--------- Okay, Mauricio, 3:00, call this meeting to order. Thank you, Mayor. Commissioner Sverent, Commissioner Joseph, present. Commissioner Viscaro here. Vice Mayor Lama here. Mayor Fetchin here. All
members present, ma'am. Great. Thank you. Okay. So, we have a couple of um additions to well changes to the agenda. Um if you all recall last month, we were supposed to issue a proclamation for the
77th anniversary of Israel's independence, which was pushed to this month, but was inadvertently left out of the agenda. So, we're going to be putting that on. Commissioner Joseph requested to remove the discussion regarding the use of pesticides year
round. and uh Commissioner, excuse me, Vice Mayor Lama requested an add-on discussion regarding uh tobacco smoke and marijuana in residential buildings. Okay. So, one off, one on. Yes. All right. Do we need a vote or we could just get consensus? No, there's no vote.
Just consensus. Okay. Perfect. We all agree? Yes, we agree. Yes. Okay. Um Mauricio, would you just reread that? The first one we're going to hear is the 77th anniversary for Israel. So it
reads, "Whereas on May 14th, 1948, Israel's first prime minister, David Benorium, publicly read the Declaration of Independence of Israel. And every year this event is commemorated on Israel's independence day, also known as Yamha Adamat. I apologize. That was
good." Whereas Yam Az Hamat is also celebrated in the United States with large festivals, events and parties organized in the community. And whereas during this celebration, the speaker of Israel parliament or nat makes remarks on Mount Herzel with a dramatic
televised presentation for all citizens of Israel. And whereas the day before Yamha Zamat is Yam Hazi Karan, the more you say it, the better it gets, which is a ceremonious occasion and day of remembrance, officially known as
Israel's day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, commemorating the Israelis who perished fighting for the state of Israel. Uh therefore, do I suspend as mayor and on behalf of the city commission of the city of Sunny Al Beach, Florida hereby proclaim Thursday, May 1st as Israel's
independence day in the city of Sunal Beach. Thank you. We have uh with us the deputy uh council for Israel, Mrs. Black, if you don't mind. And and Kennedy, if you don't mind just coming up, I know you want to say just a few words and then we'll come down and take a picture.
Thank you so much, mayor, commissioners. I really just wanted to say a personal thank you. Being able to celebrate our 77th independence with you is a huge honor because these proclamations are not just words. It's really a testimony to the support and the joint values and
the cooperation that we share and we're so grateful for. Um, Israel has been going through a very tough time and the level of support that we that we receive is invaluable and we're incredibly grateful for the friendship and we are
hopeful that um we will see much better days soon and the relationship that we have makes me very optimistic for that. So, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Come down. Right. Thank you.
Um, next item, Maio. Next item is 2A, the proclamation for National Safe Voting Week. The proclamation reads, "Whereas for over 100 million Americans, voting community, voting continues to be a popular recreational activity. And
whereas the city of Sunny Al's Beach is fortunate to have sufficient resources to accommodate the wide variety of pleasure boating demands. Whereas our waterways can become crowded at times, causing chaos and confusion. And whereas through basic boating safety procedures,
carrying life-saving emergency distress and communications equipment, wearing life jackets, attending safe boating courses, participating in free boat free boat safety checks, and staying sober when navigating, we can help ensure boers on America's coastal, inland, and
offshore waters stay safe throughout the season. And whereas on average 650 people die each year in boating related accidents in the US with approximately 75% of these fatalities caused by drowning. And whereas the vast majority of these accidents are caused by human
error or poor judgment and cannot and not by the boat equipment or environmental factors. And whereas a significant number of boers who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today had they worn their life jackets. Whereas during National Safe Boating Week, the US Coast Guard and the
National Safe Boating Council along with federal, state, and local safe boating partners encourage all voters to explore and enjoy America's beautiful waters responsibly. Therefore, Dwight Lissa Fetchin as mayor and on behalf of the city commission of the city of Sunny Al Beach, Florida, hereby proclaim the week
of May 17th through the 23rd, 2025 as National Safe Voting Week in the city of Sunny Al Beach. Thank you. So, Natalie, do you want to come up and say a few words? And obviously, well, maybe not to everybody, but we are a city that's surrounded literally by water. So, this is something that's exceptionally
important to us. Um, I think this is this is not a proclamation from from just me. This is the entire commission supports this. If you want to just say a few words and then we'll take a picture. Yes. Uh, good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Um, next week is National Safe
Building Week, but we practice it 24/7, seven days a week, every year, all year round. Uh it's very important and our top priority is the safety on the water. So thank you guys. Thank you. Vote down [Music] [Music]
[Music] Yeah, I don't know if they're coming or not. So, all right. For the next item, uh we'll hold off for now um and go on to um legislative update from
Commissioner Viscara, who probably is going to have to do this again next month because the session is still not ended. Not the plan, but maybe not because um as far as the bills that we were tracking, we are done. Okay. Well,
maybe maybe. So, okay. So, I wanted to um uh like like the mayor said, this was supposed to be the last update because the session was supposed to have ended at the beginning of May, but uh it was extended for another month. So, they're still fighting for a limited number of
things, not everything. Most of it budget, if not all of it budget. Um, but I wanted to go through the things that we as a commission have um highlighted and the things that we prioritized and to see how we did because in the past we
would make a proclamation or you know a resolution in support or in opposition and then we would move on and nobody would hear about it again. So um we set up I asked that we put it up so eventually it'll go up. We set up a um a legislative advocacy page where we have
been following everything. It started with in February of 25 which the dates are not up there but I'm going to ask when we have time that we should um put like month and year because otherwise in the future anybody who goes there they won't know if they should start at the
top or the bottom. So the first one was um the uh traffic congestion at the intersection of 163rd Street and Biscane Boulevard is something that we discussed up here was actually not legislative in terms of Tallahassee. You know that the
legislative session uh but it was the first thing that we put up there and uh as uh the the study for that is complete. So there has been some movement. As for the uh bills that we were tracking, most of it went the way
that we expected. So, the immigration enforcement became law, which I I spoke about that in the past. Um, Commissioner Joseph put up the prohibiting smoking and vaping. Uh, we supported it, but we saw early on that it wasn't getting much
movement, so we didn't expect it to pass and it didn't. So, we, you know, we predicted that one um properly. So there's the page. So you can go there and you can also register at the bottom. If you want to get updates, you can register there. The big one that we were
really fighting was the sovereign immunity, which is the one that would increase our our liability as a city if we were sued, which would increase our our our insurance, etc. And that one was uh the nailbiter uh of the session, and
that one in the end it died. So that one did not pass. That's what we wanted. So, that's a good thing. Another bill that that we supported, but again, that we knew that it wasn't getting a lot of traction, but we supported it anyway, was the homestead exemptions. Uh, and
that one didn't make it. Um, the surprise was a coastal resilience. We were, it was flying through the Senate, everybody was happy, and it didn't make it. That was that was the surprise for for our list. Uh in the end it did not
make it. Uh we had also the uh flashing crosswalk on 196 street which is a item that uh Commissioner Joseph had brought up and the study is complete for that one. So we we're seeing some movement there. And then um the local business
tax, we didn't do a resolution. That's the one where we tested to see uh what if the city just sends a letter and and we can you know that's one of the things that that I was handing out when when I was sitting with um legislators and also we emailed it to the to the committees
etc. And um the local business is is something that we opposed and we fought it and it died. So we're happy about that. And we also got a a response from um I had written it somewhere, but we did get a response
from uh one of the um I think it was a house rep who who received a letter and and said thank you for your advocacy. So it you know little by little we're we're making our inroads. The employment of minors uh was uh one that was uh that we that I
brought forward that we opposed and uh it died. So that's good. and the cardiac emergencies is the one that that uh we supported and it passed. There's another one that I brought to your attention. Remember the the the uh recovery
residencies had this very scary language about um uh that you must allow and that it was complete preeemption on their part. Um well, the the Florida League was also pushing on that. Which one? Wait, which one was this? It's it's a uh
recovery residencies where you can where people who are like recovering from from addiction or Oh, okay. Yes. Yes. And um I I didn't know that something like 70% of these residencies exist in in Palm Beach and Broward like for the state.
So, it's a it's a big thing for South Florida. Um, very scary preeemption language, but the the league was fighting it and they actually amended it to fix the preeemption. You can't outlaw these things, but um they um they fixed
the preeemption. So, we just left it alone and it didn't make the list or anything, but it's something that we talked about. Uh we left it alone and that is I think overall I mean we we did well. Well, I mean, we only had the one surprise. Everything else went the way
we we expected. Uh, and, uh, we supported it accordingly. So, um, that's it for the legislative. Thank you. I believe you probably will have to do it again because the budget is not approved and that's something that everyone's looking for. I don't mind doing it though. I don't mind doing it. We'll
we'll see. And maybe and but maybe our representatives may may come and do it themselves. This is true. Okay. So, we'll see. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Um, you want to move on to your I see Rabbi Ker is here. Rabbi Amar is supposed to Okay. So, Baron, I didn't
hear back from him. Do you want to wait? Yeah, let's wait a few more minutes. All right. Uh, is everyone okay with that? We'll just wait for that proclamation. Yes. All right. So, we'll move on to discussion items. Let me just clarify, Rabbi Ker, we're just going to wait for Rabbi Amar. That's okay. Okay. Uh
discussion item 3A that is commissioners. What is yes this is just a discussion regarding the protocol meeting for meeting requests and agendas. Okay. Um it's very uncomfortable that I had to bring this forward but for a few months
I I make sure that the commission and the city staff was well aware that uh the community wanted to celebrate former mayor Norman Edelov uh for his night
birthday. I'm not gonna go here and say anything and everything why he deserved that celebration and I tried to make it happen in several different ways. I requested a special commission meeting
to actually present to him the proclamation that he did uh which is actually if it's a proclamation I will believe making an official business. Um that request was denied. Uh then
commissioner uh Joseph requested a workshop which also was denied. Um and then I asked for the use of chambers and also was denied. Um for what I understood it was denied because the
majority of the commission decide not to celebrate or allow us to celebrate former mayor cup in this body in the chambers. Okay. So I have a few notes. So because it was brought to my attention ordinance 2024
1019 which actually does not prohibit community events in chambers. It is it says that the chambers is for the use of official city business. And like I said the idea was to present mayor Eder the proclamation that we already had. Um,
and also it doesn't say uh the ordinance that community events are are prohibited here in Chambers. It's actually open. Um, why I'm uncomfortable bringing this up is because it seems that personal
disagreements with former mayor Errol um is what make the majority of the commission uh to decide not to allow us to use this place. And also I do have a question
that there is not transparency or there is not consistency of how we use spaces. And my suggestion will be to create a policy that read something around you know allowing commissioners to use facilities for non-political
non-religious events with city managers approval because in the past uh we had had different events in different places and it has never come for our approval. So we have hosted the DBPR, the Miami
day county uh transportations etc. here and you never need a a um the approval of the of the commission or a vote of the commission. So I don't think it can be both ways that it is an administrative decision sometimes but
sometimes it need vote. So for transparency uh for consistency uh so we know also the rules of engagement my suggestion or my proposal if the majority uh agrees um will be that we
can use the spaces giving proper notice to the city manager uh which is the purpose of what we needed when we need it. he can make sure that there is not a conflict with the scheduling and for non-political and antreligious and any
other legal necessity there. Um and then the city manager can at his discretion decide if we can use it or not. That's it. Okay. Does anybody want to add to the discussion or or make any comments?
