Good evening everyone. Welcome to our regularly Good evening everyone. Welcome to our regularly scheduled commission meeting. The time is now 602 June 10th, 2026. Madame clerk, can you go ahead roll call with roll call, please? Commissioner Bass >> here.
>> Commissioner Irvin >> here. Vice Mayor Kelly >> present. >> Commissioner Santiago >> present. >> Mayor Taylor >> here. As we stand for our invocation led by Dr. Bass, followed by our pledge of allegiance led by the HR Commission. >> Father, we just want to say thank you.
Thank you, Father God, for the opportunity to get here to serve. Father, we ask you'll continue to bless us. Bless our residents. Bless each and every one of us. Father God, continue to pour your blessings upon our city. continue to give us wisdom, knowledge, revelation and understanding and love in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen.
>> Amen. >> 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. >> All right. So, we're moving over to um
awards, proclamations, and acknowledgements. And I will yield to Vice Mayor Kelly. I see that you have a recognition. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I do, um, have two presentations. I don't see Dr. uh, Samuels. Um, I do see Pastor Panellis. I
don't know if he's representing his son tonight um, to receive his um, commendation. Just a little background as a part, >> you want to push it back to public presentation? >> Well, I don't know if he's coming or not. So, >> okay. >> He's there. >> No, he's standing for
>> I don't know. That's right. Pastor Penellis, is your son Chris be coming? >> No, not coming. >> No, he's not coming. >> Okay. Um >> as a part of our Arabian Nights Fest, of course, we know that the gospel um
portion of it was not budgeted, but we um went ahead, were motivated and with the support of my colleagues um we were able to have the gospel fest on that Sunday. And a part of that was two um individuals who were not able we were
not able to give them their commendation and one of them is Krispy um which is his uh name for singing who participated in our gospel fest and the other one was Dr. Glinton Samuels who I did not see. Um but I want to go ahead if my
colleague would join me briefly to um present to Pasella's son the commendation on for his son on behalf of the Arabian Nights Gospel Fest. If you'll join me, Well, since uh Commissioner Bass, you're in the middle, I will allow you to do
the um She can't Commissioner San Diego, come on down here. You got your glasses. Come on down here. And you can't Come on, Commissioner San Diego. Just Just a couple of them. And I'm doing that because um even though it was not um
budgeted, Commissioner uh Bass and Commissioner Santiago stepped in to assist us of course with the support of the mayor and commissioner Irvin to make sure we had a successful gospel uh fest. We want to present this commendation that uh Commissioner Santiago is going to read a couple of the wherees.
>> Uh thank you Vice May one. Oh, thank you Vice Mayor um Joseph Kelly. Um and thank you uh pastor pinal to be here to for receive um the recommendation that we do another heart
for your son that he getting very popular with d crispy and I know that he doing a very good uh presentation that day and like vice mayor Kelly say thank you for uh our
call um Dr. uh Commissioner Shelene Bass uh to supporting us. Uh to Vice Mayor Joseph Kelly, the free he really uh uh cared in that part for the community to have uh that night, the end of the night
for the Arabia night. Uh praying to the Lord and say thank you to God for everything that he do every day for us here in the great city of Opalaka. Um like I say, the great city of Opalaka, um the vice mayor, Joseph F. Kelly
hosted by Commissioner Dr. Chelim Bass, Commissioner Dr. Chelim Bass, Mayor John H. Taylor, and Commissioner Natasha Irving along with the citizen with the citizen of the great city of Walaka. We
c we we have a comment to Christian Pinalei to Christian Pinalei crispy that recognizing and to the participation in the Arabian
night gaper fet and experience the community through music fair and arty expression. >> Very good. Very good. Oh, I forgot to read that Louis Vent was here too. >> Louis Santiago.
>> Thank you. >> You want to say that? >> Thank you. All right. Thank you to Krispy as a local local superstar here in Opalaka. >> Yes, >> local superstar and he's he's he has a great talent. So, we thank you, Pastor
Penelis, for loaning your son to us whenever we call him. And I also want to thank the hosts and co-hosts of the Arabian Nights Gospel Fest. It was an awesome awesome event. >> You saying you it was an awesome event. >> We're going into the approval of the
consent agenda. Do we have any polls, deletions, or deferrals at this time? >> Yes, sir. >> Um, Commissioner Santiago. >> Yeah. I'd like to um uh pull number one
uh three and four for questions. >> All right. Any other pulls, deletions, or deferrals? >> Mr. Mayor, >> Madam Manager, >> I would like to defer agenda items 15A1
and two to a date not certain. >> 15 what? >> 15 A1 and A2. >> Mr. Mayor, um I had a amendment for an item. I don't know if the attorney has it >> prepared for one of the items
>> you do have prepared. >> Yes. Um, could you state what which item it is? >> It's for item two, the community newspaper. >> Um, yeah, it didn't get pulled, so I'll pull it just to add the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> All right. And I would like to pull I know it's the Well, it was mine, but commissioners co-sponsor with me the rest. Item 16 A4.
>> Oh yes, I'm gonna pull number six. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor. I apologize. Number six. >> Deferring. I'm deferring item 1684. And vice mayor, you're pulling item number six. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Which item you referring? >> Um, ordinance 1684. Um, to the next
commission meeting, madam manager. >> All right. agenda number six is pulled. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. So, real quick, I I'll do a recap and then we'll we'll then you can tell me if this what you all wanted. So I have Commissioner Santiago pulling item number one. Vice May Kelly item
two, Commissioner Santiago item three, S Commissioner Santiago item four, Vice Kelly item number six, the manager deferred item 15 A1 and 15 A2 and myself deferred item 1684. Okay.
Can I get a motion to approve tonight's agenda? >> Move it >> to consent agenda. I'm sorry. Moved by Commissioner Santiago, second by Vice Mayor Kelly. >> Madam um Madame Clerk, >> Commissioner Irvin.
>> Madam Clerk, you heard 16A4, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> That that item is sponsored by the commission and you're deferring it. Okay. Just want to make sure. >> Um Commissioner Irvin, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kelly, >> yes. >> Commissioner Santiago, >> yes. Commissioner Baz, >> yes. Mayor Taylor,
>> yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. >> All right. Um, I see here that you put on my desk that we have a add-on item, Madam Cl. >> Um, yes, Mr. Mayor. We have an ordinance that would be included if amended as
agenda item 141 under new items. And this ordinance is an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Opalaka, Florida, amending article 3, section 22-55 of the city of Opalaka's land development regulations pertaining to
site plan applications, specifically amending said section to add new letter E, providing for severability, providing for codification, providing for an effective date. This item is sponsored by Commissioner Santiago and again if amended this item will be included as
141 on the agenda. >> Commissioner Santiago, can you please state the emergency nature for this item? >> Uh thank you uh um Mr. Mayor. Uh the reason to bring the ordinance uh to the uh
my colleagues and to the public is regarded about the incident or the tragedy that we have two weeks ago in that famous area that we have in Kairo
Lane. And if he I know people remember what happened out there and we have a group or business people that they be operating here in the great city opalaka
for a long time and they invest in their probably half of the life in that in that area and they lose everything in only an hours.
And one of the major situation or problem we can call it that they have is that many of these businesses for so reason or for something the other companies insurance company they're not giving them you know the kind of
coverage that they need moto they lose everything everything and they don't have you know some you know many ways to go back and they be asking to the commissioner They be asking to the city for help
and I explaining today to everybody out there. I think they are like seven property owners that they be affecting in that area and we're telling the truth. the city.
We do the best we can to helping you and to s try to see how can we uh make something the quick or the faster we can to make your business starting again from the ground to operate. >> I don't mean I don't mean to interrupt
you, but >> um tell us what the item is and then we're going to vote whether or not it's going to come on the agenda. Yes. You can you can def debate it at that time. >> Okay. Not a problem, Mr. Mayor. I try only to let you know where does that come from? >> The gist of it. Um the it is to try to
provide this uh affecting people only that affecting people is not for nobody else. The temporary permit to installing a temporary office a trailer
for the office that they need to restarting the business in Catalane. >> Okay. >> All right. Can I get a motion to add this to the agenda on tonight? >> Move it.
>> Moved by Commissioner Santiago. Can I get another motion to add this to the agenda? All right, motion dies for lack of a second. All right, moving on to the approval of the agenda. >> Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. vice.
>> Um, this was added to the agenda, but what I didn't hear, I know you asked the sponsor, but um, the question really I have, does it does it meet the criteria for the emergency? Because this is like add on. That's the real question to the
manager or someone. I think >> the only issue is um well the issue is it's being brought as an ordinance and an emergency ordinance would be a one reading. It doesn't meet that criteria.
So um for one reading um so that's my answer. I don't know if the manager has something else, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. Um >> okay. So the emergency it will require certain situations. I get it. It's not so much the ordinance, but the fact that
it's like a add-on. That's what I'm really getting at. Um, if it'll have followed the normal regular process, but it's addon. So, for add-ons, Mr. Mayor, and you're the chair. Um, normally for add-ons, it has to meet a certain threshold that the state wants to see.
Um, and that's why I'm asking that question. So, uh, I don't want folks to think nobody wants to try to assist, help, or do what we can, but I want to make sure we following the structure of how the state says we have to lay out things for um, add-on items of this
nature. They normally have to meet a certain threshold. Um, and this is an ordinance, which makes it even more um, challenging. So, okay. All right. Well, I I won't listen to the attorney's um, explanation. I'll just leave it there
cuz I don't want to go past that. >> Thank you, Mr. Spear. >> No problem. So, Commissioner Santi has guess the only other option is to bring it up at the next commission meeting. >> Um, >> and then we'll go from there cuz >> Go ahead. >> That's it. Go ahead. >> Oh, okay. No, no, I say okay. Leaving
like that, the only I tried to say um nobody tried to do anything out of the uh any ordinance or any rules or regulation that the uh state of Florida have. uh talking about uh seven of these business owners that they have
everything in play, license, everything that they need for the state for the for the day county. The only thing that I try to is help them for something that they can start and operate but it's fine. It's not a
problem is die. We living like that and let's see how could we help him in the future. Mr. Mayor, thank you. It's not it's out. >> Yeah, we're going to move on. Go ahead. >> Yeah, but I'm not going to let that slide. It's not about not wanting to help folks. It's about following the
process of the law that we have to follow based on legal counsel. And because it's an ordinance that's brought to us at the last minute, unlike a regular ordinance that's properly noticed, that's why I asked the question. So, I don't want anybody
leaving here thinking, you know, it's fine that we're not concerned, but there are certain things we have to do to adhere to the state law and our own process. Okay? So, I, you know, I tend not to say anything when those statements come up, but I'm not going to
let that one pass. Um, because all of us up here are concerned. We saw the businesses come last uh meeting and I too had indicated on the record even wanted to have a workshop or some setting with the commission to see what we could do and I didn't get any kind of
correspondence from anyone saying that something was held. So I'm going on the process and what the law says we have to follow not the fact of not wanting to help any business in the city especially those who are affected um like they are. So, I would just, you know, want to put
that on the record. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Got it. >> All right. Moving on to the approval of the agenda. Can I get a motion to approve the next agenda? >> Move it. >> Second. Move >> by um Commissioner Irvin. Second by Dr. Bass. Madam Clerk on the agenda. >> Commissioner Santiago? >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Bass? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Irvin? >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kelly? >> Yes. >> Mayor Taylor? >> Yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. Going into the approval of the minutes, the regular commission meeting minutes from May 27th, 2026. I entertain a motion at this moment. Move.
>> Moved by Commissioner Irvin. Can >> I get a second on the minutes? >> I'll second. >> Second by Dr. Bass. Madame Clerk. >> Commissioner Bass? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Irvin? >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kelly? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Santiago? >> Yes. >> Mayor Taylor? >> Yes. Motion passes 5. And I don't see
any district 1, district 2 or state um representatives here. So I'm going to yield back to Vice Mayor Kelly under public presentation to continue hearing this public presentation. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Very briefly, I see Dr. um Samuels did come in. We had gotten past that part in the program,
but since he did such an awesome job being IMC, I'm going to ask my colleagues to join me and we're going to do this expeditiously because I do want to present him even though we have passed our part. Dr. Samuels, come on up. Uh, bring the family up, everybody
up. We going to do it. recognize I'm not going to read all the wherees but because it was read earlier but we want to honor you and thank you for your mcing the program, your inspiration, and what you brought to um the Gospel Fest
and and I've been around a long time and I know as well as you do, it takes a lot to MC to get folks involved, but I will say we had church and it was wonderful. So, on behalf of myself as the host, Commissioner Dr. Charlene Bass, co-host, Commissioner Lewis B. Santiago, co-host
of my colleagues, the city commission, Mayor Johnny Taylor Jr., who you passed the mic to and commissioner Tasha Irvin who was clapping in the back along with the citizens of Grace Opalaka do hereby commend Dr. Glinton Samuels in recognition of outstanding role as
master of ceremonies for the Arabian Nights Gospel Fest and for his unwavering dedication to faith, education, leadership, and community empowerment through service and inspiration. Presented this 10th day of
June, 2026, and is signed by me, the mayor. It's signed by all of us. Thank you so much. Get to the Thank you again, Dr. Samuels, and to your beautiful wife. Thank you for always lending him to us because we call
him a lot. So, we're going to move on to our citizens forum. Madame um clerk, can you please state for the record how to participate in citizens form? City of Opaaka commission meetings are held in person at the Opalaka Government Center, City Commission Chamber, 780
Fisherman Street, 3rd Floor, Opalaka, Florida. Members of the public wishing to address the commission may do so in person or virtually. Those persons wishing to participate virtually should register prior to the scheduled meeting time on the city's website at www.opalaka.gov.
When speaking before the commission, please make sure to give your full name and address for the record. There is a threeminut time limit for public comments. Please adhere to the decorum policy which is a part of the commission meeting agenda. City commission meetings
are aired through liveream at www.youtube.com user city of opalaka. >> All right. He said there's no >> and Mr. Mayor, we do not have any virtual public comments at this time. Right. All right. So, those of you in
the chamber, citizens form is open. >> Good evening. Mark Cooper, 681 Southwest 75 Terrace, Miami, Florida, 33143. Is this on? >> One second. Uh, Mr. Cooper
trying to go. >> Okay. I stand I I presented uh I provided a packet of information regarding the Kyhoga uh project. I also gave it to the applicant's attorney and our uh city's
staff. I stand in opposition to this project. It was here about a year and a half ago. It was uh declined at the end of that hearing. U Commissioner Kelly said as an admonition to all of us, you guys have
to know nothing is going to change from here to the future. This project remains dead and it has happened. Nothing's changed except the city of Opalaka has gotten better. We have a 5K run. We have
a community. We have residents, new people coming here. The only thing that's remained the same is the property. And so from page one of my packet, what I want to show you is that's a 7 and a half acre property.
Uh on page two, the Mosaic project on 22nd Avenue basically has 1/4 of the land and they built 98 units. Let's say you have two residents per unit. That's 200 people. If you multiply by four, that's 800 additional people we can
bring into Opalaka. Opalaka has about 16,000 residents. That's 5% new people going to homes, elementary, new people using the parks, new people participating in government, new people making this city a real city. The only thing that hasn't changed is the
contamination on that property. The ownership has changed and so uh the previous the mosaic property page three pays in real estate taxes to day county $450,000
a year for 200 residents. It's all a benefit to our city. $450,000. If you multiply that by four, which is the size of the other property, is about a,800 $900,000 in tax revenue that we're not collecting by not forcing the issue of
making these people clean up the land and bring residents to our property. And so the developer of the Mosaic property, soon as they bought the property, they paid like a million nine for it. They took out a $24 million loan. It was a church property. It wasn't paying any taxes. And they built the thing. Now
it's worth $19 million. They borrowed 25 million the other day. And so the crux of the argument the crux of their argument is the propertyy's too dirty for it to be used for residential. My time's up. I'll do it on the next one. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Citizens form is still open. >> Good evening, Mr. Mayor and fellow conference. My name is Richard Dunn. City of Miami, 1895 Northwest 57th Street. I'm a member of the Community Youth Against Violence, and I'm going to
yield now to our president and CEO, Dr. Lorenzo Johnson, and we're here to follow up on the uh prospects of the teen curfew. uh face uh Lorenzo Johnson um CEO founder of Community Us against violence
uh 111 North 183rd Street Suite. >> One second pastor. Madam manager, can you please ask um it to turn the volume up? >> Click. We can't hear. I'll just take it out your hand and hold it because we can't hear you. >> Don't tune up.
>> Do it like you on Sunday. Y don't tune up though. >> Don't tune up. Can I hoop? Can I hoop? >> Go ahead. >> Just want to, you know, we we uh we're here, like we always say, like I always open up and say, we don't want no money.
