City Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'd like to call to order the regular city commission meeting of June 10th. The time is now 6.06 p.m. We are a little bit delayed because we had a lengthy budget hearing, but Madam Clerk, may we please have a roll call?

Mayor Cooper.

Present.

Vice Mayor Lazaro. Yes. Commissioner Adams. Yes. Commissioner Butler.

Here.

Commissioner Lima-Tobb. Here.

City Manager Doctorow. City Attorney Marino.

Present. Madam Mayor, you have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Before we rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, I'd like to conduct a moment of silent prayer. We pray for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine. We hope everyone, particularly the armed forces that are protecting those in harm's way, we call them to mind and pray for their safety. Also, we call to mind all our first responders here in our nation, state, county, and particularly our city that protect and serve our communities. A moment of silent prayer, please. Thank you. Commissioner Adams, if you could please lead us in the pledge.

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.

Thank you.

Do we have any changes in business, Madam Clerk?

No, Madam Mayor.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Do we have any speakers signed up for public participation?

Yes, Madam Mayor, we have two. May I proceed? Ms. Kenia Gordon.

Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Vice Mayor and the wonderful Commission.

Thank you.

My name is Kenia Gordon and I'm so pleased to be here this evening. I come before you with a word of thanks and gratitude. We the Friends of the Hepburn Center would like to thank those employees who provide a bi-weekly donation to our fund. So we really appreciate what they do. We are here again to announce our pickleball event, which is going to be held on September the 19th. We're asking for donations and, of course, volunteers. The location will be the Golden Isles Tennis Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Again, this is our pickleball event, and every donation counts. So again, we want to thank those employees for the city of Hallandale for what they do on a biweekly basis. The second word of thanks, we'd like to thank the Hallandale Police Department. you have continued to support the satellite office in which where the Hempburn Center is located. The satellite office is there, I'm gonna say protected and served by Officer Martin Jackson and others. And we do know that Officer Jackson will be retiring and that June the 19th is going to be his last day. And so the community would love to show support for him during our Juneteenth celebration. And what I'd like to also say, make sure I run out of time, I want to thank Dr. Earl. Dr. Earl and also Kathy Shantz for creating a beautiful environment where people in our community can celebrate their culture. I can't say that every city does that. And so Dr. Earl, thank you. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for making sure that we have culture in our community. And it is then implemented by your director, Kathy Shantz. So if we can all just give Kathy a round of applause for all of the work. It means a lot to us, and today I'm dressed in my Juneteenth colors. Red is for the color, the blood that our African ancestors have shed. Black, of course, it symbolizes our color. Green is for the growth, hope, and land of our African ancestors and our homeland. And the yellow represents a bright future. So today I'm dressed in my Juneteenth colors, celebrating Juneteenth as we celebrate on this upcoming Friday, June the 19th. So thanks again for everything that you all do. And I just love my city.

Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Gordon, for all you do as a volunteer. You've always been a bright light since I've even known you for decades. over the years and committed to our community. And you're the kind of people that make our job easier to make sure we're in the right direction and sharing some good love and community. So thank you. Appreciate you.

I'm sorry, yes. I'm sorry, Miss Gordon, I have a question. Can I ask what kind of donations you need for these events? What it is specifically you're asking for in case?

So as a board member for the Friends of the Hepburn Center, We're always looking to support the Hepburn Center in every way that we can because you know that the Hepburn Center does service not only just Hallandale, but it's all across the city. And we do know that sometimes they have experienced some cutbacks. And so this upcoming September, we're going to be at the, as I indicated before, at the Golden Isles Tennis Center. So there's a link. on our page that individuals can click on. We also have a wonderful QR code here for registration. We're also looking for support vendors to help us with the event. We did pretty good last year, but we're looking to do better.

Can you email me the link to the website?

I certainly can. I'll send you a sponsorship packet as well. Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. We're doing this for our kids because sometimes what happens, monies does not come in and we as the board members, we have to help facilitate some of the monies for after school care as well.

Okay, thank you so much. So all of the above. Pickleball players, sponsors, money, donations. Yes, we're wanting you to come out. Dr. Earle, we want you there. Commissioner Adams. And even just to come and cheer everybody on, right? Okay, thank you. Thank you, okay. Thank you, Q. Madam Clerk, next speaker. Ms. Shanika Mulkey.