Vice Mayor? No. Mr. Joseph, what I would what I would like to know is just for clarification, was it because I had sent an email to Mauricio and because of
uh Sunshine, I couldn't see other responses from the other commissioners. But is it actually true that every other commissioner and the mayor did not want to um acknowledge Mayor Edeto? Is that
correct? We needed to have a majority which we did not have. So this is not about uh any particular but but I'm just trying to myself to know that there wasn't one other vote for the use. Is
that correct? Right. to have a majority out of five, you would have needed to have three, right? So, um, and because I I don't want to turn this into a discussion about um anyone's uh acknowledgement or not, I want to clarify for the record, we did in fact
pass the proclamation at the last meeting. So we did acknowledge him and just like with the um Israel independence, someone is not available to come to a meeting to receive a proclamation, they are welcome to come to the next meeting or we actually discussed this if I remember correctly
that we can bring it to them at an event um of their choosing. So again, I don't think this is about uh acknowledging. we did actually absolutely acknowledge what um actually it didn't it's not correct that it passed the proclamation we
didn't vote for it so they didn't it did not need a vote it was actually automatically that we got the proclamation uh in during that day actually that day I personally told Mayor Ericov not to come to receive the
proclamation because we were going to do something for him on May 8th that is in the recording is on the record. Um, and and he didn't come for that reason. Uh, so and just to
clarify Jerry's question, I did receive a May 2nd, 2025 email stating that everybody answer to the request or to the vote. Everybody vote uh in favor or against using the space. Uh, you
requested formally, Jerry, and I voted for it. So the majority the rest voted against it including the mayor. So again for the record while you are correct we don't vote on proclamations. He was
absolutely acknowledged at our last meeting. Um our policy has always been that as a majority we decide and so there was no reason for you to tell him not to come because we did not discuss it as a majority that we would do
something for him. I say in the previous meeting actually when I voted we didn't have the consensus we did not even have that discussion okay when we were voting for the new proclamation ordinance rules etc I voted
against because one of the restrictions is that former elected officials cannot get a proclamation anymore so because he hasn't had a second reading or it wasn't just on the books yet uh I was able to squeeze norm my Edel cup proclamation
last month otherwise I would have not be able to do it because again and that's what I voted against one of the reasons because we cannot give proclamation to the members of the media or any other um non proclamations or kids of the city
whatever recognitions to members of the media or to former elected officials. So uh if it was the rules that we have right now again we couldn't even give him the proclamation. So it was a timely thing and during that day having that discussion I said it that we were going
to do something for mayor error the reason and that's what I know it's uncomfortable to have this discussion but we should be um if we vote for something we should own it so I voted with Jerry to honor former mayor Norman
Errol Cop nobody else okay so again this is a moot point because um you did pass the proclamation and we did acknowledge him and during that meeting I actually asked you should we wait until he comes and you said no we're going to do something
later. No, the a you no. So again, I understand that you are not happy with that decision, but every time we don't have a consensus that goes against something that you personally would like to do, it doesn't mean that we need to keep bringing it up. So we have a policy in place. I don't have any discussion
unless there's a change here as far as changing the policy. Um yeah, we have a new policy and this is not what I'm discussing right now. I'm We have a policy in place for using chambers is what I'm talking about. Yes, exactly. And that policy doesn't say that we cannot use it for community
events. Actually, the policy is a little bit ambiguous. That's what I'm asking our city um attorney to probably bring us something so we can have a specifics about when we can we cannot use it and
when do we need approval or not because to present a proclamation to to our former mayor like again he presented the proclamation in April he had the opportunity not to come correct he should have come I I cannot speak to why
he didn't why you decided decided to tell him that that's not the point of this. No, he's not. He had every opportunity just like anyone else. Well, he's just not anyone else, okay? He's a former mayor and one of the founding fathers of this city, okay? And just to
disrespect him, not even allowing him like we are here for people like him. This building exists in this city for people like him. And we are so lucky to have him alive and able at 90 years old to be here. So, um I think it's very
offensive and it shows bias and personal issues. Uh and that's what I want to put on the record. I myself don't understand it, but that's May May I can you please go over the the policy a little bit? I mean, this is somebody's
birthday and but not just No, no, no, no. It it is someone's birthday. So, can we use um city resources and cities uh establishments for private purposes? Basically, well, there's a lot of
questions there. The the one thing I wanted to bring up just for clarification purposes and sunshine is the email that was sent out by the city clerk was not a request as to whether or not to have the special meeting. You're not allowed to be pulled. We can't ask you, do you want to do this, do you want
to do that? It was merely a request for availability. Without that availability, you can't have the meeting. To your question, Vice Mayor, um your manager runs the facilities here. Mhm. Um and basically, you know,
through through your guidance, certainly if he sets policy, if he sets policy or you set policy as to its use, um that'll be followed. I don't believe you have a specific policy. Um there always has to be a public purpose in what you do and that's up for
you all to determine certainly to the extent that there can be parameters as to when and it's not just the use of the room but use of staff you know electricity all this other stuff that comes with it. Um you can certainly set a policy for that uh if you so choose
you know with regards in conjunction with the city manager since he does run the facilities. Yeah. And about could he be could could Norman Edel Cup been here today? I mean we could have done it today. No, he's out of town actually right now. Yeah. But again is that about
availability? Um the issue with the availability is that uh for workshop we don't need a quorum. So so the the the request was came commissioner Joseph or Commissioner Fabola use the space. My last request actually was more specific.
I said from 3:30 to 40 p.m. that day, I want to use chambers. I don't need anybody else other than somebody to open and close the door. Um, I didn't need any other resources. No money, no coffee, no cake, no nothing. We wanted to present to him the proclamation and
the the community was eager and looking forward to be able to um celebrate that milestone of being 90 years old uh and being capable of being here with us that day. So if I'm not mistaken for workshop
we don't need a quorum. You don't need a quorum to be present but you need a majority to schedule it. Otherwise, any individual one of you could commit any of the city's facilities or schedule a meeting at random at any time and it
would be sort of a free-for-all. So, you have to have a majority to schedule the meeting. Now, if you schedule it and and that's the only thing I'm aware of was a request for a workshop or a special meeting, not to just use space. That's something you know that you may have had
with the manager. Um but with regards to a special meeting or workshop, you would have to have a majority to schedule it. And then if at that time only two of you can be here, you could still proceed with it because you don't need a quorum to actually conduct the workshop or the
special well I shouldn't say special meeting cuz for special meetings you can vote and you have you need a quorum. But let's say for a workshop you would you would not need a quorum to proceed with it but you would need a majority to schedule it. based on your code. What if it was for a meet and
greet? I'm sorry. For a meet and greet. What if we wanted to use the commission hall for a meet and greet? Well, it depends. Is it a meet and greet with the city commission? May I when I mean again, if it's more than one, keep in mind that if it's more
than one commissioner that's going to do an official meet and greet, you're going to have to publicly notice it. So, it probably it depends on the nature of the meeting and what that meet and greet would be. Oh, vice mayor. Why don't we do it next month?
You could tell very good tell people and then you could have a crowd here and you know that's we already have a space schedule for proclamations and awards and all of that. Yeah. The idea was and instead of you know jumbling up this Huh. The idea was for his 90th birthday.
No, I know. But if you want to have a party then that that's something different. That's the point I think. No, no, but but we could have it next month or we could have had it today is the point. Thank Thank you, Vice Mayor. And actually, thank God we have um the school it does acknowledge the
importance of the the day for him and they're going to be celebrating him next week. Yeah. And I'm going to be give someone a slap. Yeah. And I'm going to bring him the proclamation there. And you know, what slap? I'm sorry. What slap are you talking about? No, let's just let me finish. So it's going to be
next week is in the school that has his own name. Hence uh the importance of Norman Edov in our community. Uh so we we were able to find a way to celebrate and honor him so he doesn't have to come to to chambers. But uh in a personal
note, I can tell you it was offensive not to allow the use of a city facility to to for him, you know, after No, just saying because I had the opportunity to speak with him, you know, after what you are able to do for a
community um not to be able to even use like I said something that he built. Surprised. I was surprised as well. You know, it was I I never imagined that we were going to even need to have this kind of conversation. So, it was sad. Okay. U
does anyone have any I think we could have had it today, next month, and it's still open. So, I we could have honored I mean, we did honor him. Could have had it on Tuesday. Um Okay. So, there anything else? No. All right. Well, so Rabbi Ker
is here and I appreciate it. So, we will present the proclamation and then I'll present the others after. Thank you, Jerry. I'll run the meeting. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Uh so, next item, we're going to go back to We're not waiting for the other rabbis. We're going to go back to
uh proclamations to uh 2B. Mr. Jose, you want me to read the proclamation? Yes, please. Now if I can just say one thing last year's uh proclamation I being told now was supposed to be a resolution
uh so that it would be a continuing event each year. Um this um Jewish uh solidarity day in Sunny Isles Beach is was meant originally to be a
continuing event each year. So, at this point, I would like to also present to the commission to make this a resolution that during Jewish Heritage Month, we would have a Jewish solidarity day event
within Sunny Isles. Okay. So, you're asking for a discussion item to be added to the agenda? Yes, we're just Yes, at this moment. Okay. So, let's do the proclamation first. Yes. so that we can stay in order and then we can discuss an agenda add-on if
need be only because it was spoken u I I believe Susan went back and listened to the meeting so it was spoken that it was meant to be an ongoing event. All right. Again, I just want to remind you that that the way that that works is we would have consensus and then it would be
correct voted on. All right. So, did you have a few words or do you want to just go down and take a picture? Um well, Mauricio is going to read the proclamation and then we'll take the picture. Okay. The proclamation reads, "Whereas the city of Sunny Beach is a diverse and inclusive community that embraces people
of all backgrounds, cultures, and faiths, recognizing that our strength lies in unity and mutual respect. Whereas Jewish solidarity day serves as a time to honor the enduring contributions of Jewish individuals and communities to our society as well as to reaffirm our commitment to standing in
solidarity with the Jewish people in the face of anti-semitism, hatred and discrimination in all its forms. And whereas the Jewish community has enriched the cultural, educational, civic, and economic fabric of Sunny Als Beach and beyond, sharing a heritage
rooted in perseverance, justice, family, and faith. And whereas Jewish solidarity day also provides an opportunity to reflect on the historic and contemporary struggles faced by the Jewish people, to educate future generations about the dangers of intolerance, and to promote a more peaceful, inclusive, and
compassionate world. And whereas the city stands firmly in support of Jewish residents, neighbors, and allies, and reaffirms its commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of all people regardless of faith or background. Now therefore, do I suspend as mayor and on behalf of the commission
of the city of Sunny Beach, Florida, hereby proclaim May 16th, 2025 as Jewish solidarity day in the city of Sunny Beach. Take a picture. [Music] Uh, Okay. So that the public can anticipate
what we're going to be what we discuss. We normally have add-ons at the beginning uh or or changes at the beginning, but I understand that there was some confusion, Commissioner Joseph. So uh is is there any opposition to adding a discussion item at the end?
None. Okay. All right. Uh, next item 3C. 3C discussion regarding the repurposing of the Lehman basketball court. Yeah. Okay. So, I had spoken with um Susan and
she had mentioned that she would be open to changing over the unused basketball court underneath the causeway to tennis court. One or two tennis courts if possible. I'd like to bring that before the commission.
Yes. Just to correct that. What I said was if there's direction from the commission, we could look into that. So, since you made it a discussion item, we did look into it. Yes. Um, it would it's not big enough currently. You need 120
by 60 for tennis. We only have 97 by 50 that is currently there. So, if we wanted to do that be expanded at all the the fence if we wanted to do that, you're looking at approximately $100,000. Oh, how much is
um 158 street costing us? I don't have that answer off the top of my head, but I can tell you that my other comment was staff's opinion is that we should open the tennis court at the inter
coastal sports park. see what kind of interest there is and then pursue other locations if there is a need. Okay, good. So, let's do that then. I'm sure it's going to be that uh you won't be able to keep up with the reservation.
There any other uh comments or discussion from the commission? No, that that was actually going to be my comment like that. We need to see what the interest is and it may very well be great interest, but we just don't know that yet. I think before that's fine. Reinvent the wheel. Let's see what it is. Quite confident. But question on on
on the on what you mentioned on the what do you call it the dimensions? Is pickle ball smaller and can pickle ball be considered instead? Pickle ball is smaller if tennis is not an option. Yeah, but that echoes you get echoes underneath the bridge. What did you say?
Pickle ball is smaller. Would it fit? You know it would fit. Okay. All right. But you have a noise problem. Vice Mayor. Yeah, I mean I I think the demand for basketball is there and um I don't know.
We'll have to see. I mean, right now we have clientele for that basketball court underneath and one of the one of the nets is only a temporary so and it's not even in good shape. Well, we'll have to see. I think I Let's see how it works out when once we have the other court
built and let's take a look at the demand and we'll be able to gauge it better. Yeah, that's fine. Okay. Mr. Do you want to add anything? Fine to making it a tennis court. All right. I I I would hesitate to to make
any sort of decision until we find out what kind of demand, but even more so. Um adding on right now any additional facil facilities and that cost is associated with it. Um I would be very very hesitant to to support something
like that at this time. Um okay, Commissioner uh Vice Mayor, sorry. Uh, you had an add-on item. Yeah. So, this is regarding tobacco, marijuana, smoke in residential buildings. Um, you probably know where I'm headed. So, I
received and we all received an email from one of the residents who has a um a girl, a little girl, and um unfortunately he has a neighbor that is always um smoking marijuana. Wait, let me let me stop you because I didn't receive that email. Do we have that
email? This was a while ago. It was back in February. Oh, okay. And I think um so if you could just I think it was it was addressed. So So basically um he has a neighbor that is always smoking marijuana and it goes through the vents
and it's not something occasional once in a while, but it's very constant. Okay. And this is not the only complaint I received. I think even um you know our previous commissioner uh Janette Gate uh complained of that. I think I'm not sure if she complained of
just tobacco smoke or marijuana, but regardless, um I've received a few complaints, especially when we're talking about marijuana where it goes through the vents and it's a nuisance. It's annoying and then also obviously there's health
implications associated with that especially if you have small children or elderly people. and um just wanted to see what can we do as a city. Not so sure about tobacco smoke.
Um and obviously there's laws govern governing each um building and association, but when it comes to marijuana, I was curious to see what we could do because recreational marijuana use in thei in Florida is illegal. I
understand that is allowed for medicinal purposes, but what can we do to probably mitigate this issue at least a little bit for the comfort and uh healthy living of some of the people going through this issue in these buildings.
