one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you so we'll go ahead and move to consented consent agenda unless a member of the CRA board wishes to remove a specific item from
the portion of the agenda tab a constitute the consent agenda this item is self-explanatory and is not expected to require additional review or discussion this item will be recorded as individually numbered item adopted unanimously by the following motion that
the consent agenda compris of tab a through a adopted approval of minutes February 25th 2025 all right thank you do I have a motion so move is there a second second all right I have a motion made by board
member Charles seconded by board member Burns all in favor I any oppos motion carries with a 30-0 vote all right we'll move to agenda one item one and these are the advisory committee appointments good evening board members
I this appointment is by board member ese Irvin um for the um for Miss Claudia Rives Gonzalez um she we the the application is attached in the um in the
agenda packet um and we would like to uh request approval so move second I have a motion made by board member Charles to move the item seconded by board member ese Irving all in favor I any oppos item passes 34
3 Z sure agenda item number two we have a presentation thank you this item is to uh revise the commercial guidelines we have a presentation and we would like to go through it now the first
recommendation is renaming the beautification program to the facade to focus um solely on exterior improvements increasing the funding cap from 25,000 to 30,000 and require a 5-year maintenance agreement um before it used
to be a threeyear maintenance agreement we um as requiring a 5-year maintenance we would also like to um limit the eligibility to Street facing businesses only and introduce a
pre-approved contractor poll before the MU Grant was also part of the beautification program and now we're hoping to uh create a separate Grant um new grant program for it and we're still working on the details which we will be bringing um in front of the
board at a later date the next program that we are going to uh request a few changes um they are the two business traction and expansion and Commercial Rehabilitation grant program we did a squat analysis of the
two programs um we realized um for the strength we were able we are able to attract new businesses um and being one of the largest um funding capacity in all like other cras within Florida up to 150,000
we're also requesting to increase the funding capacity to 200,000 uh some of the weaknesses no upfront Capital verification no structured reimbursement model opportunities we are able to attract high value Industries such as
Tech Healthcare and entertainment um and we are also hoping to implement a phase reimbursement for the threats businesses may receive funding without creating jobs and uh rent hikes could displace small businesses the recommendations are
requiring proof of capital before first reimbursement which means they could still go through the um motion be approved sign the grant agreement but before they could uh submit for a first reimbursement they would need to show proof of capital Implement a phase reimbursement
tied to project Milestones enforce a 30% local hiring requirement for grants that receive guideline waivers and ensure tenants do not experience exorbitant rent hikes and for the Implement phase reimbursement tied to project milestones we are hoping for the phase one they
have access to 20% of the approved Grant fund phase two at 50% construction completion 30% of the funds could be released uh phase three 75% of the construction completion an
extra 30% and the final 20% of the fund will be released once the project is completed and the grantee has submitted a certification of occupancy the capacity building and retention Grant um some of the strengths we notice it a to support small
businesses in the Redevelopment area and we have a fast approval process because we we are able to do it administratively um weaknesses 7500 may not be enough for Meaningful meaningful improvements and no impact uh reporting
requirements opportunities we are we could require businesses to track growth metrics such as Revenue jobs and new customers introduce a business mentoring and training some of the threats risk of business closures despite receiving
funds and limited awareness about the grant recommendation increase the funding cap from 7500 to 10,000 require a six-month impact report tracking on how funds helped the business and tie the program
funding to participation in the CRA business training and now a summary of the recommendation ations rename beautification Grant to facade Grant increase facade grant funding cap to 30,000 introduce phased reimbursement for business attraction grants and
Commercial grants enforce spr stabilization agreements increase capacity building grant funding and require business training Implement fund verification and impact tracking for all programs is that conclude your
presentation that would yes ma'am okay um so I'll open it to the public a public hearing is open seeing non-public hearing is closed are there any discussions yes go ahead if you have an applicant that
comes in now prior to these uh who wants it yes if you have an applicant that comes in now that wants to do a grant I mean who wants to do a mural but we don't have the new guidelines will they fall under the old guidelines um if
