I love you. But what I'm asking mayor, I am asking you this on our last meeting before we go on recess. We need to
change course. We cannot keep on going that way. As our leader, certain terms, you know that you should not be using them on that council. Do you understand? So that's my point. me. I am not angry. Okay? And there's no anger in it. I'm just
telling you maybe some just don't want to put it out there. And I am a man. And when I say that I am a man, I am a man. Whatever that I do, I take responsibility for it. And I am not going to stay and then cry on the side like a 12 year old girl. Uh
I love them very well because those are the one that I teach. But I will stand in here as a man and say it the way it is. That's the only thing that I'm asking, mayor. If we can do that, we will live as long as God want it and then we'll just keep on moving. Thank you very much. And uh I yel back.
Yes. Thank you, Councilman. And with all that you said, hello. Well, we'll we'll talk about that. But just to Councilman Burns, one second, Councilman Pier Franchaw, you are also my councilman. That's number
one. Let's not forget that. Everybody here see this is the when you sitting up here I don't think you see what the people here are sitting there are people who's texting me it was like what is talking about people don't know certainly the last meeting was very contentious we
all could see but how would you blame me when I I was not even I don't even think I mentioned I was talking about the process and I left the meeting now I how am I blamed for whatever happened at the meeting that I wasn't even there. So the tone and I told you
you did not know and I and I said to you I had some calls and it's been a couple meetings your residents they say mayor please be careful we don't want you to stay this thing is so
if I have residents call me and say something like this to me and while they said it and I'm arguing with them say no that you no everybody here we're going to do what's best for Miami, we not Yeah. Don't don't don't don't that's where and some of those people I did
have to call them and apologize because what they said was true. So again, councilman, I'm saying it to you, Alex deme and my convers I don't even think I even mentioned the council. I was talking to rep the rep that was here representing the city manager because
that's who the thing so that's who I was talking to. I chose to leave and I had one resident who text me and I had to put that resident in in in her place because you could do whatever you
need to do as a person and I could do whatever I need to do as a as a human being as well. But I said what I said and I left. And if I'm in a situation where I feel that it's not going the way that's going to
be good for me and the residents, I will do whatever I need to do in my power, I I'm not being part of it. Now, if somebody want to everybody could heard what I said, what that that's up to you guys. Everybody made their own choice, and I'm fine with the choice that I made. But I needed to clarify about this
thing. I said I was okay with the 350 without the No, that is not that's exactly what I just said. That's that's where I was. But that package was not the 350 that we got. It was almost greed that was coming here. And I didn't even want to go into the detail.
So again, there was no way in America that I would have thought that like this council and then you telling me to be cordial, you know, these people calling me, they text me say, "Mayor, what's going this and this, that, I'm one person." And I told them, I said,
"Listen, everybody have their life to live. everybody. You know, I come here, I do my job, but you know what? I am not going to be playing around with people's lives, with people's stuff. I choose to
do that. Anybody could do whatever they need to do. But again, it's almost n it is 9:00. I almost said it's almost 9:00, but thank you, Councilman. I respect and pray for the best for everyone because when I walk into a room and they Oh, North Miami is here. That's what they
tell me and I don't know what they mean by that. Some of them will pull me to the side to tell me. So no, it's not looking good for me. So if we want to have this kumbaya and all that, I'm fine with that cuz that's the dream of every mayor. But it does not start with me. Yes, as the leader, I could only walk on
my line. I cannot talk and do anything. I do what I have to do and I leave. And when my term is done, I'll still be in North Miami and I know the employees going to be all right and the residents going to be all right. So at the end of the day is what we do in
our action. But no, if someone said I was talking about somebody, that's not even my character. Tell them, let me call the mayor and stop it. And I remember the the former mayor that was here, he was here for eight years. The um we never had any issues because I said I said, first of all, people talk a
lot. That's number one. So if you ever hear because people like the divi divisive and doing that that's what some people thrive on and that's not even me the minute that I know we don't have a I don't need to speak to you we good we'll say hi and continue
but I'm here to do a job and my job is represent North Miami I cannot say residents call me saying what is gonna happen to this country this is what they're gonna do they were telling me exactly and it was like I said it was six people randomly
And I told them no. And it's not on that issue. It's they they go on the agenda. They said, "Mr. Mayor, we know you you." So, that's where that's coming from. Do you think Do you think we should move the Yes, please. I I asked the manager if we can move the Yes, sir.
Excuse me. One second. I I talking about moving the quarter report to the next council meeting. I think it's unfair to the residents. If you want to put city events at the end of the meeting. Sure. The the quarter report is very very important and it is a very short presentation but going into budget season it's less than
5 minutes. I Okay. No, cuz I know we normally do the public July workshop as well. Are we still doing that? The budget workshop is No, no. I know that's not what it is, but I'm saying we could probably move it to that meeting. We normally do a a July budget workshop that's publicly. So, Vice Mayor, they say it's five minutes. So,
we good with five minutes. Um, council woman. Miss Reyes. Santana Reyes. Five minutes. See if Debbie is Debbie here? Yes, she is. Debbie, everybody. I know she's in the back. Debbie,
can we um we have a discussion, a budget discussion at the end of the meeting. Do you want to move it to that? No. Let do your thing and then because we, you know, at the end of the meeting it's slate. Let's get it. Okay. Good evening, U Mayor and Council.
Angela Reyes, chief financial officer. Um, I'm going to go over the first and second quarter financial report here. For the first quarter, our major items was 12 million about $12 million in PO RO rollovers and $13 million in
reappropriations. You still see some ARPA funds, but they are they have been encumbered with a PO. I just can't technically move them over, but they are all utilized and encumbered. At our first quarter, you see our general fund um at 32% in revenues and
26% in expenditures. Our enterprise funds are at 3% of revenues and 10% of expenditures. That's due to the delayed billing that we had during the first quarter. And our special revenue funds are at 26%
um revenues and 5% expenditures. At our first quarter, our half cent tax is at 17% and our uh revenues and our expenditures are at 5%. First quarter general fund revenues, I'm sorry. First quarter general fund
revenues are at 29 million. We're at 32%. And our expenses are at 26%. So we're right at the mark and we're below our expend our um expenditure as expected.
Here's our general funds by department. Overall, we're at 26% at our first quarter. Now, we're going into the second quarter where we have our PO rollovers at 12 million and our reappropriations at 9 million. We have an inter fund transfer
of 440 and that's for our ERP implementation. In our second quarter, our general fund revenues are at 51% and our expenditures are at 48%. Our enterprise revenues are at 5% and our expenditures are at 26%.
Again, we are at a 15% capacity of their billing. Once we get to the third quarter, we'll see that level out. And our expenditures are at 53%. Okay. Our year-to- date revenues at our half
cent sir tax are at 24% and our expenditures are at 13%. Our general fund revenues are at 52% in the second quarter and at 48% of expenditures. Our second quarter general fund expenses
by department are at 48%. So we're right at the mark. We're actually a little bit below of our expenditures. Our first quarter bank account balances went up at the end by 20% and that's due
to the influx of our our tiff revenues. But in our second quarter, we are at we went down 13% and that's to that's due to the refund that we give to the CRA from the tiff. Here's a picture of our operating
account balances over time on our first quarter. And here is an operating account balance tracking overtime of the second quarter. Here are some highlights of our operating account inflows and outflows
of our first quarter. At the end of our first quarter, we had a net inflow of $21 million. In our second quarter, we had an overall inflow of $4 million. Questions? Thank you. Thank you. Um any any
question, council? No, I just wanted to clarify. I was um I think our budget workshop is in August and then we have hearings in September and then August August. We don't do it in July. Yeah, we we remember we had it scheduled, right? That's the one that we had scheduled,
right? We had that. Yeah, we had budget hearings. But budget work. I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. But it's in September, right? The hearing workshop where we'll go Oh, with the residents. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But that's in all four districts. All four districts. Those are the town halls. Yeah, that's what I thought. Okay,
that's the name. Okay. Thank you. Have you proposed any dates yet for that? Yes, that's at the end of the meeting as part of the budget discussion. Yeah. Yeah. Is that the two the two important dates? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Okay, with that being said,
sometime we got to I don't even know where we are. We had so much discussion. Where are we? City events and announcement. Can we leave? Is there What's big thing that's I'm I'm playing. No, I know. I know that the hurricane season. Can we go? Yes. Yes. Come on.