We just want to be able to help save the lives, help prevent s lives of young folks and and try to bring accountability in households. And uh this is this uh uh project has been
uh okayed by your committee here and it's been going on a year now. So we've been back and forth back and forth and uh we do have the county with us today to just to explain briefly where they're at because we do have a contract with the opal locker. I guess they was
thinking, you know, open that they need to have the county in. And I think that basically what that is is that they just need to do the procedure with the county and have the relationship with a contract with us because we have the organization cuz we we're the one that's going to connect and ones that's going
to be uh dealing with some of the family along with other organization that the county has as well. So we wanted to try to see where we at with that. It's been a long time. going on a year now and that's you know that's we just trying to save lives that's it and know so I I
thought that this would be a urgent situation for us we don't want nothing happen we it may it may save a life so that's what we're about here trying to save a life and this is not just a a city this is a countywide effort that we're doing and we trying to get all the
municipalities is in because we don't want a kid to be able to cross the street and say okay you can't touch me now So we want to be able it's not running the kids down. It's just developing accountability in the household to try to seek out what's going on in the household because a lot of time it ain't the kid fault when they
acting up and acting out. You know you can see through the through the country now a lot of stuff is going on with these youth and we just don't want a a life be sacrificed. So we going to try to help try to help save the lives of children basically. I'm going to let uh Miss Elena from the county day county.
>> Sure. Hi good evening everyone. My name is Elena Angulo. I'm with um Community Services Department, formerly Juvenile Services Department um with Miami Day County. And um Can >> you state your address for the record? >> So my work address is 275 Northwest 2nd
Street, Miami, Florida 33128. um what we do or how we play a role in the juvenile curfew violation or the juvenile curfew ordinance is that Miami Day County does have a countywide um juvenile curfew ordinance where um the Miami date sheriff's office and all the
other municipalities um are enforcing it. They um administer the citations to the juveniles and as our prevention program um they send the referrals to us. We process the referrals. We um double check eligibility. If the youth
is eligible for our prevention services, we offer that to them because the juvenile curfew is not a crime. However, um some of these youth are displaying at risk behaviors. Um we offer our prevention services to the families. Um they are free of charge and once they come into our prevention program, we do
administer evidence-based assessment tools to determine the needs of the youth and the family. We provide um case management services free of charge anywhere from 3 to six months. And we make community based organization referrals um to connect the youth to the services that are needed.
>> Got it. >> All right. Is there another on this topic? >> All righty. I apologize. Um back again. >> They got to go to him. >> Well, it has to. >> Yeah, you had the time to speak. >> All right. >> Uh my name is uh Ronnie Britain. I am a
executive board member of the community youth against violence. Uh my address is 2315 Northwest 155th Street. The community youth against violence is a uh program that will give the opportunity for
dysfunctional families uh to get functional uh and to give some principles and there are some program uh dialogue that helps uh change some of those uh behavior patterns to positivity and that we will uh hopefully save the
lives of our young people. Uh that's all I have to say at this time. I am the uh local pastor of the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in North Miami. >> Okay. All right. Um >> I still have time cuz I very brief.
>> Trust just give us a minute. We go we going to come back. Let's continue with citizens forum. Citizens form is still open. Give us a sec. Yeah. How we going to help? >> You got to give her a help. I'm gonna translate for them.
>> Hi. Hello. My name is Ana Cruz. I'm 1300 Dunat Avenue owner. Speak good English. >> Okay. I have a complaint about the code enforcement. It came second time in in the city of Paloka for about the Mr. Cook.
So I received for second time um a fine. No fine. I received a letter for a call. So I have to pay a $100 for second time for a similar um issue. So I filed a
complaint two years ago and called the enforcement department and nothing happened because Mr. Cook is the same. I feel a rushment and uh um rises. I I
don't know because this this person uh uh I feel it that he watching me every day. So >> she says she feels like she's being watched. >> So the two years ago uh he say to the
tenant the house is for rent. Um the tenant uh the two years ago he say uh uh that person I watching you around uh 9:30 p.m. I don't know what happened but
I u feel um u concerned about the code enforcement no saying never a warning uh fine but they are send the letter for the court do when do you not have any
uh option only to pay the fine I think that $800 is a lot of money for the parking issue. I think >> 800 >> is $800. >> $800.
$8006. >> Wait, let her finish. Go ahead. >> She's the tenant. She's the proof that USA. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, I guess she's going to come and speak. Um the the car the same night
and she had to pay $800. >> Yeah, the same night that he gohead >> 1300 Dunat Avenue. She says she has all the proof here of what she's paid. She said that um basically >> the yard. She says the contract the yard
where she moved the car >> the same night and and she has the proof here of the receipts that she paid for it. But she removed the car that same night. >> The city never send me the the warning.
He he take the picture. That's it. And he never give me a paper uh pink paper the warning and he never give me the the fine or so he say I I don't know
what happened I send he never send me because the second time on the same >> understand is the same day that when he went told her to move the car she moved He says, "I know that the owner lives there." >> Got it.
>> Inappropriate. >> He says, "The conduct is very inappropriate." >> Thank you, Commissioner. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Um, citizens form is still open. >> Sus Lopez, 8315 Southwest 98 Street. I'm
the property owner for 13205 Kyo Lane. I've been around Opalaka for the last probably 25 years plus and at this moment after what happened with the fire we have lost everything and we want the
city we will ask the city to find a way to help us. It's been 25 years plus contributing to the city. I think it's the opportunity for the city to find some some way to help us. It's not just
me. It's eight to nine businesses. And unfortunately, we were not the persons that created that. Just happened. But we were the last ones. And we got cut. And we were got cut very deep. Very, very
deep. Completely completely lost. And I would like you guys to go over and look. It is hard. It is hard to work for such a long time and lose it all.
>> And thank you so much. >> Thank you, Mr. Lopez. Citizens form is still open. >> My name is Isela Gutierre. My address is 64 East 65th Street, Hay Alia, Florida. I'm the owner of Gary Use Auto Park,
13175 Carol. I've been in this city since I was 17 years old. I'm 51. Not just me, my husband. We not the landlord owner. We're not, but we are the owner of Gary Sar. We've been
raising our kids from that junker, from that place. And we pay, not even us. Everyone on here, we pay taxes. And it's not just about taxes. It's about families because it's not
only the owners of those business. It's people they work for us legally. People who pay check by check. And as you know, there's a lot a lot illegal
people too. I know this is not our country, but I came here when I was 15 years old. And this is my country and I got to pay and I got to do and I got to follow instruction and it's hard. It's hard to
be on our shoes. We are the only one. Our building is on the floor completely on the floor. He already been passing by. We came here two weeks ago. We spoke with her, with her, even with him. And I
know God exists. And as you open this meeting over here with a pray >> with a pray is because God exists, right? It's because God is with us in every way. And I would like if you guys
can do something for us. We've been there more than 30 years. It's not just about landlord owners. is about people that they've been putting effort in every way. Okay? My kids are big. Our
kids over here are bigs and everything has been coming from that. It's not because it's a junker or it's a trash place. No, it's not a trash place. It's a place. The people depend on that. Everything is in ashes. And I know that
God exists and soon we going to be erased soon. But we need your help because we cannot do it by ourself. >> We're cleaning. You got to see us. We look like a dumb people, like a trash
people all over. Every single day we go every day because we depend on that. Yes, ma'am. >> Please, I would like to see if you guys can help us. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. Citizens for citizen form is still local.
Good evening, mayors, commissioners. Audrey Dominguez, 1147 Jan Avenue. Um, I wanted to thank the city manager and staff for putting up the 100th uh, Centennial flags all over the city. I've gotten calls from people passing by
saying how nice it looks. Um, and they're seeing a change in the city. Um, the only thing I I would suggest is that that sign when you see it online, it looks this small. So, you guys have a big one downstairs. Maybe you should
swap it because I swear to you, it looks this small. I could barely see the lettering. So, maybe and it's not going to cost anything. Just someone move it. That way, everybody can see how huge our sign is. Okay. Um, I wanted to talk on on Friday. I went to the first block
party at the Triangle 17th Avenue in Alibaba. I wanted to thank Commissioner Santiago. The residents loved it. It was the first time being done there. I had a resident that came from Miami Gardens. Um she said that it was really nice. She
just wanted if there was going to be any bounce houses. I spoke to Commissioner Santiago. He says that in the future definitely going to do that. Um, Sunday, um, I went to the chess and dominoes event. I truly enjoyed myself and I
really didn't want to leave because I was winning. I was beating up the guys. So, I really didn't want to leave. So, I just wanted to thank Commissioner Bass, Commissioner Santiago. Um, it was a great event. We just have to call a neighbor and say, "Hey, come on down. This is a great event." And plus, it was
nice and cool. >> Really nice event. So, I wanted to thank you guys for it. Thank you, Commissioner Dominguez. Citizens form is still open. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Abu and I'm sorry
and one will the honest the loss and loca. >> What's the address? >> 13205 Carol. >> Yeah, >> this is very hard for ours. We dedicate 23 years to this business in one second
is gone in a second. We depend everything in that place. Our life is there. What she said is minimal painful for us right now. We going through the worst. Okay. When I when I got a call the it
was the fire start. It was one of the co-work. So we never expect our business going to be heard the way it was. So it was four business before us and we just rent
there. We just pay the rent and we don't have we depend on and we need help from you guys who >> Yes ma'am. I understand. Thank Yes. >> Thank you. May >> citizens form is still open.
Citizens form is closed. All right. So, >> Mr. Mayor, >> citizens form is closed. >> So, um Mr. Cooper will be hearing the Kyhoga project shortly is one of the ordinance that we're going to talk about
also to um I didn't catch her name, but madam manager, can you have someone speak to the resident with the issue with doing you you got it already? Okay, perfect. And um um Commissioner Dominguez, thank you for noticing and I agree with the sign and I'm g try to convince Mad Manager to
switch it. And then as as it relates to the business of Cairo Lane, we are with you. So what we're going to try to do, we was going to do a workshop and before the end of the night, Madame Clerk will poll of the commission to set that date for that workshop to discuss a a path
forward. And I know that Commissioner Santiago is also working on legislation to help assist in this matter which I'm sure you're going to bring back next commission meeting. >> Yes. Um Mr. Mayor, but last word for this. Let me tell you this. I know what
is these people passing through. And the only thing that I want to know, you're not alone. You have somebody that going to fight for that. And I'm going to try to bring that resolution as soon as I can. All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Now,
this part, it came up at the last meeting, which was the curfew, and I asked the question, what was the um the holdup for it? And I believe madam attorney, you said that there was a something about the uh the manager. Well, it was assistant city attorney was
here. >> Uh yes. U Mr. Mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, this is an item that you all actually passed last year. It's a it was a three-party, it was approving a three-party memorandum of understanding between the city of Opalaka, Miami date county, and Community Youth Against
Violence, Inc. pertaining to the Miami date countyy's juvenile curfew ordinance. So, in preparation for uh doing this three-part memorandum, we had conversations with the county. We had conversations with um um one of the
gentlemen who appeared here. Um we had um we reviewed and I'm I'm sorry I don't remember your name. Mr. Pastor Johnson told me that nobody in the county, nobody no other city attorneys, no no other city would do this. He was very happy about this going forward and I was
comfortable with it because it included the county because it is involving the county's ordinance. Um, and I don't know if it was the young lady who spoke here earlier today, but I even had a conversation with her before preparing this triparty agreement. So, we bring
this item to the city commission. It is a triparty agreement. It passes. We have essentially done what we agreed to do, which was pass this, which included Miami date county. Again, I was comfortable because it included and I
one of the things that I uh believe to be the case and the reason why the county is no longer interested in um in signing on to the agreement is because there are liability u issues that they may have in connection with this or concerns and their city attorney's
office has apparently advise against it. Um I don't know the reasons why other um cities have not engaged with them on this issue as Opaaka had. Um I suspect it probably has to do with liability
issues. Now where we are right now is this has passed. The city commission has done nothing wrong. I have done nothing wrong. There is no issue that the city has done where we are doing anything to um be um opposite in opposition to what
you have passed based on our understanding that this was going to be a three-party agreement. Mr. Johnson called me and I have been um you know I've answered some of his calls and what I told him was that this needs to come back through the manager. It is not
something that I can just make a change to and then send it to the county and and because this has been approved by the commission. So if it is if the manager is making a recommendation that this needs to change, then he needs to talk with the manager's office um and
take it back through that process so that it bubbles up to me to our office to review and then it comes to you. That has not happened to the best of my understanding. When that happens, we'll take another look at it. We're happy to make a recommendation, but I would tell you the reason why I personally felt
comfortable with it was because it included the county because it is involving the county's curfew ordinance. And so that is probably the reason why they have had a difficult time getting any other city to sign on to this. That is my opinion. Now, um it could be
incorrect. That is my opinion. So, I'm telling you all this is where we are. You've signed it. you've done what you've done. Nobody's done anything wrong. So, when the gentlemen are coming here and they're very respectful, but when they're coming here and they're saying, you know, we want to know what's
going on. What's going on is the county hasn't signed it. The county is now backing out of it. The county said they were going to be at the table on this. They're not going to be at the table on it, at least in the agreement, and and that's where that's where we are now. >> Okay. You briefly stated that if the
manager is going to bring something, it will bubble up to you. What what does that mean? >> Meaning if this is this is not something I'm going to act on. >> What What is Are you saying change that we're going to >> Yeah. If there's a change that's going to be made, the manager will talk with them and they she will make a recommendation. She's going to stand
behind this. She will then put it as her item or you one of you might do it as a commission item that you will then sponsor. And the man, >> what would be the change? That's >> the change will be the county is not interested in being involved anymore. It was a three-party agreement. The county is not going to be at the table anymore as a party to the agreement. That's the
change. The way it was passed is how we discussed it. It's how me, the the pastor, somebody from the county on the phone. I had a couple of conversations about it. Went through the item was fine. It passed. So there is nothing
that the city has done that is inconsistent it with you know the only thing that's different is the county saying we are no longer interested in being a part of your agreement. That's the change based on their ordinance. I want to take a point of privilege pastor. What what's what's the
we >> saying in terms of other other municipalities other municipalities should be a part of it as you told me we're not going to do that you misunderstood what I said I said that we wanted to bring opa and I and I had a
particular reason why I want opa to be first to come in that's I me and you talk about that but but my main thing is that >> all it is that the county is saying that they don't they just don't want the liability that you may create on that end. But you all you have to do we have
an agreement with Opaaka my organization and your and and and and Opaaka we have we have we have an agreement what we what the county is saying they have procedure all you doing following procedure because the it's been going on for months we just trying to lock the cities in. So we're not we're not saying
that if we got other cities that want to come in. I was trying to get Opa Laka in there first. You know, they've been trying to get the news conference. We've been trying to bring it in. So, we trying to tie this thing in. >> Sir, through the mayor, you told me that no other cities would sign on to this.
>> I didn't say that. I didn't say that. M attorney. This is not that type of Thank you. We just wanted clarity. >> So, what we're going to do >> have other organizations that we're going to Pastor Johnson, I'm sorry. Let's we'll set up a meeting
between myself, your your organization, the manager, and we'll loop the attorney in and then we'll we prepare a path forward and if there's something to come up, we'll bring it at the madam manager, we'll bring it at the next commission meeting. >> All right, we're doing one question. When can we meet? Where can we meet? Can
we been very >> We will my office will reach out to you tomorrow. And matter of fact, I give you one better than that. my executive secretary right there, Miss M. Take Pastor Johnson's number and we will reach out to you with um to schedule that meeting.
>> That's no problem. All right, we're moving right along because we have a we have a a pretty lengthier day. All right. So, let's move on to item number 131. >> A resolution of the city commission of the city of Opaaka, Florida, authorizing the city manager to issue a request for
proposals RFP for a pool of contractors for citywide towing services, providing for a corporation recital, providing for scriveners errors, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by the city manager. >> All right. Can I get a motion? >> Move it. Moved by Commissioner Santiago.
>> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Irvin. Madam manager, this is your item. You can go ahead and um present it and then I'll yield to Commissioner Santiago. >> The city's current agreement for citywide towing services is set to expire on July 16th, 2026 to ensure
there is no lapse in service. The city is seeking qualifi qualifications from licensed and experienced towing firms to enter into an agreement for citywide towing services due to high demand for services. historically historical practice and the most recent experiences
with a single tow contractor. It is my intent for us to award a contract to multiple selected contractors for the towing services. Um so there's no um long wait times. >> Got it. Um Commissioner Santiago, you ask for item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. A question for the
sponsor that is the um the manager for the great city of Opalaka. uh when every reading uh the ocean the you know that you're going to propose is to have in the rotation that's we call him uh three companies uh three three
companies um I don't know how many company we have now I think it's only one >> yes only one >> yeah and that's a oh I think that you talk to me okay thank you um what I what I see one company not enough sometime you know to
cover up you know like whatever incidents or something that we have and uh I can see you know a lot of you know thing happen in the last one you know one year and my recommendation for you
know for this in the future is at least we can get you know two two company for the rotation and the third company the the uh the the whoever you design to to
contract. Um it can be like if that two company not respond, we have a backup out there. But I believe when two companies enough for for the area that the city have two companies.
