City Commission - Regular Meeting

I wasn't real keen on Welcome back. Mr. Clerk, you ready?

Good morning. Good morning. I want to welcome you to the September 10th, 2025 commission meeting. I want to thank everyone for being here, our employees, our staff, our wonderful residents, business owners, and everyone who's here to partake in the process. Again, uh our process is a beautiful one. We have multiple different opportunities for people to engage. Uh you can either be here in person, you can engage via Zoom, you can send us an email, you can engage during public comment, or you can speak during the issues that pertain to whatever you're here to speak about. Uh without any further ado, we'd like to get started. We have a very nice agenda today. So, I'd like to uh take this opportunity to invite a good friend of mine, uh, Rabbi Mendy Felic from the University of Miami. Rabbi, thank you for being here with us. Good morning. It's always a pleasure. Wishing you and your family the very best. Thank you for being here with us.

Thank you. Good morning. Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, everyone assembled here today. Let's take a moment for some quiet and personal reflection in whatever faith tradition that we have. Amen. Dear God, we ask you to join us here this morning at this meeting and shine your countenance upon us. We ask that you provide us the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge that we need to work together in continuing to make Coral Gables the wonderful city she is, and the ability to continue to grow into the future. We humbly ask that you give us the inner guidance and fortitude to give of our best to work together with civility and godly grace. Standing here together under your dominion in your creation, we will endeavor to do your will. Please grant health and prosperity we will need to see us through the challenging times and the strength and joy to celebrate the happy ones. Dear God, welcome. Rabbi, as always, we like to extend our our best wishes to your congregation, to your family, to everyone associated with the University of Miami and your incredible institution. We're it's a blessing. It's an honor to have you here in the city. Beautiful. Um, I count count on you not only as a friend uh but as a person who provides guidance and wisdom on uh on many levels and I want to thank you uh for always opening your arms uh to this city and always being

available. You're a true gentleman and a person who again never says no. I want to very welcome and thank you for having me. We look forward to seeing you soon. Thank you madam vice mayor. Will you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? hand over your heart. And I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Merrick moment. Good morning.

Good morning. Thank you for listening um last last uh month. It's now the Merrick moment rather than the Merrick Minute. Thank you. As we celebrate our centennial, the Merrick House brings to the commission the Merrick moment. Little tidbits that add up to a remarkable story. I'm Joanne Maher, Merrick House dosent. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, let's take a look at some of the writings and architecture that influenced George Merrick. The story of George devouring Washington Irving's Tales of the Alhamra as a boy is well known. Planned communities such as Winter Park, Florida, Hawworth, New Jersey, Shaker Heights, Ohio, and New York's Forest Hills Gardens informed his vision. The last step was to incorporate all he had learned into a plan that reflected South Florida's subtropical ambiance. He remembered his first trip to Cuba and visits to Meisner's buildings in Palm Beach and the ancient city of St. Augustine gave him a renewed appreciation of the history and architectural remnants of Spanish Florida. He developed a team who appreciated and understood what he was after. His uncle Denmanf Frink wrote, "When Mr. Merik asked me to join him in carrying out his visualization of the scheme along purely Spanish lines of the real old type, I welcomed the invitation with open arms. In 1927, Spain's King Alonso Tracee took notice and presented Merik with the prestigious order of Isabella de Catholica, which as you know is framed outside these chambers. Come for more of the story

weekends at 1, 2, and 3:00 at the Mer House, 9:07 Coral Way. Tours are free for city employees. And I might add, on Saturday, October 4th, we will be doing our second vintage sale. Our first one was extremely popular and everyone who came asked us to bring it back. So, Saturday, October 4th, please come for all things vintage. Thank you.

Thank you, Joan. If I may, um, I didn't ask you if I could do this, but I'm going to bring it up. with the support of the commission. I would like to start record we are recording these but I would like to start putting these on our website on just as a mer moment and have them on a weekly basis so that people can start learning a little bit more about George Bareric the city of Coral Gables and maybe we can include this in our newsletter. I think it's fun anecdotes but again um I learn things constantly uh from you and obviously from all the dosins and everyone at the mer house but it's an opportunity to just put this out there and it's really showcasing uh the amazing work that the city of Coral Gable is doing and also George Merrick's vision because we're here because of his vision and his understanding of building a great city. So I wanted to get your support on that and the commission support to start doing that.

I'll second that. Give me one second if if I may. Would you like to? Fantastic. And I I I will send to to you all the ones that have been read uh so far and continue to do that. Okay. I just wanted to I didn't have a chance to uh to speak to you about it, but it was just came to my mind a few moments ago and I thought this would be a great idea again just to continue selling the city beautiful. And as you might know, Florida Road Trip is coming out very soon with uh with an entire half an hour show about Coral Gables. So that that's going to be happening this month. So,

so I want to be clear, Mr. Manager, if I may. Uh, this is something I think we can put in our website under its own maybe under a tab talking about America moment and you can have it so people can enjoy them every single week. Maybe we can include in our newsletter. I think it'd be nice to include in our newsletter that we send out uh in regards to the city. Um, and again, maybe it can lead us into other directions once people listen to the Merrick moment. They can learn a little bit more about other historic properties, the Mer House, different things that are happening here in the city. Beautiful. Wonderful. I should mention also that uh Mayor Dorothy Thompson did this type of thing uh back when she was chairing the 75th anniversary. So um we will be um gathering those as well. So we have lots to share.

So that was 25 years ago. Okay. So this is why the Merrick moment makes sense is another example an opportunity to learn. And I want to recognize Mayor Thompson who is here with us today. Thank you for always gracing us with your presence. We're honored to have you. Thank you so much the mayor.

Yes. So, um I echo what your sentiments are and it's a great idea and when you think about it, right, what better time than in the centennial anniversary of the city's founding. So hopefully through the not just entertaining but extremely informative moments that you bring uh Joanne um the residents hopefully can be re-engaged or engage even for the first time to learn more about our amazing city uh through these um through these uh stories and postings that we're going to be putting through the city's website. So great idea and thank you for what you do and it'll be wonderful for all the new people who are moving to the city as well. Precisely. Thank you very much. Okay. Thank you. Yes, Commissioner.

So, um I think that one of the best tours that I've done in South Florida was the Marouse tour that I did with you and uh it was something we did as part of touring the Gables. And shortening that 2-hour tour to a 10-minute segment was very difficult uh because of how much knowledge you have of George Merrick's life, his family's life, and what brought Coral Gables to what it is today. And I think I would urge residents if you have the opportunity, go visit the Mer House. Go do the tour at the Mer House so you can learn more about the history of our city because I think it's it's an eye openening experience and it really gives you an understanding of what it was like 100 years ago to be here in Coral Gables and 120 years ago to be here in Coral Gables uh and what brought it to fruition today. Thank you for the dedication, your lifelong dedication to this project and to learning the history of Coral Gables and sharing it with us.

Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor.

So, I'm going to add to that. Um, bikewalk Coral Gables does tours and we have been doing some tours of some of the um historic areas. This month's bikewalk tour will include the historic entrances. It'll be uh Daryl Gonzalez, one of Doan's volunteering at the Mer House. uh gracefully uh accompanies us uh the past few times and adds wonderful tidbits and uh former commissioner Ralph Cabaro will be leading the next bike walk tour. You can go on the Coral Gibbles Museum website which also has an amazing amazing um presentation going on now through December 2nd that shows uh pictures of Merrick sitting at a table uh negotiating and talking about you know things being built. So go to the museum, participate in the bikewalk tour. You're going to learn something every single time you go. And thank you for lending Dariel to us to u augment that tour and make it something really amazing.

So I I've uh had the pleasure of attending uh these bike tours. I actually led one with the vice mayor through McFarland, which was a pretty impressive uh undertaking. Uh we had a lot of people that attended and we ended it up with a beautiful lunch uh that was uh 100% inspired by Bahamians in our community and it was something that again pretty special. Um and I and I and I recommend and I echo the sentiments of the vice mayor. If you haven't had a chance to do one of the tours or visit the Mer House, it's something that again just one of the many treasures that we have here in the city that sometimes people don't realize it's in our backyard. So I entertain a motion. Second it. Vice Mayor moves it. Commissioner Castro seconds it. Mr. Clerk. All in favor? I Thank you.

Thank you very much. As always, inspiring. Thank you.

First item on the agenda is item A1, presentation or proclamation declaring September 10th, 2025 as Baru Salina's day in Coral Gables. I'm going to read this uh quickly into the record. Whereas Barus Alenzas was born on July 6th, 1935 to a Jewish family of humble means in Havua, he graduated from Kent University, becoming both an architect and a prominent artist. And whereas following the Cuban revolution, Selenas permanently resettled resettled uh in the United States in 1959, embracing his new country and soon enlisting in the US Army. And whereas Selenas became an internationally renowned artist whose work drew re resence resonance across several communities and is noted for its significant contributions to abstraction and his celebrated language of the cloud series marked by spiritual and universal themes and whereas he co-founded groupogala the first known Latin American artist association in Florida alongside noted artists such as Enrique River, Rafaris Oraniano and Jose Miharees and was its last surviving member and whereas By the 1980s, Selenas has solidified his reputation as a leading artist of the Cuban diaspora and reached the highest levels of international art world, forming friendships with iconic 20th century artists including John Mido, Alexander Calder, Mark Shagal, Wero Lamb, and Rufino Damayo. And whereas his work works acquired by several of the world's leading museums and cultural institutions including the Vatican where he participated in a ceremony with Pope Francis receiving his works in 2017. And whereas over his lifetime Selen has held more than 100 solo exhibitions in over 20 countries, earned numerous awards and had works sold through leading auction houses such as Christies. He was also the subject of a book, a documentary film and major retrospective exhibitions. Whereas Salena's also influenced and mentored generations of artists, notably

including former painter Juan Gonzalez and as an artist professor for over 25 years. And whereas after nearly two decades in Spain, he returned to Florida in 1992 and spent his final years in Coral Gables, where his roots extended decades further, including including with the landmark Permu Gallery, one of the earliest Cuban art galleries in the United States. And whereas Selena's career elevated the global visibility of Cuban, Latin American, and Jewish art, and he remains one of Coral Gable's greatest cultural treasures. And whereas it is fitting that we honor the life and contributions of Barus Alenas, a man whose legacy exemplifies artistic excellence, mentorship, and enduring cultural impact as a prime example of Coral Gable's international artistic heritage. Now therefore, I Vince Lago as mayor of the city of Coral Gables along with the members of our city commission do hereby proclaim July 6th, 2025 as Baroo's Day in Coral Gables. [Applause] Am [Applause] I going to have the family join us here? So I had the pleasure of knowing Baru for many decades. My father is a physician as many of you know he represented when he not represented he wasn't a gallerist he was their doctor. um for the likes of Buu for the likes of uh Mihares Ekundo Mues uh Rafael Soraniano and many more that I can't forget. So I grew up in the homes of a lot of these artists visiting them on weekends understanding the art world um understanding the Cuban Museum the different iterations of the Cuban Museum where we were where we are. Um and he was always a gentleman, a gentleman who part participated uh not only in the arts but was involved in politics, understood the importance of Cuba, freedom, democracy, uh always gave. Um I started at a at a young age in in

college an organization with uh then not then but I apologize. He also served as a commissioner, vice mayor Frank Isada and a group of about 30 young professionals who started an event called a roco mango rice and mangoes which was an event that benefited the league cancer the le against cancer and I remember calling buou because we would do an art auction every single year as part of the event that we would do. You would buy tickets and there also be an art auction where most of the older adults would partake in the cocktail, would partake in the art auction. They were the ones that we were kind of trying to get to buy the art. But it transitioned from an from an event where we were just selling art to an opportunity to teach people about the art world. And Baru always said yes and donated not one but two or three works every single year to our auction that benefited La Cancer. He never said give me 50% of the proceeds. He never gave a hard time. It was anything for your father. Anything for your father, anything for Aliyah. That's who he was. Softspoken, a gentleman, an individual who I hold in high regard, and an exceptionally talented artist. Every Sunday when I go to my parents house and I have family dinner on Sunday, 30 plus years or your excommunicated, there are two Baruselina's works hanging at the bar. When I go to my friend's house, there are bars works hanging in the living room. He is a treasure. He is an individual who gave and always said yes. So today, we honor his life, but more importantly, we honor a gentleman who you have to be amazingly proud of. Amazingly proud of. And he represents everything that's good with the art world, everything that's good with our city, everything that's good with our community. So when I heard about this, you know, it's to me it's a privilege. It's a privilege

knowing him and knowing the artist Jose Mi Miharees, Rafael Soraniano who lived off 37th Avenue, Mihares who lived in Little Havana with a yelping dog. You know, this is who we are. This is part of my my history. This is where my father would take me, my brother, my sister, and we would spend moments enjoying the art world. So, this is amazing for me. It's a personal point of privilege. Thank you for having this. Thank you so much, Ventilago. Um, I'd like to start off uh to give um, you know, disgratitude to Mayor Vicentago, who our families have known each other for a very, very, very long time. I'd like to also give uh, thanks to the entire city commission, specifically Ariel Fernandez, who him and I go back to our Belendes, graduated together. Um, this is an extremely important day for our family. Uh I could rightfully say probably the happiest day uh we have had since his passing. Um and this is an extreme honor uh to not only his friends but his family who's gathered here today. Um, not only does it uh bring us sincere gratitude to be able to to to recognize that now we have a, you know, a Barus Alina's day, which is something I never thought I would have been able to say. But this further cementss his legacy as an exceptional artist and an even better um an even better person, a better father and an even better uh friend to many and husband. um thankfully through the efforts of the Barus Alenas uh legacy estate uh we are now bringing this well-deserved attention um to his artistic contributions over the years. Um, and I'd like to finish by saying just if anybody has any desire to, you know, any further information for this, feel free to log on to the Baruselina's art.com site. Again, thank you all very much. It's an exceptionally important day for us. Thank you.

[Applause] You have

A2 presentation on proclamation declaring September 12th, 2025 as 90th anniversary of Social Security Day in Coral Gables. Commissioner, I think I've got that. Mr.

All right. So, I'm going to read into the uh record the proclamation. Whereas August 14, 2025 marks the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act signed into law in 1935, establishing one of the most enduring institutions in American history. And whereas for nine decades, Social Security has transformed the lives of millions of Americans by providing critical financial protection for retirees, people with disabilities, surviving spouses and families. And whereas Social Security has become the foundation of economic security for generations of Flidians, helping individuals live better, more secure, and enjoyable lives in retirement with dignity and independence in their later years. And whereas social security also provides support to help meet basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare. And whereas social security is earned by workers over a lifetime of hard work through the contributions they made from their first paycheck to their last. And whereas social security has stood the test of time, providing peace of mind to people across all walks of life, regardless of income, background, or political affiliation. And whereas as we commemorate this historic milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and strengthening social security for both current and future generations. And whereas social security faces challenges that demand thoughtful solutions as it remains the foundation of economic security of millions of Americans. Now, therefore, on behalf of Mayor Vince Lago and on behalf of the members of our city commission, we do hereby proclaim September 12th, 2025 as Social Security Day. Excellent.

Mr. Mayor, you want to say something? No. No. I I think it's excellent. We we I think all know somebody in our lives that is dependent upon social security either because of disability or you've reached you've earned it. You've earned it throughout your life. And without it, you'd be, you know, without a lifeline to make it from day month to month or week to week. So, Is he here? Good morning.

Good morning. My name is John Winer. I'm a Coral Gables resident and I live at 1460 Mandavia Avenue. And this morning I'm here along with some others as a volunteer with AARP. Uh, Commissioner, the proclamation you read has a lot of my talking points, so I'll get right to it. I just want to mention in the 90year history of Social Security, it's never once missed a payment. And for the past 65 years, AARP has committed to protecting and strengthening this vital program. Uh on behalf of AP and our members who live in Coral Gables, I thank the commission for recognizing the 90th anniversary of Social Security with this proclamation. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Let's do it. Thank you. Moving on to item A3, presentation or

proclamation declaring September 13, 2025 as Unitech Builder Corp. Day in Coral Gables. Madame Vice Mayor, thank you. Um I'll read the proclamation in. Um whereas Unitech Builder Corp. was founded in 1992 by visionary entrepreneurs Anthony and Gregory Gomez who laid the foundation for a company rooted in integrity, excellence, and dedication to its clients. And whereas in 2022, Unitech Builders Corp. welcomed Michael Peru. I'm sorry, Mayor. I'm I'm not good at this.

No worries. It's all good. a partner, bringing fresh vision and energy to an already exceptional team, thereby strengthening the company's ability to serve with even greater distinction. And whereas over three decades, Unitech Builders has distinguished itself as a boutique general contracting firm committed not to volume, but to quality and to ensuring every client receives the level of attention, professionalism, and service that reflects the company's highest standards. And whereas the company's philosophy that a satisfied client is the most powerful form of advertising has yielded lasting partnerships and an impressive record of client loyalty with over 60% of business coming from repeat clients. And whereas Unitech Builder Corp has become synonymous with quality craftsmanship, timely project delivery, cost-effective solutions, and above all a customer first mindset that continues to shape the landscape of construction excellence in our community and beyond. Whereas the success of Unitech Builders Corp stands as a model of business ethics, operational excellence, and a steadfast commitment to building not only structures but enduring relationships. Now therefore, Ivan Slago as mayor of the city of Coral Gables along with the members of the city commission to hereby proclaim September 13th, 2025 as Unitech Builder Corp. Day in Coral Gables.

Good morning, sir. It's good to have you. Good morning, Mayor Lago. I first want to thank uh Mayor Lago, Councilwoman, Vice Mayor, Councilman, Councilwoman for uh having this day for me, for my company. Um I'm very proud uh to stand here before you. I do a lot of government work. I've done work in the city of Coral Gables many times. Um I was proud when I got elected, president-elect of the Latin build association. was proud to bring our offices back here back home to the hometown where it started in Coral Gables and I appreciate it and I continue to have it as being president at this moment of the Latin bill association and I want to thank you again and God bless you. Thank you

sir. I want to congratulate you uh for years of of incredible work. Uh we're in the same industry. Uh we compete. Yes.

Uh but we respect each other immensely and I respect the work that you do top notch. I want to congratulate you on leading the LBA. I know it was a a heavy charge. Uh, you know, sometimes like hurting cats, but at the end of the day, we love our industry. Uh, we love what we do. Again, we're building this community in a positive way, in a way that again, at the end of the day is building schools, healthcare, a lot of things that you're involved in on a day-to-day, working on historic projects. So, again, I want to commend you. Uh, this is a tough profession that we're in. We kind of have like the same focus because a lot of builders don't like to take their clients to work that they have done versus I like to take them around and say I did this, I did this, I did this and I did this. To me, it's an honor for that. And I know you pride yourself in the same way.

Oh, 110%. So, I just want to commend you for your hard work and everything you've done and uh leading by example and and obviously, you know, again, it's not just about the private sector for you. It's about philanthropy. It's about giving back. It's about being a leader in our industry. So, at the end of the day, you know, thank you to your efforts at the LBA and thank you for everything you do to give back to our community. Much appreciated. Thank you, sir. Oh, my pleasure. Thank you.

Through the mayor, I want to congratulate you number one for being here. I know you in a personal level and I also know you as president of the LBA. And I have to say you are a man of honor and a man of your word. And the quality of service you give to the members in LBA is exceptional. Congratulations. This proclamation is more than deserved. Thank you, Councilwoman Castro. Let's take a photo. Yes, sir. Thank you.

Thank you. [Music] Thank you. Moving on to item A4. A personal favorite of mine every year, not only because we get to spend time with Mayor Thompson, but also because Constitution Week is something incredibly important to me. I think it's at the backbone of what make this country what it is. So, presentation or proclamation declaring

September 17th through the 23rd, 2025 as Constitution Week in Coral Gables. Madame Mayor, I'm going to read this proclamation into the record and then the floor is yours. Whereas on September 17th, 1787, in order to secure the blessing of liberty for themselves and their posterity, our founding fathers ordained, established, and signed the Constitution of the United States a unique and priceless document, which has afforded the people of our great nation with certain privileges, ineligible rights, and responsibilities of American citizenship. hand. Whereas, because it is of the utmost importance that all citizens understand the provisions and principles embedded in this priceless document, our Constitution in order to effectively support, preserve, and defend it against any and all unwarranted intrusions, that the independence, which is guaranteed to American citizens, whether by birth or naturalization, should be celebrated. And whereas on this 238th anniversary memorializing the signing of our Constitution, the Coral Gables chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, a society of women patriots dedicated to the preservation of this priceless heritage proudly joins us as we celebrate Constitution Week. And this invaluable legacy left to us by our founding fathers whose wisdom and remarkable vision made possible the creation and preservation of this historic document. and whereas emphasizing citizen responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution and encouraging the study of those historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in 1787 are only two of the reasons why the Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned Congress in 1955 to set aside September 17th through the 23rd annually for the observance of Constitution Week. Now therefore, I, Vince Lago, as the mayor of Coral Gables, along with the members of our constitution, do here of our commission, excuse me, do hereby

proclaim the week of September 17th through September 23rd, 2025 as Constitution Week in Coral Gables. Madame Mayor in red, white, and blue, good morning.

Right. Some of you may remember this is an annual event. We come to the commission at this time of the year in September uh uh to celebrate the Constitution Week in the United States. Um here today um Penelopey Johnson and I are here today representing the Cora Gables chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. and um it's with it's a very honored uh organization that's been in the city of Cora Gables for since 19 um 28 that's a long time we've come here I can say personally come here each year for past well 45 years each year

coming to receive this proclamation the city of Corables um it is as I say our our chapter D of Corables was organized in October 20th 1928. Um the chapter motto is love in our hearts and united hands. uh it's founded as I say all those many many years ago and um for many many many years also until just um maybe a decade ago we would meet at the corser house that was our meeting place uh and we used to have a big placard in the front lawn of the Merrick house and disappeared at one point or another when they were doing renovations I never been able to find it again um but nevertheless we we uh the chapter had donated uh various items to the ch the house there that still remains. Um but we no longer um meet there because it became too prohibitive in rent for our chapter meetings uh and insurance I guess really hit and so it became so prohibitive that we don't meet there anymore maybe once a year we save enough money in our chapter because our chapter dues are strictly given to the mostly to the uh national organization so it's not a fundraising organization in itself whenever whatever we do funra we give to DAR um children's charities around the country. So that's the reason we don't meet in Corables anymore, which is a shame and I'm very sorry about that. I wish we could, you know, uh do something to to help help our situation, but they've been meeting all the time. Uh at any rate, I would like to introduce to you our current regent of Corabus, D Penelopey Johnson. recall region which really is president but that's the

protocol of Dor call us regent I'm a former regent uh as well many many years ago and um I would like to you to meet and have Penelopey Johnson speak a few words as regent of the Cora Gables but doesn't doesn't meet here Cora Gables chapter D I wish something could be done about that we we'll we'll talk yeah let's talk

a slight correction I'm just the vice regent at at this point, but thank you very much, Dorothy. Um, on behalf of the Coral Gables chapter of the D, we'd like to thank Mayor Lago, um, the city council, and the citizens of Coral Gables for this proclamation on Constitution Week. Um, as Miss Thompson said, we were founded in 1928, and it is our honor to continue the long-standing missions of historic preservation, patriotism, and education. This week not only commemorates the signing of the US Constitution, but reminds us of the importance of protecting the freedoms and the rights that it guarantees. Uh we are grateful for the city's partnership in helping us raise awareness and inspire future generations to cherish and uphold this foundational. Thank

you very much. Um before before we take a photo, uh the vice mayor touched upon the opportunity of potentially addressing this addressing the opportunity of bringing you back to the city. How many members usually attend the meetings? about 35 to 40. 35 to 40 now. 35 to 40. I think I think like the vice mayor was saying, I think there's we we we should put our heads together and figure out a way to bring you back. Um it is sort of a shame for a chapter this old 90, you know, 85 years old, uh to be uh Cory Gable's chapter proudly carries the banner of Cora Gable's name and down Palmetto farther down the highway uh once a month meeting.

So Mr. Mr. Mayor, uh, Mr. Manager, if you could do me a favor, uh, would you meet with Mayor Thompson, please, and have a conversation with my colleagues? I think we can find a place, whether it be the conference room, uh, the public safety building, which again, they're more than flexible, willing to work around this, and I'd love to be able to give these ladies an opportunity to do this here in the city. Well, thank you, Mr. Along with along with parking. If possible, we can provide them with free parking for this also. Thank you very much. I It was not my intent to bring this up, but I you know, no, but you have a way. You have a way, and I've mentioned it before, comes out of here. You have a way.

You have a way, and I'm going to tell you, you have a way of doing things. And um I don't know if anybody else gets these, but I do. I'll get a letter, very softly written letter, which is more I don't want to say a threat, but it's more of like a recommendation because she would never threaten anyone. She's too sweet for that. But um she accomplished a lot as our first and only female mayor. Uh she her legacy speaks for itself. We're all only following in her footsteps, but she has a way of accomplishing things. Very subtle way. I learn a lot from you every day. So, thank you for that. We'll get it done. Anything else, ma'am? Yes. For the good of the order.

Speaking of that, that's what happened before. And I want to give you um a public thank you to the commission. uh even though you were not on the commission at that time, Commissioner Pastoro and Lara, but nevertheless, um when uh the park opening, which is happening this coming Saturday, uh when I I stood here and received uh that wonderful honor that you brought forth, Mr. Mayor, a few couple years ago, it was also at that time that I just threw out to you all the moment, a spur of the moment, let's make the theme park type of thing, and you all said yes, you spontaneously as well. So, these things happen. I don't plan them. I didn't plan them.

Oh, no. But I appreciated the the uh yellow brick, you know, the Dorothy book with the yellow brick roads which I was able to share with

with team and one of the things that and also since you mentioned that I just want to be always I'd be remiss if I didn't give credit. It was an honor to name that park after you. It's the minimum that we could do. But also that park came to fruition because I remember Bill Kurdike, Vice Mayor Kurt, yes, would always talk to me on the commission. You know, we need a park in this area. If this ever comes up for sale, we got to purchase it. So, I remember receiving the call from the commissioner said, "Listen, there's it it literally went up for sale today and we called um it's got to be like five or six years ago, I think, maybe even longer." and we were able to to come to consensus with with the the church across the street which is again your home has great significance to me the location itself.

Yes. Well, because it was uh previously owned by the you know the Granada Presbyterian Church, a church that I've gone to for over 70 years now and a church in which um uh Jack and I were married

in November of 1953. All my four children were baptized there. uh two or three of them were married in that church there. Um it has great significance to have that park. You have no idea. My heart is so full of what the city has done. Um I tell everybody that way and I have an opportunity right now. I'm going to say it right here as I always do. We never know what comes out as they say. But I want to thank you all. It you know it's such an honor to be uh have been elected mayor of the city. But I think this this may I say this trumps it. Oh well, but this really the h having a park in your name and I think every other park or anything else is named or building whatever in the city happens when people are deceased and they can't say how they can't say thank you to you. So I say thank you for me and all the others that can't say it to you. But um I think you all got tired of waiting. I don't know. I don't know. I'm still alive

through the mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Briefly, um Mayor Thompson, always such um an honor and a delight uh to have you grace this hall uh that you've presided over for so many years uh ameritus as they say as well. Pleasure to meet you, Penelope Johnson. Thank you for all you do at the D. Um but for the sake of good order as our mayor would put it um when is the uh formal cutting of the ribbon in the formal Saturday.

This Saturday. So, I think that all right, all residents should be aware and when everybody come to see this amazing park formally opened with our mayor uh in uh her regalia, I'm sure. Ready to show off all themed uh attire for that amazing day. Looking forward to it this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Is it if I may, Mr. Mayor? Yes, ma'am. Okay. The floor is yours. I told you.

Yeah. Um, I discovered something um because what what happened was that uh the theme is Wizard of Oz and and the connection I'm not going to get into a lot of details but the the author of the Wizard of Oz Elrank Bomb B A um went to school went to military school in my hometown of Peakskill New York and and there's a lot of yellow brick roads up there and yellow homes and everything know because that's the soil I guess in New York State in that area, the Hudson Valley region. So his writing that book and my name being Dorothy, it's a play on something that I want the kids to come play in that playground. It's a theme to bring the children in. But the biggest thing that I discovered I dis well I said what can I do for my to give to the city as well to the park this Saturday. So I went ahead and I ordered some books thinking that they're all the Wizard of Oz books but they kind of called Amazon and of course we all go to Amazon because it has everything and more. I found out when the the little uh package was nicely packaged to 15 books came in. I started thumbming through them and it's not all the of the Wizard of Oz. Did any of you know that I didn't know either that the author Bomb said in the forward in these little books says that um when he finished the Wizard of Oz story, there was such an avalanche of kids writing in, well, what happened to the Tin Man and what happened to Dorothy herself? uh and the cowardly lion and all these people. So what he did is he wrote a little booklet on each one of those characters after The Wizard of Oz. I never knew it existed. So I have these

little books where one of our children are at the park on on Saturday. I'm going to give them a little book uh to wet wet their appetite and go if they haven't read it already. So I'm that's my contribution for the Saturday too. Exciting. Mayor. Yeah. You want to take a picture?

Absolutely. Everybody watching. And the last item on presentations and protocol documents is item A5, presentation or proclamation declaring September 2025 as childhood cancer awareness month in Coral Gables.

Yeah. So this proclamation is very very special to me. Last year we um joined with Live Like Bella and I oh I sponsored and I I gave a generous donation to to them. But this is more than special to me because I'm going to go ahead and share just a personal personal story. And I cannot only imagine what a parent feels like to have a child with cancer. Um a child that is hasn't been able to to have life, to experience life. My daughter almost a little over a year ago was diagnosed with MS and I have to say that she she's next week she'll be 22 and she's lived a little bit, but I felt like my life was falling apart. Um, I'll read the proclamation here and a lot of sympathy to every parent out there that's going through this. Whereas September has designated National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to honor those children whose lives have been lost and those impacted by this terrible illness and to strengthen the nation's resolve to search for a cure. And whereas Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among US children between infancy and 15 years of age. And approximately 15,000 children each year in the US are diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20. And whereas childhood cancers cross all racial, ethnic, geographic or social economic backgrounds. And each year tens of thousands of children face the battle of cancer with incredible bravery and inspiring hope. And whereas while

progress against some childhood cancers have been made, cure cure rates for many forms of childhood cancer remain less than 50%. with the incident of childhood cancer increasing at more rapid rate than any other age group. And whereas the disease is not the disease not only affects a childhood diagnosed with cancer but also their entire support network of devoted parents, grandparents, loved ones and friends. Whereas the city recognizes the devastating impact that this disease has on members of our community and the importance of increased research on childhood cancer. Whereas the month we recognize that these burdens are shared by countless dedicated health care professionals, organizations, charities, and and parent advice advocacy groups which support patients and families by offering advice, encouragement, hope, and financial assistance. and work tire tirelessly to lift the spirits of children suffering from cancer. Now therefore, I Vince Slago as the mayor of the city of Coral Gables and on behalf of the city commission do hereby proclaim the month of September 2025 as childhood cancer awareness month in Coral Gables.

Thank you. [Applause] Good morning. Thank you for joining us. Good morning. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for

My name is Sylvia Vanny and this is Christina Dwen from the Mystic Force Foundation for Childhood Cancer and we would like to thank Mayor, Commissioner, Vice Mayor, all of you for proclaiming September as childhood cancer awareness month. Um that is my baby on the front of those cards. And he was diagnosed with cancer at the age of four and a half. And he battled for three and a half years. and tragically lost his life uh one month short of his 8th birthday. But in those three and a half years, he underwent 55 cycles of chemotherapy, 50 rounds of radiation, 12 surgeries. He had over 200 blood and platelet transfusions. He was treated in seven different hospitals across the country. Wherever there was a treatment option available for him, that's where we went. And that is the norm for our children with these aggressive cancers. Although there is an over 85% cure rate for the most common forms of childhood cancer, all leukemia, some of our childhood cancers, uh still remain terminal upon diagnosis, such as DIPG, which is an inoperable brain tumor that Neil Armstrong's daughter died from in 1962. And it's just unfathomable that in all of these years, we were able to send him to the moon and do everything else that our country and the world has been able to do. But we've never been able to find a viable treatment option for these children. And the only way we will ever find treatments for our children is to raise awareness. So we are thankful to you for helping us in that mission to helping us to raise awareness. Christina's son is a childhood cancer survivor.

Good morning. Thank you for being

Thank you for having us today and for recognizing September's childhood cancer awareness. Uh my son Jake, he's on the back of the card. Um towards the bottom, but um but yeah, he was diagnosed with stage three Hodkins lymphoma in 2023. Um he underwent nine months of aggressive chemotherapy and then he did 30 days of proton radiation. Um as of today Jake is 20 months no evidence of disease. So they won't consider him cancer free until 5 years. Um and even though his treatment is done, he's still in the clinic, you know, every month and we're still getting scans and he's still getting poked and prodded. Um he had many surgeries. um for removal of different lymph nodes. Um and it's so important to raise awareness because childhood cancer isn't rare when it affects your family and it doesn't just affect the child, it affects mom, dad, the siblings that are left behind. I have six kids altogether. Um, so amazing foundations that are here to support us is is super important and to bring awareness to get the correct funding for these kids so they don't have to go through this. He'll have lifelong issues. Um, you know, and he's 10 years old. You know, who wants to see an oncologist for the rest of your life when you're 10 years old? Have to go see a cardiologist. Have to go see all the other specialties, neurology, and everything else. It's not fair. Our kids deserve better. So, thank you so much for allowing us to raise awareness today.

Thank you. It's a pleasure to have you here as always, Madam Vice Mayor. So, um it's a very moving presentation and yesterday I had the opportunity to participate in the groundbreaking for the Ronald McDonald House. Uh yes,

the give hope a home. And I wanted to tie that in too with what you have because it is such a a great opportunity for families struggling um to have the treatment for their children, have a place next to the treatment area to be with their child and not have to, you know, go back and forth or fly back and forth. they can they can have their home. We broke the ground yesterday. It's going to double the bed size. Um there are fundraising opportunities. Uh there's one coming up in November uh which we are going to be tapping into the pickle ball enthusiasm to help fund finish the funding on this. Um, so I'll just mention for those who are pickle ball players um that want to participate, the event is on uh November uh the 10th on the weekend on a Saturday and I'll post some more stuff about it. But if there's something that we can do to help, you know, think about

I can personally attest to the fact that the Ronald McDonald House is such an amazing place because we stayed at many of them throughout the country for my baby's treatment and we're so thankful. It make it makes a difference, you know, just to to be there. So, don't hesitate to reach out and thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Uh we have no approval. Mr. Clerk,

no sir. We have no uh minutes to approve. So we will move on to the public comment. Yes, Mr.