First of all, I want to applaud you for bringing this up. I think this is something that's been an issue for some of these buildings, the older ones probably more so. Um, I don't think you're allowed to smoke even for medicinal reasons, but if the city attorney could please give us some
direction as to could we even have a discussion. Do we have any authority? Well, from a from a legislative standpoint, you can't. No. Uh, the only regulation that we can impose with regards to smoking deals with beaches or
public parks. Um, depending on the circumstances. Again, it this sounds more like of a private is this condominium. Sounds more like a private matter that needs to be enforced within that structure, that building that we wouldn't have authority over. If it brides us to a level possibly of a code
enforcement violation, but I don't know. Um I can't give legal advice to those folks, but there are recourses, you know, as private nuisances and things of that sort. Um I don't know if it would rise to the level of a code enforcement
violation. Uh, it's hard to tell. I I I think there are some medicinal marijuana that can be smoked, but I'm not sure about that either. Um, uh, it gets very difficult when it's done within a structure because you can't just barge down the door and go look and see exactly what they're
smoking. Um, so you have to have a Fourth Amendment issue to be able to even be able to get in there. Do we have anything in um, Mr. electricity manager as far as code enforcement that regarding smell or spoke because you had how do
you even gauge that? How do you test that someone broke that code for smell? No. For other nuisances, yes. Overgrowth, things like that, trash, debris. Well, like uh and I'm just
stretching it because I'm trying to see how we can get to a good place with restaurants. Don't they have to have a certain um level of I guess capturing this the smoke or the smell or ventilation? That's what I've been that's not necessarily code enforce I
mean there there's some and that's a commercial you you know I know it's commercial you would have to look at residential to see what could rise to the level obviously if uh if there are certain odors that are emanating from your residence um you know there have been instances and it gets very
difficult I mean there have been houses with lots of cats where there's odor emanating it it becomes very challenging because you can't get into the home to actually validate the the the problem. Um, not saying it's impossible. We'd have to I think code
enforcement may be the only way to do it. If it's if it is elicit drug use, even if you get law enforcement involved, they're sort of limited there as well. Um, limited how I'm just trying to understand because I know because if you go knock on the door and if you go knock on the door, they don't have to
answer the door. And if they answer the door and they say, "Yeah, I'm smoking." Awesome for the officer. But if they don't open the door, you know, it gets very limited. Presuming again it's unlawful. Presuming it's actually marijuana that there's there's certain
variations now based on the THT that you can actually smoke something. It gets very difficult for law enforcement because you actually have to take it to a lab to know exactly the level of THC to make sure that it's not I can't remember what the uh that's not marijuana. The other one is
uh but it's based on the level of THC. So it gets kind again not impossible but I would think the building would have regulations in that regard. So there's no scenario where let's say one of our police officers knocks on a door. They're smoking obviously you
know we can smell it and they open and the police officer can they legally require let's say if it's for medicinal purposes to present the uh the card? I mean, I know that anybody can get a card now, a medical marijuana use card. So,
yeah. I mean, I I don't know. I mean, does it HIPPA involved in that? I mean, do they need It's a lot. It's it's it's a lot to take in. It's That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of factors to be considered. It would be on a case-byase basis. Uh and again, it's
you're very limited as to what information you're able to get because it is within a private residence. Yeah. All of the vents are connected or it just goes through it. It just goes through. Yeah. I had a neighbor that smoked cigarettes and and it just went
through. I could I could tell what my neighbors cooking sometimes. Yeah. They're cooking fish, man. Forget it. The balconies. I think that um there are some buildings. Aren't some of the Winston Tower buildings now smokefree? No. Um mine is not. No. I mean, they
they flick cigarettes and then sometimes you have some of the furniture in the balconies catches fire. So, yeah. So, um yeah, I think that the the attorney is right. This is a private issue. It's a private issue. I mean, off the top of my head, I mean, let's discuss offline. I'm
just trying to see how I can help some of these residents because I mean living like that 24/7 is it's it's a lot, right? It drives them nuts. Yeah. So, all right, we'll take it offline. Okay. Appreciate it. The reason for the no
smoking bill actually there was no support after the marijuana bill failed. Yeah, but you're you're a private marijuana bill. Yeah. I don't know. It was to uh it's it was to hold back on the marijuana. Yeah. It wasn't
actually against cigarettes. They just threw it in there. Yeah. But you but you know that they continually allow cigar smoke. So it's just you know a catch 20. They have the better lobby. Yeah, it's a
big lobby. It's like more Yeah. Okay. Uh so we have our add-on item, Commissioner Joseph. Yes. Okay. So last year we had Jewish solidarity day. Um, it was done as a resolution, but I spoke
um to the commission before the resolution uh was accepted and before the proclamation was accepted um stating that I meant for this to be a
um a day uh year after year. So, and I I want to thank first uh Commissioner Bascara for reposting her the Jewish Heritage Month I saw. So, I appreciate that
and so do many residents. Um, so I would like to ask the commission to make Jewish solidarity today during um the month that we celebrate Jewish Heritage Month um around the 16th of
May each year and also to connect small event to it. Well, isn't that wouldn't that be something we can include in the the budget discussions? Yes. Correct. I think if you do that and and then it in
the budget book at the time that we that we um review it I I mean is wouldn't that be the easiest my Mr. Manager if you can clarify what the process would be to add an event? We've had our discussion already with the budget that
we've received your direction including a special section on events. So if you're going to ask us to add an event, we can, but we would have to budget for it accordingly. Yes. So um
and then uh possibly we could have um also a small contribution from each rabbi since you know purpose is to uh because a lot of the congregations have their
separate events and the idea of Jewish solidarity day was to bring all of the congregations together. So in that regard, I believe we I could work with the rabbis to have contributions um and a larger event
even with participation from the synagogues as well. So I'm asking actually at this point I'm asking the commission to acknowledge a day during Jewish solidar Jew Jewish heritage month
as um Jewish solidarity day in Sunny Isles for an event and then with we can speak about a budget amendment for a small amount and then I will speak with the rabbis myself.
All right. It sounds to me like you need to flush this out a little bit because then that we have to figure out what we're going to be accepting from the rabbis. Um I I just want to clarify that um the Jewish solidarity while I appreciate that you putting this forward, this is not something that is
observed. No, it's not an it's not it's not an observance. It's particularly for Sunny Isles since we have such a large Jewish community and because each congregation seems to do events separately, right? I'm trying to
bring and they don't join very often. I'm trying to bring the congregations together for a day to unite the Jewish community in Sunny Isles for an event. I'd be much more in support of doing that during the
Hanukkah season or during that time because well this is Jewish Heritage Month or just more for Jewish sense to do it now. No, I understand that. But for instance, I since we have Jewish Heritage Month, Jewish American rather Heritage Month, um you know, doing
something potentially for that or for Israel Day because there's lots of uh actual events that are recognized and celebrated both locally and at the state level and at the federal level. I don't for I don't think that we should be
creating something additional unless they came to us and asked for it. And so far, no one has asked me personally. For me, well, I'm acknowledging the fact that our Jewish community
is not united. They're very united. No, it actually they do events together. The the uh Habads stay separate. They don't. And this is an opportunity to have the
Habads all come together for one event. All right. What What does the rest of the commission um say? I really like the the the way that it was done last year with with all the rabbis present and and the mayor uh
mayor Cabba and you know, I thought it was a very very memorable. It was a very nice thing. Uh I think that we need to discuss um you know offline the details because I while I like the sentiment and
doing like the proclaiming a day and inviting people it's actually not kind of similar to the other discussion about like how how you acknowledge certain things. Um, if it's if it's around congregations, then I worry that if if
we're straying into into problematic issues. I don't know that offh hand. I'm just because I I like the idea, but as I I was hearing you speaking about it, I'm like, I wonder if we're if we're straying, you know, where we shouldn't. But I I certainly really I thought that the way
it was done last year with all the rabbis and everybody spoke and and and the um how each had something a different positive experience to say about the city. I I thought it was really nice. Uh so but I think we need
to flesh it out a little bit more in in terms of having an event around it only because you're specifically talking about congregations and then I worry about the constitutional rub but I think acknowledging the day uh is I'm I'm very
comfortable with that and I'll be more comfortable taking it beyond that uh once we can look into it. Thank you. Vice Mayor. Yeah, I'm okay with the idea. I just think that it needs to be um developed a little bit more because you're talking about congregations.
I don't know if they're all going to say they're going to No, no, but it was the solidarity. I think I know what you're trying to do. Um but what about if they don't come? What about if only two congregations come and Well, that would be because it would be the entire we're putting something out for the entire
city. No, I like the idea. I just think you need to talk to each cong have you talked to each congregation and about the idea or not yet? Yes, I Yeah. What did they say? We had uh uh there were prior commitments today. Otherwise, we would have had the rabbis down again.
But they know but I said to them that this was not the same as last year because it was supposed to be continuing and it's just we missed out on the event this year. But I'm trying to not have that happen in uh years. You know, you got to make sure you have their
commitment. So, yes. Because if it's solidarity, once I know that the city is on board, then we can uh it needs to be solid. Well, there is there's there is Can you schedule it? I I know it won't technically be, you know, the the month, but the sentiment would still be there.
Can it be done next month? Yes, we can do something. Sure. So, just like we did it last year was really nice. I really liked it. So, maybe that's like a B plan. Yeah. And then even if we have just a small something with some food that we can invite the community. That's
basically the idea. Mayor, yes. We're going to need Well, we have to ensure that we have the space. We don't have a budget set aside for this. In terms of donations, donations require your
approval as as a group. So my thinking is if you want to have something next month, we could have it at the workshop like we did the first time and then if you want us to have some sort of refreshments or something after if that's your direction, we can
do that. But I just don't want I don't want it to be nebulous going fur because when you talk about an event, are you talking about an event to the extent of the city anniversary or just an event having refreshments? So there's varying
degrees of events. What we did I think last year to Commissioner Bascar's point was we had it at the workshop. We had the rabbis here. So if that's the intent to do it again and then have some sort of refreshments or something like that, invite the community to a smaller scale,
then we can probably work something like that if that's your direction. But we need a little more clarification. Let me ask you if I was to have a consensus from the congregations, and I'm not talking about the synagogues, I'm
talking about the congregants, Jewish congregants, just, you know, the residents of the city. Um, would we be able to have something at Gateway, let's say, where we bring everyone together?
It's up to you all as a group, not them, right? I it's hard for me to to to agree to something if I don't know what it is. How much are we talking about? How much would it cost? You know, when when would it be? And do we even have their consensus that they want to do this here? So,
let's So, we've had um congregations do events. Uh let's say Rabbi Omar did an event at Heritage Park. The city didn't contri contribute anything. They just allowed him to use Heritage Park
for that one event he had. They rented it. They rented it. Okay. They rent everything. Yeah. Right. But the but yeah, they paid everything. Correct. So that was an event. I forget which one it was. Um uh or No, that was for Hanukkah.
Hanukkah. They rented the park for Hanukkah. Okay. So, each congregation does something for Hanukkah at their expense except they lease the space from the city or whatever. So in in that regard, if we
were to do something for this event and the city allowed us to use Gateway, but the uh the rabbis at the same way they went for
their expense during Hanukkah, we they would contribute as well and the city would allow us to use the space. Is that something that would uh work?
Um, Mr. City Manager, I I I see you have questions. So, can you please spell out exactly what sort of information you need from this commission in order to help uh Commissioner Joseph uh figure this out? That would work. I can put because I think that it's as we're having this discussion, it's now
changing. So, well, I'm just Yeah, because I'm thinking how No, I know. But I think it needs to be flushed out. This is the point cuz it's it's and I appreciate what you're doing. It just seems that you're not sure of exactly what you want. Yeah. Put a P&L together, please.
PNL. Well, thank you. It's already I've already missed it for this month, but I'm working on next year now. So, I'd like I'm trying to have a resolution from the commission saying that we can even have something for next year at this time during Jewish Heritage Month.
I'm okay with the idea. Let's just I think you need to discuss together so it happens. So, Mr. City Manager, can you please uh let us know what you need from us in order to so that we don't keep talking about things that may or may not be able to happen because we don't know
what we're requesting. I think I made it clear what I'm requesting. Okay. Can you repeat it? We're moving the goal line. Yeah, we're moving the Okay. No. Okay. So yeah, because I'm going back now to
the idea that was to be last year. Just to be clear so that we all are able to come to a consensus. What exactly are you requesting for? We don't need each year proclamations. But we need I'm asking now for a resolution from the commission for a Jewish solidarity day
in Sunny Isles Beach where the residents the Jewish residents of Sunny Isles and other residents that would like to join in solidarity for the city itself to have an event during Jewish Heritage
Month where we have solidarity with all of the residents of Sunny Isles and particularly the Jewish residents. Okay. At at a place of mutual
agreement hopefully at Gateway Park. Um Mr. city manager. I think if we do first things first, which would be if it's your direction next month, we can bring you back a
resolution firstly designating a certain day every year as you're suggested suggesting and establish that and then we could work out the dynamics to the extent of the event after. But starting
first with a resolution that's gets approved by you all celebrating or recognizing one day each year during the month of May if that's when you're suggesting yes that we recognize Jewish solidarity day and
then we could build on it from there but first getting approval as a resolution. All right. Can you please for for the purposes of the resolution define what you mean by Jewish solidarity? Because do you do you mean solidarity with the Jewish people?