Come on. Yes. And May Floyd, you doing hurricane season? Okay. Right after she's finished, ma'am, please. Yes. So we could move see the events. Oh, we still here for hurricane preparedness a floor. All right.
Good evening, mayor, council, staff, North Miami neighbors, and guests. My name is Beverly Graham, and I am presenting the following announcements on behalf of the city of North Miami. Vice Mayor Cassandra Timothy invites North Miami residents to join free basic to advanced computer classes every
Saturday until July 12th at the North Miami Public Library. Classes are offered from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and include training in Microsoft Word, Excel, email, and more with creole and Spanish interpreters available on site. To register, please visit the library or
call 3058915535. Proof of North Miami residence is required. Thinking about buying your first home? Join us for the firsttime home buyers education workshop in Creole held every fourth Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm at the North Miami
Public Library. Learn about grants, down payment assistance, closing costs, and more. To register, please call Expert Resource Community Center at 3056527616. Let your imagination shine with the North Miami Public Library summer reading challenge. Register now at northm.beanstack.com beingstack.com and
join us now until July 25th for a chance to win big. Winners will be announced on Saturday, July 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Family Funday and Summer Reading Wrapup taking place at the North Miami Public Library. It's your chance to read, win big, and color your world with fun.
This summer, little ones and their caregivers can sing, dance, and play at the North Miami Public Library Zubini summer session. Classes take place every Monday at 10 a.m. until July 28th. Offering music and movement fund for children's ages 0 to 4. Register at zumbini.com or scan the QR code on the
flyer. Be part of shaping the future of North Miami by attending one of the upcoming LDR update sessions featuring the Silver Spoon events. The next meetings will be taking place tomorrow, Wednesday, July 9th, and Thursday, July 10th, at the North Miami Public Library.
Students in grades 3 through six can dive into the world of coding every Thursday from until July 31st at the North Miami Public Library. No experience is needed and laptops will be available on site. Call 3058915535 to register. Space is limited.
This summer, teens can dive into fun and creativity with the North Miami Public Libraryies team programs, including anime club, art workshops, gaming days, and a youth empowerment camp. Activities are taking place now and run through July. Perfect for making new friends and learning new skills. Visit northmfl
north northmiami.beanstack.com or call 3058915535 for more info. Children can boost their reading confidence in the most adorable way by reading to therapy dogs at Wags and Tales. This heartwarming program takes place every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the
North Miami Public Library through July 29th. The excitement is non-stop every Tuesday at 10 a.m. this summer during show day at the North Miami Public Library. From bubble shows and magic to planetariums and DJ dance parties, each week brings a new adventure. Call 3058915535
for more info or visit northmafl.beanstack.com to register. Step into summer with the Soulstep line dancing every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Northmiami Public Library. Continuing all through through July 9th. Learn fun line dances that bring the community
together while promoting movement, culture, and good times. The North Miami Housing and Social Services Department invites you to attend the Housing and Social Services Community Fair happening Friday, July 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Joe Celeston Center. Attendees can look
forward to city and county resources, a walkthrough, food distribution, vendors, face painting for children, backpack giveaways, and lively DJ entertainment. For more information, please contact the h contact the housing and social services department at 3058959895. Attention community based and not
for-profit entities. The 2025 2026 community development block grant public services grant request for proposal opens on Monday, July 14th. To support this process, the North Miami Housing and Social Services Department will host a mandatory how to apply workshop on
Wednesday, July 23rd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Scott Galvin Center. To attend, please RSVP at 2025cdbg.eventbbright.com. For more information, contact the Housing Associates Department at 3058936511 or email housing@northmiami.gov.
Mark your calendars. This North Miami Library is hosting the Color Our World family funday on Saturday, July 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Enjoy free food, music, and special guest appearances from Blueie, Spider-Man, Sonic, and Tales. And we will also be announcing the winners for the 2025 summer reading
challenge. Are you a team between the ages of 15 and 18 looking to make a difference in North Miami? Apply now to be part of the city's youth council and help advise our mayor and council. The deadline is Sunday, August 31st by 5:00 pm. Please visit northmiami.gov/
youth counsel for more details. Help North Miami students prepare for the new school year by donating backpacks and school supplies now through Monday, July 28th at the North Miami Public Library. Save the date for our back to school block party on that's happening Monday, August 11th from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the library. Don't miss
the fun. Help shape more walkable, bike friendly North Miami. The city is currently seeking applicants to represent North Miami on the Miami Day Transportation Planning Organization's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Long name. If you're passionate about
sustainability and safer streets, we encourage you to apply at northm.gov/bicycle advisory. The office of the city clerk is teaming up with the Miami Day Tax Collector's Office and the Miami Day Clerk of Court for a joint mobile service clinic bringing essential services right to our
community. This is taking place Wednesday, July 30th, 10 a.m. to 2 pm at the North Miami Public Library for on the-go assistance with appointment-only driver license services. There will also be court services all in one convenient stop. Don't miss this opportunity to save the time and get the help that you
need. To register, please email city clerk@ northmiamfl.gov. For more information, please contact office of city clerk at 3058959817. To stay uptodate with Nomi news, events, programs, and services, log on to North Miamiy's official website at ww.northmiami.gov.
Click connect with Nomi on the homepage to sign up for the city's newsletters. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram at NorthmFL. Follow us on X at Nomi News. This concludes the city announcements. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, mayor and council. Mayor
Raman, chief of strategic initiatives and emergency management manager through the manager. I'll be very brief. No, you're good. So, as we are entering the peak of the 2025 hurricane season, so while there are no immediate threats, we remain in a state of readiness. So please know that
during the recent increment rather a couple of weeks ago we've deployed our street teams and that is um more of like a simulation for us to monitor floodprone areas to ensure residents our safety and we monitor them in real time.
We've also launched our public education campaign focused on storm readiness evacuation zones and continuity continuity plans. So we have joined um the event of housing and social services on July 18th. So please if our residents
are aware of that um we are going to be there um in partnership with Miami Date County's Department of Emergency Management. Um we will have a table that will provide information on hurricane preparedness as well as emergency evacuation assistance program as we've
seen in Texas. So conditions can change quite drastically and quickly. We urge our residents to stay informed. Please sign up to alerts um for city alerts and through our website or stay connected through our social media. That concludes my update. Thank you.
A thank you. Thank you so very much. Yes sir. You were saying something. Okay. We are moving to appointment. Madame clerk. Yes. So we have uh three board appointments. Appointing Dana Mlu Finelo to the downtown action plan advisory
committee. Kenneth each at large to the board of adjustment and was Michelle Gupier at large to the North Miami Commission for Women. Thank you. You know, somebody might have clerk called me about the Commission for Women, but I can't think of who. Okay. So, move.
Yeah. Second. I will have to look and I have a motion made by Councilwoman Esté Irvin to approve the board appointments. The motion was seconded by Mayor Desome. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The motion carries with a 5-0 vote.