Do you you understand? >> No, I do understand. I do I understand. That's the only change that I like to see that we're not choosing three companies for the rotation because probably it's going to be a lot of problem for them to deal with that. But two company I think is good.
>> All right, madam manager. >> Yes. >> Um you're good. Okay. I will say this. I'm happy with the legislation that you brought because I do remember all of the commission had an issue when it was bar because it was a single um sole provider and none of us historically we've always had multiple multiple and I believe it's
always been three yes and it worked well with opa but now the wait time is extremely long we all get the complaints we all get the complaints so hey I'm I'm for it the way it is and I think it's happy to that you brought it now because this is supposed to be brought back six
months After we passed it the first time, it was supposed to be a trial run and this is what almost two years. Yes, almost two years later. >> All right. Any other questions or concern to the manager on this item? Hearing none, madame um clerk, call the question.
>> Commissioner Irvin, we're voting on the three. Correct. >> Yes. The way it is today? >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kelly? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Santiago? All right, but we don't have a choice. We need a gondra. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Bass. Yes. Mayor Taylor. >> Yes. Motion passes 5-0. >> All right. Moving on to item number two 132. A resolution of the city commission of the city of Opalaka, Florida, authorizing the city manager to reject a proposal submitted pursuant to request
for qualifications RFQ 2026 PDN-001 for printing and distribution of a quarterly com community newspaper. Further authorizing the city manager to engage community newspaper services for an amount not to exceed $25,000 in a
contract form acceptable to the city attorney. providing for incorporation of recital, providing for scriveners errors, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by the city manager. >> All right. Can I get a motion? >> Move it. >> Moved by Dr. Bass. Second. >> Second by Commissioner Urban. Madam manager, I let you go ahead and present
and I yield to Commissioner Vice Kelly who had an amendment. I believe that's what he said. >> The city issued an RFQ soliciting quotes for from a qualified firm to be tasked with the printing and distribution of the city's community newspaper. We only received one proposal back and due to
the low response, I am requesting that we reject the proposal and I be allowed to seek these services under my spending authority of $25,000. >> Got it. Um, Vice May, >> thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I don't have a
problem with the item, but I want to add an amendment because since we're not going under the original concept of having a company and we're allowing the manager to do it, I want to amend it that it comes back um after the first year instead of that that one year
renewal that the manager could just do um that it will come back to the commission for ratification. And that's the amendment I'd ask the attorney uh to prepare in my briefing. And again, it's not based on whoever is in the the seat. It's based on uh policy and principle
because we need to make sure if the commission, for example, at that point wants to uh do something else or add something the way it's written, it just would automatically uh be to the manager for an optional one year. I think because this is something new and I know
our ultimate goal is to actually get a company to do this. Um but because the manager said we couldn't get anyone, I like that amendment that it would just come back to the commission after the initial year for um ratification rather than automatic possible renewal. And
attorney uh Mr. Mayor, I think I ask for some language for it if she could read it as a part of the amendment. >> All right, madame manager, you good with the amendment? >> The attorney needs to read it first. >> Okay. And so this is the motion. Make a motion.
>> All right. >> Yeah, Mr. mayor. >> So this >> Oh, >> yeah. Please have >> that. >> No, we have the motion on the floor and I hear you. >> So, but I want to understand what what kind of amendment, you know, we going to do with this. >> She's going to read it right now.
>> Okay. Yeah. Before Yeah, >> she's going to read it right now. So this um this language would be added to the end of the fourth whereas clause and it would be regarding the renewal provided however that any such renewal shall be exercised only upon prior approval of the city commission.
>> So in other words it doesn't automatic renew it has to come before the commission after one year. All right. All right. So any under discussion before we make um >> uh yes go ahead. >> Yeah. Thank you Mr. mayor. And the
reason that I uh get involved in the uh discussion uh is because this is something to do with the uh community newspaper that I sponsor that a year and a half
ago. And a year and a half ago, the state they honored a budget for that particular item for the community, not for the benefits or any other things for
any event or anything for a a community benefits. a community benefits and I know what we try to do is to try to avoiding that's reading here uh whatever bit that they
do they not agree with the uh what the what the thing that you asking for for the newspaper but this is regarded about the newspaper the community newspaper >> yes that's the that's the item for the community newspaper
but if I may >> yes the way it's worded Now, it um it allows me to enter into an agreement with a company that's selected for one year with an automatic additional one-year renewal. Vice Mayor
Kelly is asking for an amendment that after the first year, it has to come back to the city commission before it automatically renews. >> Perfect. I don't have any any uh thing against that, but what I try to do what I try to say is uh this is June. This is
June and we only we only have left uh July, August and September to make something to uh try everybody together now only one person to communicating to the public and to the residents whatever
we do here in the great city of Palaka what we doing you know with the taxpayer money and everything that we need to inform the people. Thank you >> Mr. Mayor, >> vice mayor, >> I I I move the um amendment after you get a second. I'll explain it further if
need be, but I move the amendment on the item that uh attorney read. >> I know you've already got a discussion, but >> um Dr. Baz second the item already. Well, Jeff, >> okay. Um, just for clarification, the
reason I wanted to come back because after a year, we all want the newspaper, want to get the word out, wanted to communicate to all of our residents. But as the manager indicated, she only had one proposal that she deemed insufficient and didn't meet the criteria. So, in order to move forward, we're at least trying to get someone to
provide the service. This allows her to do that. The amendment just says after a year instead it being automatic it comes back to the commission because the dynamics may have changed maybe some companies come along or the commission may decide they want to do something else at that time. So that's the purpose
of the um amendment. It's on really policy and principle. You know, I believe the manager will do the right thing or whatever, but to bring it back to commission because we may decide at that point um we want to entertain that or continue to do something different, but that's the purpose of the amendment.
And I think for the second and no other questions with me, I don't. >> All right. >> So, um go ahead and call the question for the amendment. Madam clerk, >> Commissioner Santiago. Yes. >> Commissioner Bass. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Irvin. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kelly.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Taylor. >> Yes. >> Motion on the amendment passes 5. >> All right. If there is nothing else further, we can call the question for the actual item. >> Uh you have something. >> Yes. Only a little comment. The I like
the words the vice mayor bring uh you know to the public and for the data. Yes, it's true. We have to think the we're not forever and somebody can be in the place, you know, wherever we are right now in the future and we have to
keeping going because the newspaper is for the community, not for anybody impersonal. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. >> Vice Mayor Kelly, >> yes. >> Commissioner Santiago, >> yes. >> Commissioner Baz, yes. >> Commissioner Irvin, yes. >> Mayor Taylor, yes. >> Motion passes 5.
>> All right. Moving on to item 133, >> a resolution of the city commission of the city of Opaaka, Florida, directing the city manager to conduct a citywide assessment of unsafe structures, and further authorizing the city manager to submit the findings to the Miami Dade County unsafe structures board,
providing for incorporation of recital, providing for scriveners errors, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by Mayor Taylor. >> Can I get a motion? >> Move it. >> Moved by Commissioner Santi, second by Vice Mayor Kelly. Um, so simply put, we
have a lot of unsafe structures around Opalaka that vagrants are living in that's just falling apart and we're not getting a lot of responses from the owners. So what I'm suggesting is that the manager does an assessment of all of these structures that we know them. We get the complaints, we know where they
are and submit that to the county unsafe structure board so that we can get permission to tear these things down. That's that's the the gist of it. So, I'll yield to um Commissioner Santiago because you pulled it and then I'll entertain any questions. >> Well, I I think that you say everything
that I want to know because I'm be confused because my house is 101 years old. >> It's not your house. >> Oh, I know. >> Well, we had to be, you know, around to see uh they explaining the to me too like
you're looking for houses that they've been closing for years. >> Yeah. And they uh Yeah. Yeah. We have a lot of the houses in the other side of the triangle, too. Yeah. No, no, it's fine. You I already I'm already done with that. Okay. Thank you.
>> Anyone else? Hearing none. Madame clerk. >> Commissioner Bass? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Irvin? >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kelly? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Santiago? >> Yes. >> Mayor Taylor? >> Yes. >> Motion passes 5-0. >> All right. Moving on to item 134. A resolution of the city commission of the
city of Opa Laka, Florida, directing the city manager to conduct and present a study and analysis regarding a six-month pilot program for extended service hours for city services and operations. Providing for reporting and recommendations, providing for
incorporation of recital, providing for scriveners errors, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by Vice Mayor Kelly. >> Make a move by Vice Mayor. I need a second on the second by Commissioner Santiago. Um Vice Mayor, >> thank you, Mr. Mayor. uh as the item
state is to conduct and present the study um and analysis. Two things that I've been looking at um over the last year or so have had residents and business owners talk about the need to be able to access city services and many times because they're working or can't
get home and get here um to transact business. Um I thought it appropriate to allow the manager to do some analysis to bring back to us for an extended service hours for city services and operations. And I'm really doing that because I'd
also considered I think Mr. Mayor, you had brought it up as well one time too, even about potentially having city hall close on uh Fridays, but I know that's a little more challenging. So I said um at least we can do this um a couple of days
however the manager sees to do it to allow for our residents and business owners that could be able to come and transact business whether they got to go to building license or whether they got to do whatever regarding the city and that would allow for um our community to
have access to city uh services. It is a uh pilot program and of course she will come back and report and recommend her findings to us and then the commission can decide if it's something we want to pursue um long term keep it as is or
just um let it go away. But I've heard that many times from folks who work far away can't get here 5:00 hits and you know 5:00 we all gone um in terms of services being able to be accessed. So, that's the intent of the resolution.
I'll address any um questions anyone may have. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Vice Mayor, I do have one question. >> That probably would lead to another question. Um I'm total in support. You know, I always wanted to do the 4 day work week. So, I'm assuming this is the um Yeah, this is um public facing departments, right?
>> Pardon me. >> Public facing departments, >> right? >> All right. And then my next question is so assuming so this is not extending or going into overtime. So, one day I'm assuming we'll go to 7 o'clock and the other day will go to three. Well, that would be up to the manager how she has to do it. That's why it's a pilot and a
study because I left the operational and how she would do it up to her and then she would come back with the recommendation >> to us based on what she believes or feels it should be. But it's not designed for overtime if that's the answer question. >> But it's going to come back. That's
>> it's got to come back to the commission >> before we before we initiate. >> Right. >> All right. And you give it I'm so sorry. Go ahead. >> You're the mayor. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, I'm the one pull out uh for question to
uh to my colleague uh to the sponsor. Um when I have Monday my uh agenda brief, they explaining to me the the the idea the that you bringing to us is to keep the city open up to uh 700 p.m. 700 p.m.
I don't know if I make or maybe probably I don't understand uh what is the proposal of that but make the city be open at 700 p.m. every day. No. Okay, that's good because I'm with
the idea to make our city work uh only four days a week. Like other cities like Miami Garden that is a a a city very organized and they have a lot of prosperity. They only have four days out
there, okay, for service the community and service in in any other department. doesn't exact you know the police department and I think any emergency department that they have now one of the bigger problems that we have here I want to say it for the data is this because I
have so many complaint for a lot of business people here in the great city of Palaka and residents that they come to uh the first floor there to the ground to the uh uh building a license building a license let me starting from there to building a license uh the
escalator I asking the manager What is the schedule for the people is 8 to 5? No, madam manager 8 to 5. >> 8 to 5 they're open to the public until 4:30. >> 4:30. But sometime people come downstairs out there and I have people that they told me that it's not me that
I inventing at 3:15 they don't want to take any more application 315. No, we have rules and regulation for everybody they here like the way that they have rules and regulation for the elected official. they working 8 to5
8 to 5 I don't think the animal hours you know for the day that's not a good idea but to make people you know complete with the schedule that we have and take care of people out there you're going to see that you're not you're not going to have any complaint around for people they
come out at 2:00 on the job you know hurry to get the permit for painting the house or to do some kind of construction because they're going to be take care of out there I believe madam manager is part of your staff and we had to implement in that the
office close at 4:30 to receipt any paperwork but we we close a fight and I I like the idea in the future to have the city open 4 days that's going to make us look good in front of the uh uh Florida state because we're going to
saving some money going to teach him we're going to let them know that we learn and that we don't have to saving, okay, with that kind of idea, but not to adding and adding and adding hours with no reasons. I supported it the way that
they want to bring it for probably come back to us when a plan and in that plan including the four only the four day um work in the city serving you know the community four days. >> Mr. Mayor,
>> thank you Mr. Mayor. There are so many thoughts going through my head right now. So, I'm trying to choose my words wisely. But, however, I'm going to wait until I'll support it
for tonight, but I'll wait to get the >> recommendation >> recommendation from the manager because we're talking about extending one day a week. For whom? What department? Question marks. Then I'm hearing
um 4 day work week for home question marks. So there's a lot of pieces of puzzle that has to be placed together in order for this to work. And I'm also concerned about the additional we're saying it's not going to cost the city additional monies, but it might. And we
have to also be considerate of our employees. How would this fit into their lives? When they came to Opalaka, they came from 8 to 5. Now we're telling them before they work week. It might work for them. I don't know. I'm just putting it out there.
>> That's all. Okay. But I would wait until it comes around the best. I don't want I think we're conflating the two. The 4-day work week is not what we're voting on tonight. What we're voting on is the extended hour that's going to come back to the commission by recommendation of
the manager. The 4-day work week is something that came up months ago. So, yeah, but I just don't want it because it it seems like it's >> vice mayor. >> Mr. Mayor, I Yeah, thank you for clarifying that. Again, it's for the manager to bring it back. The commission
could decide based on what she recommends whether it's something we do or not. But as one individual, even though I may think it's okay for one day a week or two days a week, it's not for me to arbitrarily decide that. It's for the commission. And so the legislation
just calls for the managers to do the study, the analysis, come back with a recommendation, and she may decide it's good for one day or two day. And we still may decide at that point we don't care for it, but arbitrarily. I can't just ask her to do it and put it in
place. It has to come from legislation and that's the intent of the resolution um to allow her to do that. That that's >> Mr. Um, wait. Um, I'm sorry, Commissioner. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um,
I do I'm a firm believer that people make time for things that's important to them. So, for it to be um, a study, can we study it in three months and not six?
I only, Mr. here. I only said six because the manager is so overwhelmed with a lot of things and so I didn't want to pressure her in the time. If she thinks she can do it in three, I have no problem. But with everything on her plate, I did not want to pressure her to
feel uh come back that quick. Um with a analysis um I don't probably three months. I just said six because I in speaking to her she kind of suggested six months but I won't speak for the manager. Mr. Mayor, if you could >> point the the six months is to allow me
to be able to do the necessary leg work to bring it back to the commission, >> not to exceed 6 months for me to submit it to the commission, >> right? So, in that six month time, we're going to make it active. No.