they're going to proceed and ask for the grant money or we just cut cutting that off because we don't have the paperwork or are we still going to to work with people who want to add a mural to their their projects uh we would work with them and finding um they could still fall under the beautification guidelines
but we would work with them and hopefully we would be able to because we need to reach out to mocha and work on the details we would hope to be able to do that soon and include them in the grant are you expecting the mural mural guidelines that we have now to drastically change going forward or the
dollar amount to increase or what's the if we if we fund and have a grant program now for murals how much is it going to be different moving forward as a standalone Grant um we don't have the information now because we have not received a grant uh request for Muro for
in the past two years M and if we were to receive one we would keep it under the same guideline as a beautification okay until we bring a new program um for consideration okay are we Pro promoting that the the uh at all with the the people coming in that you know instead
of having a big blank wall that we want them to that there's a few dollars available to help them beautify the walls and so forth yes we have we have and we have also been meeting with artists on the back end ensuring that you know we could work with them and um fund artists and find a wall where the
mural would be able to go okay and one other one on under recommendations it says require proof of capital before first rein urement wouldn't you already have had that before you even gave them the first approval or
how if you approve them aren't you approving them that yes they we should know upfront if they have the capital to to move forward as opposed to before their first reimbursement I just I I don't understand that part it just can you explain that to me a little bit more
of course um some of the issues that we had whenever we meet with an uh an applicant we we go over the the scope of work and the total project cost we always ask them if they have the match requirement they do well they all say
they do until they don't um and we hate a wall because since it's a reimbursement approach they have to spend the money before they could get a reimbursement from the CRA so we know they are going to re uh to spend the
money before but if a project is going to cost 500,000 and they approved for 150 once they get to a point they run out of money because they are recycling the same money that they are receiving from the CRA now we are it it's been in the gr agreement we are including it in
the guidelin so we can require them to show that they have the match requirement before we give them the first reimbursement it it sounds like it's something that should have been a given but truly it's not yeah I I I would think coming in if if they say listen
I'm going to do 300 $1,000 worth of work these are my funds I'm lacking your 100,000 but I have the funds to do the first first part um I just need you to help match it up and and and and figure out the payment schedule as opposed to
you know paying Peter to pay Paul as the project goes long along and then like you just said they they tend to run out of uh money under that no of course okay any any question board member I just um to to um add to that on our
larger grants the infrastructure grants we have that language in there those are the ones that are in the multi-million doll um category and so that language that we had in those Grant agreements we've taken and put into these um smaller Grant agreements now to protect the CRA
okay thank you board member do you have any other question uh yes uh thank you uh very much and good afternoon everybody and thank you for the presentation um on the I know the beautification program we change it to facade but do we still have a program
that would help them out with also just not the facad and the interior and that would fall into which um category that would be the commercial Rehabilitation um that is up to 100,000 uh with a 50/50 match requirement it's up to 100,000 it
doesn't have to be 100,000 if anything is going over the 25,000 and we do work with the applicants the CRA will fund up to 30,000 for the facade if they want to include interior work they would have to they could use the same contractors but they would have to pay for it which
would be considered as their match very good because the reason why I said that and um I've seen project that the si uh funded and also the working the inside that come out very nice because you just want to make sure that the place is um
attractive just not only outside but also on the inside so I think that's um that is very important thing thank you for for that now on the business attraction one and expansion um I'm looking at the weak the
weaknesses one of them is that there is no need for verification if that person or that business owner has any money and just come up with the project and then you know let's say my project could cost uh
$300,000 and then I come with a plan and then present it to you and everything you look at it looks good and everything but I have not even a dollar so should there be some requirement that at least we know this person just don't come empty-handed and as a councilman uh
Burns say that we know they have some funds and the mean business they going to do what they said they going to do with the money of course we are taking a lot of precautions when it comes to the business attraction and um commercial rehab and that's why we are request thing that the uh grantee or the
