City Commission - Regular Meeting

you you Thank you. Thank you. you you One minute.

All right, Madam Clerk, good to go? Madam Clerk, good to go?

Mr. Attorney, good to go?

Mr. Mayor, good to go?

Absolutely.

Commissioners, good to go?

Yes, sir.

All right. Good evening. Meeting date, Monday, May 4, 2026, at 6 PM, Commission Chambers, 500 Southwest, 109 Avenue. Roll call, Madam Clerk. Please stand for the invocation. Anybody want to give the invocation? In Jesus' name I pray, dear Heavenly Father, thank you for granting us the gift of life, the gift of family, the gift of friendship, the gift of freedom in the greatest nation in the world. Thank you for granting us health and prosperity for us and our families. Please continue to allow us to make the wise decisions here in the city of Sweetwater for the betterment of our residents. Continue to strengthen our bond and unity as a city as we grow. Continue to grant us wisdom to the commission, to the mayor, thanking our city staff, our police officers, and our residents. Please continue to protect the greatest military in the world, all of our police officers, firefighters, and public servants. In Jesus' name, I will always pray. Amen. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. You can be seated. We give kisses here in the city of Sweetwater. We do. Item number four, special presentation. Mr. Mayor.

We have two cadets. Yes, yes. Adam, do you want to do it right now or do you want to?

It's up to you, sir. Alright.

All right. Hello there.

Come on. We're in the city of Sweetwater. It's a Monday. It's a meeting that we wait for every month to do. But most of all, we're here to really recognize some great people and do also some city business. So we have two people. And by the way, two cadets, the CAP Civil Air Patrol, which by the way, was one of the key elements when I was mayor the first time with this lovely lady to my left. Thank you. Captain Yanyu now too? Yes. Captain Yanyu. So she at the time created this CAP that really involved the children in our community and it grew into something enormous. And now it had kind of like moved on to another area and now it's back strong in the city of Sweetwater and they're doing incredible. And by doing incredible, there's a recognition always of those that are outstanding.

Exactly.

So the Billy Mitchell Award, let it be known that Noah Bayona, am I correct?

Go on center.

Okay, yes.

Come on. I like the way she said that. Go on center.

Good to see you, Emma.

Thank you, sir. has satisfactorily completed all requirements and is entitled to the Billy Mitchell Award given at the National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol. And today, we have the honor to present this to you, your captain, myself as the mayor, and the commissioners of the City of Sweetwater, in recognition of your standing leadership. So from all of us to you.

Your parents.

Oh, my mother.

Yes.

Mommy, papi, let's go. Come on, familia.

You know, that's... Come on. Sorry, I don't know how to speak. Allante. Allante, allante. Muchas gracias.

And again, it's not just one, but we have two outstanding cadets here tonight. And again, it's for the Billy Mitchell Award. Let it be known that Joanna Joanne Martinez I've got to get rid of these glasses and get some new ones. Johanny Martinez has satisfactorily completed all requirements and is entitled to the Billy Mitchell Award given at the National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

So now... Front center, please. Front center. Front center.

And again, this comes, Captain and his partner, also commissioner in the city of Sweetwater, along with the commissioners of the city of Sweetwater, the people that are here representing the city, and myself as a mayor. So, is your family here?

Yes, sir.

Come on up. I feel like a priest here.

Come on. Come on. One, two, three. We might as well bring it up.

All right, let's make it official. Item five, presentation of Employee of the Month Award.

Mr. Mayor, Employee of the Month? Absolutely. We have two Employee of the Months today. But why don't we let police, you already made it up here. Go ahead, front center. All right, thank you.

Mr. Mayor, commissioners, and distinguished guests, thank you for being here. My name is Noel Gill. I am the Deputy Chief of Police for the City of Sweetwater Police Department, 500 Southwest 109th Avenue. And it is with great pleasure that we present the officer of the month and on February 27th, 2026 officers responded to a theft of a 53 foot trailer containing approximately $200,000 in building materials and impact windows through diligent investigation, including. CCTV review, SunPass data, license plate readers. Detective Aguirre identified the suspect vehicle and its registered owner. Working at close coordination with the Florida Highway Patrol Cargo Theft Task Force, Detective Aguirre conducted surveillance, obtained and executed search warrants and court orders for tracking devices and cell site data. Detective Aguirre confirmed the suspect's presence at the scene and involvement in the crime. On April 13th, 2026, the suspect was taken into custody and charged with multiple felonies. Detective Aguirre's persistence, initiative, and collaboration across agencies were instrumental in bringing this case to a successful resolution. He represents the caliber of officer every agency strives to have, driven, disciplined, and unwavering in his pursuit of justice. It is for this reason that we are naming Detective Nicholas Aguirre Officer of the Month.

Congratulations. You're fast. I like that.

Madam. It's not. We have family here. So we have family here. We'd like to take a picture with the family.

We forgot the family. How can we forget the family? Bring up the family.

Some in the back, some in the front.

You kidding? Never want the family to get mad with us, ever.

The entire family. How are you? Outstanding. Let's go. Let's get you right here.

OK. Squeeze it in.

Perfect. One more. OK, now one for me. One, two, three. Perfect.

All right. Thank you for coming, family.

We appreciate it. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Scott. Where are your peeps? No, it's not me.

We have so we can go to item four or five are done. Item six presentation of officer of the month is done. Item seven reports of officers, boards and committees. None to report additions and deletions to the agenda. I see one staff item 11 K is that correct? And petitions, communications and remonstrances. Any person wishing to speak, please come up to the podium. I have Mr. Cesar Araluz. Please step up to the podium, sir. Mr. Araluz, I know you as a longstanding resident of the city of Sweetwater. Do you require a translator? Do you have somebody who can translate for you? Mr. Araluz? No. Okay. I'm going to try to translate for you. Please. I'm just telling you to say seven words in Spanish, and I'm going to translate it into English. I'm going to try to translate for him. I told him to say five or seven words in Spanish, and I'll translate it into English. Go ahead, sir.

You have three minutes. Okay. My name is Cesar Araluz. I reside at 112-31 Southway, 5th Street, Miami, Florida, 533174. My name is Cesar Araluz. I reside at 11231 Southwest 5th Street, Miami, Florida, 33174. The reason for my visit is to let you know if you can change the meeting time, which is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. because there are a lot of workers there. The motive of my visit here today is to attempt to change the commission time from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There's a lot of individuals who cannot attend because of their schedule.

Los Patios Sniper. My second reason for coming is I want to make a complaint on the homeowner association, Los Patios.

Yeah. They have their meetings selective, not, I don't know how to translate that other word. Jointly. Jointly, thank you very much. Increasing monthly costs and abusing of the elderly. And also destroying windows of iron for their security. fines if you don't fix them. Sorry.

In this case I was sued by an attorney's office.

That same name. And they were charging too much for items that weren't applicable. Tuve que contratar un abogado prácticamente para poder salir de esta situación. I had to hire another attorney to get out of this situation. En el cual nunca pude comunicarme con ellos porque no atendían. And I wasn't able to get in contact with them. Apliqué para buscar ayuda a un abogado. I applied to receive help to contract another attorney. Porque me habían puesto prácticamente un foreclosure. because they foreclosed on my property. I had to pay to the attorney $10,095. After I was reviewing the case, I was never given any further information and I've been trying to sell the property.

To my colleagues, Do we have a unanimous consent to approve only because he's translating to give more time?

That's fine. Yes. Anybody know? No, go ahead. Okay. I was selling the unit in $320,000 to pay the principal where I owed $200,000. They told the buyer not to buy.

Because they were going to raise the association monthly. And I lost the sale.

Mr. Vice President, go ahead.

I'm going to make a recommendation. Porque este posiblemente puede ser un caso criminal, yo no sé,

Le voy a dar una sugerencia. Because this may be a criminal case, I'm going to give you a suggestion. La sugerencia es que se comunique con la policía de la ciudad de Sweetwater para ver si hay un caso criminal. My recommendation is to contact the city of Sweetwater police department and see if there's a criminal case. Perfect. Okay? Y usted tiene mi celular. Tiene el celular aquí de todo el mundo, incluyendo el alcalde.

Si usted necesita algo, ¿usted necesita más tiempo? Yes, because they also wanted to raise the same situation, but I think they heard what you had to say.

Better the suggestion I gave you and talk to them? Yes, yes, yes. Okay?

Perfect.

Thank you, Cesar. You're welcome. Thank you, Cesar. Mr. Mayor.

One of the opinions I would like to make, apart from what the President just said, the commission is that the specific department to do this is the state of Florida. They have a department that is made to be able to view all the things of the associations and the violations. Yo creo que cuando usted se reúna con el departamento de policía de los otros, ellos también, si hay un caso criminal, como acaba de decir el presidente de la comisión, ellos lo tomarían en cuenta. Pero si es algo que es procedimiento y es contra la ley del Estado, entonces eso también lo puede tomar en cuenta ellos. Porque no es dentro de la capacidad del gobierno de los otros, simplemente si hay un caso criminal. Pero para eso el departamento de policía va a hablar con usted. Okay. Basically, in summary, what I explained to the gentleman was that not only is the president of the commission was nice enough to explain that the best thing to do is talk to the police department to check and see if there's a possible criminality case or issue, but also I explained to him that the Department of the State of Florida has a department that works specifically with the condominium townhouse and these type of associations. that will go ahead and explain exactly to them what their rights are and so on. They came, as you remember, to a meeting that we had in the city, and they expressed that anything of these magnitudes to please contact them. So that's basically what I said in a nutshell. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you.

Ashley Perez-Beleskov, did I pronounce that correctly? Yes.

Let me key. Mr. Mayor, key her up, tee her up. Let me key up this lovely young lady that is here. This is a person that I think we know of her brother. He happens to be our representative. which is a speaker of the house too, Mr. Danny Perez. And she is here on her own. I've asked her because I've been watching and listening from her and what she's done and her hard work throughout walking and knocking on doors since I think September of last year. And I think that she is a great person. She's running for office and we only have one representative that handles all the area with the residents are. And I asked her to come and talk a little bit to us to you. I've already on my part, offered my support to her. I think she's going to be incredible. But if you don't mind, Mr. President Dodge, just a couple of words from her to see if she earns a respect to You have the floor, madam.

Thank you. Hi, everyone. My name is Ashley Perez-Beleskov, and I am a candidate for state representative of District 116. I did have the honor of speaking to the mayor this afternoon, who invited me this evening to speak with all of you. So thank you. to the commissioners and to the mayor for inviting me here to speak to the city of Sweetwater. This is something very special to me. I was telling the mayor today that I am the lucky one that I only have one municipality in the district that I get to look after. And I'm very excited for this opportunity to represent Sweetwater should I have the honor of having your support. I am from here. I was raised in Miami, right behind, right in Westchester. And I look forward to having my daughters grow up here too. And that is truly the reason why I decided to run. And something that really stood out to me that the mayor said this afternoon, and I think it's something that him and I really align on, is how important it is to address the constituents they are the important ones we serve them right um and so i've had the opportunity to be knocking on doors since september i filed by petitions one of the first ones in the state to file by petition to run for state representative which i'm really proud of But there is no greater honor than getting in front of a door, meeting the constituents, and getting to know exactly what they need from us. That is the only way that I have the opportunity to speak to them. I had the opportunity of observing my brother as the Speaker of the House, and that's been great. But now it's my turn. I need to stand on my own two feet. And having the opportunity to represent all of you and represent the constituents of the City of Sweetwater, uh would be an honor of mine that i look forward to come november so i do appreciate all of you i appreciate your time and i look forward to continued conversations of how i'll be able to help in tallahassee anybody wishing to dialogue i wish to say something yes we need a new police department we need a new city hall got it

New police building, building, building. We have a great department.