>> No. Because that's what I just Yeah. So, this is how are you going to do >> the plan once you implement it will be a six-month pilot program. So from now if the passes tonight, how long would it take you to bring this back to the commission with the plan going forward? >> So I was under the impression that I had
the six months. So now I see that it's due. >> I don't think that >> Yeah, I don't think months to come up with a plan. Miss >> Wait, let let him let her let vice mayor respond to that. >> Well, I again whether it's three months, I was just deferring to the manager to give her more time. If if it's three
months that you wanted to bring it back, that's up to whether she can do that in three months. Okay. I don't have a problem with the time. I was just thinking of her schedule, her staff, her what all the other things that she has to do. >> So the pilot program will run for six
months. Is that it? And then I bring it back to the commission. >> I that's >> well that's declarative. >> That's that's what I need clarification of. >> Okay. You know what I'll do? I will defer the item and and let you kind of clarify what you feel the time frame and
then bring it back. Um, sorry, >> vice before you you defer, but I'm going to make a suggestion. Can you and um the manager um defer and then come back with a concrete plan like we're going to do it from this day, this date, this date and y'all work on that and bring it back to the commission
and then at that time we're going to do it for three months, we're going to do it for six months, but at least we have because I think that's the confusion like what it's going to look like, who's here, who's not. But my suggestion is that y'all just y'all work on a plan, you and Vice Mill, and present that to the commission. I think that would that
would ease everybody's mind. If I may, if that's >> if that's the if that's the ask, I cannot bring it back at the next meeting. I would need some more time. >> No, no, no, no, no. >> Well, I I I was saying that before the mayor made his statement. I I don't have
a problem with working with you to bring something back. Um I just didn't want to arbitrarily ask you to do it and bring it. So, hearing my colleagues, I have no problem working with you. And then when you feel you've had enough time, we'll bring it back. Um, so we'll just leave
it as a uncertain date. I have a problem with that, but it's just something we to do because I don't want to mix the 4 day and all that because I know that's been discussed and, you know, may be something. But all of these ideas are with the intent of making it better for
our residents and business owners. And of course we understand the staffing component of it regardless of what we do because even we go to four days that means 10 hours from other days. So there's still an impact but I if that's the will um of my colleagues I will
defer the item to an unknown date certain work with the manager and come back with something uh concrete that my colleagues can look at and see if it's amanable for passing. So I'll defer to item Mr. Mayor. So item four has been
deferred. The next item on the agenda that was pulled is item number six. >> A resolution of the city commission of the city of Opaaka, Florida directing the city manager. >> Excuse me. Um u Mr. Mayor, I decide to
uh defer the item number six. >> Um is there a date certain um commission or you're going to bring it back? I I going to make a starting and bring it back together with whatever we have in the package. Okay. >> For for this uh situation out there. But
for now, I'd like to defer it. >> No date, sir. Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Santi. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we're moving on to our first reading ordinances public hearing. And I'm going to make an ask of my
colleagues that we hear item number three first because they have to leave and then the first one and two are the same and we can discuss that at the time if you all don't mind. All right. Thank you. So, madame um um
attorney, item 163, >> an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Opaaka, Florida, renaming Rutland Street from Opaaka Boulevard to Vermont Street as Progressive Firefighters Association Street, providing for a conflict and repealer
severability, scrier's errors, and for effective date. This is sponsored by the mayor. >> All right. This is a public hearing item, but I entertain a motion at this moment. Moved by um commission vice second by commissioner Santiago. This is my item. Simply put, the progressive
firefighters association is a charity that has been in the city of Opaaka for over 40 years. It sits right here on Rutland Street. We've all been there. They've done a lot of great work in the city of Opaaka and I want to make sure that they get there just do. So, I'm not asking to rename the entire street, but
just the street that borders that that runs parallel to the organization's building, which is between um Opalaka Boulevard and Vermont Street, that part of Rutland. So, this is a public hearing item. Public hearing is open. Anybody
want to talk on this item? Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Keith Bell. Um I'm a division chief of Miami Dade Fire Department. I'm also the assistant fire chief. Uh 926 Rutland Street. Um Mayor, thank you.
Vice Mayor Kelly, thank you. Commissioner Bass, Commissioner Irvin, uh, Commissioner Santiago, City Manager Lawson, City Attorney, uh, Norris Weeks, City Clerk Flores, City Assistant Attorney K Valdez, Raden Ellis. I just want to say thank you all for the
opportunity. Uh, the Progressive Firefighters Association Charities of Miami Day County was organized in 1978 due to the awareness of the increasing uh, the increasing complexity of problem experienced in our communities. It was due to the barriers that affected our community such as health concerns, fire
prevention and and safety, social economic issues which caused two individuals by the name of Charles Phillips and David James. Charles Phillips was the first African-American fire chief for the Miami Day Fire Department. Um those two got together
and sued Miami Day County because they were discriminating on blacks back in the early 70s. So again, we've been here in the city of Opalaka since 1978. Uh our house is right there on 926 Rugland Street. Uh I think that gave us 48 years
here in Opalaka. We've done a plethora of work in the community. And um you know, it it is near and dear to my heart that these guys who paved the way for people like myself to become a firefighter on the fire department, I just want to give them their flowers. why some of them are still here and some
of them have, you know, gone and left us. So again, thank you for the opportunity. Any questions? >> All right. Um, thank you, Chief Bell. >> Yes, sir. >> Um, public hearing is still open. Public hearing is closed at this moment. I entertain any questions.
>> Mr. Mayor, >> um, Commissioner Bass, >> I am going to support this resolution for tonight. Well, not just for tonight. I'm going to support it. But what I would like to see, I don't have my glasses. I didn't read this right here. Um
um the only fear I have is that when we rename our streets, we're changing our history in a way. So I don't know if going forward, we can put whatever name we want but still leave our original
name because we're wiping out Arabian themes. Right. So that's all I would say. But I I do support it and thank you. >> Thank you. Um Mr. Mayor I think when you reading um you including that like it's only going to be a section of the road there. Yeah.
With me is beautiful and and wonderful, you know, to recognize the good job, you know, that they doing here for the community. And come on, we ready to to vote. Roll call. >> Anyone else on this item? Hearing none. Madam clerk,
>> Commissioner Santiago, >> yes. >> Commissioner Baz, >> yes. >> Commissioner Irvin, >> yes. Vice Mayor Kelly. >> Yes. >> Mayor Taylor. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 50. First reading. >> Thank you all for the opportunity. >> All right. Um, moving on to item number
16 A1. An ordinance of the city commission of the city of Opaaka, Florida, considering the small-scale comprehensive plan amendment to the future land use map for a 7.58 acre parcel located at 1700 Service Road and
identified by Folio 08-2122-005-2170 amending the land use designation from property from for the property from low moderate density residential to a commercial land use designation. Providing for severability, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored
by the city manager. >> All right. Um, can I get a motion? >> Move it. >> Moved by vice Kelly. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Second by Dr. Baz. This is a public hearing item. Madam manager, I get you go ahead and present and then we'll open
up a public hearing. The applicant 1700 Service Holdings LLC intends to construct two commercial use buildings with a showroom, storage area with office and a retail space. The request is to amend the land use from low moderate density residential to
commercial land use. This item was deferred from the December 10th, 2025 regular commission meeting to allow the applicant a chance to meet with the community. It has been it it is being presented to the city commission for consideration. Two public meetings were held. The first meeting held on January
13, 2026 and the second meeting held on February 3rd, 2026. >> All right. This is a public hearing item. Public hearing is open. >> Good evening. >> Hope can you Thank you.
>> Not an engineer. Thank you. I figured it out. Good evening. Hope Calhoun land use council for um the applicant. We do have a brief presentation that I understand is available. And while that's coming up um I just want to say with me tonight is
the property owner and our project uh engineer um who will also um participate briefly in this presentation. We are super super excited about being here tonight. This has been uh a long time coming. Um everybody is aware of where
this property is. We do have a total of four applications. I understand that currently you're considering one application, but I'm going to just kind of quickly uh go through um the presentation. >> Miss Hope, give me one second. Let's do public hearing and I know the manager is going to allow you to do the
presentation. So, let's hear from the public and then we'll we'll do we'll do um Yeah, I know you all have a brie I was told to you have a presentation. So, public hearing is open on this item. How are you? Mark Cooper, 681 Southwest
75 Terrace. The crux of their argument is going to be or has been that the property is so contaminated that you cannot build a residential that it doesn't meet the threshold for residential and so the only use is industrial commercial.
That's the crux of the argument. The last time we were here with the previous owner in this application um was about two years ago. So, if you go to the DURM public records page, which is number five here,
DURM has a schedule for them to be issuing quarterly monitoring reports on the property to see how the contamination's coming. This is page five. The last report that was issued was about 18 months ago. Durham sent out
a letter saying, uh, some of the wells haven't been tested since 2021. Uh, you have 90 days to submit the next report. That's page eight. This is the official correspondence from Durham. We don't have to speculate what's going on
at the property. The attorney says she's not an engineer. There's environmental people that are set out to do this. They check the land to check to see what type of contamination spreading out into the neighborhood. The testing is not being done
in so far as their argument. Now they come with the lack of information and say what we need is you to change the zoning to get rid of the possibility of 800 residents living there a million900,000 in taxable revenue to the state and to
the county to the city and they haven't done the testing. They don't come with clean hands. They don't come with an honest argument. All they're doing right now is saying, "We don't we don't it's not it's in our benefit right now to put a warehouse. You guys don't know if you
can put homes or not, but we need a warehouse." The applicant owns a warehouse in Aventura on on West Dixie Highway that's being built all around it by apartment buildings. That's the last page of my presentation. This is this is what's going on in
Aventura. And so what those folks are getting is residents and apartments and people using city services and what we're getting is warehouses and that's not right. Thank you. >> Public input. >> Okay, I'll wait. >> Public hearing is still open.
>> Audrey Dominguez, 1147 Jan Avenue. I am a board member of the planning and zoning. Uh this item was brought to us for the property located in 17900 service road for two commercial
industrial mixed use. The property land use was residential although it passed 3 to one. I voted against it. Um the property was intended for residential. I feel that if the developer comes back with a residential
project, and remove whatever contamination, if there is any, I will support it. I'll be the first one to support it. Um, this is why I voted against it. And residents don't want no more warehouses. They they they spoke
and they don't want no warehouses. So, we need to respect what the residents want. I The development what they brought was beautiful. Don't get me wrong, but it's not what it was intended for. So, please don't and after I saw
what I was I got today from Mr. Cooper. Yeah, we can definitely put apartments there. >> All right. >> Public input is public hearing is still open. >> Scott, 8441 Northwest 25th Avenue.
>> I I stand in opposition to this proposed industrial commercial because simply the wording industrial commercial allows this company to expand on the original plans and this this is a residential
area. This area was meant for residential impact. We haven't seen the impact statement on the on the traffic or impact statement on all the on the things that will affect the neighborhood. This is residential. I understand that they beautiful beautiful
play. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. But we haven't gotten the impact statement from DUR. They're coming in without incomplete information. You can't possibly come to the conclusion that this is the way which needs to be done. We need to
have more information. If they come back with a residential plan, all all game for planning is said no. So this it's almost a no-brainer. You know, it's it's it's a residential area. How you going to put this commercial establishment in
the middle of the residential area? We have warehouses on the other side. We have a commercial area just on this side of Opaaka. So we can we can't start intruding on the on on our residents. That's not fair. It's not fair and it's not right. The residents said they don't
want it there so it shouldn't be there. That bottom line, they don't want it there so don't put it there. Thank you. Thank you. >> Public hearing is still open. Brian Dennis address Brian Dennis address 2140 York Street.
Um I haven't I received a bunch of the documents. I don't know if y'all can hear me. I received a lot of the documents that I requested asked for from Mr. Gang Community Development. What I am surprised to hear is
what Mr. Cooper just presented. I am to uh also in shock by it and even though what was presented I think I don't know if I spoke at um
planning zone it might have been the gas station park when commission Johnson was alive. This is like it's weird. It It's real weird because if something was designated for residential and that's what should be put there, then I
think that that should what's what's going on. It it's just as simple as that. Um, one of the reasons why I ask for all the documentation is to see there's a traffic study that everything is there and I've even spoken with this group outside. So my word was to that company
that if I got all the documentation and read everything and it was what was being presented to the public, I will support the item. Well, apparently that's not what's taking place right now because I ride in Attitude and I know
what's in attitude. And if that's not if if State Road 9 and Kyhoga is not going to look like State Road uh Biscane Boulevard, then there's no way I could support that. Um, regardless of the
information that I have and anything like that, I I feel like a lawyer being caught off guard with a client that has received everything. >> All right. Public hearing is still open. Public hearing is closed. All right. So,
we'll yield to the applicant to go ahead and briefly present. Madam man, we heard you from Weard She was brief. I'm going to try to be brief also. Thank you. You can try
again. Thank you again. Hope Calhoun land use council for the applicant. So, everyone is aware of where this project is. Excuse me, where the property is located on um State Road 9. Can we just go to the next slide,
please? This is not working for me. Thank you. So, all of the requests um that ultimately will come before the commission um for a vote, assuming we get through first reading of the land use plan amendment and the resoning because that's what's before you tonight
for um a vote on the ordinance. Um is a smallcale land use plan amendment change from residential not to industrial but to commercial? Um the prior owner did submit an application. Yeah, the prior owner um and this applicant actually
through the prior owner submitted an application to re to land use change to industrial but we met with the residents. We understood what the residents wanted which they told us was commercial. So we modified the application and we're here tonight to request a change of the land use from
residential to commercial not industrial. We are not proposing warehouses. Um, the companion to that reso, excuse me, land use plan amendment is a resoning request to change from residential to commercial, not to
industrial. Um, to support the uses that the community told us uh that they wanted to see. Um, again, if we can get through first reading tonight, which is always my plea, if we can get through first, we can always work through any issues that might be outstanding. Um but
um if we get to second reading uh then you will see more information about the site plan and uh the development agreement. Just to say again um we're not presenting a warehouse. Um staff is recommending approval of our um
applications as stated as such uh in your backup and a traffic statement you did hear was presented. All of the information that the community has asked for has been presented, prepared, and submitted to city staff. This property has been vacant for a very long time.
But one of the things that has been um I think a topic of much discussion on this property is the environmental issues and the contamination that may or may not remain after development of the property. Whether it changes from um commercial to residential or remains as
residential. The question is always how much remediation is going to take place on the site? What is the developer going to fix? They're only asking to go to to commercial because it's easier. They don't have to do as much cleanup. So, as
I stated before, I'm not an engineer, but I'm going to yield a few minutes of my time to our engineer who is in going to introduce himself to you, tell you his qualifications, and really explain to you much better than I can the remediation that's going to happen, whether it's remains residential or as
developed as commercial, because I think that's very important as you make the decision. Hi, good evening. I'm James Miller. I am a civil engineer and I've been practicing in Miami date county for over 30 years remediating sites such as these. Um I've worked on this property
for um for over eight years. >> Can you state your address for the record, please? >> Sure. 10406 Southwest 186 Terrace. So, this property when it was introduced to us um sat vacant for a number of
years with piles of contamination that looked similar to this. This is a former lake site and it's been filled and it's been dumped on for a number of years. Um we met with um ownership at the time of approximately eight years ago and we sat with the county. We um entered into a
consent agreement uh to to address the violations of the contamination that were on the property. Um, as part of those remediation efforts, these piles, which there were numerous, um, have been addressed. The the solid waste present in the photographs have have completely been
removed. The site was, um, open to the public without fencing. That fencing has been installed. So, there's protection of the remaining surface soil because there's contamination from surface um, below grade. So, we have subsurface
contamination at the site. the um above ground stock piles have been addressed. The solid waste was screened and the materials the fine materials um remain on site and they'll be used as part of the development. The agreement that we have with the
county is that the remediation will be encapsulation which is a state approved remediation method. Um it it basically limits access to the contamination to the public. Right now, the site is completely exposed to the public um with
the exception of the fence that is intended to keep people off the property. Um periodically, we do have issues with um the fence being opened and um individuals on the property, whether it's dumping or just um loitering on the property. So, the uh
county is asking us, which was mentioned earlier, is we're doing um what they're calling um interim monitoring. So, it's not a a monitoring event to get to closure. It's just monitoring to allow the county to watch the contamination because they
know the remediation is going to take some time because we're trying to get a a a development plan approved. The development will be the remediation efforts. So, once the site is paved, we we'll have something like this that you see here. We'll have contamination under
for example this flooring material which will eliminate access and exposure to the public. So that is an approved remediation method in the state of Florida and in other states. Um Florida's adopted that and it's extremely effective. Um so if somebody
does enter the property, they we have protection. The um contain the remediation can't start until the plans are approved. So we have been working with um um the current ownership to um
allow the development to provide the remediation. So there's residential potentials and there's commercial potentials. Either um type of development will be the same exact remediation.
The paved areas provide cover. The green areas provide what the um state approved engineering control for green which landscaped areas would be two feet of clean fill. If we have residential out there, we'll have two feet of clean fill. If we have
commercial out there, we'll have 2 feet of clean fill based on the levels of contamination. So, there won't be any difference from my standpoint on the remediation. What we would see is if we had a residential property compared to a
commercial property is you have a lot more green space on residential. So you would basically have more exposure to contamination with residential use because if you have some type of residential property out there,
you're going to have more green areas, whether they're town homes or apartments. You're going to have areas to play. You're going to have front yards. You're going to have backyards. Those green areas can only be covered with two feet of clean fill. On a residential property,
on a commercial property, it's the same thing. However, the green area is so much more limited because the zoning requirements don't require as much green area on a commercial property. So, it wouldn't make a difference to me, but you would actually
see the majority of the property paved, whether it's asphalt or concrete, um, as compared to a residential property. >> Thank you, >> Madame Manager. >> Let me just touch one thing. So it was
mentioned that there's a Durham letter that um identifies the last um contam um sampling effort being back in 2024. We have for some reason this is is an is a page from the county but it's not bringing up some reports that we have
after this. So we are doing the intern monitoring. >> Okay. Thank you. So I do have a question madam manager to you and Mr. answer the applicant if they want like to answer um something that he said that residential and commercial have the same level of remediation. I do remember when this
came before us we was told that it would cost millions of dollars and more to make it to keep it residential versus making it commercial. But if we're hearing now that you can make it residential and it have the same level
of remediation which you said your you said two feet that was what you said then why can't it be residential and I believe um residents came up and asked why couldn't it be um mixeduse which is what it was supposed to be initially retail at the bottom and um residential
at the top and we was told that that can't happen because it's going to cost double no it wasn't word wasn't double it a couple more millions to remediate to remediate the site. >> So now you're you're you're going a different path. I'm a little confused
cuz now you said residential or commercial has the same level of remediation. So can someone clarify that? >> Thank you for the question, Mr. Mayor. I'm Nathan Cohen. I'm the uh the property owner and the applicant here.