Good evening. Mayor and commissioners, thanks for the opportunity to be before you today. My name is Shanika Mulkey, and I proudly serve as the vice president of Peace in the Hood United. Alongside our president, Kareem Gordon, Peace in the Hood United is a grassroots organization we've been around for a little under two years. We are focused in our community, our main focus is conflict resolution, mentorship, and community service. Our mission is to bring people together, reduce conflict through positive engagement, and create opportunities that strengthen our neighborhoods. In our short time we have organized clothing drives, food drives, and most recently last week we had a community cleanup where we organized a cleanup with the football team and cleaned up the entire Foster Road and they had a wonderful time doing that. So we just wanted to take an opportunity to come before you and formally introduce ourselves and say we are here working in the community and are looking forward to working alongside you all.

wonderful thank you for the pleasure thank you so much for your hard work and volunteering and actually uh harnessing our youth to make sure they're commit you know getting engaged in the community and becoming an integral part of society and helping those absolutely thank you thank you any other speakers okay we move right along um i have consent agenda items uh a Through F. Do I have a motion to approve? I have a motion and a second. No further questions. Could I have a roll call, please?

Commissioner Butler?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Lazzaro. Mayor Cooper. Yes. Commissioner Adams. Yes. Commissioner Lima-Tobb.

Yes. Motion carries 5-0. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item 9A, an ordinance of Mayor and City Commission of the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, amending the adopted budget for FY 2025 through 26 to reflect the revenues, expenditures, appropriations, and other miscellaneous budget adjustments, providing for conflict, providing for servability, and providing for an effective date. This is a first reading. It is a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this item may do so at this time. Seeing no one approach. Motion to approve. I have a motion and a second. And set second reading for the next meeting, Madam Clerk?

Actually, May, no, June 22nd. June 22nd, thank you.

Could I have a roll call, please?

Commissioner Adams? Yes. Commissioner Lima-Tobb? Yes. Mayor Cooper? Yes. Commissioner Butler?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Lazaro? Yes. Motion carries 5-0.

Okay, thank you very, very much. Now, we have... Item 10A on second reading. It's an ordinance of the mayor and the city commission of the city of Hallandale Beach, Florida, considering rezoning of the properties located at 112 Southeast 9th Street, 116th through 118th Southeast 9th Street, and 113th Southeast 9th Court, and identified by parcels 5142-271-40080, 5142-271-40090, 5142-27-140100, 5142-27-0150, 5142-27-140160, 5142-27-140200. From Central RAC, RAC Neighborhood Subdistrict to Central RAC Transitional Mixed Use Subdistrict, providing for conflicts, providing for servability, and providing... for a effective date. This is the second reading. It is considered quasi-judicial. It was adopted on May 20th at a 4-0 roll call vote. I believe the applicant is here and is representative. I will ask publicly. City Attorney, do you want to go through the rules? I know that they have waived presentations, but they still have to go through the rules.

Once we get to the presentation part, yeah, and I need you guys to do the... The city is considering the named application for this project, which are being treated as quasi-judicial in nature. The commission must base its decision on the legal criteria detailed in the city code, which is hereby incorporated into the record, along with the cover memo and all exhibits. Your decision must be based on substantial competent evidence. Substantial competent evidence is evidence a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Public sentiment alone is not considered evidence, although facts raised by members of the public may be considered and addressed by the parties. The applicant and the city may waive presentations if determined. The members of the public shall be allowed to speak for three minutes each. because we have to follow rules of due process that allow the parties to respond and provide evidence. Members of the public will not get a second opportunity to speak. The city and the applicant will get an opportunity to address any comments made, and the commission may ask questions of staff. Once all questions are closed, there can be no further comments from any party. The applicant has been notified that less than five commissioners are present and has elected to proceed with the hearing. The applicant has been advised that that decision is not revocable. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you. Would you please poll the commission? City Clerk.

Commissioner Adams, I'm so sorry. Commissioner Adams, have you had any expertise communications with the applicant, objector, or anyone on this matter? No, City Clerk. Thank you. Mayor Cooper, have you had any expertise communications with the applicant, objector, or anyone on this matter?

Yes, at the last meeting I discussed some questions with him in regards to the application.

Will your vote today be based only on the information you hear today and not based on any expertise communication you have?

Yes.

Thank you. Commissioner Lima-Tobb, have you had any expertise communications with the applicant, objector, or anyone on this matter?

No.

Thank you. Vice Mayor Lazar, have you had any expertise communications with the applicant, objector, or anyone on this matter? No, I have not. Thank you. All individuals intended to testify in this hearing, please stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony in this matter will be the truth and nothing but the truth? If so, please state I do.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Mr. Stacker, if you'd like to approach and declare.

I'd like to make a motion to waive the presentation. Oh, yeah, we need to.

No, she can make the motion now.

Oh, okay, yeah, go ahead. I'm making a motion to waive presentation. This is the second reading.

Okay. I just want you to say you concur on the recording, and I'll second the motion.

Thank you very much. Edwin J. Stacker here on behalf of the applicant. We have no problem. We wave and appreciate your support.

Okay, great. Oh, okay. I didn't know what you meant.

