Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Mario. I know. But I would even Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. All right, Madam Clerk, you ready? >> Mr. Attorney, you ready? Yes, sir. >> Mr. Mayor, good to go.
>> Commissioners good to go, sir, >> sir. >> All right. Welcome everybody to the city of Sweet Water regular commission meeting. Meeting date, Monday, March 2nd, 2026 at 6 p.m. Commission chambers, 500 Southwest, 109 Avenue. Roll call. Madam clerk. know the absence of commission of
CEO. >> Please stand for the invitation. In Jesus name I pray. Dear heavenly father, thank you for granting us the gift of life, the gift of friendship, the gift of family, the gift of service, service to our city, service to our country. Please continue
to protect our city. Please continue to give wisdom to our elected officials to make the difficult decisions for the betterment of our city. Please continue to bless the greatest military in the world, our firefighters, first responders, and our police officers. And grant us the peace and serenity that we
need to move forward. In Jesus' name, I will always pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You may be seated. >> Second. >> You can do whatever you want. >> Uh, special presentation.
Do we have any, Madam Clerk? Special presentation. Seeing none. Item five, presentation employee the employee of the month award. Mr. Defer to the next month presentation of officer of the month award. Please state your name
and address for the record. Major. >> Good evening. Adrian Messa, Major of Police Operations Division, Sweetwater Police, 500 Southwest 109 Avenue. Um, in January 2026, Officer Orlando Vio Verde demonstrated exceptional initiative and organiz organizational
skill in coordinating and successfully executing a comprehensive part 107 drone operations training course hosted by yours truly, the city of Sweetwater Police Department. The extensive 40-hour course brought together law enforcement professionals from multiple partner
agencies including Medley, Mkasuki, FIU, Miami Springs, South Miami, North Miami Beach, Homestead Police Departments, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Officer Verde meticulously coordinated the logistics of the program. He secured multiple subject
matter expert instructors and ensured the seamless delivery of instruction covering critical aviation knowledge, safety protocols, federal regulations, and operational best practices necessary for part 107 certification.
38 students received essential training designed to assist them in obtaining their FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification, significantly enhancing the unmanned aerial system capabilities of their respective agencies. This course directly contributed to the
continued expansion of drone operations throughout Miami Dade County, strengthening regional interoperability and improving public safety response capabilities. Officer Via Verde's professionalism and commitment to excellence not only elevated the operational readiness of
participating agencies, but it also reinforced the city of Sweetwater Police Department's reputation as a leader in innovation and regional collaboration throughout the planning and execution of this training event. He represented the Sweetwater Police Department with distinction, demonstrating exemplary
organizational ability, technical competence, and dedication to duty. For his outstanding coordination, leadership, and commitment, we take great pride in recognizing him as officer of the month for January 2026. Chief >> announce
a second. Absolutely. >> You want to just go to make an announcement. Uh >> go ahead. >> Officer Verte and joined civil air patrol about around three months ago, >> three months ago. >> And now based on his knowledge, the civil air patrol united air force
facility has given the rank of captain via congratulations. >> He is good when a lady says she needs to make an announcement. This was good. All right, let's let's get it together here. She was here. Okay.
>> All right. >> Thank you. Madam clerk, please note for the record, Commissioner Ian Bio. Um, I do want to make a brief statement. I I do want to thank our mayor. I want
to thank you for always being an advocate for law enforcement. Obviously, an advocate for the United States military, but the command staff that you have brought, in my opinion, out of the 34 municipalities, with all respect to members of other agencies, our command
staff better than yours. I have plenty of friends of mine who are chiefs of police, uh, people whom I love and care for, but this command staff has brought this agency to another level. We are not the sweet water of old. We are no longer that looming dark cloud over
Miami Day County law enforcement. And it's because of the leadership of our chief of police, Sergio Diaz. Thank you so much for everything that you do and you continue to do. for our deputy chief, Noel Gil. Uh, thank you for everything you do and everything you've
done. And our assistant chief, uh, Frank aka Scooby Fernandez. So, Mr. Mayor, I celebrate you. You know that I'm a big critic whenever we as a city do something wrong, but when we do something right, I'm the first one uh to
tell you what a great job we're doing, and I thank you for bringing uh this command staff here. >> Thank you, Mr. President. And I really really appreciate your your words and I agree with your words 100%. You know, basically we have the very best and that
comes with a lot of knowledge and skill and many many levels of law enforcement and brought together to a city that really needed the change and I think every one of you I want to thank you all especially you Mr. President because I know police department is extremely
important to you and you come from it. So, it's important to continue to grow. And now having a 66% drop in crime in the city shows it. It's not just talking about it. It it actually does it two years, you know,
that we dropped it within those two years. I think that says a lot for our department. and our department, you go out there, whether it's whatever department, they recognize Sweet Water as a top rated department because of the men and women that serve in it and of
course the leadership starting with our chief. >> So, I appreciate your words. I appreciate what they do, but the best is still yet to come. >> Okay. >> All right. Well, I will I will tell the members of the audience this is the most pro- law enforcement commission not in
the history of city of Sweetwater, but we challenge any other municipal in the state of Florida. Nobody does what we do for our cops. We have a retired fire captain, big union guy. I was a cop. Commissioner Yano's son is a trooper. Um, Commissioner Sal is a is a
firefighter. Uh, Ronald Deay's family, I don't know how many family members he has as a cop. Ian Vio um who was a longtime city employee. and Isid Ruiz, I don't know how many times been on ride alongs before he became a a police commissioner or a commissioner. So, uh I
thank you. I thank you, Chief. Um >> you forgot a firefighter. >> Yeah, >> you forgot a firefighter. >> Um do any of my colleagues want to say anything before we move on? >> I would second that.
>> All right. Uh All right. So, uh reports of officers, boards, and committees. Seeing none additions and deletions to the agenda. I see that we have >> item F. Item G and H. Is that correct?
>> Uh I have a special request to my colleagues on the commission. I'd like your uh permission to move item H to the top of the agenda. >> Yes, sir. >> U moved and seconded. Moved by Commissioner Y, second by Commissioner Jose Mat. All in favor say I.
>> Any opposed? All right, let's move to item H. >> You want to do consent agenda first? >> Second >> your consent agenda. >> You're absolutely right. I put the uh carriage for the horse there. >> Uh petitions, communications, and romanes.
>> Seeing nobody come forward. Uh consent agenda. Do I have approval? >> Second. >> Motion by Commissioner Rald Ray. Second by Commissioner Oati. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> All right. Consent agenda passes. Staff item H. As you can tell, we move quickly
through these things. Staff item H, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Sweetwater naming portion of Northwest 15th Street between 107 A and 109 A, Detective Harry A. Wright Street, providing for findings, providing for authority,
providing for instructions, providing for dissemination, and providing for an effective date. Mayor Diaz, you have the floor. >> Thank you, Mr. president. And this, I believe, will be the first street naming of this administration. If I'm not mistaken, I don't think we've done one
since I started with this administration. So, this is a very important one. And and to be the first one, at least during my time again, it's that much more important to me. I I have a good friend of mine, as you all know,
the president of the bank, uh Mr. Joseph uh he George Joseph he called me and said I've had been a friend of this gentleman for so many years detective Henry uh Harry Wright Aight and he said
how could I put a name on the street on a person that served for 35 years that was somebody that was a cops cop that was respected by everybody and not only that he served on our board and he did an incredible job and he said He did so
much for the community during being a police officer for so many years, 35 years, but on top of that after he left the department and retired and he passed away. And he started his career in n in 1957, but I won't get into that part of
it. I'll let people that are here to come up and if you allow uh Mr. president commission uh for the people that I I got Miss Wilkinson. And Annie Wilkinson here was a senior vice president of the bank of uh Day County Federal Credit Union to come up because
that's where he served them on the board and this is somebody that it's it's merit of having a stream named in the city of Sweetwater and because he spent time with the bank especially there in that location. So this is why
we're looking at 107th Avenue on Southwest 5th uh 15th Street until 108th. So that street right there and I I know
we got the PBA and by the way the HOA which is right adjacent the back of the HBOA serves there. >> Yeah. Carlos uh hopefully was going to try to make it or send somebody. I don't know if somebody did make it, but also in support of such a a great honor. So,
if you allow, Mr. President, >> say your name and address for the record, please. You can give your business address. >> My name is Annie Wilkinson. I'm representing Day County Federal Credit Union, 1500 Northwest 107th
Avenue, City of Sweetwater. Members of the commission, mayor, first of all, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of the family of Detective Harry Wright.
Detective Harry Wright served as a Miami date police officer for 36 years to the safety and well-being of the of the county of Miami date county becoming one of the most respected and beloved law
enforcement figures in the region. He was a guardian of this community. Detective Wright became a towering presence in the community throughout his career.
He delivered babies, pulled victims from burning cars, revived drowning children, and comforted families in crisis. Colleagues described him, "He does anything for anybody."
He was a true leader in the community especially for the youth and the crime prevention. Detective Wright's influence extended far beyond emergency response. He became a cornerstone of the community policing
services as a social uh school resource officer. He led the the DARE officer friendly stranger program and joined a team not a gang. He played a major role in the success of
the citizens crime watch and youth crime watch. As m as the mayor mentioned, Detective Wright also served as a chair of Miami of Day County Federal Credit Union for over 20 years where he dedicated not
only his time to the credit union because our volunteers are are not paid, but he also served in working with the community, especially the police officers in the community to make sure that we provided the services to all.
As a role model for all generations, detectives rights impact on youth people was profound. A Tallahassee city commissioner wrote, "This entire neighborhood avoided juvenile crime because of Wright's
presence." and I quote, "We didn't have a juvenile crop crime problem back then because we had a police officer who cared about us." His legacy of service continued through
his family. His daughter was also a police officer that is also has passed away and served up until 1990 for Dade County federal uh for Miami Dade County.