Before we commence public comment, uh I'd like to for the record uh remind everyone it's a privilege to have you all of you here. I'm going to ask everyone to please who comes up to state their name and their address for the record. You will have three minutes to share your thoughts with the commission. As a reminder, these comments are limited to those items on the agenda or within the scope of the city commission's jurisdiction. If you wish to speak on an item that is on the agenda right now, please remember that you will not be given an additional opportunity to speak again once the item is called. All comments should be directed to the commission as a whole. When the three minutes when the when the three minutes is up, the timer will beep. I ask you to please wrap up your sentence and leave the podium when you're done speaking. Thank you for your respect and consideration.

Mr. Clerk. Yes, Mr. Mayor. First speaker this morning is Marlon Ruiz.

Good morning, sir. Good morning everyone. Good morning, Mr. Mayor. Um um good morning, vice mayor, commissioner, city manager, um city clerk, madame city attorney. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak today. My name is Martin Ruiz, former lead coordinator for city's core gable seller waste magic 5491 northwest 19 198 Miami Guardians. I am here concerning my brown termination. I always work hard for the city of Corables. I always respect the chain of command. On February 25th, 2025, Darren Davis, my sovereign gave me a letter of resignation. That letter stated 18 March 18, 2025 was his last day. On February 25th, 2025, I immediately gave therein letter to my supervisor, Chiron Grayson. In early March, I believe I believe it was March 3rd, there was a meeting between Shiron Grayson, assistant director, Tena Josh, Sharon assistant, Homer Hassan, coordinator, Robert Fernandez, a coordinator, Darren Davis, the Saloway's worker, myself, Martin Lu coordinator. At that meeting, I at that at that meeting, Chiron told Darren Davis was leaving a lot of sick time on the table by resigning. At this time, both Shiron Grayson and Omar Hassan said that we'll take care of it. Other employees such as myself were signing a yellow leaf slip submitting yellow leaf slip submitting time for Darren Davis after his resignation.

But only the reason why I did that I was under the direct order from my supervisor Sharon Davis create a h a tense atmosphere. I know that I was doing wrong but simply following the chain of command. What what else what I was doing wrong. In fact on April 8th Chiron I mean I'm sorry in I'm sorry I'm pretty nervous now. Sorry. I'm super nervous. No worries. Take take your time.

Yes sir. In fact, on April 8, I shared with Robert Fernandez, a 20-year supervisor with the Cedar Corg was my concern about Darren Dar's time sheet. It was asked to submit it by Chiron. We know that the we we know that this was after the he was he had resigned. Robert Fernandez told me that he would take it to HR human res HR um take it to human resource. So a few weeks later I follow up with him and said that yes he reported to HR. We all we all know HR launch investigation following four months later.

Finish up. Finish up, sir. Finish reading your

risk management director Raquel. I can't really say her last name. public work director Hermes Diaz and assistant city um manager Joe Gomez pressure me into resigning for the sake of my family. They implied that that if I did not resign I would look bad for future employment. I refuse had I refused to had done nothing I I I refused because I had done nothing wrong. I put it in I put it in writing. The next day I was terminated by Raquel via email, I'm sorry, by via email by Raquel. The same day Chiron Grayson, the assistant public work director, resigned, tells me that she knew what action was. Her action was wrong. Commissioner, I am here because I am a husband, a father of three children. They depend on me. One is in nursing school, one just started college, one's still in high school. Only my goal is to continue providing for them and servicing the city. Honestly,

I'm sorry, mayor. I'm just nervous. Just finish. Just finish up.

I did not benefit from from from anyway or can I have Carla help me? Okay, let's finish compiler please here. I do not benefit in any way from what happened. I had no personal gain. I was following orders from my direct supervisor and now I'm being made the scapegoat for the decisions that were not mine. I'm asking for reinstatement to my position with back pay with benefits clearing my records so that I'm not punished for following orders the chance to continue supporting my family while working for the city. The reason for my termination was that I did not report my concerns to HR and signing slips that I was told to sign because they were going to take care of Darren. Commissioners, I would like to set up a meeting for tomorrow where first date available to discuss my reemployment so we can make this right. I would like the opportunity to present my case to the trial board for re-examination. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Marlon Ruiz.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Um, just very briefly, I'm going to reserve comment on this front because at the end of the day, this could have some litigation exposure and I recommend that the commission do the same in an effort to not only protect the city but also to protect the employee. Uh, next speaker is Carla Santiago. I don't know if you want to speak again.

Good morning. Good morning. My name is Carla Santiago. I live at 12341 Southwest 39 Terrace, Miami, Florida. Um, I would like to go ahead and hand these out to you if possible. Why don't we hand them out after read the statement of the record?

So, um, I signed up to speak because I didn't think Marlin was going to make it. Um, I met Marlin through his daughter Abby. Um, I have three kids, two boys, one girl. Um, both my boys went to Columbus High School. Mark Santiago, Cory Santiago, and my daughter Samantha Santiago went to Lasal. I lost my son Corey Santiago December 23rd, 2019 to a car accident. And my son Mark went into a huge depression. This was six years ago. About a year and a half ago, my son met Abby and uh family. They have brought life back to my son. He's a completely different person. So, I stand here today as a character witness for Mr. Marlon Ruiz and his family. Uh he showed up at our office two days ago and he asked me if we could help him because he was at a loss. And uh that's why I'm here today. I was going to help him read this, but I figured I'd take my three minutes to serve as a character witness to him and his amazing family. He has no malice. Extremely humble. So, thank you for listening to me and giving him the opportunity to speak.

Thank you for being here,

Mr. Tom Wells. Good morning, sir. Thank you. Thank you very much. I am Tom Wells and live at 1310 Coral Way. the last commission meeting. I view campaign promises made in the recent election. They're now politicalized, including no tax cut or fiscal responsibilities. Our budget will increase by 10.5% to $38 million. No search committee to choose a city manager or negotiated salary, not being civil or avoiding political drama, and worse, violating our oath of office with the legal ordinance number 2025-08 that tried to steal our right to vote on charter amendment that sets our voting date. After the last meeting, I emailed Mayor Lago, Vice Mayor Anderson, and the other commissioners as a claim by uh one person on the days that our city allegedly saves $200,000 with November elections. Vice Mayor Anderson, Commissioner Lara made the same campaign um statement. Ordinance number 25, 2025-08 provides as follows. Whereas, according to analysis by the city clerk and the city attorney's offices during the 2025 election cycle, the city spent approximately $125,000 on the general election and $125,000 on the runoff election. Whereas the city estimates that the cost of a municipal general election coinciding with the November of even years statewide general election will be approximately $20,000. That's $105,000 savings every two years. And the cost of a standalone runoff election would remain approximately

$125,000. No savings for a runoff election. That's an annual savings of $52,500 from moving elections to November. Significantly less than what we spent for a 10-minute drone show primarily for non-residents on the 4th of July at the Builmore. Next, despite statements by the Lago Anderson Laro voting pack, aka L, but the need to vote in November, they have us voting by mail in April on key issues, including the voting date. If November's turnout is so important to you, why do you want us voting on these key issues in April? Perhaps November voting is another unimportant campaign promise, and the savings are insignificant. Finally, Marilago stated that the core gables war memorial youth center was dissolved for five years at the last meeting. False. The empty would reinstate in 2006 for not timely filing an annual report in 2005 and has been continuously active since 1996. Section A2 of the Citizen Bill of Rights of the Miami Day County Charter, which is applicable to all of you, provides that no municipal official shall knowingly furnish false information on any public matter when giving information to the public. Please comply. Thank you.

J Sher, good morning, sir. No problem. No problem. Of course, good morning, sir. Good morning. Uh, I wanted to sir, please state your name and address for the record.

Sorry. Uh, Mahmud Shahada, 522 Alhamra Circle. I um I'm here today to to express uh my opposition to the resolution of uh raising the Israeli flag uh here in in at city hall. Um, I do truly appreciate uh the that you guys want to to uh to back up minorities and and and and uh and for you know to to commemorate like or or honor I'm sorry the the you know people that have gone through violence and and uh uh in Israel. and and and I've followed I follow you all and I appreciate you all and I actually like know that when you back up um or or honor one minority, you're partially uh honoring a lot of minorities. And so my main my main reason is really that a government building shouldn't have any other flag other than the flags that are right behind you. And that's all I wanted to say and I I appreciate you all.

Thank you for being here, my friend. Thank you,

Maria Cruz. Good morning, Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. This is the day. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. I'm so happy that the sun is out this morning. I'm hoping that it doesn't rain today as bad as it rained the last few days because I would not like to hear again that there leaks in the police and fire building that windows are leaking in a brand new building. Brand new because it's fairly new and I do not understand why we're still dealing with issues of a building that was built under the supervision of the best city manager we have ever had. Thank you.

Nicholas Cabrera. Good morning, sir.

Good morning. I was hoping Mayor Thompson was still going to be here because if she is in fact going to be dressing up for the uh ribbon cutting on Saturday, I will also dress up as the scarecrow. So, but if she I have to talk to her about that first. So, um good morning members of the commission. Uh my name is Nicholas Cabrera and I reside at 45 Nia Avenue, Coral Gables. On May 20th, I spoke before this commission and addressed a series of concerns. During my comments, I asked Commissioner Fern Fernandez if he had anything to do with People Count USA, an organization that conducted a fishing pole during our city election this past year. At the time, Commissioner Fernandez claimed he had no knowledge of People Count USA. But since then, the evidence of Commissioner Fernandez Commissioner Fernandez's involvement has become incontrovertible. On June 25th, ASAP's Gables released an expose on Commissioner Fernandez's direct involvement in People Count USA, detailing how Commissioner Fernandez served in his official capacity as a city commissioner when he collected voter data through hidden tracking links. Since June 25th, Commissioner Fernandez has yet to publicly address this issue, aside from issuing a statement to the Gables Gazette as follows. I look forward to the politically motivated investigation, which will clear my name. Commissioner Fernandez has been absent from a series of the last five commission meetings, four commission meetings through the mayor. Since Commissioner Fernandez is present here today, I'd like to know if he wishes to address if he wishes to issue a public apology for one, lying to a resident, myself during public comments when on May 20th when you stated that you did not know what People Count USA was, and number two, for acting in your official capacity as a city commissioner when you conducted a fishing poll that collected voter data through hidden tracking links and then failed to disclose your

involvement for fraudulent misrepresentation, public records violations, and official misconduct. Commissioner, you asking you a question? Well, through the mayor, I'd like to know if the commissioner would like to uh issue a public apology through I thought that the rules were that he was supposed to address the commission as a whole. Yes, sir. I'm addressing the commission as a whole through the mayor. Keep the comments to the to the mayor.

He made a statement. Commissioner, give me one second. He made a statement. He's asking you for clarity. Very simple and very similar to when you requested that I sign an affidavit here on whether whether I own property in Little Gables, which was clearly clearly a political stunt. And what you made you asked me to sign that document, I had no issues, and I signed it. So, at the end of the day, I've never owned property in Little Gables. You asked me to do that here on the record. He's asking you a question. So, if you'd like to answer or you could just say no comment, which is perfectly fine. And hopefully the Herald will run a story through the mayor. I'm not I'm not done yet. Would you like to answer yes or no? I didn't realize that you were clarify the rules. Again,

I think that the city attorney should clarify the ruling because it seems like you are running a political stunt here and the affidav was signed. Mayor, mayor, if I may just stop. No, no, I apologize. We're going to end right now. We're going to discuss the quorum now. What does that mean? You're going to get him right now. We're going to I said we're going to stop right now. That's not what you just said. Yes, I did. We're going to stop right now. Listen, you're not going to get a rise out of me. Commissioner, you have an opportunity to answer. Yes or no. You don't want to answer, that's fine. We move on. It's perfectly fine. We move on. Sir, he will not be answering your question. It's okay. I just You have 48 seconds. Please finish up.

Just a point of clarification. The mayor is not in the process of conducting a political stunt. I came here on my own behalf today because I'm an individual and I'm a resident of this city that has my own views uh and my own will and that's why I came here today. Now, if you wish to answer the question, I like I said, I address it to the to the mayor. You can answer if you wish. You don't have to answer. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to me today. Mayor, thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Jani, welcome back, sir. Thank you for being here.

Morning, mayor and commissioners. Uh, my name is Jay Shahada. I am a resident at 1133 North Greenway Drive in the Needy Mer House. Um I'm a lawyer, a business owner. Uh my wife and I have our law practice on Athan Ljun. We also own businesses. One of them is here in Coral Gables on US1. I am here about the raising of the Israeli flag resolution that's that's been brought forward. And I just want to explain. So first certainly the victims of heinous violence should be mourned. Um, and I did want to quickly just thank everyone, including Commissioner Anderson, Commissioner Lara for reaching out. We appreciate your generosity with hearing our concerns. But, uh, victims of violence, heinous violence should be mourned, including the victims of October 7th, certainly. But when 2 years after October 7th, we pass a resolution that exclusively mourns the victims of Israel and ignores the 60,000 Palestinians killed since, including over 20,000 children. What it tells a Coral Gable resident like me, is that if the victim looks like me, they don't matter. Or if the starving child looks like my children, it doesn't matter. The other issue is the idea of raising an Israeli flag or any flag that is not this country's flag at a city building. That should not be happening. There there's a lot of problems that happen with that, including the appearance that this city is endorsing the positions of that country. Israel right now is a country that is largely viewed as currently in the in the process of committing a genocide. This city should not be putting itself in a position where it's deciding that it's endorsing those positions. And then the the the other thing about all this is what are we doing this for? Meaning that there was an event that happened on Octo October 7th, a scary

horrible event. A year later, I could see the city and uh uh recognizing the anniversary, but two years later, why? I mean, are we going to do this at the third anniversary, the 5th, the 15th? So, I just I don't see why this is even being done. So, my recommendation to the city is not to take the resolution at all. I don't think it needs to be taken since the city has already acknowledged its concerns and its the the horrible atrocities that happened on October 7th. But if the city was insistent on doing that, I would recommend making the following modifications. One, I would amend the resolution to also acknowledge the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed before and after October 7th. I would not fly the Israeli flag on our city building, especially for a political purpose like this. And last thing, instead of flying the Israeli flag, I would make the recommendation that we fly the American flag at half staff. And we don't just do it on October 7th. We do it on October 6th, 7th, and 8th to acknowledge the many victims before, during, and after October 7th.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate you being here. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Sadia Raja. Good morning, Sia. Thank you for being here. Good morning.

Okay. Uh, good morning. My name is Sia Raja. I um am a resident of Coral Gables and I reside at 625 Alara Avenue. I am speaking today um to the concern of raising the Israeli flag or any flag for that matter. Um I am um I believe this action to be contrary to the principle of inclusive representation for all members of the community. The flag of an uh of another country can invoke strong and sometimes painful emotions due to conflicts abroad that do not at this point concern us. Um as a small city of 50,000 people, hence it is imperative to maintain a neutral public space. The city hall is a space meant to represent and include all residents. The display of a foreign flag can alienate and exclude members of the diverse community who may have personal or historical connections to global conflicts. It sends a message the city is taking a side in foreign disputes which is inappropriate for civic um institutions. Um our city is home to residents from all over the world. By raising a foreign flag, there is a risk of creating division rather than fostering the unity and mutual respect that civic spaces should promote. This is a matter of ensuring that all residents feel equally represented in their joys, in their suffering, and in their safety in their own town. All suffering and death should be acknowledged, not just one side. The council is urged to reconsider this practice and to adapt a policy that reserve civic spaces for symbols of the city, state, and our great nation. There are many other ways to commemorate or moan those who are suffering and to acknowledge the diverse backgrounds of residents without bringing the complexities of international politics into local government. Thank you.

Thank you, Jackson Holmes. Good morning, sir.

Thank you very much. Um, I um will comment on Mr. Holmes. Please state your name and address for the record.

Uh, thank you. Jackson Rip Holmes. I live at 35 Sidonia and Coral Gables. Um, my desire is to comment on the city commission items that may not come up for a vote relating to uh the live local act and uh the nomination of Kirk Mendez to be on the planning and zoning board. Um what I've come to realize uh only recently is that the Live Local Act uh is not the worst case scenario. That the Live Local Act uh actually can be better than possibly the RTZ. I'm not a big student of the RTZ. I don't consider myself an expert on it, but uh the argument can be made that we're better we would be better off with the RTZ going to live local. Why? Because live local mandates uh that we get workforce housing and it also mandates that parking be provided with workforce housing. And therefore, in my opinion, we actually would be better off with the Live Local Act uh than what we have uh negotiated with the county because we we don't get those guarantees plus which we get the impact fees directly to us instead of being filtered through the county. We may we may never see them. And so now as we go back to uh the nomination of Kirk Mendez, former city commissioner uh to be on the planning and zoning board, I I ask you to uh accept that nomination. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. U Mr. Mayor, I'm going to go to Zoom next. Yep. I have one speaker on Zoom. Her name is Katherine Katherine Sat. I'm gonna go ahead and ask her to unmute. Okay, I've unmuted. Can you hear me? Yes, ma'am. The floor is yours. Okay, great. My name is Katherine Shahada. I am a local resident and business owner. My um address is 1133 North Greenway Drive. My I'm sorry. Am I able to see my time as I go or is that No,

I guess not. Okay. That's okay. Okay. Um, so I I like many of you, I saw the uh flag raising proposal uh late Friday night and I was really surprised and and taken aback. Um, and in speaking with other residents and some members of the commission, it seems like um, most people were surprised and hadn't heard anything about this until it was, you know, placed on the agenda. And in speaking with with these groups, there seems to be a general consensus that raising a flag really of any foreign country over city hall, especially that of Israel, which we have seen them waging a campaign of genocide and starvation over the past two years. is not a precedent that we should be setting as a community. That being said, and with all due respect, of course, to this commission, if say Mayor Lago or any of the other commissioners would that that brought this or agree with it, want to signify their own support for the state of Israel, then they could certainly raise the flag of Israel over their own homes, which city hall is not. City Hall in the city of Coral Gables is a home for all of us, including my family. That and it shouldn't be used to further any one person's distinct political agenda or dedication to a certain foreign nation. To the detriment and exclusion of thousands of Coral Gables residents like myself and my family. Raising the flag of Israel over city hall has nothing to do with Coral Gables or this commission. It's not an act of public service, but a disservice. And it's divisive to this entire community and one that will not be forgotten. I'm not sure if everyone here is aware, but on October 5th, 2023, Defense for

Children International named that year the deadliest for Palestinian children at the hands of Israel with over 40 children killed by Israel and hundreds taken from their homes and held as indefinite hostages in Israeli prisons without due process, access to counsel or often being notified of charges against them. This acknowledgement was two days before October 7th and since there have been confirmed at least 20,000 children killed with more being shot every day in their tents at food distribution centers and succumbing to starvation and disease due to the total blockade enforced by Israel. As I mentioned in in an email that I sent to all of you that those actions are what we see when we see the flag of the state of Israel. We see a flag of soldiers. We see a flag of starvation. We see a flag of genocide. And we don't need to see that flag over Coral Gables at city hall. if it makes sense to put a meaningful gesture symbolizes

if you could wrap if we could wrap it up over the next few seconds. Thank you. Yep. It should be a meaningful gesture if anything that recognizes the pain and suffering of both sides before, during, and after October 7th. Thank you. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful day. That's it, Mr. Mayor. All right. Perfect. And we close the public comment. Thank you. Uh we move on to consent agenda. Before the vote adopting the consent agenda is taken, is there anyone who wishes additional discussion or review of any item on the consent agenda? Do any of my colleagues have anything they'd like to pull?

Uh I'd like to just pull D11 to provide additional guidance. Um

and I'd like to pull Go ahead. My apologies. U the additional guidance I have uh for you commissioner is um in your position and I've gone up to the League of Cities I'd appreciate it if you bring back some of their priorities because uh and I'll just give a for instance from my experience last time is I was on a committee that should have been focused on transportation and other inloal type of agreements and what they really brought was a proposal to place taxes taxes a tax fee on EV vehicles. And I had made the suggestion that the better route, number one, it should have gone before the tax committee, which Commissioner Fernandez was serving on. And the other route was they should have, you know, because they're trying to compensate for the lack of gasoline tax, um is that they should have used a consumption tax because you're not capturing vehicles from out of the state coming back in. That's just one example. uh and because I find I have found that some of the priorities of the legal cities is really focused on some of the smaller cities and don't doesn't touch upon our needs uh rather than be you know in a position where you're surprised that they've brought this priority that bring it back before this commission so we can discuss it and have you know provide you some additional ideas. That's what I'm going to ask you to do. Just just like we have our legislative agenda coming up and I'm going to urge you all if you have ideas for the legislative agenda, let's let's get them done by the next commission meeting so that we can discuss them in the public and uh brainstorm them. Okay.

Through the through the mayor.

Yeah. Whatever we agree to as a commission and as a city, those are the priorities that I will be enforcing and pushing through as a commission and as whatever is in the best interest of the city. I also want to acknowledge that from every city that is in the Florida League of Cities. We Coral Gables have the honor of actually having a chair as vice chair in the Florida League of Cities. and that is a complete honor for us because we have a little more leadway when it comes to our priorities. So, um 100% I I completely agree with you. And the other thing I will commit myself to doing is after every meeting that I go to, I will also write a memo to the commission updating you with what is going on in that meeting. And then we can go if the sunshine um meeting is necessary, then we'll go ahead and establish that. If not, we'll just an item for discussion

the mayor. Yes.

Um I actually um madam vice mayor, you bring up some very good points. Um I do think that this is an opportunity out of 411 cities to have a uh a leadership position in a committee is incredible because you are able to drive more of the discussion towards the points that are important. I think the frustration we all had last time was we were there advocating for our municipality on the points that we needed to push forward and there were people pulling in every single direction. Um the one thing I did notice was the chair and the vice chair really had more of a say on what issues actually move forward. Um I think that'll be crucially important. I agree with you. I think there were there were items in our committee that were discussed uh they were quickly uh set aside but they really didn't fit in the components of our committee even though staff uh at the League of Cities already whittleles things down. Um I think that sometimes the discussion just goes in a direction because of other municipalities trying to push their agenda that that moves in a different direction. We were lucky in our board where the priority and the backup priority were things that the city had on its legislative agenda. Uh so we were able to support it. Um but as a member of the board last time, my intention was if there was something that came up that we had not made a decision on where we stood as a city, I was going to abstain from voting because I could not speak on behalf of the city unless this commission had made a decision on on how we stood on those issues. So, um I think this is a great honor for for our city to have uh a vice chairmanship in our second year actively participating uh in uh the League of Cities. Uh I think all three of us and our two staff members uh who also participated um really benefited from the participation and really built on on some of the things that we were able to to accomplish. uh we were also get able to bring back some ideas of things that other municipalities are doing and really

understand other components. Live local for example affects us in a particular way that smaller municipalities in the panhandle are having the adverse effect where it's actually driving up the price of uh rent in those municipalities. So, I think it really helped us also advocate on behalf of our residents when we went to Tallahassee to speak to the legislators with a better understanding of what they're hearing as well because everybody's going to our legislators and advocating for their little uh area that they represent. If we understand what is uh being presented to them, it's better for us to be able to advocate for our residents because we can counter those arguments that are being made to them

through through the mayor. I just want to put on the record that I didn't apply for this position. In fact, we I thought the city wasn't even going to participate this year around and this was a call that I spontaneously got because it was the recommendation of the board and some elected officials in Tallahassee that actually recommended me to be vice chair of that committee. So, this is a great honor to me, but I think it's a greater honor to our city. So, just one followup just uh for some of us because I made a a costbenefit analysis of time and travel and so forth that um I can participate, you know, and keep up to date on these items via Zoom um and don't have to travel up there to do so. But I appreciate you taking the position. Um, and I hope that we can get more of our priorities on as opposed to what I learned is there's a lot of small towns in the in the state of Florida that unfortunately kind of outweigh our priorities many times. So,

so if I may, um, first and foremost, again, I'll support this. Uh, but I also received a phone call, multiple phone calls to be involved and I said no. Uh, and I'll tell you why. I'll give you actual examples. Um, we had five members of in the city though last year I don't I don't I don't see a memo closing out this document explaining what what did we achieve. Uh we spent a lot of money but we didn't actually achieve much. I'll give you an example of certain things that I've cut back in my in my my tenure here over the last year and change. Uh we used to spend $20,000 for membership um for the mayor to be part of the US Conference of Mayors. I got rid of that last year. that doesn't include flights to other cities and I think the US Conference of Mayors is packed with all the mayors of the entire country and I think that again the city is better served not spending that money and spending it on resources here. Um I had an important meeting last week at the PSC. Mr. Clerk, will you put up that photo? There was an option at the PSC and the option was to fly up and speak in front of the public service commission concerning low voltage after FPNL has undergrounded the power lines. We're the first city to bring up what is the next step to address the infrastructure that's left left over after FPNL undergrounds. Who's going to address and continue to cut the foliage after all after FPNL stops doing that? What's going to happen to Comcast and AT&T over the next 10 years as we underground FPNL? We had a great meeting with Commissioner Fay, uh, who is in his car there, as you can see, um, who stated that we were the first city to bring this up to their attention in the public service commission. We could have spent thousands of dollars in flights and hotels, but we decided as a city, let's do it via Zoom in reference to what uh the commissioner is saying. This is three meetings. Um, I'm all for networking. I'm all for engagement. Um,

at the end of the day, I did receive phone calls to be involved in this, but at the end of the day, I think that we need to be very fiscally sound and be very thoughtful, very careful. But if the vice if uh Commissioner Castro wants to go up there, but I would like to see not just a memo. I'd like to see an a list of accomplishments. I'd like to see what did we get out of this? Did we what actual legislation did we craft? What did we submit? What did we bring back? Because you're talking about three trips plus hotel, food, stay could be $10,000. I'm happy that we're only sending one person this time versus five. Um so in my opinion and in Tallahassee that's what I'm going to be striving for uh to be as lean and uh accomplish as much as possible. But at the end of the day um the proof is very clear. Instead of going to the conference of mayors and spending $20,000, I canceled that myself. Um and it's not only the $20,000 membership, it's all the other costs associated with it. So, uh, just trying to be as fiscally sound and actually bring back results, not just socialize and have an opportunity for social media. I'm in favor if you want to go, as long as we keep it lean and we do and we come back with actual actual accomplishments. I want to see a list of accomplishments that happened, not just advocacy. I want to see things that were actually accomplished. So, um, I'll entertain a motion if any or does anybody else would like to add anything in regret reference to D11?

I'll move it. I'll second. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Mayor Log, yes. I also wanted to pull item D6.

Um, I have concerns and uh in regards to his appointment u multiple different reasons. Uh first and for foremost we have an issue with the Coral Gables youth center right now which we're dealing with that still has to be addressed which is currently outside council is reviewing it. Another main issue that I have which is my leading point is the planning and zoning board is the most important board in the city of Coral Gables. I served on that board uh for under two years before I got elected. Uh we have to be very thoughtful. We have to be very very very capable and competent and we have to make sure that all conflicts of interest do not exist. Um, Commissioner Mendez, which I want to put on the record before my colleagues do, I ran it against him for mayor. Um, and the the people in this community spoke. Um, we talk about development, development, development, smart growth versus overdevelopment. It's a constant terms that are used. Uh, Commissioner Menendez sold two properties to Traml Crow um that were that's later you see what happened there. Um, while he was commissioner, these are facts, okay? And the man and I'll have the the manager explain in detail. Uh, he had a conversation with staff and the manager requesting that his third property be upzoned uh by staff and brought to the commission. That to me is unacceptable. If you're going to sit on the planning and zoning board and you're going to make decisions on development and zoning, you have to be very clear and very thoughtful and very methodical. When the manager objected, he was subsequently fired. So, um, Mr. Manager, would you like to provide some clarity on the record in regards to the matter? Mayor, I think I'm on the record already for that. And, uh, it was staff and and myself. Uh, I I quickly said I don't really want to discuss this because it would compromise my position there which is strictly due

to the to the issues with uh Agavei and the expenditure on the on the street but uh yes it it that that did occur. Okay. So, at the end of the day, I want to be very careful that this is a person you're putting on on the on the planning and zoning board um that again um was involved in an upzoning here in the city of Coral Gables and tried to upzone a third property that he owns uh which was not approved. Uh the upzoning is very clear that upzoning occurred when we upzoned the entire block to 75 ft which is now the Trumo Crow site and the adjacent property which is the buffer between the old University of Miami site was only upzoned to 45 ft. His request was to bring it up to 75 ft. uh Vice Mayor Mike Meta at that point said that we need a transition into that historic building which I completely agree and to this day I agree it should not be 75 feet should always be 45 ft because it's a positive and correct transition into that historic so I want to put my my position on the record be very clear this is no animosity towards commissioner Mendez but this is an issue that happened on the record happened with our city manager and our city manager was subsequently fired he was the third vote to fire him and uh so at the end of the day at the end of the day I put my points on the record just like I did on regards to D11.

Madam Vice Mayor,

I mean, I have the the same concerns as well. Um because it is a powerful board and because of the history the clear history of of what's happened as far as the upzoning of that property. Um, I mean, our code is crafted to have the first level next to single family or along Lun Road at 45 ft for a particular distance. And you know, that wrapped around I've listened to those meetings. I was running for office at the same time. I stepped off the planning and zoning board while I was running for office to avoid such conflicts of interest as well. and with a clear history that you have somebody that asked st for staff to upzone it so uh he wasn't the sponsoring commissioner. Um it's troubling. You know it's something I'd never ever ever dream of doing because you're you're benefiting yourself. It's just troubling. So, uh, I have difficulty supporting an appointee and and I don't like to, um, deny people the right to be able to appoint their own appointees, but when it's when it shakes at the core of the ethical requirements that an individual has when you're sitting in this position, not to benefit yourself, but to do it for the city, for the greater good of the residents, um, impacted by that, the residents came to me while the and the commissioner was pushing for some of these upzonings concerned that their existing properties on that block would be overshadowed by a 75 foot building next to their two-story buildings. We have transitions in our city for a reason in zoning. And having somebody in that position able to steer

a benefit for himself is something that I think um he might want to take pause at and find someone that is not going to be influenced by those types of benefits.

Um this is the first time hearing of all this. Um I wish the candidate were here to address uh these concerns or that they had been informed that this was going to be discussed. Um I think if we're talking about conflicts of interest, there could be numerous members of numerous boards that could be considered to have conflicts of interest because of their involvement within their um area in their private sector uh life uh in the public sector including the PNZ. Um, again, this is the first I hear of this. Um, I have always, regardless of who the appointing uh commissioner has been, voted to to approve the appointing members recommendation to the board. Um, I would have wished that these accusations had been made available to the candidate so that they would have been able to be here to address what he is being accused of.

Commissioner, if I may respond, um, these are not accus accusations. These are facts. Okay, number one. Number two, people have conflicts of interest. They can recuse themselves. I had a conflict of interest. The vice mayor had a conflict of interest. We recuse ourselves on the matter. We put our conflict on the record. You don't go behind and try to strongarm the manager to put the item on the agenda through staff. You can speak with staff and they'll tell you because there were multiple members of staff that were in that meeting. So, at the end of the day, you can call it whatever you want to sugarcoat it. That's perfectly fine. But I want to put my my clear concern on the record along with the vice mayor. Nothing against Commissioner Mendez. Perfectly fine, competent, did a great job. But this is a concern. So, uh, moving Commissioner L, you like to say? Well, uh, you know, addressing what Commissioner Fernandez mentioned, I I I don't know if you're suggesting that, uh, Commissioner Menendez would be unaware that his name was going to be considered for, uh, appointment to the PNZ by Commissioner Castro. Um, or why he's not here is of his own choosing. He's quite familiar with, I assume, with how the commission runs its meetings and how these matters um, are handled typically. And as far as you saying that you're unaware of these allegations or accusations as you put it, um this is quite widespread. It's something that I've been aware of uh since I u have heard residents bring it up to me. I' I've heard it discussed at this commission at this commission meeting. Um so I think it's it's it's probably fairer to say that it's not a lack of notice. The the question is why Commissioner Mendez isn't here himself. Uh where some of these questions or these concerns might be addressed by him. Um but that's neither here nor there because he's not here. And uh you know what I'm looking for and what I'm hoping uh we achieve here is some sense

of uh stability, some sense of um steadiness, I I assume is what we're all looking for. you know, we we had the uh removal of a PNC board member uh due to the commission's determination that uh the actions that she took were not in furtherance of uh what's expected and the goal of being a member of that particular board. And so with a new nominee uh this time former commissioner Kirk Mendes by Commissioner Castro, one would hope that we would be achieving uh stability and somebody who has the background and the the record uh to be able to uh to guide the the the board were he to be confirmed as a member. But under the circumstances and given the um the uh allegations, the record now for several years, um the current apparent conflict of interest with respect to an ongoing investigation that's going on uh with the War Memorial Youth Center board, it to me it just seems not in furtherance of stability, not in furtherance of um what what the the PNZ, which I agree uh with the mayor's this extremely important board uh deserves at this time.

Commissioner Castro.

Yes. Through the mayor. Um I have to say number one, I'm I'm astonished. I am floored. And I think that Commissioner Menendez isn't here because this is part of the consent agenda. And we have a history in this commission 99% of the time to respect the appointees of the other commissioners. Okay. So two months ago, this commission unanimously approved Commissioner Kirk Mendes to the Parks and Recreation Board. And for me, it's very surprising that we're bringing this up now. I I mean the timing just seems very perfect. But I also want to put on the record that under the charter and the code I am granted the authority to appoint a board member. The commission has removed my appointee Sue Carol. I have a hard time pronouncing her last name. But Sue you too. But Sue and now is denying me the authority under the charter and the code to appoint a board member at the pace that this sitting commission is taking. I might not even ever have an appointee to this board. In fact, why don't you guys end up choosing my appointee because one, you fired Sue. Basically, you remove suit without my authorization, which is the first time in a hundred years this has ever happened. And now you're denying my appointee, which was a very wellstanding commissioner. I think this this leaves me speechless and there's no words to describe the action this commission is taking right

now. Furthermore, you guys are blocking from fulfilling my duties in which I took an oath to serve and represent the residents of Coral Gables. Now, Vice Mayor Anderson, when you appointed Commissioner Chip Withers, in a very heated heated um circumstances, it was, and if I remember clearly, it was Commissioner Menendez who was the swing vote, and he was the third vote because he stated on the record that historically we have always had an understanding that we respect each other's appointments. even when we disagree with the selection. So I am going to ask you as I I I don't even know as what but I'm going to ask you as a person as a commissioner to please you know re rethink your opinion about this because it was Commissioner Mendez who was actually your third vote for um the Chip's nomination. So let me let me start by explaining that in my way of analyzing issues in ethical analysis there is no quit proquo. You point one for me and I point one for you. We have to look at the facts. And this is a concern that was brought to me not only by the individuals in the same block about the upzoning of that block, but you have to also look at the facts about the efforts that were made by the commissioner to go around the normal process and ask staff to do something for him. during a time period

when many of the staff members here were concerned about losing their jobs. And in fact, that happened. Staff members did lose their jobs. Our city manager lost his job when he refused to do exactly what the commissioner said. There's a big difference between being on a parks and rec uh advisory board and a planning and zoning board where you have the ability to influence the outcome for developers because if you're willing to pull the strings on staff to get a benefit for yourself, you can imagine the type of levers that can be p pulled on votes before the planning and zoning board. So yes, I do have concerns. And if I ignored those concerns, if I failed to bring them to you, it would be shame on me for not letting you know what the neighbors in his own block are saying, the benefits that go to his pocket as a result of the actions that were asked for then and could be asked for in the future. So, we have a responsibility when selecting an appointee to do that type of analysis. The last thing I'd want to do is get somebody in there that would do the these types of actions perspectively

through the mayor. I I completely understand where you are coming from, but this is the first time I'm hearing about these accusations. So what I'm going to suggest to this commission is maybe I want to go ahead and defer this and I want to give the opportunity for commissioner Kirk Mendez to be here and clear these allegations. I think as everybody here knows I am very very very strong when it comes to residents first approach and I chose Commissioner Menendez because I believed he would uphold my standards to smart development to responsible development. Now what you guys are saying going contrary with with my motives for him. Those were my main reasons to appoint Commissioner Menendez and I think we can afford him the opportunity to clear up the allegations that we are facing that I have never heard about.