Yeah, no, I'm sorry. I just wanted to go on a record before I entertain the motion, but it's fine. We got it done. We do not have presentations. I know staff also concurs with waiving any presentations. I know it's a second reading. I'm going to jump right into it, if I may. There's a concern I raised, and I just want to make sure it's on the record, that I have made it a custom over the past years to say once we do a land use that somebody is going to be building, that we're not gonna sit on a property to flip it and to develop it. And I did ask the applicant if that is something he agrees to and that is going to take place. My concern is that it's always been, we've put entitlements and we are sitting on empty vacant lots now that are either leveraged for future financing for other projects or just simply not getting built. So I don't know if I need him to.

This is just a rezoning.

Okay.

So there's no entitlement on it.

All right. Okay. We're good? Okay. So that's what I wanted to go on record with. I had that discussion earlier. Does anybody else have any questions or concerns about the rezoning on the property? Any questions, concerns? Okay, I will entertain a motion on second reading.

Do we have a motion?

Second. I have a motion and a second to approve with the findings and conditions as stated in the ordinance.

As stated, yes.

Could I have a roll call, please? Vice Mayor Lazaro? Yes. Commissioner Limitaf? Yes. Mayor Cooper? Yes. Commissioner Adams? Yes. Commissioner Butlers absent, motion carries 4-0. Thank you, congratulations.

Okay, the next item that we have on the agenda is actually a resolution and a public hearing. It's item 11A, a resolution, Mayor and City Commission. The City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, making certain findings and designations. The real property located at 918 South Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, Florida, Broward County, I'm sorry, Hallandale Beach, Broward County, Florida, parcel ID numbers. I've got to read them all again. 5142-28-000020, 5142-28-000012, 5142-21010220, 5142-21010210, 5142-21010200, 5142-1010180, and 5142-21010182. as the Shaves Lake Green Reuse Area pursuant to section 376.82 Florida statutes for the purpose of rehabilitation, job recation, and promoting economic development authorizing the city clerk to notify the Florida Department of Environmental Protection of said designation providing for effective date. This is first reading. for the resolution. It's brought forward by the city manager. I believe we all understand what this is relative to. If there is no questions, I will entertain a motion to approve on, oh wait, I have to open and close the public hearing. Anybody wishing to speak on this item may do so at this time. Seeing no one approach, I'll close the public hearing. Entertain a motion on first reading to second reading for June 22nd. We're good?

Yeah, the attorney representing the city for the designation is here and available to make a presentation if the commission would like. But if not, that's fine. They're coming for second reading anyway.

Do we want a presentation? No. I don't think so. I do. I want a really long presentation. Thank you for your hard work on this. We appreciate you. We just know we got to get it done and move it forward. And actually, it's exciting that we are.

Do I have a motion? You have a motion.

Do I have a second?

Second.

I have a motion and a second. Could I have a roll call, please? Commissioner Adams.

Yes. Commissioner Butler.

Yes.

Commissioner Lima-Top. Yes. Vice Mayor Lazarus. Yes. Mayor Cooper. Yes.

Motion carries 5-0. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We're going to jump right into communications. Commissioner Adams, do you have any communications?

Yes. I just want to say thank you to Ms. Cathy for your Memorial Day event. It was really a nice day. It was nice to see the turnout. I was really happy for that. So thank you, Cathy. And Mr. Earl, I just want to say thank you to... your employees for giving you that $12,000 to feed our residents that they cared so much as to what you were doing for this city. So thank you and your employees for that. And that's all I have to say.

Great. Okay. Um, commissioner Butler, any communications, sir?

No, no communications. Thank you.

You're welcome. Um, commissioner Lazaro, I mean, the commissioner, uh, Tom, leave a talk.

I do not.

Great. Commissioner Lazaro.

Where's everyone in a rush to tonight? I don't know.

I have a headache. No communications. Well, I'm sorry to break the trend.

You are.

I'm sorry to break the trend. No, actually, U.S. Conference of Mayors, it wasn't announced that they are actually, between the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the climate mayors and National League of Cities have filed an action against the... the rollback of clean air quality through the EPA, and they rescinded the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding and repeal of green gas gas emission standards for all motor vehicle types. I would like to kindly request that we file an amicus brief on this. A lot of people, and I always like to say, it's not just about saving the planet. This is about air quality, asthma, you know, all the above, acid rain, and all it would be, if you want to explain what you would do.

It would just be joining an amicus brief that's already being prepared by an association of organizations that are affected by it.

Right, and there's also been lead physicians groups and other medical groups joined. So I'd like to move to direct our city attorney to file an amicus in this case for... Clean air.

How much is this going to cost? Nothing. Nothing. And it's not time consuming, it's just joining a brief.

Yeah. Thank you.

We do need a motion. I do need authorization to join.

Do I have a second? I have a second. Could I have a roll call, please?

Commissioner Butler.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Lazaro. Yes. Mayor Cooper.