No, I'm talking about that our community in Sunny Isles is kind of splintered that when we have a holiday, it's each group of congregants goes to a
different place. I'm trying to have one day where we celebrate all together Jewish Heritage Month. Okay. So, it would be Jewish Heritage Month, not Jewish solid. Yes. But I'm calling it Jewish solidarity day because
we're bringing together all of the groups in Sunny Isles in one place for a celebration. And that's just where we have to be careful there to Commissioner Viscar's point. That's why I said it. The way I said it. No, I know. But if the intent
is to bring the congregations together in solidarity, we have to be It's not the congregations. It But the the splintered Jewish residents. Yes. That usually celebrates separately, right? Which are the congregants. Yes.
Which are the congregants. That That's why you need to have the commitment. Yeah. I think we need to we need to do the I'm sorry the the legal we have to we we you the con I know you think that with wording you can get around the constitutional challenge but at the end
of the day the constitution is the constitution right so it's we know it's okay to to acknowledge a day and like we know that we've been doing there's nothing wrong with that but the moment that you're trying to make it into an event and that it that it's requires
we've had this discussion with with the donations, right, that it requires. There's a celebration this week this week in North Miami Beach, Jewish Heritage Month. I don't know what North Miami Beach does. And I don't assume that because a city is doing it that they're doing it
right. And we've had that conversation also in other ways. So, I think we're I'm good with like what we did last year with the rabbis came and the community was present and and and I really thought that was beautiful. and
it's and it's fits within what we're allowed to do. But what you're asking beyond that is I think we we have to do some homework around it because it may rub up against that same other things. Okay. So we can do
our homework and set it for next month and possibly have a resolution so that we don't miss it next year. Um Vice Mayor, you want to say something? Yeah, I I mean we'll just have to make
sure that constitutionally it's okay. Uh I'll support it. I think that at first I thought it was Jewish solidarity that you know we we support the Jewish community, but I now I noticed that you want to bring all
the congregations together. Well, and um yeah, that's a big task. You never know. Well, you want to be peacemaker. Yeah. Well, they just they I don't know if it's just from habit or just because,
you know, there's different um you know, there's Russian and there's a a Russian community and then we have a a Spanish community, a French community. I want to bring them all together. Yeah.
So it happens to be that they're Jewish, but it's bringing the communities together. That's what No, I understand. I I I don't know. I mean, I'm not Jewish. So, but you're bringing people together, and they might have want to be on their own. I don't know. I don't know. I'm just these are questions I'm
asking. Bringing the residents together. I I I happen to be Jewish. And then if we spend money on a religious event, then there's a constitutional question, too. I would say then you'd have to bring the the the Christian and the Catholic and the Baptist that you're opening
up. We could do a multi we could do a multifaith if anybody wants to participate but then that's still religion. All right. I think we're Yeah, still religion too. Yeah, that's true. So yeah, let's do city attorney do getting a little Can you give us Can you give us direction? No, because Jewish is
not only a religion. See, that's the thing. All right. That's it. Jewish is not only a religion. It is when we're talking about congregations. Well, I got away from the word congregation. Well, like Commissioner Riscar said, but you weren't letting me get away from it. All right. Um,
there's a Jewish state. So, I'm looking to bring the Jewish people together. I'm okay with your idea. Okay. You could pull it off, man. If you could get them all together, that'll be great. Yeah. Jewish is not only a religion. No, I understand. The direction would depend
on what actually would be occurring and I still don't have a clear idea as to what that is. So I I mean I can't give you direction now. I mean perhaps if we develop it a little bit more as we develop it, but I wouldn't be able to give you direction now because I don't know exactly what it would be or what it
would constitute. We're not celebrating the religion part of it. No, it's not just celebrating who's paying for what. Whose event is it? Commissioner Joseph, if you could flush it out and give it to staff, that would I will bring it back for next month and for a resolution. Okay. And and some type of budgeting.
Okay. Perfect. With that, uh we'll see you all at 6:30. Meeting a journey. Good job. Part: 2
Okay, it's 6 uh 32. Mauricio, are you ready? Yes, ma'am. All right. Um, everyone could please have a seat. I'm calling the meeting to order. 6:32. Okay. Commissioner Joseph, present. Vice Mayor Lama here.
Commissioner Styverson. Commissioner Viscara here. Mayor Fetchin here. All members present. Great. Thank you. Uh if you could please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Mr. Falovich, if you can lead us in the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, liberty, and justice for all. Thank you. Have an invocation? We do. Rabbi Rabbi come up for an invocation.
All right. Good evening everybody. It's good to see you. I'm Rabbi Baron from Kabad of Sunny Isles. Dear God, master of the universe. We stand humbled before you this evening as we recognize all of your blessings that you have bestowed upon us. We are
mindful of the fact that you have blessed this city with wonderful leadership, direction, dedication, and guiding spirit which has resulted in many successful achievements over the last 28 years. We recognize that we are gathered before you this evening in
pursuit of fulfilling your wishes as you, dear God, empowered humanity with seven basic universal laws after the great flood of Noah. These laws were once again reaffirmed by Moses at Mount Si to be taught to all of humanity.
Universal laws that provide a framework of law, order, and justice which allow humanity to settle the earth in a civilized manner. We recognize that we have been entrusted by the citizens of Sunny Alles Beach to perform this sacred
duty. Almighty God, please provide us with a consciousness to constantly be aware of your presence so that we are consistent to our mandate. Please grant us the courage, strength, wisdom, intuition, sensitivity, and the patience
necessary to succeed so we leave a legacy of having a positive impact upon society for many generations to come. Protect our police force, our servicemen and women serving domestically and overseas in the name of freedom and democracy. Please give them the peace of
mind, insight, and intuition to be successful. Please guide our city staff to make the right decisions with honesty, integrity, and knowledge for all of our citizens into the future. And may they continue to serve as positive role models for our beautiful community.
May everyone gathered here tonight and all the residents of Sunny Alles Beach be granted with good health, peace of mind, and prosperity. And let us say, amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Mauricio, thank you, mayor. Um, okay. So, we have
the first item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of the regular city commission meeting of April 17th. I'll take a motion. I'll make a motion. Need a second. Second. All in favor? Hi. Hi. Okay. So, um if you can read, uh
play the opening and then we'll do the order. Okay. Thank you. The room feels a little offbalance. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We appreciate your attendance and thank you for joining us tonight. Before we begin,
there are a few important reminders regarding conduct during our commission meetings. Please ensure all electronic devices are turned off or set to silent mode to maintain the integrity of our proceedings. Mutual respect is the foundation of productive discussions. We
ask that everyone remain silent and attentive when someone is addressing the commission. Clapping, applauding, heckling, or any verbal outbursts either in support or opposition of the speaker are strictly prohibited. Any individual wishing to address the commission must
fill out a public speaker card and submit it to the city clerk before the relevant item is announced. Each speaker is granted a maximum of 3 minutes. Should you exceed this time, the chair will notify you to conclude your remarks. Speak directly to the agenda's
points. Remain concise and avoid redundancy. Should an individual speak without the chair's permission or continue speaking after a warning, they may be escorted out of the chambers. It is essential to avoid making impertinent slanderous remarks or becoming
boisterous while addressing the commission. Such behavior may lead to being barred from future commission appearances unless the majority of the commission members present vote otherwise. The presiding officer may disallow signs or placards in the
commission chamber. Please exit the chamber quietly and without disruption. The goal of our meetings is to facilitate public input and participation. However, disruptive or disorderly conduct hinders our collective objective. Individuals who
want to speak on an item on the agenda are asked to fill out a public speaker card and give it to the city clerk before the item is called. Speakers are asked to speak to the issues, make comments concise and to the point, and refrain from making duplicate comments.
All speakers will be limited to one threeinut comment per item. If you exceed the 3minut allotment, the chair will advise you to finish your comment. If you speak out of turn without permission from the chair and or you do not cease speaking after
one warning, you will be escorted out of chambers. In order to maintain orderly conduct and or proper decorum at these meetings, anyone who interferes with the orderly process of the meetings after a warning may be removed from the meeting and may be barred from further appearance before
the city commission as permitted in S286, 0114, FS, and SS74-5 and 74-21 of the city's code of ordinances. Any necessary removal will be made at
the direction of the mayor and will be carried out by law enforcement or a designated sergeant-at-arms. It is essential that attendees adhere to these rules of procedure to ensure productive meetings that serve both the public and the city commission. Thank you for your
cooperation and understanding. Great. Thank you. Um and and we have a lot of um uh people new faces in the audience. So, welcome. Very nice. Uh we do this every month, third Thursday. So it would be great to see you again. Uh since so many of you have not been here
before, I just want to uh clarify some of what you saw. If you want to speak, uh please fill out the the item in the back. Also, this room has very good acoustics. So if you're talking to each other, we hear here. So please, if you do need to have a conversation, please
uh take it outside. Um and we abide by strict rules here. So uh please follow those rules. Anything that you all want to say, you will say it to me directly to the chair rather than to anyone in the commission. Um, and with that, I think that uh, Mauricio, for the order
of business, unless there is an objection, I'd like to move 9K to the beginning of the resolutions so that these folks can um, get home to make dinner for their kids. Okay. So, before we So, don't be one issue residents. Okay. Thank Thank
you. Okay. So before we we vote on that um there are just some minor revisions to the agenda. Okay. Some additional information has been provided namely the ordinance for 6A for the flood prevention and the resolution for 9E
which is the authorization to the city manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Millennium Products for the surveillance cameras and the elevators. And those are all provided to the public as well. Okay. Great. Um, all right. I need a motion, please. I'll
make a motion. I'll second. Okay. Favor. I I All right, Mara, go ahead. First item. First item is um 5A zoning and I will read the introductory statement. If you just give
me one second, mayor. Okay, ladies and gentlemen, this evening's agenda has one zoning application. In these matters, the zone the commission sits in a quasi judicial capacity. The decision of whether or not to approve a zoning variance is not a popularity contest, but must be based
upon substantial competent evidence that is is presented tonight. If you intend to provide testimony on any zoning application, you must be sworn in by the city clerk. And you should also fill out a public speaker card and give it to the city clerk before the item is called. You will first hear from the city staff
and then from the applicant. After this, the mayor will allow anyone from the audience who has been sworn in to provide testimony. The zoning applicant has a right to cross-examine any witness and for rebuttal. Please make your comments concisely. So, anyone that will
be speaking on item 5A, which is the zoning application for a site plan modification for the Chatau Beach condominiums located at 17475 Collins Avenue. Please raise your right arm. The swed testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth and
the truth. Thank you. And before we turn it over to Amy, are there any exarty communications that need to be disclosed? No. Anyone? No. Perfect. Just to confirm, uh, Commissioner Joseph, did you have any exarty communications? No. Okay. Thank you.
Uh, good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioners. Um this is zoning application PZ 2022505 for a minor site plan modification at the Chateau Beach condominiums. Uh the applicant is artistic building studio and the project
is located at 17475 Collins Avenue which is directly north of Samson Oceanfront Park. Um the request is a site plan modification related to the facade of the building and the exterior materials. um specifically to replace the existing
artificial and natural vegetation with porcelain tiles, aluminum panels, and to construct a new porticochet canopy at the entrance drive. So, for a brief history, um the project was originally approved by the commission in 2012, and
the facade that was facing Collins um at the time was approved with Stuckco and white paint. And then in 2014, a minor modification was approved administratively to extend two of the wall segments upward and base them with
the artificial and natural vegetation as well as move the approved sculpture piece up to the entrance drive to the more visible location. So the project was completed in 2016 and this is a photo of the existing conditions today.
And this is the proposed um the rendering of the proposed facade improvements. So the artificial and natural vegetation will be removed and replaced with the white porcelain tile, wood grain aluminum planks, and the parking structure will be refaced with aluminum panels. Um and here you can
also see that the porticochet um is added above the entrance drive. Um the exterior colors remain consistent with the city's color palette. So it's consistent with the land development regulations. And the applicant's presentation has a lot more rendering, so I'll let them
walk through it a bit more with you. So, I'll be available if you have questions. Great. Thank you. Applicant would like to come up. Hello everybody. Hi. H So I will be presenting the renovation. Uh have your name and address for the record? Yes, of course. I'm so sorry. My name is Maria
Clara Campo and my address is 2100 Southwest 8th Street, Miami. Thank you. So I will be speaking to the microphone. Yes, perfect. Yes. Okay. Big difference.