Detective Wright received so many commendations. He was the off he was a nominee of officer of the year many times. his outstanding service for child safety programs, commercial security sur certification,
35 years of service award from Metro Dade Police Department, multiple letters of commendation from county officials, businesses, leaders, and community organizations. Upon his retirement in 1993, he received
a personal letter from President Bill Clinton who wrote, and I quote, "Because of the efforts of dedicated individuals like you, the pl the county is safety and the well-being of others above their own.
Our nation is a better place in which we live." Detectives Harry Wright's life was defined by service, sacrifice, and a rare abil ability to unite, uplift the community he protected. His decades of
heroism, mentorship, and civil civic leadership left him to an enduring mark on on Miami Dade County and countless residents who lived their lives were touched. as a as a spouse of a police officer, an
executive of Day County Federal Credit Union. Naming a street in his honor would ensure the future generations remember a man who embodied the highest ideals of public service. Someone who not only
enforced the law, but strengthened the community, protect its children, and he saved lives. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, you still >> Mr. Mayor, you still on the floor? >> Yes. Go ahead.
PBA, >> please state your name. >> Thank you. David Greenwell, the executive vice president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association. Also with me is Carlos Ramos, our sergeant- of- arms, and Alex Moz, our
treasurer. Honorable mayor and commissioners, although Detective Harry Wright passed in 2022, his memory and legacy remains deeply felt within our law enforcement community. We fully and proudly support the
initiative to name a street in his honor as this recognition is both fitting and welld deserved for the men who dedicated his life to serving the citizens of Miami Date County. Detective Wright's decades of exemplary service
and leadership and unwavering commitment to his fellow officers and the community make this tribute a meaningful way to ensure his impact is remembered for generations to come. Harry was a detective with the Miami
Date Police Department for 36 years and a life member and a former sergeant of arms with the South Florida PBA. He was a member of the retired officer council and a vice chairman of the board of directors for the Dade County Federal
Credit Union. He was a big man with a big heart and he will be remembered for having a great love for his fellow officers in his community. He represented the PBA in with the utmost dedication and honor and
distinction for many years. Harry made a difference and we are all better for having known him and served with him. Mayor, we really appreciate all your efforts and I agree with the
commissioner your long history of supporting law enforcement. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, >> sir. Anybody else? Okay, Mr. brush. Again, this is a man that
you know the words that it just don't do him justice. everything that he did, presenting, dealing with the children, making sure they knew they join a team, not a gang, their programs, school resource officer,
all the things that he did was mostly attending presentation meetings of all levels involved with the community. So I say this and I as you heard from everybody else, when it's somebody that brings that kind of talent and it's that
kind of quality of an individual that has done so much good and served for so long in distinction, like I said, I take officer of the year several times, it is behooing of us to give an honor so his name could continue
uh especially in our city uh to be in that particular particular area which is an area which he served and the bank not too far the street right next door. So with that I will ask you to please vote positive on this matter.
>> Any commissioner wishing to speak on the side before we vote. >> All right. Uh do we have a motion? Motion by Commissioner Ronaldo Ray. Second by Commissioner Ian Yano. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? item passes unanimously.
Congratulations. So, I know I know you all are uh applauding for Detective Wright, but that's also a curtain call for our mayor. >> Good freaking job. >> Good job. >> So, that item passes.
We're gonna go back >> to a an ordinance of the city of Sweetwater, Florida, amending the city code of ordinances by creating 2-450 entitled ethics training requiring lobbyists to provide the city clerk with
certificates showing completion of the ethics course offered by the Miami Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public's Trust, including refresher courses, providing penalty for failure to comply, providing for exception, providing for severability, providing for codification, providing for an effective
date, second reading and public hearing. Public hearing is now open. Anybody wishing to speak on this item, please come forward. Seeing nobody come forward on this item, public meeting is now closed. Uh, Mr. Mayor, you have the floor. >> We already went through this item. This
is the second reading. We're mistaken. And uh this item is important to make sure that the people that do try to come and do business in the lobby and form do have the ethics training and that our clerk has the benefit of asking for that
as they register at which is the same thing is done in the county and many municipalities throughout the county. So with that I ask for your support on this item. >> Item is a motion by commissioner Jose Mati, second by commissioner Raldo Reay. Roll call. report.
>> Commissioner Yano, >> yes. >> Commissioner Ruiz, >> yes. >> Commissioner Dia, >> yes. >> Commissioner Martine, >> yes. >> Commissioner Ray, >> yes. >> Commissioner, >> yes. >> President Vanova, >> yes. >> It passes on second reading. >> An ordinance of the city of Sweetwater,
Florida, establishing grounds and procedures for revoking or refusing to renew the occupational license of entities that engage in business with or related to communist regimes in Florida. I'm sorry. In violation of federal law,
providing for appeal to the mayor, providing for appeal to circuit court, providing for authority, providing for direction, providing for severability, providing for codification, providing for an effective date. Second reading. Public hearing is now
open. Anybody wishing to speak on this item, please come forward. Seeing nobody come forward on this item, public meeting is now closed. We have a motion by Commissioner Ruiz. Second by Commissioner Daniel Yananiel. Roll call, Madam Clerk. >> Commissioner Ruiz,
>> yes, ma'am. >> Commissioner Diaz, >> yes. >> Commissioner Martin, >> yes. >> Commissioner Ray, >> yes. >> Commissioner Vio, >> yes. >> Commissioner Yanio, >> yes. >> President Voeva, >> yes. >> It passes a second reading. >> Now, the only thing that I will say
about this item, Mr. Mayor, is that the appeal process is only to you and your office. Um, I passed it, but I'd like to see if we do something later on where it gives the commission also an opportunity to hear an appeal. I mean, anybody doing business with a communist country is going to be a direct no anyway.
>> U, I'll be more than happy to include you on this. And another thing is, uh, hopefully with God's help and that of our president, >> we might not need this item for too long. >> Amen. >> Okay. Hopefully, we'll have a free Cuba within some short time from now. >> Do your thing.
I'm sure that's music to everybody's ears. >> Item C, an ordinance of the city of Sweetwater, Florida, restoring the name code enforcement division in place and instead of code compliance division, providing for severability, providing for codification, providing for an
effective date, second reading and public hearing. Public hearing is now open. Anybody wishing to speak on this item, please come forward. Seeing nobody run to the podium, public meeting is now closed. Mr. Mayor, you have the floor. This item again is a second hearing. We went through
everything already and we self-explanatory. So go ahead, Mr. >> Anybody wish to speak on this item? >> Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Motion by Commissioner Salia. Second by Commissioner Jose Marti. Roll call. Madam clerk. >> Commissioner Diaz. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Martine. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Ray. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Vayo. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Yano. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Ruiz. >> Yes. >> President Vanuela. >> Yes. passes and second reading. >> All right. Congratulations. Item D, an ordinance of the city of Sweetwater
amending chapter 14 of the city code of ordinances entitled building and building regulations article 2 section 14-24 fee schedule adding certain new building and construction fees providing for a repealer clause providing for
severability and providing for an effective date first reading and public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this item, please come forward. Seeing nobody coming forward on this public item, the public meeting is now closed. Mr. Mayor, you have the floor.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. And this item also allows uh some of the res uh some of the developers and so on that or the residents that their permits have expired to then renew their permits at a charge. And basically those are the I
think the other two were Sir Ruby come up to the podium please. Richard Ruby, building director, building official. So, there's the early start permit. Uh, we want to assign a fee to it. That's for developers that may be pending small little items for their master permit.
They can now pull an early start permit much like Miami Day County and City of Miami allows to um do horizontal construction and not go vertical prior to pulling their master permit. As well as uh permit renewals. So, if someone's if someone's permit has expired, they
can now renew their permit, which is something we do anyways, but now we're assigning a fee to it, make it official. Um, and the permit extension, which is someone that's actually more proactive, and before their permit expires, they renew it for some time, uh, providing a
fee for that as well. >> So, basically, it's what I said, but in three different versions. >> Go ahead, Richard. >> Commissioner, >> it's just these seven items. It's just those three items. >> Copy. I'm good. Thank you. >> Commissioner Sales, you have the floor.
>> Yes. Thank you, Ruby. I have a question on this permits that are open. Do we have any you know like sometimes they contractors open a permit and they just don't close it? Is this part of it >> when do they have a time limit to close
the permit? >> So, Florida Building Code gives you 180 days of inactivity, right? And then that automatically expires your permit. uh with this um I mean after a while a permit is considered abandoned but if there's a special circumstance where
they want to renew it now they can with this ordinance. >> Does the contractor get a penalty if they don't renew that permit? >> Well, to renew the permit they have to pay 50% of the base permit fee that they paid to open the permit. Um
>> let me uh >> to answer your question if the person has an issue with a contractor for instance and it passes of 6 months or 16 160 days or whatever it it was then at that time that permit expires. So it's
worse to then try to come back and get a new permit and start all over again. This actually gives the ability for it continues on through the dispute or whatever situation is being handled, but there's a fee for that. So, it actually works with them. Other cities have it. The county has it if I'm not mistaken.
>> Yes. >> Okay. So, we're just coming up with the times and making sure that everything is updated. >> My my concern is sometimes when you I'm telling you this because I deal with it. the um when a contractor get a Can you
turn it on because I'm getting some feedback. Sorry. When a contractor open a permit and then they um they disappear and then they come back to the city, they come back to the city to open another permit. Would the city give them
another permit or until they close that permit? >> We would usually issue another permit. Uh but we do follow up on expired permits to see if any work was performed and then in that case code enforcement gets involved and and issues a violation. >> Yeah. But that contractor
cannot do any other work in the city of Sweetwater until he closes that permit. >> We don't have measures for that. >> Okay. Can do we have an ordinance for that or we don't? Because I want to bring it up. >> That's something we can do. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We'll look into it and I'll present it and I'll bring it to you. I'll bring it
up because I was going to ask you about that um to bring it up to the commissioner. Thank you. >> Any other commissioner wishing to speak on this item? >> All right. I um I think uh item number seven uh the renewal of expired permits um
is very efficient on on your part, Mr. Mayor and Mr. Building Official. Um I've seen when a when a building permit expires, they have to pay the full vote and renew it. I'm always concerned with new fees. Uh so I just want to make sure
this is only encompassing these seven issues. Is that accurate? >> That is my understanding, Mr. President. >> Is that accurate, sir? >> Yeah, it's only for the early start, the renewal, and the extension. >> So the early start is $2,000. Is that accurate? >> Yes.