No, our department's fine. We need a structure.

The building?

Um, our lobbyist is that guy sitting right there. So if, if you can help us with that, I'll bang on doors for you.

Thank you.

Uh, I look forward to, to getting to know you and if, uh, and if you're anything, uh, like your brother, then you definitely have, uh, my support. So I look forward to meeting you.

Thank you.

Thank you all so much. Yes, Ashley, would you like, um, can you leave with a city clerk your information so we can get ahold of you? Yes, I did. Thank you.

Yes.

In fact, if you don't mind, just leave it to the city clerk to give it to anyone that might ask for that information. Yes, please.

She did. Yes, please. I would love to speak to all of you individually, really get to know about the people that you represent, because that gives me a better understanding of the people that I will hopefully represent one day.

Can we just all do this on the floor? Yes. One other problem that we have here, I don't know if you noticed, that gentleman, they already left.

Mm-hmm.

The... What do you call it? Condominium associations. I mean, do you have any plan on that? Maybe there's people looking at this meeting. Do you have anything for HOAs?

Well, we recently saw a big bust for HOA that Representative Juan Carlos Porras is leading. And I think that he is a great advocate for the HOAs, being that his district is one of the heaviest. And I've been able to have a few conversations with him recently. about this exact thing. And I understand that it is an issue all around Miami. It's not just in specific areas. We're seeing this more and more. But there is now an expected transparency. And I believe that the work that Representative Juan Carlos Porras is doing is essential for us to continue to break down these barriers and these facades that these HOAs are providing. We need some transparency from them. So I hope to continue conversations with him and hopefully be able to work with him in Tallahassee on that.

I think we've got to do something with the DBPR. I think it's bad. I don't want to say a bad word. There have to be some changes on that level. You know, the DBPR, it's not working. It's not working. I know what they're going to say to that gentleman that came here. Call Tallahassee. Talk to DPPR. Those people are not doing anything. Nothing for the residents. So I just want you to bring it. I mean, I want you to take it to Tallahassee. And, you know, at least I think we're going to get a new governor. And I think with that new governor, things are going to change. And I hope you will do something for the residents here in the city of Sweetwater. Which HOA, I'm one of the commissioners that go to those meetings.

Okay.

And when you go to those meetings, it's bad.

Really?

The disrespect. And not only that, the disrespect, there's no law. They do whatever they want to do. As you can see, that gentleman right here is about to lose his property. He already spent about $10,000 on city and attorney's fees. They're not doing anything in Tallahassee, to be honest with you. And I know you're going to go in there. But I just want you to think about the HOA and the DBPR. It's not working at all.

I appreciate you bringing that to my attention.

Thank you.

Thank you all. I appreciate it. I look forward to speaking with all of you.

We look forward to seeing you again, ma'am.

Thank you.

Consent agenda item number 10. Seeing none. item 11 staff item a in order to the city of sweetwater florida amending the city's land development code article 6 sign section 6.03.00 subsection 7 prohibited signs and sign characteristics section 6.06.01 definitions Section six point zero seven point zero zero LED signs and creating section six point zero eight point zero three subsection C providing for severability Providing for codification providing for an effective date second reading in public hearing The public hearing is now open anybody wishing to speak on this item. Please come forward Seeing nobody coming forward on this item the public hearing is now closed. Mr. Mayor you have the floor

thank you and i think the representative of the company that is provided this is the same one that we discussed in the last meeting this is the one right next to dolphin mall and i think it's going to be in a positioning that will not affect after we found out that they put the one in between sweetwater there that little sliver of land right on the on the bridge uh the county just went ahead and uh permitted that we're not even consulting with us uh not a happy camper but We will deal with that hopefully in the future. So they came to me. P. Marrero was discussing this with me since basically we took over and started with the administration. they went through several hurdles they looked and crossed their teeth started their eyes we heard the first hearing already we discussed it in the first meeting i don't see anything negative about this on the opposite i think it would help uh dolphin mall which is our number one commercial constituent well we have several number ones but let's just say the one that's been there the longest and we're very proud to have them uh and be part they're part of us in the city of sweetwater

Do I have a motion on this item? Second. Motion by Commissioner . Second by Commissioner . Roll call, Madam Clerk.

Commissioner . Yes. Commissioner . Yes. Commissioner . Yes. Commissioner . Yes. Commissioner . Yes. Commissioner . Yes. President Villanueva. Yes. He passes.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Item B, an ordinance of the City of Sweetwater City Commission approving a master development agreement development company LLC for a mixed-use development project known as Flagler Center in the newly created Flagler Center district land use category for the property bounded on the north by Northwest 7th Street on the south by West Flagler Street on the east by Northwest 110th Avenue and on the west by Northwest 114th Avenue providing for severability providing for an effective date, second reading in public hearing. Public hearing is now open. Anybody wish to speak on this item? Sorry?

Item's been deferred.

Okay, anybody wish to speak on this item? Public hearing is now closed. Yes. Mr., point of order, Mr. Attorney, do we have, before I get to you, Mr. Mayor, do you have a deferral date?

We have not set a deferral date. We're still waiting for a lot of information. Soon as we get it, we'll set it up.

Point of order.

Do we need an deferral date?

you only need a deferral date if you're if you wish to avoid having to advertise again if you do not and if you wish to avoid having to go to us to two meetings if you defer it now it's essentially the same as pulling it which means it needs to be advertised again and you need two meetings okay uh mr mayor do you want to do a deferral for 30 days and if you're not ready then we defer it again

No, I prefer deferring to no time, sir. I am not rushing as I explained to you last time. And as soon as we get information, we're still waiting for a lot of information. I will definitely bring it on as fast as possible as we've done in the past. But for right now, I don't have a day and I prefer not stating a day to them, be back and forth and putting it back on the agenda and so on. As I told you, well,

Commissioner Saldez, you have the floor.

Yeah, you left me speechless. Mayor, so there's nothing going on right now as we speak?

We're waiting for information from the presenter of this item that we still have not gotten, that was stated in the last meeting. When we get the information and our attorney's sitting right here, we have spoken to their attorneys and told them that since we don't have something, we don't know exactly when the date is gonna be. We still have a lot of things to cover. So I explained this a couple of times and the next item is gonna deal with something I think that they really need to deal with that we agreed to move on that other stuff, which is the other buildings that they have. And I think that'll work for them. In the meantime, when they give us all the information that we need, we'll present it back to you all, and I'll ask you guys and give you that information as we did with the other stuff.

Thank you, Mayor.

Any other Commissioners wishing to speak on this item? All right. Mr. Mayor, as the Administrator of the City, I respect your decision, and I back you on that. Mr. Arias, do you have anything to add?

Good evening. Alejandro Arias, 701 Brickell Avenue. We are totally in line with the deferral. We're still working with administration. The only thing that I would ask is just to defer to the next available meeting, which is June, for no reason other than it allows me to come before you, give you a status update on anything that we've done or any progress that we've made. And if at that time we're not ready to go, we have no problem deferring again. But at least that gives me the ability to come before you answer any questions you may have, and again, just continue to keep working through the process with administration and with you all.

Mr. Mayor? I would normally accept that if I knew that everything was kind of in order within the time span that I think we would receive. But everything that we've requested in the time that it's taken and the things that we thought were numbers, I don't want to get into it now. I prefer respect in the process that they have, but I don't want to sit here and tell you that within 30 days we'll have all the information that we're requesting. We want to make sure that the figures that we have are correct. I'll repeat it again. And once they're correct, we'll present it to you, we'll ask them to, we'll negotiate with them and bring it back to you and tell you this is what we're presenting to you and you guys decide and you make your decision at that time. The decision won't be mine, it will be yours. Mine is to negotiate in the very best way possible, as I stated in the last several meetings, but also to provide you with reality that at that point your decision will come knowing that those numbers have been vetted. And until then, I can't sit here, look at you, and tell you I'm going to have it in this. And I respect that man standing right there who hardly ever talked. every time we can and he understands exactly where i'm at right now and the decision hopefully won't take that long but i don't want to set it up and say that dia and no we're going to defer again i think i'd rather just get it to the point where we have everything i uh i respect your decision mr mayor i the only thing that i would request and i don't think it's gonna be an issue is prior to that meeting have another workshop just so we can dialogue and

digest it, you know, take our time and really understand it. Because up to now, I mean, we received a document of, I think, 800 pages the other day. I have not finished reviewing. I think I'm 100 pages in. I don't know about you guys. I got 700 more to go. um but yeah let's uh let's take our time and let's not you know again at the last meeting i know we've agreed upon certain things i think we're 90 of the way from what our attorney has mentioned with another 10 right 85 whatever the percentage is uh at least we agree on something so whatever's left over uh usually nobody sees how the sausage is made nobody wants to see how the sausage is made but that's for sure continue uh you know continue advocating for us uh i i definitely want to see this project happen uh but you know our job is to fight for the city not for the developer does anybody else wish to speak on this item

mr mr president and with your words uh that's exactly correct and i appreciate that and i have already promised a couple of the commissioners individually that we will have a workshop so to make sure exactly what you said that all the questions are asked and so on and then the process should be a lot faster and we should get this thing done because we all want this great project for our city

sure it's going to happen hopefully we have a meeting of the minds uh we break bread and you guys work out whatever needs to work out and let's get this project underway i'm looking forward to it yeah mr harris anything else thank you for coming once again thank you item b is deferred no date certain item c a resolution of the city of seawater granting a final plat approval labner development a replat of all of tract a of little abner subdivision pb169 pg72 and a portion of lots three and four block 25 of sweetwater groves pb8 pg50 authorizing the mayor city clerk city attorney to take all actions necessary for implementation and providing for an effective date mr mayor

thank you mr president and we already uh discussed this uh prior i i would like i have uh mr itis you want to state or do you want mr vera to start and then which i think if mr vera wants to provide a a briefing and at the end of the day this is a very clerical process so i don't think you'll need your smart man sir mr vera

Good evening, Jorge Vera, Planning and Zoning Official. Basically what you have in front of you is the final plat for the three buildings that Little Abner has built in the past. They're trying to finalize the plat. We've been working on this plat for the last two and a half years, in and out, and making a lot of changes to it. Once this is approved, it will go through to Miami-Dade County, and it will get recorded as the plat for Little Avenue 1, 2, and 3.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Arias, do you have anything to add?

No, sir. That was as concise as you can get.

All right. Any commissioners wish to speak on this item? Through you, Chair.

Mr. Vice President. George, will this help them move forward with the next phase 456?

This doesn't have anything to do with the Flagler Center. This was always separate from the Flagler Center.

Understood. But they can turn in plans and whatever they need to get moving on.

could yes we've we've talked to them from the very beginning that uh they could submit this site plan approval for site plan approval administratively and also submit the um plans through us and through the county so they could start moving that along and by the by that time we should have a resolve on on the flagler city master development agreement wonderful thank you for that I vote that item is present. Second.