Yes. Commissioner Limitao. Yes. Commissioner Adams. Yes. Motion carries 5-0. Thank you. Also, U.S. and thank you very much, Noemi, for helping and staff. Our city, while we didn't win, we were actually on honorable mention for actually the Mayor's Climate Protection Awards this year. So I congratulate our work. We received this award based on our cloud bus, as well as all the other sustainable transportation projects that we are doing in the city. And while I love the mayor that won, I did give him a dig and said, next time we'll apply, I'm going to get him on it. So. But I wanted to share that information. There is an award. I'll leave it in the center desk in the city manager's office for everybody to see it. But thank you very, very much for that. Also, I was invited to a think tank discussion. And you guys will love this. She's not paying attention, though. I know we received an award from Mars for pet-friendly cities. They have collectively joined forces, Better Cities for Pets, as well as Pets and Families Housing Coalition. I sat through it with five other trustee mayors to learn and find out about mental health, the connection about dogs, and how to incorporate, and I know you've already asked when we did developments, are you gonna be pet friendly? they're going to, from that breakout session, they're doing a consortium with all types of measures cities can do to encourage inclusivity of pets and incorporating them. So once it comes and once it's released, I'd like to possibly sit down and we could have a collective meeting about it to see what ordinances or what we can change rather than being wishes. And it's a little bit more in depth than that, but for example, like a lot of places they put in the dog park, say it's late, right? They actually have models for high rises to incorporate dog cleaning centers, different indoor facilities. So it's kind of intriguing. So I figured you guys like to hear that. Just another thing to add, if you want to take the UPC codes. Great, so I wanted to share that. We will be, I do wanna also work with staff to apply. American Beverage always does an award as well. And I'd like to apply and work with staff. I had some thoughts at first about doing it. It's usually tied around health but it's actually been expanded to also infrastructure projects that help the benefit water, wastewater quality. So just to be announced to figure out what we're gonna do, because I didn't know if we wanted to do the Family Fun Day partnership with PAL or look at some other project. That was it. So Pickleball we already talked about. I brought that up under, Plus benches and shelters a young lady reached out to me I spoke to Kathy during break that would like to also bring Shakespearean theater her theater group to our amphitheater She's aware of it. They did put an application in I don't think we need an action. They might be considered as long as they're vetted through staff so I don't think we need a motion on it and But they did apply as a nonprofit to possibly do some Shakespearean theater here in the city. So Kathy will be working with them. Also, I wanted to thank the police department. This was a great campaign. I know it was really focused through Golden Isles, but are we disseminating this throughout various communities for illegal parking?

Have you guys seen those? No?

Here, there you go. We're excluded. I know, but you know what? No, because we have it all over the place.

The commission specifically mentioned doing this for Golden Eyes.

I know, exactly.

So if you want that throughout the rest of the city, that's a different request.

Okay, all right, so let them see it. They'll digest that and see if it's something we wanna promote to make sure people aren't blocking our roads. I know we've had conversations with construction sites throughout the community as well. So if we wanna look at promoting proper parking and not blocking roads.

No, because this is a problem in your neighborhood because of all the development that goes on in that neighborhood. I don't think we have this problem everywhere.

Okay. Well, I know we had it behind City Hall with construction sites already, as long as it's on everybody's radar. Behind City Hall where? The high-rise building with construction and blocking the roads and parking around that as well. As a matter of fact, I brought it up a while back. I know we've been enforcing it, but maybe it's just something to keep in the police department when they do see parking enforcement to make sure people are at least noticed of the rules before they're tagged or towed.

Okay? What happened to the parking lot that you were making across the street? That was the other thing I wanted to ask. Sorry, because you just tore up my memory. That's okay.

That happens. When you're done.

You're good. I think I'm good. Believe it or not. I keep looking for something over there, and I don't see anything happening.

So we went through design. I think we went through the bid process, direct to loose, and I think, has a selection been made? Not yet. So we're still in the bid process for that. We will then start construction of that parking lot.

How many spots do you think you're getting out of that lot?

Just curiosity. I think it's like 18 spots, but it's not going to be. So then we had a shortage of space here at City Hall for staff. So we're actually going to put up something similar to what we had at DPW, a mobile office for about 18 to 20 staff members on that same site.

What? Weird.

So we are bursting at the seams in terms of staff. Why?

Why is that?

Because...

Seems like a lot lately.

We are, well...

Yeah, well, we'll talk about that later. That's why I sent my email.

I mean, we haven't, yeah, we'll talk about that.

Now I'm totally confused. I thought you were talking about the parking lot on South, it's still Southeast.

Right across the street. Southeast 3rd? No, right behind us, we approved that little lot as a parking lot.

Southeast 3rd, right across from the old fire city.

No, no, right across the street from us, right here.

Right. It's literally right across from the Cultural Center. There's a small little vacant lot that we have.