>> And what is this $1 per square foot? Explain that to me. $1 per square foot is the upfront fee for for um new construction. >> So, here's a question. One of our buildings already has established impact
concurrency fees, right? This is an additional fee for $1 per square foot. The square footage of let's just say the one that that's a million square feet. No. >> So, so the way the fees work I'm sorry, I'm just my question. So would you be
adding an additional fee of if in this scenario a million square feet a million dollars >> the dollar per square foot is the upfront fee. So the final fee for the master permit is 2.75 or 2.5 depending
on the job. The one the $1 per square foot is an upfront fee that counts towards that master fee of 2.5 or 2.75. So there's no additional there. The early start is its own thing so that they can get started on work before they pay for that master permit.
>> No, it sounds great. I just want to make sure that the already established impact and concurrency fees, this is not an additional fee. This is just counts as a credit towards their >> master fee. Is that accurate? >> The $1 per square foot counts towards
the the master permit and that's not changing. >> Okay. So, we're not talking about >> there's no addition >> any additional ginormous fees. I mean, no, >> I'm just seeing here. Uh, and then the upfront is the one square foot and then upfront fees for new residential, commercial or industrial and addition.
Residential additions are excluded. So, that upfront fee, we have two upfront fees, interior alterations. So, that's not going to be an additional fee. >> None of that has changed. Early start is the only new thing. >> Got it. >> This gives, Mr. President, this gives
the ability of the developer to be able to start laterally instead of just I'm sorry, horizontally. >> Yes. >> And they could start with the groundwork and stuff without having to present the whole master plan, but they could start at least moving faster. And they might have an issue with financing in today's
world that's becoming a problem with a lot of these developments. They could actually maneuver and they'd rather pay a little more or a fee to be able to keep their job going and keep their men in in in actual construction. All right. >> So this actually gives the ability
>> city of Miami Miami does it. So >> thank you commissioners. >> Yes. This is this is not going to impact the resident of the city of Sweetwater or are you going to impact in any >> this this is aimed towards developers. Okay. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> These are for big projects. >> All right. We have a motion by
Commissioner Rain Alder. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Salas. >> Roll call. Madam cler. >> Commissioner Martine. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Rain. >> Yes. Commissioner, >> yes. >> Commissioner Yano, >> yes. >> Commissioner Ruiz, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Diaz, >> yes, ma'am. >> President Viano, >> yes. >> It passes on first reading. >> A resolution of the city commission of the city of Sweetwater authorizing the mayor to purchase vehicles for code enforcement as provided for in the
fiscal year 2025 2026 budget, providing for authority, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. Thank you. And I think uh three, it was two. Two, right? Yeah. Two vehicles that we're going to do for the parking uh
side of it and with code enforcement. And I think we got a very good price on two smaller. Do you want to come up, please? >> Please state your name for the record. >> Good evening. Martin Garcia, chief code enforcement
uh division for the city of Sweetwater. We're replacing two vehicle, two trucks right now that are 2016 with high mileage. Uh these two vehicles constantly are breaking down and we have to
somehow manage to keep the operation going. They're pretty much at end of life. >> Yes, sir. >> Commissioner Sal is on the floor. >> Yes, sir. Are we getting new trucks at the same thing you guys get the F-150 or >> Yes, sir. We we're we're budgeting we
budgeted for two pickup trucks uh Ford Rangers uh to replace these two end of life vehicles. >> It's a little different mission. We don't need to have the big F-150s when we could get the Ford Rangers. It's smaller, a little bit more maneuverable for them and it's a different type of
mission that they have, but it's still a pickup and they still could pick up whatever needs to be picked up if they see something that is in the roadway or whatever. Mayor, and the other question is, and I know it's already here, but I wanted is this budget already 2025?
>> It's already within these are monies within the budget that we have and monies that we're using for the vehicle. >> Thank you, Mayor. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, >> uh, Commissioner Jose. Quick question for you. Do do you do any enforcement on the weekend,
>> sir? Do you do any enforcement on the weekend? Yes, we have uh enforcements on Saturdays >> because there's I mean uh >> right now my schedule is not there to cover Sundays. >> I'm I'm not so worried about Sundays. For those of you that know that, you
know, I walk the city quite often and >> yeah, we we have right currently we have two officers working on Saturdays. I >> I never see them on the weekend and it seems like there's a lot more movement on the weekend on projects. I just just sharing that with you. Yeah, but like I
said, I have two two officers working on Saturdays. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And and you know, I've same thing looked at it. We discussed it and so on and they actually gone to many people that actually have certain contractors that come on the weekends and you see that and you think, wow, they usually go
Monday through Friday, but they really don't. Sometimes they actually work on the weekends and they come up to them and our code enforcement ask them and they got the permit, everything that needs to be done. >> Perfect. Thank you. through the chair. >> Commissioner Vice >> um just a just uh three little quick questions. Um was this through the
sheriff's bid? Um how fast will we get the vehicles and are they being paid all at once or are they being financed? >> And I apologize if you could come up to the mic cuz I were hearing >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm I apologize. So, um
are these vehicles being Sorry. Is this are these vehicles being acquired through the sheriff's bid? >> Scott Mendlesberg, city Sweetwater Finance Director. We're going to get the bids off the Florida sheriff. If somebody locally can beat it, then we'll do that. Um, but we are and we're paying cash and we'll probably get them in
about 90 to 120 days. >> Sounds good. Thank you so much, >> Commissioner SAS. >> No, I will move this item. >> Well, I have a question before we move. >> Um, >> Mr. Director, sir, I have a question. Uh
these vehicles are purposed specifically for parking enforcement. >> These vehicles are for what sir? >> Parking enforcement. >> Yes. One is parking enforcement and one is code. >> Do you have a plan in the future to affix LPRs to uh your parking
enforcement vehicles? >> Uh I'm look actually that's a good question because we're now looking at that as we're growing and trying to make sure that we have more LPR so we could spot them. Yes sir. I like where your head's at. >> Commissioner Jose Madi, can >> you just tell everyone what an LPR is?
>> I don't know. >> Sorry. A license plate reader is um a computer application or program. It's repos use it. Law enforcement uses it as and I'm not an expert, so our deputy chief probably I'm not going to make you come up here. Um as a vehicle passes by
it the it captures the tag into the system. It can tell the vehicle is stolen, expired. Um if you know there's a lot of information so I'm glad you guys are are going that way. Uh we had a motion on this item from who? >> My Mike. >> Commissioner Salas moves. Do we have a
second? >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Ran Aldo Ray. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? >> Congratulations. Item passes. >> Staff item um F. You're right.
>> You live in it. >> A resolution of the city commission of the city of Sweetwater urging the state of Florida to take such actions and pass such legislation as may be necessary to authorize county and local governments to use building fees to offset general
operating expenses. urging counties and other municipalities to pass similar resolutions directing the city clerk to disseminate this resolution to certain persons and entities and providing for an effective date
commission president Marcos Vero. So um to my colleagues on the commission we have we've been growing as a city over the last decade. Um the first building that was a catalyst to the development of the
city of Sweetwater was 109 Tower and 109 Tower was uh it began in 2011 and then was erected in 2012. Um that was the first time that the city of Sweetwater had really received
building and impact uh and concurrency fees of that magnitude. The state statute doesn't allow for uh any municipalities or any local governments to utilize the funds within building and zoning to supplant general
funds. Well, currently we have uh the largest amount of cache of money we've ever had in the history of the city of Sweetwater sitting in building and zoning. And here we are limiting the uh will and the appetite of the commission
and the execution of the budget which we approved uh to the mayor uh where we can't utilize these funds. I think it is an ambitious goal uh to have this urging uh go all the way up to the state of
Florida to the governor's mansion and the state legislature. I know that it's ambitious, but if we don't try, uh, nothing will ever get done. I think we're able to utilize these funds, we can do a lot of great things, specifically since the new appetite of the governor
and the state legislature is going to be limiting uh the homestead advalorums to municipalities and local governments. Now, we were proactive. We did an impact study months ago. Um, I don't think it's my place to say what that number is. I
think it's the place of the mayor to say what that number is. But we're in a good financial position. Out of the 34 municipalities in Miami Day County, um, if this continues this way, municipalities will be eliminated. It will no longer be 34 municipalities. But
here in the city of Sweetwater, the way that we are structured, uh, we are going to be just fine. We don't have to tighten the belt. We don't have to terminate. We don't have to raise taxes. as so long as I'm here, we're never going to raise taxes. At least that's going to be my vote. I know my colleagues never want to raise taxes
either. Um so I ask um that you unanimously um approve this item, this resolution so we can move it forward, we can start this conversation. >> Do I have a motion?