I will be presenting the renovation project for Chatau Beach. Chatau Beach is seeking to refresh and renew its facade. So we basically want to go ahead with the project for three main reasons. The first one is to keep modern
standards. So since the building was created, um the chatau group has completed many new modern buildings developed in sunny ales such as the Ritz Carlton and San Ridges h and others such as the Fendy
tower in North Miami Beach. So basically h the group is committed on maintaining these h high design levels and high standard and that's one of the main reasons. The second one is to um due to over time due to sun exposure oxidation
and humidity h the grass on the main facade h has deteriorated. So uh replacing the facade h or the damaged pieces would result in mismatched [Music]
patches. H the third one is um this renovation is also part of our commitment to maintaining the image and quality of Collins Avenue. So Chatau Beach is not only a backdrop to a public park. They have a public park right next
to the building. H so it's also part of the community's visual landscape. So they want to maintain everything and the modifications are very simple and minor. So we kindly ask your approval and permission and
collaboration on this. Is that it? Yes, we can go through all of the changes that we are I don't think we need the changes unless we have specific questions. Do we have uh we don't have any public speakers? No, ma'am. All right. Does this commission want to ask a specific questions? Commissioner
Riskar, did you have questions? Uh just there's no there's nothing structural here, right? This is all just Yeah. Okay. That's my only Thank you, Vice Mayor. No questions. No, it's all cosmetic
of course. Yeah. So it will be bl b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b basically to re to replace the fake grass with three main elements. The porcelain tiles, the
microperforated mesh panels and the aluminum wood glading. And we would also like to put a canopy on the ballet area. And that's it. Installing the wood plating on the planters on the
side. Oh, the before and after. Okay. Do you have any other questions? Um, I'll take a motion. I'll make a motion. Need a second. Second. You still Commissioner Joseph? Yes. Vice Mayor Lama? Yes. Commissioner
Styverson? Yes. Commissioner Viscara? Yes. Mayor Setchan? Yes. The application is approved 5 to zero. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good luck. Next item, please. Next item is ordinances for first reading. 6A is an ordinance of the
city commission of the city of Sanos Beach, Florida, amending chapter 161 to specify elevation requirements for manufactured homes in Florida hazard areas and flood hazard areas providing for applicability and severability and providing for an effective date.
Okay. Mayor, excuse me, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission, this ordinance is requested in coordination with the National Flood Insurance Program. It's related to our community rating system.
And though we don't have any manufactured homes here, it's still a requirement in order for us to continue in the program. And our goal is to lower our rating to get better blood insurance for our residents.
Right. Do we have public speakers? No, ma'am. Take comments from the commission. None. Take a motion. I'll make a motion. A second. Second. Rdale. Vice Mayor Lama. Yes.
Commissioner Cyson, yes. Commissioner Viscaro, yes. Commissioner Joseph, yes. Miss, uh, excuse me, Mayor Fetchin, yes. The ordinance passes on first reading. Second reading will be scheduled for June. Okay. Second reading ordinances.
Reading. Uh, ordinance for second reading. AA is an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Sunny Als Beach, Florida, amending ordinance number 2024 618 approving budget amendment number BA2425-04 to the city's operating and
capital improvements budget for the 2024 2025 fiscal year, authorizing the city manager to do all things necessary to implement the terms and conditions of this ordinance, providing for an effective date. Great. Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission. This is a second reading of our budget
amendment. We have added a few items that we discussed during our workshop which is five vehicles totaling 170K, 110 for storage building for public works and the lifeguard towers that you requested at the last meeting.
Great. Do we have public speakers? No, ma'am. Any comments or questions from the commission? No. No. I'll take a motion then. I'll make a motion. Okay. Commissioner Styverent. Yes.
Commissioner Viscara. Yes. Commissioner Joseph. Yes. Vice Mayor Lama. Yes. Mayor Setchen. Yes. The ordinance is adopted. Okay. Next item. We are into resolutions now. Wait, no.
We have Oh, you're right. Okay. Resolution. Um, so we're going to hear 9K. 9K first. So, if anyone is here for 9K and you wanted to fill out a speaker card, this is your opportunity to do that. Um, we're going to first have the uh
staff present it and then you can come up to speak. Um, and I know that there's a lot of you. Um, so if you can choose maybe one or two people that would be great because just we ask that you don't, you know, um, all say the same thing, but certainly if you all want to
speak, you have that opportunity. Um, okay. You all have a right to Mr. uh, manager. Mayor, I'm so sorry. Um, I just, well, number one, I need to read the title into the record. Thank you. And then just to avoid any further confusion, we did skip over 8B. That's
what I thought. Yes, my mistakes. But just to avoid any confusion and because you made the announcement already, we'll just go ahead and hear 9K and then we'll go back to 8K. We'll go back to All right. So, if you can read 9K, please. Yes. So 9K is a resolution waving the bidding requirements of chapter 62 of
the code of ordinances of the city of Sunny Alles Beach authorizing an increase in spending authority with Dream Kids World LLC formerly known as Dream for Kids Inc. to provide theater classes for registrance of the culture and community services programs.
Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the commission, this is giving me the authorization to increase the spending authority with Dream Kids for the theater program and we're reaching the program is at capacity and it's
projected to exceed the allotted $50,000, excuse me, yes, $50,000 threshold uh by the end of this programming season. And I wanted to clarify, per our city's procurement code, instructors are exempt from the
formal bidding process, but my spend authority is limited at 50,000. And that's why if we project it to exceed 50 that it's here for your approval. Okay. And before we have the public speakers, if you can please clarify exactly why
we're going over the 50,000. How do we get to that? The program had more, I guess, success in terms of enrollment than we anticipated. Great. Thank you, Mauricio. Public
speakers. Um, yes, Alexander Shalanov. I'm so sorry if I Yes. Come. Alexander, if you can please say your name and address for the record and speak into the microphone. Uh, okay. My
name is Alexander Schulenov. I'm 13 years old and I've been just your address, please. As well, sorry, your address as well. Um, can I ask what's that? Your uh address.
Um, so is mom here? Yes. [Music] This is 174. Uh I'm sorry. 2110 174th Street uh apartment 101. Thank you. Thank you. Go
ahead. So um good afternoon madame mayor and everybody who's here. I've been a part of the Dreams for Kids theater for approximately two and a half years. So I want to tell you what is it means to me
and other kids like me. So firstly, it teaches us how to speak and be confident in ourselves because a lot of people that are my age don't know how to speak to other people publicly and are not
confident in themselves. The theater makes it not a problem because it teaches us how to be confident and learn how to speak people. when you go onto the stage, you know
that you want to send the message to the people. So, and for that you need to be confident. Secondly, it's great teamwork. Me, I wasn't really a good
teamwork person until I joined the theater. I was working with other people who are similar to me and and also different. I didn't know how easy it was to do it until I joined it.
So I also want to talk about how it makes sorry I want to talk about how I connect with other people. So how people
that here aren't sometimes don't understand me as much as the people that are in the theater. The teachers Arena and Maria are very good teachers. I think that I
love them as teachers and I love their teaching methods. I wouldn't replace them with any other teacher if even if I had the opportunity to. I would and when we heard the news that they want to close the theater, it was
devastating to me and my friends that this opportunity that might even give us something amazing to do in life will be
closed. So, I would really not want for the theater to be closed. That's it. Thank you. What grade are you in? Uh, seventh. Great. Thank you. You did a great job. Thank you. Great job. Next speaker. Yes. Next speaker is Zion Ben Yishai.
Hi. Your name, your name and address for the record, please. Zion Benishai. 230 174th Street. Um, good evening everybody. Thank you very much. You could lift the mark. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much mayor and team for making Sunny Isles
such a great place to live in. I know it's a hard work. Um, I'm a parent of one of the students in this uh theater class. I think that we're over budget because so many kids want to be in this program. Just shows how important this
uh program is. um not um I know we can talk a lot about what this program can contribute to the kids social skills and way to express themsel and so on but I would really like to give you two
examples that my daughter brought to me that really showed me the values of what's happening there. I think this great kid before me was trying to to explain it, but I I think those two examples will give us a good idea of what's happening there. So, I went to
see one of their shows uh that they're doing every few months and I I believe I'm the only nonRussian speaking parent in this entire group. Um but obviously I see my little girl and I melt and I'm happy.
Um, but there were supposed to be five little girls coming out of the stage and one of them slipped and fell down and she immediately got up and try to recover. And what I liked about this incident is my little girl came to me
and told me that they made an agreement between them to tell all the parents that this is how it was supposed to happen. So, they're all backing her up and that's these are the values that I want my my girl to grow up with. Um, in
another occasion, they had um a party with candies and cakes and my daughter was waiting for it for for weeks. Unfortunately, she was sick during this um event and the teacher personally came
in the middle of this event to my home, knocked on the door with a piece of cake and some candies and and made her super happy. So, they bring I think a lot more than just um the things that you could all imagine which is how to play with
each other, how to communicate, how to be a team, how to memorize. I mean there are a lot of skills that that comes into play here. I think that's very important. You see an army of parents behind me because all of them support
this program uh with their whole heart because it became part of everybody's life. Um I know I only three minutes. I hope I'm not going um way past that. But I think
that um with everything that we invest in this community that you invest in this community, I think this is really one thing that you should somehow find find a way to make make it happen and keep it going, right? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Um please no clapping. Next person, Anastasia Gano. [Music] Um Mr. City Clerk, do they not see the timer? Yes. Oh, it's there. Okay. Thank you. All right. Your name and address for the record, please. Hi. Um,
Anastasia Grono, 1645 Collins Avenue, apartment 2034. Um, I just want to clear up a couple of confusions here is that I know that 9K is on the budget issue, but I think we're all here today. It would be more appropriate to have it on item
11, citizens forum. But I think a lot of the people who came here tonight, um, what we want to say is that at some point back in May or maybe towards the end of the April, um, Nicholas, I don't want to butcher his last name, Rickshaw,
right? Something like that. Um, so he came to our teacher Arena and he told her that the camp that was scheduled to be in the beginning of June or mid June and the program that was scheduled to be in the fall is going to be cancelled. So that was a shocking news to our children
and to us as parents. So I'm not exactly sure what happened and what was the reason for the cancellation. But the rumor goes again it's a rumor. I don't have the official information is that the program was supposed to be cancelled because it was not fair to the English- speakaking children because they were
not allowed to participate in the program because the entire group was in Russian or the teaching and education was in Russian. So, um I'm not sure if this is true. If that's the case, we there was an opportunity and the city opened up the program in English and I
believe it was canled because it did not have a lot of enrollment. So, they ended up cancing it. It was on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So um um I guess what I'm trying to say is that we're trying to understand the exact reasons as to what happened and why the program is about to
be cancelled because as we just heard from the city manager Stan Mars we do have a significant enrollment. We have a lot of people we are going over the budget. So it's a little bit confusing to for us as parents to know why this is happening. So, we wanted to get a little
bit more clarification and we wanted the city to encourage the city to look into the issue and to understand if there's a way for you, if this is the case, if the program is about to be cancelled this summer and starting next fall, can we look into it and see if there's a way
for you the commission to keep it open? I guess that's it. Thank you. I just uh Thank you. You can have a seat. Um I just wanted No clapping, please. Please to quum. I want to clarify uh this item is not a discussion about cancelling
this program. This item is to allow the city manager to sign a check that is more than he normally is allowed to because he has to pay the teacher the amount that she's owed because of how successful the program is. So just this that's not what this conversation is
about. Um and so you may want to stay till the end to the discussion portion if you had other uh things that you wanted to discuss regarding the program. But again, please feel free to still speak on this. Um, Mauricio, that was the last one, Mayor. Oh, okay. Um, so
public comment is closed. Do I have any questions or comments from the commission? Commissioner Joseph, I actually have a question regarding the gentleman in the black t-shirt. We're not asking. I can't ask.
Yes. But I would like to know whether his daughter speaks Russian. Okay. So, we're not going back and Okay. Thank you. Just for everyone's clarification, we don't talk back and forth. So, once the public comment is closed, it's to be fair. It's closed for everyone. Um, did
you have any questions for the uh staff? I do have questions. Go ahead, please. Commissioner, could you speak into the microphone, please? Yes. I have questions for staff. Um, who am I speaking to? To the manager. Oh, to stand. Are you able to
answer the question? Answer questions. What's your question? Okay. So, my question is at what point when we had um is there a possibility to have this program expanded to different
languages? And what support do we have for other languages besides Russian? I'm all for the Russian program, but what other uh you know there may be other groups English
speakaking, Spanish speakaking that have an interest. Did we originally um you know put the program out there in a correct manner to attract other groups as well to have an
interest? You know, sometimes the way you present something affects the results you get. Please go ahead. Okay. I'll try to give you the cliff's notes version of those questions. The program originally
started in English and then it morphed into predominantly Russian. This was requested by the residents that were attending and the English enrollment dropped off so that it ended up being
exclusively in Russian. So that's the history of the program. Where we are now, I've discussed it with the staff. We would have the ability to add another theater program, but it would only be one. So you would have to direct us what
language, for lack of a better word, you would like that program to be in, but we can only add one more due to the limitations of the staff and scheduling. And just for the clarification, so we are doing this correctly, I want to ask
the city attorney since we are voting on something very specific, we're not voting on adding any programming, correct? I just want to make sure that we do this in the right manner because this was not presented to the public as something that they can speak about. Right. So this item is strictly on the
approval of additional funds for an existing program for this fiscal year. Right. So any I mean you all can take comment if you want that's extracurricular to that but it doesn't go to the item, right? It may be best suited as one of the speakers stated for
citizens forum where that issue is brought up. But that's all up to you or during our budget discussions. That as well. I mean exactly. All right. Well, let's hear what everyone else Did you have anything else, Mr. Joseph?