Commissioner Isidro Ruiz with a motion and second by Commissioner Reynaldo Rey. This is a resolution. All commissioners say aye. Aye. Any no? Unanimous consent. Item passes. Thank you, sir. Item D, a resolution of the city of Sweetwater granting a final plat approval for Rodale Estates Replat, authorizing the mayor, city clerk, city attorney to take all actions necessary for implementation and providing for an effective date. Mr. Mayor, you have the floor.

Mr. President, this is an item that was brought to me by Mr. Vera for a final plot approval on the houses that are facing A Street Canal. Not actually facing the lot, it's within the A Street Canal and the setbacks and so on. By the way this plots, the platting gets done, they would have enough space to then build the type of houses that they were doing. So George brought this to me. George, you wanna explain it a little bit more technical?

This is basically a replat of the existing plat. And as the mayor was just speaking, it's two lots that are abutting the canal easement. However, they had like 15 to 20-foot easement running through their lots. And what the replat does is they've gotten approval from South Florida Water Management. And right now, with this replat, those easements will be taken out so they could build a house comfortably within those two lots.

Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Saldívar, go for it. George, can you, I'm looking here. Where is this at?

It's at 102nd or 103rd Court, right south of 7th House. Oh, okay.

There's two lots that are left that haven't been built there. Gotcha.

I'll move the item. Thank you. Motion by Commissioner Arnaldo Rey. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Vice President Mati. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Item passes unanimously. resolution of the city of seawater granting application of out for media inc for a special exemption for site plan approval to permit a billboard sign and a modification of the signage booklet for dolphin mall providing for findings of fact providing for severability providing for codification providing for an effective date mayor diaz um

Uh, this plan, if you want to go back up and give us the whole process.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Mr. President, members of the Commission. My name is Brian Adler. The office is at 1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300. I'm joined this evening by Lonnie Farrow and Jeff Legg of Out Front Media and Karen Esquivas, the general manager of Dolphin Mall. So you heard the second reading of the ordinance for these changes to the signage code. This is just the companion item, which is the actual special exception. So the ordinance allows for a sign at the Dolphin Mall property. It allows for an applicant to seek a sign. Nothing is as of right. It has to come before you first for an application for approval. So this is the companion item. It only requires one reading, so that's why it was separated as an item. So it's a companion item. It's an application for special exception. And it's got two components. One is a special exception for site plan approval. The second is dolphin mall has had 20 hearings since it was approved several at the county, several at the city of Sweetwater. This is a signage booklet. Every time there's an amendment to the signage code, there's an amendment to this booklet. One is to change this first page, which is before you and the others to add the page where the signage is going. So that's part of the application. I have it all in the presentation slide, but I think it's all part of your package and out of respect for your time. I don't think you probably want to see it all. But within the presentation that that I provided, it details and in our letter how we meet each of the criteria. If you would like to see it, I can have him do the move. But I was thinking you didn't. But thank you.

I think it was a unanimous second. Who wants to take the second? Commissioner Reynaldo Ray. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you for coming, sir.

Thank you for your time this evening.

Make sure you take notes when you go to Tallahassee. That's how you run a meeting. Item F. It's easy when everybody gets along. A resolution of the city of Sweetwater submitting to the electors of Sweetwater a proposed amendment to the charter of the city. the regular city election to be held on august 18 2026 amending section 6.04 subsection c of the city charter to approve that term limits apply only to the office of the mayor limiting persons elected to that office to three consecutive elected terms or parts thereof after which they shall be ineligible to hold the office of mayor for a hiatus of four years and to remove term limits applicable to the office of the city commissioner providing ballot title summary and texts for the proposed charter amendment providing for the call of a referendum election providing for direction providing directions to the city clerk providing for conflicts severability codification effective date and ordinance and an effective date for the approved amendment mr mayor of the floor

Thank you, Mr. President. And I would say a couple of years ago, I have promised that I will try to look at some of the charter questions that could be presented to us. those questions are before you here on F G H I N J on this one here I left as I spoke to some of you and some of you gave me your opinion on it this is up to you I simply thought the administrative part was myself in this particular case as mayor, acting mayor now, would stay in force for a period of 12 years and then with a hiatus of the one term, okay, I have four years, which I'll be very straightforward. I am a person that believes that the term limit belongs to the citizens that vote. This is the way it's been pretty much forever. And several years back, it was made that all officers from the state and local all of a sudden became term limits. It was a big quest by the Miami Herald at the time to make sure that that moved forward. And I understand. I personally believe that you take the right of that voter away when the person that has the experience already for X amount of years cannot continue to have that person in office. For instance, I'm going to mention a couple of names. You will never have the names like Lincoln Diaz Ballard, Diana Ross Layden. So even though they're in different office, you will never have that kind of, but you could go to local office. and you can see people that have run for many years. Give you one example, a colleague of mine that was at one time a particular person that worked in our park system, believe it or not, Mayor Jose Terra Cruz. He does not have term amendments, neither do the commissioners in this city, and he gets elected with a 92%, I think he got the largest, highest number in the nation. For the respect that the people have for him, and for the commissioners of that city. I see a new movement when I'm talking to my colleagues about this. And by the way, there's three offices of mayor, and I think each one of you has discussed this with me. It's Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, and Sweetwater, have the strongest mayor positions probably in the nation. And that is why I bring this to you now. This is to put before the vote of the people. And the question is very straight and very simple. And I know that some of you have said that you voted for the other one because term limits, it might be good, and this, on that. This is the reason I wanted to make it very clear so whoever's watching could understand my viewpoint and the viewpoint that the person has a right to vote for the person they want, not that within a certain time that was it. In the county, in the state, I don't think it's worked. There would never be another Commissioner Sosa, Commissioner Heyman, any other commissioners from the past that had all the experience in the world because they're only limited to eight years. By the time that their sixth or seventh year that they finally understand the county system, it is time to start thinking about where else you're gonna go. And you take that right away from the citizen. That's why I said what I said. And I do respect each and everyone's opinion. If this is something that you don't feel proper being put in front of the border, that's you tell me I'll withdraw it. If you feel there's something that should be put in front of the voter and explained properly. I honestly think in today's world with everything that's changing, they might consider really moving this forward. That's on you and I wanted to get each one individually because they're all different. But this is why I wanted to explain it the way I did because I think it's really good for everybody that is here because we have some good people here. And it's not fair that because other people maybe won't run against them or won't challenge them. No, let's just wait them out. X amount of years, and then we'll run. That's the part that I don't agree with. But again, I bring it to you and you tell me where you stand on it.

Any commissioners wishing to speak on this item? Through the chair. Mr. Vice President, on the floor.

Mr. Mayor, you and I have had some dialogue on this. I believe if the mayor has term limits, I think the commissioners should have term limits as well, maybe with a two-year hiatus. since, you know, just my thoughts on it. I can't support it as written, sir.

Thank you. Commissioner Saldud, you have the floor. I'm agreed. I believe on term limits, Mr. Mayor. Last election, we have over 2,000 voters that voted in favor of term limits. More than 80% voted for term limits. So with that saying, Mayor, I can't support this.

thank you any of the commissioners wish to speak on this item through the chair commissioner young you have before well I understand what you're talking about the limits I've been true Both phases. First, we didn't have natural limits. It was in 2015 when I became a commissioner, and now that we do, I think it doesn't hurt to have the voters to decide it, if they want to keep on doing this way or not. I don't think it's going to hurt anybody by just putting it out there and let them make the decision. who have to make the decision if they're going to be taken off or we're going to remain with the term limits that we have right now.

That's my position.

Commissioner, invite the other floor. Yeah.

um you know i understand what you're trying to do i understand the rationale behind it however you know the residents already voted on this i think it was six years ago and like commissioner salud said it was 82 and exactly 82.31 exactly 2155 votes i think that's overwhelming that's a lot more people than even voted in the last two elections here so they're the residents already spoke and it was written very clearly on there you know do you want um term limits for the mayor and commission. So it was passed. So I think it's redundant to do it again. And also, I myself firmly believe in term limits. It's a great idea to refresh power every few years. I think our founding fathers set the precedent. You know, George Washington didn't really want to be the president. They made him be the president. They demanded that he do it. So he did. And he said, fine, I'll only do it these eight years. And I'm stepping back, just like the Roman emperor sent out to see the same thing happened with him. So he he did what he had to do. He went back and every president respected that term limits of two terms. There were no term limits officially. but they respected the precedent of it. It was only FDR that didn't respect that, but then after him they passed, I think it was the 22nd Amendment, and then that made term limits mandatory, and then we have a lot of governors who are term limited, the state legislators term limited, the county, a lot of municipalities, because I think when people are in the same position too long, because we are fallen people of a sinful nature, so I think after a lot of years in the same position, it starts getting to us. And I think it's healthy to refresh every few years and give other people a chance. Because when you're in power a long time, you've learned the system and you learn where the where all the influences and the power and the money, you know where everything is. And so someone new has no chance because they're up against a whole system. So this way it forces that and protects the individual's right. Because ultimately I think our founding fathers intended, from my interpretation of the Federalist Papers, they, you know, power elected office is not to be a career, it's to be temporary service you go and you do your time and then you go home and that's what I firmly believe and you may disagree but that's what I firmly believe and I think that's what the people voted for here by 82% of the vote so that's why I'm in favor of terminates mr. pressure I'll give you the floor let me let me say something so I I wanted for all of my colleagues to speak first I'm very passionate about this item because I was the maker of this item and

in 2018, and when I originated the item, it didn't pass. One of my colleagues during that time, Commissioner David Borrero, then presented that item. I seconded the motion. It passed on commission, went to referendum. I respect what you're saying, Mr. Mayor, and I respect your service to our community and to our country. I think you're a true public servant. And I love the fact that you want to put the will of the people on the ballot. Personally, I think the best of us, in my opinion, Commissioner Yano, Commissioner Saul Diaz, I'm not putting any of the commissioners down, I just think those two are the best of us. What they do for this community is unprecedented. House Old D is after his 6 p.m. dinner goes, and he visits residents, and he does it every single day. I think it's commendable. I think you're one of the greatest men I've ever met, just my opinion. And everybody knows how I feel about Commissioner Yano. She's the most attractive, and she's my favorite. So I wholeheartedly believe in term limits. I think all of us do the very best we can. I've said it time and time again that this is the best commission in the history of the city of Sweetwater. And I will challenge anybody, even when you were a councilman, I think this is the best commission. And I hate to see people go based on term limits. But I have to stick to my guns and stick to my integrity. So I'm not going to support this item. And you have the floor, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you. And I appreciate the honesty in the dialogue because, and as you can tell, this data does not affect the mayorship. The mayorship is still got the term limits. And I did that because of the administrative branch and our heart and the amount of power that we have. So I thought about it carefully as we thought about it in the past. But to answer a couple of you, let me be real clear and I'll defer, I'll take this item out. All right. But, I want to be real clear that there were different times when this item passed. There was a lot of problems in this commission. There was a lot of fighting, a lot of bickering. There was no, okay, there was no, no ability for anything to unless, listen, what you guys went through? I don't even want to discuss. We'll leave it there, okay? We promised. that this would be a different Sweetwater. We promise on how to do this in the best way possible. We promise to be straightforward and move forward, and this is what we've delivered. This is why I discussed and brought this item before. I tend to disagree on one thing. When you serve the people, and I appreciate your comments, Mr. President, by the way, when you serve the people, you serve the people. And term limits are not everywhere, on the opposite. The majority of the places don't have term limits across the United States. People give you your term limits. There was many congressmen and senators in several elections back, if you can remember, were only in going to their second term and they did not even get there. And there were some that had already been there for years and they got taken out too. So that right of the people is something that is being ignored here. So I wanted to be clear and have it before the people, as was said, Commissioner John, but if that's your case and you feel strongly about it, I will defer the item. I mean, I would just take the item out, no time certain, and leave it live. Okay, and just deal with it. But I wanted you to make sure that it was me doing it, not yourselves. And that all it was, it was to put it before the people. I want to be real clear what the process was and why I did it the way I did it. So it would not be self-centered for you. and the people would not ever look at it that way. But it will give that opportunity for them to vote on it in a different look as to what their elected officials are all about. Because it was a different day, totally. So with that, I will remove the item.