>> Mr. >> Mr. Mayor, >> thank you. I want to support this item because I think that your vision is something that we've looked at um of possibilities that could occur especially in the world like you said
Mr. president that we right now are looking at I don't know what the latest number I think was between 14 and 18 municipalities that could disappear in Miami date county alone depending on this abilorm situation the one that the
way they want to bring it down but it's not just the abilorm situation it's also the non-taxing and the nonreceiving impact fees for buildings going up as long as it says it's workforce housing or affordable
housing. That's it. And then that becomes an issue too because then how do you run a department, a building department that right now is turning things around? I think the average time is 5 days. 5 days that's never and like
you said, we are doing things in the city of Sweetwater that have never been done ever before. But we're doing it faster than probably almost any city out there. Why? We've got great talented people and we have incredible employees there. Uh the inspectors, the the
clerks, everything working all out to make sure we get this done. Why am I saying this? Because also looking forward, there's got to be I get it. But the price of these units have not come down. They're only going up further. Before
when I was in the county, there was a set number that was affordable. There was a set number for workforce and there was a set number for things that went away now as a floating scale that is very difficult. So your vision is
correct. If we could use these fundings because they're meant only to be used within the building co and and the building department and so on. So, it's a plus. This is something like you said is it's a big ask because it has to go
and it has to go before the voters of the whole state of Florida if God willing they have the taste and the appetite to try to do it. But I stand with you on it. I think it's it's only a plus for us and for any other municipality out there. Uh we're blessed because of all the buildings coming up
and everything else. Others aren't. their homesteaded uh communities, thermicosile communities, and they're going to suffer a lot. So, I hope that God prevails in sensibility
uh and sensitivity of this type of situation because it's going to change the face of the state. And the part that gets to me too is that there's some parts where they say, "Well, since you rule and everything, we'll kind of like do a forgiveness thing and get back."
Either you keep everybody the same and not punish some and others you help out. So maybe it's not the best situation to do that law the way. So, I hope the wisdom and the ability that God be able to help our state representatives and
senators as they're discussing these particular laws because the the effect of this are very very severe to a lot of entities, a lot of cities that have lasted for a lot of years, could be wiped out pretty much overnight. So, I
wanted to get that thank you for what you did. Uh, I would love to also be a co-sponsor on it because I think it the more you look at this, the more of a need. Let's try it. Let's hope they listen and go forth. And thank you for bringing it up, Mr. President.
>> I got a question. >> Sorry. >> Sorry. Commission the other four. >> All right. Just uh No, thank you for bringing this up. I think it's an excellent idea, an excellent piece of legislation. um what the state and the governor are doing is definitely going to handicap a lot of municipalities and we have to
look for other sources of of revenue for the city. Um but I just I just have a question out of curiosity. It might be a dumb question but I'm sure if I have the question a lot of people have the question. So it's and maybe it's more of a question for our attorney unless you
might know. I'm just wondering why do we have this law in the first place? Why did the state pass this law to make to not allow us to use that money? Mr. Your attorney, point of order. >> Uh, okay. So, essentially the under our
constitution, the uh revenue that flows into municipalities as general operating revenue is in the form of adorum taxes, which is essentially property taxes. The other revenue that flows into the
city or into municipalities and counties are for fees. um and building fees, but they are limited to generally roughly offsetting the cost of the of running the building
department. So, you can use building fees, for example, to um lease or rent space for the building department, but you can't use the building fees to lease or rent space for the police department or the
parks department specifically because the fees are designed, they're limited by law to offset actual costs. Now, impact fees are sort of like a gray area between the two because they do cover some acquisition and operating
costs, but only as a result of the impact the additional impact that a given development or property will affect on will have on a city or a municipality. So, if you're bringing in, say, you know, 500 residences,
um, and each residence is going to have one and a half cars, then you're going to need roads, you're going to need, and they may have children, you're going to need parks, and so forth. So, you can offset that additional cost. But the
uh in general the the day-to-day operating costs of all government of state I'm sorry of all local and municipal government is advelum taxes and advalorum taxes only. Now the the way that this is worded
recall that the only law superior to state law is federal law and none of this violates any federal law. So the state can act within its uh within its portfolio here however the state feels
like acting. So this um this resolution does not um dictate to the state specifically what we would want to do. It essentially tells the state the goal
that we would want and says, "Please fix the law to make it happen." Whether that's a constitutional amendment, statutory revisions, however that might be, it's it gives them a goal and lets them work towards it in whatever fashion that they think is appropriate. Does
that answer your question, Commissioner? >> Um, yeah. Sort of just like in as few words as possible. Why did they >> you saying I speak too much? >> Could may I? >> Yes. To answer your question, many years
ago, many of the cities started charging fees and so on for the permitting and stuff like that, but they were going straight into the general uh ledger and and so on. And then the departments were suffering with hiring people and so on.
And they weren't paying them what they should have been paid back in the day. This is a long time ago. So the state in his wisdom developed these laws so that each building department could be consistent within itself and have the adequacy and not
have pay Peter to pay Paul type situations where it goes straight into the budget back then to develop these programs. So now it's kind of come full pledge around to a different view and that's actually
the need that because we're blessed this way because of the amount of buildings and I think our president said it earlier the amount of development that has taken place in our city is giving us a nice amount of money that could be used right back for the citizens within
our community. But because of this law, we're held that we cannot use it the way is that could be best used for for the higher and best use. So that's the issue. And it was done way back in the day to try to develop and bring up these
departments that were especially in smaller areas, but yet they were they were growing. So they wanted to make sure their streets, their drainages, and everything were properly handled. So hopefully that's the best way I could give you the view on that. >> Okay. Yeah, that yeah, that clears it up
a bit. Um, so basically it was passed a long time ago because of other because of past cities abusing of those monies. So this was just to put them in check, but I know that that's not going to be a problem now because every you I I tr this administration is very competent
and and a lot of the cities have competent leadership and there's city attorneys and you know and everything is online now. So, there's a lot of accountability. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice. I have a question. Uh, this is going to turn into a little workshop, and I know you hate when I do
this, uh, Mr. Attorney. Um, impact fees are a onetime fee upon a development. Correct. >> Yes, sir. >> But a police impact fee on a development, let's say, oh, I don't know, the trailer park, um, that onetime fee is X amount.
>> Yes. But law enforcement has to uh provide services till the end of time in that trader part. My question is a two-part question. First, can I charge a reoccurring impact fee legally? >> No.
>> No. The impact fee is >> I thought I couldn't. >> Yeah. The impact fee is on the impact that they will have immediately and it's generally to buy more cars and so forth or equipment and that kind of thing. >> Okay. >> The >> or personnel within the department >> within personnel. Exactly. But what happens then is that if you put in say
500 new homes there the >> the adalor increases it makes up the difference. >> I got >> take that correction. Capital only. >> Um so madame clerk, Mr. Attorney, I want to add some language to this. I want to add uh language to notify all local
government, city managers, city council members, uh city commissioners, county commissioners, schoolboard members, state reps, state senators, and the governor. >> Okay. Well, we already have the governor. We have the um president of
the Senate, the speaker, the speaker of the house, uh the county uh mayor, the mayors of all municipalities in Miami Date County, uh all state senators and representatives from districts located in Miami Date
County, clerk of the Senate, clerk of the house, clerk of courts of Miami date county, uh clerks of all the municipalities located in Miami date county, legal cities, local legal cities and such persons or
entities as deemed proper by the mayor. That's a relatively expansive list. >> It is. Uh so you put in there all city clerks. >> Yes, sir. >> In Miami Day County, not the state of Florida. Correct. >> That's correct. >> Good. Put all city clerks in the state
of Florida. >> Okay. >> With instructions to notify the respective elected officials. Okay, >> cool. >> Yes, sir. I'm just making a note here. Hold on. >> Commissioner Jose the other floor.
>> You got the instruction. >> Ralph, >> I'll let you finish before. >> That's fine. Um, >> real quick, just point of order on where it says the House of Representatives um include the complete elimination of property taxes. That's not what they're proposing, isn't it?
Isn't it just for homesteaded? >> Yes. Should should that be corrected to say for because it's saying complete elimination of property taxes >> floor the fourth down >> it considered other proposals including
the complete elimination of property tax. It doesn't say that they're going to that they actually passed um Florida >> just asking if elimination should be >> that's up to you. I wanted just homesteaded. Yeah, but the House of
Representatives passed HJR 203, which would amend the Constitution to phase out non-school property taxes on homestead properties over 10 years. Um, the language regarding elimination of all property taxes that is that states
the House considered it, but there's no language that have passed it. >> Okay. I'm just >> I'm not clearly not an attorney. I just want to make sure we're good there. >> Possibility. >> Okay. Um >> if you think it's fine, then that's good. I'm good with that. Thank you.
>> Anybody else have any anything else? >> Just uh Mr. President, one more one more thing statement earlier about that you know the funding that that we have that we're going to in a good place. We sure are. Thank God. uh because of the amount of uh area commercial area and this
industry and so on that we have the the issue lies that that we really you know was a statement made that we don't need to really you know pull our belt and tighten it. Well, thanks to this commission and the way the
administration moving it, we're constantly looking where to save and where to be efficient. And since day one, we have changed everything around to make it efficient and not having the system that it used to be that just spend all the money that's left in the
budget so next year you get the same kind of thing. That doesn't happen anymore in this city. So to answer that, we still have to be frugal. We still have to be vigilant. We still have to make sure that everything is tight and and we go through the bidding process.
We do. And that's just appropriately. I want to get that out there because we're, you know, we really don't know at the end of the day what's finally going to come through. So, I just wanted to make sure I put that on the record. Thank you, sir. >> Um, so I I'm glad that you guys think it's a good idea. I do have to be
transparent. Um, I actually got this idea from Commissioner Marti. Uh, and I'll I'll remind you when it was. It was during a commission meeting where um you were frustrated when it was during one
of your one of the first meetings. Um, or was it a budget hearing? I'm not sure, but this is years ago where you're like, "This is this is stupid. We can't use our own our own building and zoning funds." I don't know if you remember that. >> Well, regardless, I got the idea from you. >> Um, and then in conversations I got to
give you kudos. uh and then in conversations with the mayor uh adding his frustrations about not being able to utilize those funds. So either way uh so Mr. Mayor, if you want to go ahead and co-sponsor that item, I don't know if we're allowed to have additional co-sponsors or as many as we want. You know what? We'll make the rules.
