Council - Regular Meeting

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Alice of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Remain standing for invocation.

Let us pause for a moment of reflection. Gracious and loving God, as we gather for this final console meeting of the year, we pose to give thanks for the privilege of serving our community, for the trust placed in our leaders, and for the dedication of all work to make our city a better home for every resident. In the season of Christmas and holiday celebration, we ask for your spirit of peace, generosity, goodwill to guard our words in the in decision today. May our discussions be thoughtful, our actions be just and our hearts remain open to understand and cooperation. Bless our mayor, our council members, our chief of police and every person present here, staff, partners, members of the public. Heavenly Father, grant us wisdom as we reflect on the year behind us. encourage as we look forward the ye are heard. As our community gathers with family and friends in the coming days, we ask for safety, unity, and joy. May kindness abound in our city and may hope brighten every home. We thank you for our continued guidance for the opportunity to serve with purpose and integrity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Amen. Thank you. You may be seated. Thank you, Commander Ocean, and thank you, Father Balance, for those words of wisdom. Um, order of business. Mr. Attorney, do we have any addition, deletion, amendments, or deferral? U, we're going to move tab D um out of the consent agenda into the regular agenda.

Okay. Is that all? Thank you. Um, with that, we will we have a special presentation um for the city North Miami Centennial 2026 update. Very very exciting time. Who's going to be making that presentation? Thank you. When unable to hear you.

Good evening, mayor and council. Well, good evening everyone. My name is Sabin Dulio. I am the chair of the Centennial Committee and we are honored tonight to present to you the current plan that the Centennial Committee along with staff at North Miami will be pursuing uh to celebrate our 100 years of the city of North Miami. As we go through the PowerPoint, please feel free to ask um any questions and we'll address them to the best of our ability. All right. So, effective January 1st, our Centennial website or Centennial page will go live. Um, and on that page, we'll be able to access the history throughout North Miami, upcoming events, and the events tab will be updated regularly as events are added throughout the year. Additionally, of course, the committee will be presented and there'll be a tab for the Centennial District um map. That tab is interactive and the elected officials will also be doing voiceovers, speaking through. So, if you click on a certain part of the map, you'll hear one of the elected officials talking about that particular location. And that website is www. northmiami.govnom. gov/nomi 100. So, beginning um in January as well, we have our historic trolley rides which will begin on January 24th. They occur quarterly, so January, April, July, and October. These rides um are historic in nature and take the lens of culture, arts, architecture and we expect about 30 person 30 people per ride on that trolley throughout the

city. It will stop in every district um at local eeries briefly, but it will stop at local eeries. And like I mentioned, it will start the second week of um it will start on January 24th, but registration for it will begin the second week of January. In addition, the rides will also feature the homes that were built in 1926 celebrating the centennial, the 100 um anniversary of the city and those homes. And we've identified currently one business in the city that is 100. So, we'll be creating um a sign for them. The homes will get these signs in their yard to identify that they're 100 years old. And the business will have a c a different type of form that they can not form but sign that they can either put in their window or somewhere to identify that they're um 100. Uh a lot of people are familiar with the 100 days of um school if you have little children. And so we're using that as another opportunity to celebrate our 100th birthday and that's with North Miami Elementary. The children will be coming over to city hall to learn about the history of North Miami. Um, and that's going to occur on January 30th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. And then on the 5th is our birthday celebration. And the birthday celebration this year is carnival. We know throughout the city of North Miami, we have a lot of different and diverse cultures. And within every culture, there's a form of carnival. So, starting right here in Mocha Plaza, we're going to start with um the uh cult. We're going to start with a regular cultural

um cultural carnival and then throughout the experience, you'll be able to also go and experience um carnivals from other cultures, Latin cultures, Hispanic cultures, Irish cultures. Um, and so that's what we're doing for our 100th, which is February the 5th of 2026. And as part of that, um, as part of that birthday celebration, we're going to have a lecture series. That lecture series will occur throughout different locations in um, North Miami. They haven't been solidified yet, but one we're talking about is Barry University. Um, and then we're going to do them quarterly, and each quarter is going to focus on a different period of time. So the March series 1926 to 1951, the June series 1951 to 1976. The September series 1976 to 2001. And the December series will focus on 2001 till current 2026. And those lectures will be around culture, gender, arts, architecture, environment, and so forth. And then our culminating event, which will be the Centennial Gayla, will occur December 5th at the FIU Coven Center from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Um the current the committee will be doing a site visit in early January to review the site and begin to discuss what are some of the things we can do to create an eventful um culminating event for the city. Additionally, we talked about putting out a Centennial coin. That coin will be