Um, address, business address, 350 Biscane Boulevard, Miami, Florida, 33137. Um, so I appreciate the question. I want to stress out that it's um important to understand we not come here and really
um shift from the residential potential of this site to first industrial and then commercial. We came with the idea that we we are not residential developers. So we were interested in the site for originally having a store and storage
behind and so we were advised to do an industrial development as probably the highest and best use. That was the advice that we got at the at the time. Then we had and we were >> who advised that >> uh brokers and people saying you know for the highest and best use of this
>> outside outside okay >> um so that's what we went for just to have our retail store um and and have a development that completely encompasses the site. Um after doing that we were denied and we heard the community loud and clear that
they didn't want industrial and as it happens I am not an industrial developer. The only property that I own that is an industrial through our company is the one in Aventura that the gentleman was mentioning. We did not develop it. However, uh my lane is
really retail and we um held so I was the deni after the denial I was about to give up because obviously it seemed like there was opposition in the city and I was advised to hold a community meeting with the community and the residents. We
did that. We did that once and after the fact we did that a second time and a third time. But in the first one and along the other times as well. What I heard in those meetings was that residents were actually not interested in residential. But what I heard the
residents at least that were there in those meetings I heard a lot of questions. They said and comments for example they said uh Modani the furniture store should not be in the front. It should be in the back. we have no interest for, you know, furniture store to be so prominent and I respect that and I have no issue with it and we
flipped it to the back. Um, the other comments were mostly about the contamination and I'm going to answer your question. Uh, but also about the fact that residents wanted retail stores. A lot of them voiced the fact that they wanted to have a Starbucks,
uh, recreational activity for their kids, um, ways to activate u the site for the residents and for the community. And when I heard that, it was my sign from God that, you know, I was here. It was in my lane. I thought that I would
hear we want residential and then I would have backed out because I'm not a residential developer and I cannot do a residential development. But what I can do is a retail development. So when I heard this feedback that was loud and clear and I hope this and this meeting was recorded and we had subsequent
meetings, community meetings including one that Mr. Mayor you recommended. So, we held it after your recommendation last time. Um, we held a second one after that and even the third one after that because we thought there were not enough people and maybe we didn't notify enough people in the area. So, we
expanded the the mail the the the cards that we sent out so people could come and hear our plan. So we try to be very transparent and we heard all the comments and all the comments were always no we're not necessarily looking for residential actually we're looking for retail and so we switched that whole
plan and it gave me back the faith that I should be here today saying okay let's change the plans around people don't want industrial I don't know I mean maybe the highest and best use for this but that's not my goal I'm a retail guy it's in my lane so let me do what they
want it's actually my mission here I can help this community. I can help myself by having my store and I can respond to what they want. And I'm probably and I thought so in in my whole um humility I can have that I was the best candidate to do that because when I heard people
saying look we want retail. We want the activation. You could put it in the front. That's exactly what we did. We put mod in the back. We changed the zoning from industrial to commercial. Industrial is not allowed only commercial. And so we're bringing what the resident wanted. And so to your
question about um did we ever say that the costs were millions of dollars for residential versus industrial? Yes. It was um a an argument that was advanced during some of our hearings. And this was referring mostly to the experience
that the prior owner had when they went and shop for developers for this site. And they went to retailers, they went to residential developers including related group and the biggest ones. And a lot of them had this feedback that the contamination was an issue. Number one
for the millions of dollars that it required for cleaning. Number two for the potential liability and the the way that people perceive this as a residential area. So now when we're coming to you and saying that the level of remediation will be the same in the
green areas because they mandate for us to uh do that two foot of um in on clean field of of cleanfield. It's exactly what's going to happen. there's the same level of remediation except and that's where the the millions of dollars of
difference maybe um maybe show up is that a commercial development only has maybe 10% or less of its area that's going to be green and exposed to people. So this will be the the the the comparing to the residential development
where you have potentially 50% of the whole site that is supposed to be green areas that this is where the the the difference in cost should come. I'm not an expert in residential but I just want to give you the context as to why we that argument was advanced why there is
a difference between commercial and residential and that it pertained to the different trials of the prior owners who were trying to go everywhere in every direction industrial residential retail to see who could develop that site and unfortunately could never find somebody
besides us to you know take a leap of faith and and purchase this lot understanding that the community wants retail and that it's in our land and we could provide that and so in doing so we'll be able to remediate our banks that will you know sponsor us in
developing this development are all and we're aligned with durm and we've studied um you know with the with durm as well when needs to be done the remediation as Jim mentioned is the development because we will be looking to get what we call a no further action
meaning that once we develop this and retail development takes much like a much shorter time to develop than residential. So in about two years if God willing we get accepted then you will have a site that is getting an NFA
meaning that it is safe for people to visit and safe for people to be around versus not doing anything or versus potentially looking for a developer which can be me for a residential in the future. uh and that might take a lot of
time that might come the same conclusion is very costly or that the stigma of this contamination might affect the perception from future residents. So I do believe that you know there is a clean argument in my opinion to say that yes we're developing retail per the
residents we changed this around per the residents I came back here because the residents said we wanted retail and not uh residential. Okay. So, thank you for the clarity on the question, but I will say this and I I want to first out say by saying thank you for being willing to
invest in Opalaka. However, I'm going to take my hat from vice mayor real quick because this is something to say. >> The wording bothers me. You all saying that it's not industrial, but in the legislation it says construction of two
commercial industrial mixeduse buildings on this property. That's in both pieces of legislation. You also said it's not a warehouse, but it's a mixeduse building. Mixed building. One was um the the the showroom and the other one was the I
guess the distribution center, which is a warehouse. No. And that's what was always then you said that the residents one second did not want did not want residential they wanted retail. But the retail that the residents asked for which is what was presented prior to you
previous owners. Somebody said a movie theater. Somebody said a coffee shop. Somebody said a splash pad. Somebody said the extension of Ingram Park with town halls town homes on Wilmington. Somebody said I think a bowling alley or something like that. That's what was sold to the residents, not a furniture
store. The retail in restaurants, the retail that they asked for was not a furniture store. They wanted to develop the site because that what was that was that was the carrot that was dangled in the eyes of our residents. And yes, it might not be you and you just got here.
So my issue is not this me. No, you wasn't the one at the time. It was before because this is you're not and you're also not the first lobbyist to come here to present this project to Opaaka >> cuz it's been here before and every single time it comes. Oh, we're going to do retail. We're going to do this. We're going to do shops. We're going to do
this. But and the residents have simply asked for the plan. We want the bells and whistles in Opalaka. They do it in other in other areas. And when you talk about contamination to sites and residential, I compare Kyogre to Daniel Point, which is the was the same level of contamination, but they built
something that the residents could be proud of. It has hotels. It has apartments. It has condos. It has a bowling alley. It has restaurants. It has my favorite store, the Nike outlet. But that's what Over Locka has been
asking for. But you all and and they even to the point that a resident which I thought was disrespectful but she said it. We don't want no furniture store here. Take your furniture store back to Aventura. How so I don't the notion that you're saying that this is what the
residents wanted. I think you got it. >> Okay. Mr. Mayor >> confused. >> I appreciate this. Um so maybe there's a confusion but if you look at our site plan there's two buildings. One we discussed with the community would be for a furniture store and they said
let's put it in the back which we did. The first building which is 60,000 square ft is huge would be reserved for retail and the zoning is B3 nothing industrial it's a commercial zoning
only. So there's no warehouses, there's no industrial, and there is the opportunity for coffee shop and everything that you mentioned that the residents want to actually have in the building fronting the the street and that was asked by the resident that we
flip the the furniture store in the back and that we have the retail uses in the front. And so that's exactly what we did and it's on that on that side. >> Do you have buyin from potential um retailers for the 60,000 feet building? waiting for approval to be looking, but
we actually have uh some ideas of who could come and we are also we discussed that at the meeting interested in letting some uh city residents see if they're interested in leasing from us because that was one of the comments we get that some city residents were interested in uh you know leasing and
having their businesses uh out there potentially. >> So I'll yield um to Commissioner Santiago and then right after Commissioner Santiago there >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, Mr. Mayor, I
be attending to this uh situation for months and months and months. Uh, and when I heard the gentleman talking about that he have the support for the residents. That's what you say before. No, to be
clear, you had the support. I said, >> you say that. No, do you have the support for the residents? >> I said that. I said that during the meetings there was support for the retail use. >> You said that you had a support for the resident to come in with that uh plan uh for put the store out there and I
believe that I be in the last meeting that you have in Helen Miller uh November or something like that. I forgot the date but I know that you have the last meeting out there and yes I see a couple of people you know they stand out to talk but then even you know
resident for the great city opala they for outside that's one that I don't like you know to play games you know when the people here in opalaka probably we not uh people for like the towns and that
but we have principle here in opa in front of everybody and be transparency and clear. I have a question and I think that I that I'm be also in the last uh board meeting that
they voting if I'm not making it a mistake uh it is any member for that board here I think so they voting no they voting no and know and it's not that I see here
the just they writing here uh whoever writing the um ordinance the that thing pass 22 22 22 what does that mean 22 is not pass
that I'm right or not madam >> I mean commissioner you want who do you want to answer that planning and development >> well yes I'd like to see >> manager could you have staff to come up and address commissioner's point about the vote at the meeting >> yeah yeah Mr. advice. The thing is, you know, I don't understand if he they if
he that team they voting to two. >> Well, he's going to explain explain it to you because you want to answer. So, he's going to explain it to you. >> Mr. Gay, >> vice mayor and commissioners Gregory Gay, director of planning, community development as it relates to this particular item being presented to the planning and zoning board. Uh, when it
came to the comprehensive plan amendment, that vote was done at a two tube tie. So that basically means that the motion failed, but that item still proceeds forward to be presented to you.
That that that was their recommendation. As it relates to the zoning, the zoning was approved at a 31 vote. So that that reflects the recommendation of the planning and zoning board. The item still comes before you. It does not die
at that board. it comes to you for your your consideration. So that's why these items are here before you. >> The floor, Commissioner. >> Yeah. Okay. Yep. Well, um that's not a very good explanation. And you do uh
what you have in your power to do to bring him back to us. But it's a lot of things sometime here that is you know that is not according with the uh codes and uh and regulation that we have in the city. uh he say about the resident
that the resident approved that and I don't see any resident here they come here and talk you know in favor of that project they against that even we asking okay I ask him um uh I think that's a
gentleman right there you a resident for for that area I move on but thing had to be clear do you receive any letter from the city talk to them. Oh, okay. Well, what I what I like to know, what I want to say
is it's too many of things here that it is not convincing me. I know you have a big face, you know, to con and because you want to do your project, but I don't like to to be negative or say things that they not true to the residents,
okay, about the resident go and say yes that they okay and not with that at all. And thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Commissioner, let me finish. I respond. Uh, I never said we have the full support of the community. We just heard some complaints. Um,
>> it sound like you say that before. >> Well, we could maybe look at the cameras. I think I'm pretty precise with the use of my words. I said that we held community meetings where I felt that the community was really leaning towards the retail use. Uh, I think Mr. mayor
confirmed that the community is interested in the retail use per prior um per prior um hearings and meetings. Is that correct? Uh so I don't think I'm saying anything particularly um you know I'm I'm I'm a square person
uh Mr. Commissioner and so I just want to tell you that I'm just relaying what I saw. I would not be presenting tonight if the community had not said that. Um also I feel like because we are being deferred or because it takes a lot of
time new residents discover the project and start having the same type of um questions that these residents that were present at those meetings were having in the first place and once they understand the plans. So once they find out that
there is a traffic study, once they find out that there is a building in the front that is uh catering to retail, once they find out that there is a segregated entrance from I9, that there is a fence that's separating the the site, then there's not a lot of objections that we hear um toward the
project that actually remain like what are the objections to the plans if we are providing retail in the front and that you know we are doing all these things and that we are remediating ating as mandated by DERM and to bring a site
to be safe for the community. I don't see what else could be done uh to answer all the comments that we've heard. There might be comments about a preference to do residential, sure, but we're here presenting a project that I think could work that seems to respond to a lot of
um interest also from the community. Is it the majority? Is it everybody? No. And we'll never know. But at least we've made the effort. We've gone to the community meetings. We've listened to what was said there which is on camera which we can hold all here and go back
to and we came back with a change of plans moving down in the back changing the zoning from I want to B3 and putting the the potential u you know retail stores in the front and I think a lot of people that were at those meetings can testify. uh one of the residents were
here was here today saying that also um he um uh you know he he reviewed all the information that we provided transparently and that he saw that you know we were truthful about our approach toward what we're saying in this development
he finished okay um I know your good intention okay to come and invest in here in the great city opal and I love to see something there the soon as we can. But let me say that with the good intention that you have. Okay. We going
to follow what the people the resident of that area they want and they want residential and retail movie theaters something that we can enjoy like all the city that we don't have here in Opalaka. We don't need no more warehouses. We
don't need here no more joint jars. We don't need here more things. Okay. that bring problem to the great city of Palaka. Thank you. And you have a very good intention. I know. >> Thank you. Um Mr. Mayor, if I may, just our ask is tonight tonight if we we've
been at this for about three or four years now. Um in different iterations. The applications before you tonight are to change on first reading the land use from residential to commercial, not industrial. That's item 151 A. And the
second item is to change the zoning from residential to commercial, not to build warehouses, to build commercial space. So what I would ask is we're talking and you are considering because we've been at this for so long and we have held no
less than four uh community meetings and maybe more, but at least four. Um, and so as my client has said, what we heard at those meetings, um, was retail, not residential. So I would ask if you could
please allow us to move forward tonight on first reading. We will have another community meeting. We will work to get people in the room so you can hear them for yourself um, on tape supporting the item. But at least if we move forward to and it will we don't have to come to the
next meeting for second reading. and we will put it off so that we can have this vote tonight on first reading positively. You can change your mind on second reading if you don't like it, if you don't hear what you want, if it doesn't convince you, but at least if we can maybe move forward. And I will tell
you, commissioner um and mayor in terms of getting people signed up on the site like potential tenants, there will there will not be potential tenants if we don't get any vote. at least if we have a first reading, he can at least go to to potential tenants to
retailers and say, "I'm halfway there, right?" And maybe maybe I don't know, he can come back and say, "I've talked to A, B, C, D, E, F, and G retailers and they say if we can get through, then we'll come." But but but in this flux,
in this no man's land, we can't do anything. So I'm just asking, I'm pleading based on the criteria. based on staff's recommendation of of uh approval based on all the information that we have received. Um if you would allow us
to move forward on first reading tonight. Again, we will have another community meeting. We'll have two more community meetings. Do our best to bring people here and if you're still not happy at second reading, we will understand. >> Um Mr. Mayor, I don't like u uh
recording voices for people. Unless I see people in person. >> I mean here so you could so they so it's on record. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. They would hear on record. Yes. >> All right. Um um Commissioner Urban, I'm sorry,
>> Mr. Mayor. So I was privileged to sponsor one of those workshops. Yes. the the residents did talk about retail but that was all they were giving.
So it's not like you all say we have a option of doing the retail and because they did ask about housing that that was their they wanted housing there but if you're giving me the option of retail then this is what I want this is what I
would like to see as retail personally I was very stern on saying I would love for this to be a Daniel point. I remember saying that in the workshop because I know it was the same kind of property. Um, so
the residents, you know, and you all did make the adjustment because the residents asked to put the the furniture store in the rear. You all did that. But if it's the same level of mediation that
has to be done to the property, why can't we do a mixeduse like or try to do it where it's a mixeduse? We have apartments or whatever it is and we have the retail and
um everybody's happy. I don't I don't if it if it's the same two feet that um what we've been told because we also was told that to do residential it's really difficult because it's really expensive. I'm sorry because you have to do so much
more um digging to get the contamination out. Um so I'm I'm just it's a lot. >> May I respond to that? >> Sure you may. So, it's it's it's not the depth of the um remediation that's
different. It's the area of remediation that's different. So, if we did residential here, you'd have to have more green area. When you have a commercial um development, you have less green area. So, it it just means the two feet is the same. The amount that we go
down is the same. It's just how much space um is covered by concrete as opposed to green. So if it's covered by more green, then that's more
um previously contaminated space that's exposed. If it's covered by less green and more concrete, that's less previously contaminated space that's exposed. So the cost is because the more green you have, the more
the more space you have to remediate at two feet. Does that make sense? >> Can I have a question on this? >> Uh, one one quick second. I'm sorry. I'm going to say this.