Um, like I said, I'm interested in um having this program go forward. I'm delighted with the response and um to have it uh develop and expand, but I'm also interested in seeing what other um
interest there is throughout the city for English, Spanish, and uh to promote it correctly in order that we can get the uh the right response or uh to make sure that we have a response from the people that
are truly interested. interested. Okay. Anyone else? I have a question. So, go ahead. When you said we are going to you have the capacity to add one more, that means we continue Russian three times a week and we can add
another program also three times a week. I think it was three and two, correct? Three and two is what we had before. We could fit the third, but it would probably be on a Saturday. We have avail availability on Saturday. So exactly. So so it will be like three and three
continue Russian and then adding a new program that could be Spanish only. That's up to the commission. Yeah. But that we we've had no request for Spanish at this time. But that's where I have kind of a issue because and I'm going to
read it. says in accordance with our competitive bidding process, the following shall be exempt from the competitive bidding pro process which is artistic services which are original and creative in character and skill and are recognized field artistic endeavor blah
blah blah. So this is always been um a staff decision. It's been administrative and like our city manager was saying the program started in English and then it morph to Russian only. And I was actually reading in the contract as
well. Uh and for the for the program to to be alive, you only need five people to be pre pre-registered. Um so we are never part of this discussion for just to give an example in our last book we are having tango dancing and salsa
dancing. We didn't vote for that. That didn't came to us for our um approval or direction etc. So it is interesting that this is coming for a direction right now. But if that's the case, um I would
like to also give the same opportunity that the Russian community is having to even a larger people and population which is the Spanish community and to have a Spanishonly theater and continue the Russian as well.
Mr. Mr. City Manager, can you again clarify why this is coming in front of the commission and why Tango or something else is not coming in front of the commission? The item exceeds my $50,000 spending authority. And could you just clarify is what is our um how
many programs do we have where we actually making some money approximately? Very few. If I may, the contract, as with all of our instructor-led programs,
is a 7030 split, right? So, we make 30% on every registration. The instructor makes 70% on every registration. This is the only instructor-led program that exceeds the $50,000, which is the city manager's authority to spend without
coming before you. So, it is it's the only one. All right. Right. So, in effect, it's our most successful program monetarily. And that's because that 70% that 70% that goes to the instructor exceeds the 50,000. Correct. That's what that is. Great. Yes. Thank you for
clarifying it. And I also have another question. How much are they paying monthly? 300. And if you're not a non-resident 500. Do we have any other program that is three times a week? And do we have any other program that is
expensive at that one? Because this is $300 a month per month per child if you're a resident. To become a resident, you have to go through certain uh requirements as well. So if you're not a resident, you have you have to pay $500.
So 600 if you're not resident. Okay, correction. Um and uh and also when we said that 30% is to cover our expenses, are we there putting the price of renting that space and
everything else that it comes with it? No, that 30% covers that overhead precisely. So it's it's not a like accurate administrative like breakdown of expense and cost and revenue or
income. Um, so I don't see that the the money is an issue here. How much? Uh, and I know it's very successful for the for the instructor. Clearly, she's been making over $50,000 uh from the program, which is amazing because apparently they're very talented and very loved by their community. Um,
so like I said, it's interesting that this is coming to us uh for our discussion when it's always been something staff or administrative. And that's what I put the salsa and the tango as an example that that didn't
came to us. Um, and like I said, um, and this is a question for our city attorney, which is about title six and about the Florida civil rights act. And you know, who is being included or excluded from this
um, programs that they are in the city a city program with the city staff and city properties? You're you mean in regards to the language? Okay. Well, your programs and services
are essentially um should be offered with, you know, meaningful access um in either directly or indirectly um should not be exclusionary. So, it's on a case-byase basis, but there should
be my counsel to you, there should be an English component to any program you offer. I mean, obviously, if you're offering a class to teach Russian, that's different, right? Or it's teach Spanish or something or other because that's why you're going there. But here, here
you're offering theater classes and essentially, and I don't have all the details, but if it's exclusively in Russian, that would either indirectly or directly exclude a large swath of your population. Recognizing that constitutionally
English is the official language of Florida. Like for example, these proceedings have to be in English, right? You can't just switch. Even though let's say 95% of your residents speak Spanish, these proceedings today could not occur in Spanish. They have to be in English. So there should be some
component because you do go down the road of it being exclusionary or at least perceived that way. and it may create some situation where the city may again using taxpayer dollars having to offer it to the whole of your population
and not to a particular certain group. So you have to be very wary of that. So my recommendation to you is you should have some English component to it so that it opens up the door to others that may be either directly or indirectly feel excluded from participation in this
particular program. Do you have any other questions? Okay. So, I have a question. Wait, wait, wait. Let somebody else go. Vice Mayor. Okay. So, just to take it from the top. So, basically what we're approving here
today is $400, right? Well, but but the the the difference here, we we've exceeded by an amount of $400, right? Okay. So, um let's work on the split
then. Right. No. Um, so basically, I mean, I support the arts. Uh, I'd love to see this continue. Actually, I'd love to see this expanded into other languages, English being the first and and and
Spanish as well if there's the demand for that. And perhaps I don't know if it will be the same um theater company or a different theater company, but I think that uh again being a supporter of the arts, I think that we should probably
offer it in in different languages. I know there's logistical issues, but let's see how we could make it happen. Okay. and then um yeah, I mean I I like to see it
continue, but I don't think that's the uh discussion here today. Uh I mean, we're just basically approving the $400. That's why I was a little bit taken by surprise when, you know, I started receiving emails and there was this rumor that it was going to get
cancelled. So, I I wasn't sure. So, just for everybody to understand, and the mayor uh mentioned this, is that everything that exceeds $50,000 in cost, we need to approve it. The city manager has the authority to approve anything that's $50,000 and
below. After $50,000, we need to kind of have a meeting and approve that for him. So, that's why we're here sitting here. We're talking about $400 right now. So, that's what we're here approving. So, yeah. But aside from that conversation,
yeah, I support the arts. I'd like to see this in, you know, English and Spanish. And I'm sure that uh our Portuguese speaking community will probably want it in Portuguese if there's a demand. So, yeah, I'd like to see more kids and more people get
involved in the arts. So, I I I fully support it. Commissioner Viscara, I don't think we should be talking about programming at all. I agree with you. I think whatever it is, $500, what whatever we're over, I I'm in favor of
of approving and giving the manager the authority to, you know, make make the teacher whole because she's, you know, good for her. She's succeeded, you know, so she needs to get paid what she's earned and and I'm in favor of that and I think the rest of this conversation is
a separate issue alto together. Um, I agree with you on that 100%. Okay. Did you want to add something or could we I was only uh looking to ask the attorney regarding um if there's been a fair representation that we offered going
back to where we could have a problem with just offering Russian which I believe if we've made a fair representation and we didn't have enough membership for English then it could never be an issue with having the Russian. Is that correct? Well, it's a
moving target because it's every time. So typically are I think it's anywhere from 5 to 15 registrant that are required for a particular program. So you could have a registration for one registration. How do you have a play with five children? It really makes no
sense. That's why it's on a case-byase basis, but right so I I don't know for this particular contract. I don't have it in front of me. Maybe 15. I'm not sure. Not sure if it says I I think we just we we need to stay on the topic. Because Commissioner Rascara said would be for
another day. No, I understand. But that's not We're not voting on the contract. We're voting on the difference. So I think we or the expansion. Exact. Well, we're not voting on the expansion. No, we're not. No, we're not. We can have that conversation separately. I' I'd like to be able to vote on this so we can move ahead. I
think everyone has been uh heard. I think we do have a consensus that we love the theater. We'd love to expand it every single language if possible. And if every single teacher was as great as your teacher, I think we would probably, you know, and we want to have our own playhouse as well. Um, one day. Okay.
So, I uh I'll take a motion. So, moved. I'll second. Second. All in favor? I Thank you. All right. Thank you. I'll give you guys just a minute. If you if you want to stay, you can stay, but you don't have to stay. Please show up for other issues
as well. We need your input. Thank you. Where are we going? [Music] We need people to be involved. [Music] City attorney, city clerk, I'm being asked some questions.
We we can Yeah. So, um after the meeting. Okay. Sure. All right. Next item, please. Oh, go back to 8B, please. Yes. Uh that's the item that we needed.
Back to ordinances. Ordinance for second reading which is an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Sunny Als Beach Florida creating chapter 4 of the code of ordinances of the city of Sunalis Beach entitled ceremonial recognitions providing for legislative intent providing for definitions
providing for types of recognition providing for criteria providing for codification and providing for an effective date. Do we have any public speakers? No ma'am. All right. I will take comments from the commission. Take a motion then. So move. I need a
second. Second. Mauricio. Commissioner Viscaro. Yes. Commissioner Joseph. Yes. Vice Mayor Lama. Yes. Commissioner Styverson.
I don't know where we are. 8B. AB. Yes. Oh, the one with the recognitions. Yes. Oh, no. I'm a note there. Like I said before, uh for the same reason of we are excluding members of the media and former elected officials. So yeah, I'm a
no because of that. Vice Mayor Fetch, excuse me, Mayor Fetchin. Sorry about that. Yes. All right. I know it's confusing. We've been a little bit all over the place. Okay. So now we're back to resolutions. Yes. So now 9A
9A is a resolution approving a first amendment to the agreement with Redspeed Florida for the installation of additional red light cameras. Mr. City Manager, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission, this is approval to add some additional two additional red light
cameras at intersections throughout the city. Do we have public speakers? No, ma'am. All right. I'll take comments from the commission. I'll take a motion. So motion. All in favor? I I. All right. 9B, please. 9B and C. We're combining,
correct? Yes, ma'am. Okay. 9B is a resolution authorizing the expenditure of budgeted funds for the purchase of nine vehicles from Bart Ford. 9C is a resolution authorizing the expenditure of budgeted funds for the purchase of four vehicles from Alenj Fleet Sales. Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the
commission, if you recall, we sought approval from you to preurchase vehicles due to availability and the potential of tariffs going forward. So, we're requesting to purchase these vehicles now versus the new budget. Any public
speakers? No, ma'am. Any comments? We'll take a motion. Motion. Second. All in favor for both I I Okay. 9D 9D is a resolution ratifying a fifth amendment to the agreement with Georgia
Enterprises for the inspection and preventive maintenance services for the HVAC equipment located at the government center. Mr. City Manager, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission, this is ratifying a fifth amendment to the agreement with Georgia for preventative
maintenance services for our air conditioning. And we will after this be putting out to bid citywide HVAC preventative maintenance services. Any public speakers? No ma'am. Comments from the commission? No. I'll take this
one. This is for time only, right? You're This is This is the one that's only about time. Yeah. That correct? All right. I'll take a motion. Okay. Motion. All in favor? I 90 is a resolution authorizing the city
manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Millennium Products to furnish and install elevator surveillance cameras at various locations. City manager, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission, if you recall, this was a request by the commission that we install cameras in
the elevators and this authorizes us to do that in an amount not to exceed 150,000. We have public speakers, Mauricio. No speakers. All right. For clarification, how many cameras does would this bring us up to? 425. Perfect.
Any comments from the commission? The city. I just like to say on the record that this was my original request for cameras in the elevators and I'm glad to see it finally uh being installed. Thank you. Take a motion. So moved. Second.
Second. All in favor? I I 9F line F is a resolution approving a first amendment to the agreement with KVP Enterprises doing business as expert diesel for services and repair of city buses with diesel engines. City manager,
mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission, this gives us approval for the first amendment with KVP Enterprises to repair our city buses that are diesel. Okay. Are there public speakers? No, ma'am. Any comments? I'll
take a motion then. Motion. All in favor? I item 9G is a resolution authorizing an increase in spending authority with Wex Bank for the purchase of citywide unled fuel using a fuel card program. Manager,
mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission. This author authorizes an increase in spending for the purchase of citywide unled fuel using a fuel card program. Do we have public speakers? No, ma'am. And I know there was questions
asked during the agenda review. I'm looking at the email, but it's hard for me to see. Could you just clarify um Susan the um the questions that were requested more information on for the fuel cards and and what kind of discounts we get if any? We get a we get a
1.9% rebate which equated to seven 7,400. Thank you. So that's So this is for the police. It's all city vehicles. All city vehicles and so the driver can go to any
gas station anywhere. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. Well, we have quite a difference in prices throughout our city. Are they told not to go to certain stations or No, we're going to have that
conversation with them. Yes. Yes. So, but there it hasn't been up to now. So we could be paying a dollar more a gallon for no reason. That is possible. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any other comments? Take a motion,
please. Motion. Second. Second. All in favor? I. 9H is a resolution approving a first amendment to the agreement with team contracting for the installation of a new pre-engineered metal building. City manager, mayor, vice mayor, members of
the commission. This is an amendment with team contracting. This is for installation of a pre-engineered building that's going to help house our some of our public works equipment. Okay. And um do we have
any public speakers? No, ma'am. During the agenda review, I had asked if there was an opportunity to um soundproof. There is. And the approximate cost for that would be 25,000. 25,000. Okay. If we were to add
soundproofing. All right. Can we have that discussion now or should that need to wait until the second? Well, no. This is in only one reading. So, how would that work? No, the discussion would be now because we'd have to amend the contract if Okay. So, the um it was the
location is where? Wait, wait a second. Wait, Commissioner Joseph. So just to give everyone an understanding it was um we had discussed about adding soundproofing to the entire building since we have the opportunity right now. So um go ahead ask your questions. Let's
clarify where the location of the building is please. It's under the William Layman Causeway. Right. So there's a degree of noise that uh would be if there is no insulation there would be a greater amount of noise. Correct.