Commissioner, is there who is here for?

I'm gonna let something clear here. We're going to election next year, some of us. I'm talking about me personally. If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose. But if that's the case, that I lose my election, I just want to let very, very clear that I would kill to have commissioners like you being right there for me as a resident, not as a commissioner for the rest of my life. Is it true? President Villanueva said it. There's no commission like this one. And I'm telling you, I might not be a commissioner next year, but I'm going to keep on being a resident of the city of Sweetwater. And I would love to have you guys as a commissioner for the rest of my life living in this town. I don't think the city needs somebody taking commission ourselves the exposition or january's position or any of you guys position because you've been working really really hard for this community like nobody else like nobody else with that before i yield i want to tell you that i'm already 100 with you is the is the residence decision somewhere with that are you

I appreciate that, Commissioner. May I, Mr. President? It's exactly correct. I don't believe just because somebody doesn't want to run against somebody and has to weigh them out in time, then runs because we need new fresh blood. Isn't that what they said in Cuba one time? We need change. And we need that. And 65 years later, well, I really went the opposite direction there. But this is why democracy is so important. And I appreciate your words. But again, you have to decide. So if you don't feel good putting it before the people for this, guys, we got four more questions. I think all of them are good. I don't think they're as... How do you say? Contentious. Thank you. As this one is, and it's because of that 2,000 person vote, but again, the question might have been clear, but the time was very different. I don't even know how it didn't get 90-something percent at the time. Do you? I'm surprised. Okay. 90, because at the time? We weren't in a good place in this city, but we are now, and we're doing strides, and we're doing great things, and that was a perfect example that you used on Saul Diaz, and also on you. There's not a day that they're not out, you also put them more special. That they're not out knocking on doors, hey, how you doing? Oh, so and so is sick. Oh, help me with this because they need this because of that. You know, this is public service. And it's an honor to serve, as we discussed earlier today. Just because you're in service doesn't mean that now it's the other way around. They serve you. No, you serve the people. But that experience, that knowledge, that persistency that you guys have, you can't find it in a lot of people. And just because, oh, I'm young and I wanna do this and I took a class here and I took a class there, and you know, no, you gotta go out and earn the respect of the people that you're knocking those doors on. And that's why I said it. So if you continue to feel the same way, please, I'll just ask to remove. The question, if you feel different, let me know, and we'll move on, and if you want to come back to it, it's up to you. Mr. President, it's your decision.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Any other commissioners wishing to dialogue on this item? I'm going to say one more thing. To Commissioner Saldí, I'm sorry, I'm going to speak directly to you. Yes, you have an election next year, and maybe you'll have an opponent, but I will not be supporting that opponent. I'll be banging on doors for you, knowing you for 20 years. You're an excellent public servant. None of us are perfect, but you're a good man. So if you do have an opponent, I'll be banging on doors for you. And I'm sure the rest of the commission will. If not, I'll be throwing eggs at people's houses. Mr. Mayor, we've had a lot of mayors come through this city. You have been mayor in this city now a second time. I think you're better this time than you were the last time. And last time you were pretty good. Walking around in waist-high water with cheeseburgers. So I have never opposed you publicly since you've been mayor I've supported you I'm gonna continue to support you in your re-election and I'll be banging on doors for you and any other commissioner that has a real Alex I was gonna have an opponent but I'll be banging on doors for you guys So Mr. Mayor you will is to pull the item correct?

Yeah, I'll pull the item.

Okay, madam clerk For the mayor's instructions as the maker of the item consider the item pulled item Thank you item G a resolution of the city of Sweetwater submitting to the electors of Sweetwater a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City of At the regular city election to be held on August 18, 2026, amending the city's charter by creating section 2.02, subsection D Delta of the charter and deleting section 4.01, subsection D Delta, subsection 12, sorry, parentheses 12 of the charter to prohibit the city from entering into contracts to deploy traffic control cameras except in designated school speed zones, providing ballot title summary and text for the proposed charter amendment, providing for the call of a referendum election, providing for directions to the city clerk providing for conflicts, severability, codification, effective date of ordinance, and an effective date for the approved amendment. Mr. Mayor, you're on the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President, once again. This is... The state of Florida has now, and all over Dade County, has applied that they have the speech zone and the school zone. And it's now law to be able to allow to do so. State of Florida also took out the red light cameras and said no more red light cameras. This is not a red light camera. This is strictly for the school zone. When I spoke to my police department in discussing the issue, It is important that we use our police in the maximum way that we possibly can to protect our citizens and give the service that you have said many times is probably the best there is out there. And to have our officers just doing that traffic detail, It's already happening. We're already doing it. This is the automated system that actually is everywhere now. Sweetwater doesn't have it. And I know you're partial to this, Mr. President, because you wanted the cameras taken out of the, um, areas as I did within the County too, for the red light cameras. The issue here is that I prefer using, we have a lot, a big problem. Our problem is the cut through traffic. The cut-through traffic in the city has become pretty bad. People speeding through other roads and even putting our speed control systems, the humps, they're jumping through those things like nothing. It's turned into something that I would rather use our police in an area to control this uncontrollable type situation and try to make sure that the areas are protected. I never, the other day I saw in 7th Terrace three ducks that had just gotten runned over from a person speeding through there only like 50 feet from the actual speed hump. So it has gotten to the point where I'd rather have the chief deploy our people and get more out of it, and we still get the benefit where people are now slowing down and stopping. By the way, them getting a ticket through a camera on this particular case, it's the savings of our officer clocking them. Actually, it's probably more costly. So this is why I brought this up. And I brought it for discussion. because I think that this is something on this one that actually helps us. And I say about the ducks is because it could have been a child that just was going to cross to the park and you know, afterwards, why I didn't see him. I, there's not an excuse. There's no excuse when you're speeding in a neighborhood like that, that that could, you know, come to go ahead.

Oh, no, Mr. Mayor, just let me know when you're done. Please forgive me.

No, no, go ahead. No, I just said everything I could say. I just want to make sure, and once again, this is not the red light cameras. This is already law now by the state of Florida, and they're going around, and they're doing this to every school area there is. And yesterday, I think, if I'm not mistaken, they approved the bus... friday come back yes yeah it's gonna come back so now they could open one that i didn't quite kind of agree to because they could stop before the bus zone and open the thing and that's it you got a ticket and it's a big ticket but it's coming back they will have those uh uh starting again now and nothing we could do that's the state of florida and they could do it at any area when they stop the bumps and and open so i i want to see where you stand i think this one the residents will understand wholeheartedly and we could adjust it to 107th avenue and we could we could work with it but i want the police to analyze that and then but i want to have that ability To be able to deal with it. By the way, one of the ones, and I've heard from everybody, that all of a sudden people are not speeding through there. It's on Flagler or 97th and so on. Look at the smiles. I know exactly. Why? Because you get a ticket, you know, and that's it.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Any commissioners wishing to speak on this item?

I'll say something. Commissioner, anybody see the floor? So just to be clear, it's only for school zones. It's not the intersection ones that we had before that the voter voted out of here. And I think this is important. I would actually support this because it's protecting the children. That's important because people do speak through the school zone. I see it all the time everywhere. people you see everybody going so and you see this one car just zooming by like they don't care they're probably on the phone or something so this actually has proven pretty effective is ever since those things have been in place i haven't seen people speeding through there anymore it's really working it's really taking an effect yeah people don't some people don't like it but the people don't like it are the people that are getting the tickets from it so um don't speak so um yeah don't speed don't speed in the school zone come on it's kids don't you

You got to protect the kids, man. So yeah, I'm all for this one. Mr. Vice President. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, sir. Can we limit this to only the times that 15 mile an hour is required?

I believe we have the right to limit it to area.

Because I believe the county is enforcing the speed limit for a much greater time in those areas. But can we limit ours to only the time where school is getting in and out, that it's only 15 mile an hour? I think it's like 145 to, I mean, they're on the posted signs.

Listen, I was talking about school times. I don't know the county as to how long they have it and for what periods of time, but I'm willing to look at that too. I really am.

To this year? I'm sorry, I just want to finish. So I'll support it. Again, if we can limit it to the times of... schools going in and schools coming out, when it's 15 mile an hour only.

So you're saying to limit it to the time that is stated for schools coming in and letting out?

Correct, not any more or any less. Okay.

Thank you.

Commissioner Yalda, you have the floor.

No, no, I know exactly what he's talking about. A lot of places, well all of them, it's only 420 in the afternoon. The same thing is 97, the same thing is a pull bell. And it says right there on the sign. It's up to 420 in the afternoon, even though the school's already over. But that's what they're showing.

Okay. Any other commissioners wishing to speak on this item?

Yeah.

Commissioner Saladez?

Yes, Mayor. I agree with Commissioner Jose Marti on reference to the timing. I mean, there is cases that I've seen here in the city with residents that are 97 and flagler. That doesn't belong to us. But I've seen the ticket that they After hours, they've been getting tickets, 37 miles per hour, 35, two miles. Also, I'm a little bit iffy here with this traffic control. Again, this is just to approve to go to the voters, right? Correct. This is it. But I didn't know that you can negotiate the time and stuff like that.

If it could be done, and this is the will of this body, I'll be more than happy to do so.

Right, and then I believe this is going to be a $100 ticket, correct? And the city would gain anything on this?

The city will gain a portion of it. The state gets a portion, and I believe the school gets a portion, too. Right. I could be wrong, but I guess we'll clarify that.

Yeah, okay. You know, hey, at the end of the day, it's the resident that's going to vote for it. We're just approving this to go to the ballot, correct?

That's it. All right, thank you, ma'am. And it's got to be explained properly to them.

Any other commissioners wishing to speak on this item before I speak? Mr. Vice President?

Through the Chair. Point of order, Mr. Attorney. Do we need to make, you know, are you receptive to a friendly amendment with the 15 mile an hour to limit it to the 15 mile an hour during school going in and school going out? Do we need to make that change in the language for this to go forward?

I don't have a problem with that. Whatever the school has set up, to be when the kids get let out because there's some after school activities. I don't know to what time. But what is standard now that our police monitor right now, it would be, I think, what you're asking for.

Yeah, I don't know the exact time. I'm just saying.