Our manager have five bosses. Hooray. Us five bosses have 17,000 >> bosses. and it's it gets difficult, but go ahead. Um >> that's why we're asking for first
reading and give us a chance to come back here. >> Thank you. Um Madame Manager, I I'd like to hear from staff uh before I make my comments because a lot has been said and Mr. Gay's been around for a minute going from why it's commercial versus why
isn't residential. And I want to address it because he's been around to hear some of those numbers that have been floated. Um, and I know just from historical reference being around, there have been numerous of folks who've come to look at that site. So, I want him to to add his
historical and context as the director on this site and that entailment if I could. Madam manager, >> again, Gregory Gay. Um, I've been with the city of Opalaka going on 12 years
now, and this site has been one of the sites that has been a challenge as it relates to development. Um, when I first got here, the present zoning that is for this site was for townhouse development with a
mixeduse overlay that would allow you to do a combination of residential and commercial. The CRA did their master plan and that was one of the focuses or goals that
they had within their plan to make this more of a mixeduse type of area. Um, as we have learned over the years in talking to each of the different property owners, I mean, there's been at least three property owners since since
I've been here, um, the amount of contamination and we were actually um, presented with a grant that that basically did the phase 2 um, level of of
examining how much u contamination was on the site. There's a lot of contamination on that site and it's various contaminations and it's throughout probably 95% of the site. So, there's
not really one area where you can just build something and not have to worry about contamination. As it relates to residential, there's always been posed of challenges in doing town home developments. Um
because of the scale of that particular type of development uh there would be a considerable amount of land that would be contaminated that will be at a level of exposure. Most of your residential development on a lower scale based on our code you're going to
have green space somewhere between 35 to 40% of the land that will be green space. So that is 3540% of a 7.58 acre site that would have to be remediated
in order for residential to be built. As other considerations were brought forth um doing multif family, there was uh considerable concern of how stable that particular location was based on
all of the contamination that was brought to the site. So the site has never been um impacted properly in order to determine whether a multi-story development could
be built on that site. So everyone has always looked at something doing something lowcale, no more than two to three stories. Um and as we have had all of the different applications that have come forth, um
commercial has been the common denominator for any type of development that would would occur in a site whether it be for mixeduse residential and commercial or just commercial industrial. We already knew from from
the community that is not a direction that they wanted to go in and we have basically told every potential developer that is that has come to the site do not look at having this particular site as an industrial use.
Look at it as a commercial or residential. Now numbers have been thrown around around as it relates to how much remediation is is required and what that cost would look like.
Um the numbers that we have heard have basically made it where if you did residential, you will be doing luxury residential because that's the only people that will
be able to afford it based on the level of remediation that will be required. So you wouldn't have any market rate housing. You wouldn't have any affordable housing. You would have to do luxury rate housing in order for people
to afford whatever would be built at that site. That's pretty much the history that I have. I know there may be some others that have some some other related history, but the cost has always been a factor as it relates to what is to be
built on the site and how much remediation would be required in order for the site to be developed. At the end of the day, we want the site to be developed. We want the site to be developed for what the residents and the people of
Opaaka would like to see. We believe that commercial is probably that best use for this particular location. We would like to see a residential component maybe possibly up at at a higher level if it could be developed
but we have not been afforded that type of presentation other than what um the first uh applicants that were done and that was over more than five six years ago. So that's where we stand right now.
>> Mr. Mayor, I I want to commend you, Mr. Gay, for being very smooth with those words. Um, I'm going to try to be as smooth as you. I go back with this challenge not only
from an elected official, not only from running parks, but living on York Street growing up watching what was trucks going down there, trucks coming out to where it is now. I didn't attend any of the workshops. I
think maybe one. Okay. Um I know some of my colleagues did. I've talked to folks pro and against. The challenge for me began way back even when I was mayor because that site was just sitting there
at that time. It was even worse shape if anybody can remember back then. It wasn't even fence, tires, the whole nine yards they say. One of the things that we did do that you mentioned was to be able to get that Brownsfield grant to go to that uh phase
two level to see how bad it was because at that point it was only a phase one which to me was just picking up paper. Am I correct? Phase two was much more in depth. we actually uh partnered to get that grant to be able to see just how bad it was
for ourselves rather than just depend on developers potentially saying it. Am I correct? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. So, having said that, over the years I've heard the same thing. Red Lobster, Starbucks, big box retail. The
reality is in talking to developers even who potentially might consider that site, the fact that you could not have trucks going down in there. We didn't want an industrial and you didn't say it, but I know some of that came from if you go to the industrial, Commissioner Kelly, Vice Mayor Kelly is going to
fight you tooth to nail cuz they don't want industrial. You ain't got to say that. I know that's true. Uh because I would cuz we only see heavy trucks going out Rutland, service, York, etc. cuz they had to go back out the same way. So in order to make something viable way
back when, we did go to the state to petition the cutout possibility so that you would not have uh big trucks whatever going down residential. Now that took some time too, but that's been accomplished. Am I correct? >> Yes, it has.
>> Okay. So we're not going to get because of the cost and I know you didn't want to throw out numbers but I think if the clerk were to look at the minutes so we would pull them there have been numbers stated here even by uh previous administrations
and uh developers even of what that remediation would cost to put housing affordable workforce market rate housing what it would cost and I remember some of those numbers being in the five to $6
million range. Am I way off? >> That was probably5 to $6 million pre- pandemic. >> So the cost of things have gone up cons significantly. So that number is
>> well I'm just going by the number I remember back then five six million. And one of the challenges that we need to be aware of and I know it's not popular. No developer has wanted to come in and spend5 or $6 million on remediation.
That's even before you build anything. And that's just reality. It's not popular, but it's reality. Nobody has wanted to come and do that. Even with all of our potential incentives, no developer, and you said you've been a 12 years, and I've been around for a while.
I've tried to get folks to want to do some housing, some apartments, some whatever, but the cost to do all of that is not in their best interest. And so that's why they haven't done it. That's
why they have not done it. Um, there's been documentation and I even asked the manager for you to bring it with you where the studies were done where I know some of the previous developers went out and tried to get some of the uh developments, some of the restaurants,
some of the things that uh they wanted to see and I hope you brought it with you because I would want residents to see that they're here and it was all No, no, no, no, no. Am I correct? >> Yes. So, it's not like we don't want to see certain things on the area, but again,
it goes to the fact of what a developer will put there. Now, if we had the money ourselves and could buy it, $6 million for remediation, and that's pre- pandemic, then we could decide whatever we're going to do with it, but we're not
going to mediate or remediate the site. And it's just sitting there. It's just sitting there. And I know they've had meetings. I know that we're changing a use and and everybody knows I'm very reluctant to do things like that, but at
this point, I don't see anything else. Even though we want that, we're just going to kick this can down the road because if somebody that could develop and put housing on there could do it affordable and make money, I believe
they would have been there because it sits right in a good spot. I mean, he's really on the lake front. You probably do some back lakefront cuz you got the county lake on the back side. That has not occurred. That has not occurred. What be before us, it may not be the
best. The changes for commercial use, the commission obviously will make a decision. But the reality is it's going to sit there and if that's okay with the residents and the commission, we can do that too. But I think this this company has offered they've heard uh the
community say we don't want this this way or what have you. I think there's no perfect world. But in your professional opinion and I'll end with this and here arrest my colleagues. In your professional opinion and you've been around doing community val uh
development and the like for a while and even with the CRA potential etc. Do you envision or believe that there's developers come forward even post pandemic to look at that site even before this group came knowing that
contamination? We have not been approached other than the group that's been involved thus far. Um I'm not aware whether there may be other interests that may be out there. No. >> Okay. But you said you've been aware of
at least four different developers that have come forward, but the results the same. They don't move forward. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Um I I I'll listen to my colleagues. Um I would just say um at this point the facts are the facts and
as much as we'd like to see certain things on that site, the reality is it's not going to occur like we'd like we'd like. And and I guess to the other point I want to clarify um because my colleagues asked about uh Daniel point and what they have and um the developer
mentioned space and greeners but I I want to hear from our staff, Mr. Mayor, because they're the developers. I want from staff your position on that response or that answer. The comparison um to Daniel point for
this particular site is somewhat of a suitable comparison. Both both sites are Brownsville sites. Both sites had a certain level of contamination on them. I'm not sure whether the contamination of
the danger site and this site are equal or whether one was lesser or whether one was was greater than the other. you are dealing with a much smaller site um at this location and
there's a multitude of different uses that are occurring more more more commercial oriented than residential. They do have some hotels and and and some apartment buildings, but it's mostly commercial and part and parking.
So if you look at the Daniel Point site, you could pretty much say the entire site with the exception of a few trees in in different locations is asphalted over. It's it's it's it's encapsulated. It's pretty much concrete.
This group is looking to do something very similar at this particular site um based on the plans that we've received thus far. Can it be done? Yes, it can. The remediation is really going to
determine how much development can occur on on the site and how much is required for that particular cost to be resolved. >> Man, you Mr. Mayor, >> I I I think I answered your question. >> Yeah. Well, I was getting a clarification on what my colleague
asked. So, um, was that a yes or no? cuz you you did a lot of talking cuz she basically said based on the DA point site because it was a much bigger space versus this site which is but smaller space. >> Yes. >> That's why you couldn't have the same
comparison. That's what I'm asking. Do you agree with that statement or disagree? >> I agree. >> You agree with that statement? Okay. Uh Mr. Mayor, I will listen to my um colleagues and then I guess you'll call for the vote. >> Mr. Mayor, >> um Commissioner Madison,
>> thank you. I came into this meeting prepared to cast my vote and sitting here has enlightened me to a whole lot more. Um, let me just first allude to what the mayor point out and like I said earlier, I don't have my glasses. I can't read a thing. Um, you said
something about the ordinance is not the same as the verbal. That's what you said, right? So before I vote on this, I would like to see the ordinance having the same verbiage that's being used by our present. Since it's not the same, that
means we're voting on something that's not uh verbalized. It makes it kind of totally different because we're hearing um um >> industrial >> industrial and then we're hearing
something else. So, Mr. Mayor, because I don't have my glasses. Am I correct? >> They wrote it. >> Am I correct? Um within the title itself, um this is the ordinance for the city commission of the city of Opalaka considering a
smallcale comprehensive plan amendment to the future land use map for a 7.5 acre parcel located at 1700 on your service road and identified by the folio number amending the land use of the property from lowdensity residential to commercial
and that express land use designation. So it is changing it from residential to commercial and as it relates to the zoning is much more specific but both of them are from
residential to commercial >> commercial. >> Mr. Okay. If you look at the public hearing, which I've always had issue with this, under the planning and zoning, it says commercial industrial. >> That was a title that I believe had been
utilized from the previous application. Um, it it should have been uh adjusted to read just commercial. But that was Mr. Mayor, if I could to commission if I could to Commissioner Bass's point. You deferred those two,
correct? Um cuz that's what she's really referring to and I think that's what the mayor's referring to the wording on the 15 >> that that's that's I think >> so Mr. Mayor maybe the manager needs to clarify for Commissioner Bass and yourself as well.
>> A one and two are both deferred. We are only entertaining 16A1 and two the ordinances. But can you say go ahead go >> I think the the confusion is because 15A1 and two is in our packet and you
deferred it and the language we're seeing is something >> different >> different >> and so that's what's confusing. I know you're deferring it and and I don't want to speak for you. The question becomes we're deferring it which well you're doing it and so we're voting on the ones
we are which go from residential to commercial but in those 1581 and two it says industrial so maybe you can clarify why you're deferring >> Mr. I think that's what Can you clarify? >> Madam manager, why you doing that? Because I remember in my briefing, it
was stated that these items were going to be deferred and come back during second reading. But also, and Mr. Gay started talking, I was going to keep going. It's also in 16 A2. So, the language is it's there. It's commercial industrial. >> It's there,
>> right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. As it relates to the language, um we do recognize that from the previous application that was to be looked upon changing it from residential to industrial.
We made modifications to that language. I believe some of the language did lead into the new legislation. So that is something that does need to be corrected. uh and and it did go before the planning and zoning board in that same form and
fashion, which is why it's being brought before you in that same form and fashion. Um none nonetheless, the application is for the change from residential to commercial.
You can consider that as a scrim area and we can make that correction. >> Mr. Mayor, Dr. B, >> let me thank you for the opportunity to finish. This is so complicated and at the same time our
city needs something that looks like this. My issue is I want it to equal out. I'm not comfortable voting on it tonight, but truth be told, I was going to support it like truly, but I need
verbish to be the same. verbage needs to be the same because then we're we're like kind of lost because once we vote on this, even though it's only first reading and my intent after sitting here is to support it for first reading and see what
happens, but first reading is still not jelling. If I may, if I may, um, it is not uncommon, and your city, excuse me, your city attorney can attest to it if you'd like, to make changes, um, between first
and second reading. The change removing the word industrial doesn't change the intent of the ordinance or anything else. So, if Mr. Mayor >> to our to our um, attorney, >> if it's the will of the commission, you certainly could change it before the
second reading. That is really the will of the commission. >> Thank you. I I am going to support it for first reading. I have to go at my heart for first reading and we'll see what happens. >> All right. If there are Oh, Mr. G. Go ahead.
>> And we will make sure that it the title reads properly when it is advertised for second reading. >> And if you could make the motion for the change for the title. Um if you are if if this is the will of the commission to change it if you all could do that as an amendment so that we can change it.
>> That's on the second item. Correct. >> Yes. >> So if there are no other questions to the applicant Mr. Gab the city manager at this moment we can go ahead and call the question for item number 16 A1. >> Commissioner Bass.
>> Yes. Commissioner Irvin. Is this for the amendment? Was it amendment or something? >> No, this is for the first reading. There's no amendment on this one. If we go to the next one, then that will be there. But this is just the first reading and they said they're going to bring some of
the back. >> First reading. Um, no. >> Vice Mayor Kelly, >> yes. >> Commissioner Santiago, >> no. >> Mayor Taylor, >> no. Motion fails. First reading.
>> All right. Moving on to 1682. the tail. So, >> yeah. Mhm. An ordinance of the city commission of the city of Opalaka, Florida, considering the reszoning request for approximately 7.58 acres of land located
at 1700 Service Road and identified by Folio 08-2122-005-2170 from the current residential townhouse RTH zoning district to the commercial intensive B3 zoning district to allow for the construction of two commercial
industrial mixeduse use buildings on the property located within the corridor mixeduse overlay district providing for adoption of representations providing for scriveners errors providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by the city manager.
>> All right. Madam manager, >> this this request is to reszone the property located at 1700 Service Road from a residential townhouse district to a commercial zoning district. And Mr. Gay will answer any questions you have. >> All right. This is a public hearing
item. Public hearing is open. >> Mark Cooper 681 Southwest 75 terrace. I don't I don't want to bore you on this one issue, but everyone's dancing around the lack of information. What's the nature of the contamination? last of owner that was
here claimed that they had to do boring in the neighborhood to check if the contamination had leeched out. All of a sudden, they haven't presented reports. Mr. Miller may have spoken uh too much. It's not in the public record. I did the report today. It's not there. So, you
need to know in fact if it's going to be commercial, whatever it is, what's the site for real? Because people live there. And if they were going to board outside with a previous owner and now everything's hunky dory, what's the story? Please, you need you have to. People might be getting sick if it's so
bad. If it's not so bad, then let's get to the truth and we can do whatever we want, but the truth will help us guide along the process. Thank you. >> Public hearing is still open. >> Public hearing is still open. Once again, uh, until we get a a
comprehensive >> name and address, >> before we get a comprehensive name, >> just before we get a name and address, >> Kevin Scott >> and address >> 8441 Northwest 25th Avenue, before we get a comprehensive report from Durham,
I think it will be unadvised to move forth with any type of of of vote or any type of thing because we really need to know what's going on because the community is at large. It's not just putting it putting something there that's going to work. Let's see
what's really going on. We have residents in in this area who's lived there for years. We don't know the level of contamination. We have we haven't had a comprehensive report from DUR. This gentleman said they got grants and that
but where where's the final report? What's going on? Let's be responsible. We can't just say, "Let's go build on top of this. We're going to do this and do that." If it's if it's contaminated, let's deal with it. Make it a brown
field and let's deal with it. Don't just do this to the community. Really? Come on now. Let's have a conscience. This some people lived there for years. Coach, you you coached over there. You lived over
there. You know what's going on. You see what's happening. So let's let's be responsible if they want to if we going to build okay commercial commercial residential residential but let's find out what's happening with the level of contamination over there.