Yes. that the community would suffer potentially. Potentially yes. Okay. Yes. Sound proofing. In that regard, we're looking to have soundproofing if it's um accepted. Yes, we have received some
complaints from the residents regarding the noise and this would help buffer. Commissioner Rar, did you have a question? Uh no. Oh, when you guys you brought up soundproofing, I thought it was for the workers inside, but you were worried
about the residents outside. Yes. Yes. So, okay. So, no, I'm fine. Okay. Let me if I can Wait, let me just see if anyone else has Vice Mayor. Yeah, I'm trying to see h how big is this uh structure?
Let's try and find that the size and under the causeway is extremely noisy as it is and it echoes. Yes. So is no but as it is is noisy. So well I want to speak about that in a
minute. I'll have to get the size to you. We're for you. We're looking for it now. And then and then regarding the soundproofing um I mean do we need the soundproofing there because it's already noisy there. I mean I I'll clarify why that was. Yeah. So let me clarify why
that was requested. So right now it's just noisy there given there's cars you know overhead but under under the William Leman is where we do a lot of our work. So there have been residents that have complained that when we do any sort of work there adjacent to Golden
Shores, it's very loud for them. Um including any sort of uh pressure washing or or anything of that sort. So the idea was or the request was since we will be doing the majority of the work now inside of this building, can we soundproof it so that we can mitigate
some of the that sound? Yeah. So is it a building or is it going to be storage? that that's what I'm Is it going to serve as a office or just storage? Because I'm trying I mean if it's necessary it's necessary. If it's not then it's not. That's what I'm trying to Mr. Mr. City
Manager. Can you um clarify please? Vice Mayor the size is 36 ft by 130 ft and it comes with it's going to be wind load rated at 170 m an hour. It's going to have 24 gauge wall and roof panels,
three metal doors, three overhead doors, six windows, and to answer your question, it's not going to be used as an office as much as it is for storage and cleaning up the yard and also for safety and security.
But I will tell you that I do receive some complaints from the abuing residents sometimes about the necessary work that we're doing at the public works where we're cleaning or maintaining some of our equipment. But will that work now be done inside of
this building? That's the question. Some of it. Some of it will, but not all of it. It's an active public works yard, so there's trucks coming and going. Some of it, yes, but not all of it. So, wait, wait. So, it's one at a time. Go ahead. No, no, go ahead. Finish. You have the
floor. So, so then I I would suppose I'm trying to picture this is that we'll be going in there throwing some equipment in there. It's going to obviously hit the the metal and it will make noise and that's what we're trying to mitigate. No. Right. It's going to be a
it's going to be a storage. I mean, it's not so much going to be an office. No, but he just when I was referring to office, I meant let's say the office as I'm thinking about it, but I understand your question now. We will use it for doing some work inside the building as well. Let's say
yes, some prefabricating, some welding, some of that type of activity. Okay, that's what I was trying to understand. Commissioner Joseph, so you you're not familiar with Golden Shores that I am familiar. Yeah. Okay. Well, the backyard's on 191st terrace. Paris.
Yeah. So, they they abut the causeway and I walked around and also the yard. Okay. So, there's pressure washing being done there when people are trying to sit in their backyards at their at their pools to enjoy a Saturday. And on
Saturdays even there's pressure washing being done and I get so many complaints. Okay. and it's just intolerable and it's not something that the residents bargain for or they should have to live with.
Okay. Waterproofing u the building doesn't necessarily mean that the pressure washing is going to be happening inside the building. some work is still going to be done outside and there's you know so there's I mean I'm just saying pressure washing specifically I I assume it because I
don't know exactly how it's going to be done but pressure washing specifically that noise is not going to hold on let commissioner finish well work being done inside the building whatever it is again I'm not and and you guys know I don't have sp like can you
tell me in terms of this room like how many rows of seats like how big a space are we talking about? Like how big a building? Three large bedrooms. Can you tell like is it like the Wait, wait, wait, wait. Can we just direct through through me and then through the
manager so we can all hear the answer? So a decent size bedroom. Jerry, that doesn't help me. Jerry, I need you to tell me stops. Uh, can we ask staff please to answer that question? Okay. So similar to this size building?
Yeah, this size. similar to this similar. Yeah. Not as not as big but similar. Yes. To this space widthwise, it's going to be like this. So, okay. Um, so that's a substantial space. Yes. And and if the
drainage is done correctly, Commissioner Joseph, let her finish, please. She's got the floor. So anyway, I don't I don't know because we we're not going to um decide like what gets done there or whatever. But I I think if we go with
this, those residents need to understand that soundproofing may or may not solve their problem. And it's not for us to then go tell public works to do the pressure washing inside. You know what I'm saying? Like that's not for us. If we can mitigate someone's misery, wait a
second. Let uh let Commissioner Stuison go. She hasn't had an opportunity. Do you have anything to say? Not much. You know, like I don't know who can have the expectation of being not noisy when you live next to a highway. Yeah. I mean, you had the highway up top of you. So I I mean if
you want to have uh the noise of the little birds, etc., probably that's not the best location, you know. So So I don't again it's about expectations. You are living next to a highway. What is the expectation of no noise though? Um,
okay. So, I I don't Wait, wait, wait, wait. Let me get more clarification. I I don't think that the conversation is about no noise. I think it's just mitigating noise. When people bought the property, they knew there was a high Commissioner Joseph, I know you're really passionate about this, and I agree with you actually, but I'd like to be able to hear from the manager. based
on the complaints that you've gotten and and really the nature of the complaints, would this additional 25,000 help to mitigate that noise or do you think it's not going to help at all or can you not even answer that question? Because I think the majority
of it is the pressure washing. I believe it will help mi mitigate it. Yes. But I want to be clear, not entirely. It is a full public works yard, but I do believe it will mitigate some of the noise. Yes. All right. Do
you have You can say one more thing and then let's take a vote. Okay. So, during construction, if we set up the interior with French drains, that would allow for us to do pressure washing inside. Correct. No, we can't use a pressure washer
inside a structure. Why not? because of the exhaust. But you can have but it has a long hose. You just have a longer hose and you have the machine outside. You may you need to check your warranties too. You may void your warranties doing that. But you don't know how much of that it's it's a
metal prefab. So if you use water inside, you may I I I think that what from what commissioner Joseph is saying is something that I had discussed with the manager as well is just moving it the pressure washing away as far to the north as possible. Doesn't necessarily
need to be inside but just because this will be completely this will be adjacent to the north end of of the property you know. Hold on. We have to have discussions where we and do things. We can't have another gateway building. We
have to do things where we use our Where is the Where is it going to be located exactly? On what end? It's going to be on the um closer end to the east side. East side. No, west side. West side.
Deputy Manager, it'll be just to the east of the new pump station, right? And on the north side. Okay. So, I mean, I'm sorry, the south side. So, so it's going to south side of the layman, north of those homes, but the south side of the
underllayman, east of the pump station. And there's no way to put it north on the northern side of that would be worse for the residents on 191st terrace because this building is going to help buffer the beeping sound of
backup vehicles. It'll help buffer the sound of the pressure washing. I got it. All right. Um, you want to add? Yeah. So, so can can you repeat the uh the cost of soundproofing this structure? 25. It was estimated at 25,000.
Yeah. The the issue I have is that if we order it without soundproofing, can we then go back and soundproof it? Can we do that or no? Because if if not, then we might as well just order it with soundproof and and that's it, you know?
Yeah. I think the soundproofing is a separate contractor would come in. No, but I think you should look into it because it remember the other issue is if it if if you wait then with you know their current politics Oh, but
soundproofing is now you know 10 times more than what you don't% congratulations. You just Yeah. So I I I mean if if we're going to do it, we should decide it now. Yeah. I I I think listen um if we're going to do it, we
might as well do it. And uh if it helps mitigate some noise and some discomfort for the residents, then that's fine. I mean, I I I think if we then buy the structure and then we say, "Oh, you know
what? We should have soundproofed it." And it might mean the cost is I I mean I don't like spending money that doesn't need to be spent, but I think, you know, by soundproofing it, it it'll help somewhat, you know, because especially this is public works. They're
going to be doing stuff in there. So, okay. And the workers aren't always that considerate. Oh, all right. I'll take the work. That's not I'll take a motion. If I can just get clarification before you do a motion. So, is it with team contracting that's doing the soundproofing? Yes. Is it 25 or about
25? It is up to 25. It's actually estimated at $21,000 in Tuesday's prices. So, if you move as amended with an additional $25,000 for um soundproofing, we'll adjust the
contract and we shouldn't have to come back to you. Okay. Commissioner Joseph will make that motion as amended. Yes, I will make the motion. Second. Second. All in favor? I Okay, great. Thank you everyone. Next item 9. 9 I is a resolution approving a third
amendment to the agreement with universal protection service doing business as a light universal security services for unarmed security guard services at the government center. Manager, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission. This is a third amendment with universal protection
services. They are the company that provides our security card services at the government center 24 hours a day. Okay. Do we have any public speakers? No, ma'am. Any uh comments from the commission? I'll take a motion. I'll
make a motion. All in favor? I I J. 9J's resolution approving an agreement with commercial interior contractors for innovation services for the fourth floor of the government center. City manager Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the commission, this
agreement with Commercial Interior Contractors Corporation is to provide needed renovation and construction of the fourth floor. Okay. Do we have any public speakers, Mauricio? No, ma'am. All right. Any comments or questions?
I'll take a motion. Motion. I need a second. Second. All in favor? I. Right. 9 L. 90 is a resolution declaring zoning in progress related to the mixeduse resort district, town center district, neighborhood business
district, and business overlay districts. Your city manager, mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission, this is declaring our zoning in progress in order for us to continue to look at the zoning process and it would
be for three months. Thank you. Do we have any public speakers? No, ma'am. Any comments or questions? I'll take a motion. Motion. Need a second. Second. All in favor? I Okay. All right. Do we have any other
public speakers? Yes, we have just one. Vitali Falovich. I know you're a regular Vitali, but please just your name and your address for the record. My name is Falovich. 9280 Southwest 167 Terrace Pal Bay, Florida. Uh, as I come here as a visitor
to this area, you know, you can always tell the way the administration run and you can always tell when you have a city manager. And what I mean by that is as you look as workers as I do business here, I think five times a month, you
can tell how amazing Sa Beach is. And I'm talking about from people who are workers. And that shows what great administration, what a great mayor, vice mayor, city, city management, city
commission, and city manager. You know, you guys should be very blessed because you do a great job. When you go home today and you look in the mirror, you guys should know that you guys do a great job. you know, watching your Facebook and seeing your complaints, yet
you see there's nobody here. You know, you can't have a results if you don't come and speak at a commission meeting. Yet, you can always complain. It's not about complain. It's solving a problem. And I see you guys solving the problem
every month. And I appreciate you, especially police department and other employees. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it, Mauricio. That's all ma'am. Okay, with that I have what is your question? Hurry up. It's almost
7:45. Okay. Is about the the clarification about the theater. Okay. Wait, we have to add then a discussion item. Okay. So, I would like to We always have
options for that. Okay. Mhm. Okay. Yeah, that's I'm okay with this. Yes. Go ahead. No, I just want a clarification. What's going to be the end result? Cuz people went out clapping and happy. So, I just want
to know what's going to be the end result. So, based on previous discussions with the city commission, um, we understood that you wanted English. The instructor will not do would not commit
to English only. she would only commit to both Russian and English and at the time we said we'll be discussing it with the commission. She did agree to do both but she would not agree to do English only.