Thank you. Consent agenda. Unless a member of the city council wishes to remove a specific item from this portion of the agenda, tabs A through G and I and K constitute the consent agenda. These resolutions and items are self-explanatory and are not expected to require additional review or discussion. These items will be recorded
as individually numbered resolutions adopted unanimously by the following motion. That the consent agenda comprised of tabs AG, I and K be adopted. Move approval. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Burns
to approve the consent agenda tabs A through G, I, and K. The motion was seconded by Mayor Desome. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The motion carries with a 5-0 vote. Thank you, Madam Clerk. There there's a couple of changes that we made. Council,
Vice Mayor, was it Tab H that? No, Tab H is good. Oh, yeah. It is fine. Okay, good. Okay, Madame Clerk. Tab H. A proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, establishing the city of North Miami residential hazardous tree removal program and approving the program guidelines
attached as exhibit A providing for an effective date and all other purposes. Tab H. Thank you. Um madam well let's open it so that I don't forget for public hearing. Okay, public hearing is open on the item.
Public hearing is closed. Madame vice mayor. So essentially this is a program I've been getting several calls from residents asking if we could trim trees um on the rideaways in their backyard especially prior to hurricane season. Um I don't know if you all recall during Hurricane Irma and even during the
torrential rain that we had. Um there were several trees that were falling on people's home. So this is just a pilot program that I wanted to start um to assist residents with tree trimming. It will be a company doing the tree trimming. It won't be our staff. Um, I know they're overwhelmed with all the
tree trimming requests that we get um throughout the city for the ones that are on the swell. Um, the only thing that I would like to make sure that we include, and this is for staff, is that we give priorities to seniors um for seniors who are in homes that may that can't afford it. If we can just make
sure that our most vulnerable population are being um addressed and this is something that'll be districtwide, not just in district 2. Um and staff has ensured that they'll there'll be like an aotment for each district so that um as you all are getting requests um they'll come through this program first come
first serve. Can I ask to the mayor? Yes sir. Um on the the AMI was 80%. Um is that standard um madam manager or it is 100% because I know CRA
is up to 120. I was going to ask maybe we move it to 120. I don't know if the of the because the problem we have was we have people who are house poor. They're seniors very limited income but they own their house. Correct. So if you look at their value you like well it knocks them out but you know
they're in the house because they've been in there for 40 years. Um if if we could adjust that that I think would serve and gain more people especially the seniors like you're we're trying to help. No problem. To move it to 120 AMI. Yes. Okay. I move the amendment to 120.
That'll provide more money for them, right? More people will qualify. More people will qualify. Okay, I see. We good. Um, so I'll move it with that amendment. Second. Did you Well, I didn't move it as yet, but I'll move it with that amendment.
I'll second it. Madame clerk a priority on I have a motion made by Vice Mayor Timothy to approve tab H with the following amendments. that priority be given to senior citizens and that the
area median income be increased to 120% AMI. The motion was seconded by Mayor Desame. All in favor? Any opposed? Item passes with a 50- vote. Thank you. Next item. J J. A proposed resolution of the mayor
and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, approving and adopting the North Miami 5-year 20252029 consolid consolidated plan and the fiscal year 2025 2026 annual action plan under the community development block grant and
home investment partnerships program providing for an effective date and all other purposes. Tab J. Move approval. Second. Oh yes. Um
the public hearing is open on the item. Public hearing is closed. I have a motion made by Councilman Burns to approve the item at Tab J. The motion was seconded by Mayor Desome. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion. The item passes with a 5-0 vote. Thank you. Thank you, Albert. And I know
we have some work to do with the federal with HUD. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Tab L. Tab L. A proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, approving the evaluation committee's ranking and recommendation to award request for qualifications for the RFQ number
30-24-25, Guaranteed Energy, Water, and Wastewater Performance Savings Contracting Services to Performance Services, Inc., further authorizing the interim city manager and city attorney to negotiate an agreement with the selected vendor for the upgrade of the city's water meters from an from
a manual system to an advanced metering infrastructure. parenthesis AMI system providing for and effective date and for all other purposes. Tab L. Public hearing is open on top L. Bill, come on. I didn't even I thought you left. You
still here? Do we have a presentation on it? No. Bill, you make the presentation. Tell us what we got. No. Go ahead. I I I see the floor to you, Bill. the mayor's No, I know Bill is the one who went up. Go ahead. Go ahead, sir.
Because I know, but I know I know. All right. Go ahead, sir. All right. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Council member Alberto Estrada purchasing uh department. uh through the manager. Uh the item before you is a request for your approval of the
evaluation committee's recommendation for selection and award of the solicitation titled RFQ number 30 2425 uh to the firm Performance Services Incorporated to provide the city with guaranteed energy water and wastewater
performance savings contracting services as reflected in the council report that was submitted in support of the item. In response to the aforementioned solicitation, uh the city received the four proposals
which were initially reviewed by the purchasing department to ensure that they all met the minimum requirements in order to be considered eligible for this contract. All four applicants met the minimum requirements and were subsequently forwarded to the evaluation
committee uh for their review and evaluation. The committee was convened on July 1st via a virtual team's meeting uh whereby they conducted their evaluation and the scoring of each applicant. The results
of the committee evaluation and scores are attached to the council report and also summarized on page two of the council report. as a result of the evaluation committee's uh recommendation uh that the highest ranked firm
performance services be awarded this contract. Uh this is now being submitted to you the council for your review. Uh the initial focus of this contract is to integrate smart water technologies with
an automated uh AMI system uh to improve the city's water management and enhance operational efficiencies. Upon conclusion of negotiations with the recommended firm, uh staff will then submit the results of
the negotiations to city council for their review and approval before proceeding with the project. Uh here with me in support of the item is the city's public works director, Mr. Gareth Fielder. And if you have any questions,
we'll be glad to take them. That concludes my public hearing is open on the item and then it's public hearing is open on the item and then we're going to come here for discussion. Bill, thank you very much. William Prevetel, 12,000 North Bay Shore Drive. I'm in favor of the item. Uh I wanted to use
the opportunity. This item is regarding water, our waste water and regular water. And I'd like to possibly bring up two points of consideration. Um even though it doesn't particularly have to do with this, but it is regarding the water. One is uh do we still have
fluoride in the water? If it's been taken out, can we as a city, not as a state, but as a city provide this? Uh since it provides probably 20 to 25% protection to teeth, this doesn't mean necessarily that oh some child has four
cavities or five cavities and one of them is because of the water. It's really more that everybody's teeth is compromised by 20 or 25%. meaning everybody's teeth, particularly the younger people, the younger families have that. Uh this is um not just a
health concern, it's an economic concern. This would hurt the people that are probably uh least capable of handling this type of problem uh and and fixing the cavities and having their regular care and such. Rather than us, you know, maybe we can be pennywise and
pound rather than being pennywise and pound foolish, we can help resolve this by bringing the fluoride back if it's not there and helping our greater community, saving them tons of money and aggravation over time. Second item regarding the water, there's
always a concern about people behind on the water bills and helping to supplement them. Uh, has anybody considered the possibility of a of a staggered um progressive uh costing of the water services? Let's say it starts off with and let me
just throw numbers. First thousand gallons to everybody that has an account free. The second thousand maybe it's X dollars. Third thousand maybe a little bit more dollars. A little bit more, a little bit more, a little bit more. What does this do? It means that people who
really can't afford it, if they really buckle down and tighten up on their on their water use, they don't have to pay. People who are wasteful, they will pay more. Please consider Bill, who's going to pay for that the water they use. I I could I could do that calcul. You're going to pay. No, no. Can you give us a check or you going to help?