applicant or the grantee at the time show that they have their match requirement and they will need to show their match requirement every time they submit a reimbursement because you may have 100,000 today and 6 months down the road you do you no longer have yeah next week next week no no um um yeah no and
and also one of the things that we have implemented is working with um a third party Inspection Services to check the quality of the work that they are um providing uh um for not only that they're passing their inspection with the building department
but how are they um with the quality of the work the quality of the materials that they are using to ensure that we have long-term um uh quality work yeah um quality work also the quality and is
the project doable I think that's something that we need to really really emphasize on another thing we implemented was the um a strong we need a strong business plan just because you are doing well in Hollywood doesn't mean you are going to be able to do well um and in North Miami
we want to ensure that you did your your homework did a market study you have a valuable business plan and the project is feasible because with the for the little time I've been here I've seen project that come in here looks very nice on
screen and everything and then they've been sitting not moving not at all and um those are the kind of project that don't make sense and they have a they have an approval from from the board of course and then we just sitting here and wait and then every day month
um year we still sitting so that's um the reason why I I that we probably don't have the language in here but also staff um you know need to also go out there cuz um sometime I can just come and give you a plan that I have a nice
place in here I got paper and hands and everything but at least if you go outside and see where this uh business is located you'll say there's something fish this this thing will not uh will not be able to do the kind of work that
he or or she said that she's going so that's the reason why I'm asking because we we need to be uh mindful of uh kind of um project that come up and then we just um approv the money and the money
sing there project is not is not moving because the project is not doable of course and as if I could interject as agency growths we also learn and So based on our experience with past projects is why we're able to come up and ask for revised guidelines because we realize
that our guidelines also need to grow with us and as we want to do better projects projects that will last and be viable then we recommend to the board to make certain changes because we have learned through our own experience that maybe the guidelines we have aren't as strong as we need them to be to protect
the C and to bring the businesses that we want to see yes all well thank you thank you um first of all I'd like to thank um the administration for bringing this to our attention um for so the recommendations that you're making are
part of the guidelines right of course so so that um so that's that I also want to emphasize that even though these recommendations are being done this is a reimbursable grant and so irregardless of the fact they still have to show that they did they spent the money to be
reimbursed now these are just precautions that are being taken so that there's not a a a burden on the agency and there's not a stall in the the time frame that we think the work is going to be done so I want to be clear and these guidelines are good so you guys put some
very good points I just want to make sure the public understood that we're not there's no um there's no uh financial gap leak it's just you want want to make sure that you know that it's a smooth um transition between the
G the grantee and the agency to make sure that they're getting they're they're getting the funds so I just want to make sure we um we understood that so with all the discussion that we have did you have one more just just one more comment um if you've all been reading
the news for the last six weeks there's some changes in Washington changes in Tallahassee changes in our uh environment and changes in this little thing called tariffs and um we just need to be aware of this going forward when
somebody comes in and says listen my projects going cost me $100,000 today and by the time they get through the whole CRA process 6 months later who knows what it could be and so we have to be cautious and and and be ad meable to
changes unforeseen changes that not necessarily applicants fault it could be aluminum Steel concrete whatever it may be nobody has the crystal ball of knowing what's going to happen let alone today tomorrow or tomorrow night or or next week so um we
need to really watch that and how it affects our uh our grantees who've been awarded when all of a sudden they're like listen I thought I'm spending $5,000 on this piece of aluminum and all sudden now it's going to be $10,000 or
so forth so it's it's we have to almost be there as a I don't want to say babysitter but a really strong partner making sure that they succeed because if they succeed we succeed um and just know that um I think I speak for the count the the board that will'll
be open to make sure that they can achieve the goals that we're trying to help them achieve and the board always has the board I I just want to stress that there's never been a time where a grantee has come before the board to say we've experienced these kind of hardships beyond our control that the board has not really been very welcoming