I think we do whatever the school requests as their school time from incept and to also let them out and so on and the parents to pick them up. and so on and crossing the streets and stuff. Whatever time, I'll work with the chief, I'll work with our attorney. And do you know anything on this already?

um this is the situation what this does is that it gives the city the authority to place cameras in designated school speed zones it doesn't mandate that we do it so this can pass overwhelmingly 100 of the voters and the city and the administration say we're not going to do it today we'll do it next year for example The administration and the commission can also say we'll only do it during certain hours. That's all administrative or possibly legislative on the part of the commission. It can be passed and regulated again. Assuming this passes, it can be regulated administratively by the mayor. or it can be regulated by ordinance through the city commission because a power that you receive from a constitution or a charter can be regulated in the uh through a statute or an ordinance as long as it doesn't conflict now to answer your question directly can this be amended to include that Yes. However, we discussed that earlier and I've given you some thoughts and I think it's possibly, well you can do it, but I think it's possibly better to leave it this way because if you, the more you place something in a charter, the more difficult it becomes to maneuver later when we find out this isn't working or that isn't working. So, to answer your question directly, can this be amended today, right now? Yes, because it doesn't contradict the title, it doesn't contradict the title of the item, it doesn't contradict the description. is it a wise idea that's up to this body to decide but my recommendation would be that it be left to either the administration to manage or that it be implemented and limited by way of ordinance that way it can be tailored as the need as needs arise in the future to may i uh

I think what their concern is, Ralph, and that part I don't have a problem because we've worked everything along together and I'm very clear with them when they ask me for something and that's what we work out and we do. That's not the issue. The issue that I have is that the school determines their times for letting out and receiving the students and they set that up. That's when the lights go on and that time is what the school provides, not what we say. I mean, we could say have it from this time to that time according to what you just said. But I think what they're saying and what I would like to see is that if they say from, I forget the time, let's just say it's eight o'clock, eight o'clock, to 9.45 or 8 o'clock to 10, that's when the light is blinking and so on, that it only covers within that time the cameras. Once that time is done, then the cameras are not working on the ticketing situation for the 35 or 45 mile an hour that it could be there. But then when it comes to 2 o'clock again, when the time to let out, and then two o'clock to 4.30, that it stays within that bracket. So that way, not after that time when the lights go off, where people thought they resumed back to normal traffic going through the area. Am I correct? Is that what you guys were asking?

Okay. two points on this. Number one, can it be amended? Yes. It can be amended to say except for cameras placed in designated school speed zones as may be designated by the school board or something to that effect. I'm not sure how they designate it, but it could be something to that effect. Alternatively, I think it's already contemplated in here because the term school speeding zones would necessarily only apply to the time that's been imposed by the school board. Driving across in front of a school, in front of Sweetwater Elementary, on 3 o'clock on a Sunday. I don't think that should be done. Exactly, but I'm saying that's not a school zone at that point.

That's why I believe that if we keep it to the school zone time designated that the lights are flashing. I think that was what this commission wants. And I really would like to see that too. I'm not out to put camera speed cameras for regular travel and stuff for that we have police officers and and so on that they could take care of that business as they cut through in areas they shouldn't be speeding through okay that's what i want to deploy them and use them in those particulars so my goal is not to do this from seven in the morning until nine o'clock at night that is not my goal my goal is simply for the school time as they requested i tend to agree

So my suggestion at this point will be the following language. I understand your points. It would be except for cameras placed in designated school speeding zones during such speed during such times of during such times when they're considered speeding zones.

I have no problem.

Sure.

I think future was broken. I think that'll work and it makes a very clear to to the constituents that it's not something that we can manipulate later on or whatever it's a very narrow scope on what we're doing and I think it it meets the intent of the of what we're trying to got to so place in designated schools being zones during such designated times that would be my recommendation.

So you would need, well, actually, this is a mayoral item, so the mayor can do a friendly amendment.

Yeah, I will accept their friendly amendment.

So it would be, so paragraph D, traffic control cameras except for cameras placed in designated school speeding zones during such designated times. Is that good, sir?

Any other commissioners wishing to speak on this item?

I have a bit of a conundrum on this one because I am the original maker of the elimination of the red light cameras in the city of Sweetwater where our voters voted 82% in favor to eliminate them. They were used as a revenue generating source and honestly it was the residents that really couldn't afford the $158 citation channel 4 actually did a story where I came out I'm not gonna mention that they asked me if but I'm I'm listening to the legislative intent and I I tend to agree with you I I don't I don't believe that this is me being hypocritical believe that I am a pragmatic individual I will offer a secondary amendment where it's during school hours only because we don't need vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed during school hours and it's actually cleaner than just school zone times I don't know if you guys agree or disagree but you guys got me on the boat now we got to figure out where we're going So if you want to take a straw vote from the commission on how they would prefer to move forward, you have your votes on your item. At this point, we just need to figure out, because I think during school hours is more reasonable, more pragmatic. It gives our law enforcement more resources. And the reality is that if we're going to be generating revenue, Off the backs of violators, our residents during school hours know not to speed at that time. And if a resident is speeding on 107 Avenue in front of school or elementary where they can lose control and crash into the school, then they don't have my support. So I don't know if you want to take a straw vote on the times, Mr. Mayor, but you have me thus far. And with that, I yield.

Thank you. And I appreciate it. And I appreciate the way it's been put together because we're looking for the greater, the greater solution of this, which is protecting our children and their families that are walking their kids to school and so on. Now, I tend to agree with what you're saying, Mr. President. At the same time, I understand what is being said by the commissioners. What we do not want to show is what other schools, and I don't know what they're doing other areas, and I don't know if it's particular to cities in those areas, or it's particular to the county doing it, or it's tied in that the schools have a different operation level. Either way, I would like to see where you guys feel better. I think that both are good. If we could monitor that it's done during a certain time where it's flashing, people should not be speeding. There's plenty of announcement not to speed through there. When they resume normal operation, It might also create a slowdown period because they're scared, they don't know, and they've been burned before. So I'm not looking for that effect. We're not out to make the funding or doing that. Obviously, we're proving that every morning and afternoon by having our police give citations there, and they do a good job in giving citations. And I get the calls. People upset. I say, were you speeding? Well, yes, but I was running late to... To this, I go, now, what if there was a child you had? What excuse could you give him that? No, but you know. No, sorry. I'm very sorry. You understand? So you got to decide, too, and tell me where you feel more comfortable. Either way, I'm good with. I'll be very straightforward with you.

Mr. Mayor, do you want to initiate a straw vote on both options? Go ahead. Because it is your, you are the maker of this item. Do you prefer we do a straw vote first on during school zone times or from the time school opens to closes on those school zone times?

Why don't we start the same way the argument went? First on the school time and then full...

Okay. So, Madam Clerk, if you can go ahead and give us a straw vote down the line on, per the mayor's wishes on his legislative items, during the school speed zone time. Is that correct?

And what's the other one?

school hours option one is during the blinking lights option two from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I'm sorry to interrupt it's only and I could ask I believe there's only a three-hour difference basically by four hours during midday that it's not going to be monitored if it's just in the blinking lights time if it's the other way it'll still be the same time at the ending and at the beginning it's that period in time that the lights will not be flashing so i wanted to be clear because of what you were just saying okay got it madam clerk go down the line ask commissioners which they prefer commissioner anio uh with the time it's blinking

Okay. That's school zone time, right?

Yep. Which is the school zone, right?

School zone time. Yeah. Commissioner Reyes, which one do you- That's school zone as well.

School zone.

Commissioner Martin. School zone. Commissioner Reyes. School zone. School zone. School zone. And President Villanueva?

Schools own blinking lights. It seems to work. I guess this is a unanimous consent So now that we have the straw vote, mr. Mayor, do you wish to move forward with amending the item to? Enforcement during the school zone blinking lights period. I don't know how you're gonna do that. Mr. Terry blinking lights period I

good uh so now as a point of order the uh the mayor is going to amend his item mr mayor do you want the item amended yes let's amend the item based on the discussions taking place today and we have to still send it

move it forward to also the elections department for their view yes well i'll all this has to go to the elections department right away because the time frame so i will get this modified and get it to carmen tomorrow and then she can send all the signed documents all the signed resolutions how you put i want this clear very clear for our voters i want to make sure that it's very clear that they understand what they're

voting for or against, and that it's very clear, as the president said, what are you gonna say, flashing lights time? Whatever, we gotta make sure that it's very clear for the voters to understand.

Commissioner Saldes, you'll say it. Yes, city attorney. Make it clear. I mean, you know, sometimes you guys, attorneys, use some type of language sometimes that we don't understand. The flashing lights will be perfect.

i don't think that would actually work commissioner because i have been ticketed in school zones where there were no flashing lights and there was a sign that was posted uh specifically happened to me in hialeah years ago yeah so so you're going to make it as a school hours school school designated school zone hours okay thank you do i have a motion on this item

Motion by Commissioner Yano, second by Commissioner Reynaldo Rey. This is a resolution. All voting in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Item passes unanimously.

Item H.

A resolution of the city of Sweetwater submitting to the electors of Sweetwater a proposed amendment to the charter of the city at the election to be held on August 18th, 2026, amending section 2.02, parentheses A, of the city charter to providing that city-owned real property may only be sold or disposed of upon an affirmation five votes of the membership of the city commission providing that referendum shall be required providing that referenda is that a scribner's error is that correct no that is latin the plural latin got it referenda shall be required for disposition of city-owned Real property held for recreational use, but not other city-owned real property, providing ballot title summary and text for the proposed charter amendment, providing for the call of a referendum election, providing for directions to the city clerk, providing for conflicts, providing severability, codification, effective date of ordinance, and an effective date for the approved amendment. Mayor Diaz, you have the floor.

Thank you. I think I've spoken to each one of you at one time or another and discussed the issue as to making sure that if we have the ability to acquire property is one thing, but the ability to be able to trade if we have this particular property, it might be interesting for this person, and we could acquire and receive other property. We cannot do it with the way the structure is right now in our charter. We want to have the ability, that's why I asked and we have spoken quite a bit on this Ralph. And we actually came up and said it takes five votes of the commission as a super majority to move this item forward. Nothing could happen without coming to the commission. But we can't do nothing if we have to go one property at a time to the charter. And that's what we're trying to avoid. I know we had an issue some time ago and I know Commissioner Sol Diaz was involved with that. And I don't think the idea is in today's time and how things are growing in the city and how things are moving to have to go to a vote for every single type of property that we could try to negotiate other people. We want to make sure that we do the right thing. and so on. This does not talk about, this actually mirrors, if I'm not mistaken, the state law.

It's very close without having to submit it to other jurisdictions to see if they want it first. But yeah, it's very close.

Any commissioners wishing to speak on this item? Yes, sir. Commissioner Saldizio? Yes, Mayor.

Like you said, I was involved in one of these litigation, let's say it that way. And you're right, there was a different time. At that time, I was not agreed that the commissioners at the time would make a decision for land that we, I mean, that land that got sold, I don't wanna talk about that case, but yes, you're absolutely right. I'm a little bit iffy on this one. I'm gonna wait for my commissioners to whatever they're gonna say. I'll go either way, I don't have a problem. Because like I said, like you said, Mayor Ed, we're in different time right now. And I'm just gonna wait on it and see what my colleagues wanted to grow to say sure any other Commission's wishes because I'm sure Mr. Vice president.

Yeah, I'm in support of this. I think it's you know requires a supermajority and You know, it gives us the ability to move forward on on city business song. I Have no problem with this. Thank you

yes i was supposed uh this item and uh just to make it clear i wasn't the moment where we need to sell the land but we didn't have no choice it was selling the land or we would the city would go in bankruptcy so it was something that it was nothing we can do about it you know that's why we made the decision to do that but i do support this item 100 percent

Any other commissioners wish to speak on this item? Commissioner, oh, Reynoldo Rey. Reynoldo Rey, go ahead.

Hey, Cedar Attorney, is this, back in the days, it's always been five commissioners or five?