No, no, no. Let me let me tell you how it's done. No. You take You take the full amount that Bill take the full amount at the end of the year and then you disperse it so it becomes progressively higher. So you still got the same amount of money at the end, but the people who waste the most will pay the most. So on your first Thank you. Thank you.
on your first We could help the We could help the people. I got you. And and we know we love you and and we know you love immigrants, but Bill, we're in a different time. That's number one. So with your first question, we got the fluoride. No, it's a federal thing possibly. And it could help some people
that need it most. I got you. No, we we answered you asked two questions. The first one about the fluoride. No, we cannot. We're following state. We buy we buy water from the county. It's something we're not going to mess. No. So I'm with you on that one and I think
all of the council is with you. But Bill, you see what's happening. That's it's that's not going to happen. And we're not going to step out and do what we do as much as we do. On the second one, I think we need money. And then guess what? Now you're going to have more people who because we not have whatever that little thing that they
used to get from know me first. It's it's so now you may have to help out and and do that bill. And I know you will. I appreciate the council is believes in science and statistics. You know, you know, I'm a teacher. You know, I do. Now, I don't know if the people in the federal government do, but that's a whole different story. Thank
you. Um, you have any other presentation, sir? Do you? Or is this? Okay. So, anyone else for public hearing? Move for approval. No, hold on. Um, public hearing is closed on the item. Um, let's Yes, sir.
I have a couple questions. clarification for the purchasing director. Um, this contract is for the is the first four months of the study. They'll come back and if we
decide we want to move forward with it, then we have that option and we would have to approve that going forward based upon their results of their inspections of our water meters and our water loss.
But at some point in time, we will have a chance to discuss what they're going to do, the expense, and the number of meters that would be proposed because we're talking about tens of millions of dollars in water meter replacements. I want to make sure
that what we're awarding tonight is just a fraction of phase one, the study. it comes back to us and then we look at everything that's going to be presented and we'll decide then whether it's going to move forward or not.
You're 100% correct. Uh Council Birds, that's exactly it. Okay. So, we have times to put the brake on it or to accelerate or to do a lot of different things. Okay. The the initial phase is essentially consists of an assessment, a studies, reports that the firm that is being
commissioned will have to uh submit. They'll be working with our staff uh primarily with public work staff and other staff and then that will that proposal and that report will definitely be brought back to uh to the council for your approval.
Okay. Thank you. Move for approval. Second. I have a motion made by Councilwoman Estee Irvin to approve the item at Tab L. The motion was seconded by Councilman Charles. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Item passes with a 5-0 vote. Thank you.
Why didn't we get to hear from uh Jose at all? You know, you you bring the dream team in and and you had him sitting back. Wait a minute. I was going to acknowledge Jose. Jose, did Max leave? Oh, okay. The whole team. Oh, okay. Well, they were Becca, too.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next item. Tab M. A proposed first reading ordinance of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, amending chapter 7 of the North Miami code of ordinances entitled finance by amending relevant sections of article 3 entitled procurement code to increase
the current dollar threshold allowed for the city manager to approve the award of contracts without the authorization of the city council from $30,000 to $50,000 providing for repeal conflict severability codification and for an effective date tab M.
Thank you so much. Um again um with this is okay Councilman Charles you have the floor. You want to open it too? You you want public hearing? Public hearing is open on the item. Public
hearing is open on the item. Seeing none come we closing. Mike, you don't want to say anything? No. Um thank you very much. uh mayor um looking at everything that we've been doing uh approving whenever something is
in the 30s 40s we mostly just put that on um consent agenda and then with uh the turn of event um as um everything is on the rise and I think it is just uh
just like um easy call just to raise the threshold so that we can um get certain things done um you know without uh coming back in here. So uh we have it at 30,000 now. It's just going to raise it to 50,000 if it is the will of uh of the
council so that we can you know get get the um job of city done in a timely uh manner. So that's about it. Mr. Move for approval. Well, discussion first. Well, wait, wait, wait. This is
and I think um Councilman Charles, earlier today you mentioned that that is one of those issues that they they did tell me, you know, I got one call about. Here's the the the the thing people just assume it could be true or not, what we
will do. So, they question why and I told them, I don't know. We will wait at the meeting and we'll find out. So right now we currently at $30,000 for the city manager which I even think that was too much because it was at 25,000. So,
and meaning that if there's an item that is coming, it's it's a protection for us as the council that we know and the residents kind of know that the manager, any manager
could come in and spend without our permission up to $30,000. It was 25. We put it up to 30 because of things and that was it. It we were okay with it. So when I saw the 50 again, I said to
myself, okay, 50, then I started, you know, I don't even think I this week I was so busy sometime I don't think we we briefed on this particular item. So when I saw it and I got a a call because of what you mentioned. So, I'm just going to let you know why some of the things
that I do. And it was questioned into why. They said to me, "Mayor, you know, a new city manager was coming in because it doesn't make no sense. I'm just telling you exactly what what they said." And I asked the resident, "Can I say?" They said privately you could tell
them who but not publicly and I wouldn't do it publicly but they said we it it it just looks so we got to figure it out what would be the the increase and I'm not okay with it because the the the increase right now is a protection for
for us at least we know any city man and I'm not attaching it to anybody that we would at least have if something were to go and This is again on on policy matters.
If we have a city manager that wants to go wild, whatever the case is, at least we know the the guard rail in terms of 30 or 40. And we're not talking about anyone else. So when it is 50, it is a little bit more. Meaning that they don't need permission from us. They could give
anybody that they choose to $50,000. So, I cannot come here tonight again to say, "Okay, that's a good policy thing that's going to help protect North Miami." I'm okay with that. I think if this is something that we wanted to do out of a
council retreat or we have a discussion and we agree together, again, these are one of the things. Okay, let's the the manager at 30,000 maybe we need to move it to 35. Maybe the 50 would have been okay in terms of that. I think a discussion but when you don't have
discussion you have an item that is such as this those are what cause a lot of the people to think when they say okay you're wasting your time this already baked in there and you know so it's like they telling us there's no real reason to come here and to have a regular
meeting cuz some of these items been so that's why and you may think this has a lot to do with me no I'm not I'm I'm I'm not telling them to call me they don't have my you know I don't tell them you know they just called in say hey this and this and that. So again with this item
my question and my concern is that 25 was a little bit too but you got to think about this you are saying to the resident okay we going to do 50 if something goes wrong which
you know then it would be okay you approve this to happen and I'm not saying nothing obviously we don't want that to for our city but we don't know managers come and go whatever yes yes ma'am Obviously. Yes. Yes. Um, Councilwoman Mary gonna be next. So, that that's my concern in terms of that
amount. It has nothing. Again, people may think it has something to do with Theesa. What? No. And and if you're here to do your job, it doesn't matter. And Annabbo could tell you I did not vote for Annabbo. And but she could say one thing.