sold for $11. If they want the pouch for the coin, it will be an additional dollar, making it $12. Um, and it'll be available right here at City Hall for purchase starting January 2026. And it is while supplies last because we did not get an infinite amount of coins. So, it is while supplies last. And lastly, we'll be infusing um centennial um infusions throughout the city's highlighted events that we do annually from the spring egg hunt to the 4th of July celebration to the Nomi um haunted trails as well as the parade just like we did this past Thanksgiving. We had the centennial float there. So, we'll be continuing to infuse centennial activities throughout the celebrations that the city does normally, questions,

any any comments or questions up here. Go ahead, Councilman Burns. Um, thank you for being here tonight. Thank you for the update. Um I know you've been working closely with staff to try to get this put together. Um I have some questions regarding the the gala and if we can have an item madame manager

add it on our January meeting u for the discussion of the gala um the purpose of it um the exclusivity of it because of the prices that are being thrown around of a ticket sales and a limited capacity of the number of people that can attend and where some of the money supposedly being recommended. Ed as far as it somebody one particular organization within the city benefiting it as a fundraiser which I would oppose. I believe if any money was raised if we have a gala should go back to the city to disperse through the budget process not at the behest of one person or another. I think it should go through the budget process if we actually raise any money from that particular event. Um me personally rather see a much bigger festival outdoor event where the whole community would come together free of charge. I know we're doing a lot of little ones but I don't understand the reasoning for a um such a high-end gala. Um and again don't want to belver the point tonight but if we can have this discussion um in nove in u January when we come back um of that because um all the stuff that has this is all all new information to me of what you all are doing or have decided to do and I think the uh I think that the fact that the you're you're finally informing the council on some of these decisions is [music] good but um I would like to have that discussion later on um with So before you go, madame manager, I'd like to just remind us that we all appointed um have appointees on the committee and so we have given the the authority to the committee to make um to you know to make recommendations decisions. I just just wanted to remind us that but go ahead madam manager. Yeah, each person has representation on

the committee each uh council member. But just um just on the point the birthday celebration is the large outdoor on the birthday of the centennial that is open to the public that is outdoor the type of event that you just described. That is the birthday centennial celebration on February 5th, 2026.

7:16 p.m. Vice Mayor Timothy is present. I I have my three appointees have uh I I stay in contact with them and they've given me back their feedback that you know the majority of all the items have already been decided by staff and put forward to the centennial committee and um raising a few concerns again later on madame manager like to have that discussion on the item in January. Um, and also, uh, it's the council's decision of how the money is expended and they're an advisory board to the the city. They don't make the final expenditures. Uh, [music] we do. And so, um, I want to make sure because whatever is reflective of the good work you guys are doing, the good and the bad comes back to us on on how it got to hap, what happened, and how it happened. Um, and if we're in the dark, um, that's not a good position to be in when we're supposed to be, uh, guiding the the policies along. So, it's great. It's exciting some of the things you all are planning and I look forward to them. U, it's just that one particular issue I have some questions about.

Thank you. Thank your efforts. Okay. Um, Councilman Charles, is there anything you'd like to say? Um, on on that point, um, just want to touch um, real quick on um, Thank you. advertising. How do we um advertise the the event everything that's going on? Mhm. I'm going to ask Yama, how are we advertising? Through our regular newsletters and our ENU Leslers, social media, the normal forms that we usually inform the community of the things that city does, which would be our emails, social media. Um that's how we're getting all of this information out to them.

Yeah. One of the main reason why I ask um is that uh um looking at the all the cities we have um we happen to have the centennial driving around on each and every billboard on those cities I see the spirit of the centennial but not enough Miami so I'm just just curious to see exactly what happened is that something that we need to discuss or it is something that you guys are working on because by Wow. Every billboard.