Oh, that presumed looked like there should be a cut-through road there, but never was.

Correct, correct.

Okay.

And so I'll say in general, so for example, six years ago we had five code compliance officers. We hired people to deal with illegal dumping and everything else. We've hired probably another six people just for code compliance to deal with the issues that the commission has wanted. We don't have space. We've now hired, for example, two additional code compliance officers to deal with animals and to deal with other code related issues. We need space for that. So we've added positions that the commission has approved to deal with the challenges that we have, and that is why we have space challenges.

So may I ask, I'm sorry, that was your question, but may I ask a question where you finished? So that was meant intended to be parking. How much is it costing to do a remote office? And did we consider looking at renting some space, maybe across the street at that huge massive vacant building at Gulfstream rather than spending money and expenditures building and doing all the construction on something like that? I guess that's really what comes up. What are we spending to do this when there might be other vacant spaces that we could utilize the rent? Do we do a cost benefit evaluation of it? There we go. He'll answer now. I think it's a gist. You get the gist.

I get the gist. We have looked at options. We have looked at different options. And to get, okay, so I'll give you an example. Our build-in fund, which you know is very healthy, would be used to pay for a large portion of this. We will have another discussion at some point in the near future. I think it's on the 22nd. No? Next.

They just changed your number?

What? They just changed what? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right, yeah. I think we need to have a... No, no, we can use...

This year's funds.

We can use this year's funds, yes, we can. Yes, we can, yes, 100%. I apologize, I misunderstood. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so we're using building funds to partially pay for that as well. We are looking, for example, TAM.

How much, wait, what is the estimated cost? I believe it's about $453,000. $453,000.

To build a temporary... When we did it for DPW, for all the staff that we needed for the bus and the additional project managers for DPW, it was approximately the same cost.

Have we looked at utilizing any of the classrooms at Hepburn Center that have been sitting empty?

For permanent staff, Madam Mayor?

If they are cleared, they're hopefully staffed, they're not any have criminal backgrounds and they've had all the background checks and they should be able to afford being into that building with empty space. We have empty resources that we're not using. I'm really sorry, but that's a lot of money.

You have empty spaces, Cora?

There's a daycare, a classroom for, I think, certain kids.

We are getting... So we are getting into the nuances of administration in terms of where people actually sit. If I deal with providing space for about 15 or 20 staff members, I don't know if I can use a classroom at the entrance.

I don't know, but it's, wait, I'm sorry, everybody's asking me questions. I don't understand, and I'll be very blunt because I'm a little tired. It's been a long day for me, like everybody else. I believe over... I think, no disrespect, this is well over your spending threshold to authorize. Maybe it's something that we have a brief discussion before we move forward. I know that City Hall is actually at capacity. That's why we've been talking about doing a P3 and doing a redevelopment. I just, with vacant space, vacant office space, locations, I think that it is a lot of money for temporary staffing. And no disrespect to the Hepburn Center, I've had this discussion before, I know we have a daycare in those classrooms, but then again, that lends itself to, I think the revenue from that program is $20,000 a year. And I don't mean any disrespect to the Hepburn Center, but we need to make sure we are monitoring and being fiscally sound when we're looking at utilization and we have underutilized facilities, I can't see spending money on something like this. I apologize. So I would recommend. I spoke my piece. I know Commissioner has her button lit as well.

Okay. Okay. We approved a parking lot, correct? Correct. Okay. So I have to say this is, I feel as if the commission needs to be part of a discussion when there's that kind of an expenditure. I don't know if it was last month or a month before that, there was a, I don't know, it was a $450,000 contract, I don't remember, or 300, and there were two options for that money, and I feel as if there was a decision made without the input of the commission. We are, We don't know what's going to happen in November and which way the voters or constituents are going to vote. I feel like we are really speeding through new hires. I think we have to have a conversation on some type of a moratorium on new hires. And I don't know how we spend $453,000 now where my priority would be to try to retain every single employee that's here. But if we're going to continue hiring and we hire non-essential employees, I don't know how we're gonna retain all the new employees coming in. I think we need to slow down with how we're spending money.

So in all, before you respond, city manager, in all transparency, I happen to send an email in which I did not want to do on the day because I don't want to make anybody nervous, but I did ask the city manager for the number of full-time employees for the past four years because I want to see the increase, not of positions, but there might have been positions that were open that did not get filled that are now getting filled. So that's the distinction also we need to make. and I understand that, but now especially because we approved the parking lot, and I don't recall that ever being discussed about temporary housing. That would have been a whole other conversation, obviously, that we're having now. Had I not asked about the parking lot, I don't think we would have even known this was happening.

It's not happening yet. Commissioners.

Yes.