I have never never mistreated her. Never do not give her the respect. I don't have to vote for her, but I work with her and she could tell you privately or whatever. That's that's who I am. So, whoever it is, I'm going to do my best representing North Miami because that's who I am. I don't have to agree
with what happened. And I will let people know I disagree and and agree because I want to have that peace at mine when I when I go go to bed that I did the right thing for me, not for anybody else. So again on this particular item I I think the 50 that
that's where but and and again if we're going to make the case for it it is what it is but you want to say something I'd like to say something please go ahead. Um thank you so much um for the floor. Uh as the mayor said earlier outside of
him I'm the most senior person here and I and I remember the history on this. We were actually at 50 before. You remember we Yeah, I I'll jog your memory. Um uh councilwoman
Carol Keys at the time um requested to bring it down to 25 and at the time we were having forensic audit if you remember and after our forensic audit we were we were just fine. And so after it's been a couple years now, I actually
was the first one to sponsor um the threshold to bring it up to 30. And I think it's appropriate now. I think that this administration administration prior have not shown to be irresponsible and um and a lot of time we've have to come back to you know for for dollars that
and for services that were needed that were needed. So I I am very comfortable supporting this because I want to remind our community that we were at this number before it was because that there were we were having a forensic audit. We
were we were we were we were just fine and I think that we are a healthy city. We have a healthy administration. I'm very confident in the administration that we have and so I will definitely be supporting this item tonight. Thank you so much. Okay, Councilman. And then Vice Mayor,
you want to speak on the item? Right. I had mixed emotions on this particular item. Um, for a city that has a $200 million budget, you would think in the SC scheme of things 50,000 isn't um that much. But when you look at the um
the chances of abuse, I I I have some concern and checks and balances because we did have a time where we had a very serious um deficit that was created by um unbridled spending. And um when you
say $50,000 uh dollars that a manager can can spend um that doesn't mean they can spend part one of a contract at 50 49,000 turn
around and spend 49,000 on part B of a contract from my understanding and the next thing you know they have spent um more money or a phase one. So, and then the other concern I I have is that this city
manager didn't ask for it to be raised to 50,000. The previous city manager did not ask for it to be raised to 50,000. Um I like the checks and balances. We have a new city manager coming in. Um I
would uh like to wait and see how that is managed. I would like to wait and see and let the manager come and say you know what this is what I need. I need it the threshold raised to 35 or 40 or 50.
Um the manager coming in is unknown to me. Um, I know her to be uh very astute with spending money, but um I think to protect ourselves as council members and our fidiciary responsibility, that
$30,000 of spending um is uh is a good a good limit. And if it becomes a problem, then we we can address it later on. Um the other issue I have it right here um is uh
again just the the the 30,000 and if this the new city manager coming in thinks it needs to be adjusted. Mr. uh uh city attorney in this particular resol or ordinance it says award of contracts. In the past, I thought I saw
where it said um expense the 30,000 threshold to expend. Does that mean an item that is not a per se contract where we have terms and conditions and so forth um are are the
contracts but a regular spending item that comes up uh is excluded? No, the manager's uh spending authority is $25,000 or $30,000 currently. Period. Whether it's a contract, anything. Okay. So, their threshold would come up.
And just because of the word contract here doesn't limit it to to contracts. It limits it to to any day-to-day spending. Any dayto-day. Okay. Thank you. Good. Oh, no. just for me. Um I know I haven't had the opportunity to have the
discussion with the incoming manager as it relates to this item to see what her opinion on it. I'll support it tonight, but definitely want to just make sure what's the ramification around it um on second reading knowing that this is first reading and that'll come back. That's all. Oh, it's it's an ordinance.
Yeah, the ordinance. Two readings. Have another time. Well, I mean, we're not going to if we vote yes, we're not going to change that. We not ma madam cl please call the vote if yes go ahead. I just I just want to add uh something if I may you know um as um policy makers
this is a place for us to come in here and discuss. So we uh look at it together because we are subject to um sunshine. So there's no way that we I can go and explain to a um council person the mayor this is exactly what is happening.
common sense um legislation. We need to look at it as a city. The um madame manager, the point that was being raised that someone can come and phase one $49,000 and then phase two
$49,000. And uh is that um um true? That's not the way it works from what I I know and understand. No, no. I Okay, so good.
Again, it is not something that you just the city manager just decide to spend $50,000. Uh, it has to go to the puppet channel. It has to go to the puppet channels. Yes, you can can laugh.
No, no, no, no. But C, that's No, it has to go to the puppet channel because you'll make it sound the boss though. You'll make it sound No, no, no, no, no. If we approve this, let's be clear. If we approve this tonight, the manager could do whatever she want with $50,000. Period. So, let's not sugar coat it. That's what it is.
And we ready to vote for it. That is so I don't think mayor. Go ahead, sir. Yes. That is that is not all right. That that is not that. Okay. So, Mr. Attorney, hold on. Hold on. No, Councilman, let's get this clarified. Yeah. So, with this amendment, is it that he's amending
that? Why is he's they are requesting to increase the city manager has some limit in terms of that allocation. So mayor the the what the ordinance does is change the man the authority of the manager to spend up to $50,000. That is
still there's still a requirement that the money be used for municipal purposes. So the idea Excuse me sir. Mayor can I finish please? Yes. So the idea that the manager can spend it on anything is not correct. The manager would still have to it still would have
to have a municipal purpose. It would still be audited. I mean, you know, it's not like she can just go and throw a party for $50,000. It's not related to Okay. Okay. So, Mr. Attorney, since you decided to get into this political agreement, so let me ask you. Sorry, I was asked a question and I respond. No, I know, but I'm asking you a
question as the attorney. So if a manager comes in and wants to give someone a contract for for 49,000 to do a party, let's just say for whatever the the reason is. So you saying to me tonight that is not would she does not have that authority because it's not it's
it's if it's a municipal purpose, she whatever I mean it's municipal purpose. I could say okay whatever that municipal purpose might be. I'm saying a party here in North Miami that we're not doing. If the party's for a municipal purpose, she could do it. That's the Thank you. Thank you so much.
Oh. Um, go ahead. Go ahead. Um, Madame Clerk, let's let's call the Are we ready? If there was a second, I didn't hear it. Second. Okay. Thank you. I have a motion made by Councilwoman Estimate Irvin to approve the item at tab M. The motion was seconded by Councilman Charles. Councilman Charles,
how do you vote? Yes. Mayor Desme, how do you vote? No. Councilman Burns, how do you vote? No. Vice Mayor Timothy, how do you vote? Yes. Councilwoman Estimate Iran, how do you vote? Yes. The motion carries with a 3-2 vote.
Awesome. Thank you. Now, next so that we could go home. What's next? The discussions which Oh, okay. So, the first one is actually being removed. Mr. Mayor, the discussion regarding no mural that um so that was an era. So, the only discussion that I was sponsoring is the street reopening.
Do you want me to have it for now? And this you want. Yeah. So, um there was John Sasso who's here today. um brought this item back to me several years ago, probably before baby, which is probably why I forgot. Um and staff did their due diligence due
diligation opine and there's a street that's on northeast um 121st Street that has been closed for several years over 30 years um because of this licensed agreement that we had with Greenwish Studios. And I believe the city attorney can probably give you guys more update if you guys
would like. But um the question here today is would we like to reopen up the road? As you all know, 125th Street has a lot of traffic. You're seeing right now with um the bike lanes, there's more development happening on that site. We just approved um the North Miami Beach
volleyball which is going to bring bringing over 400 500 um students in that area. So, you know, I didn't want to just tell staff, hey, reopen the road. definitely wanted to bring the conversation up here to see if the council would like for administration to
begin looking at the possibilities to reopen that road. And so that's where it's a it's a discussion. It's a discussion item. Mhm. There I did and I know I know Gabe has been Yeah, Gabe had about um and can we
but I know the city attorney has also given me an an opinion that um I didn't even take it that far. Um in terms of so can we let gay so what so before wait mayor city attorney yeah city attorney thing if we can reopen the row that's the first question
um I mean this is a discussion item and what we would do after tonight is go in to um look at the uh franchise agreement and see ways to get out if that's what the council wants. This is something that's been going on since I first got here. Um I I don't remember how it
happened, but I remember um under Larry Spring, we discovered that there was a franchise agreement and that um Gwennes Studios had not been paying at all um from the time they got the franchise agreement. Um under Larry Spring um we
settled that and then they continued to to use the road. Um the the the agreement is that they get the road so long as um so long as it's the the property is still being used for movie
production. I forget the exact language. There's been questions over the years of whether or not um there is movie productions going on there and whether or not um we should pull the franchise agreement. Various managers have come to
me. We've gone back and forth. I know we've been lobbied and so nothing's happened. Um, but my understanding is and I I think I think recently they did something over there. Um, I mean by the letter of of what we enter the agreement that we entered into, I don't believe
personally that they meet that requirement today. Um, if you look at what Gwennish Studios was doing at the time this agreement was entered into, I believe I mean they were filming like Miami Vice and all sorts of other things really. It's nothing to that level
today. Um, and so yeah, if the council told me today, go look into it, we would look into it and we probably would be able to find grounds to to terminate that that agreement and open that road. So my discussion up here to my colleagues is I would like to give
administration um authorization to look at the options to see if we do have a legal um reason to open up that road um and if the answer is yes to begin that process. So what is the So Gabe, please come up. So we have the phone.