Councilman, if I may, because I know I sit on the centennial committee along with everyone. Good evening, everyone. Um, as you know, the committee probably only met, I think, about three or four times, and they probably had a couple of days to scramble to put a presentation together. So, thank you, Sabine, and to the committee for putting um this presentation together. Um, but they're working in tandem with this internal cities, you know, city um centennial um you know, I guess employees. I'm not going to call them a board. Um, and I do believe I'm not sure if there's a marketing firm being brought on, but because things are a little bit late in the um in preparation because, you know, we've had a busy year. Um, those things are being on boarded shortly, but I know that there's plans for um flag pose and so forth and seal the seal is being branded in, you know, everything that we try to do, especially with our major commemorative month events. Um, and so that's something that the committee's not charged with, but I think that's more so internal staff um, making sure that those um, those things are getting done with.

Okay. All righty. Any other questions from the board? Right. I Yes, I do. I just wanted to the public to know. Do you sit on those? Yeah, I'm the elected official who sit on the board. I am not the chair. Sabine and I think Rob, your husband, Councilman is um, the vice chair. I kind of just sit um and if anything I feel like needs to be brought before the council, I believe it'll be brought before you all. So, thank you for, you know, giving us this update and Sabine has been doing a fantastic job. [laughter]

Well, I just want to tell you, thank you so much for the presentation. Um just, you know, I just want to echo what the sentiment of Councilman um Pier France Charles that please the advertising. And I want to make sure that our residents, the ones that are open to the public, that they have ample time, information in all languages to let them know that we are celebrating 100 years. Absolutely. Thank you, madam.

Thank you. Is that it first to the centennial committee? Okay. Next on we have city events. I know this is our last meeting until next year. I think January 26th is our next meeting after this one, Madam Manager. Oh, January 27th. Okay. Thank you. Is it up there? Is it up, please? Here we go. Beautiful. Good evening, mayor, council, staff, North Miami neighbors, and guests. My name is Beverly Graham, and I am presenting the following announcements on behalf of the city of North Miami. Please support Hurricane Melissa relief efforts by donating the listed supplies such as water, hygiene kits, canned foods, batteries, and tarps. Drop off items at Apologies. Drop off items at the North Miami Police Department or Suniss Grove Community Center Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. No use clothing or linens will be accepted. For more information, please call 3058959815.

Seems like a pretty simple.

Students, get ready to succeed. Councilman Pierre France Charles hosts the thforce smart tutoring every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 400 pm to 7 pm at the Suniss Grove Community Center. For more details and registration, please contact 786-543303014. Councilman Pierre France Charles presents the District 4 adult community literacy program. The classes take place every Monday from 400 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sunis Grove Community Center, offering free hands-on classes. Participants will learn basic computer skills, email setup, internet navigation, and resume writing. For details, please contact Espiron Joseph at e josephorthmiami.gov or call 786-9183772. Unleash your creativity with Canva Create at the North Miami Public Library every Thursday at 2:30 p.m. This free design class is open to all ages and teaches participants how to create flyers, social media graphics, and more. To register, call the library at 305891-5535. The angel tree is up at North Miami City Hall. Please help us make the holidays brighter for local children by selecting an angel from the tree and fulfilling a gift wish. Please bring unwrapped age appropriate gifts no later than Thursday, December 11th. Your kindness can make a world of difference this season. The tree is located on level two of the city hall. Explore the beauty of nature at our birding basics workshop on Saturday, December 13th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Enchanted Forest at Lane Gordon Park. Led by Brian Reposa, this half-day field trip introduces participants to essential birding skills. For more information, call 7862552995. Mark your calendars for the upcoming Getting Gear community bike ride happening this Saturday, December 13th. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the