>> Whoever wants to co-sponsor, jump on board. >> Uh who wants to co-sponsor aside from the mayor? Commissioner Yano, Commissioner, Commissioner Ronald Re, >> Commissioner, >> Siz, uh, the whole King Kabuto, please.
>> Do we have a motion on this item? >> Motion by Commissioner Daniel, second by Commissioner Saliaz. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Item passes. Thank you, folks. >> You don't remember that. Swear to God. >> Mr. President, there was a question that
was just raised as to the need for an amendment because it had not been submitted yet for consideration and this is your matter >> again. I'm sorry. >> There had been a question raised. I just want to clear up the air on this about the need for an amendment and a vote on the amendment because this is >> but because this is his item and has not
been submitted to the vote yet. He is free to amend it on his own under Robert's rules before it's submitted to the commission. >> So I've got to amend and tell me what I have to >> No, no, no, no, no. You're you're done. You're done. >> You're good. You're good. >> Okay, great. All right, so uh that item
passes. Uh staff item 11G, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Sweetwater authorizing change order to an expansion of contract with H&R Paving, Inc. for the milling resurfacing and striping of certain portions of Southwest 115th Avenue. Providing for
authorization to expend funds, providing for dispersement of funds. providing for further authorization and providing for an effective date. Mayor Diaz. >> Thank you, Mr. President. And as we know, we approved the the Southwest 2nd
Street from 114 to 115 to re redo the surfacing and making it nice for our residents and that was approved in couple of minutes before. But when we started looking and we've been talking to a lot of the residents and been complaining about the parking and people
parking on the swells and so on as you all know because one way or another I think everybody here has come to me with that issue. Um, we started to look around our city engineer along with our building department and code. We've all
worked together, even our finance and and trying to figure out how we could try to expedite this while we gave a contract already to an entity that's doing the Second Street. It goes right
into 115. So they're already mobilized when they started and it will save us a lot of money to just continue on since they're mobilized and if we get a good price which we asked to see if there was a possibility of a good price and they
came back with a very good price for us which is stated here which is $70,000. There's an estimated savings between 10 15 or more due to the way it was done. It makes it a lot easier. We get to put the parking spaces I think all the way
from second street to Alejandroth >> sixth >> fifth fifth street. So those parking spaces and also keeping the greenage, the trees and making sure because you know the width of that particular area
is pretty intense, but it does not go all the way out because it runs into some buildings up in I think it's six or seven whatever it is and it it does that. But at least we could provide the resurfacing
and just uh putting the pavement to put some parking spaces on the side and still keeping enough greenage for the water and the runoff and so on. So so this is why I did it. I think it's always good when we could save and also please the residents at the same time. And u I think this is one of those that we made it happen.
>> Commissioner Sales on the floor. >> No, mayor. Um the $70,000 is the total price including the second street. >> No, >> this is separate. >> Separate. >> Okay. >> Remember the difference in length is a lot more distance and they're putting
the parking on the side. >> Right. So this is >> this is from 115 Second Street all the way down to sixth street. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> To fifth >> I fifth street. >> Fifth street. Okay. You guys going to pave all that stuff? All that area right
there. Yeah. And we're going to create the parking on the side where right now they're parking on top of the grass. Yes. >> And people are very upset because they're parking on top of the grass and they're not supposed to park on top of the grass. >> That's the building on Okay, I got it. Right on that corner. Thank you, sir. >> Do the chair.
>> Commissioner Ray first >> on that parking. Is there going to be any um any fee to pay to pay any fee to park? >> Any metered parking? >> That's something we haven't decided right now. It's we just got to this point to do the actual parking. I don't
see the fee to pay because the residents really need it in that area and I don't think we need to do it. The only problem we're having and I think every one of you has dealt with it already is that they come from other places and they take up the parking there. So, I'm
entertaining some different situations. I really don't want to get into it now, but maybe finding a way that it could be the local area if possible because these are streets. either you're going one way or you're going another way. So, I got to sit down and look at the legal side of things and figure out what we could
do. Now, um we have a an issue with the ones right behind uh the wall of the park because that complete surrounding area when there's a bench or you know once we get all the teams going and
everything moving forward, it's going to be pretty full with the people that have to go someplace to park. So we could that's why you see and you already know this and I appreciate your support that you know they cannot park there along that area because some residents use it
for extra parking as it may seem and that has never been overnight parking or nothing like that. As far as I know the city has never had it. So as far as the other areas I don't see it as a problem just keeping it open for our residents first come first serve
>> overnight as well. overnight as well. >> Overnight for now until we look at everything. Same problem we're having. By the way, we're having the same problem on seven terrorists. Most people cannot go and use the linear
park unless you're a resident. You can't come from the other side of the city to use it because there's people use it for parking of their friends or they leave their cars there. And some of you that walk constantly the area know that's a great linear park. They got exercise
equipment and stuff and a lot of people cannot use it unless they get there early. If they get there, you know, four or five, yeah, it's all pretty much taken and there's something that I got to sit down and talk to code. There's a lot of people are coming leaving their work truck
>> there. So, we're trying to deal with it in the same time balance to help the neighbors as best as possible. So that's where we're at. But at least we're getting something done in 115 and they're not parking on top of the or running over the little trees there and
so on. >> Commissioner, you the floor. >> Um so basically in summary, we're doing this because H&R paving is already mobilized. So we're saving a lot of the money in that area. Uh but the question is I just want to make sure are we using
are they honoring the same unit pricing? Yeah, actually getting better by not charging mobilization prices. >> Okay, there you go. >> All righty. Sounds good to me. >> Any other commissioners willing to speak on this item? >> Mayor, where the money coming from? >> Commissioner SD money.
>> The money same pot of money that we have. >> Same as the one that we got from Second Street. >> Yes, sir. >> Is this part of the park for the park improvement? Park improvement? >> No. >> I'm sorry. The park improvement. >> This money? >> No, I'm not touching the park improvement for this >> on this one. Okay. Yeah.
>> Well, we don't >> This is actually improvement. >> Rowway improvement. Thank you, sir. >> Okay. >> Uh before we uh get into that, I uh again, kickass job. >> Thank you. >> We've had a huge issue with parking. Um
specifically in that area. Uh now you're giving the residents an additional u area to park. So kudos to you. I I do want to stress and maybe begin to present an appetite
for two things, and I've been saying this for years. Color coding parking areas. We we're we're now getting big enough and dense enough where we really should consider color coding uh parking areas. And secondly,
um, we don't have, not that I think, I don't believe so, we don't have a parking impact fee. And considering that we're now having a parking issue and eventually we may want to look into a parking garage, municipal
parking garage or whatever it is, structure, whatever appetite, you may want to we may want to start considering implementing a parking impact fee. We currently have police impact fee, park impact fee. Um it's something that we may want to consider. I'm just saying
because it's in the same realm uh as this item. >> Mr. President, >> Mr. Mayor, >> thank you. Uh I'll look into those matters and always look at possible possibilities and move forward on. But I I want to also state that I I want to
thank uh George Vera uh for his work with me uh trying to figure out what we could do uh with the actual situation that everybody that was coming to do a building here wanted to have 0.5 parking
per bed. In other words, a half a for for a bed half of a parking space. Okay? So we have stayed fast and believe me every single developer has tried to ask for that or one of them tried to go
for two 0.25 okay because it was close to the university but we already lived that with 109. So I I told them it's not happening and we I we do not accept anything less than
one bed, one parking space per unit. >> So I want to make sure you understand that we've done something that hasn't been done before, too. And I I I know you know, but it's it's important for the people to to listen to that because we we learn from the mistakes from the
past that were done and we are not repeating them. Anybody else wishing to speak on this item? Do I have a motion on this item? >> A motion by Commissioner Yananiel, second by Commissioner Rainald. >> All in favor say I. >> I.
>> Any opposed? >> Item passes. Uh, item 12, reports. Madam Cher, do we have any other items that I missed? I have a habit of doing that. Item 12, reports. Mayor's report. Mr. Mayor,
>> I do. uh the good times we got to always talk about and we got uh Easter coming up and uh I think yeah there we go it's on there so the citizens could watch uh or see it. Uh we are thanks to this commission and the support uh that we
have we do events throughout the year for our citizens and this is another one that we done and it's one of my favorite ones uh especially with the egg hunts and so on for the kids and we are going to be doing that uh Saturday March 28th.
Okay. So mark it down in your calendar and it's going to be at our park Ronzelli Park. Okay. >> So, it will be at 10:00 a.m. through 100 p.m. And once again, we'll have food. Uh
we'll have the eggs, the bounce houses, the petting zoos, the face paintings, photos with the Easter Bunny, and of course, our photo yearly with the Easter Bunny, us as a government in the commission. So, we should have a very good time. And of course, the music and
so on. So, another thing that we have that's coming up really, really fast is a spring camp adventure adventure, excuse me, at the Horge Moscanosa Youth Center. Uh, and it's going to be March 23rd through the 27th.
