Good evening everyone. We'll now call to order uh the meeting of the South Miami City Commission. Today is Tuesday, August 5th, 2025. The time is approximately 700 p.m. Again, as we begin, I'd ask you kindly to please silence or turn off your cell phones.
And thank again, thank you for joining us. Madam Clerk, could you please call the role? Yes. Mayor Fernandez, present. Vice Mayor Corey, present. Commissioner um Commissioner Rodriguez here. Commissioner Cay here. We have a quum. Thank you, madam clerk. If you could please stand for a moment of silence and
we'll ask for Commissioner Rodriguez to lead us in the pledge. [Music] 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. Please be seated. Thank you. Madam cler, I believe we have a few presentations this evening. Yes, we have four. Great. Thank you. If you could read item E1, please. Thank you. Officer of the month, May 2025,
Detective Jacko. Thank you. Uh, Captain Hill, I think you're doing the presentation this evening. You're recognized. Thank you, sir. Good evening. My name is uh Captain Genevie Hill, of course, with the South Miami Police Department and actually pro you can join
me, please. Thank you. It's my honor to tonight to present the officer of the month award for May 2025 to Detective Jacqueline Dos Soul. Uh this award, this prestigious award actually is being given to Detective Doul in recognition for her
outstanding investigative performance, dedication, and professionalism. During the month of May, Detective Del Soul was assigned a total of 18 cases, 11 active and seven inactive. She successfully cleared 14 cases, which included four felony arrests, one
misdemeanor arrest, four traffic related arrests, one exceptionally cleared case, and four unfounded cases. In addition to her assigned workload, Detective Doul proactively resolved two additional cases for from April 2025.
Her clearance rate for May was an impressive 81%. Reflecting her exceptional efficiency and commitment to case resolution, she investigated a stalking case in which the victim was harassed by her ex-boyfriend. Through a meticulous
investigation, she obtained subpoenas, gathered crucial evidence, and among the notable cases she among the other notable cases she handled, she investigated a stalking case in which the victim was harassed by her ex-boyfriend. Sorry. Apparently they
have this here twice. Um crucial and successfully charged the offender with aggravated stalking. In another case, detective do soul secured charges of aggravated battery and two counts of electronic threats after the suspect attempted to strike his ex-girlfriend
and another male with a vehicle. Working in collaboration with the Miami date Sheriff's Office sexual crimes unit, Detective Dosau cleared two sexual assault cases by arrest, further demonstrating her ability to work effectively in multi- agency operations
involving SE sensitive investigations. Additionally, through digital investigative work, she recovered a stolen BMW valued at $150,000, showcasing her ability to recover high value property and support victims of
property crime. Detective Del Soul's consistent performance, high case uh clearance rate, and exemplary investigative results reflect the highest standards of law enforcement, her work ethic, collaboration with partner agencies, and dedication to justice
uh that make her uh highly deserving of this recognition. Thank you, off detective. Congratulations. You're recognized. Um, sorry, I'll try to make this uh without crying, but tears are fine.
Good evening everyone. First, I want to thank my squad. Without your support, guidance, and patience, I wouldn't be the detective that I am today. Each of you has helped shaped me, not just professionally, but personally, and I'm truly grateful. To Sergeant Bosch, thank
you for always guiding me in the right direction, for teaching me, pushing me, and helping me see my potential, even when I'm overwhelmed, especially at the end of each month when a new active case lands on my desk and I start spiraling about not hitting an 100% clearance rate.
Somehow, you always bring me back to reality and remind me what I'm capable of and help me push through. Jackson, thank you for mentoring me when I first got to the unit and for walking me through the job with patience, especially when it came to those monthly
worksheets that I will complain about every single time for the rest of my time there. You never gave up on me, which is impressive. And honestly, you've taught me so much, including why I'm truly grateful that I never had a big brother, because one Jackson is more than enough.
Jenny, where do I begin? And I know you're watching. Thank you for being my ride or die. From signing from singing in the office to being an unofficial therapist to holding it down for the girls team. You've been the light on so many long days. You've
truly become my best friend. And the constant banter between you and Jackson, that's his own sitcom. When both of you are out of the office, the vibe shifts completely. The days feel heavier and the laughter is gone. And everything feels just a little bit off. You both
bring life into this unit and I couldn't imagine it without you. You've all become more than just co-workers. You're my family. This award isn't just mine. It belongs to all of us. I wouldn't trade a single one of you. Chief, thank you for giving me the opportunity to
prove myself to you, to the city, and to administration. It means so much to know that the work that I put in is seen, appreciated, and valued. I take great pride in my position and I'm honored to serve this department every single day. And last but not least, to my family and
to my boys. Thank you for loving me through the late nights, the missed holidays, and the call outs and the moments when I walk through the door exhausted, but still have more work to do. I know it hasn't always been easy, and I know there are times when you've needed more of me that I could give. But
I hope you know how much I carry you with me in everything that I do. Every case I work, every long day that I push through, I do it with you in mind. And I hope I'm showing you what it means to work hard, to be passionate, and to never settle. I hope I'm teaching you that no dream is out of reach and no
matter how hard the road gets. And when the days come that you're chasing something big, something scary and exciting. I hope you remember your mom stood in those shoes, too. And I hope you hear my voice in the back of your mind saying, "You got this." And because of you, the sky's is the limit and I'll
be behind you every step of the way. Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations. And if I could take one more second of your time. I'm sorry. I did confirm it with uh our detective sergeant. Uh the national clearance rate is actually about 25%. And as we said, Detective
Partagon finished this month with an 81% clearance rate. Congratulations. Thank you. I Before we let you go, I think I see Detective Sanchez online. Did Did she want to add something in honor of her colleague?
If so, we can unmute her and recognize her. Oh, I I I didn't even know that was an option. Oh, there you go. Can you hear me? Put you on the spot. There you go. Jackie, we are so proud of you. You You earned this. You are such a hard worker
and I know that all of us admire every single step, every single second of hard work that you put in. You deserve this and I'm so happy you got it. Thank you. Thank you, Detective Sanchez, for joining us. We appreciate it. Before you go, we'll take a picture with
you. Invite your family up to take a quick picture as well. And I just want to say congratulations. Thank you for being such a great credit to our department. And by the way, not only are you exceptional detective, but we could all probably, you know, be well served in hiring you to write speeches for us because that was a those are beautiful words you gave this evening. Thank you.
Come on up for a picture. [Applause] Those two [Applause] Okay, madam clerk, if you could read item E3, please.
E3. Proclamation Garc Garcia Nevette, best chocoliers in the United States. So, thank you, Madam Clerk. So, we're honored this evening to highlight the success of an amazing small business here in South Miami that uh USA Today recognized as one of the top 10 best
chocolate shops in the US, ranking them number third and the only Florida based store to be acknowledged on the list. So, we wanted to invite up Susanna Garcia and Isabel Garcia. Um, the owners, my wife is a big fan of your
shop. I do not go because I can't even close my suit these days. So, it's a very dangerous place to go to, but we just wanted to um acknowledge this uh tremendous u achievement and present you with a proclamation which I'll briefly read into the record. Uh it says,
"Whereas the city of South Miami takes pride in recognizing local businesses that exemplify excellence, creativity, and dedication to their craft. And whereas Garcia Chocolier the Miami founded and operated by sister Susanna Nis is the Garcia have earned has earned national acclaim for its exceptional
artisal chocolates blending the rich heritage of Venezuelan cacao with innovative techniques and refined artistry. And whereas Garcia Nvet has significantly contributed to the cultural and economic fabric of South Miami. And I'm going to skip here and whereas Garcia Nvet chocolate here that Miami was recognized by USA Today this
year as a number three on its top 10 best chocolate shops across the US list. And whereas the business has remained committed to sustainable practices, community education through chocolate making workshops and the promotion of ethical sourcing and fair trade cacao. All while continue to inspire small
businesses, small business innovation and immigrant entrepreneurship here in South Miami. Therefore, I Javier Fernandez mayor along with my colleagues of the city commission, Vice Mayor Brian Corey, commissioners Lisa Bonich, Steve Kaya, and Danny Rodriguez are proud to proclaim August 5th, 2025 Garcia
Chocolier that Miami day. So, congratulations. Thank you. Thank acknowledge like to add some words. We are honored and humbled and so happy um to be here. Thank you so much to the mayor and to the city of South Miami for really supporting small businesses. We think you're doing a really great job um
on social media and just coming around. We feel supported. We feel seen by the city and that's really great. And next year we're coming for the number one spot. Let's go. We hope everyone votes next year. Uh but we're very happy. We love the city of South Miami from the moment we decided to open up our brick and mortar. We
focused on South Miami because we know it's we have that small village feel with the local businesses, small local businesses that feel that have been there forever. We like the cosmopositive feel as well and we're just really happy and proud to be here. Thank you so much. It's a very dangerous corner we are for
everyone's waistline between you and the ice cream shop next door. So, so uh congratulations again. Who's here with you this evening? We have family and we have our lovely ladies from whom you you might have seen those. Why don't you guys all come up so we can present to you all the proclamation and
and take a picture as a group. Come on up, please. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] Thank you again and thanks for joining us this evening. Okay, colleagues, we'll take the next two presentations and I believe we've
got um a discussion item if you're okay. We'll take that up next and we'll move into reports and hopefully the business the rest of the business is pretty quick and we can dispense with the u eight items on the agenda after public remarks. So, Mr. Madame Clerk, if you
could read uh item E4 and then we'll take E2. Okay. and eat for a taste of Somi raffle winners. Thank you. Samantha Mesa, you're recognized. Good evening everyone. So, I kind of just wanted to bring all the winners in
today so you guys can see who you actually picked from Friday's closing party. Oh, fantastic. Okay, so we actually have uh two of the three winners here. We're still missing Rice Mediterranean Kitchen that they said that they're on their way, but we do have uh the ones that you guys pulled. So for the loyalty card winner, we have
Laa Fif and she was able to shop at five different stores in the Somi district during Taste of Somi and she actually won the prize. So LA, if you want to join us. [Applause]
Thank you LA for being such a dedicated customer to South Miami. You're welcome. You guys have great stories. Do you mayor? Yeah, please. You recognize sir. Do you live in South Miami? I do not. How far away do you live? Um about 20 minutes.