ride will start approximately at 8:30 a.m. The route ends and begins at Mocha Plaza. This month's event takes place every second Saturday and encourages residents to stay active, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with the community. Vice Mayor Cassandra Timothy presents Breakfast with Santa, a fun-filled morning of holiday activities, breakfast, and the perfect Christmas photo with Santa. Join the fun on Saturdays, December 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 1 pm at afespace park. Register at D2 breakfast with Santa.eventbbright.com. The second workshop in the ongoing archive series for Mocha Makers will take place on Saturday, December 13th from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will create their own hats to adorn themselves while exploring the subject of adornment, decoration, and fashion as an archive. This series is curated in collaboration with Black Miami Dade. For more information, contact the Museum of Contemporary Arts, North Miami at 3058936211. District 4 Councilman Pierre Franch invites you to the third annual holiday celebration, tree lighting, and toy giveaway on Monday, December 15th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Joe Ellison Community Center. To RSVP, please visit ww.3rd annual district 4 toy giveaway.eventbbright.com. Proof of residency with a valid Florida issued ID is required. For more information, contact 786-918-3772. The North Miami Public Library is pleased to announce the unveiling of its new 24-hour mobile kiosk during an official ribbon cutting ceremony. This innovative addition will allow residents to enjoy convenient 24-hour access to library materials, marking exciting milestone in expanding community services. The ribbon [snorts] cutting will take place Tuesday, December 16th at 10 a.m. in front of the Joe Ellison Community Center.

On Tuesday, December 16th, North Miami elected city clerk Vanessa Joseph is in collaboration with state representative D. Joseph and the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles brings a convenient driver's license mobile clinic services directly to the community. The mobile office will be located at the North Miami Public Library. In order to schedule your appointment, please call 3058959817 or email city clerk@ northmiami.gov. Councilwoman Mary Esme Irvin invites you to save the date for Winter Wonderland 2025. This festive celebration will take place on Friday, December 19th from 6:00 p.m. to 1000 p.m. at Griffin Park. Residents of all ages are welcome to attend and enjoy an evening of holiday magic, seasonal activities, and family-friendly entertainment. To RSVP, please visit ww.winter wonderland2025.eventbbright.com. The city of North Miami Corgley invites you to the community to the 2025 Manora lighting ceremony on Sunday, December 21st from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mocha Plaza. This year's ceremony will be hosted by Vice Mayor Cassandra Timothy and attendees are encouraged to RSVP at 2025 nomi manuraing.eventbbright.com. eventbrite.com. The last Friday of every month is reserved for jazz at Mocha and this month's performance features Lzanne Lions on Friday, December 26th. Seating opens at 7:00 p.m. Please note that seating is first come, first serve, but guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs. The North Miami Housing and Social Services Department is excited to announce the 2026 leaders in training program. This opportunity is open to high school students who want to grow their leadership skills. Build a strong resume and gain hands-on experience through a paid summer internship. Eligible applicants must live in North Miami and be enrolled from grades 9 to 12. Applications have already opened starting January 1st. For more

information, contact the housing and social services department at 3058936511 extension 20,000. Councilwoman Mary Esme Urban and Proudley presents the 7th annual Sup Jamu celebration, a cherish a cherished community tradition honoring Haitian heritage and unity. This year's celebration will take place on Thursday, January 1st, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Residents are invited to join Councilwoman for a morning of culture, community spirit, and the symbolic sharing of soup Jimu. For more information, please contact District 3 at northmiami.gov or call 786385-2576. The North Miami Public Library is excited to present its 2026 Zoom Beanie Winter Session, a fun and interactive program designed for children's ages 0 to6. Families are invited to sing, dance, and bond with their little ones through the winter season. Classes will be held every Monday from 10:00 a.m. at 10:00 a.m. from January through March 6, January 5th through March 16th with no sessions on January 19th or February 16th. To register, please scan the QR code on the flyer. And for more information, please contact the library at 305891-5535. To stay up to date with Nomi news, events, programs, and services, log on to North Miami's official website at ww.northmiami.gov. Click connect with Nomi on the homepage and sign up for the city's newsletters. Also, give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram at northm and on xf follow@nomi news. This concludes the city announcements.

Thank you. Um, we have no appointments. Um, next consent agenda. Unless a member of the city council wishes to remove a specific item from this portion of the agenda, tabs A through C constitute the consent agenda. These resolutions and items are self-explanatory and are not expected to require additional review or discussion. These items will be recorded as individually numbered resolutions adopted unanimously by the following motion. That the consent agenda comprised of tabs A through C be adopted. Do I hear a motion on the move? Second. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Charles to approve the consent agenda. Seconded by Councilman Burns. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Yes. No. I oppose.