to those and understanding of that so I'm very happy that we have a board that understands these types of exerting circumstances right thank you so much and I and thank you board member and um Madam executive for saying that I was going to say that and the pandemic is an ex is a as a perfect example of what of
how this board has acted in in time of crisis in time that needed um special attention so I'm very proud to say that we are that way naturally um so if I can have a motion a second so move second I
have a motion made by board member Charles to approve item agenda two motion was seconded by board member Burns all in favor I any oppos motion carries with the three Z vote thank you very much item agenda item number three
agenda item number three I'm going to read the resolution into record a resolution of the chair and board members of the North Miami community redevelopment agency authorizing executive director and nmc attorney to negotiate and finalize
an agreement with am I reading the right one yes no I thought I was reading the wrong one I'm sorry Sosi romanic say um LLC to provide Professional Services for the north Miami Northwest 7th Avenue entry concept designed for an amount not
to exceed $85,000 authorizing executive director to execute the agreement with Sosi omic Sai LLC authorizing the executive director to take all action necessary to implement the terms of the agreement and providing an effective
date resolution 20255 okay is there a presentation um no we oh yes the nmc staff requests um board approval for the north Miami Northwest 7th Avenue entry concept design proposal by SRS design the the
$85,000 50 contract covers a phase design process including concept sketches design refinements and final rendering to enhance the corridor's visual and functional appeal under the new interlocal agreement with Miami dat County the nmc will dedicate 35% of the
county Tiff it retains each year for the redeveloping of Northwest 7th Avenue with this project funded through the Northwest 7th Avenue allocation the initiative aim to establish a distinctive entryway feature enhancing the corridor's identity as a commercial
and cultural Hub SRS design which is also working on the comprehensive facade guidelines for Northwest 7th will oversee the project in three phases concept development design refinement and um finalization staff recommends approval
of the resolution to proceed with the north Miami Northwest 7th Avenue entry concept design okay before we have any board discussion this is open to the public uh public hearing is open to the public and seeing none it's closed okay since this is in affecting District 4 um or
area 4 excuse me this is CRA or 7th Avenue Northwest 7th Avenue so I'll go ahead and give you the point of privilege to go ahead and speak first no no um very um just want to say thank you to uh staff and um everybody who's been
involved in this uh battle for us to um uh gave not to 7 Avenue some new life it's been long overdue and this is uh something that take a lot of time and
will require everybody and I'm glad it is not something as a district for it is the city of North Miami and we all got to be part of it and know the for to make it happen um I am glad that we are moving forward and I cannot wait to um
you know start looking at some Concepts and then see if what which one will uh better suit our norw 7 Avenue which uh we can't wait to um turn uh our another sth Avenue into a destination the only
uh point of concern that I had and I discussed it with the executive director and deputy director is that uh from from the concept that we have in here is that we basically have the point of entries from 119 and then the other one on 135th
so my um I had a conversation with u cat and I asked them to push it to 143rd um the reason being is that 143rd Street the east side is for
North Miami and the west side is um to the county I don't think that would be a big problem talking to the county because if we limit it to 135 stre we just saying that North Miami basically that a big chunk of North Miami just give it away so we don't want to uh give
that um kind of perception so that that was my ask and um of course um the deputy director told me that they're going to have the conversation with the county I think is going to be a big deal and uh that I think this is the right way to move that's the only thing
that I'm asking for us to um put the other um the other end it has to be on West 143rd Street of course and we've already started having some other uh that conversation with the other crra on Northwest 7th one of the things that
they are looking is to adopt the same guidelines that we have for Northwest 7th so we can have one comprehensive design throughout um from 119 to um The Golden Glades um and we're hoping if they will share the cost for especially
for the construction that this is something that would be beautiful 143rd mhm so so you so I'm glad to hear well before I do that board member um Burns and I I concur with my fellow board
member um because it is 143rd Street um also in your conversations with this agency um I was recently over in um Tampa up in Fort lale to a couple different CR districts and they have
entrance features on on both ends but also like I'll take example 135th Street or 125th also 125th Street um they could at some point in time and you can bring it back to us build a architectural feature Landmark type of
thing um because those are both major uh intersections within the 7th Avenue Corridor um and it's being done in numerous Siri districts um throughout the the the state that I've seen delway