Oh, okay. Good. Good to hear. Thank you. I'll get this one for you and I'm ask you as well. All right. The next one was for a week four VIP shopper. This is kind of the one we couldn't read, but we were able
to we were able to figure it out. And that winner is Lillian Silva. and she actually shopped with SIBO French boutique in week four and was their VIP shopper. So, thank you, Lillian. Good evening. Thank you. I'm happy. I was lucky. This
is fine. Um, I live in in Sunrise Teras before the DD. Great. Thank you. I'm glad we were able to figure out your name because we were I don't know if it was the drinks at the reception or the handwriting. I or the bad
radio. And then the last one was Rice Mediterranean Kitchen, but they're not here yet. So once they come, I'll give them their Okay. Well, let's take a quick picture. Thank you. Thank you. Um May, you may I just want to read into the record that I just want to congratulate our marketing team. Yes.
For the great work that you guys did through the month of July and putting this whole event together. And I think it was just fantastic and I think we closed it out pretty good. Congratulations. Thank you for mentioning that. I think you know to Brandon and the team, Sam, Sam, our ambassador, everyone, Evelyn,
uh, OG Sam and and the manager, you know, thank you for thank you for shephering this process over the last year with, you know, so many second Saturdays culminating in this event to kind of help the businesses get through the summer for a very very modest investment. we got I think was 550,000
new impressions for our local businesses. So, we'll continue to invest alongside our local businesses again with the idea of helping to promote the district. Hopefully be new people coming to the district, but during that change and transition, we want to make sure the people who are already here helping us put on our best face are are are
thriving. So, thank you to all of you. Thank you. Okay. Rice just got here. I don't know if you go for it. So, we did a raffle as well for all the businesses who participated and Rice Mediterranean Kitchen was actually
pulled so they won our business raffle. So, Rice, if you would like to come up, come on up. [Applause] No, it's not a problem. came right on. Thank you.
Well, we'll just start by saying thank you for thank you for participating and helping us during this promotional event. Hopefully hopefully it uh you saw it as valuable and we look forward to continuing to work with you all to help to push business through the district. Yeah, definitely. Um well but uh thank
you South Miami City for helping us so much you know and then it was a pleasure for us you know uh be participating on this uh and thank you all for the invitation. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being here this evening. Okay. Yeah. Let's do a picture of them as
well. Come on. Walk around. You want to Congratulations. Hey. Okay, colleagues, let's open the floor for public remarks. Um, yeah, one more presentation. We do. We have one more. Oh. Oh, I'm I'm sorry. Yes. Item uh E2.
E2. Thank you. My apologies. Um, yearly red light camera report. Captain Be. Sorry, sir. Good evening again, mayor, commissioners, rest of the city staff. In accordance with Florida State Statute 316.83,
subsection 4B. I would like to present the annual summary of the city of South Miami's red light camera enforcement program for the period of uh July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2025. During this period, a total of 7,474
notices of violation were issued to drivers for red light camera infractions. Of of the 7,474, a to a total of 5,222 violations were paid, resulting in $825,76.0
collected in revenue. Um, of that amount, 433,426 was remitted to the state of Florida as mandated for the statute, which is an approximately 52.5%. 391,650
was retained by the city of South Miami as net revenue to support public safety initiatives and general fund operations. Out of those uh 237 violations were dismissed before um becoming UTC's uh uniform traffic citations. Approximately
617 violations were classified as disputed. Uh this exact number is not available at this at this time. Uh out of those violations, the ones that were either upheld once being disputed or dismissed. Um the reason why they're not
available, Vera Mobility, which is our provider, is actually switching over from the legacy system into the access system. Um so they are they were unable to compile those numbers for the for the annual report. Uh they are working on that and there will be an update as soon as we receive that. Um, in accordance to
the state statute, a hund uh 1,398 violations were escalated and issued as uniform traffic citations uh due to non-payment or inaction within the initial period notice. Uh, out of those uh uniform traffic citations, we received $65,17543
from Miami Day County as as payments uh as residual payments, sorry. Uh the total operating cost for the city of South Miami for the period mentioned above was $191,75526 which was allocated to the program's vendor for operational and processing
cost. Uh that breaks down to $4,270 per approach or per red light camera. And um of course this program a is aimed at uh public safety and traffic safety. So, it continues to support traffic safety efforts in our community by encouraging compliance with traffic
signals at at the intersections being monitored. Um, that's actually it for the presentation. Thank you for your attention, but if you do have any questions, I'll be happy to answer any questions. Colleagues, any questions? Okay, see, thank you very Thank you for the report. We appreciate it.
Okay, moving on. We will now open the floor for public remarks. If there's any member of the public who'd like to address this commission public remarks, we do have a sign-in sheet, please uh sign at this time. First on my list and the only person on my list so far this evening is John Edward Smith. So sir,
you're recognized. That's what I like to hear. First and only. Thank you. Good evening. John Edward Smith, a resident of business owner here in South Miami. just have a couple of comments on some of the items that are on the agenda for this evening. Uh one on your consent
agenda with the um pedestrian and bicycle uh high visibility education and enforcement fund. U I I think that's critically important as we go as we go through. Uh, and hopefully
South Miami will lead the way in more bicycle safety and hopefully um, bike routes about bike routes that make sense. Um, the second item is deals with the
waiver of fees for caring for Miami mobile pantry. Uh those of you might know I am the managing director of the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation and one of the organizations that we fund is caring for
Miami. Last year when uh Dr. Scott was here and awarded um recognized by the city for the uh Miami Foundation award that she
had as she left I said Dr. Scott, I know you you have the the dental clinic from uh Caring for Miami that goes to the uh pediatric center. I said, and she had spoken about food insecurity in her
remarks, excuse me. I said, "Do you know that they have a mobile pantry?" Oh, she didn't. The next morning, she got the mobile pantry. um she's just a a great advocate for everything that goes
on wonderfully well at that uh pediatric center. So I'm I'm pleased. The the dental clinic, so you know, is a seven mobile $785,000 uh van that services
many populations throughout Dade County. Uh the the mobile pantry is a retrofitted Miami Dade County bus and they make um I mean when they come out I think you all need to go over and
see the the kind of work that is being done. Um and I'm professionally pleased that we're supporting that as well. And then just lastly um Gail Alexander Coachman Street. What more can I say? We'd like to get
that done. And just I I regret missing Maria Garcia's retirement uh party. I saw some of that on on the v on video and it was like, wow, what a great tribute. Very good. Thank you. Thank
you, sir. I did saw it on Instagram. Thank you. Uh next on the list, we've got U Dr. Tina Scott. vote for me. I I didn't need to hear from you. I'm voting yes on your item. So, but if you like if you'd like to come up and say something, we actually I do have a
question for you if you can. I was trying to pull up the report. Why don't you share with us what's actually happening so people know? Good evening. Yeah. Name and address for the record. I'm sorry. So, Dr. Tina Carol Scott, you need my home address. Why don't you give us the address at the clinic?