No. Yeah. Answer is no. [clears throat] You oppose? I oppose. Okay. Motion carries with a 3-1 vote. Tab D as a tab D. A proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, recognizing January 1 as Haitian Independence Day and honoring and honoring the historical significance of subjun providing for an effective date and all other purposes. Tab D. Madame manager, do you have an explanation or a presentation or anything?

Public hearing is now open on tab D as in dog. Public hearing is now open. Jim Garrett, 247 Britney app. Eventually, if I can find an apartment down here, I will move down. I'm I miss you guys. I'm in favor of this, but they we need to look at all the events in this city. We're going to have a lot of events in that chair. Okay,

that's number one. Number two, we need to be fiscal responsible. So, we need to seek sponsorships, you know, and we need to rank these because the major ones are Haitian Independence Day. Okay, here the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, right? Thanksgiving or major events. And then we should have the regular community events every month. And we could have Martin Luther King Day. Um um um um Black History Month. No, on Lincoln Day. And then we could St. Patty's Day. And then we have we have the Easter hunt. Then we have Jewish Independence Day. We have we have Memorial Day. We have Flag Day. We have the 4th of July. We have Labor Day. We have we have um you know we have the Halloween celebration in this city. We have we have Veterans Day. We have the Thanksgiving parade and then we have you know we need to look at the event and the Christmas celebrations in this city and everything. We need to you know space them out. It's good to have that. And I'm think we should have a special department, special events and have that transparent and you know with it budget and we can show the the revenue source and the spend source. I have no problem with having a party. I used to throw a good good gate party at the University of Miami and we could we could act you know and I had so many freeloaders at my party. It was funny and people thought I was supposed to running for some office in day county in the 90s when I worked at M. I was director of financial aid for two years. So I I'm for bringing the community together because that brings the community together and that makes us so that we all have four common things. Number one, we were born by a woman. Number two, we all we all believe the same. Number three, we all do the number two and number four, we all going to die one day in face of the law.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jim. Public hearing is still open on tab D. Seeing none, public hearing is now closed. Do I move for approval? Second. And thank you, Jim. I hope maybe you can apply for some of the CRA apartments when they have the lottery. I have a motion made by Councilwoman Mayor to approve the item at tab D. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Timothy. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Item passes with a four zero vote.

Tab E. Tab E. a resol a proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, calling for the election of the mayor, two council members, one for council district number two and one for council district number three with the election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each evenumbered year or November 3rd, 2026 with any necessary runoff election to be held on December 1st, 2026 as provided by the charter of the city of North Miami and the city of North Miami code of ordinances providing the qualifying period for candidates, providing for the closing of registration books, providing the hours and locations for voting, providing for an effective date, and all other purposes. Tab E.

Thank you. Public hearing is now open on tab E. Public hearing is now open.

Jim Garrett, 247, Britney F, No Beach, Florida 33 446. You I'm like a computer tonight. We need to also consider maybe putting a ballot question on this on this election about the city clerk's office where it becomes a official office and it gets paid it's compensated in a fair way and it become one of the charter officers along with the city attorney and the city manager. That number one number two we need to adopt that the mayor's office becomes two four-year terms maximum. I think this two-year stuff that we've been doing for the last 50 years does not work. They need somebody. I don't care who it is, but we need consistency here. We in competition with other cities. NB, okay? And NB stands for North Miami is better, okay? And M and Miami Shores, okay? And and and we're Hollywood and and Delray Beach. They all have mayors that serve two four-year terms. And Halia has a dynamic mayor and he's he's under the strong for mayor of government. That's the second thing. And the third thing we need to look at is the remap because I know Councilman Charles, you probably have the most residents in your district. And the other three, remember Scott used to come over and help Alex on four with requests and everything. And I tell you, Kevin has a senior thing and everybody knows Kevin, so they always bug him like I do 247. Thank you.

Thank you. Public hearing is still open on tap E. Seeing none, public hearing is now closed. Um, I do have a slight amendment, um, Mr. Attorney, I don't know, I know we discussed this earlier, um, to this resolution, um, knowing that the midterms is on the 18th, if we can move the qualifying date, um, I guess up until the last day would be on the 7th. So, do I need to put on on the day is well, do I need to put on record what the date should be, or do I just say,

um, as we discussed, I'd prefer because the way our code currently reads, it's 85 and 75 days before the election. Um, I'd rather keep that language and just change it uh 90 and 80 days before the election. And I think that uh does what you're what you wanted to do was to move up uh the dates. Um the only issue with that is that our code currently reads 85 and 75.