So we have been actively looking for an English theater instructor based on the discussions that we had with this commission. So we did tell we did speak to the instructor asking her to do English. She gave us
the ultimatum of Russian and English or not at all. Um so is this hold wait Commissioner Joseph let Susan let Susan finish her sentence please. It's not clear. If you let her speak it will be
clear. Go ahead. Um, so we put her programming on hold for the summer until we could have this discussion with commission. It got back to the parents that it was being
cancelled. But that is Russian only had the potential of not continuing based on the direction given by or the desire that we heard from this body and
the fact that the instructor would not do just English. Okay. So, so to that let commissioners and finish last year in 2024 we had to also have a resolution like this one because we went over the
50,000. So we went over 50,000 two year in a row. So maybe it will be time to bid this and not just to give it to a one instructor or a one contractor that we are just choosing to get to two.
we're giving it um just to one person without having the option of other people. We are not part of the process. I don't think it's really transparent for the people to know is it can be perceived like we are giving doing favors to certain when it's not open and
that's maybe the beauty of uh the beating process because it's open to everyone. Uh having said that um like I said clearly today and I have here some some data actually
46% out of the 22,125 residents of Sonia's beach according to the 2023 American community survey data speak Spanish 46.2 2 Slavic languages is 7.7 which is like
Ukrainian, Serbian etc. and Russian is 6.7. So if we put Slavic and Russian the Berlick make 15% of the population. So, and that was why I was referenced to our city attorney that um we are using um a
city property to bring this program with uh clearly when we had a big portion of the students they speak Russian. The teacher went from English originally to Russian which makes a lot of sense if
the the majority are are Russian speakers. It could have happened if they were a Spanish speaker as well with a Spanish teacher. So maybe we had a Spanish teacher from the very beginning uh like we had had in some sports and we had had issues in the past with certain sports where the coach only speak
Spanish or barely speak English and then the other people that speak other languages feel excluded and we I think we have done an amazing good job solving those issues. here again we're giving I don't know of any other program and you know I have my kids in our programs so I
am very familiar with the programming that is that we are giving the space three times a week and that we are charging that amount of money so um like I said if we have going over the 50,000 for two years in a row maybe will make
sense now to beat this and I am like vice mayor said and I think everybody here I'm all for the arts And I I wish we can have every language theater and other programming but as of right now 85% of the
population of Sonia and I'm putting Slavic ination together okay is being excluded from this three days a week program. So that's why we like the clarification. I just don't want to have the surprise of opening the book and see
that we are in the same place where we are right now. Okay. I while I appreciate your data, that's assuming that all of those people are also interested in the theater program. Exactly. But you don't know that. So you can't Of course not. Right.
So it's not really apples to apples. And also I I don't believe that those are accurate numbers. There's no way there's only 6% of the population that speaks Russian. You go down the street and that's all you hear. But in any case, I hear what you're saying and I think that this is discussion we can have um during
the the budget process. I don't for for me personally I think that taking something and trying to fix it when it's not broken is a waste of time. Um this is our most successful program. Why would we try to tear it apart? Oh, nobody wants to tear it apart. I just
wanted to give the same option to other communities like our largest community which is the Spanish community. Sure. Commissioner Joseph. So my issue is with a lot of issues with the city as far as advertising and getting the word
out to residents so that we can have a um you know a response that we're all thinking that we should have. It's very surprising to me that we would
have even if we have a Russian community that's 26 or 30% still there's 70% that did not respond to theater class. It just that makes no sense to me
at all. I'm so happy that we have a great response with the Russian and we have residents that are enjoying it and participating and that's what you want from a city program. But we have a lot of residents that I feel are just for
one reason or another they just didn't respond because they didn't get the right information in a timely manner. the city, and I've said it so many times, is not, we're great at doing things, a lot of things, but we don't get the word out well, and we need to be
better at that. Vice Mayor, so I I have a question. So, the the the current um instructor for the for the theater, so she will do Russian she'll do a group of Russian children and a group for English
speaking, right? And she started with only English or English two groups, English and Russian. And the English kids, they really it just kind of it was started as English only. It started and it evolved
into Russian and then both were being offered and then when both were offered we did not have sufficient enrollment in the English only class. Okay. Okay. And so then we we kept and continued the successful program. So which is Russian.
Okay. Now you mentioned that we're actively looking for a teacher for English, right? Yes. Okay. Why is that? If this teacher does English too, just have a separate because she will only do English if she can also do
Russian. Okay. And what I heard from this group previously was English only or English and Spanish and Russian. And I don't have enough space to do English, Spanish and Russian. Got it. Got it. So So but but so right
now what what do you have in mind or what do we have in mind? Um would it be a teacher that does Russian and then a teacher a another teacher that does English? If this commission would agree to the
two programs and keep the Russian different instructors, keep the Russian with the same instructor that is a successful ongoing program if it isn't broke. Um, and then find a different instructor for the English because
obviously this instructor instructing in English was not a success. So ideally that would not That would not be the ideal situation. Is English her first or second language? This teacher?
I honestly cannot answer that, sir. Um, okay. Wait, Commissioner Visgar, did you want to add to the conversation? Yeah, just so when I was listening to the speakers, I was taking down notes on what they said that they valued, right? uh uh speaking with
confidence, teamwork, connecting with others, social skills, memorizing um yeah, I think yeah, that was and then the little story about the little girls, empathy, you know. So, yeah, I mean those are all good things. Not one of
them said what they valued was the fact that it was in Russian. All of them said these other values. So, I mean, if if there's a do worry about the possibly excluding
it because I did get not I'm not going to tell you I got a lot, but I did get maybe two calls about I I went to join and I didn't know that this was only in Russian. And so when that happens then we are excluding people you
know um maybe what happened and I don't cuz I didn't even know that this was a I didn't even know that we had like a Russian theater program until like those complaints came in and um so I wonder if it's a matter of
culture right that maybe we can keep the cultural piece like I've read a lot of Russian literature but I assure you it wasn't in Russian, right? Because I don't speak Russian, but I I read translations. So maybe it can be a
theater where with that inclusive language, but but if people want to explore plays, the Russian plays but in English, that can be done. And then the Spanish speakers can come in and and you know, if it's important, I I can't think
of a Spanish play right now, but Okay. But in English, but translated. I was thinking that's the only one I could think of was donkeyote, but I don't think that's a that that's something that the kids would do. Plus, it's a little long, but um so maybe we can rethink this to to
save the program, but also to make sure that there aren't kids that are that that there may not be enough kids to carry the English piece, but there are some and they don't get to they don't get to play because there's not enough
to carry a program. And so maybe we just need to rethink it a little bit. I mean that's that's not one of them said that what they valued was the fact that it was a Yeah. But hold on hold on. I think that that uh the deputy manager has a good idea as far as trying to find a a
an English speaker because the potentially the reason that we don't have the English kids, English speakers signing up is because this teacher might be clearly is very successful in Russian, but in English she's not. So, I don't know if it works to have her do
both rather than try to find an English- speakaking um teacher. But with that said, I I you know, I want to defer to staff because they know better than we do. And I got to say that we've had programs that should have been successful, but we couldn't find a teacher like chess. We have so many kids
that want to play chess, but we can't get a teacher to stay because the the price is not they want to get paid much more, so they don't stick around. So, it's not always so easy to to match those two together. But I think with theater, there might be an opportunity
to find a teacher, especially since they will see how successful the Russian program is and they can have that same level of success. And to that, I actually got a call and an email from a vendor which I forward to you guys that
has the capability to do English, Spanish, I don't know what else to be honest. Is that the Spanish theater that that email does? Yes. Yeah. and I I forward to to to the staff because they were asking for direction how to register as vendor. Clearly, we don't do that. So, I send it to to to the city
manager, deputy, chief of staff, etc. So, like I said, maybe it will be good to beat the process. Also when this um teacher the one that we have right now signed the contract the contract said
that the that we need five registers five participants those are the terms of the contract it's so good that we have so many and also to your point uh uh commissioner Viscara is beautiful all what the kids were saying that they were gaining from this would be beautiful to
give those same opportunities to all the children that you were saying so that would be perfect to have all those skills to be for everyone and not only for a small person a portion of our population and plus even the show that
they work during the whole semester or whatever they don't present the show here in Sanas they present outside from from our city so basically what we are providing is the space to meet which there are other places where they could
meet also and continue if it's that successful and the instructors is making over $50,000 with only these three hours three weeks three times a week. I mean an hour every three times a week maybe that I'm not telling anybody how to do their business but apparently there is a
good um business opportunity to put it somewhere else you know uh and to my point um I am in Pelican every single day of the week at least twice a day with my child and I do receive a lot of
complaints from both the English speaking and the Spanish speak speaking people they would like to have the same taxes and opportunities. it has never been given to them and they would like to have the opportunity as well to have if we're going to continue continue
Russian only uh it will be the more solommonic thing to do to do also Spanish only for the Spanish community and I know that's where probably things get complicated and maybe instead of giving it three times a a week maybe we
have one day English one day Spanish one day Russian because I I don't think anybody that wants to really be a professional actor is going to be an professional actor from these classes. So, so once a week for every for all
those languages, I think will be a good thing. And that's why generally just because you're going to go down this this rabbit hole where you're going to have to offer all these different languages and you're you're not going to have capacity. That's why you have a central language,
English, where you're teaching theater. You're going to have Russian children, Spanish children. You need to have some sort of because you're just going to keep chasing. Then it'll be know this language and that language. Now you're going to have five, six theater classes,
some with high capacity, some little capacity. It's just that's why you want to focus on a central language which I presume these kids go to school here. So they're they do speak English. They are functioning in English. So just from a legal standpoint, you just you go down
that hole where now you start. So what about I don't know another program we offer that decides that's predominantly Spanish kids in there. So now it's going to be mostly Spanish. We have we have predominantly Spanish speaking soccer team. So then all of a sudden now you're
going to have to have an English only soccer. You know you it's just a very slippery slope. Uh Commissioner Joseph, you wanted to say something. Okay. Yes. So we have a successful Russian
acting group. Um I'm not looking to destroy it. I don't think anyone's intention is to destroy it. Like I said, we're looking to expand. if we have maybe we can have successful
uh Spanish speaking and English speaking. Uh I don't think we've actually delved into the fact I know this is departmentr run. The commissioners don't have anything to do with it. So we're depending upon the
department to offer it correctly, advertise it correctly. For me still, I I can't believe that we didn't have enough interest for Spanish residents or English residents, and it was only the Russian residents that came
out. And another thing that I heard which didn't come out tonight was that there is a very strong cultural um part of the the Russian acting that
um is relevant to the people that were here tonight. The one student that spoke, he didn't mention that, but the parents mentioned it to me in conversations I had and in writings that they sent me. So it is important to them culturally.
Um and I think the teacher who if I haven't spoken with her, I don't know who she is, but I just have a feeling that Russian may be her first language. And um she has a rapport with the kids that an English teacher would not. So I
think that's part of what made it suh successful and um did not um you know enamorate the English speaking kids to the the class. Yeah I I actually appreciate you saying that. Additionally I think that's something that we are taking for granted
is the level of interest of the parents in making it a successful program and as we know if you have any group of kids acting and the parents are into it then becomes even more successful. So, their commitment to bringing their kids three times a week and the fact that they get to see the show at the end and I believe
the only reason that they don't have the show here is because we don't have the space for them to actually put it on. They would very much like to put it on. Good. Thank you. Um, all right. I I I suggest that we leave it up to staff because we can want all we want, but if
we don't have a teacher, um, then which we do, well, we don't as of the m this moment we don't. We do we don't have a hiring contract but we do have people who offer their services. I understand there's people that offer their services but right now staff is not giving us any information about screened. We don't
Right. So what I'm what I'm suggesting is is that we allow staff to do their job and make a recommendation back to us um for the next uh session. Is there any objections to that?
No. Good. Okay. I do have a clarification with something else. Um and that's for the city attorney please. Um I was made aware from um elected official who called me um with a very serious accusation. He told me that I
was vetting and interviewing potential city managers. So um I clarified to him how we hired the city managers. He said that I was interviewing city managers with a consultant from
Aventura. So I would like please to the city attorney to say how is the process to hire the city manager will make any difference if I one commissioner out of this body will be interviewing potential city managers. Will that make any
difference to our hiring process for the city managers? It's very difficult to answer on the fly. We I I need a lot more information. We need to sit down and be able to Okay. Okay. Because I want to clarify that I haven't done that. I haven't interviewed anybody. I haven't offered that job to anybody.
This city official was really um very upset about it because apparently I was interviewing somebody who was his opponent in an election. and he told me that this came from the mayor, that the mayor specifically said that I am interviewing potential city managers.
And like I said, I want to put on the record that I'm not interviewing anybody and it's only the mayor who can um bring forward uh a city manager to be hired and we all have to vote for it. So again, I want to make sure that people knows that I'm not looking forward on
either have the power neither to hire or to fire our city manager. Okay. St. So I want you to to know that and I wanted to please put it on the record and maybe in the next meeting we can clarify the process how we hired city manager to meet and Sure. Yeah. I just wanted to
put it on the record. Okay. Thank you. All right, Mauricio. That's it. Mayor meeting a journ. Thank you. Just remember that next month uh the meeting is on the 17th and not the 19th. So it's a Tuesday before the third Thursday. Okay. Thank you for that
clarification. If we can actually also put it out on social media just as a reminder. Yes. We get the big crowd so that we can Yeah. Get our real crowd in.