Uh, it's from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A lot of parents have been calling to ask that they they really need to put their kids in in there. So, it's a good thing. And we have some very good people. We've hired uh teachers, principal of school
and so on and very qualified people to work the camp. So I'm very happy the fees are the same and we're moving forward to making sure we we could have a great uh a great camp for them. So these are the two things I think that I
want to thank also uh my park director and the deputy director and everybody there. Um, you know, we're doing the very best we can to continue to grow and continue to have our parks full and I know uh the president is goes there with
his kids on the park and Carlo Park at the tot lot and so on and let me tell you it's a blessing to go by there every day and I know you guys walk at the you walk through there a lot with your kids and you live very close to it uh
Commissioner Diaz. So, it is a blessing. I I drive by there and if when you walk in there, people are just thankful because, you know, it was closed for so long and not up to scale and so on. We're working on trying to even make it better every way we can. Uh, but I think
it's important that what we promised when we started has been delivered. And I think promises met, made, promises kept. And that's what thanks to your help and support, we've made it happen. And I just wanted to state that uh we're
looking for bigger and better things to do, too. Uh we haven't stopped there. Uh we're continuing to raise the bar, like I said, and looking for other situations that we could present within our city that will also be important for our
kids. And hopefully we could get it to the older ages, too, and try to put programs for them, too. uh and trying to deal with it. But we are starting now. So we're just starting to the inter mural type sports. We did
soccer, we came out great. We started baseball. We're going to start moving as much as we can. This is the first year. Like I told you, it takes a little while to intersect everything and see what works. basketball started too and we
have a court open for the local um kids that play every day there and they they are incredible. They really protect the house and we have good people out there and making sure that everything is
protected, everybody's happy and there's very limited issues if any. So, we're very proud of that and I think that should be music to your ears. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> All right. Uh, commissioners report. Any
commissioners wishing to report? Commissioner stop. >> Yes, sir. >> Commissioner, >> uh, Mr. Mayor, I uh, I have a couple of requests for you. >> Okay. >> Uh, but but I got a question. I heard when you left the county commission, you were benching 400 pounds. >> So, I wanting 400.
>> I want to see if you still have that. >> Who told you that? He was a liar. >> Okay. Well, I want to see if you still have that kind of clout. So, here's what I mean. U, for those of you that don't know, station 29, the fire station that's right there on fourth, >> our station >> is it's it's one of our it's one of two, >> right?
>> It's normally in the top five in the county. And what I mean by that, it's in the top five busiest right now. There's two rescues in there. I'd like you to petition the mayor of the county to leave the two rescues there. Let's see how much you can bench. >> Good challenge.
>> So, so that's one. So, so our other station 68 for those >> by the way. That challenge was before to bring in 68 and it's there. >> So, but here's the challenge with 68. They didn't give us a rescue. >> I've already looked into that. They're looking into it. Let's see what she
comes back and say. >> So, so my challenge to you is can we formally request one that they leave the second rescue at 29 and two that they they give us some kind of plan with when are they going to give us a rescue at 68. All right, let me This goes back uh
to what we were talking before on the actual tax situation that the state is putting us into. Same thing is happening with the county and they said they were going to deal with fire, but they're unsecure as to what's actually going to come out.
Conference hopefully might happen uh in Tallahassee this toward this weekend. They still haven't said it, but it should happen. So we have a clear idea what's really going to move forward. >> So and I tell you this because I already have discussions with them and the
problem is that they don't know how hard the budget's going to get hit. So they can't promise anything until they really understand and do the numbers. So it doesn't stop us for asking us because station 29 for many many years has been
the busiest station not only in Day County but probably southeast United States. >> Yeah. It's >> in the nation. >> It's a it's a tough it's a tough place to work. >> Yeah. And it's you're constantly busy. That's for sure. >> So So my next >> and 68 is also moving hard.
>> Yeah. My next piece is I'd like to formally ask you to commission a five-year strategic police staffing study for us. >> I'm not an expert. Take it easy, Tiger. >> Sorry. >> It's not a It's not a donut study. It's a, you know,
>> so so a few meetings ago, uh, Commissioner Vanuela >> basically said, you know, we need to double up the staffing of the police and and so I listen to things a lot of time and don't look to the cops. This is not their doing. Don't look down there. This is
>> Okay, I got you. Don't worry. You keep going. >> So, so you know that I walk the city. What I don't normally do is drive to the very west of the city. And so I've been driving back there. There's a lot going on back there. And to respond from here
to there is is quite challenging. There's only a couple roads that feed out there. Um, you know, I I found some numbers online that say we have 22,000 residents. Um, I found some other numbers online that say we have 100,000
residents that visit the mall. So, you know, there's a whole dynamic to this whole thing. Um, but what I came up with just on my own, and again, I'm not an expert on this. It's a, you know, I believe we should have 12 patrol officers on shift. We have half of that.
So, again, I I'm not an expert. So, what I'm asking is because of the growth that's coming that we formally hire someone that is an expert that can come in and give us a five-year plan on where we should be staffed. >> And wholeheartedly, I respect your
opinion because I tend to agree wholeheartedly that we need to, in fact, you're never going to find an elected official that has been more pro police in the 35 years that I've been in service as an elected official. find one. I appreciate you do so because I
want to thank him and to continue on and every one of you to be pro police the way you are. But I got to be very straightforward. We also got a fiscal responsibility and that fiscal responsibility to our citizens is very important just like the police
protection is very important but we need to make sure of what's coming because let's be straightforward. If we have a particular project within just very close to without mentioning it that particular project could bring us between 40 to 50,000 people
in that particular grid in 100 acres straight up. Not only do we need to double the department, we'll have to quadruple the department. >> Okay, let's be truthful. But then when you ask for taxes, there is no taxes
coming in. And then when you ask for impact fees, there might not be no impact fees coming in. It's only maybe in commercial, not in residential. So when we do this, let's look at everything in one shot because there's
nobody, I promise you, and I give you my word and everybody got it on tape. There's nobody that will want to have especially coming from this department both of us more than me but that before
that I have to be fiscally responsible to everybody there'll be a time for everything and just like we saluted them for the work they've done and and I thank you for that Mr. president, but we got to be very sensitive and very smart.
How do we move forward? If you ask anybody in police or or fire, of course, you want to have more. You want to have this because there's a need for it. But you got to also be able be responsible
to pay for it because it also comes with pay hikes. It also comes with contracts. It also comes with a lot of things that it's not just that easy. I guarantee you, you don't need to hire somebody. I am telling you right now, we'll probably have to triple the police department that we have.
>> I I'm not I'm not arguing the point. I I like Commissioner Vanuela says, this is a very pro uh police commission. I'm I'm trust me, I'm not arguing against you. I I agree. I just think it would be best, you know, it takes time to do a study like this. it takes time to find someone
and do an RFP and do a study. Um, I'd like for us to consider that. That way when the time comes that you we can make an informed decision of, hey, year one we need to be at 95 cops, year two we need to be at 115, year three, you know
that it's that we have a document prepared by a professional like you do now. >> And I 100% agree. And you know what? I am going to do that because it's going to show when we have a meeting in a couple of weeks the need for taxes and the need for
impact fees. >> Yeah. No, no doubt. I agree. >> And you will be voting on something. And this is not just one. There is many coming in here. Okay. And I got to admit that man sitting over there, a finance director, has tried to work very hard to
make sure that where other buildings are going with bond programs and stuff like that that the city still is resp is respected to have those police officers still coming, you know, being able to get paid and everything else. So this
will also is a dual purpose. Not only the need per person because I forgot it's 3.5 >> 3.5 per 10,000 residents. >> It actually it varies based on what I
found, but it it depends on a number of variables. That's why it's >> correct. No, you're 100%. But that's just a standard number that's thrown out. >> So I will look into that and I will tell you right now, you're going to be surprised as to what's the future is coming. And it's something that is very
simple. 2 plus 2 equals 4. It doesn't equal 30. It doesn't equal three. It equals four. So that's the the math that we have to deal with. We cannot sit here and try to do number theory because somebody thinks it could happen, should happen, or whatever. We owe that to our
residents. We got to be clear and precise to make there's nobody better that would love to say, hey, we want to add x amount more, but it comes with a cost. And that's all I'm saying. So I'll be more than happy to do that. I will look and to see first of all who does
that, how is it done and so on and we will take it from there. >> Thank you. >> Commissioner is Ruiz. Just make sure you throw a sub station in >> actually actually now that we're talking that we're talking now that we're
talking I I spoken to every single one of you and I told you what the future is. The future is that we're growing and we've grown and we need a new police station and we need a new city hall and
that all of us know that our residents know that it's how it's done and how we could work with entities around us to make sure that we could do that. If not also that is why impact fees are asked for because when you build something so
big it creates an impact on the area. Therefore that's what that money is for. So it perfectly states parks, police and general uh general min uh general government, right?
>> General government and transportation as well. >> And transportation too. Thank you. I had one off. So yes, we have to be very very very cautious as to you know moving forward but I guarantee you when you see this
impact this is why and I appreciate the uh the president actually we had a conversation and that conversation is this is why we do workshops so everybody could ask the questions without having to be binded to
something in that particular moment and give you time to think but to know everything that's going on because you're 100% correct. And look, that's been something that's been thought up for many years already. This is a center
of day county and we're surrounded by major arteries and transportation. We're in the key spot. FIU holds an incredible spot right next to us and we're on the other side of it. So, yes, we got to look at
everything and make sure. So, I'll look into that, Commissioner, and I will get back to you as soon as I start seeing things. All right. >> Any other commissioners have a report? >> Commissioner, who was first? >> Commissioner Y. >> Um, I have a question. Well, really,
it's a a concern. Um, I know we brought this up before, but I don't honestly I don't remember what what was said or I don't know if we even discussed it. I think maybe it was pulled from the agenda, but um there's this huge development coming out there west of 137th Avenue, the whole big Kelly
tractor development. It's massive. So, I was reading about it. You know, I didn't know about it when it was happening, but now I I know it's still going on. I know they the county commission passed it, mayor vetoed it, and now they are working on overturning it. Um but before they get there, I don't know if maybe we
need to >> return the veto the first veto. >> Okay. Yeah. My concern is that if they build something out there, it's in a flood basin and and you know, for many years, Sweetwater through your efforts have reduced all the flooding with all the pump stations and stuff that has been done. So my concern, if they build
something out there in this flood basin immediately west of the city, if it's going to cause the city to start flooding again because the water is pumped out to the canals and it goes out there, if this huge concrete thing is out there, are we going to start getting flooded again? So that's my concern. I just want to make sure that doesn't
happen, you know? City of Sweet Water does not have the issues. I made a statement and sent that out that do not use the city of Sweet Water as a pond for another issue. >> Okay. And I was very offended by that. City of Sweet Water has not flooded a
very long time. We still working on one area which is our commercial area that we got a couple of streets and we're already have waiting for the final design so we could get contractors in and start getting that taken care of. And the only street that's left is still, excuse me, Avenue is 110 that
still has that issue. And we're working on that, too. So, we're working on every part of it. But that's very far from the area where Kelly Tractor is at. And as a commissioner of the district for 20 years, I know that
area like the back of my hand. That area is not pristine waterland. That's muck and mud. So much so that that's where people go get on a motorcycle and get out there and tear up
the whole area. That whole area has been disturbed. And I know that because that's where our pumps that I did as a commissioner. Okay. Which save in a major rainstorm. So we don't have the problem that was
done in the norm storm. And we have 600 I don't know finally how many 80 I think it is total acres out there 36 exactly. Okay. And with the pump station which you guys went to and saw. So this abuts
that area with a canal in between. So again depending who you ask or how you asked the question it affects one group or another but it does not flood the city of Sweetwater. And I want to be real clear on that. And the area which
we abut is 137th Avenue between 12th Street and 25th Street. So that area there has been built out because we just finished annexing that three four years ago. That was built out by day county. That's on a higher plane.