You all approve every expense over $75,000. The item that I'm referring to has not come before you yet, because we are still cooking it. So it's not been approved. Now, when it comes before you, you all will discuss it like any other item, and I will lay out the fact, because you said something very important, Vice Mayor Lazaro. A lot of the positions that we are hiring now are positions that we have tried for a very long time to hire, but we have to also be fair about the fact that we have added a new department. We have positions for an entirely new department, TAM, that was approved last year. We have new people. I have people in hallways. I have cubicle spaces that cannot absorb the staff that we have. for the various functions. I told you, for example, about code compliance. I remember when illegal dumping was a major issue in this city. Now it's not an issue. Why? Because we hired people to address and deal with the issues. So you all will have an opportunity to have a discussion regarding this new position, but there's no, sorry, regarding this new this new mobile office, but there is no new... I'm not just willy-nilly doing things.

No, I wasn't implying that. It was news to me. It was just surprising because I don't remember that ever being discussed for that property. And I understand what you're saying, that just because you're maybe getting design or getting some kind of information that might be within your spending authority, but I just would hate for you to do all that work... to prepare or spend money and resources to find out that that's not what this commission would want. So I'm just kind of suggesting that even though it hasn't come before us in a vote, maybe Here's what we'll do. That begs a bigger question, which is why I had asked. It's not for me to say who you can hire, who you can't, but certainly when we're talking about budget cuts, we have to look at the totality.

So I think between now and November, we should have discussions, Dr. Earle, with the commission and include us in ideas that you have in expansion and so forth because... I don't know how, ultimately the owners is gonna fall on the commission and I really do worry about how we retain every single employee and staff member and so I wanna make sure that we are able to do that should this pass in November. So I really think we need to slow down on and we really need to have a talk, a conversation about new hires between now and November. Because I just, there's wants, there's needs, and then there's also positions that can be outsourced or could have been outsourced. And I looked and I saw the cost of health insurance. It's just, in any event, I said my piece. I think everyone understands what I'm saying.

I apologize, I forgot, and you didn't remind me. I didn't even know this was gonna get off the rails. Not off the rails, but just totally sideways conversation about something that we're all just shocked about, but it is what it is, and I can understand the city manager's point, and yes, it's getting jobs done and so on and so forth. I had, during the break, and one of the things, we went through our strategic plan. We've had our citizen, you know, we delivered our citizen survey. We're facing this threat, I don't want to say eminent threat, but basically it will be, because if it happens in November, we're going to have at least a year to tee it up however right now because of how fluid everything is i believe it would behoove us and i mentioned to dr earl that rather than being in this type of forum obviously has to be a public meeting but for the commission the city manager the city clerk and our city attorney to literally sit down and have a heart-to-heart strategic discussion about some of these issues when we're actually candidly working with our direct employees, not every employee in the city. And I'd like to maybe try to tee up a date for that. I think we all kind of pretty much share the same concerns. Again, going to my original how I started this meeting, how we get there, I think we can collegially address that and work together collaboratively. Oh, absolutely. It would only be the five of us.

But I mean, don't schedule it when he has to be on the phone.

Oh, yeah, no. Well, that would be up to the clerk, and I know our schedules are all really crazy.

We're out for July, so let's try to do it either at the end of June or... June, I'm out.

I can't at the end of June, but I will be... I'll be out. I'm out. I already had planned to be out, but... But I'm thinking, no, I'm not going away in July. I'm good in July. I usually go away.

I don't want to come in here in July, but you're going to make me come in here in July.

We'll pick a couple dates. I mean, I think we need to really reevaluate, you know, what really that strategic plan looks like. I think if we tee it up, we'll be able to even discuss how we're going to present to the public. Wait, and this was important. I didn't touch on it. Wait, wait. As an elected official, as a mayor, I can speak candidly about how I feel about this amendment. I have a freedom of speech. I can say it's my opinion as the mayor. Our city is unable to expend money to advocate, so we can also talk about that type of strategic plan, how we are going to roll out what we are going to do to educate people, but we all need to end up being on the same page. So let's pick a date, we'll figure it out, and we'll just have lunch.

On the issue of the expenditures for this amendment, Madam Mayor, the rule is we can't advocate. but we can inform and you can't spend money to inform. And that was broadly utilized by the state during the last run of amendments regarding other issues. So let's plan a lunch meeting.

What about one o'clock next week? Since we have to be here next week, what about one o'clock next week? We have to start at two.

So we'll come in at one, we'll have lunch and we'll have a discussion. The 17th? Everyone's here.

We could do that in an hour.

Don't we have a meeting next week?

I will be out on the 22nd, as I told you guys. No, we could do the 17th. My deputy can attend.

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought it was the 17th. We could do the 17th, so you're already planning to be here anyway. 17th? Wait, the 17th, we don't have a meeting. No, but maybe that'll be a meeting. That's fine. Is Mike going to be here?

Mike? I will not be here.

On the 17th?