The mayor. Yes sir.

Briefly. Um Commissioner Castro um I I wish that again Commissioner Menendez would be here. uh as you say you you would wish to defer in order to give him an opportunity to respond to allegations that have been made uh discussed circulated now for years. Um but he's not here. That's his decision not to come here. Um indeed we we requested of him because he's in charge of the War Memorial Youth Center board for some records about how he just kept uh what would I assume would be professional and accurate recordkeeping with respect to the management of that or of that um organization and uh we received nothing. I I I don't hold great hope that we would get answers to these uh points that were raised today any more than I I think we're going to be getting anything from what was sent to him uh weeks ago asking for the transparency. Uh again, not not so much opinion. Those are facts of where we stand today. And u with respect to your statement that we're we're blocking your ability to carry out your your duties as a commissioner, I completely disagree. You have the right to nominate. We as a commission have the discretion to appoint. It is not superfluous. It is not a rubber stamping or uh endeavor. Um I know that you wouldn't say that that's what you know you're attempting today is to say a name and just have us ignore. As the vice mayor said, shame on her if she weren't to bring before this commission the points that she raised today because the appropriate time to raise them is today. Today is the day that you have it on the agenda that we consider your nominee. Today is when I believe that we should be concluding uh your request and not defer it. I I actually and through through the mayor I actually got great

news right now and thank you for mentioning that because Commissioner Menendez just reached out to our city clerk. So I am going to ask you to let's please see this in the next 30 minutes and he will be here to respond to these allegations which I think would be the most proper and fair to fair and justice thing to do as a commissioner. through the mayor. I have no uh doubt that that's the the way that I would prefer to see it done. I'm also absolutely unsurprised that's the word that he would appear as quickly as he did because I know he was probably listening in on this meeting today because it's his name that's up for consideration. So, like a Swiss clock, right on time.

So, Mr. Clerk, uh, let's let's leave this item off the consent and let's approve it because I need a motion and a second, please. I'll move. I'll second. All in favor? I I Thank you.

Thank you very much. Uh, first item, I'm going to take things a little bit out of order. Is going to be item F6. Madam City Attorney, Mayor, yes, thank you. So, mayor, you asked me to kind of summarize our rules of decorum and public comment. And um as you know, mayor, in 2016, the city commission adopted a civility code to further establish rules of participation decorum for city commission and board meetings. And this code really applies to members of the public attending um commission meetings and other public meetings. Um as a general matter, you know, the city and the city commission obviously encourage public participation. It's an important part of our meetings. Um the purpose of the rules of participation and decorum um is to facilitate an open, orderly and respectful environment for those in attendance. Of course, it's important to have orderly meetings that are efficient as well. And so that is why we have these rules. Um the civility code that was adopted in 2016 encompassed the various rules that were in our city code and provided also some more um details. Um but generally mayor u some of the rules you've already laid out when you introduce public comment which is of course speaker should come up state their name and address the time limits that are in place um and so forth. Um the the specific guidelines in the civility code um include that all individuals attending a public meeting must wait to be acknowledged or called on by the chair of the meeting. Um should not interrupt the chair, a staff member or an individual who has the floor or speak over that person. Um, individuals should refrain from disruptive behavior such as making loud noises, clapping, speaking in a significantly raised voice, shouting, booing, hissing, or other activity that disrupts, disturbs, hinders, or impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting. Refrain from behavior that can be interpreted as physically threatening. Refrain from using profanities, insults, or other disparaging remarks. Refrain

from making comments or statements regarding race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. refrain from creating or participating in any type of disturbance involving unwelcome physical contact. Refrain from speaking on the on their cell phone while the meeting is in session. And always endeavor to site only the truth. Not knowingly misrepresent or mischaracterize or misquote information that they've received from others. And of course, you know, our city's um false claims and presentations um provisions also apply or could come into play in those situations. Um specifically our code section 2-83 provides with respect to decorum that order must be preserved. Um so no person shall by speech or otherwise delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the commission or disturb any person having the floor. No person shall refuse to obey the orders of the chairperson or the commission. So any person who makes irrelevant, impertinent or slanderous remarks or who becomes boisterous while addressing the commission shall not be considered orderly or decorous. Any person who becomes disorderly or who fails to confine remarks to the identified subject or business at hand shall be warned by the chairperson given an opportunity to conclude remarks on that subject in a decorous manner that follows our rules within the designated time limit. Any person who fails to comply as cautioned um shall be barred from making additional comments during the remainder of the meeting unless permission is given to continue again or the commission as a whole of or the commission is grants by a majority vote um that the person may continue. If the chairperson or the commission declares an individual out of order, that individual will be requested to relinquish the podium. If the person does not do so, the individual subject to removal from the chambers or the or whatever wherever that meeting is taking place. Um and any person generally who becomes disruptive or interferes with the orderly business of the commission can be subject to removal from chambers for the remainder of the meeting.

Um I put this on the agenda today because I want to discuss with the commission and we're going to set some new rules in place. I've been incredibly generous, incredibly generous and my generosity has come to an end. We will apply the rules that are already in the law. We will apply the rules that other other cities have. We will not eat in the chambers. We will not eat in the chambers. If you're eating in the chambers, you will be asked to leave. It's a simple respect. Every other city does it. I can give you all the names are here. I'm not going to waste your time. The laughing, the giggling, the heckling, the screaming, the standing up, the covering of your face, the making ridiculous comments, the insults from the back are not going to be accepted. You get one warning. You will be asked to be removed. Mr. Clerk.

Yes, sir.

Through the manager, I've already requested for a camera to be placed facing the gallery. Hopefully this will show the residents and people who are here what's actually happening and what we as a commission have to face on a continual basis from certain people in the gallery. We will all be held to the same standard. I will not allow what happened before when Mr. Cabrera was up here addressing Commissioner Fernandez and four or five people are speaking at the same time. It's not only protocol and law and order. It's also in reference to our clerk who has to make sure he can decipher everything that's stated on the record. Correct, Mr. Clerk?

Yes, sir.

That will cease. By the way, every other commission, every other municipality does it that way. I've been incredibly generous. The county does not allow you to go over two minutes. We have three minutes here. The only reason why I allowed the employee before the gentleman who was here before to continue speaking was because it's an incredibly sensitive moment. I don't want to give too many details and you could see that he was struggling to put together a coherent statement because of his emotions. Okay, I will no longer accept. No, but you gave this person this and you gave person this and the screaming from the gallery as you walk away or the hurling insults to the commission. It's over. I will ask you to remove be removed by the police in a respectful manner. Those days are over. The days where Commissioner Fernandez, Commissioner Castro, and then Commissioner Menendez override me and take over my powers here on the commission to be able to run a meeting with respect are over. That's happened here on this dis. It will not happen again. Everybody will be held to the same standard whether you're speaking in favor or against. I will remind you with 10 seconds left, you have 10 seconds to complete your sentence. Bring it in for a landing, please. Mr. Manager, I would like for that camera to be installed by the next commission meeting. Please,

it's functioning right now. M

I want it to be not only when It's panned onto the onto the onto the onto the gallery. I want it to be accessible by everyone. If you do a public records request, okay? People need to see the behavior of certain people on the floor. It's unacceptable. Whether you're against me or you're in favor, it doesn't matter. We we will respect the process. We respect the city. We will have debate. It will be colleial. It will be respectful. And it will be thoughtful. If we disagree, case in point, on whether you should raise the Israeli flag or not, whether you agree whether we should raise the LGBTQ flag or not, it will be thoughtful. It will be kind. It will be respectful. We will not have a wrestling match in the gallery. Insults will not be allowed. Eating will not be allowed. Madam city attorney, I want to make sure this is codified. I don't want to later have an issue where things are slipped through the cracks because you know we cannot hold people accountable including ourselves as a result of this.

Yes, mayor. So we have many of these these rules are um in our our code. We also have the civility code that was adopted in 2016 which really stemmed from that authority. Um but if there's specific um more specific rules that you would like, I'm happy to meet with you and we can go through and see if there's anything that you would like to add in future legislation. So to be clear, when you talk about civility, at the last commission meeting, I was called a liar by one of my colleagues in the commission. That is against the civility code. My options are as follow. Censure my colleague again for that issue or hope that Commissioner Castro conducts herself in a more professional manner. She may disagree, but doesn't need to call me a liar. So we will I'm not done yet. We will conduct ourselves accordingly. We will have a respectful meeting. Please do not be surprised if I ask you to leave the gallery because you are being rambunctious and because you're not following the rules. I know this will get on the blogs tomorrow and they'll be on Twitter and all the payforplay blogs will uh will will address this as the dictator or as uh Maria Cruz calls me the emperor. But this is the way 34 municipalities operate. If you do this in Miami County, you will be escorted immediately by a sergeant- of- arms. Mr. Manager. Uh yes, Mayor. Uh we have signs outside now, as in other commissions that we do allow drinks or food inside the the commission chambers. If you wish to do so, you can leave the commission chambers and then come back. That's as you mentioned, D County, city of Miami, Miami Beach, etc., uh have those rules. And I think I think they're uh uh appropriate to to to maintain the quorum in in the public.

Um Madam City attorney, do I have anything again? Do I have anything that needs to be addressed in regards to being codified or no? We're good. Mayor, so no eating in chambers is not specifically addressed in our code. Then let's put it in our code. Okay. That's why I'm asking. I don't want to later have an issue because I know how this works through the through the mayor. Yes.

Okay. So, one, I want to address the the the liar part, and I I want to apologize for that. I think I was a little passionate, and I could have used different terminology when it came to calling you a liar. So, I I take accountability for that. I I really hope that does not happen again. Um I really want a commission that is able to talk in a educative manner, proper polite manner. So for that I apologize. The other thing that I was going the other thing that I was going to mention is what you just said. I think there needs to be clear. Give me one second for that emergency to pass by.

Yeah. No one's going to be able to hear you. Yeah.

The other thing that I wanted to mention was that yes, you know, if as a commission we're we're going to go ahead and agree that there's no eating in the chamber. Let's go ahead and make that clear to the people that walk into here, right? And us as commissioners, we also drink things. So, are we going to make an exception for this body to drink things or are the the the the audience or the residents out they're allowed to drink things as well? Like where where where are the boundaries exactly when it comes when it comes to that? And I think the other thing that we need to keep in consideration is that because of HIPPO regulations, there might also be people here or residents that are a little older or not that might have um a disability or whatever the case is. What would be the procedures to follow? And we don't want to pinpoint anyone, right? But what would be the procedures to follow if that is the case? Who should they address?

So you have three questions that you ask. I'm gonna answer it to you. Number one, you said about calling me a liar and that you hope it doesn't happen again. No, it won't.

But but again, I didn't interrupt you. Just let me finish. Please follow follow the follow the rules through the mayor. Okay. Now, the only person that can control that is you. Because in 13 years, I've never insulted someone here in the commission. I've never use a derogatory name or said you're a liar or you're this or you're that. I just haven't done that. So the only person that can control that is yourself. Don't blame anyone but yourself. Okay? I'm showing immense self-restraint. I have a censure right here for you that I had prepared with the city attorney which I'm perfectly in fine with. It's against the civility code. Perfect. This would be your second one. You see, instead of obviously showing that appreciate that I'm showing restraint, you laugh and you mock me in my face. That's one of the problems we have. You're the one that has to restrain yourself and show respect. That's number one. Number two, the issue of food. The commission stands up here. The last meeting was 12 and a half hours. It went till 9:30. We had one break for lunch and I think it was 30 minutes and I take full full blame for that. I take full responsibility. I was just trying to get everything in as much as I possibly could and I apologize to staff profusely for that. Um, if the commission wants to have a glass of water, if the commission wants to, I don't have a problem with that at all because you know what? We can't stand up like the individuals in the galley can and go outside and sit down. They can sit down. There's TVs outside. There's air conditioning outside. They can sit there. There's a vending machine. They can grab coffee. There's water for the community. Everybody has every opportunity to sit outside and not miss a beat. But the commission needs to be here because the simple fact that we need we need quorum to be able to run this city. So, let's not look for like little cute things that are going to like derail the process and you know, can somebody eat or not? I know you're I know you're I know you're trying to appease people, but at the end of the day, I've tried to do that for a long time and my kindness was run over over and over and over and over in this commission. We have to run this like a business. There has to be

respect, but at the end of the day, we're only we're only degrading our standards here in the city because other other employees and other elected officials who I have the privilege of working with on other organizations and boards tell me, Vince, your commission meetings are a zoo. Get that under control. I mean, that wouldn't even happen. Use the gavl. When have you ever heard me use the gavvel? Never. I use it. I I didn't even use it to start the meeting. Literally at the end of the meeting I go sometimes I even forget to use I go media journ and I try to be so soft because I know that all the payforplay play box the gazette the political all these people that again have told me Vince well stop talking just pay us pay us money every month on retainer they know they want they're dying to see me with the gav smash you so you can use it on your next mailer I get it you're never going to be able to use it so let's stop complicating things let's show a level of respect And again, call me a liar. In 13 years, 13 years, I've never in my life ever insulted one of my colleagues on this commission. Never. It's it's not only a lack of respect, but it's just a lack of just real understanding of the honor it is that it is to sit up here. We can disagree. We can disagree wholeheartedly. There can be robust robust discussion but there cannot be disrespect. Madam vice mayor,

so I'm going to try to give you some perspectives. Some of us have had the training, you know, and and I should say the scars from practicing in courtrooms. Number one, the fact that the lawyers in in at the you know that arguing the cases have some water is is normal because you needed to be able to continue on speaking. But there were at times in you know in the courtroom there's no food at all. You cannot get away with that. You have a blood sugar problem you ask the court for a break. There was a time prior to the last election where public comment was allowed to go and run and run may I say adnauseium. I left the chambers because I was having a blood sugar low and I had to deal with it. Okay. So that's this is why we need the quorum. No one in a courtroom brings food in and eats it while court is ongoing. This is normal in the county commission. This is normal everywhere else. There's nothing different here. Okay. On top of it, there are speakers right outside this door. So, you don't miss a beat. There's a TV screen out there right outside the door.

Two. Yeah. Even in a ladies room, I could hear what's going on if I have to take an emergency break and then come back. And I I think that's true for any one of us to have to go back to our desks to either get a bite to eat or pick up a piece of paper or whatever it is that we need to do so that we can walk back in and and vote on the item. We heard it while we were outside the chambers. So that's my advice to you to to have perspective. Commissioner Fernandez.

Um I just I think we we're beating a dead horse. I think we agree that there should there needs to be some sort of rules of decorum. Um I think we've been going back and forth so many times. I think the vice mayor brought up or or commissioner Castro about making sure people are aware. I don't know if there's a way to maybe put it out there again. Maybe we can do it in the e- newsws what the rules of decorum are in the chamber. Maybe we can display them outside for the next few meetings so that people will start getting familiarized with them again. Uh just to make sure and and I'm I'm glad to see that we'll we'll apply it to everybody who uh violates any of the rules.

Can I ask you again I agree with whatever you'd like to do to spread the word, but can I ask you a simple question and I don't want to have a long diet tribe here. You know how to conduct yourself in public, right? People here know. They know how to behave. They know how to behave in a courtroom. They know how to behave at the county. Maria Cruz knows how to behave. Behave. It's all about antagonizing. It's about the continuing effort to derail process. So, let's not blame people and that they need to be educated. We live in an incredibly smart community here. You know, any any city that you go to to conduct business, you can't leave a podium screaming at the commission. You can't. you disagree, you know what you do? You sit there, you write a letter, you write a letter, you go there for public comment, and you make a statement. When I have gone to speak at the county as an elected official, they have held me to the standard that everybody else is held to and that happened in I was watching some committees in the county. Um Oliver Gilbert, Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, chairman Oliver Gilbert was running those committees and they had uh certain elected officials that were dealing with an issue uh in the south and they were speaking and the moment they hit 2 minutes or whatever the time was an elected official, commissioner, commissioner, your time is up. Thank you very much. Thank you so much for being here. And guess what, Mr. Clerk? They cut the mic off, right?

Do we have that power here? Yes, sir. We do. But what did you tell me about cutting the mic off? that people continue to keep screaming at the commission. So, I've never cut the mic off once. I've never gled somebody down once. Again, we're not going to do that here. We're not going to do it. The people here that are causing the most ruckus know how to behave. They know how to behave. They do it for show. They do it for the blogs. They do it because they want to be thrown out of the commission. They want to have that, you know, scene made here in front of everybody. But it won't be me. It'll be the police. Just so we're clear. Just commission. I think we're on the same page. I think Can you agree with me though? Can you agree with me?

No, I agree. And listen, in in Tallahassee before I was on the on the deis, I went to speak before a committee and I was given 20 seconds and at 20 seconds, my microphone was cut off. I barely got my sentence out. Uh but I realized the person in front of me had 30 seconds and they were cut off at 30 seconds. So, I knew that I only had those 20 that I was given because they cut off their meetings in two hours. uh and they will not go past that time and I was the last speaker. So I agree I and I also agree with you that putting it out there to make sure that everybody's aware gives everybody the knowledge even if they should know this that this is the the the the way we're supposed to behave in the commission chamber going forward in the past but just to make sure that there's no doubt about is this allowed is this not allowed let's just put it out there and let's move forward.

Okay. So, with that being said, thank you, Commissioner. Madam City attorney, the next commission meeting will have a full revised piece of legislation that addresses all these concerns. Eating, talking, shouting from the grand stands, anything that you think could slip through the cracks. Understood. Okay. Understood.

Wearing your shoes, wearing clothes, signs, all kinds of things. I know it sounds insane, but you know, things that we that we normally take for granted that we should just all behave with civility, you know, like not calling your colleague a liar on the commission floor because you disagree with them. You know, those things should all be included. All be included. Okay. So, um let's have that on the next agenda, please. I will be the sponsor of that item. Um that's number one. Uh number two, Mr. Manager, the cameras, I want to make sure. So, if I ask if I ask the clerk, I just don't want to have problems later. If I ask the clerk, I want a copy of all 12 hours of the meeting, but not from the commission, but from the grand stands, can I get a copy of that? Yes or no?

Yes, mayor. The the the cameras are current are currently running. Okay. Hopefully, that will curb some of the behavior. And I hope that, you know, the accountability that we've never had will basically curb the behavior. I know the clerk is going to be working on that and he has it on right now on Zoom as I can see, but that's something that I think is critically important because I want everyone to be able to see the great conduct of not our employees but of our of the people who are here to speak on behalf of the city. Yes. Uh through the mayor. Uh thank you mayor. Uh we will add a second camera to to have complete coverage because we we we using a current camera right now. covers uh almost the the entire the the uh entire section but we will add coverage for the left side by the next commission meeting.

So in an effort also to to to show a little bit of of of kindness and thoughtfulness I would not be activating my I know that some people are disappointed but I would not be uh basically u activating the civility code and again reprimanding my colleague to the right based on her calling me a liar. I think that this is not productive and I don't think And I think it builds upon what I'm trying to achieve here. So, um, let's curb that behavior. At the end of the day, you're in control of your own destiny. Don't blame it on anybody else. You're the mayor. So, yes, Commissioner, I I want to say I appreciate that. I didn't see this one coming, but the first thing I said was that I I was taking accountability for that before.

Commissioner, don't get used to it. Don't get used to it because at the end of the day, every single thing that I've done here in this commission, you've battled me. You've done everything in your power to derail an agenda that is residents first. So, residents first. And you've ridiculed me. You've ridiculed my family. You've ridiculed my business. You've ridiculed my friends. So, at the end of the day, I'm doing this right now in an effort to try to move forward and work forward together on behalf of the city. So, I'm done. All right. Through the mayor,

commissioner is my item. I'm done. Um, Mr. Clerk, moving on to item F4. Thank you. This is this is an item that's very important to me and I want to thank uh several period. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor. I apologize for interrupting. Uh, the last item we did F7 as well, right? Uh, yes. All right. Thank you, sir.

Um, F4, this is a discussion regarding safety regulations for the use of ebikes and e scooters in the city. This is very important to me because I have a friend of mine who's here along with uh his son and his wife um Ziri Ziri Sabata uh who's here with us today u prominent business owner here in the community uh along he another friend of mine who could not be here uh Chris Yanakopoulos who also wrote me an email along with other residents I know that I'm not the only one in this commission that has been receiving comments about ebikes and e- scooters in the city this is a two-fold discussion okay number One, we have scooters in the city. You cannot expect our police officers in the back. I know I shouldn't be saying this, but they cannot they cannot possibly enforce people riding scooters in our city. It's impossible. I mean, we don't have enough police officers. Even though we have more police officers than any other city in Miami County, there's no way. Let's be honest with ourselves. We get those emails that there's a person on a bike or a scooter on a sidewalk. You know, you got to catch them, okay? Okay. Or you get people that are riding scooters in tandem. Those are issues. Our police is doing an amazing job, but we've got to we got to we got to figure out ways to stop that. The issue is this. Do we get rid of scooters? Could that affect our micromobility efforts? What can we do? That's the first thing. We're not going to solve that today. I'm just putting on your radar. Think about it. Have conversations with staff. What can we do? Talk to the police. That's number one. Number two, the reason why Z is here and I'd like for you to come up is because he's one of the many individuals that's brought to my attention uh the issue of ebikes. Uh I think ebikes are amazing. They're a great time, but until you ride an ebike and you understand how dangerous they are, the power that ebikes have, it kind of brings it into context why young children uh and the tragedy that that is that happens when young children are not aware of the power of an ebike. And the

laws which are coming down from Tallahassee, which I want our city attorney to discuss in a few moments, are clear, but they really put the onus on the city. And this is why I'm bringing it forward. Uh, Zer, I'd like for you to introduce yourself, where you live, uh, the name of your company, and why you're here today.

My name is Zaryi Zapata. I reside at 701 Bella Vista, Coral Gables. I recently moved our national headquarters to 29 Pond, Coral Gables. Been a resident of the city for over a decade. And my main reason for here, for being here today is because my son was involved in a serious accident along with his other friend about two months ago. Um they were riding their ebikes. They left their neighborhood and they crashed into a car. Very thankful for the first responders that attended our children. They were transported to Miami Children's. Um it was the scariest day of my life along with my wife. We honestly didn't know what the outcome was going to be when we entered trauma. They were immediately concerned with the spine, the brain, the internal organs and it was it was a very scary day to say the least. Thankfully, my son has made a full recovery. He required several surgeries and extensive PT that will still be ongoing. His soccer season was obviously ended, but he's he's here with us today, which is our main thing. So, my main priority is to prevent the tragedy that we felt that day from happening to other parents. And there's been a phenomenon with ebikes due to the advancement in electric batteries. And as I speak with other parents, I've become more aware that we all for the most part just had no idea what we were buying. Your children wakes up, "Dad, can I get an ebike?" You see other kids with ebikes and you want to appease your kid. Anything to get them out of the home and playing video games, go out in nature. We all grew up riding our bikes. So, I was all for it. But

these are not the bikes that we rode, right? When I'm sure we all rode bikes as a kid and we got into, you know, we fell, we had injuries. These are not these injuries. When I was in Miami Children's and I spoke with the staff, they told me this is a weekly occurrence. There's traumatic brain injuries and of course their deaths. I better report this morning of a mom that 5 years ago lost her son to an ebike and three years ago or two or very recently lost her daughter to another ebike. I cannot imagine the pain that that brings to that family. So my call to action is number one enforcement of current law. The primary bikes that are causing these accidents are not street legal. As I speak with cops, I think there needs to be an education as well on that end because they're telling me we don't know the difference between a class A, a class 2, a class 3, or a bike that is just not street legal. The bikes that are not street legal, we need to enforce the law that currently exists. These kids need to be pulled over and the bike needs to be impounded. That's what the current Florida law says. As far as the city of Coral Gables, my recommendation would be as I speak with other parents and they don't know the difference either between class one, class two, class three. They don't know what they're buying. Is an outright ban perhaps starting with class two. These bikes go at a speed that these children at this age are not prepared to conduct. They're riding them in the streets along with other vehicles. They have no driver's licenses. They've never taken a driving test. And it's a huge danger to the entire community. Not only the children, but drivers as well because god forbid we're abiding by all laws and we hit one of these children and god forbid one of them is killed

even though it's not your fault the trauma that you would have to live with for the rest of your life. I thank the city of Coral Gables as in a unique position to lead on this subject. I thank Mayor Lago for taking this seriously as soon as I reached out to him. This is a very very important topic amongst all residents that we come across. I also believe that it starts with schools. Schools are allowing children to ride these bikes that are not street legal into their campuses. So I believe there's also a need to address it with them. With that being said, I thank all members of the commission for allowing me to speak here today. I've heard I've had the unique experience of sitting here for the past two and a half hours of listening to all the different subjects at hand and I sincerely believe aside from the childhood cancer that this is this is a topic that we can all rally behind. There's no political agenda. I I I am sympathetic to the um first issue that you brought up regarding the scooters, regarding the micro um transportation. I understand some adults use certain ebikes to get to work and deliver um items and that's their livelihood and I'm nothing against that. But you should be at the very minimum have a driver's license. So, children with no driver's licenses driving bicycles at a speed that can kill, I believe that needs to be an outright bact. That said, I thank everyone for your time.

Thank you, Zir. I appreciate you. Um, as a friend, when you brought this to my attention, you were one of like 10 individuals in the community that had written out to me. Obviously, you've been seeing a lot of these accidents happen throughout South Florida, and they're tragic. I I I'm not I didn't ask him to share the photos, but I got to see the photos on his phone in regards to his son. And horrific. I mean, God God really saved your son from from what I saw that day. I mean, as a father of two young girls, I don't even I don't even know how to even to deal with something like that. I mean, you're a very fortunate man and your wife also for for this gentleman, for your son to be alive. Appreciate. Um, if you ever get a chance and you see the photos, you understand what an ebike does. And and his ebike was going how fast? How fast? 30 mph. 30 m an hour. There's ebikes that go much faster than that.

Some go 70. Some go 70. So, um, there's some state madam vice mayor, I just want the the vi the the city attorney to talk a little bit about what's coming out of Tallahassee so you understand so you understand where the city stands and our responsibilities where we can take action at the next commission meeting to bring this forward and get this taken care of and give further guidance to the police to code enforcement to firefighters to whoever is going to be helping us on this front uh to really have a path moving forward. Madam city attorney, one one last thing. I'm so sorry because I just just I just think it's just to add some context. My wife on the way over here today witnessed another ebike accident

right here in the city on the way. Just a picture a kid, another young child hit a car. So, I just thought that was something I needed to share today because obviously that was a very unique experience she went through today. I thank you all for your time. And by the way, thank you for being here. You have hundreds of employees in your firm. Um, again, your law offices are here in the Gables. I thank you for that and you're taking time out of your very very busy day as the owner of that firm and your partner uh to to to again do this because this is important to you. Absolutely. You have no dog in the fight. You have no interest, but at the end of the day, you just want to make sure that this is the type of the type of issues that are addressed. Absolutely. I'm I'm deeply invested in the welfare of our city. So, thank you, sir. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, for the record, Stephanie Throckton, deputy city attorney. Um, yes, we are correct. There are certain classifications and different classes of ebikes set via state statute class one, class 2 to class 3. Just as was previously explained, the state legislature has a few um preeemptions regarding ebikes and microobility scooters, namely how they are to be treated. Bicycles and ebikes are have the same rights to the road under state law. However, there has been a recent change that was adopted in the legislature this last session that allows a local government to adopt an ordinance providing one or more minimum age requirements to operate an electric bicycle or certain scooters. And we can adopt an ordinance requiring an operator of an electric bicycle to possess a driver's license or photographic ID um for the while operating the electric bicycle. We are also of course permitted to provide training opportunities on the safe operation of those scooters, micromobility devices or electric bicycles. So, if there's the will of a commission to have us bring back, we can we're happy to work with the police department and with our sustainability micromobility staff to come up with some proposed legislation or work with any of you all on any proposed changes. Madam Vice Mayor,

so um as many of you know, I do considerable biking and I absolutely agree with you that there needs to be a licensing requirement, a training requirement because the techniques I've picked up to be able to handle a regular bike. Um a lot of people don't even know either be how to stop it accordingly. Uh I had a uh I should say my husband had an electric bike. I gave it to the police because the capabilities of that was more of a motorcycle than it was of an electric bike. Uh there's the pedal assist, there's and the ones with a throttle. You can just take all those and say that those are too much for children, period. But they need to have the training because they don't understand what happens when you stop these things suddenly that you It's like sometimes like a boat. It just keeps moving. you're you're going down with the bike

or you're going over the handlebars and traumatic brain injury can happen in a second and we know what happens there and the pedestrians need protected as well. Um these bicycles on sidewalks are incredibly dangerous. We've dealt with that on the mile. We've dealt heard many complaints from residents on uh regular sidewalks uh around our our city where uh pedestrians do get hit. We've had pedestrians hit along uh North Greenway. We've had one hit on on the mile. The scooters, there's a lot of private scooters now, so eliminating the scooter program here is not going to resolve that problem because there's so many that are private. I have talked to staff though about

I'm sorry to interrupt you, but that's a great point. I thought about that. I have talked to staff and our great IT department that has incredible capabilities about putting, you know, the equivalent of the speed detection signs on areas such as the mile where you have storefronts because you can detect the difference between a walking speed and a scooter speed and a bicycle speed on the mile and have it flashing to remind at least remind people that you're not supposed to be on the mile here with pedestrians with a scooter zipping in and out. You know, you're walking next to a bike, fine. You're walking next to a scooter, that's not the the concern. It's speed that kills.

Correct, Vice Mayor. We have the ability and we have an ordinance in place that um where signed bicycles are not permitted on sidewalks which includes a lot of areas of our central business district but they don't see them and we need to extend it because everywhere there is a storefront and someone could walk out that door carrying a coffee or something and get whacked by somebody riding the scooter. We need to be uh prohibiting that that type of activity on sidewalks. Of course, I I'll defer to the manager on the current locations and any other proposed locations for that signage and that prohibition.

So, but I would like to hear back from staff about the question I raised roughly six months ago. Can we put the speed detection signs in these prohibited areas so people actually see it? Because people aren't looking up at the beautiful Coral Gables sign in the pastel colors, you know, and seeing it that scooters aren't allowed there. They need to be reminded by speed detection through the mayor. Yes, sir. Uh yes, Vice Mayor. Uh we we do have speed limiters uh areas areas of operation and uh and driver's license requirements on the scooters that that we rent from from the city. Uh but the private scooters are are really the issue.

So I've called in bicycles on the mile, scooters on the mile and it's impossible to catch. So, we can put all the limiters we want. It's not going to handle the private scooters. It's not going to handle bicycles. So, Commissioner Fernandez.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I think with the rate of preeemptions that we've seen out of Tallahassee, the time to act is definitely now. Uh, because we know moratoriums can come very quickly on what we can do. Um, so if we are allowed to pass um, you know, minimum age requirements and driver's license requirements, I think that's something we should definitely consider. Um in Europe they're actually now uh starting to require driver's licenses to uh operate these devices um because they have also seen the issues uh that they brought about and and it it's to no fault of the operator. A lot of the times when you're riding a bicycle, you know what your top speed's going to be. When you start putting us to the speed on these on these devices, it starts picking up speed and then you have the issue like the vice mayor was saying of slowing down and you're used to the the distance that you're supposed to stop in your bicycle. But with these devices, you're now multiplying it three or four times what it actually is. And um it's the same thing as when you're operating a vehicle for the first time. There is a process to learn how to operate uh a car because it takes you a while to figure out how these uh vehicles work. Same thing with these devices. And I think where we're failing as a society is there's not much training on on how to operate them. Uh even the scooters, the scooters are available for you to rent. You don't have to have any proof of of anything. You just basically rent it and you get on it for the first time. You may not have ridden a scooter since you were a child and it was completely different from this electric scooter. So, um thank you for bringing this up. Uh thank you for the work that you're doing to to raise awareness of this. I'm glad to see that you're joining us here today. Uh, and I wish you a very speedy recovery and I'm happy to support any legislation that we move forward on this.