Okay. 6701 Southwest 58th Place Miami. So, we have an item on the agenda to approve uh way fees in support of the food pantry. And so, I I just if you can remind us, how many families are you supporting on a monthly basis with that effort? So, I would say that we average on the
low end probably 50 families, but we've had as many as 90 um some months. And our location, as far as I know, and Mr. Edwards can correct me, we're the only permanent sites because they usually travel all over Miami. and I lobbyed to
have them come every single month, the fourth Thursday of every month and we've been doing that for over a year. Thank you for that. Yeah, offline if we can follow up. I just want to make sure that we talk about Thanksgiving, how we can support those families. So, we've gotten an inquiry about that and so let's just connect and make sure we
have the right amount of And I'll add on too that recently uh we just got a partnership with Trader Joe's. So, the selection that we have on the mobile pantry is is even better. So, great. All right. Thank you for your Yes, sir. you're recognized. Mr. Vice Mayor, I just uh wanted to thank you so much,
Dr. Scott. I know uh uh on your agility in finding all these opportunities for the city all the way back to the pandemic. I remember you working on things to make sure people got testing to food to everything. You're just such a valuable asset for the city. So, I just wanted to thank you for that.
Thank you. Thank you for that. Okay, further questions, comments. Thank you for your uh remarks. Uh moving on, Elizabeth Holtz, good evening. Welcome. Good evening. Thank you so much. South Miami for
pleasant living. Correct. So I'm living, you know, since 2017, I'm living in South Miami and I moved to a little house and to an area where I first thought, you understand it would have been difficult, but I have to say all these neighbors, they were very
beautiful to me and very nice. So thank you so much first. And I have a question because I live behind the gate and the street was in Stan 67th Street was always a little bit problematic because there was so much trash in the streets.
So I often picked up this trash. Now it's uh definitely better. But you know where the little mushe is? where the little mush is on the left side and I don't know why there's so much still so much trash and it's not you understand
where the new building is and this street you understand needs a tiny little bit more attention I guess and then I have another question regarding the building you want to do you understand and I think you wanted to uh to rebuild now you understand the new
building uh but I heard from the company that you would do it you know 2026 in May and my neighbor told me and this is Gloria she told me that there would be no you understand like little uh town houses in
front where we are living that there would be like a highrise big high-rise and I think this would be a little bit for the residents a little bit more impossible because then they can look directly you understand in our yards and
then pleasant living I think is not more really good. So I would like to ask you a question you know what is what what what is going on you know and when you will really build I mean I called this company and they told me they would do
it you know in 2026 in May I would like to keep living there it's a house of my son my son bought this house and uh I decided then to move into this house and I live behind the gate so I don't have a problem really with the street but I'm a
person I like beauty And I think beauty is so important and I would love you understand when you keep the street also a little bit nicer. So thank you for your comments. I think u I just Googled your address to make sure I was looking at the right location. Yeah.
Um thank you for one having an impeccably kept home. Two uh the project that is being developed across the street which was the former public housing site which is the second phase. The first phase was obviously on the west side. that first phase we actually
the prior commission was able to review and approve that project. The phase that's happening right across the street from you unfortunately um through some a mapping change was put under the jurisdiction of Miami County. So we have not reviewed nor approved the building. We do understand it's going to be a very
tall building relative to the area. It'll be uh 10 or 12 stories. Um programmatically though we don't have any jurisdiction. we don't have the ability to ask for modifications or approve or deny that project. So, the
best the best advice we can give you is to contact your local county commissioner's office and ask them to um you know pass along any thoughts you have and to the extent that they have not um at thus far procured a final approval I'm not sure
if they have or have not uh you may be able to impact uh in a positive way from your perspective what may be built there but um unfortunately also very close there's also a school there is like a little uh you know like a little uh you know like a clinic there
also. Yeah. The the gentle the woman who just spoke a second ago was the director of the clinic. So we're and we're approving an item for the clinic later this evening. But yeah, it would be nice when this is also you know all done like a little bit nicer. The school is really very very
nicer now. And I think you know sometimes it's also important maybe to teach children you know to teach them because we have only one planet where we live all on you know we all live on mother earth and we don't throw any garbage you know to our mother earth so
we have to maybe you know again the schools have maybe to teach them when they get not teached you understand at the house you know to throw everything inside I had once in front of my house I called the company you know they had to take the plastic out and there were minimum there for four or five hours to
take the plastic out because when this plastic would not been taken out and it would rain a lot then everything would be there underwater. So this is also a problem then but I thank you so much for listening and uh I wish you all the best. No, thank you for coming and again if
you if you need some service in terms of trash pickup, thank you. If you've not downloaded our Somi connect app, please please do that. You can report it and you'll see that our public works team responds. Mr. Mr. Munoz's team here responds very quickly to uh all of those requests and gets them cleaned up. Okay.
Thank you very very much. Thank you so much. Thank you for coming out this evening. Uh madam clerk, is there anyone else register for public remarks? No, but James MC would like to speak. Mr. MC, I see your name online. If you'd like to speak, let's unmute him now and and recognize him.
Good evening, everybody. Good evening, sir. I just wanted to speak in support um of a couple of items. The first one is caring for Miami. Dr. Scott has done so much work and um she's worked with me and in getting these families out and
let me tell you um uh the food is magnificent and it serves um uh the three major uh complexes in the um Marshall Williamson area. That's Somi, there's Marshall Williamson's apartments, and then Red Road Commons
apartment. And the food is really uh quality food and um the work she has done um is really uh is really a lot and uh she deserves all the her kudos and credit. Uh that's the first thing. Uh
the next thing is item six and I know everybody's going to support that. This is Gail. Um, and the name of the street and I have a concern in reference to the unity wall in reference to what Gail started and what we started a long time ago. And that is the trees that are
being planted by the county. Um, they're blocking some of the artwork and I did speak to the uh public works u director on this a couple weeks ago. Uh, but in the meantime, more trees were have been planted. Could we look into
that and see how we can hold that up so that we can help preserve uh that wall and the future uh artwork that is coming. Okay. Um the last thing I want to talk about are the three items that uh in reference to the um the Gibson
Bethl Community Center um passed due and I'm so grateful that u this is on the agenda uh so that we can help preserve this uh this site. Uh I know that it's potential uh things that may be coming to um
enlarge this center, but um in the meantime, helping to preserve this uh is is very well received. And just for the record, I remember the groundbreaking uh for the Gibson Bethl and that was uh in
2001 and I I I ran across some pictures on that event. Um, so that right there is all I have to say. One more things. Um, Commissioner uh Miami Day County Commissioner Regalado has given rebuilding together
in district 7 monies for um for single family home rehabs. And we're going to bring something to the table in like a a setting there later on. And I'll be happy to talk to more people about this with the commissioner's office there. Uh
so that's all the comments I have and um everybody have a good evening. Thank you. Uh Commissioner Rodriguez gonna be recognized. James uh thank you. So after we spoke this afternoon, I got with uh Director uh Munoz regarding the trees. As far as
he knows, there will be no more trees planted, but he's going to confirm with the county. And James, just by way of commentary as well on the rebuilding together grants, um I don't know if we have a mechanism for waving the building permit fees for
homes that are the recipients of that grant funding, but maybe that's something that we can consider so that um the max amount of dollars gets put into into the physical plan of those homes as opposed to paying us um marginal permitting fees. So just uh by way of direction, unless there's some
opposition from the from the council, if we could confirm whether that's a possibility, if not, let's make sure we bring an item to um allow for such a waiver. Okay. Upon request, thank you. Thank you again, James, for all your work on our behalf. Um madam clerk, is there anyone else online who'd like to
address this commission? Anyone else on Zoom, please raise your virtual hand and if you'd like to speak during public remarks. Okay, seeing no one else online and no one else in this chamber, we will close public remarks. Uh, Mr. Manager, your report, please.
Mr. Deputy Management and provide Mr. Mayor, I don't know. Um, I'm sorry. Oh, Miss Francis wanted to speak. Okay. Well, hold that for one second. U, Madam Clerk, if you can unmute, Miss Francis. Miss Francis, you're recognized.
Hi, I'm Lata Francis. I uh reside actually in Miami Gardens, but I work with FIU um with neighborh and say that Dr. Scott has she has been working very very diligently, very very
hard and uh the bus benefits not only does it benefit South Miami, it does benefit those that are in very close proximity to South Miami as well. They're doing a great work. You have those that are not able to uh purchase
groceries on a regular basis where they rely on that bus to come out and get their weekly foods and their weekly meals. So, I I just want to commend Dr. Scott on doing what she does and ask that you guys, you know, continue with
the resolution as far as with the parking and everything and making sure that it pans out the way it should. And we appreciate you allowing us to have that bus out there because like I said, the households that we manage look to Dr. Scott as well as the different the additional pillars that's in the
neighborhood to continue to bring forth the services that they do. Thank you for your comments and we're happy to support Dr. Scott and and the mobile pantry. Thank you again. Thank you. Okay. Uh with that, we'll close public remarks. Uh and we'll recognize our
deputy manager for the managed report. Thank you. As as the deputy is stepping up, um uh something for your consideration, discuss the potential on commission meeting. We have a September 2nd commission meeting. We can't have a budget hearing any earlier than September 3rd. So we also have that date and wanted to see if there was an
interest in combining making this the commission meeting of the second into the third and it'll combine budget budget uh hearing and uh commission meeting instead of having colleagues any objection in moving our commission meeting from the second to the third so we have on the same day as our budget hearing.