I'm scheduled in town on the 17th.

I don't have a... All right, well, let's try to target a date. It sounds like I will not be here the end of the month. The city attorney won't be here the end of the month. That's not a good date. And then you have July 4th weekend. I'll be back on the 8th of July.

The 17th does work for me.

The 17th works for you, but Jen won't be here.

Oh, okay.

Well, I said all the constitutional officers, but if they want to phone in, it can just be the city manager and whoever can be there.

I can do the 15th or the, I can do the 15th if that's all right with you guys.

Mike, can you do the 15th?

I can't. I can't.

You can't?

Okay. 16, 17, 18. Pick one.

You're not hearing any of those days. Okay, I'm okay with any of those. Adams, is there anything you can't, Joy, is there anything you can't do 16th, 17th, or 18th?

I can do the 17th. That's when we normally book the commission meeting, so I can't get due for that.

So that might work. So Mike can do the 17th, and Roger will sit in.

Great. Perfect. Are we good?

Yes. No, we're not. When we do this, typically, it is facilitated. The last ones that we've done were facilitated. And this is not going to be facilitated by someone who is going to prepare. So remember the last time we had, I forget what his name is. He came in. He spoke to all of you.

This is going to be a lunch. I'm having a conversation with you.

Okay, because what the mayor had, okay, because what you and I spoke about was...

Friendly dialogue about situations where we have to do it publicly, but I don't think it's going to be anything that is going to require

Okay, because the mayor had mentioned a strategic plan.

Well, it's strategically planning.

You had mentioned strategic planning.

Okay, as long as we discuss. All right, we're going to sit, even if it's going step by step, police by, we'll formulate an agenda and we'll sit and discuss some of this formulation of what goals and objectives we need to look at. We can discuss about the tax proposal, how we're going to approach it. I'll sit and do a little bit of an agenda, and I'll share it.

I think this is just between now and November. What are the priorities? What are our priorities? What can wait until after November? It's just like, Maybe we just need to slow down for a little until we figure out what's happening in November.

Madam Clerk, why don't you ask the commission what they want to discuss on an agenda?

Yeah, because here's the thing for me. This is more of conversations that I don't want to have in front of staff. I'll be honest with you. This is stuff that I feel is like, just doesn't need to be discussed with everybody. It's more between the commission. It's a public meeting. If they'd like to attend, they're more than welcome. But anybody who'd like to attend, public or whoever, but I think that there's conversations that are a little more sensitive in nature. For you as well, not just us, meaning there might be conversations that are tense for the manager and the attorney's office in terms of certain things that I don't think necessarily need to be played out in front of an entire meeting. That's my feeling and why I'm motivated to do it. The stuff about the taxing is about the approach to that to me is a whole other conversation. If you want to include this in that.

I could be part of it. The mayor has suggestions.

We kind of have maybe, like I said, how we get there and ride in the car together. We can all be in the same car. Why don't the, we'll share some thoughts of what our three priorities are that we want to discuss. We'll try to formulate an agenda. We'll sit down with the city attorney, city clerk and city manager. If they can't be there, they can phone in because it's more, you know, a process to really dialogue to see where we are with maybe our three priorities or concerns moving forward.

How does that make sense? Yep. Yes.

Thank you.

Time of this meeting. One o'clock. One. So if I am understanding correctly, you want this more of a format of a sunshine meeting. Yes, exactly. Do you want it at the EOC or would you want it in room 219? 219 is fine. Will do.

Okay. We're good? We're good?

I do want to say something. Just because it was a conversation that this much of the conversation occurred in front of staff I Remember when I came here in 2017 at that time There were some challenges with our city's budget we use one-time revenue sources and there was a threat at that time of by administration at that time to put staff, have discussions of staff and cuts, and that was placed on the table at that time. When I became city manager in 2020, I did the opposite. I did not put staff on the It wasn't even something that was a thought in my head to have staff be a part of some of the discussions that occurred in 2017. And I know because I remember Commissioner Limitabh, the manager at that time did that when he proposed, well, if you don't give me this, here are the number of positions that we have that we're going to have to take care of. I don't want staff to leave here thinking that I am willy-nilly doing anything. I have already instructed our HR department to freeze certain positions. I've already taken those steps, because that's what would be expected in the times that we are moving towards. I don't want staff to think that they are on my particular chopping block.