And so if that was an amendment tonight and everyone voted for it, um we're kind of doing it backwards as we discussed only because um this resolution is required by the election department. So we have to get this done tonight. that's why it came on the agenda so late. Um so it's with the understanding that if we change the date tonight in January we'll be coming back with an ordinance changing that [music] whatever date you all decide um in January and February. If we don't do I'm just going to put it on the record. If we don't do that we will have a problem because at that point you will have a you'll have qualifying dates that went to the election department that are different from what what's in our our ordinance. Okay. Do you guys have any questions as it relates to what's the purpose of changing the qualifying dates?

So, right now, as it states, um, our qualifying dates, um, I believe the election department had requested like the earlier the better because they have primaries on the 18th. So, moving it forward so it doesn't, you know, coincide and that we have that debacle going on. Madame city clerk, does your office uh, is your office okay with the the change? It's up to the council to make that decision. But your supervisor of election for the city of North Miami when that takes place. And didn't we reach out to the

and you you deal back and forth with the election department? Yeah, we communicated to them that there was a request for such change just to get it approved because we actually submit an application well in advance. So for example, this year we would have already submitted for 2027 or 2028. So we just have to, you know, update that. But we told them what was coming down and they checked and they agreed to that. Okay. Thank you. So that is my So I'll move the item with the stated amendment. Second. Um, you had a question?

Yeah. No, I have a quick question. Um, uh, Mr. the city attorney. Um, for the point that was just raised about the city clerk's office and uh the mayor's term, I know we talked about that. Uh, we we had we had a discussion on that. Um, if um we were to um entertain something like that, is that for the charter board you're speaking of? Yes.

Oh, I think we'd have to call the charter board to order. But I mean I I have to look because the charter board has met several times and that has been a recommendation of the charter board as long as I remembered. So I don't know that we need to go back. I think you that that may still be out there that you can just adopt that. Actually I don't even know that you even need the charter board to do that. Okay. So we could if we wanted to move forth with ballot language just let us know and then we'll figure out how to get how to get it done. Okay. Thank you. Been moved. I have a motion made by Vice Mayor Timothy to approve the item at tab E with the stated amendment. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Mayor Irvin. All in favor?

Any opposed? Item passes with a 40 vote. Tab F. Tab F. A proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, authorizing the city manager to issue purchase orders to AIPUS LLC in an aggregate amount not to exceed $327,674 for the purchase of network infrastructure upgrades throughout the city pursuant to section 7-121 parenthesis 21 of the city code providing for an effective date and all other purposes. Tab F. Madam manager, do we have a presentation on this one or is this one is self-explanatory? This is for IT and this is budgeted. This is for the IT and this is a budgeted item for the network upgrade.

This is from the million dollars we gave them last year after we have it. Okay. So, okay. Public hearing is now open on tab F. Seeing none, public hearing is now closed. Move for approval. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Charles to approve the item at tab F. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Estee Irvin. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Item passes with a 40 vote. Tab G. A proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, authorizing the city manager to issue purchase orders for the purchase of three sport utility vehicles at an approximate aggregate cost not to exceed $170,000 from various competitively selected vendors utilizing the cooperative purchasing provision pursuant to section 7-169 of the city code awarded through the Florida Sheriff's Association FSA25-VL 33.0 providing foreign effective date and all other purposes. Tab G. Thank you. Meta manager. I don't think you have a presentation on this one. No presentation. For which department? Police.

Oh, this is for police. Okay. Public hearing is now open on tab G. Seeing none. Public hearing is now closed. Move for approval. Second. I have a motion made by Councilwoman Esta Irvin to approve the item tab G. The motion was second by Councilman Charles. All in favor? I.

Uh. Any opposed? Item passes with a 40 vote. Tab H. A proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, authorizing the city manager and city attorney to negotiate and execute a maintenance agreement between the city of North Miami and Envision Wear, Inc. for the 24hour library kiosk located at 1525 Northwest 135th Street in an amount not to exceed $67,000 providing for an effective date and all other purposes. Tab H. Um, this is the maintenance agreement. We had it when we um built out the U 24-hour library services. that continues to do the maintain and know the books are kept in there electronically. So, this is the maintenance agreement and this is for the the 24-hour library that's opening on this weekend. Yeah, that's a JCC.