Okay. So and it's under storm water. It has everything that it needs to do to move water. because you have some pounding here and there. That happens everywhere in Day County, but the water leads fast through the drainage systems. So, I hope I answered your question
because I don't like the city to be thrown in in the flooding because it has nothing to do with Kelly Tractor. And to be honest with you, if I would have been around, I would have supported that application in the county commission straight up.
>> Okay, good to know. Yeah. Yeah, you definitely answered it. I just, you know, I don't know a whole lot about it. I just was worried about if something being built there is going to cause us to flood again in the future, but that's clearly not the issue. So, I'm good. >> Any other commissioners wishing to
report commissioner stuff? >> Unless I call >> I'm just co-sponsoring. I wanted to co-sponsor Commissioner Marty's uh challenge about station 29 and 68 to the mayor. >> Who doesn't think you can bench 400 pound? >> Come on. >> I'm co-sponsoring that.
co-sponsoring. >> So, I have a few things. Um, >> so, first I want to echo Commissioner Mati's sentiment. Uh, I've been talking about a strategic plan, not only for the police department, but for the city. Um,
since I since I became an elected official, I will um I will add a caveat to uh Commissioner M's recommendation about hiring a consultant. I I think we got subject matter experts here. Um I
mean if that if that is your appetite, you know, I'll respect it. But I I uh I believe that we have subject matter experts here who have done the job I think collectively for about 300 years because they're all three of them are old. They've been in law
enforcement a long time. Um so I if if if Mr. Mr. Mayor, you can direct um your substandard command staff. You know, I've mentioned that before. They're okay. Um no, just in case anybody clips that, the best command staff in Miami
County. Um so, if you can direct them to uh issue a a five-year strategic plan in the police department, that would make me insanely happy. I so I echo Commissioner Monti sentiment. Um If we're going to do that
to show it to people, >> sorry. Thank you. If we're going to do that, it shouldn't be independently done. It cannot be homegrown because then it's some people see it as self-interest. So if we do things, we do it right like
everything we're done. And you have an independent study done, but including all the caveats, not just we need more people. We know that we don't have to hire anybody. We know when you have x amount of buildings coming up and x amount of units, uh you
have three whatever whatever factor use three or four or two depending on what you want it to come out. So let's just say you go to three multiply times three. If you got 10,000 units more or less coming in right now, that's 3,000 people.
If you got four per unit, that's 4,000 people. I mean 40,000 people. Sorry, math was not off. It's just the way I said it. So we had 30,000 or 40,000 depending how you look at it. Now that's just one particular area. Now add all the student buildings that are not dealt
with and add that math to it. So, it's pretty interesting that our guys and actually I give them all the credit in the world because they're doing a mammoth job with the
amount of people that they have and so much so that we still reduce crime 66% in two years. So, my hat and my thanks goes out to them. But I always even my heart wants to say,
"Hey, yeah, let's just do it." But then how do we pay for it? And that's the equation that has to be balanced at all times. So I will take and I will look at that. And by the way, we did do the study that you requested for to try to look at the five and 10 years. We
already hired the people to to move forward on, you know, the strategic look of the city and what we're doing. And I've asked every single department head to come up within their department what
every employee does, what they do, how they do it, what they've done, the projects that have been done in the last year and so on. So we're showing this because that's all information that's going to be needed moving forward. So I'll go ahead and look into that as
asked and I also look to see the strategic side of it. But I do think if this is going to be done, it has to be third party just to get the velocity that we need to make sure it's done properly. >> No problem. Um I will most certainly
um make sure that my vote goes towards somebody who is capable and and I I doubt they're going to be better than our police command staff. That's for sure. And I'll tell them to their face. But I will respect the wishes of my
colleagues. Um, and listen, just the fact that we're having this conversation, everybody knows to me that's a win. So, yeah, more cops. Um, uh, during spring break, the Civil Air Patrol is going to be having a field trip. Well, Commissioner Yan, do you
want to mention that? I don't want to take your, uh, >> No, go ahead because it was your idea. So during uh spring break, the Civil Air Patrol is going to be having a field trip to a company called General MRO. General MRO is a an airplane repair
station in Medley. They're uh the largest or one of the largest airplane repair stations in the United States. They have over 300,000 square feet. Um and they have everything in airplane uh repair uh excluding engines, but they do
have engine components. So, I have a request. Number one, I ask that all of my colleagues on the commission, if you're able that day, will be coordinating uh with that company u and the Civil Air Patrol if you guys can
join us. >> Uh I don't know yet. It's during spring break, so I'll I'll coordinate uh and number two, Mr. Mayor, hopefully you and I already spoke about this. Hopefully, you're available. You don't have a scheduling conflict. Um, I'd love for all of us to show up and support our our
kids in the Civil Air Patrol program. Uh, General MRO, trust me when I tell you're going to be thoroughly impressed with um with this facility. Um, secondly, we're going to need some transportation. So, I've already uh spoken to the mayor and we're in the beginning stages about that. Hopefully,
we would have a scheduling conflict. Um, another thing is, Mr. Mr. Mayor, we're going to need assistance from your office uh to receive boxes of food from a nonfor-profit organization. Um, >> yeah,
>> sure. But I still want to mention it uh that we want to uh we're going to be receiving boxes of food from a not for-profit organization and uh we're going to need some transportation from that. you and I spoke about that, but I definitely want to um enlighten our colleagues on the commission and anybody
who wishes to join um in that venture. I guess we'll be in contact through the mayor's office and then we can do something jointly. Um we do have the situation with the trailer park
coming up. I think the mayor brought up very very valid points. There are some things that was not that were not discussed during the uh master in the master agreement. We did not discuss noise ordinance in the master agreement. We did not discuss uh the alcohol
variance in proximity to a school because there is a school component. If there's going to be if they're going to be selling alcohol in restaurants and bars and clubs, comedy clubs, they need to have an alcohol variance. So, that wasn't discussed. We have to discuss times of operation for bars, uh,
lounges, comedy clubs, restaurants. Um, we don't want to have these clubs operating till 7, 8:00. We're not going to have what's that club next to, uh, in the city of Miami? Uh, the what's that club? >> 11. >> Space.
>> Space. That one that was open. We don't want that. Um, and I don't think the developer wants that either, but the developer is not the steward of the city of Sweetwater. We are, even though I'm sure the developer has the very best of intentions, we do have to be the stewards of the city. Uh, we do have to
talk about times of operation. We do have to solidify fees. Um, and are we going to be giving concessions? So, number one, we're talking about
impact fees, police impact fees. Um, but I want to make sure that they're paying their taxes. I want to make sure that the advalorums that are going to be generated from that build are going to be able to pay for our operations. They're talking about having a hospital
and 6,000 units. And I and I've said it. I think that's very ambitious. Look, I hope they do it. I hope they make a gazillion dollars. But in the event that they don't get that hospital deal, they're going to be adding more units. And 6,000 units can turn into 12,000
units. And that kind of changes things. That changes the traffic impact study. That changes a lot of things. I want to make sure that the city of Sweetwater is receiving the adorums necessary for us to run operations. I'm not trying to strangle hold the developer. I want them
to develop, but I want them to develop responsibly, efficiently, and effectively. But I don't have a problem giving concessions, and I want to make that abundantly clear. So long as those concessions are reasonable. I know that years ago in Miami Beach, the Lowe's
Hotel, um, when they were building the Lowe's Hotel, the city of Miami Beach gave the Lowe's hotel concessions. Now, I think that's up for the professionals. I'm not a building professional or permitting professional. You know, that I leave that to the
attorney, to our special counsel, to the mayor who has uh, you know, a gazillion years um, in in development. That's actually a craft construction. I I know very little about that and I
and I can't sit here and act like an expert. I can only read and use common sense. Um I do want us to and I want to echo the mayor's sentiment. My priority is and always will be police. And I know that that kind of
pisses people off, but the reality is that without safety and security, we cannot function as a nation. and we have to have safety and security within our municipal government. So, police is always going to be my top priority. So, I definitely want to see the
possibilities of having a police department. Secondly, we're we need a city hall. This building, I believe, was erected in 1974, and we put lipstick on a pig as much as we possibly can. But now, as the city grows, we have people sharing
desks. Uh, I walked into an office one day. There was four people in one office. Um, I think at this point we're putting desks in front of another. I don't know where we're going to put. I think the police chief is using a shed as a storage area. So, we definitely want to, as we continue to grow, we want
to grow and expand. I want to be able to give our mayor uh the necessary tools to operate this city efficiently and effectively. So, I want to echo the mayor's sentiment. Um, I do want to see hopefully the police,
by the way, that's a phenomenal idea. I wish I would have come up with that, Commissioner Mi having a a five-year strategic uh plan. That was brilliant idea. Um, for police and for the city. What are you writing? I can't say that out loud. Um, so other than that, I don't have
anything else. I think I've spoken long enough. Does anybody else have anything? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Yano, you have the floor. No. Um, mayor, are we get uh I'm going to get back to you tomorrow, but he was telling about the uh food distribution.