Okay. So let's go ahead and uh make that so okay madam clerk I'm sorry madam deputy manager. Thank you. You're recognized. As it relates to the parks and wreck master plan study, the community survey received a total of 232 responses as of July 30th. That survey
is going to be uh open until the end of this month and it's available online. So if anybody hasn't filled it out, take 18 20 minutes of your time, fill it out. Uh the first community workshop will take place right here in commission chambers. That's going to be Tuesday, August 26 at 6:30 p.m. We have Grey Ghost Tackle
football and cheer season. They kick off with their first home game at Palmer Park August 15th and 16th. And um for Taste of Somi, we're working on consolidating the survey responses, but I can share that 100% of the response respondents said that they would
participate again next year. We had attendees coming from City of Miami, Coral Gables, Miami Beach. There were respondents um that indicated that they discovered new businesses through this initiative. So, I think it was a really strong effort for year one. We're looking forward to upcoming years and
stay tuned for our next event which is a scavenger hunt close to the end of this month featuring our businesses. That's the end of the manager's report. Thank you colleagues. Any questions of the manager? Okay, seeing none, thank you for the report. We'll move on briefly to the city attorney's report.
Just a very brief uh comment, mayor. The um SB80, which is an an emergency uh operations bill uh geared at at addressing hurricane emergencies and other natural disasters, was adopted this past uh legislative session. It
includes some uh very uh challenging language for municipalities to deal with. There are a number of municipalities who are gathering together to challenge that language. Is this something that you would be interested in hearing about more? Um, in which case I can bring something uh at
the next agenda, but I just want direction whether you don't want to hear about it or if you'd like to know more. Do we have I think we should have a discussion item. Beyond that, I'm not sure, colleagues. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Along those lines, um, we also had
legislation that modified the plotting process. Yes. And made it administrative. So, are do we have to make any modifications to our code to conform with those changes or There is an exception in that. uh legislation which uh
which does not require the changes when you have when it's inconsistent with a charter county uh and their ordinance. And the way we're apply we're interpreting that that would the the county ordinance provides the minimum
requirements for adoption of a plat and that includes a uh a public hearing and the cities the incorporated areas are charged with enforcing the county requirements. So we think that's that's a potential inconsistency with what with
what the statute requires. statute does not apply to counties and it may enable us to keep what we have on the books. Okay. Is the county taken to so the county's position is it does not affect the county has not taken an official position on this. Um I as to the county
they have taken the position that that statute does not affect them at all and that that's clear. This only applies to cities. It does not apply to the county to to the county's regulations. um it includes this additional exception. Um we're still talking
through with how they're going to view that as far as the cities, but up to now it's that's a matter that's an open matter. I I know that BASF, Builders Association of Florida has sent correspondents to various jurisdictions asking them for clarification on their process.
I'm assuming we haven't received any not to my knowledge. And do we can you just I think at your next meeting just kind of maybe give us an update as to what the state of affairs is with other jurisdictions. We'll do. Okay. Basically colleagues what the statute attempts to do is not require a public hearing. Um typically the final
public hearing before this body is usually ministerial. Correct. And so we if all the requirements are met there really is no really don't have the discretion to deny a plot. So it's a it's a formality that adds I would say a lot of time to the processing of those
applications. So personally if we have the the if we have the um difference to modify our process I would certainly be on the side of of modifying of modifying it and designating a local official who could who could approve those final plats. So
yeah, our our concern just just from a from a time perspective, Yes. is it's easier to get in front of this body than it is to get in front of the county commission. And if the county is going to take the position that a county the public hearing has to be heard, Mr. Russio, I'm 100% in agreement with with that. If there has to be a public
hearing, I'd rather be here than at the county. But if the county is uh agnostic to the issue, then I'd be happy to make that a fully administrative process. Okay. Thank you for the update. Okay. Uh that is the last report. Let's move on to discussion items. Um Mr. City Manager,
do you want to lead us into this one? Yes, sir. Um Mayor, we we uh I brought this item forward for a presentation and discussion uh on something that we've been working on with with a a a partner uh who's had an interest in bringing a new amenity to to South Miami u and is
the support of paddle and and pedel courts. Um we've been looking at sites that may be able to accommodate uh this activity. And so after working for quite some time given given you know some limitations from a real estate standpoint uh we had enough to bring
forward to you uh based on a proposal that they had provided and some work that we had done with the parks department. Um so the presentation uh will be shared by them and you have something that's in your packet. Um this is uh the concept would be an amenity that we currently don't provide in our
city. Increasing our offerings uh from the standpoint of a of a racket sport if you will um with through a public private partnership and I certainly would would let the team uh of Mr. Jeff Garcia and Bernardo and Ronaldo Vango
who have a previous experience in this in this space uh take you through the presentation. Uh and this is uh been in in partnership with the parks department. and myself working for for quite a while taking a look at the right location and how it would look like as far as delivering this this uh offering
which would be managed by them. I will tell you that that some of the information primarily financial is is not necessarily totally finalized. There we would based on your direction and interest if if you direct us to move forward conclude that conversation on u
how it would look like from a financial model standpoint u and then identify the vehicle to bring it back to commission for formal action as well. So I think based on your direction, we would then revisit uh what has been proposed, make any tweaks necessary if that's a direction that we're given. Um and and
then bring back a final item for your consideration and vote. So certainly uh uh Jeeoff, maybe I'm not sure who's going to kick it off on your side. I think you had told me you would. I'll turn it over to you to kind of take us through your team and concept and what you would bring to the city. Well, thank you, manager, and good evening. Into the microphone, please. Thank you,
Jeffrey Garcia. Uh thank you manager and thank you uh mayor and commissioners for giving us this opportunity to go through this presentation. We'll try try and keep it brief. I know we're trying to keep this meeting as short as possible. Just before we start um I just want to
thank um the the manager and Quinton and others. We've tried to be as thorough and and thoughtful in this process as possible. Um, we looked at pretty much every piece of land that the city uh either owns or manages. And we've done
surveys of various different locations and projects. And we've even taken the time to survey some of the users of your parks. And uh some of you may have heard that there were folks walking around with clipboards and Fuks Park uh for 4 days in March. And we actually surveyed
the users of the park. We actually spoke and surveyed 203 of the users. And uh I have the data available for anyone who would like to see it because there's some interesting nuggets in there about some of the other uses of the park, who's using it. About uh 60% of those who answered are actually South Miami
residents, which I thought was a little surprising being that it's right on the border of the city. Uh but we also wanted to talk to them about amenities and which amenities they would be interested in. Over 70% of those that answered said that they were open uh or excited about having uh pedel courts at
the park. about 3% said they were not, which, you know, I also was pleasantly surprised that that was a low number. Uh, so I just want everyone to know that we, you know, we've we we've taken the time to be, you know, very thoughtful and and trying to find the best fit
where there's benefit for the city, there's benefit for the residents, and we can add this amenity. And with that being said, I want to introduce uh my friend and client and Kanato will walk you through this brief presentation that's uh you can see up on the screens now. Good evening everyone. My name is
Ronaldo Vanve with VanGego Ventures LLC. I'm a manager and partner and in the room is also my brother who's also my partner. Um so Vanvees LLC essentially we focus a lot on sports and hospitality concepts. Um, our main, uh, business operation has actually been in Europe
and we are currently in the process of expanding some of our business over to the United States. Um, as you can see here, we have a small presentation which I think you all have in front of you with South Miami Paddle Center in a proposed um, project. So, here's a team as I've just introduced you to you um,
folks and we can see over there to the left is Elish Nunes Verde who would be a manager and he's actually a manager at um, some of our other locations and other projects. he's not present today in this meeting. Um so a little bit about us um in our track record. Um we have um operated several sports concepts
and hospitality concepts um in uh in Portugal over the years. Um we currently operate over 40 um youth tennismies uh in Portugal over 80 youth soccermies in Portugal. We've operated paddle racket
um sports oriented uh health facilities particularly with pickle ball tennis um uh paddle um fitness and the whole food and beverage component as well. Um and then uh we're also in the process of um expanding some of those operations to
the US. Um we also own and operate um the biggest tennis tournament in Portugal called the ATP 250 Millennium Estrial Open. And um that operation is has been ongoing for a few years now. Um we're in the process of expanding over the last year. Uh we have our first
facility opening up in Miami downtown in the downtown area. It's going to be 10 outdoor uh courts with a um with a concession stand for food and beverage. Pretty uh pretty cool project. And we're also opening up a location in Austin, Texas, which will be six uh indoor
courts and and three outdoor courts with a whole restaurant and food and beverage component. So that's a little bit about our track record in the sports and hospitality area. And uh I wanted to show you you guys a little bit of what our proposal consists of. So it would be a revenue generating facility for the
city. It would cost the city absolutely nothing. It would be fully financed uh by our group and um essentially the idea would be for us to uh build five paddle courts. Um you know a pretty low impact small project but we think it'd be a huge success in the city. So let's go on
to the next slide and and look at like a proposed site plan. Um we who designed the site plan is actually S3 uh design which is a you know there a firm that's done a lot of work in universities all over South Florida to do a lot of sports concepts and over here we can see five paddle courts with a tree mitigation
plan where we don't touch the oak trees pretty low impact for the park and we actually have you know the idea of moving the existing playground to that corner that you see over there in a darker color. Um and uh you know we'd be willing to obviously um you know inquire that cost and essentially make it so
this wouldn't cost the city a dollar. Um one point I wanted to make about this this rendering man. Sorry. Thank you. point I wanted to make about the rendering that you see is um you know there are some obviously there's some flexibility here and there's some things that need to be worked out but if
you look at the existing Chamber South building uh there's a portion of the building that that juts out uh on the south side towards the walkway and we've all been in the building we're familiar with it we've been in discussions with Chamber South about utilizing that
little section that juts out which is currently in office it's roughly about 150 180 ft. That would be a check-in center. If you're familiar with that building, what used to be just west of that in that kind of L-shaped there, there used to be a patio and a deck that
has since been abandoned and it's it's rotten now. Um, and there's a bunch of weeds in there, but it is forms a natural bluff. And our proposal in in an ideal situation would be to clean that up to renovate that to put a new deck and to put some outdoor seating so that
um parkgoers, residents, anyone could could sit outside, sit there. It kind of actually looks down looks over the park a little. It's a few feet higher and beautify that corner. And you know if again if you've been to that building it's in kind of desperate need of some beautifification particular on that
side. There's a lot of weeds. If we cannot secure that, what we will have to do then is have a small kiosk no larger than 100 square feet to check clients in. And we would put you can see right there. Oh, there's the kiosk. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. You can see that small box
in between uh the first and second courts on the on the north side. Um but hopefully again like we said in an ideal world we'll come to an agreement with the chamber south uh if things progress forward and we'll be able to not just have uh a check-in center inside the
existing building but also beautify that area and that space and create another recapture some space for public usage. All right. So regarding Oh yeah, here are just some renderings just to get a rough idea of what it could look like.