and so forth so it might be just out there for consideration when you're having these conversations um if you do it all at one time it might come out uh you know cheaper or part of the concept plan and you phas it and um it might make sense just options up there gives
us the the 7th Avenue more options oh definitely does uh sounds good because uh part of what we uh we did when we uh started that conversation is was like we went out and visited some of the C district and see what they did I
think that's a that's a very good point and um can we uh take that into consideration and then see if we can add that that you know bring some more feature to the um to the corridor so no of course we will thank you okay so so just to um piggyback with
what my colleagues are saying I just wanted to be more concrete so I know that you've had the conversation with 7th Avenue CRA um how will we formalize that when will we know if they're going to partner up with us or not you right so those will be done through interlocal
agreements okay and so we are in conversation not only with the cras but also the county attorney and so we've had calls and just I mean there needs to be more work done but the conversations are ongoing and once we have an interlocal agreement that we can present to this body then we'll be able to do so
so are they aware that we're doing this right now so that there could be some cohesion and I want because we're moving and I don't want us to stop just want to make sure that there's you know I'm proud to say that we're pretty much the lead Agency on this so they have taken the position that they want to adopt
what we are doing and so as we roll out different programs that concern Seventh Avenue they really wanted to go ahead and take that lead so can I can I ask can can is it safe to say that I could see an interlocal agreement on next month no not not that quickly so you know me I like
time so when well the county attorney's office is drafting it so draing but I listen when I make a recommendation or I make an assertion I want it to be the assertion that we can trust I would say after recess
yeah on on this agreement for Contracting with these individuals um you'll make them aware that we're now not just focusing on what the ends are the we're 119th Street and but now it's you know the
Dynamics up at 143rd Street are going to look a little bit different than what they were looking at on 130th history so that do we have to do anything to this agreement um amended or anything or is this amendment this design contract fine
for now the The Proposal is fine the agreement is going to be a separate document we have a separate Consulting agreement that we use Professional Services agreement that this gets attached to so we'll make sure to put your recommendations into that agreement recommendation I don't think it's a
recommendation asking dires I just want to no because then then then the consultant or whoever can say or the architect can say well I don't recommend I don't want to do this I know about just want to make sure no we'll be clear so we're on the same page so
before we sign the agreement we'll have a meeting with the architect to ensure that they know it's 143 at least to the city Li just a point of concern you know dealing with the with the county the we we been
working on this northw 7th Avenue for like almost 2 years now and uh I know um government normally they move very very very slow so we just don't want to put oursel in a position that they basically
um draging us more down so we have to be mindful of that so if we have to take the lead and I think they they understand that we're taking the lead so we just so be it we have to uh move on and uh in lead so we just don't want to you know just dragging this back waiting
for them waiting for them until they ready so absolutely and I think that everybody does understand that we are moving forward and they do want to just go ahead and they're very amenable everybody has had a very Cooperative spirit with this so I don't foresee any
obstruction right and and and understanding that with uh with our our agreement that 7th Avenue is a priority so I'm sure that our County Commissioner will right and we share commission so this is a very cohesive project correct
so um so happy about sth Avenue great discussion could I have a motion and second I have a motion made by board member Charles to approve item agenda three the motion was seconded by board
member estimate Irving all in fer I I any oppose motion carries with the 30 Z vote okay um sorry for the delay uh agenda item number four agenda item number four a resolution of the chair and board
members of the north Miami community redevelopment agency authorizing the executive director and nmcr a attorney to negotiate and finalize an inter local agreement with the city of North Miami to provide funding in the amount of
$100,000 for the FIU construction trades program authorizing the executive director to execute the interlocal agreement with the city of North Miami authorizing execute executive director and nmc attorney to negotiate and finalize an agreement with the city of
North Miami and Florida International University for the FIU construction it feels like I'm reading this twice uh finalize an agreement with the city of North Miami and Florida International University for the FIU construction
trades program authorizing the executive director to execute the agreement with the city of North Miami and Florida International University authorizing the executive directa to take all action necessary to implement the terms of the interlocal agreement and the