Madam City Attorney, mayor, I just want to make one clarification. Unfortunately, the the Florida statute doesn't um authorize us to require driver's licenses. What it allows us to require is that the person operating these um ebikes or e- scooters can must carry a photo ID, a government issued photo ID. So, it's it's a different

Chelsea. I'd like to see if we can advocate and put it together in regards to our legis legislative agenda. I met with the uh speaker of the house yesterday over some issues here in the city of Coral Gables. Um and I'd like to make that to see if we can advocate on behalf of that and hopefully codify. I think it's important to be able to be allowed to do that. I'd like to come back at the next commission meeting with after the input of my colleagues and staff and members of the community like Ziri and uh Cristiano and other members who have called in and written emails in regards to the dangers that we're facing. Um I'd like to them to be able to have input and then present that legislation at the next commission meeting. We'll certainly work with staff and and get that done and and provide it to you all for the next commission meeting for

through the mayor. Yes, sir. Just a quick question to the city attorney with respect to the um enactment of ordinances. Can we just so I understand could we make an uh an ordinance here that applies in the city of Corables that is more restrictive than what the state uh sets as a minimum? Like if you're required to have a picture ID, are we permitted to have a local ordinance that requires a driver's license? We we can certainly look into that, but generally the way the language was written and the intent of the legislature at the N last session was um regarding specific photo IDs and age requirements. So by the very nature of an age requirement and photo ID, you may end up with more driver's licenses. If you said 18 years old in photo ID, but um I'm not aware that we are allowed to go beyond that um capability as we're supposed to treat them for the same reasons as bicycles. We can't require driver's license for bicycles. So, we'll certainly look into that to the extent we're able to, but um my initial response is no, but we can we can certainly explore that.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. Perfect. Moving on to item E1. Thank you, Mr. Sabataba and your family for being here. I appreciate you. Thank you for taking time out of your day. Item E1, which is time certain. E1 and E8.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. E1 is an ordinance of the city commission granting conditional use approval for a building site determination pursuant to zoning code article 14 process section 14-202.6 6 building site determination in section 14-203 conditional uses to separate one existing building site into two single family building sites on property zone single family residential district legally described as half of lot 9 out of lots 10 and 11 and the west 25 ft of lot 12 block 223 revised plat of Coral Gables Rivera section part 13 1154 Alonso Avenue Coral Gables Florida one building site consisting of the east of the east 50 ft of lot 9 and olive lot 10 and the other building site consisting of olive lot 11 and the west 25 ft of lot 12, including required conditions, providing for repeal provision, severability clause, and an effective date. E8, which is related, is a resolution of the city commission approving the release of the declaration of restrictive covenant on the property located at 1154 Alonso Avenue, recording an official record of Miami Day County, book 11508, page 431, and providing for an effective date. This is a quasi judicial hearing. Um, we mayor I ask that we consolidate both items for purposes of the hearing. And Mr. Clerk, please swear in all individuals that will be testifying today.

Those who will be testifying on this item, please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear affirm that the testimony you'll provide today will be the truth and nothing but the truth? Thank you. Is there any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. Those of public comment, has there been any changes from first reading? Good morning, by the way. Good morning. Sorry. No changes since first reading. Okay. Um, the only change is that um addition resolution to release the covenant. Not a problem. Okay. Uh, I'll entertain a motion. I'll move it. I'll second. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Mayor Lo,

yes. Thank you very much. Thank you, Laura. Um, F1 is my item. I dropped the ball. I have to apologize uh to the chair of the mayor's council who was here. He's a gentleman. Uh, I have to profusely apologize to me. Had to leave. Mr. Mayor, if you don't mind, can we take a vote on E8 as well? Oh, yes. I'll move it. I'll second. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Mayor Lago,

yes. Thank you. Um, F1, I'm going to defer. I apologize to the chair of the mayor's council. Uh, we had some great updates. Um, but I I I ran over time and he had to catch a flight for work. So, we'll do it at the next commission meeting. And I apologize again. Thank you, Sergio. Uh, moving on to F9. Perfect. Another one that's late also. I apologize. Welcome to the city of Coronal Gables. It was a pleasure to meet with you on Friday. Thank you, Commissioner Lada. Your item.

Yes. So, thank you very much, mayor, for allowing this opportunity. So, um we have here the executive director of the Orange Bowl Committee, uh the wonderful Mimi Balum. So, thank you very much for coming here today. I wanted to give you an opportunity to talk a little bit to the residents and to the commission about the junior junior orange bowl, its mission, all the exciting things that we should be aware of in the near term that are going to be happening in this our centennial year of the city. And um so uh I I had a wonderful opportunity to meet with you on more than one occasion. Uh this is an individual who has a tremendous amount of energy, drive and enthusiasm for um the junior orange pole which is a a storied institution decades here based in Coral Gables doing so much for the youth and and to drive and serve the mission to provide an opportunity through uh sports and uh similar activities um to elevate. So why don't you take a few moments to let us know a little bit about you and the organization and what we have coming up in the near term. Thank you for the generous introduction. I would like to start by saying good morning to the mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, city manager, attorney, and clerk. I would like to begin by thanking you all for the opportunity to speak today um and for commending you all on your ongoing commitment to our community. My name is Mimi Bum and I have the privilege of serving as the director of the Junior Orange Bowl, a Coral Gables organization that has proudly been shaping lives, inspiring our youth, and uniting our uni, our community for over seven decades. A little bit about me. I'm from a small coastal town south of Melbourne and in Australia. And in 2019, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to the University of Miami on the women's rowing team. Through that experience, I came to truly understand how sport has the power to shape and change lives. It gave me the opportunity to compete with and against some of the best athletes in the world. It challenged me to live

15,000 km or 900 9,300 miles from home in Australia and ultimately allowed me to earn two degrees from a distinguished university that is also celebrating its 100th year. Since our founding in 1948, the Junior Orange Bowl has been more than a series of events. It has been a launchpad for dreams, a stage for talent, and a gathering place for cultures from all over the world. We are a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the youth through world-class sporting competitions, cultural events, and community celebrations. Each year, we welcome more than 7,500 participants from across South Florida and over 70 countries. Our mission is to provide young people with opportunities to grow, connect, and lead, all while showcasing the vibrant spirit and hospitality of our city. Over the years, our participants have included household names Roger Federer, Coco Goff, Maria Sherupova, and Tiger Woods who began their journeys on our courts and courses. But our legacy is not measured in trophies or famous alumni. It is measured in the friendships made, the lessons learned, and the confidence built in thousands of young people who may never have turned professional, but will carry these skills and values that they learned here for life. Our impact stretches far beyond sports. Every December, we shut down the heart of Coral Gables for our holiday parade, transforming Miracle Mile into a stage for celebration. On December 14th this year, thousands will once again line the streets. neighbors, families, and visitors from across the country to share in the joy of community and honor our local talents with participants representing the demographic diversity of South Florida. Like sports itself, the Junior Orange Bowl is a powerful tool for building character, fostering inclusion, and connecting people from

every background. Our events are where young athletes, artists, and leaders not only compete, but learn discipline, independence, and resilience. Life skills that echo far beyond the playing field. We are educating young writers through our creative writing program, shaping future leaders through our youth ambassadors program, and drawing inspiration from every participant in our sports abilities games, which celebrates the talents and determination of children with cognitive disabilities through the spirit of sport. With recent changes to our arts and events funding, your continued support is more important than ever in ensuring that our young people have places to learn, to grow, and to lead outside of their normal school environment and on a global stage. The Junior Orange Bowl is more than a tradition. It is an arena for young people to showcase their talents, build confidence, and compete with the best in the world right in our backyard. This year, our holiday parade carries even greater significance as it marks the culmination of our city's centennial celebrations. It is a moment of reflection and a promise of what is to come. Your support as a commission and as a community keeps that mission alive. Every act of partnership, every moment of civic pride opens doors for our participants. It ensures that we remain not just a historic event but a living legacy that continues to inspire the next generation. while also giving our global participants memories that will allow them to reflect fondly on their time here. So on behalf of thousands of people who have found their voice, their passion, and their confidence through the Junior Orange Bowl, thank you for being a part of our team, for believing in what we stand for, and for helping us keep this Coral Gables tradition thriving for decades to come. We are not just preserving history. We are shaping the future and empowering our youth right here in Coral Gables. Thank you

for your time.

Thank you, Commissioner. Well, I wanted to say thank you to Mimi for um such a wonderful uh recounting of all the amazing things that the Junior Orange Bowl does and for bringing it home, understanding that it's not just a referring a reference to the past, but more a forging of of what the future uh can be and should be uh for kids uh all around the state and and very proud to say that it's Coral Gables based and uh so we're all very very much looking forward to um in the months to come the various events. Uh you know, Mimi, it would be helpful if you would uh let us know how we can find out more information where we could refer to the upcoming events. Perhaps there's a website that um we could be referred to and if people want to get involved and I encourage all of my colleagues on the dasis so it's somewhat of a rhetorical question because I know we have unanimous support for the junior orange poll. Please do let us know what we can do uh to support

through through the mayor. Yes. Yes. We had a very long and productive meeting with your team and my offer is still there. Anything and all the ideas that we my my liaison brought during our meeting. I am 100% up for it. In back of you, you have um Michelle Marchante. She's part of the Miami Herald. Maybe you want to talk to her a little bit about what is happening with the Orange Bowl, especially since it's so import and special since it is part of our centennial. Um, it's the parade of our centennial and I think that will portray a beautiful light in our city. Thank you. Anyone else?

Just a closing comment. You know, my kids grew up walking three blocks down to watch the Orange Bowl parade. I think every child enjoys coming down and and watching everything that you all do. So, thank you for continuing that effort. I mean, we lost the one parade, you know, the the the major Orange Bull parade, but you've carried on and not let the baton drop. So, thank you.

Thank you very much again. I appreciate all the hard work that you're doing. Incredible work. It's a beautiful cause. We're here to help in any way that we can. I look forward to this year's event. I know the community does. Also, thank you for being here with us. Moving to the final item, uh that's time certain, E9. This one I only missed by uh 20 20 minutes. Mayor, we did have an 11:30 time certain which is um 22. Oh, I guess I don't have any. All right. 22.

11:30 time certain. So 22 is a resolution of the historic preservation board requesting that the city commission adopt a resolution authorizing advalorum tax relief for the property located at 4125 Santa Maria Street a contributing resource with the within the Santa Maria Street Historic District legally described as lots 9 and 10 block 96 Coral Gables Country Club section part 5 according to the plat thereof as recorded in platbook 23 at page 55 of the public records of Miami date county Florida. Okay. I don't know if anybody has reviewed this house, but this is pretty impressive.

Yes, it is. So, good morning, commissioner, mayor. Um, Anna Peres, historic preservation and cultural arts director. Um, the property owners may have been here a little earlier, but we can begin without them. They just wanted us to move forward with this application. As you know, the Adavalorum program is an incentive program that the historic preservation office offers to homeowners that renovate and restore and repair um our historically designated buildings. As you can see through our report, these estimated project costs was about $6 million and the property has been through the process beginning in 2017 and then with amendments in 2019 and has been completed now in 2025. So we would like your support in moving forward with the adalorum application and getting that to the property appraisers to get their incentive and their taxes reduced.

I'll move it paused. Thank you. Perfect. Mr. Clerk, do you have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. We have a motion to second. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Commissioner Fernandez? Yes. Mayor Lago? Yes. Great work. Thank you. Tell the residents thank you for their hard work and really making the city look beautiful. Yes, we appreciate it. An amazing job. I don't know who the general contractor was, architect. I don't think so. We have it listed here. We have the architect is Rafael Portoando. Portoando Peri architects who genius. Yes, he does work for us. Give some credit to the general contractor. Come on. We'll have to find it. Might not be listed. Oh, it says a contractor for alterations. Yes.

Yeah. So, who also does historic projects with us constantly and is also, you know, amazing work. Amazing work. Congratulations. Thank you to your to your team and everybody.

Um the time certain item that I had next was excuse me was uh E9. E9 is a resolution of the city commission approving the final plat entitled Pon Park Residence pursuant to zoning code article 14 process section 14-210 platting subdivision being a replat of 42,543 square ft into a single tract of land in the property legally described as lots 8 through 21 less the west half of lot 8 block 29 craft section together with that portion of the 20 foot platted alley lying east of lots 11 and 19 of said block 29 together with a 1,318 square foot portion of University Drive that runs north of the Malaga Avenue rightway and west of the Pon Leon Boulevard rightway and dedication of 1,725 square ft Coral Gables Florida providing for repeater provisionability clause and providing for an effective date.

Madam director, mayor, how are you sir? Thank you for joining us. Uh good morning or afternoon I guess almost right. Um so as you know that this was project was approved last year in May of last year. This is the last of that approval process. So they went took your tenant plat that you approved the as the commission. They went to the county got their approval. Now they're back requesting for the final plat. This is just one of the many standard steps in the process. Exactly. Mayor would like to say anything. First and foremost, thank you for being here with us yesterday. I really enjoyed the meeting. Thank you for giving us two hours of your time. Thank you for the opportunity. It was talking garbage.

Very productive meeting on garbage. So looking forward to working with all of you on fashioning. Hopefully a win-win for our mutual cities and on this item for the record. Javier Fernandez uh council to the owner. Uh let me start by saying thank you to you and your staff for getting us this far in the process. Uh on behalf of the ownership, I'd like to say if you've not had a chance to come out to the sales center uh and see it firsthand, want to invite you back first class. We are very excited about the response in the market to the project. This is an important step to pulling permits and and beginning construction which we hope to begin in Q4 of this year. So again, thank you and with your support this afternoon, we'll begin to make this vision a reality. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Um, Mr. Cler, do you have any public comment?

Yes, Mr. Mayor. Okay, Mr. Matt Broady. Guess he left. Okay. Anybody else? That's it. All right. We'll close the public comment. Can I have a motion? Move it. Second. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir.

Good luck. Everything looks great, by the way. Item F17. F17 is a resolution of the city commission directing the raising of the flag of the state of Israel at city hall on October 7, 2025 in mourning in honor of the victims of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel.

So, first and foremost, I want to thank everyone for being here and I want to thank all all the individuals in our community that sent us that sent us emails and contact us. Probably was about two dozen or a little over a dozen emails that we received as the commission. Thank you both in support and in opposition. That's the beauty of our democracy. I think what we have here is a little bit of confusion and I want to kind of bring uh emotions down a little bit. This is not about politics. I know we always want to inject politics into everything whether you're a liberal or you're a conservative, Republican, Democrat. Let's step away from that. Israel is the United States number one ally. It is the only country in the Middle East that is a democrat state that has freedoms for women and for LGBTQ members. I want to put that on the record. It's clearly something that we forget to mention. Okay? They have their flaws just like the United States has their flaws. I always go to my council as a Catholic. I speak to the rabbis because they won't judge me as much and they always say one thing. We're far from perfect. We have our flaws. But one of the things that the reason and I want to mention why I put this up because I know that this commission cares about the over the over 1,200 people that were heinously murdered on that day. Women, children, men slaughtered while they were enjoying themselves. Many of them supporters, as I've read and I've seen online, supporters of a Palestinian state, many of them that were just having a good time, not expecting the outcome of the day. Over 250 250 um individuals that day were also taken

hostage. women that were raped for years until they were killed or released. I've seen the photos. I've seen the videos. I hope you never have to see those videos. This is not about a statement versus against Hamas, which I unequivocally condemn. This is a statement in support. This is a statement of bringing people together. When people talk about flags, I wrote a piece of legislation few years ago that I know that the manager was has it on the budget this year, which is putting a fourth flag pole here in the city that will serve the purpose obviously of being a flag pole that we can use to celebrate countries, you know, say it's or celebrating causes. For example, we celebrate autism. We raised the autism flag. I'm also the first mayor as a Republican to raise the LGBTQ flag here in the city. And we did not raise it for a day. We raised it for over a week here in the city in support of people in our community, in support of inclusion, a statement, a clear one where everyone is welcome. So my point is I want to come together on this issue and I don't want to make it about politics. If my colleagues don't feel comfortable, we'll move in another direction. But I want to send a statement. This is 1,200 people. We sent a statement in regards to September 11th where we now have a day off for all our employees here in the city of Pro Gables. Thousands of people of Americans were slaughtered that day by an extremist group that opposes who we are and what we stand for. So at the end of the day, this should be

something that shouldn't be, you know, political debate. Let's make this about celebrating, and I use the word celebrating cautiously. And I spoke to the rabbi about this, celebrating their lives. You know, at one point, we got to, you know, you're going to keep moving forward, but we want to remember this moment. We want to celebrate these individuals who were vibrant, who were teachers, who were students, who were doctors, who were lawyers, who were people in the community, who had families, who had children, who were children. And I ask you to consider and give me options so that we can potentially do something that is beautiful, that is welcoming to everyone in the community. I want to also be make one last statement. We had some friends of ours, for example, I'm going to use Sia as an example, who came and spoke in opposition. I value her. We've worked on many different issues together. She asked myself and the vice mayor um to support her on celebrating one of her high h holidays. And we did. We went we wrote a proclamation. I put it up on social media. We are and I take pride in this. We are a community that is inclusive. We're in a community where everyone is welcome, where everyone has a voice, where everyone is respected. Don't make this about politics. That's all I'm saying. Mayor, you want to say something? That's a priv. Thank you for that. Appreciate that. By the way, I'm a Catholic. I'm not even Jewish. Just, you know, and my wife, I I as a as a father of two young girls two years ago, I personally bought the minora that's in front of city hall. It was almost $5,000 and we gave it as a gift to the city to support the Jewish community here. But mayor, I'm Mark that you like to say something.

Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Again, um like for the record, Javier Fernandez, in my personal capacity, public capacity as mayor of South Miami, I had the honestly the unique opportunity and the distinct privilege to go to Israel just this past month and go to the affected Kaboots and see the side of the music festival, meet with survivors, uh Palestinian, Drews, Christian, and Jews as well. All affected by the events of October 7th, all victims of hate. It was not just targeted at the Jewish people. It was indiscriminate violence uh targeted at a community. And so I just wanted to offer my support for the resolution as a a proud Catholic. U as a proud Cuban American, as a proud Democrat. This is not a partisan issue. Um, Israel, while it's a Jewish state, is a fully inclusive, multi-thnic society where if you have an opportunity to visit, I think you'll appreciate more deeply than I did previously that Christians, Jews, Jews are all represented. Um, Muslims as well have the opportunity to participate fully in the democratic state, serve uh in the Knesset, as do many Islamists as well. Uh, a fact that's I think often overlooked and here in America not reported on enough. Um in in in particularly northern Israel uh Jews, Palestinians, Christians live side by side. Jews are the ethnic minority in that part of the country. There is no violence. The violence has be created being created against the state by actors outside. And I would hope that we could support uh Israel on a day where we commemorate um these you know horrific attacks while there still are still 50 hostages, 30 of whom are presumed dead. 20 that we hope are still alive uh waiting to be returned home uh so that we can cease the current violence and really talk about the future of both Palestinians and Jews living side by side in a mutually prosperous future. So, thank you for bringing the resolution. I just felt

compelled to be here to say as a Democrat that it's an appropriate thing to do. Uh it's not a partisan issue. It's about standing side by side with a country that shares our values. Not just shares them, but also lives them. And I think if I honestly feel very honored and grateful uh to the greater Broward Jewish Federation who invited me recently on a delegation trip to have been able to seen it firsthand. Very impactful trip. If you have an opportunity would encourage all of you to do it because the accounts on video and in pictures are are just unimaginable. But when you see it when you talk to someone like uh Rammy Dividian who saved about 700 people on that day during the festival uh it's all the more impactful. uh and to see the proximity and the duress in which the Jewish people live under daytoday. I can't imagine in a more resilient society than theirs. Uh to have had the success and to be able to live in relative prosperity. It's a testament to them to their character and to the best of what people can be and it deserves our support. Thank you mayor. I appreciate you. I know you're here for another issue and thank you for your kind words and for your eloquence as always. Um, one of the things that you mentioned that I think is important is, you know, the Palestinians, the Palestinians are a group of individuals that have been fighting forever, just like the Israelis. And we have a lot more in common than they have that divides them. And what they have here is a moment of a small small extremist group, Hamas, which has been using their power to do everything in their power to destabilize that entire area. Um, and I can go into politics for a long time and we can debate this back and forth, but this is not about politics. It's not about Palestinians and Jews. It's really about people who just

want to hate and they want to hate. Want to hate and and want to and want to prevent harmony. And that's really what's happened there. Again, it's

it's very it's very odd to believe that you would have a Jewish state, right? organized with that as the organizing orthodoxy of the government and fully part full full participants of the government are fundamental Islamists who are members sitting members of the Knesset allowed to vote alongside the otherund I guess 140 members excuse me I'm not exactly up on the numbers exactly alongside with an equal vote and equal voice to be represented in that government and express views that are contradictory to the organizing thesis of the Jewish state and uh it's not many places in the world I think that it would allow that. Maybe us here in the United States and them uh but that's that's why it's more important than ever to support systems and countries that allow people to fully express who they are fully participate and where but for external violence live people live side by side of disperate beliefs values but with one fundamental commonality which is that we're all human and we all want a better future for our families and our children. And that's why I mention when you talk about the issue of humanity is why I mentioned the issue of Israel. Israel being the only democrat state in the Middle East and obviously their position on women and their position on the LGBTQ minorities and their involvement how they work with Palestinians, how they work with Muslims and they're literally working side by side living side by side and engaged in the same government together. Uh that's what we need to really push forward and that's what we really need to highlight.

Thank you for the example. I plan to follow it at my next commission meeting. Take care. Sorry for the interruption. Thank you, mayor. Um would you anyone else like to say anything?

I'll say a few words. Um we've all received the emails on both sides supporting uh and uh voicing their concerns about this going forward. We heard from the folks who were here today, but I think the events of October 7th stand alone in the grand scheme of things. I think that day, just like the mayor mentioned, September 11th, these are people who were sitting in their homes and they were attacked simply for their faith. These were martyrs, and honoring them isn't a lot to ask. Honoring their memory isn't a lot to ask. When a 2-year-old is killed just because he is Jewish, that is unacceptable. And I stand with you, Mr. Mayor, on supporting this. I don't think that there's anything political about this. This is about standing up for what is right. Everything that has come since that day links back to the incident that took place that day, to the decision that was made by these people who were trying to divide and to destroy. And we need less of that in this world. We need more of a world that's accepting, that's open, that's open to having a conversation and discussion and being fruitful. We need less of I'm going to destroy this, I'm going to stop that, you know, I hate you because of this. We need to eliminate those words from our vocabulary. We really do. It It's completely unacceptable. And and the ramifications have not just been for the Jewish community or the Palestinian community. There is a large Christian community that lives in in that region. Many have been forced out of their homes

because of the conflict. They've had to flee to other areas. There's only about 500 and some odd Christians that remain in Gaza at this point. And it is a situation that it's a really sad situation. And being somebody who studied Middle Eastern uh international relations in in college, it hasn't changed, but it needs to change. And we really need leaders who will sit down and say enough is enough. Let's find a solution and let's stop killing people because destruction killing people isn't going to get in.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. So, um, I received a lot of emails and I did sit down and I spoke with members of our community who took the flying of the Israeli flag as an offensive gesture. So, I'm going to make the following suggestion. Because the gesture is to recognize the pain and suffering that was started on October 7th and continues on to this day because we still have a group of Hamas leaders perpetuating the same harms and uh will continue to do the same harms as they have done for over a century. that both flags, US flag and Israeli flag should be flown at half staff because that sends the message that this is not about a slap in the face to a community that um is concerned that they're being marginalized in our community. This is in honor of those who have died and have continued to die and hostages are still being held. Um that's that's what this resolution is about. So

Okay, commissioner.

Yeah. So the I appreciate that the the the mayor also um spoke on his personal behalf and and stated his views and all and uh and everybody here in the on the commission that's made their position clear. I I want everyone to know that I'm probably one of the most a staunchest supporters of the state of Israel. and not now, but as long as I've had a political view going back. You know, I was a a history major also in in college and I have my closest friends in the world are people that that host regularly state leaders in their homes with respect to Israel and with respect to uh the relentless assault that's happening in the Middle East where they are surrounded by uh countries that um seem to singularly exist to annihilate the state of Israel which I staunchly oppose. and um and support them in every possible way. But I must say that um while there are many ways and we've already taken some to show support for the victims of what occurred on October 7, which was horrendous, heinous, unforgivable, and indefensible in every possible way. We also must remember that we sit here as uh the elected leaders of a community made up of all types of people with different viewpoints, different religious points, different political views. And I I'm not comfortable with and I don't want to be misunderstood. I understand Mary that your uh resolution is directed specifically to a recognition of of the of the tragedy of October 7. But I believe that in raising the state of Israel flag, which is um u in in in a current conflict uh that's being played out really on the

world stage, it would likely be viewed optically by by by several and and um and vocal uh residents as an act of division and an act of uh conflict. where the municipal mission of uh of us as the commissioners and the city of Coral Gables don't have it now. Today we don't have this divisiveness. Today we don't have this conflict because we're not raising a foreign state flag. We should and I would encourage that we take other steps to show support for the victims of October 7. But in raising a flag of the state of Israel or if we raised um I may say it in a different way. If we were to raise the flag of Russia or the r of the flag of the Ukraine in that current uh conflict, the city would be stepping into what could be viewed and viewed incorrectly as being taking sides in a political um and military conflict, which I do not believe is the mission of a municipality in trying to further the interests of the business of the residents of uh of Coral Gables. None of what I'm saying should or or can be taken as being anything other than fully in support of all efforts to bring attention to and seek the eradication of of of violence, of killing, of harm to the innocents, uh the innocent victims in the Middle East. and is in no way a disparagement of what happened on October 7 or in the memory of those that that not only gave up their lives innocently but those who are still being held hostage. I think that I want to take the time to honor

them in a way that doesn't result um potentially as being divisive in our city or to create conflict. So we we could take one and I'd love to have a conversation about it. There's another way that we could show due respect and due care for what happened on October 7 short of raising a foreign state flag. I don't believe that we have precedent in the city for having done that. But we may be waiting into um what could be misinterpreted um as a political statement even though all of us here have said this is clearly not a political statement. Um but this these are my concerns and um and I'm open to further discussion over that of course. Commissioner Laura, would you believe that lowering the American flag to half staff would be an appropriate

I'm sorry.

Would you believe that lowering the American flag at half staff would be be an appropriate means to honor the victims of this ongoing conflict? I think that's a wonderful suggestion and I would be wholeheartedly in support of that because in that way the city is expressing with far less controversy and I believe with no lack of clarity that we are honoring by lowering the US flag to have staff the tragedy of October 7 without having to raise the flag of any other state um embroiled in that conflict today in with an appropriate resolution, an appropriate statement of condemnation of what occurred on October 7 because for that there can be no opposing viewpoint from reasonable and decent people. Um, thinking outside the box, what if we held an ecumenical prayer service outside of city hall on that day? Maybe the rabbi can help us in organizing that. I think that would be a fitting tribute. Um, and it would be something that can unite the community and people in all sides can come and pray for the souls that have been have perished because of this incident.

So to dovtail on your point, that was something that we're working on in my office already. Um, and I think it's a great idea. We can invite um, you know, the priest from St. Teresa, we can invite the priests from uh St. Augustine, Rabbi Fish, Rabbi Mendy, all the rabbis. I don't have an issue with it at all at all. And again, I'm more than willing to to bend, but I also want to be very careful because it also sends a message that concerns me because Israel is our number one ally. an ally that has always stood by America. An ally that when you look at what they stand for in the Middle East in regards to women's rights, LGBTQ rights, let us always remember 1,200 people were killed that day and they were at a concert. They were not fighting anyone. They did not start this conflict. They were enjoying a concert. And this can go back hundreds of years. And I understand there's There's people on both sides of the issue. We're not going to debate that today. We could be here till the next commission meeting and that's not the intent. The intent is to remember, pay respect and shine a light that hate like commissioner said something that has to come to an end. Has to come to an end. People need to come to their senses. So if my call is on the commission because I don't want this to be 32 41. It's to me that's not gonna it's not gonna we can we can be 32 all day. It's fine with me.

But on issues like this this is come on. It doesn't make sense. You know it doesn't make sense. I do have a question though on protocol. My understanding is we would not be able to lower the st the flag to half staff. That can only be ordered by the president or the governor. Correct. Correct. Yeah. I was I was gonna I I was going to add that. Correct. Oh, look. I I have the the ear over here. So, let's do this. I have an idea. What is our next commission meeting? September 25th.

Okay. So, we have time. Let's Let's defer this for September 25th. We've already debated it. Work with the manager. Work I want to have a conversation with the rabbis. I want to have them all in a room. I want to have Meny and Fish and and um you know the rest of the organization uh come out and have a conversation with us. We're going to prepare something that we're going to do on the ground similar to like we do when we do the Monora lighting here in the city of Coral Gables which is a beautiful event. A few hundred people show up. Um that's a done deal. But let's see if we can find common ground and everybody let's continue having a conversation. We don't have to make a decision today. We're going to do something. Yeah. Whether

we're going to do something. Uh, I would I'm gonna be very clear. I I'm all for the flag. I don't have an issue with it. To me, um, it's just it's beyond it's not something to me that at the end of the day, um, should be viewed as anything political. Just like when we've had members of the Muslim community ask us to go and celebrate high holy day and we've gone and we've given a proclamation and I put it on social media stating exactly what we're there with the entire Muslim community stating how happy we are and how welcoming we are and how we celebrate what they believe in. But I'm a Catholic. So, but at the end of the day, it's not about me. It's about members of our community. So, you want let's think about it and we'll defer to the next uh agenda. Next agenda commission. Um Mr. Is that okay?

That's fine, sir. Commissioner, you're the mayor. Right. So, you you did start when you discussed this item that you were open to different views and that you you you continue to echo that right now. So, I'm very appreciative of that as well. But you know why, right? Absolutely. Because this is not one that this is not one that like we should be politicizing or like this is we all lose. If it becomes political, we lose. And this is exactly what what my I'm hopeful that you got from my my commentary, right? I did. is that we wouldn't want it to be swallowed up the very thoughtful and appropriate and clearly laid out uh basis for your resolution to be swallowed up in what could be a political political um takeover.

Commissioner, if I may, if I may, and I'm sorry to interrupt you, you know, it's going to be swallowed up no matter what. You can't make everybody happy, right? I'm I'm Mr. Mayor, I'm trying my very best. I know you are.

You know, and by the way, you know, you know, I'm I don't want to make political statements regarding these types of conflicts either, but on my on me, you know, my personal viewpoint, right? I mean, as I said before, staunch supporter of Israel, closest ally to the country and but it's not important what I believe personally about that, right? You know, I'm also a Catholic. I'm Republican, but I also my my my father's brother, you know, was a rabbi. So I I see it from all the men who walked in my wedding or excl were all exclusively my friends are everyone was Jewish. Everyone was the greatest reception, by the way, because we were we were we're dancing to Havana and it was uh they know how to throw a party.

Absolutely. So um but I like the fact that what what you want to do is is continue the conversation. you are 100% correct that we're going to reach common ground right on what's appropriate and uh and let's do it in a way that uh best reflects exactly what I believe is the common sentiment of all of us here in the DAS. Y

okay uh thank you. I want to try to run through E2 through E6 and then go to lunch. I'd like to see if we can do it I know it's tough in five minutes because I want to give an actual hour break. E2 is an ordinance of the city commission providing for text amendments to the city of Cro Gable's official zoning code. Article two zoning district section 2-101 single family residential district and section 2-102 multif family duplex district and article 16 definitions to provide exception to the separation of accessory structures from the main structure under certain requirements and provide for open air accessory structures with ground area coverage requirements providing for repeater provision severability clause codification and providing for an effective date. Commissioner Fernandez item. Has has there been any changes since first reading?

No changes. Okay, I'll move it. Second. Mr. Cler, do you have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. All right. Well, roll call. Commissioner Fernandez? Yes. Commissioner Lada? Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Mayor Lago? Yes. Thank you. Uh, moving on to item E3. E3 is an ordinance of a city commission amending section 2-54 attendance by members at meetings resignation of members of the city co resignation of members of the city code to revise the definition of excessive absences for the board of adjustment construction regulation board historic preservation board code enforcement board and the planning and zoning board providing for severability clause repeated provision codification and providing for an effective date well vice mayor pretty self-explanatory yeah I don't think there's been any no changes since uh first reading that is correct

we're ready to go vice mayor and commissioners No changes as of We have a motion. Can I get a second? Second. Mr. Clerk, any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor, and I apologize. Who Who made the motion? Uh, Vice Mayor. Thank you, ma'am. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Commissioner Fernandez? Yes. Mayor Lago? Yes. Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. E4. E4 is an ordinance of the city commission amending article 4 code enforcement section 101-100 creation membership statutes to govern board of the city code to revise the membership and antennas requirements for the code enforcement board providing for severability clause repeal provision codification and providing for an effective date any changes no changes I'll move it

second clerk do you have any public comment no Mr. Mayor. Good. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Mayor Log, yes. E5. E5 is a norance to the city commission providing for a text amendment to the city of Coral Gable's official zoning code amending article 14 process to revise the tenants requirements for the planning and zoning board, board of adjustment, historic preservation board, and code enforcement board. Providing for a repeated provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. Do we have any changes from first reading? It was my item. I'll move it. No, no, I just wanted to be sure. Yeah. Yeah. I just just didn't print. We have a any public comment? No. Mr. Mayor, we have a motion, a second. Yes, sir. Commissioner Castro?

Yes. Commissioner Fernandez? Yes. Commissioner Lada? Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Mayor Logo? Yes. E6. E6 is an orance of the city commission amending chapter 86 of the city code entitled waterways creating section 86-62 entitled coral gables overnight anchoring limitation area and providing for repeated provision severability clause codification and providing for an effective date. Do we have any comments any changes from the first reading? Just the waterway advisory board I believe reviewed it.

Mayor reviewed it. I spoke to the chair of the waterway advisory board. They understood after words that this is really a law enforcement item uh in order to prevent people from, you know, hanging out in the back of their house. So, u and it was a um an ordinance that was done by the city of Miami Beach to stop anchoring uh limit, you know, people from anchoring uh overnight for extensive periods of time, some loitering and u I plagiarized it. So, I'll move it. A second. Mr. Mayor, do you have any public comment? Okay. Sorry. Sorry, Mr. Mayor. Just the waterway advisory board hasn't reviewed it yet. They will though a presentation will be made to them by Marine Patrol, I believe, um, at their next meeting.

Right. Mr. Any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. All right. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Yes. Mayor Logo? Yes. Thank you. We'll see you at 12 at 1:40 back from lunch. Thank you.

Don't leave. You ready? Is the manager available? Mr. Manager. Let's go. Mr. B. Yes, Mr. Mayor.

All right. Moving on to item E7, ordinances on first reading. E7 is an ordinance of the city commission repealing ordinance number 202508 which moved the date of the city's elections from April of oddnumbered years to November of even numbered years providing for severability clause repeater provision codification and providing for an effective date. You give me two seconds.

Okay. I give me one second. One second. That's my question. Okay. So, this is I think this is very um very clear. It's uninforcable. Late last can somebody hold on. Late last night, I received an email from the city attorney that also went to the whole commission and it was a legal opinion. um regarding the elections and there was a background and I think um the public doesn't have any access to it now or or or do they?