obviously very open to discuss the design and everything. This is just some what we thought were some, you know, potential conceptual renderings. Um, then regarding financials, we actually put together a pretty what I would consider a strong financial plan for the
city and also a P&L based on our past experience and also uh doing some market research on on clubs uh in the area. Even though there's no club, you know, very directly close to South Miami, um there is some stuff over in downtown. And you know, these this is all based on
market prices. Um we can see I don't know it might be a little small for, you know, for people to see it from here, but um we're you know, we're practicing just below market price for non-residents. So we're still offering a good price and the residents of the city of South Miami would essentially get a
discounted price uh which would be equivalent of basically being a member of the club just by proving they're residents of South Miami. So we want to make sure that obvious question. No. Yeah. Mr. Vego, just a quick question just in terms of what you're representing here. You're showing I guess the number of hours that each court is utilized which is five. Is that correct?
Uh no. So you can see on uh it's a little far for me to see it from here. Yeah. It's um first year is I believe second Okay. So first year is five each year is five courts is what you're showing. Yes. And then the typical utilization is
three hours a day for the first year. Oh yeah, it grows over time. I just want to understand five courts which is the amount of courts. Um as you can see the the I don't know if it shows it here that's far from you. 300 days is the amount of days that we believe we'll be operating considering factors like rain,
holidays, whatever. Correct. Um and then we can see over there and your and your rate is hourly divided among four players or uh it's no no it's an hourly rate per player. Per player. Yes. Court. Per court. Per court. Exactly. Right. And then we have um the 60, you know, 60
minutes there and then a 90minute price which is slightly lower because they're booking it for a long period of time. Correct. And obviously these are preliminary numbers like we're open to discuss these numbers. But I believe Krishi had a question on this. Thank you. I appreciate it. Um can you identify what P1 through P10 means? What
what does that mean? Those are the years that that would be the the life of the of the uh operation. So this is year one year all the way through year 10. Yes. And as you can see it kind of grows incrementally. Thank you. And like these numbers like a lot of the paddle um information information for
services like this in general are all done through apps. So if you go and check an existing club, you can see for example the amount of bookings they have. For example, on an afternoon, you can see if they're booked, you know, in two days from now because you won't be able to get a court. So you get a really rough and and you know good estimate on
occupancy based on just doing market research from what's around here. Uh and then here is just a representation. Before you before you move on to the financial question, what do you expect to be kind of your natural trade area for these five courts? Where where are your clients going to come from for the facility? We believe that I actually did a a study
on this. Um I can I can show it and just discuss it briefly. So regarding um regarding our occupancy, we do believe that around um where is it? Here it is. We believe that
we believe that 30 to 40% of occup people using the club will be South Miami residents. We actually do believe that a majority will be people coming from let's say Coral Gables, Coconut Grove um and and from the areas right around here at Pinerest because um as as
we know we're in the a small strip of of area here and there's really nothing around for those people to go play. So a lot of those people might work uh let's say in downtown they play in downtown but here they have an opportunity to you know they pay market price which would be mean more revenue for the city but um
essentially they would have you know something nearby here where they might live in the area here. Next uh and I think this is part of what you're asking um the majority of the courts right now are downtown or Miami Beachwood uh the next closest facility that will be built is on 42nd in
Flagler. Um, and that's under construction right now. And that's still a bit of a ways away, you know, bit of ways away in terms of, you know, access and and availability. And so, as we've seen, the majority of these courts are very much further, you know, east. And so, there's there's still this market,
this area within, you know, a 10 mile radius is is still ripe and and and in need of an amenity like this. Great. Yes. Uh, Commissioner Rodriguez, you're recognized. I I just have a quick question. Um, so for the first year, you're saying that the courts will be open for three hours?
No. No. Utilized. Utilized. Yeah. And that's pretty conservative in my opinion. It's three shifts. So a shift is essentially 90 minutes. So a block of a booking block. Sometimes people book for 60 minutes, but that's usually more like a lesson. If someone takes a lesson, they'll do a 60-minute lesson. If four a group of four
individuals will get together and play, uh, usually they're playing for 90 minutes. So we want to uh we want to be conservative in in the in the growth especially at the outset in the first two years and so we use more conservative model obviously though if the revenues are higher if there's more
usage the city which is the next uh uh chart the city we're proposing a 10% revenue share. So you know and this all be fully transparent and and if the growth is better then the usage will be higher and the revenue will be higher. what what would be the operational
hours? Just curious. So, um just to give you an idea, we're very flexible here given that it's also a city park. We understand that it might be conditioned to to that. Just to give you an idea, a club usually operates from uh 8 7 to 8:00 a.m. until 11:00
p.m. But then again, this is we're pretty flexible here. We're willing to work with, you know, just to give an idea, usually the busy blocks are morning and then obviously after 5 p.m., which is when people get off work for the most part. Um, and then obviously during the the day you have a block where it's a little slower also because
of the heat and everything. Um, but you know in an ideal scenario if we can go until let's say 10 or 11 at night that's great. But usually things start slowing down by 9:00 p.m. which is we made we made this model under the assumption of 9:00 p.m. knowing that since there's residents in
the area you know uh it needs to be you know it needs to be limited. So, we made the assumptions assuming 9:00 p.m. And to the manager just on that point, when when do we close down the facility at Dante Facell for Racket Sports? Is it 9:00 p.m. as well? I don't remember what's the latest
quintto. Okay. So, I I think probably that's a good barometer for us to kind of use. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. So, on this to the next one here. Next one. No, the last.
All right. So here we can just see like based on our you know revenue it's it gives us a rough idea of what the city um you know would would get in revenues. Um so it's a guaranteed minimum payment of 36,000 and then a 10% revenue split.
So regardless of what happens the city gets a guaranteed payment and then um obviously the more revenue the more the city makes uh you know year after at the end of the of the period. And obviously the 36 is based on a on a $3,000 month monthly and it's this is fairly typical
in in you know P3 type of models where you have a split revenue you have a guarantee plus a revenue split uh you know a fairly common practice is is this just to understand um again just for benefit of the record I'm assuming all the capital costs associated with building the facility
are borne by you all. Yeah from our from our our end. Okay. And then uh in terms of the payment of the uh revenue split of 10% is that happen every month or what would you propose in terms of a period or you're open? We're we're open. We can do every month
we can do I mean we can we can work around around that. That's fine. Okay. Um any any other questions on on this slide or can I move on to the next one? Let's go ahead. One comment about this is uh recently in Miami Beach just about two weeks ago they negotiated uh courts
on Lincoln Road and uh once seeing what they negotiated um I think this proposal is more than fair. They're proposing 15 courts on Lincoln Road um for and the and the city will uh be
compensated $200,000 a year for 15 courts on Lincoln Road which is you know a rather high rent district. And so I think this this this is very competitive in in comparison to that deal that was done and the only one of its kind so far in Miami.