agreement and providing an effective date there's two agreements oh there's two agreement oh I felt like I was reading it all right um public hearing is open public hearing hearing is open seeing non-public hearing is is closed before I
give it over for any any presentation this proposal outline a plan to conduct a three six-month pre-apprenticeship classes serving a total of 60 students with instruction available in English and Spanish the training will include ooser certification
NWC Core Curriculum forklift operations and disaster recovering preparation additionally job search coaching assistance will be provided to support participant in securing employment the program total budget is $ 22,999 covering instructional fees
certification costs classroom materials and Workforce placement Services the nmc will contribute up to 100,000 while the city of North Miami cover the remaining costs uh the program will provide um
well to uh the program will cover three key trades electrical plumbing and HVAC to North Miami residents all right and just as a point of clarification I know that we have stated that it is available in English
and Spanish and the reason for that is that's what the exam is the state exam is offered in those are the languages that are offered in so we've been informed by FIU that they're not able to teach the course in a language that they'll examine is not offered in so as soon as the exam is offered in other
languages and the course will be available in other languages so thank you for getting ahead of the question I think you know for a fact in a city where there's a there's a there a large community that speaks hatian creol we would understand so um
you know thank you for addressing that but do you have any idea or have we try to speak to FIU to see when that will be available so a couple of question when how can someone sign up for the program when will the program start if pass tonight
um so as far as when it starts we are waiting for this approval to be able to start rolling out the advertising um and we are doing joint advertising with FIU so once we do the recruitment I believe that they can get running before me so you so the the the intent is to start
this program by next month in April yeah as soon as possible absolutely because they are able to fill the classes very quickly and how this program came about was this is already operational in Homestead and other um other cities but they found that their Homestead class had several North Miami residents and
why have to have them travel so far if you could offer the class here and the classes would be offered here in off Miami or is the FIU we will find a location within the CR boundaries to host the class excellent but I but but the cour the first statement that you
raise of the language I know that's going to be and if we can find out as soon as possible that and and and will this be a our agreement is just for year how long is our agreement for the agreement is just for the pendency of the course which I believe is 6
months three months you don't have your mic it'll be uh 6 months each um trade will be 16 weeks is there an opportunity for reoccurrence or this is okay I just wanted to at least I would like by the next time the the program comes around
that we have it um in Haitian Creo okay so I think I've made all of my statements um board member Burns is there anything else you'd like to add or say just that um we want to see the uh results of how our students how many
completed it how many dropped out um and how to improve the second go around because it sounds like a really great program um I noticed that um the city is picking up $1,993 and the CRA has $100,000 um is
there a reason why is it wasn't split down the middle or or you guys pay more than we do what the the city why why is that budgetary um concerns that was we had 100,000 that was already allocated so that's what we're able to put towards the program and the city is coming in
with the remaining funding okay and then the facility where they're going to be trained in um since it won't be the FIU North Campus we don't know that it won't be it may be a possibility if may be a possibility if not who who's responsible
for the rental of or the cost of whatever if it's not the university who's responsible for that cost uh if it's somewhere else within the city so the cost is currently baked in but we're hoping to find a facility that we don't have to have a cost so that's why the agreement is going to be up to 226,000
cuz if we don't need to incur that cost then we will be spending less money okay or be able to do more students and do more students yes the money will be allocated towards including more and it's available to any Resident of North Miami even if they do not live in the
CRA District yes okay very thank you board member Charles all right thank you very much and um I know I had some questions but and uh in the detail I didn't know that the the city
was um we talked about the 100,000 but I didn't um know that the city was going to pick up the aitel of it I was about to ask where is that um a packet of money was going to come from so now this thing is from the from our city uh budget the city council will be seeing this on
their agenda on March 21st just as a little preview uh the city is coming up on March 2 Now quickly how many um students Al together that um we will
uh be in that program 60 60 so now if you um take two um because I didn't have all the numbers so do you have roughly the Cost U per student uh yes um it is