If you can have Mr. John Yeah. because I know John appear. Yeah. I I never met John. So that's why I wouldn't. Hi John. How you doing? So yes for a second. Let me ask the just just so for a historical um
perspective when Miami Vice came here um the first year of production they did not have the street closed when Miami Vice became a massive hit um and they started uh production for many many months and Granite Studio was all of
their interior shots and and post-production stuff. They used to have semi-trailers of of movies, the the dressing mobile dressing rooms, and the city was also one of the ones that suggested because of the security
concerns to they lined it up along that road and then um and the city came to them and said, "Let alleviate the problems that we're having because you had thousand, you know, hundreds of people hanging out trying to watch all the filming and so forth." So, the
studio and North Miami got into an agreement to block off that road. And at the time, some of the residents of Greenwich weren't were necessarily happy about it. Some of the people weren't happy about the pass through um cutting off the the access. Um Greenwich Studio is no longer even close to what it used
to be um as far as the major productions because after Miami Vice, they were doing a lot of uh uh music videos there and a lot of other events. And if you look at the property or look at the street now, the north side, right when you turn off 16th Avenue, has a fence.
And on the west side, just when the property ends, they have a fence there. And then there's a fence all the way down at 14th Avenue, um, closed off. Um, and so, uh, that's what's the status of it right now. And that large portion
isn't even used at at this time. Thank you for that. So, so um and Mr. Sasso did send you all an email if you would like to the street that we're discussing. If I may, uh Mr. Mayor, um listening to um all the story in here, unless we open
it, um we need we need a way to um get by because the traffic on 125th Street, I don't know, is um getting worse and worse. So, um I think um there's nothing wrong with that. Let's just go ahead and reopen the street. So, so before we do
that, I'm just trying to get to the history of it. So, you own the the property or what's your relationship? So, you want So, my name is John Sasso. Um, I own some commercial properties on 14th Avenue, uh, 12210 to 60 Northeast 13
Court and 1375 Northeast 123rd Street. Uh, collectively we call this little pocket of town Nomi Rail. um in that area there's about 100,000 square ft of leasable uh units that we have in that
in that pocket and we're investing a significant amount of money to bring this little industrial pocket to life um and with a long-term vision of trying to make this a really nice entertainment district right off the transit hub um where the community can gather and have
events and uh shop dine that kind of thing. um this street uh it would be our main connection to Biscane Boulevard. So from 14th Avenue, the only main connection we have to a major corridor is north on 14th Avenue to Northeast
123rd Street and that's it. Um as vice mayor said north, you guys just gave CRA funds to the volleyball academy, 500 kids coming. uh last two months ago or a month ago, we also had another CRA uh funded company come, Paradigm Senior
Services, who's bringing 100 plus employees uh to our building on 123rd Street. So, those two alone outside of who's currently operating businesses there and who will be joining the leasable square feet we have available
is going to cause crazy bottlenecks. Um it's giving us access to Biscane Boulevard um to 16th Avenue and Biscane Boulevard will give us some of the businesses that have been there for a while a lifeline. Uh there's another CRA
funded uh business lost city brewery uh who the CRA funded about four years ago also on our street. So CRA in sees our vision and has been supporting us and council members thank you for your continued support. Um, but this is a
kind of a major issue for us. Um, oh, thank you so much, John. Um, former mayor, um, Gabe Gman is here. I, um, and I apologize. Um, Mr. John, we you could use this one. Um, this mic is either or
either or is fine. So, he called me. I don't have no stake in the game. Um he called he asked and I and I turned it to the city manager and I did say for him to for Gabe to connect with the district um commissioner just to get it spoke today. So you don't so what's your your your
game Mr. Mayor want to say welcome. Good evening. Nice to be here. Thank you uh to the council and to the mayor. I represent Greenwich Greenwich Studios. I'm not going to litigate this in front of the council today in an open meeting on a discussion item. Just first to be clear since we're making a record here, I object for the record for any on any
ef against any efforts by the city to reopen the streets and questions. Comments were made to that effect. Uh the city vacated that right of way in 1989. There is a license agreement in place. Comments have been made about the level of film production that's at the
studio today. We're glad to litigate that any moment of any time. The agreement doesn't say that it has to be Miami Vice level production. In fact, has been production consistently for the last several years. This has not been abandoned, which is the standard under the agreement. This has come up several
years ago. It was settled as the city attorney said, it was resolved. There's a long paper trail on this. So, what I urge the council to do is I'm very easy to get in touch with. I'll reach out to every single member of the council if that's okay, the city attorney, the city manager, whoever it is to walk through
this. Uh the Green Granite Studios is a member of this community. They're looking to do things with the city and try to find productive ways to move this forward and to move that property forward also in a way that's positive for the whole area. Thank you. This is a discussion and um
you know the the vice mayor for bringing it up. Thank you, Gabe. Um thank you. Thank you. And I did also meet with um Gabe and I also meet with Pedro Cassan who actually represents a developer for Greenwood Studios. I think it was in their plans at one point to include that road into their development, which we
know is not currently happening at the moment. So, in in the sake of, you know, time and so forth, but especially with the traffic situation that's getting ready to happen on 121st Street, my do I have to make a motion, Mr. City Attorney, or to give direction or No, I mean, I understand where you where
you're going with it. We'll look into it and I'll discuss it with each of you. Just one other thing. Um, didn't the uh connectivity study address this particular road? Is there anybody here u transportation transportation or or or Debbie or
somebody anybody that could they did say that the road should be address it? It's 10:00, right? So So I think I think I'm okay with the attorney looking into it, talking to those parties and just come back and educate and then Mr. Attorney and then Mr.
attorney. Um the one of the members just said that the city had vacated it and there's a lot of difference interpretation of being vacated. So you'll come back with the illegal ease and so forth and um everything we should do or not do
if we if we are decide to reopen it which probably that's the road that I'm seeing we go we need to figure out and and do some type of a study um at least how would that impact the the I'm okay with either way if it's legal whatever
that the council decide to do but if they if we decide to do that at least we'll know the the how it impact If we already have that, it's fine. Impact what? The the the res if you're going to reopen it the traffic. It's going to alleviate traffic. Well, yeah, but the folks isn't um what
what's the the one that's behind Gwen Margolas that that apartment studio and the runaround that wouldn't they be able to use it? So, well, it'll be open to the public because now it'll be it's you can go both ways. You can go to Biscane and 16th. Yeah.
Yeah. The the owners are actually upset when it closed. I would imagine. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Thank you so very much. All righty. Yeah, I think that's it. Um and the the next and it's the most important one. I think we should have done that at first.