Yes. Uh Mr. Vice Mayor, um sales on that slide that was associated with like equipment and batteries. Very conservative because we don't know, you know, really if we're going to have the size of the concession stand, everything. We're talking about balls, rental of rackets, you know, just simple
stuff like that. We're not really accounting for too much food and beverage, maybe waters and very simple stuff, but that stuff we didn't want to over complicate since we don't, you know, we don't know what route this is going to go yet. So, we wanted to keep it just based on the operation for the sport. Okay. Great. And and the model you mentioned,
is that um a guaranteed amount or is that also a revenue split? Mr. No, theirs is a guaranteed. Okay. Thank you. Okay. They they proposing $3,000 base rent with uh you know 10% of gross revenues. So whichever's greater, right? No, no, in addition to
in addition. Okay. In addition, so three. Okay. Okay. So there's there's the guaranteed which is regardless of what happens and then the rest. Understood. So thank you for the clarification. And he just mentioned that the beach by comparison is getting $200,000 of guaranteed rent. Is there
any upside on that or is it just the fixed number? It's a 200,000 guarantee but it's 15 courts. No, understood. I'm just ask any are they also getting and it's not done yet. They announced it and now I think they're gonna vote on it in a couple weeks. So it may change. Okay. And so I'll keep my eye on it. But that
was what they're profering to the commission. Okay. Understood. Thank you. Let's move on to the next slide. Well, that was the So, so one last point before we wrap this up is look there's there would have to be some uh tree removal. There would have to be some tree removal.
Unfortunately uh you know so through some uh creative uh use of of of positioning the courts there will not be removal of any oaks. So no oaks will be touched and any trees that have to be removed. We're fully committed to go above and beyond
tree mitigation. That's any tree mitigation that's necessary and you know go beyond it. If you know if we have to remove seven uh in consultation with parks and with you know whoever the arborist is you know we'd be more than happy to to to go above and beyond in terms of mitigating any tree loss but no
oaks will have to be touched in this process. We also put into the proposal uh if you noticed uh we put a placeholder there of $25,000 for the tot lot to be moved the playground. Um which by the way from our surveying and from everything we we we found out that is
the most utilized piece of the park and it is something that definitely needs to be taken care of or and even made better. This is an opportunity to freshen it up and and make it better. And we put a $25,000 um um capital investment into doing that. Again, that is also negotiable. We're not entirely
sure what what the scope of the new tot lot you you all had envisioned or what that could cost. Okay, colleagues, um let's just get some feedback. We'll go left to right. Mr. Vice, you want to kick us off? Absolutely. Um I was just curious, uh
let's say the courts are packed and there's people waiting. Uh what's the maximum number of people you'd estimate if if if everything was full were there? Yeah, we're thinking around around 20 to 25 uh people in like a max occupancy
and the current parking at that park is so the current so the current parking could sustain it. Um and then there's one of the things we've also talked about is there's you know there's there is access on the swale as well that never really gets utilized because the park never really gets that busy. The
most traffic we saw was on a weekend day. There were 58 people that visited the park. So it's never really had that that issue. 58 50 people total over the course of 50 people total throughout the entire day. So that park actually doesn't get packed. Um and uh the upside is that would
probably be in the evening and in the weekend when there's zero traffic at the chamber south. So that frees up an additional number of spaces. What we guesstimate is max capacity is 20 because that's all the courts hold and people set, you know, they they reserve the time. It's all done online. So 20
people, let's say a couple of other folks come along to watch. We're talking about 15 18 parking spaces. Uh and the park has that capacity. Okay. Particularly weekends and evenings, which would be the busiest times. Further questions or comments? Uh not right now.
Okay. Commission Rodriguez. Um I basically for me I I think this is a great addition to our city. Um, like you said, down south in this direction, we don't really have anything like this. I know it's a growing sport. I just
started playing it. So, um, I I'm I'm I'm good with with this project. Um, I think it's going to be great for for the residents, both uh South Miami residents and and even county residents that live around the area. Um, as far as the
playground for the kids, you said you had allocated 25,000. Um, personally, I don't know what how how if that's, you know, matches or what it does. So, I guess as long as Quinton is is good with with that and I'm I'm good
with it. So, he's he's the expert when it comes to that. So, we're and we're flexible with that number. Obviously, we can work, you know, depending on the price, we can make it work. Thank you, Commissioner Cay. Um, yeah. So, the playground's a must
and so the allocation of dollars needs to be discussed and I'm sure it's going to be way more than 25,000, but we I'm sure that's something we'll work through. Um, lights, the allocation of lights, you guys are going at 9:00, so I'm assuming we're going to put light systems in place. Is there Go ahead.
So, yeah. So, I actually have a kind of a, you know, rough idea of because of our facility in the downtown area, we did a a light spillover as well as like noise mitigation strategy. So lights, we have all the specs for the lights that are on the courts. They come on the pre-fabricated uh pre-fabricated with
the quartz and there's very little spillage. They're just directing towards the courts. Now obviously there will be lights on the paths and you know wherever it will be needed from like a life safety perspective and all that stuff but um we you know we we're we based on like our our other facility um
we you know our architect that is you know done several of these types of projects will um we'll be able to determine you know exactly what is needed with like lights uh you know whether it's on pathways courts etc. I I think my concern with the lights is not necessarily you're going to have lights. I think you'll be fine with
lights. It's actually uh receiving power in that specific area. It might be a little bit of a challenge, right? That we have a power that we we we lit up lights around the lake. We had to construct a whole new system in that place and it's a little far away from that location. So, you might have to
dig. You might have to get some stuff in there. So, just make sure we understand what the mitigation is there. Sure. Um parking. I do think parking might be a little bit of an issue. You guys allocated 25 spots. But I know for sure on the weekends when we do the gazebo rentals, we have endless amount of cars
there when we have some parties. My kids have had parties there and we had 40 cars there at one time. So I know it could get really really packed. So just have a a plan B on what we can do from a parking perspective. I I think and you're right about that and and and I failed to mention that that the when the gazebo sometimes it
sometimes it's eight people having you know a lunch and sometimes it's a birthday party that gets wild and there's 50 people. Um I'm I always get wild. Um one of the things that Quinton, myself and and and the manager looked at though was, you know, there's very large
boulders that surround the east side of the of the park. And then there is a large swale. And so that swale, you know, it's never been accessed before, but it could be accessed. And that's facing the canal on the on the on the east side. There's a very deep swale on the other side of the boulders,
and that could be accessed, too. No, I'm just saying we we just need to look into No, you got to think about it. Yeah. Um what's the allocation that you guys are proposing to build there? Like what is the total square footage? Um with the five courts with the cont roughly it's 11,000. Yeah.
Square feet. That's it. Yeah. Because each court is roughly about 2100. Plus you have the concession stand, you have the green space. the concession span if it was just the chaos. Just let's find out what that actual number is. I just want to understand
you you want you want the full footprint of the whole footprint. Not just the actual improvement, not just the courts. Yeah, I want the whole footprint of what your facility is going to do. Uh I I I'll get you that. We actually got a survey done. I I don't know if uh they we gave them this under the courts and under the kiosk.
It's just under 11,000. But if you want the larger kind of the green spaces in between Yeah. if you just just take the perimeter of the facility and find out what the total foot is. Exactly. Thank you. Um tree mitigation is really important. Um so we just need to make make sure we
understand what the mitigation is on trees. Right now we have an allocation of canopy issues that we're trying to allocate more and more trees. We have an issue with canopy and this is a big park for us for for canopy. So just make sure we did a tree ser we paid for a tree survey um to identify and identify the
species. I believe we shared it with the No, I saw it's in the plan there. you had fig, you had nine different species. I I saw it. I just don't I can't envision it. So, I just I wanted to understand that. Um, and something for us, you know, look, I I'm a big fan of the sport as well, and I just recently started playing it
as well. Um, I think it's a a good addition. It's just not at the detriment of our community. We just want to make sure we work and play together. So, um, the playground is a must. It's 100% a must. I was already getting text messages while you were speaking about you can't let go of the park, right? So,
let's make sure we focus on that because that's a big deal. And um you know, of course, always work with our neighbors and make sure that we're all on the same page and and we agree with you. You know, just what the number one thing we learned from doing the survey and and observing the park is that the is that the playground is a must.