3,600 and $12 47 [Music] $3,612 47 mhm big Trump of money um isn't it for a time like this um my question will
be the same as I did earlier I fully understand that um certificate from FIU is as um highly regarded compared to a certificate from uh Miami did uh a certificate from Miami did is highly regarded compared from compared to a
certificate from TCH uh lensy uh dorsy all those technical school I myself sitting in here is a product of Lindsay Hopkins I went into the electrical program and I graduated from there I was with
the Union making at that time about $20 an hour so nice chunk of money uh talking about the early um late 1990s early 2000 so uh the reason why I'm
asking is that did uh by any chance we uh go out to the technical college and then do a cost analysis so so that we can compare how much you would be um for let's say for TCH or linday or dorsy um
Miami lakad those school just offer the same Apprentice program how much would be how much would be the difference between them and F and I'll will tell you that for for the class it would have been in their facility so uh we would not have to scratch our head and find a
place to discuss our um you know to put the put to put the um classes so that's that's my point and I'm still and I was hoping for you know someone for f i to be here because I have a few questions that I would have to ask them and it looks like we have
none uh because that is something that we I would highly suggest that we do because again so we have to look at it both ways so yes it's fi with big names and everything but I'll tell you that them technical school they offer the same
kind of program and they have some very very good very good programs that you learn the trade and then go on there and become um forment and everything so that that is my only problem with this item because we need at least need to have a
cost analysis so that we can balance it out cuz if this from Airi will cost um 3,000 and some about 3,600 per student and still is not going to they not going to house the program into their school I have a little
problem with that and so just to address that concern this is a program that we were introduced to actually by Vice chair Timothy and it has been in existence since 2018 the program was attractive to us just because of the number of North Miami students that are
already engaged with this program they have had a very high success rate and as far as the cost FIU is definitely a natural place for it to be housed and I don't believe that it will not be housed there but the CRA did want the opportunity to see if there were other locations so FIU is pretty much open to
having it there we were the ones who wanted to see if there were other locations that were available to them um regarding the cost um the students will graduate with all of their lures and they do graduate with a toolkit tools are not cheap and so when they do get
their graduation they do get the actual tools of their trade to be able to start working immediately I'm not sure if other programs actually um provide them with those benefits but this is something that we did want pilot in our CRA just to see how it worked um there's
a very high success rate based on their past classes and we are very confident that we can produce a very good result here in our community um very good and um like I said uh just not so sure with
moving with this the as is because uh I would like to be able to um look at the cost analysis and um have some um numbers to compare uh and see exactly how much it would be from one of those
Technical College and I know should be way cheaper and also the program last time I don't know I might be wrong because the last time I remember that we have that program was basically back then maybe um Council Burns will remember was with uh bisin Ling and I
think they did it over at F at uh the the did it over at um turn Tech they did at turn Tech I think that's that's the last time which is I I love the program don't get me wrong I love it but also we just want to see exactly as we spend our
um taxpayers dollars how we going to um how much is the benefits and movement to all that can we can we get that number we can do an analysis absolutely I do want to raise one concern that if those programs don't currently have locations within our CRA boundaries then we would
not be able to fund the program so knowing that we would be able to fund the this program within our boundaries is definitely one of the factors that we took into consideration but if one of those other technical courses are not offered within our C boundaries then we may not be able to fund the program because as we know our Tiff funding need
to be spent within our boundaries we on boundaries okay so now um okay that's um that's good and I understand this part so then I think um the last time they did it was way back then I was like very
young at the time full of hair so uh that's why I don't exactly remember so um in a case like that can you so you said that we have to provide the facility for for them classes to be help we have offered FIU has been very amenable they are happy to host still um
Pro um this program in their facilities we have just been the ones who have said okay we will also look for other locations within our boundaries FIU has been more than accommodating so I'd like to jump in on this and and I I I actually first of all like the program love the program love the fact that