I'm working on it and it's a lot of details that you need to know. They're going to present it over to you. So, as soon as I have it, which I should have it by tomorrow, I will call you and we can sit down and explain to you, you know, what is for and how does it work. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh, we'll get together and
talk. I'm going to be honest with you guys as always and straight out. There's a lot of entities always asking to bring in food all the time. There's not just this one particular church or another because I've had them. The thing is we
have food giveaways once a month and we're doing that and I just want to make sure when you we talk about this again, it's something that we need to make sure because there's a lot of entities out there that uh let me see how I can say
this. they receive funding from different parts of government to actually be able to do that and so on. So I'll be more than happy anything that we could give to the people I'll be more than happy to participate and do.
>> It's just so once you give you got to make sure that it's followed up. >> But sir let me explain to you how it is. This is something that is not new. These people have been giving these boxes to both building uh water tower is feed America and what happened is the
situation is this two months ago they stopped delivering to them and they say to them that they have to pick them up. I went to the church where they're supposed to be picked up and they told me that I need to talk to Feed of America because they are the one who
giving all these boxes to this church and they bring a list only the persons that they're allowed you know to pick them up. This is something different. It's something that have been done forever and they stop delivering. They said they cannot deliver anymore and
those people don't you all the people in both buildings only for both buildings. They can't go over there. It's too far from them. They don't have transportation. They can pick them up. And that's that's what I'm I'm getting all the information for you. >> Okay. Give me all the information. I'll be more than happy again uh to
facilitate if you know we could do it, which I think we can find a way. And if it's something that's been going on for so long, you know, I just want to make sure that if we could get it, we'll we'll do our best. Okay. Um, Mr. Mayor, when is the public
workshop scheduled with whatever the name of the place is, city center, Flaggler City Center, district center, the trader park. Then when is that workshop scheduled for? I am actually going to be talking to the attorneys tomorrow
uh involved and I will get to you guys as fast as possible and set that up. >> Thank you. I really appreciate that. I want to expedite that workshop. >> Um >> we've tried everything to expedite and you guys know that. I get it. >> So, but we want to make sure that everything >> Let me say it so I don't forget it.
Yeah. So, um I I I you guys know me. You know I like to ask a lot of questions. I'm not here to have a 30-minute meeting and and I don't think you guys are either. I I want us to have to come with a litany of questions. Um
let you guys speak first, whatever. You know, if let's just hash this thing out. Let's have an open dialogue. Understanding the developer, we know him personally. You know, he's a great guy, but he's he's looking out for his bottom line. Um, we're the stewards of the
city. We need to do what's best for our residents and we need to make sure that our operations are paid for. They're paying their taxes because we never want to raise taxes. And and I know I I don't have to say that with you guys. You know, you guys are are men and women of
very good moral character. And like I've said, this is the best commission in the history of the city of Sweetwater. Uh, I do have to correct you on one thing, Mr. Mayor. You said you were in the county for 20 years. You were incorrect. You were 22 years. Um >> or they didn't know about two more years. >> 22 years in a
>> you say so Mr. President. >> It was 2001 to 2023. That's correct. >> Yes. You were elected. >> It's 20 years. But >> it was 2001 to 2023. >> Okay. >> See that's that fuzzy math all over again.
>> All right. So other than that, um >> Mr. President, I would like to um >> Mr. Salia, sir. >> When you get to police report, talk about it. >> All right. Uh city clerk's report uh attached city attorney's report. >> Uh Mr. Minister had
>> Mr. Attorney Mr. uh Mestre had a u a comment that he wanted to make. >> State say your name and address for the record, sir. >> Evening. Uh Caesar Mestree, partner with Castessi Lopez, Mestre and Kobea. We're special counsel on the Orlando Lopez
versus City of Sweetwater matter. I just wanted you to know that on February 24th, uh we received the three summones were served on the city, the mayor, and the pension board. Um
the summones were already sent to the attorney handling this matter. His name is James Himenez, uh with the firm of Roberts, Reynolds, Badard, and Utusio. They have offices in West Palm Beach and
Fort Lauderdale among others. And also um we've had a very informational meeting uh with one of the pension board members which was very enlightening. And all this means is now the case is moving. Uh we have 20 days, the attorney
has 20 days to respond. Uh the responses may be the same for all three defendants. They may not. They haven't made that decision yet. But I just wanted you to know that the case is moving. >> Thank you, sir. Uh, any commissioners have any questions?
>> All right. Thank you very much, sir. >> Uh, Mr. Attorney, anything else? >> All right. Police report attached. >> Yeah. >> Commissioner Salas, you have >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Yeah, I just want to say something. The other day, about two weeks ago, I got a call
from a resident. She's 92 years old. And um she was telling me that um a police officer went over to her house. This lady work uh lives in her house by her do with her daughter. She's 92. And officer Kintana, which is she's here
right now. She went over to her house. Uh she was she went there to her house prior because she pressed a a panic button and she went there and she got her number. her. I mean, she the police officer Kintana went over and told her
that she was going to pass by and she called me telling me that um this police officer went to her house and brought her flour and chocolate >> and that that's that really got me when she was telling me this commissioners.
Um I wasn't, you know, I couldn't believe. So I called the chief to see what's going on and and just let her know that, you know, what a great job this department has done. Chief, can you come over and and let us know what I mean the chief I talked to him and he told me that uh they got this officer
because I see I see her all over the place. I see her at uh at the senior center >> and then the uh chief was telling me that he came out with this program to go around and he's going to explain a little bit more. Thank you, Chief. So, uh, good evening, Chief Sergio Diaz,
Sweet Water Police Department. So, about a year ago, um, the mayor and I were talking about all the amount of seniors that we have in the city, and we came up with a plan that let's have a police
officer uh, start in a part-time basis uh, visiting the senior centers, uh, the homes. Uh we do have a large population of seniors. Uh we need to recognize that just like we have students. So I know
that officer Kintana um does a great job of communication uh especially with the seniors. So we have her uh along with patrol functions. She will on a daily basis go and visit
the different entities that we have that involve the seniors. Eventually, when we do hire more police officers, I do want to make it into a full-time position where we handle not just seniors, but also the student population. And that was just one of the things that she did.
Um, she goes to the uh the community center and she'll play dominoes, take roses. >> Yep. >> She's gone way beyond to what I have asked of her. Uh I never envisioned what a great job she she's doing. I just
nearly needed somebody to be a spokesman for the police department, especially with all the scams that are occurring with the senior citizens, uh, state attorneys, uh, has been very involved with senior scam investigations, which is something also that I want to do. So,
that's merely what we're doing. It's something that we we spoke about a while back, uh, about the seniors, and that's basically what occurred. >> Yeah. Thank you, chief. And, um, I call the chief directly. I make it threeline call and uh thank you for respond chief
and she was very very very excited mayor that uh for 45 years that she's been in this city she hasn't make a you know she was very happy that a police officer knock on her door and took flowers and and and a chocolate she was very
impressed and that's why I took the initiative of calling the chief right then and there because I couldn't believe and uh she talked to the chief and uh thank you thank you Mr. Mary for the for that. And officer Kintana, I appreciate you very very much.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much for what you do. I appreciate >> the share. To the chair. >> Say your name for the record. >> To the chair because she started. I'm a witness. She goes to the senior center. I see each other. They love her. She brings her chocolates and they're all
waiting for her. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And her grandmother's there, too. >> Say your name for the record. Hi, my name is Maria Kintana. I'm a police officer in city of Sweet Water. And yes, I'm I'm truly honored to be in that position. I don't do it because I'm forced. I generally do it because I love to make an impact. I think it's very
important for elderly to show that we're here, that we're present. Um even we go to one of the residents in 104 in Southwest Cemeteries and even Officer Risco has come with me to visit the elderlys. They just want to talk and have a conversation and that builds a
rapport for us and I just enjoy what I do. So thank you. >> Yeah, that's for all these seniors. >> Yes. Yes. No. And and if I don't bring chocolate, they get mad. So I got to bring chocolate. >> That's commissioner. That's and mayor and chief. This is what I call police um
community policing right here. This is it. This is what what I'm talking about and I'm very proud about this police uh police uh department. Thank you. Not only not only does she does a great job with the elderly, but now that uh we have
specialized, I am also going to make sure tomorrow I'm having a meeting with my uh brass uh and we're going to discuss a couple other things like the parks. We're also going to go back to patrolling the parks and walking beats and things like that. So, these are the things that is true community policing
and stuff that needs to be done to continue to improve policing within our city. So that combination of talking to the residents and participating in helping them out directly, uh, we're going to build on that and we're going to go stronger on that, you know, and make sure they get out of the car more
and walk and knock on doors. That's what we're going to do. >> All right. >> So, um, I I will say one thing about Officer Gintana. Officer Gintana is uh a member of the United States military with the uh the National Guard. So,
thank you for your service. Uh, aside from that, at last year's um, active shooter training in Dolphin Mall, we have an 80 something member department, you know, SWAT officers, ninja star throwers.
Um, my opinion, she actually did the best out of everybody in the agency. That's just my opinion. Um, you did a kick-ass job. Continue doing what you're doing. Please do me a favor. As you're running across 107 Avenue chasing a cocker
spaniel, as I've seen you do countless times, please look both ways before you cross the street. Okay. Um, continue doing what you're doing. You make us better. So, thank you. Uh, Billy is only report code enforcement report and make sure we
change from code compliance to code enforcement, please. Uh public department of war report uh public works department report is attached. Uh finance report is attached. Uh community and elderly
service report. Stephanie, good job. Attached. Parks and recreation report. Hand up. Attached. Unfinished business. New business. Good to of the order. Ajournment. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Have a good night, folks.
I saw