Yes. Okay. So, with that 24 hours, people can go and check out the library. They use the library card. Yes. Sure. There'll be some kind of like video how to use it. Yeah. Okay. And do we have cameras around that? We do have cameras there just to make sure. Not they say you know nothing's going on with the west side but just want to make sure councilmen that had 24 hours secured. Um public hearing is did I already open public hearing? No. Okay. Public hearing is open on tab H. Seeing none. Public hearing is now closed. Discussion is your district.

No. Quickly, uh, one thing that I would add, uh, is there any way that we put some type of, um, door with some entry code into, um, this, um, uh, library that we have for the 24-hour library? Yeah. Um, we can look into it. There was a very extensive process on that design. Um, but I I can look into that because the the process itself and getting the permits for having it there was an extensive process to begin with. But we can look into it, see if there's some way.

The only reason why is like um because the way it is being shaped, I think people just got in there and on the side and left uh bags sitting there and everything. So, we probably need to find a way to uh um you know, close it so that people don't have um easy access and just use it as um they will. Yeah. Thank you. Did you want to make the motion, Councilman? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Move for approval. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Charles to approve the item H. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Estimate Irvin. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Item passes with a 40 vote. Tab I. A proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, authorizing a third amendment to the professional services agreement between the city of North Miami and government and ERP implementation services LLC for additional consulting services needed for the implementation of the enterprise resource planning parenthesis ERP software system and project management in an amount not to exceed $150,000 providing for an effective date and all other purposes. Tab I.

Madam manager, I don't Yeah, as you know that we are implementing the ERP and as we do that and have to continue to do the mapping um we need the consulting services. Um we expect that there's going to be another request but that should be in the next fiscal year but we believe that this should fit us for the another what I'm sorry um that there will be another amendment to the agreement in terms of services as we go to the next phase in the next fiscal year. Okay, thank you. Public hearing is open on tab I. Seeing none, public hearing is now closed. Let's move for approval. Second, madame manager.

Was this originally awarded um through an RFP or a request for proposals or or qualifications? How was this original contract? This goes back like three, four years. Yeah. I would have to see when it kind of came in, but Alberto. Yes. Uh through the manager. Uh originally it was done as a bid waiver [snorts]

uh to bring uh the company on board as the manager stated. Uh this is a company that's been assisting us in the uh transition from our previous Tyler Eden platform uh to the new Munis platform. And uh so yeah, they were brought on board based on their experience. They have extensive experience in assisting other cities uh with similar transitions uh over to Munis. So that was the reason they were brought on board as a bid waiver. That's how they were brought on board.

Okay. It's just that every amendment comes with a big price tag and we're already being forewarned there's another amendment coming and we just have to keep an eye on it that this isn't uh you know they got it without competitive bidding and and they're experts in their field but um the dollar amounts climbing up there very quickly and uh that it's not uh open-ended. um they should be able to project and kind of understand what they were getting into prior um to doing this and that you know we got to watch how it continues to escalate. That's all I have to say. Thank you. All righty.

Motion made by councilwoman as mayor to approve the item at tab I. Motion was seconded by councilman Charles. All in favor? Any opposed? Item passes with a 40 vote. Tab J. Thank you. Tab J. A proposed resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, authorizing the city manager and city attorney to execute the 5-year interlocal agreement between the city of North Miami and Miami date county storm water utility for storm water management in substantially the attached form to establish mutual responsibilities for the maintenance of shared storm water systems by the city and the utility providing for an effective date and all other purposes. Tab J.

Madam manager, no. Do you have a reporter? We don't have a presentation, but this is um agreement that we continue to have um with the county that we um pursue again time after time um in order to make distinctions between who's going to maintain and how we maintain the storm water management system. Does the county share with us like their listing of projects that are occurring in our area just so that um there's some type of coordination? Um when it comes to the storm water specifically usually yeah there is coordination between the two. Just want to make sure.

Thank you. Public hearing is open on tab J. There's two mics if anybody else would like to come.