I'm not sure if it's been on the website yet, but it's I mean it's it is a public record. I

I know as soon as we can if we could go ahead and p publicize that on the website where the legal opinions go. But what I did Thank you, Jill. But what I did do is because I want the residents to have the cool facts. I summarized that opinion, that legal opinion, just so that people know exactly where we stand. Um, Billy, I think you have There we go. It's It's very short. Whoa. Okay. So, this is the city attorney's opinion on the election ordinance. This is what the opinion looks like. I'm not going to read it. It's very lengthy. It is three pages long, but I do recommend that the public does review this legal opinion. Next page. Okay. What happened? In May 2025, the commission passed an ordinance 20258 to move the city elections from April 2027 to November 2026 and to line up all future elections with state and national ones. This reduced current elected official terms by four months. What the courts decided in Miami. This is a very short summary of the three pages. What the courts decided in Miami. Miami tried a similar change, but instead of shortening terms, they extended them by one year. The courts ruled Miami's ordinance unconstitutional because the because only the voters, not the commission, can approve changes to election dates in Miami Day County. Our city attorney's opinion before the Wow, I'm sorry. I hope we don't lose light. Before the court ruling even came down, the Coral Gables Commission at my urging had already voted to send the question to you, the voters, for a decision. This mail and

ballot will take place on April 21st, 2026. Why this matters confirms what I've been saying since day one. The ordinance was unlawful. Shows Coral Gables avoided the lawsuits and confusions Miami faced. And it protects transparency. Our voters will decide directly and demonstrates a foresight and responsibility in governance. For that, I I really do thank this commission. Key takeaway. This opinion is a victory for the residents and it proves that the only way to change our elections is through your vote, not by a commission ordinance. I made sure Coral Gables did the right thing from the start. Next. I think that's it though, right? Is that the last one? I think that's the last one.

Cable TV, can they click over? Is that the last slide?

Yes, that is the last. So, that is the last the last the last slide. Okay. So, this ordinance right here is uninforceable. I think we need to avoid any confusions and we need to clean it up um to to avoid confusions and abide by the law. Uh From day one, I said this was unlawful. I was the first woman censured in a hundred years because I refused to stay silent. I paid a political price, but I definitely think it was worth the sacrifice. Um, on top of that, I retained my own elections expert attorney, which he is also a former state representative. I did that because I wanted residents to have the facts and not the political spin. Now, the city attorney confirms exactly what I've been saying from day one. This ordinance is uninforcable. So while Miami went into law and all this chaos, now Coral Gables in is in a position right now to avoid all of that. And I think that is a great great thing and and decision that us as a commissioner has made. So this is once again, I've said this before, this is not my victory. This is yours. This is the resident's victory. And on April 21st, 2026, the people will decide.

The mayor. Yeah. Just can I can I just have a can I respond to this? Absolutely. [Music]

Don't even know how to respond. literally wasted five minutes of time. All right, let's go through the points that we have to clarify every single time like the other statements that we make just off the cuff that are absolutely ridiculous and insane and at the end of the day have consequences. Everything is a social media. Everything here is all social media blip, cut and paste and and add up to things for an agenda like stroking puppies and like uh you know ridiculous things that continuously just are used here. Madam city attorney, please who recommended and stated that it was legal for the city corables to move forward with changing the elections via the commission? Mayor, we I approved the ordinance as um as to form a legal sufficiency. Yes. Once once that was found to be not correct as per what transpired in the courts, who was the sponsor of the legislation to have an election in April of 2026 to put forward eight ballot initiatives, including an inspector general, which Commissioner Castro opposed, salaries, which Commission Commissioner Castro raised, and elections, which you did not want to move to November, and now you're jumping the bad one, which I welcome that. and you want the people to vote. The person who brought forward the legislation to have an election in April was who?

You were the sponsor of that item.

We have to put these things on the record because you use all these little sound bites and clicks and the social media and the and the uh and the and the blogs to mislead people here in this community like what you said about it's too rich for my blood and he voted against police and fire contracts. No, I voted against firefighter contracts and like staff said here on the commission floor, it was too rich for our blood. At the end of the day, you were censured because you went against the will of the commission. Very simple over and over. We're saying again, it's not going to change. You can keep using the martyrdom approach, but it's not going to work. At the end of the day, the residents will have an election in April, and the residents will vote on eight items. They're very clear. If you raise your salary like you did by 101%, the residents should decide if we get a salary raise. You said that there's corruption, but you wouldn't support an inspector general. Now, they will have the right to have an inspector general. I sponsored that legislation. I sponsored the salaries. I sponsored the election in April and moving elections to November. Okay. So, you're 100% correct. The courts made a decision which is contrary to what our city attorney stated it was allowed. We will have now elections in April and those decisions will deliver whether the residents want to have elections in November. It's that simple. It's not that difficult to understand and you don't need to confuse people in an effort to try to take credit for things. Madam Vice Mayor,

so I'm going to go back a couple years, May and June of 2023 when the item was first brought to move the elections uh to a November ballot. And at that point, you did not raise an issue that it was illegal. None of us believed it was illegal for us to move the elections. You voted against it because you just didn't want to move the elections. Um, so to say that you're here to save the day because you hired a lawyer when you didn't need to hire a lawyer when you have the availability of a lawyer that you could have consulted. You have an entire team here you could have consulted with instead of spending money to, you know, for the the obvious purpose of creating a sound bite. It was clear from this commission's actions that one, we didn't spend a penny on litigation because we chose not to do so. We waited for the court's opinion and we respect the court's opinion and no one has tried to set an election, not this clerk and not this commission at a time that was contrary to the third district courts of appeals opinion. this recision you're asking for if you were dealing with a court of law would be denied as moot. It's dead. It's not effectual. The city attorney's opinion here makes it clear. It's an instruction to the clerk that the other legislation that was passed

nullified

is nullified. There's no need to even consider it. Denied is moot. That's typically what happens in a courtroom because there's zero need to address it. It's over with. So, we have very good lawyers in our city attorney's office who you did not consult before you you did on your own sent a letter to the attorney general which quite frankly was not necessary and contained mistakes in it. There was no need to ask the attorney general because the facts don't matter. It was a legal issue. It was a pure legal issue. It wasn't going to be different for the city of Oral Gables as it wouldn't be different for any other city in our in our state or I should say really our county where the footnote for home rule applied for Metro Date County. So, I I I know you want to make it clear to the residents that you've saved the day. That's not what's happened here. What's happened here is the process has been completed where we're waiting for the process to be completed. The election on this item has already been scheduled and and is going to be coming before us for uh language review and what you're looking to resend is not effective. It's just not effective. It's not doing anything right now. Madam uh city attorney, want to put on the record, I don't want to put up on the commission your memo that you submitted yesterday in as brief words as possible. What does this do?

So, mayor, the um the memo of course goes through the history of the city's adoption of the ordinance. Um the fact that that Miami adopted its ordinance, which was different, but but but it did it pursuant to the same statutory authority and then the city of Miami lawsuit of course. Um and then the memo concludes that given the opinion of the third district court of appeal and given the commission's already declared intent to put the question to the voters consistent with that opinion um the ordinance is not enforceable. It did not work to effectuate an amendment to our charter and it asked the clerk not to implement the ordinance or take any steps in furtherance of that ordinance regarding scheduling of elections and so forth. Cool. Thank you very

through the mayor. Thank you very much. We have an agenda. Let's do the people's will. There's an election in April. Let's move forward. Let's not waste any more time and get Instagram clips. Let's Let's move forward. Let's actually get something done. In April, eight things will be decided that the people will decide. I sponsored all of them. Every single one of them. You voted against many of them. and I will remind the voters, I promise you, over and over and over again until the next election of your position through the mayor. I'd like to see if my colleagues have anything like that. Well, I'd like just quick comment. Yes, sir.

So, I think everything is plain, very obvious. There's no need to echo anything that the vice mayor said or or repeat anything that um Commissioner Castro said. I I think this is the epitome or the perfect example of what moot means, right? It's moot. And so, we've got a super long agenda. My my my wholehearted belief here is that we need to get to it. Commission, I think this topic has been beaten like a dead horse many, many times. Um, but if this gives us better clarity and give gives residents a better clarity, let's just take a vote and move on. I mean, let's just do what we need to do. Can I get a motion? I'll move it as

I'll second. I'll move it as denied as as moot. Okay. So through through the mayor, I want a point of clarification because when we went back to the charter, the charter was amended. So I don't want the charter to be saying something different that does that is in conflict with state law and this is exactly why I'm asking to resend this to the attorney. So in the opinion I've asked the clerk to notify MUN code which manages our our you know our our code and our charter to um effectuate the the change consistent with the opinion.

Okay. So then that is the reason why I think it is so important to go ahead and adopt this to not cause any confusion to our residents. Commissioner, I think you understand what the city attorney said. I'm going to have her repeat it one more time so it doesn't come from me and I'm not manplaining. Uh, Madam City attorney, will you please explain what you meant, please? So, I've asked in in the opinion, I've asked the clerk to notify MUN code. MUN code can make the necessary changes consistent with the opinion to the charter provisions. Yes, but the ordinance still exists. The ordinance or still exists. Therefore, we need to resend it. No, that's not the case, madam. Madam city attorney,

the ordinance still exists. We have an election in April. The election in April will decide whether we have an election in November. permanent election in November. Your memo is clear. It's mute. There's no need to resend. We've already taken steps to cure the issue. Correct. That is what the opinion does, sir. It it's it's basically states in and you know, in my communication with the clerk that we're not going to enforce it. We're not going to take any steps to implement the ordinance and asking the clerk also to append a copy of the opinion to the um signed ordinance on Legisar. And um and again that it's not enforceable,

right? But the ordinance is still on the record. We need to go ahead and resend it. I understand the back work is being done, but this ordinance is still on the record and it has to be rescended. Commissioner, would you like to make a motion? M Mr. Mayor, really quick. So, Commissioner, in the 20 years from now, if somebody was to pull up this ordinance, it would be on the books. when they pull up these ordinance at the end, we will make sure that the attorney's opinion is attached to the ordinance so that if in the in the future if anyone ever pulls this ordinance, they know that this ordinance was found not to be valid. So So there is a there is a pending motion to deny it as moot. Do I have a second? Second.

Mr. Clerk, we had a motion. She had a motion. I seconded it. Exactly. That was vice mayor. Madame Vice Mayor, I don't remember what motion was first. Was yours first or theirs? Yes, it was. Okay. We have a motion to uh as for the vice mayor and we have a second by Commissioner L. Do we have any public comment? Yes, Mr. Mayor. The first speaker, Mrs. Maria Cruz.

Mrs. Maria Cruz, 1447 Miller Road. I am not an attorney, but I know that uh the change to uh the ordinance to have the referendum in April was uh there was a discussion, then there were items added. And when I questioned that, I was told that that will be brought again. You only have had one reading of it. So this is not finalized. It's not written in stone. Who knows what could happen between now and then? You've only had one reading, one hearing. How why are we talking about the elections will be in April? The elections will be in April if you pass it the second time. Yes. And you get the approved. Yes, they're being approved, but it hasn't been finalized. I'm not an attorney. Mr. Cler.

Yes, sir. Do that. Before we do that, Madam City attorney, our in-house heckler attorney says that um that she's not an attorney, but she says that the law that was passed to have an April election along with the other um eight pieces of um of legislation are not in the books yet. Can you clarify that, please?

Thank you, Mayor Deputy City Attorney Stephanie Throck. As we mentioned at the last meeting, we call for special elections via resolution. So those only require one reading, not two. So I want to stop I want to stop that right there. Okay, stop stop right there. Well, you heard the individual say, is that factually correct? Yes or no?

Um, no. We adopt a special election via resolution which requires one vote, not two. But we will be returning, as we mentioned, to um there was discussion about bringing those other seven questions to that April 21st mail ballot. and accordance with some county timelines, we will be bringing back those questions and setting those questions for mail ballot at a later date, probably in early 2026, consistent with those um state uh county requirements. So, the election for April 21st has been set um by resolution. I would like for you to repeat that again that we set special elections via resolution which require one vote, not two. Okay. Thank you very much for that. I appreciate now moving on.

Uh Mr. less less less more truth, less misleading information. I know that's we got to do gotcha moments for for our friends over there at the at the uh at the Gazette. Uh but we need to do better. We need to do better. You can't say those things on the record. I sponsor that legislation. I work with our attorneys. We're going to do better. We're going to continue. Just because it didn't go your way, you cannot continue to conduct yourself like that. Mr. Mr. Clerk, Mr. Mayor, I had one more speaker. I don't see him in the room, but Mr. Jackson Holmes also had requested to speak on the item. All right. Well, he's not here and we'll get back to him. All right. So, we have a motion and a second to deny. Commissioner Lara, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, no.

Commissioner Fernandez, no. Mayor Lago, yes. The charade is over. The sound bites are ready to go for Instagram for tomorrow and for the gazette and for political talito. So, at the end of the day, please don't bring this up again. We got a long agenda. Let's move on. So, the election the election is in April. We hope our residents vote and vote often, please. And and mayor, just if I may just clarify, of course, the item that renders the prior resolution moot is this memo. Okay. This memo from the city attorney.

Thank you. Moving on. Item F2. live local. Madam vice mayor, it's a presentation uh by staff. Is staff available? Yes. Superwoman comes through the door. Madam director, good to see you. Have the PowerPoint, please. It's very brief, just a few slides. Yeah. No, no, we we appreciate you doing it because there's much confusion out there.

Yes. Um this won't really dive into it. It's more of a summary of a level of act. Um so as you know it's um live local act was um originally um enacted in July 1st so 2023 so two years ago um give or take some months um there's a glitch bill that was approved uh last year and that was in effect of May of 2024 and then they amended it again this year which is in effect of July 1st of this year 2025. Um so as you know it is a preemptive bill. Um it's restricting and controlling local laws for not just any city in city any city within uh state of Florida but also any county in the state of Florida. Um so throughout the whole bill you can see that mutality must do this must authorize this must consider this and um it it there's three aspects that this uh preemptive bill um overrides. Um the first and probably most important one is height, building height. Um so um the building sorry project qualifies to be a live local application as in it um requires 40% of the

um 40% of the total residential units are considered affordable as in 120% AMI or below um they qualify to be live local um application so they could have the highest height within one mile of that property um It also preempts density to allow for the highest density on any land in the city. Um as well as it allows for additional uh floor area ratio or F um to be 150% of the highest allowed. It also preempts the use um so these would be mixed use um u projects that are in our mixeduse zoning uh industrial land uses as well as commercial land uses. Um and then it uh restricts that we cannot require more than 10% 10% um maximum of non-residential uses that ground for commercial space. Um and then it allows for parking reductions of 15% um if it's within a quarter mile of a transit stop or within a half a mile of a transportation hub um you know i.e. the metro rail station um as well as um available parking on street or off streetet within 600 ft of that property. So, City Coral Gables has a website that we have all information on. We have links to each of those three uh Senate bills um as well as the uh city manager's um implicitation order that kind of explains how it's going to be applied and what the process will be for city coral gables um as well as the resolution from the commission as well. So, as of today, we have one application that has um come forward um or to be reviewed by staff um on each street. Um but none of them have been fully reviewed. We don't have any approved uh local buildings. We don't have any approved or built uh applications as well. Um there is one that's nearby in the city of Miami. This is Sears

property. It's on uh Douglas Road and Coral Way. Um we think we it's kind of stalled for right now. We haven't got a response from City of Miami as far as the current status of that project. That's it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Vice Mayor. I I thought this would be helpful um not only to the commission but for residents to understand um the fact that preeemption does exist and and what it means and the fact that these uh projects can and can come forward.

Okay. Commissioner Thank you for putting this on here. I think might be a good idea for our communications team to prepare a short little video explaining it um with some visuals. I think that'll give residents a better understanding of it. I think you were very concise. Maybe try to shorten it to about a minute and a half and and put it out there. I think that would be very helpful for residents to understand it. And I think on the RTZ as well, I think both of them have come on have come to the table now. I think it would be good to uh give residents that information so they don't they understand this commission has its hands tied by the county and by the state on on projects that come before us. So I think it's important for folks to know.

I think that's a great idea and I'll tell you why. Because it saves staff a lot of time. Not that we don't want to spend time not that staff doesn't want to spend time with residents. They do for as long as it takes. But it' be imagine if you can give them something and say look just so you know this is RTZ in 30 seconds but watch this video. It'll give you a 10-minute presentation. You can hand that over and over and over besides sending it to everybody. Listen, this is where we stand on RTZ. Now, I don't want to cast blame on anybody on the county. I don't want to cast I just say, "Look, this is where it came from. Our hands are tied on this issue. Uh, this came from the state and I think that's a great idea by the commission through the mayor." Yes. So, briefly, I think that's a great a great idea. Uh, Commissioner Fernandez, every once in a while I get one

and and in particular right now it's uh it's timely because the last several um meetings and going back uh over at least a couple of years, one of the most um contentious points that have been raised over and over and over by the the the residents um is the term overdevelopment. And then as a correlary to overdevelopment, there seems to be a lot of misinformation amongst the residents that any development is equal to overdevelopment. And then that has a slippery slope effect that we on the commission um have to combat um the the the the optics when you have uh not only our our own zoning and our own legislation that affects Corables, but when you have to see it against the the the overlay of a statewide uh piece of legislation like uh the RTZ or or like live local. So it's educational, you know, but very timely as well what was suggesting here because it's just a lot of work to have uh any one of us as individual commissioners have to not only get through uh projects that they come up and weigh against what is required and what is what is permitted, what is discretionary, but also the the misinformation that's out there. And when when residents understand a little bit better what you sponsored, Vice Mayor, this this um presentation, then they can see it more accurately, clearer, and and and understand that there's a there's a real nuanced and measured approach that we have to take to development in general to ensure smart and responsible development. We we we saw some of this obviously during the recent um uh project that was approved uh recently at the county level across the street from the Baker Emporium Emporium right at the mark. But there was an opportunity at one point when

that was before um and within the bounds of the city having control over that project to affect a project that would have been only eight stories in height, two more than our current code permitted. That opportunity, I don't believe looking in hindsight, was handled very well. The result was it ended up being substantially bigger, greater density, and with a lot less control that the city would have had otherwise if it was handled better. I don't believe that those who stand for the the the the restraint or the halt of true overdevelopment um can look back on the way that that was handled and said it was done in a prudent and smart way because we ended up with something that's decidedly different and far more impactful to the residents in and around um that location on US1. So, I think it's important to have this conversation because um knowing more means that we're all as a community better informed to making the right decision um uh concerning development.

Mayor, I'm going to follow up. One of the reasons I felt it was necessary to bring this is week after week after week I talked to residents just like the rest of you and they don't believe they do not believe a live lau project is going to impact their area. They do not believe an RTZ project is going to impact their area. But the more there is a push back for no development, and that's essentially what a lot of this is, no development, whether for this reason or that reason or another reason, the more we're going to be preempted, the more things are going to expand, the more types of properties, including multif family, is going to get open to live local because there's an unreasonable block to development And it's happening time and time again. I just had a conversation with another resident last night does not believe that on a large parcel of property that it can be developed, it should be developed, it should be a park, etc. But we can't make people sell property to the city. Nor do we have 2030 million dollars to be shelling out adding more parcels for green space. Um, we need to do thoughtful development where we can in incorporate it as part of of the uh development such as we did on some others such as the public site where we got a 20,000 square foot park as part of that. It's just one of the many examples. Uh, Kodena's project um added 10,000 square feet well over and above what the code required. But this is what happens when this commission can do its work and work within our code as opposed to having some other body whether it be the state

or the county override us. And then there's the financial impact to our city. Live local. We lose tax base on RTZ. We lose impact fees. We lose permitting fees. We're talking impacts of millions with a big S of dollars. Less for our parks, less for our our projects that we need to to do for our residents from sidewalks on so forth. Uh and I think we can have a better control over development. That's what happened with the first mark project because there was a push for no development. You had an eight-story building on a major highway and we lost the opportunity to have that provide the benefits to the neighborhood that we could have had it provide the benefits to the neighborhood. It's gone. There's no bringing that one back. So, I appreciate, you know, your willingness. Let's work on this together and help educate the residents. And I don't know if a minute and a half is going to do it, but maybe one on live local and one RTZ just to explain really what preeemption means. Preemption does mean we lose control. And there's too many residents that do not think that that's a reality.

And I think that we saw that with the Almria project. I think once residents understood what the Almria project could be if they went live local, which they were considering. Oh yeah. It was a major uh mind changer. Uh and we really didn't have anybody oppose it. We were still able to scale them back on the project. We got a park out of it. Y uh it's it's a a it was a huge win for the city is what we were able to to get, but until residents understood what live local was and that it could rear its ugly head all of a sudden and we had no control over it. That's when we started finding common ground to be able to move forward. I think getting the information out there to residents RTZ and live local will be a huge benefit to our residents to understand what we're facing. Perfect. Thank you.

Thank you. Moving on to item F3, discussions regarding permitting fees. Vice Mayor.

Hey, this is something I asked the city manager to uh put together because we have been reached out to by uh individuals, you know, asking questions about our permit and fees and comparing them to other municipalities. And uh thank you very much, Mr. for uh coming forward and doing this presentation and explanation because it's always educational every time we get into another department uh to learn something new. My pleasure, Vice Mayor Doug Ramirez, acting development service director. Thank you for bringing this item. I think is very timely and uh we did take the time to do some research on neighboring jurisdictions and similarsized uh jurisdictions so that we could see just exactly where Coral Gables is with relation to other cities nearby. So I'll leave the numbers up there for a moment so you can uh digest them. We uh we tried to think of types of permits where this is the most relevant to have the conversation about. we decided that new construction, interior remodels, and roofing in particular, uh were probably something that most people would be interested in knowing. Um so, as you can see from the numbers, the uh Coral Gables, uh we we rank pretty well uh as far as the scoring and and giving the lower price for permit fees. Um in new construction, we were second place only after South Miami. Uh for interior model, we actually did really well in residential. Uh we did first place there. And for roofing, we we came in uh second place. Um for the purpose of this exercise, um because different cities uh create their fees differently, they some people base it on construction costs and a percentage of that. Some people base certain permits on square footage. We wanted to be able to compare apples to apples. So, we had to do some conversions there so that you could see

apples to apples here. We converted a square footage. Okay. Um, as you can see, we didn't do too badly in residential. Um, it's a short pres presentation here in commercial. Uh, the commercial rates tend to be a little bit higher. So, we we came in third place for new construction, but we still came in first place for interior remodels, and we were tied with everybody else for second place on that one. South Miami being an outlier, it looks like they haven't updated their roofing permit fees in quite some time. It's a short presentation. Uh, but if you have any questions or if you would like to further discuss them here.

No, no. I I appreciate you doing that. And you know we is this attached to the agenda now so that if we do get questions great from from residents or contractors that think that we charge too much. I think this was very helpful. Thank you. You're very welcome. Thank you very much. Thank you for putting this on vice may. You're welcome.

F5 very brief. Uh we just so you're aware and people are aware at home. Originally there was 500 whiteway lights under George Merrick's vision. uh we're down to a lot less, but we've been restoring them and we've also been finding them all over the state of Florida. And right now there's two opportunities that I sent over to the uh to the DCM. Thank you to Kela Cabonell. We found another one in a little town. She found another one in a little town and uh we're going to be contacting the individual so that we can rescue it and bring it home. But I wanted um our team to very quickly within two minutes just talk a little bit about what we're doing to make sure that the ones that we're waiting for I think they're 19 upstate Florida

approximately approximately 19 uh that we make sure that we don't lose out on those that we have them under contract. So I I think our historical um department has been in constant contact with the property owner. Um they're not ready to let them go. They still need to use the lights. they have some sort of projects on the way. That whole project that whole area is going to be redeveloped at some point, right? That has been the conversation for the last few years. Um, but they don't want to be I mean those likes are actually functioning. They're out there right now. So, they don't they don't want to give them away until they're ready to move forward with the job. So, but those conversations are continuing. Um, I think Anna has been in regular conversations with them. Um, so

I just want to make sure that we have them on their contract. Madam City Attorney, I don't know that we have a contract. I don't believe we do. No. Okay. Can we work on that? I just say, listen, again, we're not going to hold you to it until you're ready, but we want to make sure that that we can find a way to solidify the opportunity that we don't miss out on these historic gems that are so important to us. And it was just it was difficult to find one just that we found one right now. Every every single one is critical. I know that we picked up a bunch that we're that we're refurbishing right now. We're done.

Oh, we're done. It's done. Yes. The YW light projects which includes uh university between Lun and Pon and Riviera uh between Anastasia University. It's like almost like a Y. Um it's approximately 80 lights. The PR is done. Um about twothirds of the lights are restored. Uh another third is replicas.

Yeah. And the next location that we're looking to potentially use this lights, we have a a federal grant for improvements at the Dotto Circle. And our idea is to use that same lights. That project funding is not available until 2027. We're starting through the design permitting, etc. But the idea is to use those lights either combination of again restoration or replica around the circle as part of the lining lighting for that project. And just to finalize the conversation on this, I I passed a piece of legislation that said every six months the manager will provide an update to the commission.

Um should be legislation there from what I remember just in regards to maintenance and that we put the stone around it to make sure that you know when you're cutting the grass you don't hit the li. We're checking, we're stop, we're we're swinging by every six months to make sure that the sprinklers aren't wetting them and you know rusting them because I found certain that certain ones that are being rusted by neighbors that don't under they don't sprinkers go haywire things happen. So I just want to make sure that every six months we're just putting an eye on them but staff goes looks at the pole it's 80 polls it shouldn't take more than a day or two looks at the pole if there's any rust any issues marks it okay and we'll continue to maintain that because we spend millions and millions of dollars. I just want to make sure that we're providing the necessary. That look beautiful.

The limbs are not too close to it because if a wind comes and knocks into it, that's the the the lights are very sensitive, right? Through the mayor. Yes, sir. Yes. Yes, mayor. We can put that in our our cardograph program for every six months to do a absolutely a physical inspection. Please. And if you want provided to the commission and I I know that the Ralph's team did so recently. So, but we'll we'll we'll look at the trees. Sometimes I drive by and I'll look at the tree limbs and they're they're close because I know that Dena doesn't want is very sensitive about cutting certain limbs and I respect that. But you know if a big wind comes, right? Yep. Absolutely. The mayor. Yes.

Uh couple points. We could do a contract with a condition of you know with a trigger date or a trigger event rather as to when we can take possession of the remaining lights. And the second thing as far as locations, can you work, excuse me, can you work on that with staff? Okay. With your expertise in the background to see how we can see if we can massage it through. Yeah. The other other thing is if you know we have the opportunity to to get some more um I noticed that in one of the historic photos of the Douglas entrance, there were whiteway lights there. Um some of these entrances perhaps we can prioritize as is putting those lights back in.

Um that' be very nice. And if you haven't gone to the museum to look at these pictures, you should. They're beautiful. The lights look incredible. And by the way, there's one in the museum that needs to be restored, just put it on the record. I don't know why it's there. Maybe. I don't know if it was ever intentionally meant to be there. I can't remember. If not, that's one that can be used and relocated somewhere, but it's in the in the plaza. Commissioner Fernandez, I just was going to say they look incredible. Uh, is that the original uh silver color because it's different from the others that we have? My understanding that um historically I'll have to speak to that, but my understanding is that they actually did testing to find the original color for the lights and that's why they settled with.

They look incredible. Um it it's definitely livened up the neighborhood. Some of them were in really bad shape, right? Uh and it's definitely changed the look when you drive towards the youth center. It's it's it's a really nice look to have those. Uh they're silvery green. I'm a little color blind, so but it kind of looks translucent at times. Beautiful. Especially when they're lit up. I mean,

exactly. Exactly. But I I agree with the with the mayor and the vice mayor on on the the tree limbs as well because just with these storms, you see the tree tree limbs are are shaking just on a regular uh weekday storm here in the summer. Uh I think we we definitely need to make sure we protect them. Uh even if it requires maybe moving them a bit to to protect the tree and the but we've invested, like the mayor said, a lot of money in these. We need to make sure that that we have them for an extended period of time. Absolutely. To the mayor.

Yes, sir. Real quick question. So, um, the OCDme is coming out and as I'm driving down Granada between Coraway and let's say all the way to 8th Street. No, no. Going south. So, between Corway and heading towards like Bird, right? Past the Sodto Fountain and heading that way. There's a difference in the in the in the um what do you call it? The um Yeah. The color of the light, right? Right. Some of them are like white white and some of them are sort of like a golden warm color, you know, and it it drives me kind of crazy. It's not consistent. But maybe there's some kind of technical engineering reason why it's different. Or maybe we can get them the same color. It's a Kelvin. It's a Kelvin rating.

That's it. That's the word that I had in the tip of my tongue. Humans. I will have to double check. Um, I believe, and I could be wrong, so I want to make sure, but I believe those are FPL lights, and I think as they break, the old lights are highress sodium, the newer lights are LEDs, so you're never going to get them exactly that same yellow, but we'll we'll we'll double check and and we'll check on that. We've been going through replacing LED lights throughout the city, so that that is ongoing. Um, but um we'll double check to make sure. And also, do we have white white lights also by the um uh the country club? The Coral Gables country club.

The country club has a couple. They're not exactly the same as the the ones that we have in university. They had a couple of different ways uh different types and and I believe those two were restored by um the HBACG the right and we purchased it from them. We we we K and I worked on that with a gentleman who found one on eBay and he owned one and then we spent the money on the private side to fix those two up and bring them back to their original position where they were at the entrance of the gelato. But those are not the same. The the the poles are different. Yeah. So they're beautiful. Absolutely. Do they have like on the base uh you know the the Yeah, the decorative base like the Riviera. Yeah. I double check that.

Yeah, those have like the fluted one. It's not the one with the nice uh carvings on it. That's more of a standard footed. It's not the right color either. If that's the one that they That has the light the darker the glow, right? Would you like you have anything you like to add?

Um yeah, just um for the I know that we had the discussion about the the lights that were located in Fort Lauderdale and I believe um Hermes mentioned that the ones that we did um bring to the yard and were able to restore have already been installed along the Riviera section. So all of those there were about I think 11 to 13 of them that were restored and reused and then there are still eight in place in Fort Lauderdale and we're working with the home with the property owner there to get them under an agreement. He's been communicative. I've been in touch with him. They're going through their own permitting process for their project. So he's just you know working with us and he those lights are there and we'll I know we're going to compensate this individual $1,000 per light which is something we're Yeah, that was the discussion that we had had.

I don't have an issue with that. I don't think commission does. I just want to I just want to salvage them. You all had passed a resolution before that said allowed for the manager to go through the negotiation process and so we're working on it. We we get these we added another quarter to our inventory and get to 100. I mean that's amazing with the one that we just found right we'll get to 100. Yeah. And I know we talked about around the doto circle or also at the Douglas entrance. It's just there's a few spots that we can wherever you deem appropriate find appropriate. Thank you. Thank you for the update. Moving on to F8.

This is a This is a discussion regarding the mobility hub. I had um I had a resident I I don't know the resident. He does um have an architecture firm here on Pon Leon and he sent me an image um like a rendering of what the mobility hub can actually look like which I found to be a little exciting. This is um the thread of emails that we had. If you go down and scroll down a little bit please. And he actually went point by point. Why I think his discussion here is why is it that we force or not force but we we have people who come developers with we how do I say this that that we encourage them to have a med design but then again we're going to like an art deco And then he went into like the specifics of exactly what should be in coral gables. Now go down a little bit. Okay, this is what he sent me that was being proposed and this is what he act and then go down a little more and this is what he proposed. Um I wasn't very happy with the height once again but if you guys maybe zoom into it a little bit. I don't I don't know if the commission received this email, but I thought this actually was a little more eye appealing to to the to to the neighborhood or to being in back of Miracle Mile. Um, the other thing I was going to say, hopefully you guys are open to this, maybe not. Maybe you're stuck really on the other design. And I think this a

design that's more similar to this would be um better right there in Andalucia. Now after you can go ahead and remove this. I do have something else. I know that in previous times we argued that we wanted a safe garage, right? And then we argued also or debated that because it was going to be clear that this garage was going to be better. So what I went ahead and I did is that I contacted our police department and I said for the past 10 years, I want you to give me all the data in all our garages of incidents that have happened in Coral Gables. And actually, I was very surprised at the data because I really did think there was a lot there was a lot of incidents. But um I want to go ahead and share with the commission because I think it's it's it's great. It really is. This is what um the police department gave me. And for the past 10 years, there's only been two incidents. one battery in 2016 and one robbery in 2017 I believe in garage six and 51 Aragon besides that in the past 10 years there hasn't been according to this document anything else and I think um number one we should be proud of ourselves we have an amazing police department we have great garages but I don't think that when we are proposing a mobility hub this is really one of the things that we we should be saying, okay, the safety, guys, we're doing amazing and I had no idea and I was really astonished by the results of the information that I asked for. Um, that that is it as far as this. If you could

please keep it as a public record if anybody else wants to obtain this information. And the other thing that I want to bring up once again is that I completely oppose us selling garage one to go ahead and try to fund garage 4. I think that is prime real estate. If Coral Gables was all mine, that is this is not a decision that I personally will make that would be in the best interest of my economy saying that Coral Gables was all mine. Right? We are giving up rights and and the whole purpose here is to sell it to a developer. Guys, we right now have the authority to build what we want in a space that is prime to Coral Gables, but our intent is to sell it to a developer to put a development that is I think what is this? MX2, MX3, Peter?

MX3. MX3, the the MX3, the highest you can go to sell to a developer to give us some money to be able to fund another enormous enormous building, which would be the mobility hub. When we can take a safer approach, not get rid of prime real estate, and put two garages instead. Maybe, you know, five floors, four floors, five floors. Nobody likes to walk two blocks to park in a garage on an eighth and a ninth floor. They like to park close to where they are going. So I think I maybe this commission doesn't agree with me, but this is my common sense. We do not have to spend so much money in a mobility hub. We do need garages. I understand the garages that we have are run down. I'm not opposed to that, but I think we need to do it in the best way. Not only fiscally, but for the neighborhood, for the businesses, nobody likes to walk two, three blocks to park in a garage and then and then go circle, circle, circle up all the way to the eighth or ninth floor for 626 um parking lots. So, I I need to go go ahead and share my my that I I'm definitely opposing this and I think that there is a better way to go ahead and look how we can move forward. I am not against doing something with both of these garages, but I am definitely against selling garage one to a developer. I think this is like prime prime real estate. I don't think we are in the business as a city to be selling our property especially especially in a location where garage number one is

located and that is it. Uh thank you. If not we can move on to item F10 unless you'd like to discuss this. I can add a couple comments. I'm going to refrain. Go ahead. And these are really questions for the city manager when he's ready. But I'm

so I'm going to make a couple comments and I'm going to say number one, the conceptual design that was brought was not completed. Um, I ran into the same architect. In fact, uh, it was last night and we spoke and I've spoken to him for a while and he feels an art deco design and along the lines of of what we were talking about uh, could be good. We have to do some tweaks on it. There's many different reasons why um, we're going towards a light design so you get good air flow through. You don't have the forced fans. You don't have, you know, the lifetime building type of parking garage where it's you're in feel like you're in a dungeon. Um, and uh I don't know, city manager, if you have any other comments to add to this.

Yes. To the mayor. Yes.