I don't Yeah. Yeah. we learned that you know I don't you know I don't want to speak ahead of turn but you know the the idea we do have some revenue coming in uh to the city that we can maybe allocate to that park and make sure that that is a major entrance from the south to our city. So if we can use some some of
these funds moving forward in a recurring way with parks and and figure out what we can do to beautify our entrance on the south side even further that we can use some of these funds moving you know looking forward. Thank you. Uh just uh yeah thank you for the comments colleagues. Thank you.
Just a a couple quick thoughts and I'll turn it over. You know, we've discussed this. Um, obviously we expect this to be I've had the privilege of representing clients that operate paddle facilities, most recently permanent one in Boca Raton. Um, so I know what the demand for
this board is it's it's it's crazy and Miami and Austin are the two leading markets in the US for the development of facilities. And I think even though we probably have more facilities than any other city in the US, uh we're still trailing demand by a significant margin. I think in the southern end of the
county, to your point, it's more acute. So I do see a huge opportunity here for this to be successful. Saying all of that, we've always got to be concerned about the worst case scenario. So, I do want to make sure that you you model into your numbers
uh cost for a letter of credit or restoration bond so that if you know in year three you decide this facility is no longer financially viable, we have the ability to kind of restore the park to quote unquote a natural condition. So, again, one one thing I want us to
plan around, I do think we'd be wise to adhere to the hours that we have with Dante. Obviously, there's play doesn't end promptly at 9:00. you know, lights stay on a little bit longer, spills over half an hour, but that makes sure that since we are adjacent to a single family neighborhood, some of which is not or all of which is not in the city, we do
want to be respectful of those neighbors. Um, with respect to the aesthetic, I think this looks very nice. I would tell you I would prefer to see less um just the image that's in front of us, uh, as you as you visualize this, more landscaping
and less, uh, screening devices with signage or visual elements. Let's just lushly landscape the edges and provide some windows into the courts to kind of animate some interest. But I think particularly on the southern edge near the neighbors, if we can reduce the potential for parking and pick up opportunity parking the swale on
the north and on the eastern edge of the park, that would be my preference. And let's kind of heavily landscape or think about in your site plan revision heavily landscaping that southern edge so we kind of create a natural buffer for the single family residents to the south. Um the top lot $25,000. I appreciate the
offer. It's going to have to be substantially more than that. I think maybe should think about some sort of an interactive sculptural piece here that's a little bit nontraditional that maybe pays homage to the raet sport that kind of is a climbing apparatus or something that relates to the theme of what we're
doing but is something unique in terms of the aesthetic. So, let's try to be a little bit creative there. I mean, uh, Quentyn and I just were gifted a book by a developer locally with some pretty interesting apparatus. And to the extent that we want to invest some of that some
of the revenue back into you know a really spiffy to lot I think that would be a good investment on the parking I think um just knowing the demand for these facilities peaks mornings and evenings and obviously the middle of the
day is a big lull um I think there's some opportunities to leverage some existing parking from neighboring properties and maybe we can work with you to enhance the crossings across 80th street. I'm thinking specifically on the weekends, you know, the mall where the Ace Hardware is, you know, that's got a
significant parking apron right across from the park. They close fairly early on the weekend days. There may be an opportunity for you guys to lease parking from them as a way to have some spillover or overflow parking. The same with the CVS. I go to CVS all the time.
That parking lot is always empty, right? So, there may be an opportunity for you to lease some spaces there and direct patrons to park there. uh and avoid having impacts on the neighborhoods to south. I I throw it out there just suggestions to think about. Let's work on a solid operational plan in addition
to solid financials. Um I I appreciate the the thoughtfulness of the proposal. I think on balance this would be a really good fit if we address these points and you know look forward to working with you and our team here to hopefully maybe finalize an agreement and get a facility built.
Thank you, mayor. Yes, sir. Thank you. Sorry, one one quick last thing. Um, I think the mayor just came up with a very good idea as far as the parking with where the where the ace is. I will tell you, I know it sounds funny, but on the in the swale along the canal, there is a
fairly big crocodile that inhabits that waterway and walks on that street. So, keep that in mind because if you do have patrons there and that croc is walking, I've been told I haven't seen them, but I've been told by people that have seen them. I got pictures. I've had pe residents
call me, send me pictures. I've forward it to the manager. It's It's big. He's very friendly. Yeah. So, no, but he smiles a lot. So, keep that in mind. You He mostly most of the pictures are at night. So, just keep that in mind. Any environmental
uh you know, they're protected. So, you know, I don't know if there's any effects to that. Yeah. So, and and again, you don't want someone walking in and all of a sudden there's a, you know, giant croc giant croc walking down the street.
No, it's a very good point. And and Mr. Mayor, um on the restoration, we're fully committed to that if something should happen. Um um even if it's something, you know, extraordinary. Um there was also another suggestion too or
or an idea which was if something did happen would we be willing to um and and I'll explain this leave behind a quarter two um at no cost to the city right and that is also something you know that could be one way to to kind of enhance
the proposal uh just so you know the courts come pre-built and they're actually uh sit on hydraulics that that level them out and so there is no need to put a big concrete foundation anymore. And so that's welcome, right? Because that's an option, right? You can
be out of there in 30 days. And so and and you know, resaw the area, replant it. And so, you know, there's some pretty unique um things, but that's all that's all exciting and and good news. And I think, you know, I just want to make sure we're in a position to, you know, should you all have to
walk away, which is happens in business, we're in a position to act on our own. And we can make a determination to keep some or you know remove all them bond would be appropriate you know in that instance. Yeah. So uh you know again um gosh you triggered one other thought with a comment uh which I've not forgotten.
Crocodile. Crocodile. No not the crocodile. Not the crocodile. Oh the um you know just having experienced this sport as well and played it indoors. You know as I get older it's a lot more comfortable to do that. I do think here in terms of the success of the courts, you know, I would
I would just encourage you to to become familiar with what's happening or not happening at Tropical Park. You know, we there's a very there's a very passionate pickle crowd that plays there, but I think there's some pedal courts and they're not having a whole lot of success from what I can tell. I would say that part of that is that it's
really really hot to play there, particularly even in the mornings or early in the evenings. And so to the extent that you can incorporate, you know, it looked like one of your images had the courts maybe covered or partially covered with, you know, we're we're we're fully open to that idea. Yeah. I again, I think it might be I
think it probably would behoove the operation long term in terms of success. If the city was willing, we'd even be willing to cover as many courts as you as as you allowed. Um, if the city was willing to to to give us that, I think I I would be of the position that if it makes operational sense,
it does, then I would encourage us to consider that and it'll increase revenue. Yeah. Which means it'll be increased revenue for the city as well. Yeah. Okay. Um, I I would keep in mind when covering it with with the padel, you have the the walls, the the glass walls.
you you have to this is for you guys to study whether you know what kind of breeze you get in there because you could be covering the sun but getting absolutely no breeze and and locking yourself in like a a heat box. So that's something you I guess would have to decide on how you want to go.
Okay. Further comments, Mr. Manager, anything you need from us? No, sir. We we would uh further conversations on on how to bring this forward um and the vehicle to do that and and certainly finalize some other conversations at the C. I know they've shown us a 10-year model, but I think we are limited to a
fiveyear base term. Correct. Or what what do we have the ability to go to a longer term without it this going to competitive bidding? Correct. Yeah. I believe I believe we have the ability. There are some steps we have to jump through. Okay. Through the through the state statute. Oh, so we're going to go the we're going
to go 255065. A way to do it. Okay. Yeah. We're trying to analyze the most efficient way to do it. Okay. But that may fair enough. I'm open to that as well. Okay. Mayor, one more question. Yes, sir. restroom facilities. Are we are we looking anything from a restroom perspective? So So there, if you're familiar uh just
behind just west of the uh chamber building, there's a restroom. Uh one of the things that we proposed, and we didn't put it in there, but we proposed early on in the conversation was uh enhancing it. The existing facility, they're actually kind of nice size-wise. They're decent restrooms. They just have
It's Do you know how many stalls? That's I think it's one each, right? One each. One each. Yeah. And and size-wise, they're okay. They just, you know, they haven't been updated and they haven't been modernized. And uh if you Quinton knows this because he gets the calls all the time, but there's the men's room
actually jams up pretty frequently and we're willing to go in there and and and do a permanent fix because it clogs pretty frequently. Is that on septic as well? Yeah, I was going to ask the same thing. Is it septic or septic? And so we're willing to, you know, to to do some capital expenditures because obviously
we want perfectly working restrooms that are modernized or painted that, you know, have, you know, that look the look the part. Is the septic uh strictly just for that bathroom or is it combined with the uh Chamber South building combined? Okay. Okay.