No, no.

No, no, so, no, just to give you background, this is under. Disregard Reynoldo Rey. Mr. Attorney, you go ahead and talk. It's all good, it's all good. This is, yeah. This is under 2.02 of the Charter. And what the Charter says essentially is that on a simple majority, that's four votes, property can be sold except for property that's held for parks, playgrounds, or other recreational facilities or public purposes. There's a doctrine of the law called es judum generis, that provides that when you have a series of words, a list, that are particular, and you close that list with a general term, then that general term is interpreted with reference to the particular items before it. However, so the question as to whether all land now has to go to referendum for approval is open to interpretation. However, no court has ruled on it. And because of that, real estate does not operate on ifs and gray areas. Real estate operates on the land is for sale or the land is not for sale. The land, you know, meets within its boundaries or it doesn't meet within its boundaries. There are no gray areas. And this presents a gray area that makes things difficult to sell. So, what the proposed amendment does, it does two things. It takes what is a simple majority for the sale of real estate and raises it to a supermajority. And not just a supermajority of five-sevenths, a supermajority of five votes of the dais. That means that it's more difficult in that sense, but the commission has more control. Then what it also does is it says that the only property that is to be submitted to referenda is property that is specifically held for recreational purposes. In other words, that or public purpose which is subject to interpretation is being removed. so if the city would want to sell any sort of land that's being held for whatever reason uh we would need five votes and that's it unless it were carlo park for example then at that point you still need the five votes But then that sale has to go to referenda to be approved. So it makes it a little, it raises the level for approval to make it a little bit more, you know, a little bit more strenuous. But it also clarifies that the only land that has to go to vote is property that's being held for recreational purposes.

Okay?

Thank you.

Commissioner Reynold, are you on the floor? So just to clarify, because it could get mixed up, what some might understand by this doesn't mean that we're approving right now that this is what we're changing already. This is going to the voters so they could vote. It's not that we're changing it now, because a lot of... though some people could actually interpret this as we're changing it already that we're gonna we're trying to get power and give us the power right now this has to go to the vote on august 18th just wanted to put it out there that we're not changing anything we're putting it just on the ballot once the ballot the voters will decide and you know if if it says no we continue how we're doing it now and if it's a yes we go into this any other commissioners speak on this item

I'm going to say something, Mr. Attorney. What was that word you used? That fancy Latin word?

Asjudum generis.

And that's similar to PMC, right? I got it. It's exactly the same. Just look it up. Google it. PMC. You know, I'm shy. I don't like the... so um I will say that the city of Sweetwater is um in unprecedented times and where development is sprawling I know that there uh our mayor is the administrator of the city is in communication with different landowners and a lot of potential projects, land swaps. The last thing I want to do is limit the mayor upon negotiation. I do believe that this is the city's property. This is the electorate's property, but the electorate do choose us to make the right decisions. And I love the fact that we have a fail-safe system where it requires the affirmation of five commissioners. So I will be supporting this item. Does any other commissioner wish to speak on this item? Through the chair? Commissioner Weissu.

Just real quick, I think it's important just to avoid confusion or any loopholes or anyone exploiting that loophole in the future just to define what city-owned real property is on the legislation, if that's even possible. Because I know it's recreational stuff that has to go before referendum, but everything else,

um five seven that was fine but we should i think it specifically does um describe what it is point of order mr attorney just to be pleased can you give the commissioner the definition of real property all property is either real or personal property that's under the the anglo-american system personal property is i'm holding in my hand personal property is the bank account the money that i have in my bank account that's personal Real property is land. And real property is never confused with anything else. The only time it's not necessarily exactly land if you're talking about a condominium, but by statutes. Microphone. Excuse me. Real property is considered land. And the only time it's not exactly specifically land when you're talking about a condominium where you go up, but that is still considered land by Florida statutes. So use of the word real property I doubt that there's a lawyer in the state of Florida that would be confused by that term. I mean, I don't ask for opinions or input from counsel who has not been retained on this issue, but I think that we would agree on that. Would we not, sir?

I would agree that it's pretty clear.

Yeah, that is pretty clear. Real property is clear, and I don't see an issue with that.

All right, and just real quick, can I continue?

Sorry.

Yes, sir, yes, Lord. I apologize for the stupid-ass question, but... Ian said ass. Yeah, well, whatever. So I understand that it's clear to lawyers, but the average resident voting might not understand. That's why I think it's... May I?

Mr. Mayor, you have the floor. Thank you. To your point, Commissioner, I see you. I think what the Commissioner is trying to say is that it sounds a little convoluted. And we want this, as the President said before, it's something that only enhances with the time and the change that everything is taking place. We put our safeguards in. We did everything that needs to be done. You explained that this does not go to park properties and stuff like that. This is to be able to get maximum use of whatever property we have or we will have in the future on whatever negotiation. But it still has to come back. to this commission and have five votes out of the seven. So if there's an ability to not changing the structure of the question moving forward, but that we could work on a clarity to make sure that nobody is confused on it, that it's very simple. to understand if you could allow us to do that and approve it without changing the actual action of the, if that's a belief, what you're trying to get to.

Yes, thank you, Mayor. You explained it better than I did.

I would like to say that the term real property is the way that the charter.

No, no, that's not that part. When you read the whole thing as an entirety, it might be confusing to several of the voters. this is no we don't have nothing to hide this is very clear this is simply and you wrote it very well in my opinion if you feel that there might be any setback or anything an improvement i i don't want to take a chance on this because i think this is very important and you're right president the time sometimes is not allowable when a deal comes up that could be made You only have X amount of time. You can't wait to assemble an election and to go out. And by the time that's done, there's no longer a deal. Somebody came and give a better offer. So that's the reason why it is important to my eyes.

Any other commissioners wishing to dialogue on this item? Mr. President. We have a motion on this item. Motion by Commissioner Rinaldo-Ring. You have the floor, Mr. Special Counsel. Thank you.

I was listening to what Commissioner Bayasea was saying and what was said earlier about sometimes the voters don't understand the legalese that we use. Perhaps instead of using real property, which I understand is the proper term, just use land?

How about real property parentheses land? And everybody's happy. Meet the attorney. I think the title's already.

The title's already been approved, so let me read through it quickly.

So anywhere that says city-owned real property right after that parentheses land. And Commissioner Biasio gets the language that he wants.

okay that can be that can be amended in the text itself but not in the charge not in the title or in the description because those two have been approved already by the elections department in advance so um any commissioners we have a motion and we have a second do any commissioners wish to

here's the problem this item has to be placed on in in the hands of the elections but department before may 20th is that correct miss uh madam clerk correct right so we would have to have a special meeting to rewrite this language or do we just want to move it as is do any other commissioners wish to change the language and have a second meeting or do we want to move this thing forward

vice president i think it's fine as written it's i think it's very clear uh it explains that you know real property is it's real property i think everybody gets that so i i don't think we need to do anything other than move this along today that's just my opinion thank you any other commissioners wishing to come i agree 100 i think we should leave it the way it is understand any other commissioners wishing to apply

All right. We had a original motion by Commissioner Reynaldo Ray and a second by Commissioner Yano. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Me. Commissioner Sal Diaz opposes the item. So it is a six to one vote. Item passes. Item I, a resolution of the city of Sweetwater submitting to the electors of Sweetwater a proposed amendment to the charter of the city at the regular city election to be held on August 18, 2026, amending section 4.07 of the city charter providing for procedures of interim mayor, and special election upon vacancy in the office of mayor, providing ballot title summary and text for the proposed charter amendment, providing for the call of a referendum election, providing for directions to the city clerk, providing for conflicts, severability, codification, effective date of ordinance, and an effective date for the approved amendment. Mr. Mayor of the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. This item is basically there's been some issues in the past with removal of mayors or people in our government. But in this case, it resembles to a mayor. Our county, our city, sorry, habits don't change. Our city attorney and I got together as one of the questions that's been brought up many times. by several different entities, and that question is, basically, do you want to keep somebody on as somebody that did not get elected as mayor, but only for a period of time, but if the person, let's just say it happens a year into the term, and then they remove the person and it goes to the president, of the commission at the time at that time the president has since it's been put for the term limit that is left but the people never voted for that person now what is being proposed something that our attorney brought to my attention he's the one that brought this to me and i tend to agree i think that If the person is limited to a time period of six months, what is it again?

It's 120 days. It's four months. You want to go through it, sir? Sure. So this comes from my experience. I have lived through this twice. obviously everyone's aware of what I lived with in 2013 but I lived with it also in 2000 when I was special counsel in Hialeah Gardens when that mayor was arrested removed from office and the president of that commit or that council was elevated to interim mayor they had a procedure very similar to this and that procedure called for an election within a set period of time and the the idea the pro we didn't have that and there were innumerable issues because the the mayor at that point lacked a mandate no one in the public had said yes we want this guy in charge and his hand would have been strengthened dramatically and politically if he had had that level that type of mandate so The situation that I have in mind is this. You have a mayor who's elected, May 15, let us say. A new president of a commission, June 1, let us say. June 2, the mayor dies. Forget about somebody being arrested or some sort of nefarious issue. The person just dies. People get hit by cars all the time. That president gets elevated now for effectively two years. when no one had um the public never voted for him for the position of mayor and the commission voted for him to chair the meetings and understanding that he or that she would have been mayor under these circumstances but As the saying is in Spanish, una cosa llamar al diablo y otra cosa verlo venir. And when you see something happen in front of you, you may realize perhaps this wasn't the wisest idea. So what this does is it actually defines what is an interim marriage. So you have the acting mayor when something short happens, but you have an interim mayor. And then that interim mayor holds office and has to go to election within 120 days, unless the term ends within 180 days. Then at that point, you just serve it out. But at that point, the mayor, good, bad, or indifferent, the name is submitted to the public, and the public can make its decision, and perhaps that interim mayor will receive a mandate, perhaps the interim mayor will not and will lose. The other thing is it clarifies that the interim mayor may return to the position of commissioner assuming the intramural has not resigned to run, because that is not clarified in our current charter at this point, not with that language. So, it takes the events that occurred in 2013, and it sort of tries to cure the deficiencies that I saw at that point with the experience that I had in Hialeah Gardens in 2000.

Any commissioners wishing to speak on this item?

To the chair.

Commissioner Young, you have the floor.

I think this is the best one we ever had. I saw it, it happened. And believe me, we don't want to go through that. I think that, I mean, not always, I'm sorry guys, I'm not trying to put anybody down, but maybe the voters don't want the person, because it was a president at that time, to become the mayor for two years or whatever term is left. I think, like I said before, I saw it, I loved it, I love it, and I think it's the best we can have because we went through a lot. uh having a person that took over and almost almost destroyed the city so um i'm for a hundred percent any other commissioners wishing to speak on this item commissioner reynolds

So I have a few points on this. Sorry. I have a few points on this. If I'm not mistaken, if you could, not right here. Anyone that's being put into that position, it's not served out to the final of the term. It's to the next election. Is that correct?

Okay. So currently that's the way it works because there's no elections.

Okay, so I'm just going off the point of when I was appointed in this. I was appointed and that person still had another two and a half years. I had to run in the six months. Is that the same case right now as it is? As it is now. As it is right now. So you're only going, it's not gonna be that you're gonna finish the term off. You're gonna have to go in the next election.

our current charter reads today. Correct. What this says, because there is an election, is that in which case the office of mayor shall be filled at such regular election. It doesn't say that you have an election and you have another election two years later. It says that, in the example I gave, that if the mayor is elected in May and then drops dead or is hit by a car in June, there's an election 120 days later, that person serves up the remaining three and a half years of the term. There's no need for a secondary election because the office of the mayor shall be filled, essentially. The language, I think, is fairly clear that you're not looking to have it filled temporarily.