Oh, yeah. Please, Miss Reyes, um between you and the manager, Angela Reyes, chief financial officer. Um here to discuss and propose the tentative millage rates as and to set the uh budget hearing dates as well. For
the record, we're propos the mil 7.4. Okay. It's on the third paragraph. So, based on the city f financial position, uh staff recommends that the current year adopted millage rate of 7.4 be set as a
proposed tentative millage rate. We do have a responsibility to submit our DR420 calculations to um the the county by Jul um by in 35 days after we got the property appraisers report. So in August we would have to do
this. Okay. So is there a motion needed? So move. Yes, we do. And you need those you want to set those uh u dates the rate too up to up to 7.4 which is where it's at right now. Yes. And the dates would be September 11th and
September 25th. We can't which you know with the county we can't do it with the county and the school board for approval as stated by the CFO. Since we're taking a vote has to open up to public. Oh sorry. Thank you. Public hearing is
open on only the dates bill of the military. We're going to get the other one. Okay. Unice coming up. All right. You Miss Baker, you're going the wrong way. Thank you so much. Um, I think it was moved. I second it or I think council somebody
second it. We close public hearing. I have a motion by councilwoman Estimate Irvin uh to set the millage rate up to 7.4 mills and seconded by Mayor Desome. All in favor? I. Any opposed?
Motion carries with a 5-0 vote. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Citizen forum Bill Mike Veronica everybody. Oh, Councilman Jose. Jose is Jose I haven't seen you for
months. You okay? Yeah. Yes, sir. Hi, council members. Uh, this is in reference to reopening 121st Street. My name is Andrew Nabowski. I'm here on behalf of Global Prestige Estates, Prestige City View, 1250 Northeast 14th
A. and the two contiguous properties adjacent to the north. Uh it's about nine acres. We have roughly two dozen tenants, small industrial bay. Um without sounding overly redundant, the former sites and tenants at Greenwood
Studios um back in '89, obviously the use was more congested and the traffic was less congested. Um obviously we all see the bottlenecks on 16th Avenue, 123rd Street. So again, without sounding overly redundant, I'm in favor of
opening. Thank you. Next, Veronica Guusman, 540 Northwest 127th Street. Good evening, council. Um, city manager, city attorney, and members of the community. There seems to be no rhyme or reason in how this deis
conducts city business or manages taxpayer fund funds. Attendees are subjected to child childish tantrums. Public comments are requested at will, whether before officials give their own comments or after when the public can no longer respond. You cannot sit here and
criticize Republicans or the federal administration for what they are doing when you in fact are doing the same thing. Last meeting there were comparisons of Maybach and head coaches. The price of a Maybach is 241,000. And last time I checked, we are not the
1972 Dolphins. Our current governor is also a Harvard graduate and his salary is 141,000. While it was reasoned that Miss Theelis should make two and a half times that amount along with many other outlandish requests and that this was being brought up for debate because of
her gender, many who spoke against approval of her contract did so because of the lack of process. Instead, we were called hypocrites for the paying of lavish parties within the city. Could it be the same people who wanted the city to pay for their own lavish party last year for the Compass Festival? These
parties are all approved and put on by you, the council. The same council who is supposed to represent all constituents of North Miami, not the selected chosen friends and family. Many of us have stood before you every meeting, making our requests known, and still we go unheard as if our statements
have no merit or value. Disappointingly, Miss Theilus' contract was pro approved without a majority or unanimous vote, which is concerning. Are the voters of North Miami not worth $2.5 million? Are we not worth keeping our pedestrians safe by implementing more traffic safety
or a working water plant? Or are free turkeys and public's gift cards all we should settle for? I am hereby formally asking how many applicants applied for the city manager position. How many applicants were formally reviewed to ensure they met the qualifications? Why
were none interviewed? Why was Mr. contract not negotiated? Where are the fun where are the funds coming from to support this extravagant? Thank you. Thank you so much. One thing lastly, on June 10th, I asked specific questions regarding Nomi Village. I was emailed a public records
request stating that it was completed on June 25th with no attachment. I would like for this request to be properly completed. Thank you. What was the request? I'm sorry. regarding the question regarding the questions that I had regarding Nomi Village on June 10th. I I see the that the the administration
is taking notes. Thank you, Will. Bill William Prevetail, 12,000 North Bay Shore Drive. Uh earlier in the meeting, there was some uh unscheduled discussion particularly amongst the council. Uh, if I may, not that I can speak for all constituents, but may I say that I
believe our council and our staff do their very best, are very dedicated, try very hard. There are often disagreements. Uh, all of us have some little disagreements and such, but I really think your efforts are sincere, and you do have that dedication, and that is appreciated by myself, and I'm
sure many people in the city. I'd like to extend my sympathies to um to um the TPS people, to um not just the Haitian community, but the Venezuelans, the Nicaraguans,
and the Hondurans uh of which I have friends in each category that mean a lot to me. And now uh many of their lives are being made miserable, hellish. It is due to us
support or eventually evolving into a and I'm not saying this lightly, a fascist government um run by people with racism and hatred uh beyond prior imagination here in the country. Unless you go back to the
1920s, there is with the KKK. That's what we have now. the KKK masks and all. And uh if there's any consolation to this, to these people who are being so suppressed and imposed upon, uh let it
be known that the people that put this regime in place, these uh bastards that made that happen. They'll be the first ones that are going to suffer from this, they'll have their Medicaid taken away. They're going to have their mortgages lost. They're going
to have their schooling lost, their health care lost, their veterans benefits lost, their clean air has been compromised, their land has been compromised, their parks have been compromised. It's going to come down and rain on them. And let us celebrate that until this is changed. Thank you.
Amen to that. I second that, but I didn't say it. Bill said it. Okay. Thank you. I think we are public hearing is closed on the item on public hearing. Council report
councilman. Oh, thank you. Um Oops. Oops. Oops. It's closed. It's closed, ma'am. It's closed, but go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Yes. Sorry. No problem. Valerie Martinez and MB Volleyball. I was just um Oh, okay. Give your address of the of the building where you go.
Yes, but open in the street that we're in. Yes. No, no, that's fine. Just give us your address and then you could you could see what you um 19255 Northeast Second Avenue. Awesome. Apartment 225. No, you don't have to give us the apartment. No, tell us what did you say you support? Oh, you Yes. Opening the street so we can have better um
access. Okay. Thank you so much. Comments were recorded. Thank you so much. Public hearing is closed. Councilman Charles. Oh, yes. Um thank you, Mayor. Um good evening once again. Um just first just want to say um thank you to our entry city manager and um
tonight I know is uh is your u not only your last meeting and then tomorrow you going full full time into the to the CRA. So just want to say thank you for uh keeping the shape of float and u up to this point. Just want to say um thank
you to that and um just want to say thank you to each and every one of you and um council uh mayor um all city administration uh thank you for just um working together to uh make
our be beautiful city better every day. Um, in the light of what happened in Central Texas, uh, just want to say my heart goes to, uh, each and everyone who lost a family
member and, uh, I am just available. Just want to say to our city administration, to any relief effort, anything that we need to do, anything that we're going to do, uh, I just add my name. I'll be a part of it to um help
out because after seeing what happened in um Texas is just not only a wakeup call. It is something that we need to take into consideration and uh again every day you need to um tell your loved ones how much you love them because we
don't know we don't know what's going to happen next. So I am here ready and uh available. I don't know who's going to uh lead the effort, but I know as a city, we are not just going to stand still and just pray because prayers needs action. Prayers without action is
just dead. So, we need to um stand as one and make sure that we um help out these people or whatever way we can. And I am ready and I my name as a volunteer to uh lead into that effort. There's just want to say thank you uh very much.
And um I see Jose um over there uh you know uh district 4 office is in his building. Jose, nice to see you. Um still can go back tomorrow morning to that office, right? Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. And that um Mr. Mayor, you're back. Thank you. Thank you, Council.