I don't think anyone is on my particular chopping block. I'm so sorry, but I made it very clear. My intention is to be able to retain every single staff member and employee here, which is why I want to have this discussion. Because if we keep spending money, I don't know how I will be able to do that. And so, you know, I was very clear. I'll say it one more time and then that's it. But I do have a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers and I'm also a taxpayer. And so I have to balance both. Again, my intention is to keep every single staff member and employee. But if we keep hiring and there are expenditures that are that we can put off till after November, at least put a stop between now and November so that we can get our bearings and figure out what is going to pass and not in November. And we can have that discussion after November. I don't think there's anything really, really burning between now and November. And that's my intention. If you want to have a conversation in front of all the staff and employees, the thing is we have to keep being super sensitive in how we're saying things. And I can tell you that there are so many times that I sit here and I have feedback and there are things that I want to say and I feel handcuffed. I don't say it. because someone might think that I mean something else or maybe because it's uncomfortable. I don't think we should have your evaluation in front of all your staff members. I think it's wrong. I don't think we should have an evaluation of the city attorney in front of everyone. There are certain discussions that can happen upstairs, that is my intention. I see how people are looking at me. I know that employees and staff members are nervous. My intention is to keep every single one of you, but if we keep hiring people and we're spending 450 here and money here, and even if it's a study or whatever it is, a design for what that, if we keep spending money and we don't hone it in right now, I can't guarantee that new employees that are going to be hired between now and whatever, going on from tomorrow on, that we'll be able to keep them. So I'm talking about new hires. So that's my intention. But we have to have this discussion. We have... We're barred by can't have this discussion between us. Obviously, there is a sunshine issue. But if you want to have in front of all of them, I think the Vice Mayor is right to say, let's have the conversation or whoever made the suggestion. I can't remember. It was you. Sorry, Vice Mayor. I'm sorry to interrupt you. But I but I don't feel it's I don't feel it's, it's, it's, it's fair, because we have good intentions. And we're trying to do this in the least you know, embarrassing way, but still doing our jobs. And I don't want to be handcuffed. So that's it.

Thank you. I understand. So I typically wouldn't press, but so I don't disagree with anything that you all have said. So let me say that.

Right.

what I wanted to make sure it was understood, because I have had these discussions with my staff. I have had these discussions about positions. And I've had these discussions with them about the fact that my goal, in fact, I had a discussion with them just last week at one of our senior management meetings. My goal is to preserve every position that we have for as long as we can. I literally had that discussion last Thursday at eight in the morning. So I want you all to understand that these are discussions and that I am having behind the scenes and I had these discussions six years ago. I had these discussions six years ago.

You know, with all due respect, city manager, you could have just said, okay, and we could be doing this privately. I really don't think this is the place to do this. I don't mean to interrupt, but I really don't because what commissioner Taub said is correct. What I say may have some reflection upon you. It may not be true. It may be a miscalculation. I'm not looking to fire anybody. But if I start questioning certain practices or things that you want to do and I'm doing them behind the scenes, then I don't get to share that with other people and it turns into a lot of FYIs and nobody can respond. And I would prefer not to challenge anything or to say anything that might seem out of line or disrespectful to you in front of your staff. I don't want to do that. I really don't. So if you keep going down this road, in my opinion, instead of just saying yes and let's do it another time, it's going to turn into that. And I really don't want it to. I'm trying to bypass all that so we can have... a discussion. And like I said, feel free to take anything that came out of that room to anybody. I'm not keeping secrets from anyone. I just don't think it's appropriate. We are handcuffed a little bit to have that conversation in front of people. We are. I certainly don't want anybody misinterpreting, misunderstanding, thinking I'm going after their job, questioning your authority in front of your employees. I don't want to do that. I don't like having reviews either. I've never agreed with doing that performance up here. So as much as I can, when it gets to be uncomfortable for me, possibly for you, I would prefer to do that off this dais. But I feel like instead of just saying yes and let's be done with it and move on, I have to sit here now and defend why it is I want to do that. So, you know, if you want to continue, I'll let you. But I just feel the more that you're doing that, the harder it's making for me. Okay.

I think we have consented. I interrupted him.

City Manager, I didn't want to interrupt you. I want to continue, but I just have to say that. That's how I feel.

Okay. I've said what I've had to say, Vice Mayor, Mayor, and Commissioners, and we will have a further discussion.

Yeah. We'll break bread. We'll sit around the table and be whatever it is. Like I said, at least we'll have some blueprint of some of the things that we need to discuss. Okay? And so there's no misconception, maybe I should just say, make a motion that on the 17th at one o'clock, there will be a meeting, a sunshine meeting, I'll call it a workshop, sunshine meeting to strategically plan universally with our commission and our constitutional officers. If they cannot attend, they can certainly attend remotely. And I'll make that in a form of a motion. Second. I have a motion and a second. Could I have a roll call, please?

Vice Mayor Lazaro. Yes. Commissioner Limitop. Yes. Mayor Cooper. Yes. Commissioner Adams. Yes. Commissioner Butler.

Yes.

Motion carries 5-0.

I'm sorry. There you go. That was painful, but necessary.

City manager. Oh, wait.

City attorney.

No communications this evening. Thank you. City manager communications.

I'm good. Thank you.

We're all good. Okay. Meeting adjourned.