OK, so that was one of mine. But I hear that the person was not elected. If God forbid something, that person right now would be the president. That person was elected by the people. And that person was elected by the commissioners to be the president. So you got the support from the people and from the commissioners.

OK, that is a policy decision?

policy observation that each of you must make on your own.

I am so sorry about this. That is a policy decision, an observation, a policy decision that has to be made by each of you and by the body collectively. The question as to whether that is a good idea or a bad idea or a good observation or a bad observation, that's beyond the scope of my role as city attorney.

No, no, I'm going over the stuff as I see it. I'm not going for it or against it. I'm just looking at it as it sits right now. I mean, I don't see too much wrong with it just because whoever the president is at the moment or at that time was elected by the people and by the commissioners. to lead. So that's one. I have no issue with that. The other one is if I don't have a problem going to the next election, you know, if the person has a year and a half, let them serve that year and a half. That person was, it's not like it was appointed, an appointed position as we've done in the past, that we've chosen someone from the public to serve as a commissioner.

Okay, understood. That is, again, that's... Oh, no, no, it's not against you. It's just my feeling on this. No, I get it. Just since you're directing the comments to me, I feel like I must read some comments. No, no, no, not at all.

To my colleague. You don't need to respond, sir. It's not to the colleague, no, no. And for one other thing is, within 100 days, you're in a budget already. An election does cost money. So it's something that we don't have budgeted for. So that's another thing. And as I heard something, I believe, I don't know if it's to this or from before, So that person that takes over, then he could get his job back as a commissioner, his position, sorry, his position back as a commissioner. What happens to the person that was appointed in that seat for that commissioner within those 120 days?

Through the chair.

Commissioner DeAndre.

Seat attorney, please. Don't we have certain amount of time that we don't have to appoint anybody to that position?

excuse me i keep doing that the position of city commissioner has remained vacant for up to six months once when somebody was incapacitated they had not um they had not passed away yet but it was clear the person was going to pass away but let me let me read quickly through this that's a different story that's different i mean i believe it's if it's

If it's vacant, we should be able to fill it within the time.

Thank you. I understand that this is something that it's been experienced before. The city has lived it, so has other cities. But you're right, Commissioner. The person that sits up here, this side, here, get elected to the position that you sit in. The issue is, one thing is being elected as a mayor, and the other thing is being elected as a commissioner. You're running the administration of the city. You are doing more than most people out there that have that title mayor in this city because of the responsibility and the charter that we have. I don't see it the same, but yet it doesn't say that you're totally out. All it's saying is you're running this for a period of 120 days in that position, which gives time to set up for an election. And if it's something you want to do, because you might not want to do it, you're not forced into doing it for let's just say if there's three years left to have to do it for those three years because it might be something you might not want to do you might be the council president you want to do it and so on now you will fulfill the job as long as needs to be done until another person is elected that is why this is being presented it gives you the ability that if you do wanna stay and you wanna go ahead, you could run for that position. But the voters did not vote for you in that position. The voters voted for you as a commissioner. And that's the difference here. Because look, if it's got a year left or how long is it?

So 120 days and then 180 days.

If it's 180 days left and so on, just let it run the course. But if it's three years out, a lot of things could happen and a lot of things could flip upside down and there's budgets and there's what if that person decides that I don't like these particular people. Let me start putting in all the people that mayor has a right to do so. There's a lot of things that take place. All we're saying is we're providing some kind of Protection, I guess, would be the best thing. And if that person decides to run and believes in what he's doing, the people will elect him. And that's all I can say. But it's your vote to either put this on or not.

Commissioner Reynaldo-Ray?

don't i i for for right now i i don't think the the you could do three years as an interim mayor no right now you cannot do you can the most you could do is two years yeah which is close to what we had last correct i would like to address make a quick comment uh commissioner ray uh the commission thank you for the correction the commission seat of the members selected as interim mayor shall not be filled during the period of interim service So that means if somebody is picked from the Commission to be the interim mayor and the Commission is not constituted of six members whereas the Seventh member is now serving as interim mayor and that person can come back when they want to and there is no one to house There is no temporary appointment to that position Okay, commission zero easier the floor

We need to have something clear right here and correct me if I'm wrong. When we picked or we elect or we voted for the president of the commission, we're voting for somebody to lead the meeting, not lead the city, right?

The position of president of the commission is a position that in the vast majority of cases will only involve chairing the meetings and serving ceremoniously in certain roles. However, the Charter specifically... That's how our Charter reads. But our current charter also says that in the event that there's a vacancy in the position of mayor, then the person sitting in that seat, whether it's Commissioner Villanueva or someone else, is elevated to the position of mayor.

That part is clear.

Yeah, and shall assume the office of mayor. That's the exact language. That's a quote.

But that doesn't necessarily mean that whoever we picked as the president of the commission has the skills. Well, the knowledge to run the city. That's what I'm trying to.

That is an issue. Yeah.

What I'm trying to tell you is about, I mean, when we picked the president of the commissioners, we're not picking somebody who we tried to think that that the former mayor is going to go through a process, or it's going to go through a car accident, and then he's going to lead the city. That's what I'm trying to tell you. We're picking somebody who is knowledgeable enough with the skills to do what president of the commission right now is doing. Leading the meeting the way he's doing it, like he's never done before, in my opinion. You know what I'm saying? That's why we picked the president of the commission. Not to be the future mayor if something happens. That's my point. That's what I think.

All right. Any other commissioners wishing to dialogue before I speak? So as the presiding officer and the president of the commission, I wholeheartedly agree with this item. I believe that There should be a line of succession as written in the constitution our president vice president Speaker of the house and down the cabinet that is different within our United States government the greatest country in the world I think in the city of Sweetwater the Voters should be able to choose who they want to leave the city. I believe that the title of president of the Commission is a form of a line of succession that needs to occur we most certainly do not want anything to happen to our mayor but in the event that something does happen to the mayor and as the president of the Commission I would then in turn become the interim mayor but without the will of the voters I believe that an election should be had where anybody who meets the residency requirements in the city of Sweetwater can run for office, and if the voters so choose for that person to be the mayor, then so be it. The only caveat to that, to this language, is I would also request to add the same language to the office of commissioner. I think what's good for the goose is good for the gander. So, Mr. Mayor, are you willing to amend your language to add commissioner as well?

There's a body wish that we can take a strong vote if you want and we can find out I have no problem I just did it because of the you want to say so.

Yes, I don't think we're legally authorized to do that with this document because this is proceed the titles procedures for interim air and special looks like I will complicated.

Does anybody else was to speak on the sign before we call for the role. All right. Do we have a motion on the side of move motion by commission? So he is second by Vice President Marty roll call matter clerk.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Item passes unanimously. Item J, a resolution of the city of Sweetwater submitting to the electors of Sweetwater a proposed amendment to the charter of the city at the regular city election to be held on August 18, 2026, amending section 6.07 of the city charter to provide that the canvassing board be constituted of the city clerk and two deputy or assistant city clerks providing ballot title summary and texts for the proposed charter amendment providing for the call of a referendum election, providing for directions to the city clerk providing for conflicts, severability, codification, effective date and ordinance, and then effective date for the approved amendment. Mayor Diaz, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. And on this item, I think that the clerk has done a very good job when it comes time to count the votes and the absentees and so on. What happens is that it states that it's two of you plus the clerk and or a designee that you pick. The issue is when a lot of you do not want to help in the election and work together to support your colleague as you said earlier you might not want to be the one that's representing there the votes and count and most of the time my understanding is that you go ahead and have to pick two people which is your deputy and your assistant deputy to help out with a count and the three of you then close the election Is that correct, Mr. Attorney?

Yes, exactly, except I would correct it with one statement. The canvassing board shall consist of all members of the city commission whose terms do not expire at the election to be canvassed. So the clerk is not even a part of this. The clerk essentially has been brought into the process because, in my experience, going back to 2007, I think every single election... has resulted in the remaining members of the commission who are not running for election recusing themselves, every single one. There may be one or two there that I don't recall at this point where commissioners actually serve on the canvassing board, but the vast majority of them, if not all of them, the vast majority of them have resulted in the clerk doing this. So the idea here is to make this as clear as possible and make the authority as clear as possible so it can't be challenged later.

That is my understanding, Mr. President. It clears it up. This happened in the county, and we took out the commissioners, and we actually put some judges and a signed person from the clerk's office.

Yeah, that's been done before. And the attorney, and the attorney will oversee.

Yes, that's the way it got put into the county that way, to have the freedom that you could help and not have to recuse yourself. Any commissioners wishing to speak on this item?

Any commissioners wishing to speak on this item? No, I'm moving it. Before that, the attorney mentioned an election here in the city of Seawater in 2007. I vaguely remember that election. It was a mayoral election, if I'm not mistaken. Yes, sir. And it was very contentious, a very tight race. Very close. Some would say that the loser lost by four votes. And that poor guy. So during that election, on the actual canvassing board, and I don't recall the actual number, but this is 19 years ago, it was something like 74 absentee ballots were eliminated by the canvassing board. and those votes never counted because the canvassing board had decided that the signature of the voter did not match the voter role the candidate at the time actually went back to the 74 houses of those 74 voters and actually had a document, had them sign a document saying that they voted in the election, that that was their signature, and they had voted for that candidate. That may or may not have changed the course of that election. I can tell you that I was that candidate. I suffered a lot. So I don't support this item. I don't want to put our city clerk, and by the way, it's not that I don't trust our city clerk, but if there is a contentious item, the city clerk and the deputies and those employees are going to be put through a lot of pressure that I don't want to put you guys through. I would have judges, if we wanted to put somebody, let's put somebody in a black robe to sit on the canvassing board. or people who work for the County Elections Department. So I do not want to support this item because I have PTSD. So I'm voting no on this item. Anybody else wishing to speak on this item? Do we have a motion on this item? We have a motion by Commissioner Reynaldo Ray. Do we have a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Sal Diaz. Roll call, Madam Burke. Commissioner Diaz?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. No. Item passes six to one. Staff item K, a resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sweetwater co-designating with the miami-dade county board of county commissioners that portion of northwest 137th avenue between northwest 12th street and northwest 17th street as cemex way providing instructions and providing for an effective date mayor diaz we have a motion by commissioner all the way do we have a second second second by commissioner muddy all in favor say aye aye any opposed item passes unanimously