Sorry. Thank you, Councilman Charles. Councilman Burns. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. First, I'd like to thank um the city staff um especially those who haven't make presentations and prepared to make presentations um before the city
council. I know you spend hours and times whether it's a purchasing order, if it's a financial report, whether it's an update on something going on. And sometimes um we get behind up here and
it means no disrespect to you all for the work and effort that you put in to be prepared to come before the city council. And um every time we have to cut your presentation short, I I I I feel bad about that because I know the
work that it takes leading up to that because I know you all are professionals and you don't want to be caught not being prepared when one of the council members asks you questions. So, I wanted to let you know that I appreciate you
your your uh uh preparedness and again it is no reflection on you if we cut you short or have to take something off and put it to the next agenda and so forth. It's just because of the way the these meetings can run sometimes. So, um I appreciate that. Madame um city manager,
I will call you madam city manager. I've never called you madam interim city manager. Thank you for the work that you did um being the CRA uh director and keeping that afloat, losing your second in charge over there to you trained them well because he went on and got a a
great job and you kept the ship here um moving forward and um you you have gained a lot of loyalty among your employees, which we hadn't seen that in a in a long time. Even though I'm back on the council now, I was still in and
out of the city and I knew how city uh employees felt about previous managers and working and the emotions and the tensions. I have to say you have a a unified um team moving forward. You've uh uh kept in place or assembled or put
and I appreciate that. I look forward to working you with you more at the uh CRA very much. Um, I wish we could have kept you on for the next uh three weeks, but um the the powers to be didn't come that way. But thank you um for your efforts
for balancing our budget and putting us with an outstanding um audit report this past year that had not been done in many, many years. uh thank you for being the team leader and thank you for for dealing with what you had to deal with
um between here and the CRA and uh you were definitely underpaid for wearing two hats um while you uh you you did those those tasks. So again, thank you very much and I appreciate that. Staff, we thank you um for everything that you
do. and the residents. Um, as I had said prior uh another time, it is so important for you to come and participate and sit in here and and listen to your city government, see how uh things transpire. And sometimes you don't like the way you really don't want
to see how sausage is made, but you know, the sausages taste good tastes good at the end. Sometimes it's messy watching the sausage get made. So, um it's part of the business of of working to make the city a better place. And um even though
this is our beginning of our official break, all that means to me is that we're not going to have two council meetings that we have to be here for, but all of our count council members and the mayor will be still here in the city working hard on your behalf every day. Um again,
anybody in my district, anybody in the city that has a problem, you need to reach out to me. Uh we're we're here all the time. So, thank you and be safe over the summer. Thank you. Awesome. Thank you so much, Mayor um Councilman Burns. Um two weeks ago, we I
hosted an appreciation lunch for the police department. I want to say thank you to them for their all their services to Chief both Jere um I'm saying Gau and andro Rivera. Thank you. Thank
you for leading an amazing group of men and women in blue. So, we want to say thank you to to the wonderful leadership and the staff, the entire police department. I spent more time with with with that department than any other department. So, I I want to say thank you. Then few days ago, we all we we
celebrated Fourth of July, which was our Fourth of July at FIU. Um we want to thank everyone who came out to the fireworks, the annual fireworks that we had. This was our 49th um the country celebrating 49th year of independence.
Um, we are going, as Councilman Burns just announced, we are going on break from July 9th until the 25th of July. So, no, Councilman Burns, they I'll be on vacation this time. Definitely. But I
am always available. You, everybody has my cell phone. If you notice, 3059267335. Um, text me, call, but there might be a little delay. I have some residents who take the the pleasure of emailing me every day and Kevin, I think most of
them are in your district and I reply back every day. So, I may do get a little bit because I I'm going to use this time to do that. So, I want to say that to um to staff um everyone um Annabbo, thank you for your for your work and and the entire staff. I think
they know sitting here talking about them. Um they know I appreciate them and the work that they do. Um, and I think you guys know and you you do it by the the policies and the way you support your staff. So, I want to say thank you. Thank you all. Be safe as we get with
this session. We do have a lot as a city that we are going to although we don't talk about it, but it was mentioned um earlier. We are under the doge version of what's happening on the federal government. It is it will be happening
in our city and all cities. And again, they are coming in to look at our books and they will determine what we could do moving forward. So, we are on uncharted territories and I've been telling people we may not be able to to do what we used to do because we don't know what what is
expected and we see what's happening on the other level. Bill, thank you for you always speaking truth through power and standing up for immigrants. I think a lot of us here, that's who we are. We trying to come in, do the best that we can. Um, but thank you for advocating
It's always good having others because right now a lot of the DEI by the way mean black people. So they anytime you see that attack they think they're attacking us. Um we've been through a lot from slavery till now. So and and I always tell folks we are only 20% of
this country. So black people is not and and when you think about DEI and those who it has affected, black folks are the last one on that list. You just could look around, look at all these CEOs of major companies. Um, not a
lot of them are blacks. So, we get it. We They're not black. They're not immigrant. It is what it is. We are at a time of where we are. Right. We just I just want everyone to know it's going to be a little crazy couple of months as we get into next year because the cruelty
of the federal administration is ramping up on a daily basis and we feeling the the brink because we have folks calling us families of of of folks kids not going to school. So it it it's crazy out there. So we have a lot going on. I want
to tell everyone continue to do what we do. Let's be v vigilant and we we just do what we do and we'll see you all on the journey. Thank you. You have um city administration. Any last word? Madame Bo, we're going to start with Madame
Clerk, our elected city clerk. Go ahead, ma'am. Just a reminder that Wednesday, July 30th, uh from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Miami Public Library, we will have county services coming to the city. So that includes the clerk of courts as
well as the tax collector's office who will be there doing driver's licenses. So if you are interested, just reach out to the office of the city clerk so that you can make an appointment because they do fill up for the driver's licenses and
don't forget to come to our office for a passport. That's it. Where is it? Thank you um Mr. Mr. Attorney and hold on, Mr. Attorney and Madame Manager. No report. Mayor,
thank you again to Mayor and Council for the opportunity of served as interim city manager, but I would like to take the last opportunity I have to thank most importantly the staff. You guys have been just an absolute pleasure to work with for the past 14 months. You are one of the most dedicated and
talented people that I have seen and will continue to work with across the street. But our city is in the best hands possible because we are being directed by these people who sit here today. I do want to say a special thank you to the two people who held me down
every single day, John Lurfields and Katya Philippo, who went through this wonderful journey with me. But I would be remiss if I did not highlight the absolute sacrifice that my CRA staff went through for the 14 months. And I do recognize
14 months. 14 months. That time flies. It does. Um but just thank you to everyone and have a wonderful evening. Thank you ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. Um
to adjourn. Motion to adjurnn. One last thing. One last thing. Um, just so you know, I'm going to beounding the purchasing director to make sure we get the roofs uh the AC fixed at the JCC Center, the Joelstein Center, and about
the replacement of the uh shelters out at the Enchanted Forest. So, uh I believe uh John will be the uh deputy manager taking place uh vet. So, you'll uh you'll be getting the calls that uh from me that uh that they've that
they've been getting. Thank you very much. Um, the ACL will be fixed by by Friday, right, John? I don't know if they fixed by Friday, but we're definitely working on it. So, um, a phone call away. So, I'll be here
in manager. It's been a pleasure. I have a motion made by the mayor to adjurnn, seconded by Councilman Charles. All in favored. Motion carries with a 30 vote. Uh, 300 vote. The time is now 10:24 p.m. That's why I waited to sign it. We
called them clerks or fist.