All right. Thank you. Commissioner Rodriguez, sorry, one last question. Um like the mayor mentioned um have you um found out or inquired how much they charge at Tropical for the Po? Yeah, it's very inexpensive, but the
Tropical facility, which I went and I've went visited twice now. The first time when the mayor pointed out to me months ago and I went and then I went again and then I talked to some of the players. The the players, it it's kind of a it's kind of a makeshift court if we're just being honest here. they just went to a
tennis court and they painted some new lines and that, you know, the fences are way out further. It, you know, it feels like you're, you know, it feels like you're not on a on a paddle court and the players feel that way and they think that it's kind of rickety dick. Um and
so you know part of the sport is having an experience where you feel like you're having an authentic experience in the sport and it's just not that is not the and and I talked to five or six players there and they said yeah this thing stinks. There's there's no real like
operation there. Um it's essentially you show up and you play. There's no they didn't create any like open play tournaments clinics and that's kind of what brings like you need other players to play. So if you and often in and that's that's where we kind of you know we've done it before and we believe we can do it pretty well. It's to build a
kind of group of individuals that kind of you know play different levels women's league like we we kind of play around with it and and we bring a lot these are these are so these are these are in my experience the most successful ones are like de facto social clubs right so people it's a social sport you pay in groups of four and so you've got
to build the community part of it not just build the facility. So it's very inexpensive though it's it's like $20. Oh, all right. Yeah. Oh, a tropical 20. It's very inexpensive compared to Padillacs downtown or something, you know, which is
How much is likeund 20 for the hour? 130 130 for the hour. Do Sorry, mayor. Yes, sir. Are you recognized? Um, do they charge for pickle as well, right? Or is that free? It's like $2. Pickle's free. Is it? I thought it was a nominal. I thought you had to pay something nominal. It's free.
All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you for the time. Thank you. Okay. Um, madam madam clerk, if you could read resolution one, please for the record. It's item one, a resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of South Miami, Florida approving a letter of
agreement and contract with the Institute of Police Technology and Management IPM in amount of $5,000 for the pedestrian and bicycle safety high visibility education and enforcement campaign. Thank you. Uh, is there a motion item one?
I'll move the motion. Is there a second? Second. We get a motion by Commissioner uh Cay, a second by Vice Mayor Corey. Madam clerk, if you can call the role, please. Yes. Commissioner Cay, yes. Commissioner Rodriguez, yes. Vice Mayor Cory, yes. Mayor Fernandez, yes. Item passes 4 Z. Colleagues, anyone have any questions
regarding items 2, three, four, five, or six on the agenda? You want to pull for discussion? If not, I'll ask the clerk to read all five items and then I'll ask for a motion. No, may on each. Okay. Mr. Vice Mayor, you're good.
Commissioner Rodriguez. 2, three, four, and five, and six. Uh, yeah, I'm I'm good. Okay. Madam Cler, can you read all uh items 2, three, four, five, and six for the record, please? Yes. A resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of South Florida
approving and authorizing the waiver of certain event related fees and costs in amount not to see $9,460 pursuant to section 15B-6 of the city code for a special event known as the Caring for Miami mobile food market presented by Caring for
Miami Inc. to be held on the fourth Thursday of each month beginning August 2025 and continuing through July 2026 in front of South Me Children's Clinic. Item three, a resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of South
Florida selecting and awarding construction contract to Mario's Painting and Construction Inc. for the Gibson Betha Community Center floor replacement and miscellaneous maintenance project in amount of $16,892
together with a $10,68920 contingency for a total project cost in amount not to see $117,58120 pursuant to invitation to bid number PR 2025-04. [Music] Item four, a resolution of the mayor and city commission of the city of South
Florida selecting and awarding a construction contract to Sun Eagle general contractors for the Murray Park Aquatic Center pool renovation improvements project in amount of 225,77928 together with a $22,577
contingency for a total project cost and amount not to exceed $248,356. $6.28 pursuant to invitation to bid PR 2025-06. Item five, a resolution of the mayor city commission of the city of South,
Florida, selecting and awarding a construction contract to Conac, Inc. for the Gibson Beth Community Center outside air replacement and miscellaneous improvements project in amount of $421,899
together with a $20,000 contingency for a total project cost in amount not to exceed $441,889 pursuant to invitation to bid number PR 2025-07. Item six, a resolution of the city commission of the city of South,
Florida, amending resolution number 005-25-16297 to change the street designated on and after Gail Coachman Alexander to Southwest 64th Street between Southwest 63rd Court and Southwest 63rd Avenue.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, Mr. Manager, before we entertain a motion on items 2, three, four, five, and six, is there any impediment to us adopting item six? Um it's a county right ofway. They would just have to concur in the uh Yes. They will have to they will have to concur.
Okay. But we can act and await for their concurrence. Correct. Okay. That's right. Thank you for the clarification. Is there a motion on items 2, three, four, five, and six? I'll move the motion. I'll second. A motion by Commissioner Rodriguez and a second by Commissioner Cay. Madam clerk, if you can call the role on all three
items, please. Or all five items. Thank you. As Commissioner Cay. Yes. Commissioner Rodriguez. Yes. Vice Mayor Cory. Yes. Mayor Fernandez. Yes. Item S40. Great. Thank you. If you can read item seven for the record, please. Item seven, an ordinance of the mayor
and city commission of the city of South Florida, amending policy 1.1.1 of the future land use element of the city of South comprehensive plan to establish a maximum density of 200 dwelling units per acre in the transit supported
development designation and modify it description. Thank you. This there's a companion item which is item eight. If you could read that as well. In ordinance of the mayor and city commission of the city of South Florida amending the future land use map of the future land use element of the city of South comprehensive plan to change the
future land use designation of parks currently designated mixeduse commercial residential residential/ limited commercial business office parks and open space multif family residential townhouse residential
single family residential hospital and public institution to the trans support development designation. Thank you, madam clerk. Um colleagues, Mr. Alers is here for a presentation if necessary on items seven and eight. Uh do we want a presentation again or do we
want to rely on his past presentation uh this evening? Is that a quick question? Yes, sir. You're recognized. I just wanted to understand I know last week we had a uh a ordinance that we had to approve for schools in this district.
I don't see it labeled there. Is that something that we just approved that it needs to be updated? No, this is Yeah, I thought it was if I may. Thank you. Um the So the item regarding the student housing is the one. No, the uh the the designation on the
individualized learning. Oh, the individualized learning center has nothing to do with this. This is these are the map changes that you guys already saw March 31st. Yeah. I just want to make sure this is just td that would be a modification to the RO or LO designations. Correct. In terms of authorizing that use in the
future. Correct. That was last week. That's right. It was a different It's outside the scope of these uh That's right. comp plan and map changes. No problem. Thank you for that. So, uh we're going to thank Mr. Alvarez for his past presentation and apologize for making you wait all this time this evening
and we will open up the floor to a public hearing as these are both public hearing items. Is there any member of the public who'd like to come forward and speak uh as to items seven and eight on tonight's agenda? Please come forward at this time. and anyone on Zoom, please raise your virtual hand. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Seeing no one in
the chamber and seeing no one raising their hand online, we will close the public hearing. Colleagues, can I get a motion on item seven? I'll move the motion. Mayor, is there a second? Second. Second. A motion by Commissioner Gay, a second by Commissioner Rodriguez. Madam Clerk, if you can call the role on item seven, please.
Yes. Commissioner Cay? Yes. Commissioner Rodriguez? Yes. Vice Mayor Cory? Yes. Mayor Fernandez? Yes. Item passes 4. Can I get a motion on item eight, please? I'll move the motion again. Okay. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner. We have a motion by Commissioner Kaya, a second by Vice Mayor Corey. Madam Clerk, again, seeing
no discussion, if you could call the role on item eight. Commissioner Cayen, yes. Commissioner Rodriguez, yes. Vice Mayor Corey, yes. Mayor Fernandez, yes. Item passes forward. Thank you. Colleagues, any other uh items to attend to before we close out
tonight's meeting? Anyone have any reports or remarks they'd like to share? Sir, you're recognized if you like. Um, commission uh fellow commissioners and and mayors. I have a student if you can approach the uh the bench. I wanted to introduce um a great student. Um
wants to learn about politics and maybe you can tell the commission a little bit. Wait, he's very short for the record. I don't know. I don't wait. He's he's 15 16 years old. Really? Wow. Holy cow. Okay. Um hi everybody. Uh my name is Evan Coulter. Um I go to Ransom Everglades
and I'm just really interested in sort of following a politics or sort of being a politician one day. My dream is to become part of like the Senate and so yeah that's sort of my goal and starts here shadowing commercial. Look at that. Wow.
So you know if you guys need anything uh projects he's willing to learn and maybe he can shadow you guys and understand how how dedicated we are to the city. Um, by the way, he's going he's going to Ransom, but he wants to go to Georgetown. So, he's got big big dreams.
Good. Good. It's a great place to go, particularly given your interest. So, congrats. Any else, guys? Thank you for being here this evening. We look forward to working with you. Okay. Further comments or remarks? Seeing none, any further business, Mr.
Manager, city attorney? None. Okay. So, we will uh stand adjourned. Thank you very much.