Thank you. Thank you. Uh, mayor, commissioner, vice mayor. uh that that uh uh rendering does uh does not work because the the site is too tight. In order to do uh a design like that, you'd have to have a much bigger site. It's just does not fit. As a matter of fact, we're slightly overhanging in the front, slightly overhanging uh over over the alley. So, the articulation that you see there does not fit. Uh second, uh that would be a forced ventilation garage because there's very little openings. So, so it wouldn't be an airy garage. It wouldn't be a light garage. Um, and that that's one of the key reasons uh that that uh you you can't force a design on a type a type of use. Uh so so that that just that that design it it it doesn't fit the site. Uh in in addition in in addition to that, we we have adaptive reuse in in our garage. that garage could be turned into either either multif family or office space simply by putting either uh by putting fistration up that would be a curtain wall or or or or it would be a a sliding glass door. So So we have wi with this design very easy uh as far as as far as adaptive reuse. We we we have even even chases special chases to allow electrical mechanical uh vertically. So, so if this garage only needs four stories in in the future or five stories, it could be converted vertically vertically down uh into into either either multif family or or office space. So, we have uh we have a a a park on on the top of the garage uh with with a potential restaurant which which can be extremely active and and bring even even more revenue to the uh garage. We have a very activated

first floor uh with with a with our PO aligned with the with the mile PO there. So the it's it it it's forcing a design on a use and that is the problem with Mediterranean Revival used for a parking garage. Parking garage is a box that has circulation up and circulation down and and and that's the basic use of it. and and that that and and as you mentioned we we we have a very well-designed easy to use garage that way that the use that verticality really uh comes into play by by by the by the functionality of of the garage by the height of the garage by the by the lighting. So, so all these things have have been thought of into his design uh with with with Gendler to really provide a mobility of something that that can be in the future where it it deals with drones and microobility etc. And so and so that that's it's forcing a design a use into a certain design instead of having the having the design function with the use.

Thank you. Last part of the question, and I I failed to ask it earlier. The the height of the building, does it use the bonuses that are available from the med bonus? Uh, no, Vice Mayor, we're we're under 150 ft, so there's no there's no med bonus required. And the code allows, right, sir, what does the code allow? The code I'm asking the manager, what does the code allow? Uh, mayor, the code allows 150 ft with no bend bonus, 190.5 with med bonus. So the commission this commission or nobody on this commission changed that legislation. Correct. Yes. Yes, ma'am. And vice mayor. I I that's it. I I just That's it. I just wanted a clear record. Yeah. We've gone We've gone through this a thousand times. Yes.

It's the dog and pony show. The continued dog and pony show. The idea I'm just going to put it out there so you understand something. Okay. I built many parking garages. Go to our current parking garage. The spaces were built for smaller cars.

Okay? When you build when you build, now correct me if I'm wrong, when you build today's parking garage, the spaces are going to be much larger. Common sense simple math says larger spaces due to the footprint and the depth of this of this building of the piece of land will basically say that every floor plate will have what? Less parking spaces, right? Yes. Yes, ma'am.

So, you got to go more vertical. You got to keep going vertical to to meet your existing parking. So, This is very simple math. It will be funded not from the general fund. It will be funded from parking revenue. Parking revenue.

So, let's stop scaring people. This is not going to this is not going to be an issue of of of debt that's going to be taken from the taxpayers and be coming from parking revenue. We have to take out the antiquated buildings that are there that the skin is falling off where the elevators don't work. and where people do not have a pleasant and enjoyable experience. When you talk about safety, safety is something that we've had, all of us have had conversations, especially with women who say that they feel uncomfortable using that using that parking garage, especially at night. We've all had those conversations. We brought it up here on the commission many, many times. So, we can continue to play politics, but we can deal with the issues at hand. When you have a lack of knowledge and an understanding and you say, "I'm going to do three parking garages. I'm going to do two parking garages instead of bringing in a development that could bring in tax revenue." Tax revenue on a piece of property. Either out of the the project can be sold, there can be a joint venture, or there can be a 99-year lease. Happens everywhere. There's multiple ways to skin the cat. But the idea of building two parking garages that are three stories or four stories, it's it's doesn't make sense because I told you as you build a parking garage that is up to today's standard, your spaces get larger. You have to include things for example for ADA, your elevators, different things to meet today's standard. You will not build a three-story product. You will build a product that is double that because you have to meet today's standards. And in my opinion, it is the most inefficient use of city land and you're talking to a person who when I started there was one park in the downtown and now we have almost seven parks in the downtown okay which have been deed to the city including the

20,000 square foot Publix across the street that I negotiated with the manager so we got to get to work we got to finalize the design if you have a chance speak with Willie Romeo who I worked with for several years while I was in grad school the architect who designed and I'm saying this to the Herald Willie Romeo was the architect on the Aragon parking garage which they required him to do what sir Mediterranean

they decided to do a Mediterranean design and he will tell you that he regrets it because the Mediterranean design there is pre-cast certain color small windows poor ventilation poor lighting and they put some uh roof tiles on it that is not Mediterranean just because you painted orange it's not Okay. So, we got to find a design that makes sense, that's softer in approach, but we got to finally address the issue of the parking garages. Drive by there.

You can barely get in and out of there. How tiny the spaces are. So, time to move on. Enough with the dog and pony show and enough with the misleading of people and an effort to try to to to garner support of, you know, we're the champion of anti-development or we're the champion for the next election. Let's move forward. Move forward like the windows in this building. Move forward. Let's stop moving backwards. Let's move forward. Okay. For the mayor. Yes.

Yes. I have a question for the city attorney. This is more of a legal question. Since we are the the owners of Garage One, is there any possibility or like what is the legal binding if we wanted to go ahead and down zone that garage? Is that even a poss not the garage, but but that area, that property? Is that even a possibility? Because I'm scared. MX3 through the mayor. Yes sir. Uh commissioner the the the garage in front of public is garage 4 the mobility hill is garage one.

Okay. So thank you very much good correction but now you understand my question switching the numbers. So as a as a general matter the city could go through the process for that as a general matter. I don't know that there would be a reason to do that, but generally, yes, there's there would be a process for that.

So, if if I may, Commissioner, I just want to get this on the record because I' I've heard of some some pretty insane things, but this is takes it to a new level. Um, you're talking about downzoning a city property that was zoned what it is today before anyone was on this board, which is a city asset that this that the taxpayers own. You'd like to downzone that, which would again compromise the value of the property. Is that what you're saying? Yes, but that would be to protect if we're going to go ahead and sell this to a developer, that would be to protect that block for it not to go 190.

Commissioner, do you understand that the only way you monetize a property for its best value is to make sure that it has the most appropriate zoning and it has a zoning. If you downzone it, you will get less money for the property. or in a joint venture scenario like a P3 or 99 year lease, you will get less value for the property. You're only hurting the city

through the mayor. I don't know if you understand that a big problem here is development. Okay? And sometimes we need to find a balanced approach when it comes to money and offering the best quality of life, especially when it's such a famous and notorious iconic street that we're going to go ahead and build something or give permission to a developer to develop a building that tall. I don't know if you're hearing the same people that I am hearing. People are sick and tired of irresponsible and big buildings. I am trying to find a compromise so that that does not happen.

Commissioner,

the last election was loud and clear. They heard and the continued misinformation, my record speaks for itself. I voted against the Gable station. I voted against the plaza. I voted against the previous garages and I voted against the upzoning of Miracle Mile. My record speaks for itself. You have voted for projects that are outside of the zoning code because they have made sense in regards to the setbacks, the open spaces, and some of the benefits that were given. We have to stop with this dog whistle of constant anti-development, smart development, smart growth. It's not going to win an election. It doesn't work. It doesn't work. People want responsible governance. People want responsible governance, but they also want to be able to go to the downtown and enjoy the downtown in a parking garage. That makes sense. You also want to have people stop driving for 30 minutes in circles, congesting our downtown even more when they can just go to our destination of a parking garage. We can debate this till the cows come home, but I promise you the anti-development rhetoric is not going to get you anywhere, madam vice mayor. So they've been times and when where we've had on the comp plan a higher height and with covenants limited the height. The best approach is to deal with it if and when a project comes to us as opposed to trying to place limitations on something that doesn't exist right now. So wholeheartedly agree with you. Um I was on the planning and zoning board at a time when I voted against a project on the mile that wanted to go above, you know, the the height limitations, they wanted exemptions, etc. But we have to do this when the projects are in front of us. Um, and I know we have a

long agenda and we all need to get moving on some other stuff. So, I'm going to suggest that we deal with that when the time comes. Anything else for the good of the order? through the mayor and it's this is my last comment and that's it. I feel like if we deal with that when the time comes it will be too late because then we will be ripping or or taking back rights from the property owner and at that point it would be too late if we go ahead and give this or sell this property to a developer. If we wanted to take action the action would be now. Yes sir.

Um I I mean I've been quiet. I just there's a lot of factors in this property that perhaps we're not even aware of. I went to a meeting with the chamber and I found out that the uh sanctuary of the arts uses that parking garage every weekend and that is the place where they take um their their patrons to park which is the closest parking garage. I mean I think there's a lot of factors to consider long run to to get to wherever we get with that project. Um I think the bigger question is mobility hub. happens and and I think we need to to cross that bridge um as to what will happen there sooner rather than later. Uh the condition of that of of both garages is not optimal and um we're going to have to make a tough decision when it comes to that sooner rather than later. Um and hopefully we'll be able to come up with a better design that that residents can rally behind understanding what the parameters are as well. So, if I um

Yes.

Uh with the parking director, uh just so you know, for the sanctuary of the arts, what we did with the lot behind um the sanctuary of the arts near the aloft is made it available for parking at night if you pay. Sort of like we have the dual opportunity to have residential parking permits and rent a space. Here you can have a parking permit during the day, but since it's vacant at night, the patrons can can use that lot in the back and not have to worry about crossing Ljun Road. So, there are other options out there that we can look at for the sanctuary as the need arises. Okay? But the reality is we have shoring poles inside that garage. It's not ADA compliant. It does not have an elevator. So, Um, we have to cross these bridges eventually. The first step though is to build a mobility hub. We're not even going to address the next piece until we get there and how it's sold and the conditions that are put on it and what the height limitations are, etc., etc., etc. We can cross that bridge when it is in front of us.

All right. Um, moving on to the next item through through the mayor. I'm so sorry. Um I Commissioner Kirkman and this is the waiting outside. This is an item we heard in the morning. If maybe we can we'll get we'll we'll get to it. Moving on to the next item. F10.

F10 is a resolution of the city commission rescending resolution number 2025-163 which called for a special election to be held for approval or disapproval of a ballot question prohibiting future amendments to the date of the city's election via ordinance and cancelling the special election for that question. So this ballot question is specific asked voters whether to prohibit the commission from ever again changing election dates by ordinance. In other words, it was a restriction measure locking future commissions out of the authority regardless of this regardless of what the state allows. This is very quick is legally redundant and it's in conflict with state law. So, um, I'm just asking for support of the commission to go ahead and resend this ballot question.

Again, same thing as was addressed in this memo, just wording in a different way to try to filibuster and have another piece of legislation that absolutely does nothing. This is already addressed by the April election, which will the residents will be able to decide on eight measures. Just so you give me the opportunity, I'll measure it, I'll state it again. Uh you were in opposition of an inspector general to stop corruption. You were in opposition of allowing the residents to decide on whether a commissioners got their raises. You gave yourself 101% raise along with uh a car stipen and a personal stipen. Uh at the end of the day, the the voters will decide in April on what they believe is the best interest for the city. This another piece of another piece of u of u of legislation that carries no weight at all. It's already been addressed by the by the city attorney's memo which is very clearly indicated. You even said it. It's redundant and there's no need.

Madam vice mayor, I'll move to deny it as moot because it has been addressed. Second. All right. Do we have any public comment? Hold on with it or not? I'm sorry. I will close the public comment. We have a motion and a second. No worries. Okay. Hold on. Hold on. Okay. Okay. Close of public comment. I have a question to

just for my edification. Was there not at one point or another with the prior commission motions to have elections um put to referendum to move to November and then they were denied in the past? In other words, were there Yeah. Were I think if I'm understanding your question is were there prior resolutions that were considered by the commission to put a question to the voters moving the date of the elections to November? Correct.

What he's talking about what he's talking about is a piece of legislation that I profer which was putting on the putting a referendum on the agenda asking the residents if they were if they were happy with the decision of the commission. Mr. Mayor, if I could just clarify what this resolution is and just the commissioner's resolution. Stephanie, just one moment because I think it's a different question. Yeah, Commissioner L. So, I think you're asking if I if I'm understanding what your question is, you're asking if previously, not in the last six months, but but before, there was a resolution that was considered by the commission to put a question to the voters whether the charter should be amended to move the date of the elections to November. That is my question.

I do not believe that we had that resolution considered by the commission. We had an ordinance that was considered by the commission moving the date of the elections in 2023 that did not get approval, but not a resolution. We can double check, but I don't believe we had a resolution setting a special election on that question. Double check. I'll double check. Yeah, that because because I'm I'm getting a little confused. It's kind of hard to watch the pingball ping pong ball go over the the net. Like, do we want this to go to a referendum? And I thought that there was I mean, at one point and then and then I think a charter review committee was was convened earlier than the usual 10 years to consider the issue I think of whether or not to move elections to November. Are they not tied? Those are

So the charter review committee was convened not specifically for one purpose other than to just review the charter generally. There was one specific um uh issue that the charter review commission was asked to look at among there there were some discussions with the commission and a meeting a joint meeting with the commission but there was one resolution asking them to consider the inspector general question. I don't know that this one was put specifically to the charter review committee, but it has been a topic of discussion nonetheless with charter review. Okay. Okay. Thanks. All right. Yes, ma'am.

Mr. Mayor, if I could just clarify this resolution, so 2025 163 was a previous resolution adopted by this body that called for a special election in November of 2026 for consideration by the voters of change of prohibiting future changes to the election date via ordinance. The direction at the last commission meeting which I said earlier will come back again is to place that same question on the April 2020 April 21st 2026 mail ballot. So uh who was the sponsor of that legislation before? I believe it was you mayor but I just wanted to clarify that it was not addressed by the memo itself but it will be in you know ultimately if that res future resolution passes incorporated into that April 21st mail ballot question. Okay. Done.

Through the through the mayor. So, it's not in there right now. In other words, we can vote on this and clear it up, but this commission is deciding not to do that. For what reason? Again, I know that we want to use this for uh Instagram later. Uh this is redundant. There's it's unnecessary. Um it's it's it's actually down to the point where this is ridiculous.

So, and it just wastes time. And there's people here who again staff. There's people waiting. We want to get through the agenda. We want to end the day so we can go either to work, be with our friends, address issues that we have to deal with. We're just redundantly doing this over and over and over again so it can be posted on social media or on the blogs. And again, there's actually no substantive changes here. It's going to be addressed already in April in a ballot that residents will receive and they will be able to make decisions on eight referendums, which by the way, you opposed many of those referendums. You opposed a litany of referendums that were that that are in a transparent fashion are in benefit of the residents starting with an inspector general because you said it would cost too much but you gave yourself a 101% raise. So keep bringing that up. I'm going to keep hammering you on that issue because it's just a simple thing over and over again. And trust me, that is the best thing that polls when you pull people in regards to what they believe is wrong with the city. And anybody that will raise their salary with to themselves 101% in my opinion is probably the most corrupt thing that you could do. Yes, Mr. Yes, Mr. Commissioner.

Has there been a motion? Yes, there is. There is a There's a motion and a second. And we already went through public comment. Would you like to bring it in for a landing or we can keep arguing about the issue through the mayor? Yes. And Stephanie, is this your recommendation or should this be cleared up now since this is already not included in the memo? I don't have a recommendation either way. My understanding from the direction at the last commission was that this question will ultimately be placed on the April 21 ballot. So ultimately when that resolution comes back before you, it will do a similar item but it won't cancel that question. It will just place it on a different agenda. So So at the same ultimately whenever it comes back the question will be determined by you all whether or not to to

double confirm that that should be placed on the April 21st. We've received we've received direction but we haven't put forward the exact resolution. So um I don't know that it's needed now but it's not illegal to adopt it. So, so we have a motion to deny in a second. Mr. Clerk, can we get a can we get a vote? Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? No. Commissioner Fernandez,

I'm not even sure what to say. Flip a coin. Just for clarification, last commission meeting, the decision was to bring this back this same resol the resolution that was passed with the amended date change. Correct. So ultimately the same language unless there's some further tweaks in 2025 163 the direction though it needs to be brought back again on a formal resolution in a timely manner as we mentioned was to be scheduled for April 21st 2026. So if the intention of the commissioner is to do that this isn't necessary but it's not contrary to that either. Either way I mean I have to vote yes then commissioner commissioner Laura.

Yes. Mayor Log.

Yes. Okay, moving on to F11. I feel like that movie, that scene in Happy Gilmore. I just feel like that, you know? I I just I just feel like I just feel dumber right now. My god. Mr. Clerk, F11. F11 is a resolution of the city commission directing city staff to prepare a 0.25% reduction to the tentative millage rate adopted in resolution number 2025-265 and directing staff to prepare the city's 2025 to 2026 fiscal year budget to reflect that reduced millage rate and further directing city staff to plan for additional 25% reductions to the millage rate in the following three fiscal years through the 202829 fiscal year budget. Okay, this this is my this is my item and I would ask F11, right? Yeah, this is my item.

Yeah, you're the sponsor. It says your name on it, Commissioner Caster. Billy was looking at me like weird. No, I I want to know if I could go ahead and give this time to Commissioner Menendez. He's been waiting for a long time. I know the com I know the mayor said before lunch that he could continue to wait that it's not an issue, but I think it's a little disrespectful for a former commissioner to be waiting hours outside for an item that was seen in the morning. So, if you can please permit me to give my time for this resolution to the commissioner, I truly appreciate it.

I run the meeting. We're hearing F11. If not, we can skip it whatever you like and we can move on to the next item if you'd like. What would that do? We're going to hear the items on the agenda and then we'll address the issue. We're going to address the issue at the end. Commissioner, we're moving forward. This is my appointee and this is something that we heard and I'm asking you. I'm not I'm not telling you we're going to do this. I'm asking you very nicely. And I said no. So, we're moving on to item F14. No, I'm not done with my item.

Commissioner, uh, Mr. Clerk, F14, please. Excuse me. Excuse me. Don't be disrespectful to me. I am trying to be very respectful to you. I said I was not done with my item and we should be hearing my item. I was trying to be respectful to the commissioner that's been sitting out there for a long time and now you're trying to skip my item because we'll come back to it. We'll come back to it. If you're not prepared for the meeting, we'll come back to it. We'll do F-14. Madam Vice Mayor, let's move forward. This is Yeah, you

F14 is a resolution of the city commission directing city staff to establish a permit fee fee incentive program to encourage the installation of living seaw walls providing a 20% discount in city permit fees for qualifying projects. Um, city clerk, are you ready with the video?

Cable TV have a video ready for this? The link is in the memo. Ma'am, they're saying they don't have a video on this one. I sent a memo to you last. I know which one you're talking about. Yes. Okay. M mayor, you mind going to the next item? We'll get this. Of course, my friend. Not a problem. We'll move on to F-15.

Okay. Um, attorney need to read it in.

Excuse me. Thank you, Vice Mayor. F-15 is a resolution of the city commission urging the Florida legislature to amend Florida statutes, specifically section 163.05, 5 to impose civil and criminal penalties for fraudulent or false statements in arborist or landscape architect reports to establish a clear process to protect the health, safety, and welfare of individuals and property during tree removal and stump grinding and to provide definitions clarifying when permits are not required for emergency tree pruning or removal of dangerous trees that pose an immediate risk and directing that such legislative amendment be included among the city's legislative priorities for the 2025 2026 legislative session. This this is an amendment to uh Florida statutes 163.045. I know some of you are familiar with it. For those of you that are not, uh the problems that we've had was the statute itself allows after the fact arburous reports to be issued that are not under oath uh not sworn to regarding a condition of a tree that our our city um staff has no opportunity to inspect. Uh the Florida statute as it's currently written also allows for the uh removal of the stump uh without seeking a permit without doing locates uh and creating a hazard where gas lines, water lines, sewer lines can be hit, electrical lines which are now being buried as well. The edits to it uh require the uh arborist or the landscape um licensed landscape architect to signed under oath um a statement regarding the the condition of the trees so that if it is a false statement we have some recourse. Uh it imposes it reminds basically folks that there is a statute in the in the books already um about the penalties of perjury when not in an official proceeding so that we can um not have individuals uh uttering false reports

which we have seen in our city. There are uh broad exemptions here for emergency pruning and emergency tree removal uh that respect the desire of the Florida legislature to um take care of those those types of situations um and remove some of the mitigation requirements that we currently have if it is a high-risisk tree or if it's a palm tree in order to um meet the Florida legislature halfway in between uh on what their desires are versus what our city's desires are to maintain healthy non-invasive trees in our canopy. So that's the sum and substance of the uh legislation. Um I'd appreciate your support. I'll move it so we can get it on our legislative agenda

through the through the mayor. If I may first Mr. G, do you have any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. All right. Commissioner.

The mayor. I support the vice mayor's goals. Um protecting canopy and preventing abuse I think is paramount especially for a tree city. Oh, especially for a especially for a tree city such as Coral Gables. However, I do believe that um arborists are not statecertified. They're not statelicicensed. And I think that there's going to be a a a problem with enforcement. And I think we need to maybe and I I love the idea, but I think we need to dig into it a little more and maybe the legislature can go ahead and do that. But as far as enforcement, if they're not state regulated, there's what are the penalties? In other words, there is no penalty. You'll have to go into civil court and then it's subjective because what one arborist thinks could be very different from what another arborist thinks. So, through the mayor, I'm going to point out some language to you in here.

Whoever makes or verifies a false statement of fact on an on-site assessment shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in Florida statute 775.082 or 775.083. Um, perjury when not an official proceeding. Perjury is a a serious offense. Uh, yes, it is a and misdemeanor, but it does ruin someone's record. Uh whether or not um certifications can be renewed after that is something that I'm sure the Florida legislature can consider. But this is an important first step because if we can get past this particular bridge, it's a major thing. And so the the discussions that I've had in passing a couple of years ago with some of our state representatives is, you know, we we don't want to promote fraud. And they absolutely agreed with that. We should not allow uh individuals to use fraudulent statements for removal of trees because we have lost perfectly healthy trees in our city and the facts are there um to support that. Um, I'd appreciate your support on that. Maybe in a future legislature we can do even more because yes, it's a certification. It's not a license like a landscape architect has. Uh, that can lose their license, like an attorney can lose a license, like a CPA can lose their license, like a general contractor can lose their license, etc., and so on. But the threat of a criminal conviction is real. So, I I think that would help.

Mr. I think that definitely addresses an issue that we've had for a long time. Um, before I was on the commission, we talked about this many times about how many arburish reports were coming back and you read the arburish report and everything was made up. I mean, you were looking at the pictures, they weren't even the same tree. Um, it just seems to be an issue that continues to expand because if you need to get rid of a tree, you just find an arbur, write the report. Um, and this, I think, may also create a framework for Tallahassee to maybe consider it, maybe the county as well. Um, and we can start growing from here. We can lead the way. I think we have a motion pending. Do we have a second? I second it. Okay, let's go.

Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Commissioner Lada, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Mayor Lago, yes. I apologize. Uh we're ready now for the video from the vice president. All right, let's go. Then we're going to uh F14, correct? Yes, sir. Perfect. Okay, let's uh you've read it into the record, I think. Yes, I did. Yes. Okay. At 14. Not getting sound. Uh let's let's try again then. Take something else while it figures this one out. It's a nice presentation. Tells the story. Saves a lot of

All right. Then we'll move on to F-16, which item that I sponsored is a resolution city commission adopting a civility code for all city board and committee meetings. Pretty self-explanatory. Madam City attorney. Yes, mayor. So, as as you know, the commission has adopted a civility code for the commission um and and also for employees. And as we spoke about earlier today, there's a civility code for the conduct of the public at public meetings. Um and so this would adopt the civility code that's very similar to the elected officials civility code for our um committee and board members. Uh do we have a motion from those devastating wildfires out west? Second. Mr. Any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor.

All right. Actually, yes, we do. Mr. Mayor Cruz. Okay. Have a motion, a second. Yes. Commissioner Fernandez. Yes, Commissioner Lara. Yes, Vice Mayor Anderson. Yes, Commissioner Castro. Yes, Mayor Lago. Yes. Thank you. Moving on to item F13. No, excuse me. F14. Back to F4 F. Yes, F-14. You ready for the video? I heard it. So, heard I heard something.

Climate change are being felt worldwide. From those devastating wildfires out west right now to the more powerful hurricanes we saw ravage the Gulf Coast over the summer. But right here at home, a local tech startup has launched a powerful new weapon to help us become a little bit more resilient. An innovation that promises to not only protect our coastlines, but also help restore our fragile marine habitats. Living seaw walls is tonight's Don't Trash Our Treasure. Off the waters of Biscane Bay, along the shoreline of a Miami Beach island, a brand new seaw wall is being installed. Go up a little bit and then back down. Thank you.

But these are no ordinary concrete slabs. This is the future. I think it's a radical change. I think this method of manufacturing makes much more sense for seaw walls. Three, two, one. This is Kind Designs, a brand new tech startup making waves with their groundbreaking innovation. So, this is one of our walls. You can see the mangro roots that start at the top and come all the way down. They're called living seaw walls made out of pH neutral sustainable concrete produced way faster than traditional slabs using state-of-the-art 3D printing robots.

We printed one hour what used to take a day in pre-cast. And the best part is they not only strengthen resiliency and protect property, but they're also designed to be kind to the environment. So you get a greater amount of biodiversity that can live on and around this wall because of the design of the walls.

The walls are textured using biomimicry to create features that imitate what would naturally appear in the marine ecosystem. Like this one designed with mangrove roots providing habitat for marine life. If marine organism can grip onto this, it protects them from wave action and predators as well. And then you get these deep caves. So you can almost fit your entire arm in here. So we've seen juvenile fish species hiding in there. The layers look really good. It's the brainchild of Anna Freeman, a Ukrainian-born University of Miami law school grad turned innovator after witnessing climate change impact her adopted home of Miami Beach.

I've been here 15 years and there's a very big difference from the day I arrived to today. in the frequency of flooding, the amount of flooding, and that's why cities are passing code to keep requiring higher and higher seaw walls to protect the coast. Traditionally, seaw walls are typically made of concrete. They're built parallel to the shore to protect against coastal erosion. They're very expensive to produce and usually only last 30 to 40 years before they biodegrade, leeching toxins like chloride into the water that are very harmful to the marine environment. Black holes. That's where Freeman saw opportunity, researching a new, more eco-friendly and economical way to make the next generation of seaw walls a living one.

By utilizing 3D printing technology, we can make seaw walls more affordable and incorporate a biomimicry design. So instead of a flat wall that's leeching chemicals, destroying marine habitats, the living seaw wall becomes in itself a marine habitat. Using investor seed money within the year Freeman had acquired warehouse space three robots and a team of 20 employees. They deployed their first seaw wall at a waterfront property on Pine Tree Drive 9 months ago. Already there are signs of life like at this prototype wall installed at Ocean Reef in Keargo over the summer.

Right now we're seeing oyster larvae, tubeworms, barnacles, and this grazing algae is essential for manatees that are coming through. and they love to feed on the grazing algae. It's doing amazing. We're seeing filter feeders and a lot of fish and a lot of activity in the area. So, it's been extremely successful. The walls are built to code and priced competitively against traditional concrete seaw walls. Freeman calls it a win-win. A win for the homeowner and a major win for the planet. Can have the same exact budget for your seaw wall, but you can install something that's beautiful and something that's amazing for the marine environment and will improve the quality of your water. Basically, your backyard becomes like an aquarium.

And doesn't that sound cool? That's amazing. Thank you. So, the picture's worth a thousand words. This ordinance would provide a 20% discount in fee uh permitting fees from the city to encourage people to install the living seaw walls. I uh have taken uh my trips down the waterway. I see that there's a lot of seaw walls that need to be replaced and this could be very timely. Um, and there's some people that have a, you know, don't know really what manatees eat. And it's that grazing type of algae, not that green colored water that we see that is really the result of pollution from septic tanks and fertilizers in the water way. So, this would be a big step for us to, you know, improve our water quality.

That's it. I'll move it through the mayor. Yes. May I say something? I just saw the walls are made of shot creek. So that should greatly increase the longevity in in the salt water. So you have the benefit of that and also have an a a much more efficient and longerlasting wall. Excellent. Great. Thank you. We will take your expert testimony. I'm sorry. Who second it? Thank you, sir. Commissioner Lara, yes. Vice Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Castro, yes. Commissioner Fernandez, yes. Mayor Lago. Yes. All right. Moving on to item F11.

F11. Um, I previously read it into the record. It's a resolution of the city commission directing city staff to prepare a 025% reduction to the tentative millage rate adopted in resolution 2025-265 directing city staff to prepare the city's 25 to 26 fiscal year budget to reflect that reduced millage rate and further directing staff to plan for additional 25% reductions to the millage rate in the following three fiscal years through the 28 to 29 fiscal year budget. Okay. So, this is my item. Just to put on the record, I had a town a millillage um rate town hall um yesterday. Day the day before yesterday or Monday. I'm losing track of my days. It's just been city city all day. Um so, I am going to go ahead and present the slide that I presented during my town hall, but I'm going to skip all the beginning. I'm just going to go ahead and show the fourphase plan. My um um intention here is so that we take a very modest approach to getting into a plan to lower the mill and in the same combination lower taxes. So if Billy if you can please do me the honor. Um go ahead and skip this slide, skip this slide, skip this slide, this one too. Actually go back to that one. Maybe I could touch a little base on that one. Um this is for fiscal year 2024 versus fiscal year 2025. There was we've maintained our millillage the same. The county there was a small decrease. The school board there was a small decrease and regional state the same. I just wanted to go ahead and put that on the record. Um go ahead and go to the next slide. Next slide. Next slide. Okay. Next slide because we're going to see all this information on Friday during our budget hearing. Next slide. Okay. So now this is where I'm talking about my responsible four-year plan

which I hope this commission can go ahead and support. The reductions planned are the reductions uh planned are from reoccurring revenues not onetime money. This makes the plan sustainable year after year. We are not relying on temporary windfalls. Next. The next slide, please. Whenever you're ready for the next slide. Why? It's modest and safe. It's designed to gra to be gradual and fair, reducing millage in small study steps, backed by a five 5.4% growth in property values, which offsets the reduction. ensures residency tax relief immediately while the city maintains financial stability. Next slide. Okay. Where the reductions come from. I just gave my colleagues exactly where penny and each dollar is coming from. Uh we went line by item. Line line every line by item. And um basically the proposed reduction is coming from the new needs propo from the new needs and we're only reducing 4%. Um that's 182 thou no 160 I can't even see that well anymore 162,000 and 2% is coming from the renew and replacement program which we we trimmed 180,000 that's around 2.87%. Everything here is itemized. Um my colleagues have it. Next slide. This is the ordinance that I am presenting right now. The one we are seeing F11. This is what on year four the millillage would look like. It would

be 5504. This is a 4year phased plan. Um, and the reason that I proposed this was so that our budget would take the least impact possible and that we could go ahead and fulfill the promises that we have been making to lower the millage. The next slide, the the first year reduction would be $343,000. The new needs budget was 3.8 million and we are only cutting $162,000. Renew and replacement program is over $6 million and we're only cutting $180,000. The city still invests in what matters while giving residents a face modest tax break. Next. Okay. Promises versus reality. The truth about tax cuts. Many candidates and public officials promise t tax cuts or millage reductions. But the reality is something always has to take a hit. Usually it's public safety services or infrastructure. My phase approach this is the only sustainable way to lower the millillage responsibly. We're cutting less than 3 to 4% of non-essential requests, not core services. Protects what residents rely on most, police, fire, sanitation, parks, and strong city services. And it's a plan built on reoccurring revenues, not one-time money or gimmicks. And I believe that's the last slide. Go ahead and confirm. Is there another slide next? Well, there's a final message. If you're going to promise a reduction, this is the only way to do it responsibly, and I'm delivering on that plan. Now during the last election, some elected officials sitting on this dis promised residents that they would lower the millillage and cut taxes. I have to

confess that I personally did not make that promise, but I tried to deliver on it. Um during the last commission meeting when I when I addressed Commissioner um Lara about reducing that that was one of his campaign promises. He said that he he what really what he was referring to was cutting waste. But by cutting waste, it is a wonderful thing and it's a wonderful thing to cut waste because sometimes we could invest our money to maybe better services or to offer more things, but at the end of the day, cutting waste is not going to cut the millage or it's not going to reduce taxes. So, I think there was a little mis misunderstanding. um on the message that he was giving out there because I went ahead and I brought the mailers of what he was promising um taxpayers and I have it right here. This one right here in particular was paid by the commissioner's campaign where it says we'll cut taxes and lower the military to ease the burden on homeowners. Now I am giving you the perfect plan to go ahead and do that. We are not affecting poor services. I also by the way they're beautiful mailers. Your family is beautiful.

Thank you.

Okay. The other one is actually and I'm going to go ahead and teach residents a little more about mailers. For a mailer, you always have to say who paid this political advertisement. And this mailer in specific goes ahead. No, it says the same thing. Cutting taxes and lowering the military to ease the burden on homeowners. Okay. So, when we look down here, I want to go ahead and teach you that it when we come to like election season, I want you to always always go ahead and look in the pot bottom and see who is funding all these mailers that are getting to your house. Let's read who this was. U paid for by Coral Gables first. Who is Coral Gables first? The mayor's raising his hand very nicely. That is the mayor's pack. Therefore, he is enforcing that we're going to lower the millillage. Now, I've heard him um write things in community newspaper trying to find excuses to why he does not want to fulfill this promise. But I'm going to tell you the truth. And the reality is that everything that he has said that there's you know the the cola and the union contracts and fiscal responsibility all those things that he have said have already been before he offered this. So either he was lying to the residents or he was trying to fool you because nothing has changed the facts. Okay, our financial stability has been the same before he promised he was going to lower taxes. Now I am offering you the most responsible plan moving forward. And this was not something that I promised

at all. But you know what? I am delivering it. I'm delivering on it for you guys. And I actually think this is the best way through. So once again, I brought the receipts here. I'm not going to conf The only way guys, the only way to lower the millage, okay, is if we control a depression or a winter is coming and property values come down. We all know that is not in our jurisdiction or in our capabilities of doing it. And the only way this commission can lower taxes is by lowering the millage. We could say we're going to cut waste, the salaries, the you know, you know, not hiring employees in in the commission office. All of that is not going to give residents a discount. And it's and it's not going to give residents some relief. This is the only way you are going to get relief. And I and I honestly I don't want to get under nobody's skin, but I want us to please work together to make this happen because this is for the benefit of this city.

So through the mayor, you want to go first? Oh yes.

Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead. Because last budget season, I had brought an item to try to dissuade you from adding excessive positions so we wouldn't lose the money in the budget and could put it more towards the things that people wanted. Now, I don't I know that that wasn't crystal clear to you at the time that I brought it. Last commission meeting, I brought you a bottoms up. let's help the folks that need it the most rather than the top down because the top down approach is what you've appro uh proposed. Anytime you do an overall cut and mill rate who benefits the most the people with the the highest values properties. The bottom up approach is by increasing homestead exemption. So instead of a $13.58 reduction which this proposal would give somebody while we cut services on police, public works, IT services,

capital improvements, no have your com your comments through through the Okay, just Yeah. Okay. I could go item by item. matrices, capital matrices, the rifle program, refurbishment of entrances, the citywide elevator re replacement instead of cutting all these things that people want repaired and dealt with. Okay. All right. That's what Excuse me. I'm so sorry. Okay. Can I Can I finish without you interrupting? I thought you were finished. I'm sorry.

No, don't assume anything. And you go through the mayor. So, I'll start over because that's what's necessary when you interrupt someone's flow. A bottom up position will save individuals that I proposed last time that are disabled, that are caretakers for individuals that are disabled, they get zero reductions right now, $81910 per year because by raising the homestead exemption, which is going to happen in one form or another in our state this coming time around because I have taken time to speak to our state representatives. I'm suggesting to them to focus on those who need it the most, who are struggling to survive, whose doors I knocked and I said, "Please, please, please lower my taxes." It doesn't have to happen through a millage rate reduction because that is not the most effective way to help those who need it the most. Those who need it the most need an increase in homestead exemption. So, if we can deliver an $81910 uh reduction by merely increasing or providing them a $50,000 homestead exemption that they currently don't have, we have delivered on the folks that cannot afford to pay the taxes as opposed to giving them a measly $13.58 that can maybe get a carton of eggs and maybe a half a gallon of milk. So I see that some of the positions that I suggested not to be filled before or that were so necessary before are on this list. We can reit the sign shop. The sign shop was one that I suggested

not be filled. And I had asked staff when doing my analysis, have you compared outsourcing it versus having an employee with all the accutrants that come with having an employee do it? Being in private practice, I do this practice every single time. Does it is it more beneficial for my bottom line to outsource a job or bring in a full-time employee? So, my suggestion to you is support the homestead exemption increase. That's the way we help the people that need it the most. Support the garbage fee decrease that we had before. We did $200 reduction last year. This year, we did 250. That helps everybody out equally and doesn't give those with the highest valued properties the greatest discount

through through the mayor. That's commission. Let everybody else speak first. Go ahead, sir. Um, I just want to add, I just gave the manager a note. Um, I will also be bringing back uh next commission meeting. I didn't have time to do it this one the senior relief grant program and the uh disabled veterans relief grant program that we've done. Uh, I'm going to sit down with the manager to see if we can maybe raise that to match the county's uh figures. Uh, so I'll work on those numbers between now and next commission meeting to bring that back up next commission meeting because those are the people that really could use the help as well. One second, Commissioner Lada.

Yeah. So, Commissioner Kesher, thank you for your comments. I I guess re-election uh campaign is in full swing is all I can say about what you just took the time to explain. I attended your town hall meeting um during the campaign season in 2020. I guess it was in 2025, could have been the end of 2024 where you were particularly against any reduction in the military. You were not running for election, but you you took offense practically at any suggestion that what the mayor was seeking at the time um was supportable. Um, we heard from the finance team uh during the last budget workshop that if there was ever going to be a time to do a military reduction, it would have been when the mayor was advocating for it at the last season and and and even they weren't in favor of it then. What has happened since then is that our property uh revenues have gotten down gone down by uh well into the double digits. So, we're even in a worse position to be considering um current budgetary needs against a millage rate that's going to be, if left the same, resulting in substantially less income coming to the city. Somewhere along the road to Damascus, you've had a complete change of heart about how you feel or look at the millage rate. I'm not sure why, which is why I suggest campaign re-election mode is in full swing. Um so with respect to uh fiscal responsibility, fiscal accountability, that is absolutely one of the strongest uh tenets during my uh campaign to be elected. Something that resonated with the residents and which I hear from the

residents uh often is uh grateful thank yous for. In fact, the very first vote I may have ever made on this commission was to undo the doubling of your uh salary that you awarded yourself, the awarding of a nearly $9,000 car allowance to drive ultimately that Lamborghini that you got parked out there um with respect to uh the uh increases that needed to be reversed because they weren't intelligent. They weren't for the people. And I think that uh that's one way fiscal responsibility takes shape is by looking at what is not clearly clearly defensible in terms of expenses because every dollar collected is a tax. Every dollar spent is a tax on the people. So uh fiscal responsibility requires us to look at what our current financial condition is. I asked you at the last meeting, pick out some individual items that you think needed to be reduced, right? And well, thank you for bringing this to me a few minutes ago. You know, that you've taken aim, no pun intended, at reducing the police's, um, you know, uh, rifle replacement program. Surprising. Uh, with respect to their radio system, you want to take shot at that, too. the their ability to exercise because you want to take a shot at their gym equipment. Clearly, you know, I I hope you're not picking out the police in particular because that seems to be quite a lot of the light items you have there.

Um, but I'm just reviewing cursory review what you have down here right now. But that's what the budget meeting is for. If you've got a strong sense about how something should be done differently, wonderful. But as the vice mayor just said, as our finance team has said, they are against a reduction in the millage rate because they are dealing in what I like to call world of reality. And the world of reality is that we have less money coming in and costs continue to go up. So I'm all in favor of looking more closely at what your line item selections are, but I'm not in support under the current financial condition that we're in in the reduction of the millage rate. Um, I know that wasn't a promise you made, but is assuming that's a promise you're making now since it's re-election season for you.

So, if I may, I have I'm going to respond, please.

So, this is for the Miami Herald and for the residents. This is not for political or for the Gables Gazette owned by Felix Part and that crew. We're going to deal with facts. The facts are as clear in front of you and you're going to see where we stood over the last two years and where we stand today. As my colleague Commissioner Lada said, election season is around the corner. I am not against a military reduction. Miss Cruz, are you done? Are you done? I want to make sure you're done before I so I can continue. Are you done speaking to the Herald or no? Are you done? I could hear you from here. Are you done? Yes or no? You're done. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Um, moving on. I am not against a military reduction at all. I have championed a military reduction the last two years. Put that on the record. Mr. Clerk, the video, please.

I'm sorry, sir. the video that we have. Oh, can cable TV put up a video? Thank you. Uh, through the mayor, real quick, I I misspoke. Um, Commissioner Castro, I said Lamborghini. I meant to say

Maser. That's what's important. How much are they going to receive in return for let's say max 10%. Um, the medium householder would receive $287. What does those $287 mean? That means that we're gonna not have to either do sidewalk repairs or we're gonna have to choose between we if we want Burger Bob or not. And it's not one, it's multiple things. Where are we going to take the money out from or have we found extra money? Mayor, whenever you're done, I I'll answer. I don't want to interrupt.

Okay. Um traffic calming. It's like five years. People are on the list. We're talking about $200 $300 max and returning in and for for lowering the the military. It just it doesn't make any sense in particular to me. Almost sounds like self-sabotage. Okay, stop right there, please. Residents first. This is

We're lowering We're attempting We're having a discussion to lower the military $13. a cup of coffee at Starbucks and maybe a croissant. She said it was an insult to lower the military by $300 on average. This is why I mentioned the blogs. It's all politics. It's all to say, "Oh, the mayor and so and so is against this." But the facts are the facts. Let's go through the facts. Okay? I'm gonna give you again a memo that took my office three weeks to put together. Three weeks to put together. This memo explains very clearly the costs and the ramifications as a result of decisions made by Commissioner Castro. I handed this to the Miami Herald also. They have a copy of it. If you look at the final page, it says, "The cumulative effect of these catastrophic financial decisions by Commissioner Castro is expected to cost the city and approximately $27 million over the next 10 years. These were reviewed by the assistant finance director, the finance director, the ACM, the DCM, the city manager, the city attorney, and city clerk. Can I get a yes or no? Yes. Thank you. I'm going to go over these issues. These are reckless and these are decisions that are made from a person who is not a property owner in the city of Paul Gables, who does not pay property taxes. Okay. First and foremost, an unwarranted increase in personal

cost, the addition of 16 new hires. As you notice, I am not including police and fire there because we need public safety and I will always spend money on public safety. But we had never hired 16 new people in one year. That cost alone constitutes 11.5 million over the next 10 years. I voted against that. The vice mayor voted against that. Commissioner Menendez, Commissioner Castro, and Commissioner Fernandez voted in favor of that. I know it's only $41,000, but you should never give the Miracle Theater or any tenant additional money. They have to follow the contract agreement that they have. If it's a triple net lease, they're responsible. I voted against that also along with the vice mayor. Salary increases of elected officials. Commissioner Castro raising her salary 101% and hiding it in the budget, forcing myself and Rhonda Anderson to vote against the budget. The facts are the facts. Giving yourself a car allowance and an expenditure account, a 4% cola. Staff begged for this cola to not be accepted. Mr. Manager, I know you were not here. What was the what was the impression of the cola?

It's an extra $1.9 million, mayor, that we cannot afford right now. a year for the next 10 years. Next 10 years. Did staff want that cola? Yes or no? No, ma'am. No. Commissioner Castro pushed and got that cola. When you break these numbers down, it is an additional $27 million worth of cost. So costs, as Commissioner Lada and the vice mayor have said, went up as a result of reckless reckless expenditures by Commissioner Castro. And now let's talk about revenue. Mr. Clerk, will you please uh I have two slides that I'd like to put up.

Do we have them?

You should. As you continue, when I first tried to lower the millage rate in 2022, our property values, excuse me, in 2023, this is a clear indication and I want media to pay close attention because this will not be on the blogs because I'm not willing to pay them their monthly retainer. Got to remember them always. That's why, you know, we're going to chip away at that. We got rid of the Gables Insider. We're going to get rid of the Gazette, too. Um, if you look at the 2022, there was a 10.9% increase in property values. That's when I recommended a reduction in the military. The following year in 2023, there was an increase of 12.65% in property values. I said again, brought it to the commission. Melissa Castro for a second year in a row said, "Under no circumstances will I lower the military." Remember everything that's detailed in this memo, none of those expenditures were active yet. She said, "I will not lower the military." 8.52. Look at the amount of property values. Look at the look at the percentage of increase in property values. Now, you see, we're seeing a steady decline. Now, we're at 5.85. 85%. So, let's go over this. Can we go to the next slide, please? I want to show the way it works. Simple finances, as I mentioned in this memo, you're either reckless and incompetent

or you're trying to hurt the city. Because when you spend $27 million and encumber the city for $27 million over the next 10 years and then you look at a chart like this and he says, "I won't lower tax. I won't lower the millage rate when property values are going up, but I want to lower the millage rate when property values are going down so significantly. That to me shows a real understanding on how budget works, how finances work, and will hurt the city and eventually could scuttle the city. This is the time, and I hate to say this because I want to lower the military. You said it very clearly, $300 is peanuts. It's an embarrassment. It's an insult. So $13 is a cup of coffee and a croissant at Starbucks. I don't know what you would call that. I think the vice I think commissioner lot of put it best. It's campaign and election season. So, let's talk about some other things, Mr. Clerk. One of the things that we did, which by the way, I want to put it on the record, which would not come out on the blogs, which will not come out on the blogs under those circumstances, Commissioner Castro, who's proposing a $13 military reduction. Mr. Clerk, you can remove this off the list, voted against the garbage reduction. which was again an opportunity to truly incentivize and give some relief to the residents. Mr. Manager, how much did we cut?

It was $3.6 million. But how much did we cut u from each homeowner? I believe it was uh 775 to 550. From 775 to 550. Okay.

So that's a significant amount of money in people's pockets. They see it in their in their bill. $13 is not right. It's an insult like you said when you said it was 300. I also went to your town hall. I was there. I wanted to make sure that I witnessed the town hall. There was five people in attendance outside of staff and they were all obviously supporters of Commissioner Castro, which I expect. The three people that spoke were Tom Wells, who was in opposition of military reduction, Debbie Register, who was on the Zoom call, who was in opposition of of a uh military reduction, and Felix particling in where he stood. He asked questions in regards to the budget and the fact that it was 400 pages. Um, a significantly less amount of people were in attendance. Oh, and Nicholas Cabrera was there who also spoke. Yes, sir. Thank you very much.

Were you in favor of the military reduction? So there was four people that spoke. Oh, and Rip Holmes spoke too. You were there too, my friend. I'm sorry. And you were in favor. So you had four people in favor and one

Sir, this is your one warning. Thank you. Four people were in opposition. One person was in favor, Mr. Holmes, and Mr. Partardo just wanted some information. My point is simple. You want to talk about collegiality and posturing and this and politics. This is all politics. Politics in an effort to get reelected. A lack of substance, a lack of a real legislative history and accomplishments over the last two years has put us in a position where we're reaching for straws and embarrassing the city. This memo is a $27 million arbitrage, excuse me, noose around the city's neck. $27 million. $27 million. You cannot undo the cola. Thank God we undid the salaries and the car allowances and the personal stipens. You cannot do the employees which are going to cost the city 11 million over the next 10 years. So, at the end of the day, we stand where we are right now and we have to be honest with ourselves and stop making this about politics so you can get sound bites for Instagram.

You're the mayor. Yes.

Okay. Okay. So, I wanted to go ahead and give a little clarification on what I was showing right here. What I'm showing right here is capital matrices. What is capital matrices means? It means it's the replacement program for for like radios, roofs, um network infrastructure. So really what we're doing here and if you notice what we reduced was like 2%. 2% of what the new needs that they need. So it's not that we're taking away what they're getting is that we are extending the timeline just a little bit. And it's a minuscule little tiny tiny bit. So we're not affecting services at all or services at all. And now when it comes to the operating budget because it's two different two different equations. Um this one is to the operating budget and that's where it says um the only position that I got rid of was a position that has not been that has been vacant for one year and that was in the sign shop. I figured if it was vacant for one year, the probability of us needing it is a lot less. I can only choose items that are reoccurring expenses. Um, and this was the most fiscal responsible way to do it. And then I was going to go ahead and correct um, Commissioner La. Yeah, I wish I had a Lamborgh Lamborghini, but I don't have one. I have I have a Maserati. But I do want to put on the record also. I don't only have one Maserati, I have two Maseratis, okay? And it the car allowance would not even cover a fraction of what I pay for my cars. I've usually had very nice cars. And I think being a public official does not mean that I have to now downgrade from what

I'm used to in my quality of life. Could just tell you that the car um allowance covered basically my insurance. Okay. So to say that I got a I got a Maserati on the people is a little bit of um an a wrong statement. Basically the other thing is last year we had 26 positions. I think the mayor went ahead and corrected that to 14 or 15 because he was taking out the police. Right. Last year we we added positions. Now this year we're adding 27 positions. 27 positions more. And I know that you're going to come back and you're going to say, "Oh, because this is from the not from the general fund, it's coming from the permitting fund." It is still positions that we need to account for. If how the mayor says winter is coming and if winter does get here, this is going to be a big issue when that that comes around. Um, now I want to go ahead and I want to address the video that he put up there. And I think the big big difference here with my approach and what he was proposing last year was that we were he was trying to reduce automatically more than $2 million. I don't know the exact amount. And when they showed me how you were reducing these $2 million, we were practically going to have to cut services. So when I came up with this, I said, "What are the important aspects of trying to fulfill the promises that most of these commissioners did give in their campaigns and out of their campaigns when he was already in office and I said, I need to come up with a way that we are going to lower the millage and we're not going to cut services and we're not going to fire people." And

this is the only way to do it. This is exactly the only way to do it and it's to do it in a phase approach and it is to tell the people people residents we are serious when we say we want to cut your millillage and we want to cut taxes we are serious about that because if I say I'm going to do something oh believe me I will bring earth and move everything around I will do it and that's why I haven't promised it but I'm trying to deliver on that promise that you guys did. Now, don't tell me that you cannot do this. This is extremely conservative. It is not what you are saving right now. It's what you're going to be saving in the future because this is a phased approach. This is not, oh, I'm going to put all this money in my pocket. But all your supporters last time when they approached me, they told me any savings is important. even when I tried to argue that it was only gonna be $20 or $30. So, I do take those things into into consideration and I tried my best my best because everybody knows very well this was not something I supported last year and this is the best compromise that I can make to give back to the residents that very very well deserve it. Now, last year we had a lot of vacancies in police and that was public safety and the safety of our community is one of the most important things to me and I think that's one of the reasons why um residents move into Coral Gables because you want to feel safe because the streets are beautiful, right? So when we I I did um vote to hire some some new people and I was pushing these contracts for fire and I was pushing these contracts for police.

I knew we had vacancies because we could not compensate them competitively and that's why I thought it wasn't the moment I thought not that I thought data showed that we needed to at least be a little more competitive with them so we would stop losing our officers. And that was my rationale between between not being able to lower the millage to be able to catch up so that our city was a stable safe city. Now the phase approach that I'm I'm I'm proposing there is no reason to put it down. There was no reason whatsoever. Let's stop making this political. Let's be smart. Guys, this is convenient to all of you. If you tell me no, you're going to let me win basically. But if you tell me yes, we all win. I don't know if we understand this. We all win if we lower the mill and we we we come into a phase of lowering the millillage. And it's nothing nothing that is going to affect poor services.

Okay. So let me you have literally you have literally spent 15 minutes confusing people. You said that. You literally said that that um I voted against police and fire conference. I voted against fire very clearly and staff said it was way too rich. Said it at the last commission meeting. You push for that because the fire union along with Miami Day County Fire Union are in your pocket and you do whatever they tell you to do. They don't have one vacancy. Do you understand that? When an opening when an opening comes due, 200 300 people apply. Police is the one that needed to help. And by the way, just like the last just like last time when we talked about salaries, blew you out of the water, too. When we added the budget, when we added the bonus that we get to, which is $10,000, it moved us to a completely different direction. It's the misleading effort constantly to get a gotcha Instagram moment. Look, if you do four years at $13, it's $52. You mocked and laughed at a $300 reduction. Okay, it's on the email, but what you've not answered is the fact that you encumbered the city to $27 million over 10 years that we have to pay. That's why you can't lower the military. When I said to lower the mill rate back then, you hadn't encumbered the city with a $2 million a year cola with all these new employees. And by the way, please, my god, again, do this every meeting. The new employees, Miami Herald, please. The new employees that she's talking about are for the permitting department because she wanted to give her friend a contract that we rescended in the permitting department. And what we're going to do is we are going to hire the best people, not using general fund money. We are going to hire the best people to provide a Rolls-Royce service for our residents. Mr. Manager, where is

the funding coming from for these new employees? Uh, mayor, the the state requires that we have an enterprise fund for the building department. Those are not coming from a general fund. Those those employees are coming from the enterprise fund, which has no effect on the general fund. Okay. How much money do we have in that g in the enterprise fund? About 31 million. Okay. Please stop. You're not going to get reelected like this. You're only embarrassing the city and you have two Maseratis or three or four. Nobody cares. Nobody cares. It's the most absurd thing I've ever heard in my life. Madam vice mayor,

so I just want to, you know, for the public that don't dive deep into our budget, the general fund is your taxpayer dollars, you know, on other types of fees that come in. The permitting fees generate the enterprise fund and have to be sent in spent in the U that department. There was a resolution last September 10th uh for fiscal responsibility that you voted against. The thrust of that was so that new employees and solid waste weren't added because we didn't build any more single family homes. There were no additional garbage cans to empty. There was um the sign shop worker positions that were new. There was not a single existing position or police position or fire position that was proposed to be removed uh for that purpose. He voted against it. Okay. This was an attempt to control the budget and not get it to the point where now we're having to do some serious belt tightening. So, I appreciate your efforts to try to help people, but there's better way to help and that is by supporting like reductions to the garbage fee and increases in homestead exemption.

Yeah. And Commissioner Fernandez has a proposal as well through the mayor. Commissioner, will you make mention Commissioner? No, I all I was going to say is I think we're going to have this discussion again on Friday.

Yes. We have 2.1 which is a similar issue, but um I'm going to be the same person I was last year. The vice mayor came up with a plan last year and I asked for time to review it between now and the budget hearing. I appreciate the time the commissioner has put into this proposal. I think there are things in here that we we can work with. I would like to talk to some members of staff, especially the police chief and fire chief about some of these issues. Um I am not ready to vote on this today, but I'm going to be ready to discuss this on Friday when we have our budget hearing so that we can have a fruitful discussion. It it's 410 already and we still have several issues. I have to pick up my son. I need to leave by five. So, I would like to get through the agenda if we can on time.

So, can we can we Excuse me one second. Give me one second. Give me one second. One second. Give me one second. One second. Second. Um, Mr. Clerk, can you read 2-1 into the record? I think it's important. Go 2-1 is a resolution of the Coral Gables budget and audit advisory board recommending that the city of Coral Gable's commission maintain the millage rate of 5.559 mills for fiscal year 2025 to 2026.

For the record, in the in the uh poorly attended u town hall that I that I went to two days ago, um one of the individuals spoke was a lady by the name of Debbie Register. Very nice lady. She's actually the appoint the appointee for Commissioner Castro to the budget advisory board. She spoke against a military reduction. The budget advisory board by 2-1 is stating do not lower the military. They're opposing the commissioner the commissioner's request. At your request, we'll defer the item. Um moving on to item F12. Thank you. Wait, give me one sec. Through the mayor,

you said to defer it. Yes, but I just changed my mind. I actually I'm going to go ahead and move it. I think that speaking about this after we already have a budget hearing is it's not going to be So, you have a motion. Do I have a second? The motion dies. Moving on. Moving. Mr. Go ahead.

First speaker, Mrs. Maria Cruz. Cruz married for 55 years and a happy marriage. No issues. Nobody playing around who are having affairs. Um, several things have been said that frankly some people do not understand how the real life works. When the statement was made that um somebody doesn't pay property taxes, obviously they do not understand that people that lease or rent pay property taxes because the owners do not eat the property taxes. they pass it on to the people that rent or lease. Big thing. The big issue in my mind is once again we're talking about how to save money. I have I said it last at the town hall meeting. I'm going to say it again. One of these days I'm going to write it up. We play games with the employees salaries. We reclassify positions. And this time we have reclassified positions almost at the end of the fiscal year, which means that those people that already got races are going to get races again when the new fiscal year starts. I love it that staff did not go along with cola. Oh, but staff doesn't mind getting 500 and I'm exaggerating, of course, but this many extra extra extra benefits on top of their big salary already. the poor the little people at the bottom do not get

this many 3% for this 4% for that 5% for their people because I got the the print out last year 2024 they were get still getting percentage extra because they were teaching their department people how to use inner golf I think is the name that program pretty soon will be old and they're still getting paid because they're teaching the people how to use it Okay. So, you're talking about reducing uh recurring things. Let's get rid of all the extra stuff that is not accurate, that's not applicable anymore. And you save money. But don't get rid of the little people, they get 10 10 cents more. Get rid of the people that are getting big money. And when you're an executive and you get money, you don't get extra because what you're doing is part of that big money. You're getting paid to do more than, not less than. So the executives get a big salary. They don't need to get extra percentages because they're teaching somebody or they came an extra night. Executive people do not get extra money. They get their salary because it's big enough. And of course, they don't want to give money to the other people because they don't want to share the the the goods.

Mr. Clerk,

Jackson Holmes. Greetings. Uh, Jackson Holmes, 35 Sedonia, Coral Gables. Um, those who have known me over the years know that I'm for lower taxes. In my business, I have to pay $30,000 a year in property taxes, which is the biggest item. And I've made a study of the tax situation. uh even helped get a Marco Rubio get something passed by the uh Florida legislature. Um the taxes go up every year. Uh and that's because the property values go up every year. So we're not losing money. We're getting more money this year than we did last year. And we do that every year. As long as the property values go up, we're not losing money. This is a minimal uh remedial thing trying to be fair to people. Um well, I'll I'll you said don't address individuals, so I'll I'll um avoid that. But anyways, the point is that trying to reduce the millage rate, it's this is a very small thing, okay? The taxes are going to go up no matter what. they're going up 5 point whatever percent it is, right? Uh so if we reduce the millage rate, we're just reducing the tax increase. And uh this will be a campaign issue. I I'm I'm I'm depressed that people who have advocated uh tax reduction in the past are now flipping and calling into question their credibility. This will be an election

issue. Thank Thank you, sir. All right, Mr. F.

Try to keep I'll do my best to keep these comments short because I know that there are a couple items and out of respect to Commissioner Fernandez, I want to give him the opportunity to pick up his son. Um, I did in fact speak at the town hall on Monday uh in opposition to the proposed mill rate reduction. Um what I think is really important here is understanding that this is in fact uh more performative than it is comprehensive or required for that matter. The city's no longer uh in the situ in the city no longer possesses the flexibility that it did a year ago in order to reduce the mill rate. At the time the mill rate reduction that was proposed was reasonable based off of the increased property property values and thus the increased amount of taxes that we brought in last year. But because of the frivolous spending that has taken place over the last two years, we're just no longer in a position to reduce the millage rate. Now, Commissioner, I believe uh you had asked me at the meeting how I would better describe um what I said is not really a reduction. I think it's misleading to say that the that by lowering the millage rate, we're reducing the budget by $343,000. That's not the case. What we're actually seeing is a difference. And by that, I mean we have one budget based off of one mill rate and we have what your budget would based off of your proposed military. The difference between the two is the $343,000. That's not a reduction because that $343,000 does not currently exist in our budget. No matter what, we see an increase in our operating budget each year because property values go up. I don't know what the specific numbers are. I I apologize. I didn't get the opportunity to do the research beforehand, but our operating budget is going to go up this year by a very specific number. Last year it went up by about $10 million would have been around $12.9 million. Um or was $12.9 million would have been about $10 million with the reduced millage rate. Um but regardless that's what I mean by it's misleading to say that it's a reduction. It's a difference between one proposed budget and the second proposed budget. No matter what the budget goes up each

year. That's why it was misleading to say that services were going to be cut because departments were going to have higher budgets either way. It's a very difficult concept to understand. It's taken me a lot of time to study it. I'm appreciate all of you for trying to make it very transparent for the public uh so that they understand how our budget works each year. But this is definitely much more performative than it is comprehensive and it is not something that we should do. And I'm going to finish in just a second here because I want to get give you guys all your time back. What's most important to understand is we can't look at this for four years. We this is something that needs to be looked at each year based off of the circumstances. um that are presented to us by trying to do something over a four-year phase. We don't know what's going to happen next year. We don't know what's going to happen the third year. We don't know what's going to happen the fourth year. We're not in a position to try to reduce the millage rate with a a phase plan like this. It needs to be looked at as a zerobased budget every year and that's it. Final. Thank you all.

That was said by the way and also the discussion the point about discussing it every year. can't encumber a city for four years not knowing how where your where your where your uh millage rate excuse me where your property values are going they're going down as you saw by so our revenues are going down and another thing if you want to throw into the mix throw them into the mix the roll back rate that's a completely different conversation all in itself um Mr. Clerk that's it Mr. All right, we close that. We have a motion on the floor. Do we have a second? All right, moving on. There's no second. I thought we were in 21. There's no motion yet. This was This was on This was on on F11.

So, the motion dies. Okay. On 21. Do we need a motion? I'll move it. I need a second. Mr. Clerk. Vice Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Castro? Can you display? There we go. Um, who won? Yeah. Your board members. I'm going to say no. Essentially, you're you're voting here to adopt the the minutes of that meeting. That's it. I know. Commissioner Fernandez, I'm going to vote no because I said I'm going to be ready for the meeting on Friday where we will have a thorough discussion on this. So, I'm going to vote no at this time. Commissioner Lara.

Yes. Mayor Logo. Yes. I want to tell everybody who's watching here, we're not adopting their recommendation. We're just adopting their their minutes. Well, I I think what this was is a I understood the commission's motion right now to be accepting the recommendation. We're just accepting their their documentation. Yeah. That's it. All right. We're going to make the decision as a commission. All right. Yes. It's not the final action on this on on setting the millillage. I think that's what you meant, sir. Yes. Moving on to item F12.

Okay. This is a resolution of the city commission rescending resolution 25246 which directed the city commission may consider whether to participate in particular lawsuits by filing or intervening in any action already pending. The attorney general and courts have already settled the legal framework. Municipalities in Miami date send election date changes to the voters. There is no ongoing case here that we need to join. The Miami case is over. I think the commission is already sending the well the commission is already sending the question to the voters in April 2026. I don't think we need to go ahead and waste taxpayer funds to involve Coral Gables in any other city disputes. Okay.

Uh again, just more political theater. Madam city attorney, when we brought this forward, it was just in regards to this particular lawsuit. Correct. Commissioner Caster just said involving in other in other lawsuits. Correct. So it was with respect to lawsuits related to the election date change which has already been settled. We have the election coming now in April as per your memo. It's done. There's nothing. And also the resol the prior resolution did not direct the joining in 20 lawsuits. actually just directed me to bring that information to you all and I would which is different than my usual authority. I would need direction from the commission for these lawsuits would you know I would have needed these lawsuits related to the election day change to join them.

What you're saying is this is not give us give you carb blanch just to jump in. You have to come back to the commission. That's why obviously you did not jump into into the lawsuit because it said in in the legislation that I wrote said you have to come back and get get support from the commission to move forward. This is again an unnecessary piece of legislation like you said wasting more taxpayer dollars. Um second I was just going to move to to to um deny his move. Okay. Go ahead, Madam Vice Mayor. I was my same motion. So we have a motion to accept as you said. Yes. In a second. Go ahead. Any public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. All right. Here we go. Commissioner Castro. Yes. Commissioner Fernandez. And consistent with my prior vote on this item. Yes.

Commissioner Lara, this is on the motion to deny mute. Yeah. No. This is on the motion to accept to accept to accept to approve the the resolution rescending. Yeah. No. Commissioner's motion. No. Okay. Did you call my name? Vice Mayor Anderson. With all the crisscross, my ears didn't register it. No, it's moved.

Mayor Lago. No, it's mood. Election is in April along with eight other items. One of them which will be making sure that any increases to salaries like the one that Commissioner Castro did for 101% go before the voters. Also an inspector general and a litany of other amazing pieces of legislation that our residents are going to have the final say on which will bring transparency and good governance to the city of Coral Gables. Thank you very much. F13. F-13 is a resolution of the city commission calling a special election on the proposed ballot question and city charter amendment. I'm going to defer this one. Okay, perfect.

Um, moving on to H1, Mr. Manager. Good afternoon. Um com um Mayor Vago, Vice Mayor Anderson, commissioners, um Joe Gomez, deputy city manager, like to give an update on the uh current uh relocation plans for the city commission. Uh Mr. clerk, if you would please put up the presentation

and I'll be brief. Give me a second. All right, it's just opening really really slow right now. So, if you guys want to move on to the next slide.

Okay. Traffic calming update.

Okay. Um, so, uh, on traffic calming update and I'm I'm expecting our assistant director of of, uh, transport public works for transportation to I guess not. Oh, there she is. Okay. But before we start the presentation, um, Mayor, if you would allow me, uh, just a few few points. I I I want to do a refresh because of the number of requests that we have been receiving on traffic calming. Um, it's important to really take a step step back. You know, as as you as everybody knows, this process started um the city started looking at this holistically back in 2016, and it culminated uh with a interlocal agreement with Miami Dade County that was uh signed uh in 2018. And that interlocal agreement is very important and and and the madame director will will get into the specifics, but it's very specific in terms of what the city is allowed to do and what it cannot do in terms of traffic calming. Traffic calming is it's not a one-sizefits-all. There are different methods to do traffic calming. everything from speed cushions uh to diverters, traffic circles, roundabouts, uh even the the reduced speed limit signs. They all serve a different purpose with the ultimate goal of providing some sort of traffic calming. As an example though, for example, roundabouts and traffic circles are typically used to process traffic in lie of a traffic signal which in in essence allows the traffic to move better and in many cases uh a traffic circle and a tra or a roundabout can actually process 30 30 to 35% more traffic than a traffic signal in at a typical intersection. it in in terms of traffic calming for

for every every street in the city of Corables and I want to and I and I want to emphasize this point. We cannot have traffic calming in every single street in the city. It's simply impossible. There are reasons why. Um, one of the most important reasons is the ability for our fire and uh and police department to be able to respond. If every street has traffic calming, that in essence has a domino effect which will limit the ability for fire and rescue to be able to to properly attend to to our residents street. The street network is supposed to be able to process traffic through. So in essence, people have a right to be able to to to drive through through public streets. Having said that, we we we go through a very methodical process. We'll get to that in in in a minute. But just a couple of data points that I I I do want to emphasize. Um since the program started, I think originally we had about 171 requests originally and and since that time we've added over 230 additional uh requests. This year alone, we've had 72 requests and we've installed uh 30 speed cushions through throughout throughout the city. Also very important this year since March of this year when we started actually um keeping track of we've installed over 400 uh 25 mile per hour uh uh speed limit reduction signs. Those in in essence do help and we've seen in some cases where we collect the data that the actual reduction to to in the local streets and that's only in the local streets 25 miles per hour does help. Also very important, traffic calming is is is our traffic calming is limited to the local residential streets. County roads, state roads, uh those are are separate entities that have to be uh

that have to be regulated by those agencies. Douglas Road, uh as an example, Coral Way, those are county roads. Leon Road, 8 Street, Flaggler, um Red Road, those are state roads. So those roads are are are completely different and we we simply can't. So with that, I'm I'm not going to steal the thunder from Madame Director. Uh go ahead and here we go. Billy, can I pull up the the presentation? Just a quick quick presentation, right? Yes. Hello. No pressure. Hello. All right.

Melissa Desai is assistant public works director. Um Joel already went through most of the presentation so I will be able to go through it relatively quickly. Um so basically the traffic calming project um it it started in 2016. We were receiving requests from residents and they were getting logged and you know most of their concerns were cut through traffic and speeding and based on that you know um we have the we have the commission office relocation probably though.

I don't know why you got click Okay. Um, H3 is a resolution of city commission to authorize. Can we go through that one? I just want to try to get as many things done as possible. Okay. H3 is a resolution of the city commission to authorize a bid waiver for holiday decorations on Miracle Malta Plaza and authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Joy by for custom decorations for a period of one year in the estimated amount of 298,926.50 as a special procurement bid waiver pursuant to section 2-691 of the procurement code.