reports mayor's report mr mayor of the floor there's uh something that i think some of you seen already i've talked to some of you try to make this as fast as possible the ifbb usa sweetwater open children's fitness challenge Okay? That is the first time that this is taking, being taken place in the United States. If you remember, the IFBB was a bodybuilding organization where Arnold Schwarzenegger participated, became famous with, and so on. They have now, in Europe, started, yeah, I'm far from this part here. They have started ANTAs, health and fitness, and martial arts. came to me with the idea and I thought it was great it reminded me of the some of you here did the remember the president's challenge and physical fitness test and you had the presidential award or you got an award for staying fit and actually going through a challenge, a fitness challenge. This is very similar and asked for us to support and I looked at it and I said, this is something that puts our name up there and making sure our kids that want to volunteer, If there are Sweetwater residents, the fee here, by the way, if they win, they will represent the United States in the European challenges, my understanding. And they have five or six categories. And I will get you all the information. It is on the 16th of May. and i would like to see some of the kids that participate in a park they already pay for a lot of the sports and so on so on i the kids that do participate already in sports like in karate or dance or and they want to participate because both boys and girls uh i want to waive their charge and pay it through the city so depending on how many we have i think it's a good thing to bring them, the Civil Air Patrol? So far, good. I just want to make sure that this event takes place. It's something that I wish we had more time to put together, but it will be the first one, it's the inaugural one, and it's something that I believe puts our name in a good place. So I'll get you the flyers to every one of you. And again, if they're Sweetwater residents and they're already registered in one of our programs already, to help out and participate, I think it's a good idea that we cover their free to get in. And I wanna hear from you guys because this is another first that we're doing and I think it's one that, It's going to be pretty good. It's basically push-up inclines, jump positions, squat thrusts, and sit-ups. And I think one more or two exercises. And it's time, rest, time, rest, just like the other one used to be done. So I wanted to bring that out to the open, ask for your support, and make sure we can grow this and make it... as best as possible and have it once a year in the city of sweetwater um besides that we're moving on with many different types of a project um we're gonna i'll be reaching out to each one of you i'm not gonna go through a long report i have here but uh we got some some good ideas coming forth uh the park i saw i think you guys uh i don't know if you got to go by and see how nice it came out in Carlo Park. Kids aren't getting hurt because of the unfortunate grass. We have beautiful trees there, and the grass does not grow. So they were getting damaged next to the court there, and now that this particular turf is put in place, we don't have any more problems. So I think it's a good thing, and it came out beautiful. I don't know if you guys got to see it, So that's it. That's all I have for right now. I could go on to other things, but I'll reach out to each one of you.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioners report. Any commissioners wishing to report commissioner stuff?

Should I share? Commissioner I just want to mention if you give me the opportunity I want to thank the teacher of karate Mario Jimenez he's offering to do a class free of charge to the cadets of self-defense we're going to have that on Thursday so I really appreciate that he offered to do this for us and uh i mean it's a good opportunity for the for the cadets you know to learn a self-defense and also on that um date on may 16 our cadets are going to do the call the guard to opening down the event that's all i have thank you any other commissioners wish to report

Commissioner Biasi with the floor.

So Mr. Mayor, I went to the park the other day. I put my son in the baseball program. So we went to Monday and Wednesday last week to observe, and he participated. And I love it. It's a really well-run program. Willie really knows what he's doing. They're doing real drills, the ground balls, the fly balls, the the hitting from the tee and hitting from the machine there. And they're really drilling those kids good. I had my kid in the Marlins program, no offense to the Marlins, but he wasn't really learning anything. But there in just two practices, he learned how to catch the ball. I still can't catch a ball, but he learned how to catch a ball. Well, I caught that one ball that one time, right, that I almost died. My life depended on it. That's why I caught it, I guess, right? But, you know, my son learned a lot in those two practices, so I'm going to keep him in there for the rest of the month, and I hope that the program continues to grow. So great job on that, guys, you and the staff. Thank you.

Any other commissions wishing to speak? Mr. Mayor, you have the floor.

Yeah, thank you. And Willie...

Mike. Incredible job.

Okay, you got me now? All right. Willie, the park director is here. Thank you for the work you're doing there. Willie is the deputy park director. He is a former Mullen AAA league, but he also was a scout for the Red Sox for many years. He loves teaching the kids, and you're right. I see him out there and the job that they're doing, And hopefully, God willing, we're going to bring it back to the way Sweetwater used to have that field and the way the kids. We had some very good people and top players that made to the Nationals or to the game, as it's called. And they came out of Sweetwater. So if we could make that happen again, I think we're doing the right thing. So thank you.

all right i have a few things to report so uh i'm gonna need your assistance on this mr mayor we've been discussing this ever since the construction of ronzelli park since the police department has officially kicked me out of the police softball team us. Well, I think a little personal because I created the damn thing. But it's fine. It's fine. I'm not I'm not butthurt about it. It's fine. Deputy Chief Gill. So at this point, I'm, I'm going to initiate this. And I want my colleagues on the commission to jump on board. We're gonna have since I'm considered a civilian now. I want to challenge the police department in a softball game. I want to invite the city. I want you to help me spearhead this. I want to have cotton candy. I want to have a dunk, a cop tank, a dunk, a fireman tank. Uh, you know, the cop gets in the tank and they dunked that whatever. Um, but definitely I want to play my former colleagues who were very ungrateful by the way that I created the softball team, got them free equipment, got them like $5,000 in equipment, Not even a thank you. We want that crap back. So I'm going to work with you on that. It's probably the only time that I'm going to be in opposition of our police department. But whatever, it's fine. It's fine. Secondly, since I'm feeling so pro-police, I'm going to be presenting a piece of legislation next month. And we've all seen this on social media where we have these social media antagonizers approaching the cops. They go ahead and they offend our police officers, offend them using vulgarity. And while they're offending them, they sit there and they go, hey, name and badge number. And per our policy, our police officers have to abide by that. this ridiculous onslaught of attacks, and they have to go into character and say, Villanueva 0058, which I want to change. I've spoken to you about this, Mr. Mayor, and you told me that you are wholeheartedly behind this. I have spoken to our chief. Our chief says that there are some obstacles that we need to overcome, but here's the language that I want to go ahead and disseminate. While our officers are on a call for service, If they get dispatched to a call or an initiated call while they're performing police duties and somebody asks them for their name and badge number, per policy, they have to give it. I'm fine with that. But while an officer is having coffee or sitting down having a meal or if an officer is off duty spending time with their family in Dolphin Mall and one of these jerks approaches them I don't feel they need to give their name and badge number. This is my position. Since I am a lawmaker here in the city of Sweetwater, I'm going to be presenting that piece of legislation. And may whatever comes out of it, I don't care. I'm going to support our police officers. I'm not going to have somebody antagonizing our cops, offending them, and then giving them a direct order, name and badge number. And now the cop has to go into character. If not, they violate our policy and they can be reprimanded for it. So I hope the commission has an appetite for that because I'm going to be presenting that legislation next month. And I will speak to the chief of police, the deputy chief, and the assistant chief about this piece of legislation and jump over whatever hurdles need to be jumped over, but I want to let everybody know my legislative intent. I'm sure some jerk will try and find some loophole, and at that point, we'll strengthen the ordinance. And lastly this may be my last Commission meeting as the Commission president this year I've been a commissioner now for nine years nine consecutive years. I Think this has been the most contentious Year I've seen within these chambers. I hope that I've handled the meetings professionally. I hope that I've represented this commission well. I hope that I've given not only the residents of the city of Sweetwater their time and respect they deserve by giving them ample time, but I hope that I've done a good job. So I want to thank you guys for voting for me last year as commission president. I understand that this role is a byproduct if something happens in the line of succession, but as you saw and how I voted, if something does happen to the mayor, God forbid, and I've said this, I think the mayor is the best mayor in the history of the city of Sweetwater. We may not always agree, but I do think he's the best the city's ever had. So I hope you guys appreciate my time here. And with that, I yield. Does anybody else wish to report anything? No? I saw your finger, Mr. Mayor.

Yes, I have one more thing. I didn't want it to go by without. Remember what you brought to my attention of trying to make Sweetwater the most patriot city because we believe we are with the flags? Yeah, what's happening with the flags? I reached out because we were trying to deal with other things that were also occupying a lot of our time. But I reached out to Home Depot. And I believe that we're in negotiation right now for the sponsorship, and we're trying to get the actual, and we have a Home Depot in our city that proudly says we're in the city of Sweetwater. Okay, finally I spoke to them and they really, really do that with honor. And what better partners? So I'll get to you and to the commissioners. We're looking at exactly the flags that go on the wall. And to do it, not a cheapy thing, something that'll last. And we're looking at a five by three flag. American flag and to be put there not that they have to we're just going to give them the stuff and do it I will work and We'll have a couple of people from hopefully from maintenance and a couple of volunteers and even ourselves if To be able to talk to the residents and in the fourth of July Celebration and for that we're really taking it to a different level this year. I want to do a registration for that and Because it's the 250th birthday of this great country of ours. I want to try to start now and try to get the names and address of the people that want it done. They have to be the owner of the house that agrees to it. And we'll draw something up just so they can sign. And, you know, later on they'll say, I didn't know about this flag being put up here or so on. and making sure, but this came from your request, Mr. President, and I didn't want you guys to think that I have forgotten. It's just where we're looking for the best timing and making sure we have sponsorship.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If I can add to that. Sure. I would ask that, by the way, having a document of the 4th of July is amazing. I would also request that you instruct the city attorney to have them sign a disclaimer and hold harmless agreement.

Well, that's what we're talking about.

I would also request that the flag holder is normally plastic, at least the one they sell at Home Depot. My flag holder, I had to put it down because the plastic broke. So we can have a metal or aluminum, right, with the wall brackets or whatever. So, yeah, I appreciate that. I'm looking forward to it.

Yeah, it's the metal one that is aluminum and it has the spinners for the fly could move and so on. Mine doesn't work that well. So, you know, so I got to figure it out. So as far as that's concerned, we're looking at the home harness, but also at the same time that they accept and they want it there. and that we could put it at that spot, and it entails three screws in the wall, and the flag will go it, that's it. So we'll work on that, and I'll get back to you guys on that. I also have the chief that has some information on the gentleman that spoke earlier. Am I correct, Chief?

Yeah, good evening, Chief Sergio Diaz. So in case those residents that were here about the condo issues get a hold of you or contact you, I personally contacted somebody at the state attorney's office out there with them, we called, and they're going to answer all their questions. So that was taken care of in case you get contacted by any of the residents, okay? Thank you, Chief. Yep.

All right, good to go, Mr. Mayor. City Clerk report.

City Attorney's report. Just quickly, I will be out of the country from the 14th through the 22nd. But I will be available by cell phone. And I will be checking my email at least once a day. So if you need anything, please reach out to me. When I was... When I traveled to California last year, I still did quite a bit of work from San Francisco and L.A. So if you need something, reach out. I may not be able to answer the phone immediately, and I may not be returning the emails immediately, but I will get to it within the next day.

Thank you, Mr. Attorney. The 14th to what date?

Through the 22nd.

All right, so let it be known, any commissioner that contacts the city attorney from the 14th to the 22nd, you guys are scumbags. Let him enjoy his vacation.

Thank you, sir.

Police report? Mr. President, if I could.

Mr. other attorney.

Thank you.

Are you going to be calling the city attorney the 14th? I will not. I'm disappointed in you, sir.

I just want to give you a quick report on the Orlando Lopez case. The case has been removed from state court to federal court. It's been assigned to Judge Michael Moore. there's a pending motion to dismiss that was filed on behalf of the mayor and the city those have not been heard and we have been set for trial uh january 25th 2027 during a two-week trial period and we have been ordered to go to mediation uh before november 6 2026. so it's moving along

Speaking of PMC, thank you. Building and zoning report. Code enforcement, division report, put your finger in the air. Attach public works department report. Finance department. Yep. Community and elderly service report. Great parks and recreation report. Unfinished business. New business. Go to the order. Adjournment. Do we have an adjournment? Do we have a motion to adjourn? Motion to adjourn. Move. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Have a good night, folks.