We don't want this to become another Detroit that >> let's act like we responsible people like we actually care about our our community.
Thank you. Public hearing is still open. >> Brian Dennis, address 2140 your street. Again, everything that I asked for was provided except what was presented.
And the one thing that I can say that I was asking for was that the brownsfield the contamination piece because I know from Oinda Park when it was uh Commissioner Edson district they had to take
everything up out of there and I'm in agreement with that. We know what was running down uh Wilmington and Rutland to get to that site. We know what was there. We know what you're concerned. I know a few of
the residents I even got chast I'm questioning. You know what I say? I got chastised Friday about what about the project. But until everything comes out, no.
He said Detroit. He's talking about Flint. That's what he meant to say. Flint. I've heard people say they don't know if people back there sick, got cancelled, don't died off. Nobody knows. But in order for the project to move,
all the information has to come out. Everything has to come out. And that's the only way it's going to really get public support. That's the only way it's going to be able to get y'all to pass it and to approve it. That documentation, I was reading it, some of it in the car while I was taking my daughter to work
and looking at the meeting. Never saw it until night. Never saw it testify. >> Public hearing is still open. Public hearing is closed. >> All right. Madam manager, any questions for Madam Manager? Mr. Gay, the applicant on this item.
Hearing none, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Vice Mayor. >> Um, staff is recommending approval. Could you just stay for the record while you're recommending approval? >> Mayor, members of the commission, Gregory K. staff is recommending approval based on the need for the
zoning and the land use to be in concert with one another. Uh because you did vote down the first u item as it relates to the land use um there's really not an opportunity to move forward with the
zoning because they have to be in concert with one another. So you you would have had to approve the land use by first reading in order to consider the zoning by first reading.
>> Thank you uh Mr. Mayor. Thank you Mr. Gay because I want on the record um and the way you're you're interpreting that statement. So thank you for that. Um >> no no I don't have the mayor's in charge. I think he's closed
>> closed public hearing. You've closed over here. So, it's up to you how you want to handle it. >> I got the floor, but you got the gabble. I mean, I don't know if you want to allow her to respond. >> Go ahead. >> Sure. Sure. >> Thank you. Thank you. Really quick. Just
if if you're so inclined, you could approve the reasoning tonight and then reconsider your um prior denial and vote yes for that. So, feel free to do that. We would really appreciate if you did that tonight. So, you could go backwards and vote yes. Oh, I I'm okay. I I'm
quite sure you got to do what you need to say. >> Um, the commission has spoken on that issue. So, I'm not talking about that. They will have to decide if they want to. But I I want to make it clear passing this is not going anywhere because you uh we voted down the others.
That's that's what I was getting to Mr. Gay's point. It's a move point because you voted down the first one. They go hand in hand. So, it's in all effects unless it changes. Um, it's not going to happen because the zoning and the has not been changed. Correct. I'm sorry,
Mr. Mayor. Could I give us a gay back up there? The process the process is that you would change the land use and then the zoning would be following concert with the land use. So, the zoning the land use would needed to be considered for
approval prior to the zoning being considered for approval. Uh, >> you you denied the land use at this time. So, you can either still vote whichever way, but realistically, there will have to be
some reconsiderations um as as it relates to the the zoning position. Okay, you can say it on you say it out loud. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Gay, for your explanation. Um and that's reality. It's not going anywhere. even you vote for
this, you know, um you can't split the apple because it's not going anywhere. I understand what the applicant is requesting, but it's not going anywhere. And normally I don't do it, Mr. Mayor, but since he called me coach, he went back to history, so I got to address that. You're correct. There's nobody
more familiar with the area growing up and everything than me. And yet I was willing to support it on first reading tonight. And I know I'll get some backlash, but I'm okay with that because in my opinion, it's going to still sit there. This gentleman told you he can do nothing with commercial I mean with
residential. He's a commercial and whatever developer. So I wanted to be clear leaving here tonight. Um even if we were to pass the second one, nothing can happen because the first one didn't move. Um and I don't like to leave people with any illusions of of what
have you. Um, I would like to say um to the to to my colleagues and to the mayor, Madame Manager, because it keeps coming up about what's really there, the level of this or the level of that. And I'm going to say this, this is Vice Mayor Kelly talking historically from
talking to folks, it is a cost to do that. It's a big cost. And no developer that I've talked to or been through the city, and Mr. Gay can attest cuz he really said it is going to take on that cost of such a magnitude because given
what is presented pre- pandemic the numbers are there. So if the city were to assume the cost don't frown because I got asked it. I asked the previous administration on the record. Matter of fact, madam clerk you go back and pull that when this came up last time under
previous administration. I remember what the number was, but I want to get it accurately and you can share with my colleague what that would look like for us to have you and our staff to do everything to give that comfort level that this is what's really there. This
is the level of contamination there because I know that would be a cost. Usually you do that through a Brownsfield grant and we know that those are limited now, but is that something that your office could undertake? Obviously, if we pass legislation to do
it, you could, but it's going to be a cost. >> It's going to be a cost. Are we prepared for that cost at this time? Absolutely not. We're not prepared for that cost. We can get the quotes and see how much it will cost and bring it back to the commission, but there is going to be a cost, a significant cost.
Okay. And and I'm I'm saying that I want that recorded because we can't keep, you know, hodgepodgeing the real issue. There's a reason why it sit there for over 12 years. There's a reason why developers that are building all over and to my colleague's point, building
certain places that normally you wouldn't, but they have not touched an area that's right next to State Road 9 with all of that commercial traffic going up there. There's a reason why it hasn't occurred. Even with saying we'll do a cutout to State Road 9 so you ain't
got to go through residential. Nobody's still willing to develop it or even consider it for residential. So, I'm going to uh work with attorney. I'm going to request some legislation to have you and staff look at what that cost is um for remediation, what it
would be, and if the commission took on that task. So, we would know because no developer is going to develop it. uh because it's designed for residential and they're not going to touch it. We're not passing industrial and we definitely, you know, just
defeated it commercial. So, let's look at the cost and let's let folks know. We want this develop for residential like we'd like to see. Here's what it's going to cost. And will we be able to bite that? I don't know. But that's a decision the commission make. So, I'm
requesting that and I'll do the email, but let's do that so we can get a clear picture of what it's going to cost so we don't keep dancing around this this issue. Um, because in my opinion, if it's going to get built with any kind of residential, the city's going to have to put in some big money. That's just Vice
Mayor Kelly talking cuz I don't see a developer doing it for residential. maybe for um commercial as this gentleman is proposing automatically I do it for industrial because it's already there but that's not what we want. That's very clear. We
don't want trucks. So I'm going to send that to you bring it back. Thank you Mr. Mayor for allowing me to um share that thought later. >> All right. Um so Mr. Gay and Madame M. This is your item. Would you like to pull this or do you want us to vote? >> Um I would like to pull the item. Got
it. >> All right. of this item have been deferred to a date not certain. Oh, you just pulled it. Okay. All right. So, we're moving on to No, I the city manager's report. Madam man,
I would I did submit my report to you all last night in writing. I would just like to um remind you all that we do have a hurricane preparedness meeting that will be held on Wednesday, June 24th at 5:00
p.m. right before our next regular commission meeting. And we do have um different agencies that will be here to provide resources and information to the public. And um flyers were sent to you all. >> Okay. And I'm glad you brought that up,
Madam Manager. Um, why are we doing it here versus downstairs as opposed to >> it's a it's a hurricane giveaway types. >> We're going to do it inside because we're having Florida Power different
agencies here to be able to speak and give out information along with tables with all the information all the um giveaways on it. >> Okay. So, my concern was that it's for an hour right before the commission meeting and I didn't want to disturb the meeting. So, I was going to suggest that
we move it downstairs or not even not outside or in the front, but not in here. >> So, you were thinking maybe like the drive-thru type the giveaway. >> Two type things. One, they got to lug all that stuff up here. That's one thing. And then two, the residents got to lug all that stuff down and it's
going it's just going to disrupt the flow in my opinion. So, I was going to talk to you about either moving it downstairs or if not moving it to the other side, but just not in here or maybe even the the red room. Vice Mayor Carol.
>> Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Cuz I actually didn't want to do it on a commission day. I I didn't I really wanted another day and not even having it at city hall. Uh, but I was told that. >> No, but not >> but you know, because if you're having it downstairs, number one, they can't
present. I mean, you could do the tables and >> they're not gonna be able to present. >> Now, you just mentioned drive through, so I don't know what that what that would entail. Blocking off the street. I guess >> if we're having it outside, it would have to be >> okay. But then I don't know the presentations could be a lot more challenging. I know when I had FPNL
present at Mimi Monday, they they wanted a PowerPoint, you know, they had the thing on the screen. So, that'll be my concern with with it there. Um, I never really care for it being here being before the meeting because I think that's just too And then at 5:00 people are, you know, getting off of work, what
have you. Um, so that might be even a challenge. And then we got to rush up here cuz assuming they're still down there, we're going to come up for a meeting. So I um, you know, I'm more meaningful taking downstairs, but I still don't like the idea of that day on a commission meeting at all. But I know
you set it up. I think you already kind of posted it and put it flyer out and we shared it. So, >> and that was done based on feedback at the last commission meeting to have it before the before the next commission before commission meeting. So, it wasn't on a separate date because originally we were going to have it on a separate
date. >> Oh, was okay. But it wasn't a giveaway. What was it was supposed to be the the hurricane plan that that meeting that we always do when y'all talk about what we >> internally with staff? Just staff? >> No, with the commission. You always present a hurricane plan to the city
separate apart from the event. >> Okay. So, I'm gonna need some I'm going to need to know I can I can pull this but I'm going to need to know what it is that you all want. >> I'm just saying don't do it in here. >> That's what I'm just asking. Just not in here. >> Okay. >> So, that way maybe do it downstairs or even in the other room, but just not in
the chamber. >> Okay. So, we smooth transition. >> We will not be able to we won't we won't have the presenters. What we can do is ask them to give us information so we can include it in the giveaway bags. Okay, that's it. I don't have anything else. Well,
>> I think you can still do the presenters, have the tables downstairs or in the lobby. We did the book giveaway and let them go around and talk to people. But just >> if we're going to do that, mayor downstairs on the first floor, it's going to be too busy. It's going to be too busy. >> If you have a plan then for here, then
we'll go with it. I'll see it. >> Okay. But that was my only concern because it's just >> transition fathers. >> Yeah. Um how many people we expecting that is going to come to that?
>> We never know. It's a community meeting. So we don't know how many people um residents will show up. But presenters, we have three so far that have confirmed. >> Okay. >> Different agency. I'm not going to say presenters, but different agencies. >> No, I Yeah, I look No, no. I say for the
community resident they're going to come we don't know how many they're going to assist them because um I know that a lot of people the interest you know to know about what we going to do to prepare for the hurricane season and everything um
and the mayor say do not do it in here that day somebody say in shabandi they say no but it's depend how many people is coming but that day we have a commissioner meeting >> yes >> oh And uh that's at 5:00. >> Yes. >> And a question for the mayor. And what
is the uh problem we're going to have if we doing here >> in the chamber? >> It's only a question. >> It's a giveaway of hurricane supply. >> That's the Yeah, >> Mr. Mayor. But the tables are going to be outside. They're not going to be set up in here.
>> They'll be outside. So it's not Yes, that's fine. Okay. >> They'll be out in the hallway area. Boom. >> Because we do understand that people may not show up for the actual 5:00, but they may come to the commission meeting. So, we still want to have those things available.
>> Okay. So, just a presentation in the chamber, right? >> But everything else will be outside. That's fine. All right. I don't have I don't have an issue with that. >> I'll take any concerns you may have. >> Whatever that baby like, >> who going to start it first?
>> All right. But before we um before we start, madame attorney, can you please Wait, I'm sorry. Do we have any questions? >> Yes. >> To the manager. >> Yeah. Do the manager, everybody have question, >> you know? >> No. >> No. >> Not ready to go. But go ahead. Go ahead.
>> Is it mean we don't have any complaint for anything you know? >> No, we haven't. But >> resident you know that they want to do so nothing >> because that's your report. No, >> I'll call you tomorrow. >> Yeah. Some sometime we tell you you know what we see outside and >> it's getting late. >> Good. Yeah, I know. And I'm very hungry
too, but that's not my fault. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um, madame manager, there's a couple of item that I like to, you know, tell you what's going on and I have the complaints already. And one of these item that I'm going to mention in here,
I heard that in uh Monday the vice mayor Kelly celebrating every first month, first Monday of the month and 27 in we have two places. Well, we have three places there that they're very hot.
Okay. And we have a lot of problem and I always be you know tell tell you to send you know and try to make some order out there. Uh the uh especially the gas station the US gas. We had to talk to
the owner because the other day I get in there and what I see is they selling beer and the people drinking inside. And one of the guys that work there, he's the he always called me, "Oh, please send the police and I but why you selling beer to people that you know
they're going to creating problem and you let them drink it inside." That's one that I want to, you know, take attention about that because they not supposed to sell no beer inside of the store. The other one next to the um
store, we have a a a tire place. Okay. Okay. They be open 24 hours. And the next business is a mechanic shop. Okay. That they uh that they have they a disorder. It's a lot of cars.
They are broken outside in that gas station. It's incredible. Plus they use and I see that they clean it out. Yeah. Part of the uh uh access the the the utility uh city have Mali. Okay. very I
want to express it like that very disgusting what they have there. Okay, that's another one. And if uh that store is open 24 hours, I hope they have what we require. Okay. Well, we required in
the city to uh keep up store or or a place like that 24our with music and everything. That's a complaint for the resident live in the other side. Okay. Now, do you know that we have another neighborhood
in Opalaka? A new one and know anybody know about it? Okay. Now, it's an store out there for motorcycles across the gas station and by the other side we had a good restaurant that I love to go there to buy grits and
everything there. The Jackson, that's how they call him. Okay. next to Jackson and the motorcycle store is a container. It's a container right there. I don't know if it a container have permit or not, but they have they are people
living there outside when a um what do we call in their campaigns houses? They live there. They taking shower there in in front of everybody. I even see I'm sorry to say that but I see I I
I see the other day somebody necking out there already. I see three of that 10 installing and people sleeping living there like a regular house. Not acceptable here in the great city of
Paloka. We had to take some action about that neighborhood please. Okay. >> Is it is it unhoused people? No, it's it is and and police have gone out there. They've made some arrests and then they come back. So we we >> but we were working on something for
homeless and I I believe Vice Mayor brought it up a couple months ago. >> Yeah. For for this home, not for people that they going to go there to do, you know, a disaster there in our area. Okay. That's illegal. And
before I came to the meeting, I passed and I see him there. It does 310 10. That's what we call them. They are tense. They there are three of them. One in the front and two in the side between the the the the
restaurant and the motorcycle store. >> Okay. Uh now for the hurricane. Yeah. For the hurricane season. I don't know if he asking you or the clerk. Uh but for you I know have control about that. Uh the people for Macarter
uh senior citizen building already request from me and I waiting for an an um that service to the building out there in the uh uh room that they prepare every year for make it to made it malter
citizen senior and citizen if we don't have nothing Yeah, for them what I going to do and I'm going to do it myself. I don't know but probably I going to rent in a bus and I going to bring everybody for the building to here but they need
to us go out there like every year and that's my request and I don't heard anything for that request yet. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. >> Commissioner. >> Yes. >> Um we did speak about it and the the ask was for us to go over there to them.
Yeah, >> but if you want, we can speak about transportation. Our seniors bus picking up the seniors that's interested in attending a meeting. We can speak about that, but I know the ask was for us to take the meeting there when we spoke. >> Yes. Yes, madame manager. Exactly. But I
don't have any answering and we already starting the, you know, the hurricane season. And the reason why they called me today and they say if I have a date, I say no, I don't. And that's a request. >> Oh, Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. I think >> I'm sorry maybe I missed something. Take
what meeting >> MacArthur >> to make out the >> the residents of MacArthur wants a a hurricane meeting. >> So he was suggesting that we do it over there but madam manager said if we want to we can bust them to the meeting on the 24th. >> Okay. >> That way it's all in sync. Okay.
>> But yeah, we do that every year. >> But y'all can work that out offline, >> right? Okay. Um, can I please um I just got a note from our police that the police department is working an active fire at 2335 Alabama Avenue. So, there's a current fire right now.