I just sent a request to get um to be able to share my screen. I'm Bel Keith Perez with the economic development department. Um, so Joy is a specialized holiday decor company with demonstrated experience in Coral Gables. Last year they had a pop-up store on Miracle Mile. They have one this year as well. They successfully created custom holiday installations for several downtown businesses and executed both interior and exterior holiday decor for the Builtmore Hotel. Um, their design aesthetic is closely aligned with the city's brand and vision for the downtown, ensuring consistency, quality, and a strong visual impact. Holiday decor will be fully installed by November 24th and removed by January 9th, 2026. And um industry industrywide holiday decor vendors are already finalizing procurement for uh materials and locking installation schedules. So delaying any longer to complete a bid process would risk the city missing that critical holiday window. So if you'd like to see what it looks like really quick, I am going to share my screen and uh take you quickly through that. Can you see it? Yeah. Okay. So, I'm just going to scroll down to the part right here. Okay. So, for the um Le June fountains uh on Miracle Mile, we would put ornaments. All of it will be themed. And this is what what we like about this presentation is that there is there's consistency in the theme. So, ornaments on either side of those fountains. On this on the 37th Avenue, there's going to be very large bowls. These are acrylic bows and there's going to be lights. There's garland as you can see around the opening and then the large bows on both sides of the entrance. We're going to have consistency. Again, these are 31 inch long uh wide um acrylic uh bows, gold and red along all of the streetscape uh lights that are on

Miracle Mile. And we're putting them on Geralda as well. And um the median, although there's no um there's not a picture about uh of this, but the median palm trees on uh Miracle Mile will also be lit. So there's going to be something at night to see as well. And so this is going to be on McBride Plaza. It will not have these hues. It's going to be a warm white light and there will be different sizes of these um trees and it'll be lit um beautifully at night. This is going to be an entrance feature on the pond side of Geralda Plaza. Uh it will have some lighting to it and this will be on the Galliano side of Gerala Plaza. We will have a sleigh there and it'll be a really nice photo opportunity. And that's it.

Looks amazing. Incredible work. Thank you. We're going to have an RFP though, just so you know. Next year we are going to have a formal RFP. Okay. Can I get a motion? Move it. I'll second there's a group. We had a second team approach. Do you have any public comment? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Okay. Go ahead, sir. Mr. Rip Holmes.

Thank you very much. Uh Rip Holmes, uh 35 Sedonia Avenue, Coral Gables. Um I really have a question and I'll just get right to the heart of it. Um I know that the he has stepped up in the absence of the business improvement district and made great uh contributions to Miracle Mile. So, I I I want to specifically acknowledge that the city has stepped up, but I So, here comes my question. is Joy uh whatever the full name of the enterprise is are hopefully they're not connected to the business improvement district.

Um again why don't we put that in in an email and you can copy my office all the commissioners city manager and belies will respond through the manager's office. Okay. Okay. So, I'll just then conclude by saying if it's not connected to the business improvement district, I say yeah, do it. Bravo. If it is, I say no. Okay. Thank you. Belie, if I may. Is there any affiliation with the the business improvement district? No, this is an independent um vendor. All right. We have a motion and a second. Are there any of the public comment? No, Mr. Mayor. All right. Commissioner Fernandez. Yes. Commissioner Lada. Yes. Vice Mayor Anderson. Yes. Commissioner Castro. Yes.

Mayor Logo. Yes. H1. Commission offices. Discussion. We ready. Rock and roll. Did we already We have to do traffic calming after. Yes. Okay. Yes. We'll be quick.

All right. Just briefly. Uh the general contractor that was awarded the contract is Scavet uh who we've worked uh many times before. contract was awarded on July 14th of this year for a total amount of 636,481. It has a calendar a project duration of 120 calendar days. Notice to proceed was issued on September the 1st with substantial completion December the 29th of of this year and the object objective is to move the commission sometime in January of 2026 to the new space and the space as we're talking about is the Monorca garage adjacent next door to the tax collector's office. This is an overall floor plan that shows uh the office space which includes um conference area for all the commissioners to use as well as space for the commission aids. And I'll go into those areas. Here's the waiting and check-in area as someone comes in to visit the uh the members of the commission. Uh conference room area as you can see pretty well nicely sized. This is the area for the commission aids which is essentially set in the middle of the the space. This is the mayor's office which has a a its own waiting area as well as conference area. These this is your typical commission office size. As you can see, it's pretty well spaced uh which uh with conference tables uh with a small conference uh table within each of the offices and then a work room uh with a lounge uh for the benefit of the commission and the aids. That's it. Any questions?

Any questions from the commission? Mr. Manager.

Yes. Uh thank you, mayor. We are planning on making the move at the in the middle of January. We need to do exploratory demo on on this building uh to to uh wrap up the uh construction documents. Uh we we are in the process of selecting a construction manager at risk uh should be by uh November and we'd like to move forward and see if we can start construction towards the third quarter of next year. So we all plan to move we are are moving to some offices on Ponelon the city clerk, the city attorney and and the city manager. So we are all right in that area there and um so the so this move is is planned for uh the middle of January. Okay,

Mr. Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk. Are there any public comment? We're good. All right. Commission's not taking action on this item.

All right. Um next item, traffic cal. So, we'll go through this quickly. Um, so the city took many steps. They basically reduced the speed limit back in 2018. They also signed an agreement with Miami Date County and this agreement is what we use. Um, it basically gives us the authority to like bypass the permitting process for certain um traffic calming devices. So in order to qualify for traffic calming, we have to um there are certain criteria that has to be met. We have to analyze the uh traffic volumes, the 85th percentile speeds, uh presence of sidewalks, um number of pedestrian generators, driveway density, and um number of correctable crashes. So, as part of our toolkit, basically um the interlocal agreement allows us to only install certain devices without going through the permitting process. Those devices are speed humps, which are the tables and cushions, speed cushions, uh raised intersections, roundabouts, and that's about it. Everything else would have to go through Miami date county for approval. So, we have a couple pictures of um installed devices. This is a speed table. There's a cushion. It has the the divider in between. This was um designed with our emergency vehicles in mind, a raised intersection. And we these are just some, you know, um roundabouts, but we don't have any new ones that have been constructed recently. We hope to have one soon.

And this is a pedestrian crossing. This is a raised pedestrian crossing that we actually have in front of the museum. Um, this one did have to go through Miami date counties for approval because it's not included in the interlocal agreement. So, here's some other um traffic calming devices that could be used, but these all have to be approved by Miami date county. We can't bypass the permitting process. You know, we could do m uh medians, chicanees, chokers, um traffic separators. This is one that we actually have right now with Miami Dade County on Dotto and Polarmo. Longest longest project I've ever seen.

It is because every time we go to the county, you know, there's there's different challenges. So, like for this particular location, you know, they wanted us to include a crosswalk and then once we pulled back the crosswalk, we were going to be um impacting the driveways. and they ask for drainage and anytime you have to go through the permitting process, it delays the installation of these devices. So, some other things that we can um look at, you know, when it comes to traffic calming would be bulbouts, um refining intersection alignments, intersection improvements, and uh removing confusing paved areas. So initially what we did was we divided the entire city into five zones and that's how we were going to implement the traffic calming and we were going to start with zone one and move through each of the zones. Um and this project was funded for 5 years initially. However, we continue to get requests. We've gotten 230 additional requests since we started construction in 2022. Um last year we uh the commission approved um the installation of temporary speed tables at locations where basically we've um we were where locations qualified for traffic calming but we were in the design process to help speed up the process and um give residents the relief that they were looking for.

Before you can you go back I I just want to show something how this works. If you look at the photograph carefully you see the skid marks right before the approach of the speed cushion. As you can see that the speed cushion is doing its intended job. It's a nice photo.

Are you applying for photography?

So this is the process for implementation. Basically our department will receive a request for traffic calming. Once we receive the request, we'll reach out to the um police department and we'll request shield data. SH data is where they put um the the signs that tell you they display the speed. We tell them to turn the display off because we feel that you know if drivers see you know their speed being posted on there they tend to slow down. We want to collect you know their actual speeds and volumes. So they're turned off. A lot of times we'll get emails from residents saying that they're not working. They are working. They're collecting data. So once that data is collected a report is generated. It's sent to our office where we review it and we basically take the speeds, the 85th percentile speed and the volume and we'll plug it into the criteria that we have in our agreement with Miami date county. If we see that it seems like a location will potentially qualify for traffic calming, we request official data. Official data is where they put the tubes on the street. um when we decide that we're going to, you know, like before we, well, now that we have the temporary, sorry, now that we have the temporary, we um once they qualify, we basically um decide that we're going to go and ballot the residents. We'll ballot once for temporary. Later on, we'll ballot for permanent. In order to do that, we'll develop a concept plan of where the traffic calming device will be installed, including the signage. We'll ballot the residents to the we send it to the property owners and um if we receive 50% or more concurrency for speed tables or cushions or roundabouts um in favor has to be returned ballots uh we'll move forward with the installation of the temporary device. In the meantime, we're getting the, you know, we'll go and we'll move forward

with um design if for the permanent device if it, you know, and then sorry um we'll we request design for the permanent device. What we'll do is we we try to get multiple locations because the the design costs tend to be high if we only do a few of them. And um once we do design, we'll ball it again for the permanent device and then we'll finalize design and ultimately construction.

If I may, if I may add something, um the criteria that we have permitted by the county for traffic coming is very generous. What I mean by that is that there's a little points that you could potentially get to what you need to that are not necessarily related to speeding, whether it's the missing sidewalks, volumes. If you don't qualify for traffic coming is because there is no measurable speeding problem in your street. And and we've found in several locations that we get requests from folks about cars are flying by my street. We collect the data. You got an average speed of 15 miles per hour and 85th percentile of 19 miles per hour. The human eye is not a good Joshua speed. And sometimes we confuse

the engine sound or an acceleration with speeding. And those two things are not the same. And I myself have witnessed folks call my office of a city truck rumbling down my street. We have GPS. We can look at the video. We can look. They were accelerating between 9 to 18 miles per hour. You get a big truck. You hear that broom truck never went over 20 miles per hour, but the perception is that they were speeding because you hear that noise. So, you know, we use quant quantifiable engineering data for this, you know, and where you qualify, you will get it. But the very very many instances where we could look at data and they don't qualify and uh you know

and going back to what you know the director was talking about as you can see here the criteria is is posted on this slide if there is speeding that is where most of the points are gained. Um you can receive up to 10 points for speeding if they're going 10 miles an hour or more over the speed limit. Uh volume is the second one that you'll receive a lot of points for. Um but if you don't have sidewalks, you'll get three points. If you do have sidewalks, you don't get anything. And

basically, so like I said before, ballots are mailed out twice. Once for temporary, once for permanent. Um they're mailed to the property owners. A lot of times we'll get um emails from uh residents that are uh renting. We mail the the ballots out to property owners. uh we include the conceptual design with the ballot. They have 30 days to review it and um if we receive 50% or more in favor of the device whole block face for speed table or cushion four corners of the intersection for a roundabout we move forward.

So to date we have 145 devices that have been approved. Um ballot mailings for any permanent devices will be um mailed out closer to construction date. We've already had meetings for zones 1, 2, 3, and four. Zone five, we've already um engaged with a consultant to begin with design and we're going to have a public meeting either later this year or early next year. And that's it.

Mayor, thank you. Just a couple of final points. Um, I want to stress again that it's critically important that we follow the data. As Melissa showed in the presentation, it has to be quantifiable data. We can't wholesale just put speed cushions anywhere. If we do that, we're in violation of the interlocal agreement and we risk the ability to be able to do these ourselves and have to go through the county process. That's so I I I I want to stress that that that's that's very very very important. Secondly is we get requests when we do when we run the numbers where the numbers don't show that there is no issue to go back and do it again. That's time consuming. It it it it it costs money and truthfully once we collect the data and if the if the speed the speed doesn't show that we we even get close to the 85th percentile at that point it again it's a issue of perception as Hermas pointed out. It's sometimes the human eye is not a good judge of speeding that. So I I just want to emphasize this. It's not that we're we're trying to say no. We're simply following the process and the process has to be followed in order for us to be consistent with the interlocal agreement we have with Miami date county to be able to continue to do where it's actually needed.

Thank you through the mayor. Yes, sir. So since I have you gentlemen and lady here, um two questions. one with respect to the mailing that's going out, the the ballots for where the um traffic home and device is going to be set. I've had two residents ask me about a a ballot item right now near the Coral Gables Country Club on Greenway. Um I think we're in the middle of of of the mailing right now, the mail in for the ballots. But if they wanted to move have it moved, not removed, but rather moved so it's not in front of a particular resident's home. I don't even know how that works. Is that something we can discuss offline or do you have a quick answer for how that's handled?

Um, so the location is selected for a variety of reasons. The location of of driveways within that street.

We can't have a a speed cushion next to a driveway because that presents some challenges. So we have to be very strategic of where that also we want to be sure that the location is at provides the maximum ability to be able to to reduce the traffic. So, and and I'm glad you brought that up, Commissioner, because we've gotten cases where the street qualifies. We're ready to go and put the speed cushion and then I don't want it in front of my my again, it's public right away. We try to be as as respectful as possible, but there comes a point where we have to make the decision. It either goes here or or that's it because we've had other driveways. So,

very good. The second thing is a resident brought to my attention that on Greenway Yeah. on remade but where it's what stretch I have to see but I don't think there's any divider like a painted uh div divider um for straight line so so is was one going in or is is we're not going to put one in does it need one so generally speaking you don't put dividers on local roads you put those dividers in local roads as you approach the intersections and that's something that we're working to implement but it's not common practice for you to add a divider on a on a local residential street road. That is not common practice. Very good. Thanks. All right. Thank you,

Mr. Mayor. Just a couple things real quick. Um on that location on Polarmo, so you so you have perspective doing this for our baby commissioner because he doesn't have the scars that we do going through this. That's been a seveny year process. Seven years going through the county.

And when we do things without the county's approval, they can then remove them. The other thing is is there an option there is an option for streets that don't qualify if they want to pay for a speed detection sign the cost of which I don't know but it's not cheap they can have that by the way there's someone on Anastasia that you know has made that request I'm you're nodding so I know that you're aware of it I don't need to write you an email the other is in our latest interlocal update Um, in addition to adding the speed detection signs as as an option instead of a speed hump for those people that don't want the speed hump, we had a smaller speed hump that will fit better in some of these blocks where there's so many driveway cutouts in the north cables. That's it. That's mine.

Very good. Thanks. Just a quick point. Um, dovetailing on what I said earlier, let's try to prepare something that maybe Martha's team could put together a short video when residents ask just how to request that we can send them and then it simplifies things for everybody and the limitations because we can't over we can't overpromise. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much, Commissioner. Item D6 is pending. Is that um Give me one second. Is that the on this one? Yes. Okay, let me go ahead. I think he's outside moment.

Here you go. Hi everybody,

Commissioner. Um, this is my item. I appointed you uh for my planning and zoning board because I believe that you are not only overqualified for that board, um, but I believe that you are fair, you are just, and you would represent me in the most prudent and fair way. Now, there was some allegations or accusations, however you want to put them here on the dis that I was not aware of. Is there and right now the commission was trying to um they pulled the item and I I don't know I think you probably saw what was happening and I think we were headed to the direction where you were not going to be appointed in the planning zoning board when two months ago unanimously you were just appointed to the parks and recreation award recreations board. So, I want to give you the opportunity and thank you for being here to go ahead and clarify the accusations or allegations that were before you today.

Well, thank you, Commissioner, and thank you to the commission for giving me the opportunity um to speak on my behalf. Um and I want to make sure, you know, I ask the mayor through the mayor, I guess, that I'm given the ample opportunity to express because I think several topics were discussed. So, I want the opportunity to be able to give my side of the facts. My understanding is the commission needs to leave by 5:00. Okay. Well, um I'm sure that uh I'll do my best. Um first off, um I want to thank and congratulate Commissioner Lara. We go back many years, 20 years of friendship.

I'm so happy that you're there. That's my seat. and uh just want you to know that uh you know I appreciate the friendship and your service to the to the city.

Different topics were discussed. Um one was uh regarding why I voted to have at that time Peterius the city manager then and now uh removed or fired. Uh the reality is in April 2023, Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner Castro were elected. Um, they presented legislation to have Peter Eglesius removed. I was a swing vote. I voted no because I felt it was important for the new commissioners to have time to get to know the manager in a work setting. Soon thereafter, um, I received a phone call from Mr. Iglesius that he was leaving the city. Um, which caught me off guard. I felt that it was important to maintain continuity. There was a lot of, I believe, behind the scenes concern that Mr. Glass had decided to leave. Um, I called him back a day or two later and I said, "Look, uh, Peter, if you know, you stay two, three more months, we can find, uh, somebody to replace you, perhaps Mr. Paroose, and that helps the city continue with a healthy transition." Um, at that time, Mr. told me, "Let me speak to my family. I'll get back to you." two, three months became four, five months became six, seven months. Um, by the summer of 2024, I believe the opportunity or the situation occurred that legislation again was going to be presented. At that time, I felt that not all the members of the commission were being served by the manager's office. I felt that it was perhaps one or two members of the commission that were getting most of the attention or the focus instead of all five equally. There was going to be a vote on a Tuesday. I asked an attorney in Coral Gables if he could arrange for a meeting between myself, the attorney, and Mr. Eglesius outside of city hall away from the politics. Uh they arranged it. It

was a Friday morning. Uh we met when I sat down with Mr. Glaciius. We'd always had a very good working relationship even outside the city hall. I explained to him, you know, Peter, you know, a couple a year ago you were ready to leave. And I said, you know, 2 or 3 4 months, we can work out an arrangement, a solution, a compromise. And at that time, he said, you know, he was affirmed that he was going to stay. We met for about an hour. When we left, as we're leaving, he asked me, "Can I speak to you outside?" So, we walked outside, he parked his car in front of my car on the street, and um we talked. He goes, "Look, Commissioner, we get along great. We've worked well together. Um, but on Tuesday, do what you have to do, but I just ask that you protect my staff. And I said, "Peter, I understand completely. Don't worry. I'll do my best. Make sure everybody's well." Um, come Tuesday, the commission room was full of the movers and shakers of Coral Gables. Dorothy Thompson, God bless her, she was uh she even chuckled because every time the someone would come up, they'd eventually turn to me and point their finger at me, making sure that I voted to keep Peter. That's pressure from the outside. Every mover and shaker. Um so that's what happened the timeline with me and Peter Egles. I've always respected him. I think he's amazing person and we just had a difference of opinion but I tried to find a solution terms of uh being influenced by outside forces. Um earlier we're talking about the election moving the election from April to November. Well around the summer or the fall of 2023 I got a member of the community reached out to me wanting to have coffee with me the next day. I said sure why not have coffee. I like coffee. About five minutes later, I got another

community member, a resident, reach out to me and said, "Are you going to have coffee with such and such person tomorrow?" I said, "Yeah, yeah, I'm going to have coffee." He goes, "Well, I need to give you a heads up. They're going to offer you $100,000 to move your vote, move the election from April to November." I reached out to the other person go, "Look, I'm sorry. I can't not have a coffee with you. I wish you know we can talk another time." I stepped away again. Pressure pressure didn't move me. Also with regards to the Alexa crafts project, the resoning of the Malaga and Catalonia 300 block when it was reszoned, I was not a commissioner. I was a resident. I'm still a resident, but I was not a member of the commission when it was reszoned. During that time when there was a petition to have it reszoned, there was a particular homeowner on the south side of Malaga, 300 block of Malaga, that wanted to meet with one of the members of the commission because they wanted that member of the commission to know that they were in favor of reasonzoning. So I arranged that meeting at off the mile where Vicky Bakery is. And that meeting was between that homeowner, myself, and at that time, Commissioner Lago. Um, when the Alexa craft project came before the city commission, I was a commissioner, but I went that time to the office of Miriam Ramos, the city attorney. I said, I'm going to recuse myself for this, this, this reason. So, she wrote, I think, drafted some uh legislation. And the truth is when we were coming to the dis and that was going to be coming up I guess we took a break. Uh a member of the commission actually walked up to me and says you don't have to recuse yourself. Don't recuse yourself. I go I have to do what I don't you know I have to do what I should do. That person was Mayor Lago. Um,

the thing is folks and whoever is here and watching, the concern from some is not that I'm going to be influenced by developers. The concern for some is that I'm not going to be influenced by developers. And that's the truth behind this. Unfortunately, I don't think in the history of Coral Gables that a former elected official is blocked from being appointed to a board. I don't think we've ever had someone removed, but definitely a former elected official. So, a lot of allegations, what was it that was said? They're not allegations, they're facts. Well, I'm coming at you with the real facts, and those are the facts I'm laying before you at the end of the day. I've already been watching the commission meeting for most of the day. You will vote whichever way you want to vote. You can decide whatever you want to decide. that I felt it was important for me to come here and let's correct the record in somewhat. But I respect your decision whichever way you go.

Are you done, sir? Yes.

Okay, perfect. One second. Madam City attorney, I'd like to immediately call the state attorney and the commissioner on ethics and have commissioner Kirk Mendez for a lack of responsibility and his job as a commissioner. I want to make sure this is sent to the state attorney immediately. a transcript where $100,000 of bribe was offered uh to the commissioner immediately immediately tomorrow first thing in the morning and I want this gentleman interviewed. So again, the constant lies and the statements and you own property little gables and all the stuff that's always done here so easy so easy to just lie on the dis and not say anything but let's let's you know that's a dereliction of duty on behalf of commissioner Mendez. He did not go to the state attorney. He did not go to the proper authorities and I'll do it for him. Please send it just like when they voted in opposition of an inspector general. I will provide the inspector general when the voters vote for it. That's number one. Number two, wait. I'm not done yet. No, no. I'm not done.

Just let you know, I'll be more than happy to speak to anybody, especially when the two people I spoke to are your friends. I'm not done yet. I'm not done yet. Number one. Number one. Number two. Mr. Manager, would you like to clarify the record for what Kirk Menis told you in a in a private setting along with what he told employees?

Mr. Mayor, commissioners, I'm a little stunned by the comments of Commissioner and then this. I never said I wanted to leave. I didn't I felt I I just the opposite. I felt I didn't do anything to to be fired. I don't know uh where those comments came from. Uh when we did meet, I said, "It's your decision. I don't feel I'm not leaving. I don't feel I should be fired. I've done nothing to be fired. I've never asked to be fired. I didn't speak to my family about resigning. I never tried to resign. That did not occur." Mr. Manager, a quick question. You think that you think that you would advise Kirk Mendez or you would advise the mayor first that your intent is to leave the city? Mayor, I I never had any intent to leave the city. Never.

And I'm Madam Vice Mayor, did he have a conversation with you about he was leaving the city? I didn't have a conversation with Peter. Did Did you Did you Did you have a conversation with Peter say he was leaving the city? No. Okay. So, that's the first thing. But I would like for you to detail the conversation between yourself when the commissioner asked you to upzone his own property through staff because his family needed the money.

I was working uh with uh a former ACM Maria Mendez to to uh to upzone that because I wanted to take the one the $1.3 million from that property and provide it into Ponerville Park. The commissioner asked me that it was important for his family to to upzone it. I said please do not compromise me. I am doing it already. I do not need to be compromised. I I made this public already in a video and and uh that is what happened. So we can play this game back and forth and throw ridiculous accusations. It's done before. You did it with Amos Rojos, a person who came in here and did not speak to me for eight months and made a wild accusation that I that I that I assaulted him while there was four people in the office that day that spoke to FDLE and they cooperated my story that I was nowhere near the gentleman. So, we can continue to attack my reputation, attack all the members of the commission. It's absolutely ridiculous. Kirk, everybody knows, we know you from the days of Misa and the city of Miami. We know where you stand. And again, at the end of the day, you're the one that sold your properties to developers that now that those those now you have a sevenstory building. So I think I have the

You can make it as wild as you want. I can respond. But listen again. You were talking for five minutes. We I talked for less. We talked a lot longer earlier this morning. And by the way, no, the attacks came from Anderson, Lago, and Lara. That's the truth. And by the way, no, no, no. I have no issue with it. But you started it. I came in to express my position and the facts as they are. You know, Kathy Fernando will deal with it. Great. And by the way, I'm more than happy to give the two names of the individuals. I spoke to because they're dear friends of yours. Dear friends, of course. Always. It's always me. Thank you very much. And I I would love to know who they are. Yeah. Perfect. Serves on a city board. So, we have a vote. One of them. Absolutely. I'll make a motion to to approve

and I sec and I and I will second that. But do we want to touch base also on what's going on with the youth center?

Oh, no. As a matter of fact, no, no. I'm so happy you brought that up. Thank you so much. So, so now that we bring that up, it's a great thing. Thank you. We made a request from you to provide documents. The documents that you provided, which you provided in the late was in the window, are all public documents. They already exist. You have still not provided the documents that we've requested. We've had to hire outside council to address the issue in an effort to have you comply. This is simple. Don't provide us and insult the city with documents that are already public record. Give us the documents that we requested in an effort to be the best stewards that we possibly can for the youth center. It's simple. Again, stop playing the games and sending us documents that are already for the record.

The attorney for the association already responded and I'm sure all the private businesses in Coral Gables are thrilled to have city government demand internal documents of a private entity. If you want association documents, private entity, perhaps BDI construction can provide internal documents. Kirk Kirk, let me speak to you something just let me let me respectfully please. EDI construction. Let's talk respect and the University of Miami have no powers over any city property. Okay. So again, you want to conflate you want to conflate issues and at the end of the day you that's all you've always done your entire life. So madam city attorney he the gentleman made a statement on the record saying that the documents have been provided. Is that true? Yes or no?

Mayor I think he's referring to the response that we received and that I provided to the commission um the morning of the last commission. Yes. What did what is that response? Have the documents Have we gotten all the documents you requested? No, sir. It's only that. That's all we've received so far. Mr. Commissioner, again, you can conflate, you can lie, and you can mislead, but the facts are clear as they as a city city attorney has stated. You have not provided the documents. Like I said before, you provided documents that are public record. So, we have a motion in a second. Mr. Clerk, can we get a vote?

I just want to clear for the record, I've made no attacks, Kirk. Um, I am the record is clear. I've heard allegations. I have heard conversation here on the dis regarding well there was discretionary I suppose on somebody's part of the youth center the board that you serve as a president to turn over some documents but not all documents. I'm not sure how the discretion was was um meed out uh why some why not all or why none. But in any event, there seems to be quite a bit of controversy concerning ongoing matters and uh allegations that have been made for quite some time um that involve you. I've reached no conclusion. I've made no attacks and those who know me the best and you know me probably longer than certainly anybody on this diet.

Yeah, it's not my nature to do so. Um but what I am looking for is uh stability, tone down the temperature in the room, uh eliminate controversy when practical, and just be as transparent as we can for the sake of the city, which is the only reason why I ran and why I'm here today. So on the basis of that, it's no. Vice Mayor Anderson, based upon what occurred, and this is not accusations, but from the testimony of the city manager, what occurred regarding the upzoning of property that you currently own. My vote is no. And I was not a commissioner when it was upzoned. I was just

No, no, no. You're completely misunderstanding and conflating and twisting the facts. I'm talking about the per property that you're currently living in, not the property that you sold. The house that my mother bought when my father died, the 21 that I'm living in with my family. Yes. I still live on that street for 48 years. Correct. That's the upzoning request I'm talking about. That side was already upzzoned. No, you wanted more. You wanted more for your family. The record's clear. Commissioner Mana. And by the way, I did say I recuse myself every time this came up. And by the way, I I just want to and I appreciate

Mr. Clerk, we have a vote in progress. Please, Vice Mayor Anderson. No. Commissioner Castro,

it's I mean it's it's really really really a shame that I have to bring the appointee here and this commission and not not Commissioner Lara and not on Vice Mayor Anderson. Thank you very much for keeping composure. But when we talk about civility and the way you are treating a former city commissioner, it's embarrassing. It and and it's not only embarrassing. I want to apologize completely. At this moment, they are saying everything you're saying is a lie. And um you don't deserve that. I think you gave the best of your years to this city. And I can attest for myself, serving is not easy. I think you always made the right judgments and my votes going to be yes because I believe in you because I believe that actually you would have made a better mirror than the one that's sitting to my left. That's my opinion. Okay. But I'm I'm sorry that I had to put you through this. I thought you were going to be the best one to represent me and apparently this commission doesn't believe the same.

Mr. Clerk, Commissioner Fernandez. Yes, Mayor Log. No. Um, if I may, just one final thought before I leave. It's if I may. Okay. We're in the middle of I just want to share a final thought and it's real quick. Commissioner, you have to feel sorry for anyone so consumed by hatred and anger that they lose their way down the abyss. Thought of the day. God bless you, Madam Vice Mayor. The good of the order.

For the good of the order. Um, Ronald McDonald House pickle ball tournament is coming up in November. I believe it's November 10th. And u like to see you all out there to help this great cause. Give give hope a bigger home is the theme. And without hope, we can't move forward. Commissioner Castro,

we we spoke about a lot of things um this meeting and I'm not going to touch base on them. I'm just going to touch base on one thing that you did not allow me to go ahead and and talk after you accused me of doing something to your family and to your business or to your children. I have no idea where you're talking about. And I do want to put on the record that what you are saying um I don't know where it's coming from. So if at some point you want to clarify that to me, I would be I would never in my life involve myself with your family, especially children or your wife. I think I've said hype to them from a distance in the past three years, maybe once or twice. So if you're under that impression or somebody else is telling you things, I mean, probably reconsider that. In fact, it's been the opposite. you have contacted my clients from my business which they are afraid to attest because they think you're going to retaliate. So I'm not even going to bring that up because if I don't have the facts and I cannot prove it, why even bring it up? But what you are blaming me of doing is what you have done to me.

Commissioner Commissioner L.

Right. So for the sake of good order, right, I will continue to do what I can and call upon my colleagues to do the same to try and just limit ourselves as much as practical to the business of the day. Get through an agenda in an efficient and dare I say even collegial manner. um so that we we don't lose sight of why we're here, which is to do the will and the good of the residents of Coral Gables. I think I'm going to be saying that over and over. And I also challenge my colleagues to to to respectfully call me out when I stray because I am not perfect, but I will do my very best. Two items I want to bring to the attention of the residents. We have um again an amazing event. I can't wait this Saturday when we're going to be cutting the ribbon and opening officially Dorothy Thompson Park and come dressed as if you want Scarecrow. Mr. Cabrera might already have co-opted that outfit. Um and uh and enjoy a wonderful day. I have a every reason to think it's just going to be memorable in so on so many different levels. And also on a personal note, I sit on the board of Easter Seals South Florida. And we have on September 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Jungle Island Miami our festival of chefs which will benefit the Easter Seals South Florida Culinary Arts High School. I know the mayor has attended Easter Seal uh events in the past. It's a wonderful uh charitable event. Please do let me know if anyone is interested and needs advice or or some guidance on how to attend. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Fernandez. I think um we need to find a way to tone things down.

Today we saw the assassination of somebody because of their thoughts. Charlie Kirk was assassinated today because of his thoughts. And we need to do our part to tone down the rhetoric. And I think Commissioner Laura pointed it out the best, focusing on the topics that are at hand. Our commission meetings should be more productive. I think we can really do the work we were elected to do. Whether we were elected by a smaller number of people or larger number of people this election or last election, we were all elected by the residents of this city to work together. And I think there has been an attempt today to do that. I think from the last time that I sat here there we have made progress. We need to do better and you have my commitment to continuing to work towards that end to ensure that our city has the best and most productive government that it can have.

Thank you sir. Um a few things. Number one uh contemplate think about Blue Road open space. It's coming out beautiful. Congratulations to staff. What will be the name of the brew road open space? I leave that up to my colleagues. Think of something that is appropriate.

Patriot day tomorrow. Thank you to all of those who serve, police, fire, and all our employees. Thank you. Enjoy the day off. Welld deserved. And finally, I will never bend a knee. Never. No one will intimidate me. It'll never happen. Neither a blog or a colleague or an innuendo or vagueness or a lie like you just heard from Commissioner Mendez. It'll never happen. It won't. I will stand for the truth and I will be ne I will never be intimidated. Neither by political or the gazette. Never. It will never happen. I will speak the truth, protect this city, and state what I believe is correct. So, we can play this game all you want. Make statements up here. Try to thrash my my business, my family. It's obvious. Look at the last election. Look at the previous election. I've been called everything in the book. from a racist to an anti-semite to everything in the book, everything. And I will not succumb to the pressure and the intimidation. At the end of the day, we have a we have a we have to make a decision here as elected officials. And I my decision is clear is to lead. Yes, I do allow my emotions and I do wear my emotions on my sleeve. But they've thrown the book at me. Multiple people on this commission to my left and to my right. For years, the FBI was coming through those doors. I beat up a city manager. I did horrific things. Everything. I owned property in Little Gables.

I never did. None of that came. All that was shown to be lies, propaganda. So, we can continue. The people are too smart in this community. Everything will be exposed in April and in the next November election. I'm more than willing to work and be colleial with my colleagues in the commission, but you will respect me and you will respect this city and we will not lie to the residents and tell them things that again are halftruths or absolute lies in an effort to push your agenda forward. Wishing you all of the best. I hope that you enjoy the ribbon cutting this weekend. um for Dorothy Thompson Park. It's something beautiful. Staff has worked immensely hard for that. Tomorrow's an important day for our employees. Thank you for all your efforts and I was a big fan and I will continue to be a big fan of Charlie Kirk. I didn't always agree with him on every issue, but he at 31 years old was captivating and was an individual who commanded respect and was willing to face anyone toe-to-toe based on his convictions and what he stood for. We need more dialogue in this country and he was never afraid to go before a hostile crowd and talk about issues and stand his ground. So when you sit here before you and you see the commissioner come up here, my vote is based on what I believe is in the best interest of the city. It's not whether that I ran against the commissioner. It's what I know and what I've been told and what I've seen with my own eyes. At the end of the day, he is not the best person to sit in the plat of his own board. Thank you and God bless. Yes, we do. Now we open it back up to discuss.

Here we have one item. It's A1, a resolution of the city commission sitting in its capacity as a 250 Aragon condominium association board of directors, ratifying prior actions by the city, city commission, the association, the board of directors and the city manager, authorizing city manager to sign documents on its behalf and take actions related to the management, ownership and maintenance of the property, approving the use of operating expenses to the city budget, electing officers, and updating any relevant documentation. I'll move it. Second. All in favor? I. Thank you. Moving on to the Andalusia Garage Condominium Association.

Thank you, Mayor. A1 is a resolution of the city commission sitting in its capacity as and the deluja garage condominium association board of directors ratifying prior action by the city city commission association board of directors and the city manager authorizing city manager to sign documents on its behalf take actions related to the management ownership and maintenance of the property approving the use of operating expenses to the city budget electing officers and updating any relevant documentation. I'll move it. I'll second. All in favor? I.

Moving on to Hialda Garage Condominium Association. A1 is a resolution of the city commission sitting in its capacity as the Gerald garage call the mini missocation board of directors ratifying prior actions by the city the city commission and the association the board of directors and the city manager authorizing city manager to sign documents on its behalf and take actions related to the management ownership and maintenance of the property approving use of operating expenses to the city budget elections officers and updating any relevant documentation. I'll move it. I'll second I I He's busy packing up. He's got to go. Meeting adjourned. Correct. Meeting adjourned. Yes. Let's go. Thank you. We got it done.