we're offering this to our resident I love the idea that we're trying to keep it within our city limit so that to to make it easier for our students to attend but if they have to go to FIU I I understand it but I like the that effort so I would be very supportive of um of
this item to make sure you know that our residents and and you brought some very good concerns on board member Charles but um I'm we are reminded that if it's not within our CRA um dur restriction then our CRA wouldn't be able to and one of the reasons for this program in our
briefing in my briefing um is that you know a lot of times we're asking um developers and we're asking folks to make sure that they hire um residents within our cities um and so now we make we now we can make sure that we have a
bank that they can go to and there's no more excuse of well we couldn't find anyone one that met those qualifications so now we have a program and opportunity for our residents and to go with our model of where they can where they'll be able to work and a better place to work
live and play so um with that um let let me quickly say this just for the record since I came in this is one thing that I've been pushing it's one thing that I've been pushing the after school program and I
wanted to see that 20 uh program going on like I said earlier linday gave me a chance I went to lay spent 18 months in their program it didn't cost $3,000 at
that time I'll tell you but they gave me a chance I was working with the union electrical union making about $20 an hour you know that was a big jump from what I I was making uh so I am for the
program but also the cost analysis we always have to do that because we are spending um taxpayers money now I understand to your point if it is not in the C boundaries so if we're spending the money the course got to be and um
which is which is um kind of okay kind of weird um sounds but still we ought to look into uh those um different venue because yes um it's fi but um understand that we got those Technical College
they've been doing a great job and will get um some thing are way cheaper and for for what we spending so that is could be a consideration for next time I am for the program as an educator listen
whatever that will bring our young folks from level one to level two and then on I am for but also we always need to question questions to questions how we spend money and what can we get for our money it's the same if I go to a supermarket
now if I know an item is $20 at this store and then I can get it for $12 somewhere else that's fine I'll spend a gallon of gasoline and then get get for $12 we need to do that we need to do that so moving forward what I'm going to ask because moving forward we also need
to have a conversation with those Technical College and then include them into the conversation and see what they can do because I know they can uh make things happen so that's that's my all right thank you so much for the vibrant discussion um last word because we have
to get ready for our next meeting sure go ahead sure um I concur with the the board member um what I'd like to see for the C the city council are we having a c meeting on the 25th also or no was
talking okay we're not okay so um at the next city council meeting when you when the CRA brings this item up for approval the city will be bringing the ID okay the the city will be bringing it up um a cost analysis at that point in
time might be helpful because if the city is going to spend $126,000 on its own going along with the way the councilman is think I mean the board member is thinking that the city could do certain things on their own and is not restricted by the boundaries of
the CRA and could have a second program that complement uh instead of 60 D maybe more at Turner Tech U which is a great thing so just to say oh by the way we checked and the price per student over there is going to be 2,900 might be
3,000 36 it could be apples for apples for all we know um but just for the sake of that because we're probably going to have this kind of conversation um when the city of North Miami Council meet and so um that's just a suggestion on it
understood all right can I have a motion in a second move approval second I have a motion made by board member Burns to approve agenda item four the motion was seconded by board member estimate Irving all in favor I any oppos motion carries
30 Z okay we have um item agenda five and we have to move quickly so we can be ready for our next meeting meeting this is a request for additional funding for the American chech Slovak cultural Club this is already a funded grantee they experienced
some hiccups with removing um Australian pines trees that they um on their property when you find some you have to remove all this is adding a 23,7 $ 24,750 to their budget that they did not
anticipate since they are required to remove all of them and not just some of them we are bringing it back to increase the grant by the amount um that they do need to remove the Australian P for move for approval move for approval I mean second okay so this is just an
additional 23,7 that I am sorry there was uh yeah I would like to amend the um the proposal is for 24,750 4,7 and um okay first and the second well we have a motion on the La made by board member Charles to approve
the item seconded by board member Burns all in favor I all opposed motion carries 3 Z okay Mr City attorney any report no report okay CRA executive director any report no report okay public hearing um public comments
are now open seeing none they're closed and may have a motion to be to adjourn second all right all in favor I it is now 6:25 p.m. adjournment all
right I have