>> 23 >> 35. >> Got it. Thank you. All right. So, we going I know y'all got to go, so we going we going to rush it. Um, Madame Attorney, really quick, can you >> Mr. Mr. Mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. Um, I was asked to, uh,
briefly go over Senate Bill 1134, which prohibits Florida counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking official action related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, uh, known as DEI initiatives. An overview of
the bill aims to restrict local governments in Florida from engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The bill creates new two new statutes 125.595 and 166.04971 to define DEI broadly and prohibits
municipalities from funding, promoting or implementing programs, offices or positions dedicated to DEI. Any existing ordinances or resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, and policies related to DEI are declared void under
the new bill. and it was just signed by the governor this week. The definition of DEI includes efforts to influence employee composition, provide preferential treatment, or implement training or programming based on race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender, identity,
or sexual orientation except for compliance with state or federal anti-discrimination laws. the prohibition on funding. Um, local governments cannot expend funds to establish or maintain DEI offices. Um,
and also, uh, municipal offices or other local officials acting in an official capacity who violate the bill may be charged with misfeasants or malfeasants in office. Uh there are legal remedies that even residents may bring actions in
circuit court against counties and municipalities violating the law with the courts authorized to declare um to award declaratory and injunctive relief including damages and cost. Um there are a there is a contract certification
that's now required and so potential recipients of county or municipal contracts or grants must certify compliance with the bill before receiving funding. Um there are many implications related to uh this bill which was recently uh signed by the
governor to include potentially affecting hiring practices, training and community outreach initi initiatives. It also introduces again accountability for uh local government officials who act contrary to the bill. Um the overall
overall it represents a major legislation effort to centralize control over DI initiatives at the state level. It restricts local government's discretion in addressing diversity and equity issues. From a municipal um law
perspective, this Senate bill 1134 is one of the most con consequential local government preemption laws enacted in recent years because it affects not only budgeting decisions, but also personnel policies, training programs, grant
administration, public events, contracting practices, and official government communications. Some of the other things that um the city will want to be aware of is the city must not take any official action relating to um these
initiatives and but it is not limited to adopting or enforcing ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, program or policies related. It it is it includes but it's not limited to excuse me adopting or enforcing ordinances resolution rules regulations programs or
policies related to DEI. And I wanted to give you some of the things that um it it will not cover. I'm gonna it's it's a lot, so I'm going to try to um uh shorten it a little bit. But the city
um will be able to have some events and things if it wants to if those are related to recognizing federal or state holidays like uh patriotic or national observances, monuments, memorials or museums. So the bill does not prohibit
municipal actions that are required for compliance with state or federal law. And that will include if it's a federal or state holiday, the city will still be able to observe those things. Um, issuing events uh event permits in a
contentneutral manner and providing public safety services. The city will be able to to do using equal opportunity or or equal employment opportunity materials that inform about prohibitions on discrimination under state or federal law. The city will still be able to do.
And um the city will just have to be aware of enforcement risk. Uh a local resident again, you know, could bring these actions. It has wide ranging implications and um I have already sent something to the manager on this issue.
But as we go forward and you look to set your events for next year, we can analyze each one of those events to ensure that we're not in violation of any of the state laws. Thank you. >> Well, that's perfect. So once we get that then you can appine at that moment
but I think everybody should have an understanding. If not then madam manager we're going to do one ones with everybody as it relates to events. >> I sure I definitely can. >> Okay. All right. So we're moving on. We can do each one reports at that time and you can >> Yes. No. No. Not reports. I I have some
for the manager doing your report. Do you want to go first? >> No. No. But I'm doing reports. I have some for the manager. Not not my report. I could do my report afterwards. Um, thank you for that, Madam Manager, because it leads me to what I was going to ask you. Have you come up with the dates yet for our uh budget workshops
and or um town halls for the community yet? >> I have not, but I did speak to Miss Walker today and she's going to be sending an email to the city clerk on getting some um pulling the commission. >> Okay. And how how many workshop are you
planning for the commission and before we would um go out to the community or you going to do one then the community and come back? How are you going to do because I don't want the community to get a town hall or we go out to the community and we not kind of
formalize what we intend to do. >> So first I want to have of course I I do want to have a one-on-one with all of the elected officials and that's going to come first. Then we'll have a a our first initial town hall meet workshop with the commission and then we can
start those other meetings following the workshop with the commission. >> Okay. Um Okay. So you go to polling because we need to we're in June already and so we need to get that and then get out to the community for whatever is being proposed. >> Um I did
>> before you leave off cut. Do we have time to do all those series of meetings? Because it has to go to the state by a certain time to come back to us to go back to the state for final approval. But I think that's when June, July. >> Yes. >> August. I'm not sure when it's done. >> We don't have time. We have August.
>> Not that August 1 is due to the state or July 31st is due to the state. >> To the state. >> Yeah. And then they come once they approve it with >> then come back to the commission. Yes. >> That's >> right. Because that's why I'm asking the question because it's due to the state by the f by the August 1st and then we
go through the regular September process, but it has to be to them >> by the first. So, we're in June already, really end of June. So, we got to work, but we're going to be >> get to the community and have the um
>> work actual um legis, you know, vote on it, >> right? To the um that's why to the oversight board. We we we're going to have to fast-pac it, but it's it's going to happen. Miss Walker will be doing sending an email out tomorrow. >> Okay. I'm just going to suggest this. We
we need to try to get that first workshop in before the end of June. I know that could be challenging >> because you're going to hit July and all of us may be doing things and it's due to the state by August 1st. So, and we want to go out to the community
obviously at least one time and get their input or at least let them know what we're proposing in case they have any suggestions or changes that need to be made. So, uh I'm glad to yeah, we need to make sure you're on top of that. Uh I did submit um meet me Monday
concerns and my colleague uh brought up some of them that I had mentioned to you. Um so, I'll wait on those responses. I did have a couple other I didn't include on that and it's really more uformational and for you to look at
how it affects us. As we know, the development is coming on 17th Avenue. Um, big proposed development for the city of North Miami, but of course, we will be impacted. And so, it was suggested to me by one of uh the
residents about a potential turning light on 17th in Opalaka Boulevard. Um, and I know there's a process that may get the county involved and all that, but I I would like for us to look at that. That requires uh legislation. and I'll obviously sponsor it, but I I think
that can just be something reaching out to um the county and the proper department. Um but that's going to be, you know, an impact and actually we need it now even before the development because sometime when I even travel there, it gets backed up trying to make
the the turn. Um, so I'd like to see if we can work on that and the traffic impact, um, and some kind of mitigation strategy for how that new development is going to impact obviously 17 and Opaaka
Boulevard. And if you want to, you know, we need to meet with you to get more clarity. He's really trying to be proactive because it's going to have an impact on that roadway which is already congested even though we got all the lighting and flashing signs, but it's still it's a
challenge now. So, I can imagine the future um you know what that would what that would be and what they would look like. So, if you could um add that I guess to my meet me Monday list of things and if you uh need to meet with
me on more specifics, I'll be glad to. Uh that's what I had for Oh, that's what I had for um you um as I stated in my Mimi Monday um concerns and and um residents want to see some things
happening with regard to beautifification and the simple thing grass cutting and all those type things. Um so we need to make sure that occurs as well. Um that's all I have for the manager. Thank you, M.
We can start with reports. Um, Commissioner B, >> thank you for allowing me to go first. >> Well, I just want to give two announcements. On
June 20th, 10:00 a.m. to 300 p.m. we will be hosting our 4th annual son and daughter basketball tournament at Shabbundi. Um, I'm in partnership with SWAT. And the
last one is June 30th through July 30th, I believe. We will be hosting Pages in the Park and I spoke about it earlier and I the participation for Pages in the Park is
beyond what I dreamt that it would be. So, I'm looking forward to being able to um continue on literacy throughout the summer with other initiatives and um I'm inviting all of you to take part. The schedule has already been made and I
would ask Emma to I'm sorry, Nova to share with you all. Thank you. >> No problem. Commissioner Santiago. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. in my report. Um, I'd like to say that we have a
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful time together with other community and I want to say thank you to my be there that night. Uh, starting with Commissioner Irving, we enjoying it there with you when Bash mayor Kelly and Mr. Mayor uh,
you know, people love that kind of activity like that. we can be get together the whole community and I see that we have a very you know a a good time when no problem at all that's the best thing and I think that we're going
to repeat it in the future again uh we supposed to do it every uh every first Friday of the month but I made some uh decision to suspending the one for July because we're going to have a video then
the next day the for the celebration. I don't want to say nothing because that's my Kali in the end and she has something beautiful here. Well, she she signed the sign and we already we're ready to go.
But you you go with that please. Okay. Yes. Um uh the other thing is uh we have a good time too on Sunday like Commissioner Adris the whole neighbor together. Uh we ate we play um Vice Mayor Kelly, you
know, he get it with me because I lose three times and chess and domino. Yeah. And but that happened probably next time I doing better. I doing better. But we pass a good time there and chess and domino.
And let's go again. And I know that we're going to have a very good time in that park in the pikney that my cali is going to introduce later on to you. Thank you. >> Thank you, commissioner, and vice mayor. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, we hosted our
farm share distribution last Wednesday at Shabbani Pavilion. Um, thank always the support of my colleagues. Mr. Irvin came by and assisted. We serviced over 300 families really in a three-hour period. And I'm always thankful to staff
and all of those who assist us and um helping and reaching our community. I attended the code enforcement lunchon that the manager hosted in recognition of our code enforcement officers. Uh attended the block party as Commissioner Santiago uh said on last Friday uh
evening. Um we attended the parents of murdered children memorial breakfast on last Saturday morning. And of course, one of our own uh park staff members is a a member of that having lost her um child. So that was always and always is
very emotional. We attended that. Um I hosted a monthly meet Monday meeting uh this past Wednesday at Hela Miller Center. I want to thank the managing always for staff allowing them to attend. Um, and also I submitted of
course those concerns to the res from the residents, but I explained to the city manager, residents should not have to keep repeating the same concerns over uh and over. And so I want to just put that on the record as well. Um, and I know you don't cut grass, you don't
police, you don't do code, you don't do any of those things yourself. you have staff. But um we need to kind of really look at that um because the residents are demanding not really demanding just want what should be occurring um like
other cities. uh our upcoming um Junth celebration. Um of course Juneenth falls on a holiday which uh was next Friday and because there's so much and um limited uh resources but we are going to
have a Junth celebration that I'm co-hosting with Commissioner Irvin uh next Wednesday uh at Hela Miller at 100 p.m. So if you're not busy, you can come by for that. the flyer hopefully be out uh by tomorrow or Friday. Um we also um
as he said stopped by and supported u the chess and dominoes that Commissioner Bass and Commissioner Santiago host and I was not going to tell anybody that you lost three times. I wasn't going to mention that but you did but it's always a great thing to see folks coming
together in the community and so we're supportive of that. We won't have our monthly um feeding South Florida uh distribution and resource fair on next Friday due to the holiday, but we'll be
back with it and DMV in um July. Um we'll resume that next month. We're working on some other initiatives that you'll hear more about in the coming um weeks. So that is my um report. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
>> Commissioner Irvin. Thank you. Okay. Um, I would like to say this Friday is bingo, summertime bingo. So, it's going to be at Shabbundi Park at 6:00 p. p.m. Please come out and holla bingo if you win. Of course. Also, um,
we're going to be doing Commissioner Santiago and I are doing the Fourth of July family picnic and fireworks. that's gonna be at um we're moving it over to um Ingram Park this year and come out,
bring your family, you can bring your barbecue grills, whatever make you would do at the beach, you could do it over at Ingram Park. We're going to have water slides for the kids. If you decide not to bring your grill, we will have um not ribs, not steaks,
but hot dogs or hamburgers and water. Plenty of water, you know. Um so, water sports, water activities. Bring your bathing suits or whatever. We're planning to have a great time. I don't know. My my
co-host might bring a pig. I don't know. We don't know. >> Probably, man, because I love, you know, probably that pig. And and don't forget about the ribs only VIP. >> Okay. So maybe we're going to have VIP ribs. We're going to see.
>> Um also it's going to be um from 11:00 a.m. to 900 p.m. and you are expected to clean up behind yourself. Just so you know. I don't want to leave that out. Um also since I'm talking about parks, um football and cheer season have
officially started. Please feel free residents to come keep your children at home. Come and register them in your very own city for football and cheer. Also, madame manager, um we started
summer camp this week. I have had a ball. I kind of know what time they take bring the kids outside watching the kids uh with their madeup um te-ball. They they were playing te-ball um with a kickball. But anyway, it was working for
them. Uh, today they were doing some kind of relay races with the kids and one of my favorite was the whole red light green light at um, uh, the other day. So, I'm not sure if there's any spots still available or not, but you
can check to see, but our um, summer camp is underway. Um, also um, I have to apologize to you and Commissioner Bath. I completely forgot about chess. Yes, she left. I completely forgot about chess. Um after
church, my husband wanted to surprise me with the Sheen popup shop cuz he know >> that's morning Sheen, my favorite store, so I didn't miss it. I also want to thank Commissioner Santiago for First
Fridays. I love the vibe. Sorry I couldn't stay till 11 because you know 491 don't pay my bills so I had work to do. Um but I look forward to the one um in August. >> Oh I forgot they're going to be together
with us in fourth of July. >> Fourth July. Yes. >> They're going to participate in our >> Yes. Um, and the last thing is I really want staff to know that I completely
appreciate the things that you all do for our city. And that's why I had the breakfast, the appreciation breakfast for you all this morning. Um, usually I do it for Mother's Day and Father's Day, but I just decided to do it a little
different this year. I really appreciate what you all do. Um, yeah, we all fall a little short sometime, but I appreciate what you all do. Um, as a matter of fact, I was greeted, it meant a lot to me because I was greeted by an officer
on my way coming in today and hey, how you doing? Whatever. And he said, I love the fact that you always speak to us, be it at city hall, in the street, cuz I'm always telling our officers, be safe out here. Um, and it's just the little
things that go a lot go a long way. The small things. You never know how you make somebody's day by saying hi. Simple. But I really wanted you all to know that I really appreciate the hard
work that you all put in to our city. I appreciate it. And congratulations to our two employees that won the television. I found out that they both are new employees. It was by happen stance, but um congratulations to them
for winning uh the televisions. And I think that's it. Thank you all again. All right. And I'll close out. Um so I totally agree with you. I want to say thank you to the staff for the hard work and dedication that you put and the long hours that you put in for the city
of Opalaka. So I do want to acknowledge um a couple things. So, we had mayor for the day and we were honored to host Mr. Taris, a 10th grader from Miami Lakes Educational Center. And I want to shout out Officer Louie, who was our personal
driver for him. Took that boy everywhere around the city. And it was it was interesting to know how much how much history this police department knows about the city of Opalaka. They took him to the airport. We took him to we took him everywhere around the city. So, I want to shout out Officer Louie for
that. Thank you for that. Also, madam manager, um vice brought it up. Um I was very impressed to see um our honor guard in the lineup at the breakfast. >> Oh wow. First to see that. >> Yeah. >> And it was all agencies, a lot of the
agencies from Miami Day County, but Opa Laka was in the number and normally, you know, but this year we were there. And so shout out to you in the police department. I want to say that uh we are doing our mobile dental clinic services that will start on June 26th. You can we
have the flyer posted online. So if you need dental free of charge, you just have to meet the criteria. It's by appointment only and we're partnering with UHI community care clinic. So if you know somebody who does not have insurance and need dental care, we will
be hosting it and they can get it right here in the city of Opalak. It's a mobile dental clinic and but they have to they have to register, right? Register at UHI. Yeah. And they get more information. Also, the scholarships, y'all know I love the scholarships that
we do every year. It's still open. We currently have three slots. We have two more, but it closes this Friday at 12 p.m. So, you know, any students that are graduating from this year um and need and looking for that money, we have it
here in Opaaka. let them know they need to call, reach out to the manager's office, u Miss Ashley Walker, our chief of staff, and she will happily help or our social services department will happily help, you know, guide that process and get those children signed up. With all that being said, I am so
excited that we are about to go home because I am hungry. >> Oh, yeah. >> Mr. Mayor, >> I'm sorry. At the beginning of the meeting, you requested a workshop. Am I to poll the commission after the meeting or were you to provide a date this
evening? >> I completely forgot about it. Okay. So, we'll pose but if worse come to worse depending on how long the agenda is next week we can do it within the commission meeting and just carve out a certain time. That way we don't have to come out
double. So depending and we just maybe 30 minutes and a hard stop something like that depending on how long. >> We also have the hurricane preparedness at the next meeting at 5. So that's my point. So I was going to do it within the commission meeting. >> I'm I'm not clear. I'm doing that
>> presentation. We'll discuss it at that time. >> Yeah. I'm trying to say come out. So thank you. >> We live a second. Second. >> Vice move the meeting. Commissioner Santiago
seconded. This meeting is adjourned. Thank you. Because of >> I ask Ashley ask Doctor ask for the pill. >> No.
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