Jim Garrett 247 Britney app. My question is this. Is this the famous Wasup fee that they charge us on our water bill for the secondary treatment of the sewage? And can we negotiate that with the county? I mean, we we're sharing the facilities with them. They I mean, we're taking 50% of the risks on these these these drains and everything. And you got a good point, Vice Mayor Timothy, is the projects. They came down 135th Street and they didn't tell no one. They dug up the street and that was a sewer line for Miami Lakes and Hyia. It went right straight down and they went day county has treated us pretty badly and they and they still want a water company wants a water company. We have the best walls in the city that why our drinking water is so good and I remember the water and sewer board that used to regulate or rates and we couldn't charge Biscane Park outside city 25% more. We were losing money in the 80s under the leaf administration and Joe Wild got us out of that deal. We eliminated Wasa. Us, NMBB, Opaaka, Halia, Homestead all got to got together and we got rid of Wasp. And I know they want to put it back in. The the county mayor is looking for revenue and she wants to run us out of business and some cities want to sell us water, but we have our own utility. Thank God.

Thank God. Public hearing is now closed. discussion or questions from the board. Move for approval. Second.

I have a motion made by Councilman Charles to approve the item at Tab J, seconded by Councilwoman Esta May I Urban. All in favor? Any opposed? Item passes with a 40 vote. Tab K. I propose second reading ordinance of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida amending chapter 19 of the code of ordinances entitled utilities by amending article 7 entitled storm water utility at division 3 entitled surface water and storm water management to amend the development standards procedures and permitting requirements relating to drainage imperous surfaces and storm water infrastructure providing for repeal conflict severability cotification and for an effective date tab K. This is second reading of the ordinance. Um,

this was the changes that Durm the county Yeah, these are the changes that Durham had put into the county ordinance that required us to do our ordinance in order um to do certain um specific um reviews for impervious services under different certain conditions without having to go back for additional derm review. Okay, public hearing is open on tab K. Seeing none, public hearing is now closed. question. Move for approval. Board. None. Second. I have a motion made by Councilwoman Mayuran to approve the item at Tab Kade. The motion was seconded by Councilman Charles. Councilwoman Mayor, how do you vote? Yes. Councilman Charles, how do you vote? Yes.

Mayor Desme is absent. Councilman Burns, how do you vote? Yes. Vice Mayor Timothy, how do you vote? Motion carries with a 40 vote. When does this take effect? Is it immediately or do you give some time?

Um M or Deb? Um, this is the second reading, so it should go in pretty much um 10 days after this. Tab L. A proposed second reading ordinance of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, adopting amendments to volume 1, goals, objectives, and policies of the city of North Miami, 2045, comprehensive plan in accordance with the requirements of section 163.3184, parentheses 3, Florida statutes 2024 and chapter 29, article 3, division 11, section 3-102, parenthesis, capital A, and sections 3- 1105 through 3-110 of the city of North Miami Code of Ordinances, specifically by amending the future land use element to create a new Northwest 7th Avenue Cultural Arts and Innovation Overlay District with related goals, objectives, and policies and amending the future land use map to reflect the boundary of the new overlay district, providing foreign adoption hearing and subsequent transmitt of the proposed amendments and supporting data and analyses to the state land planning agency for a determination of completeness. Providing for repeal, conflict, severability, and an effective date. Tab L.

Is this the culture arts center item, madam manager? Yeah. Okay. And this is coming back with us with the amendment. Yeah. The cultural arts. You're m you're right. Um the cultural arts district, both of them with the amendment from the last meeting. Okay. Yeah. From last meeting. Okay. Public hearing is open on tab L.

Jim Garrett 247. Um, Delway Beach, Florida 33446. I'm just going to give you perspective. This city has already one, two, three cultural arts districts. One on Dy Highway and I can show you where the sign is by the chamber. Okay? And it was that block between 131st to 133rd by the library. We have one here at Mocha when Mocha came here. And then one back in the Alfredo administration where we were trying to get people to go in the art the warehouses off of 14th Avenue. I think what we should do is have one district like a U with the library and Mary's district all the way down to Mocha over to the warehouses. That way artists will go. Artists are not going to go to 7th Avenue. They need warehouses. They need that thing. Now 7th Avenue would be great. I'm in favor of it. It should be a community-based [clears throat] entertainment and technology medical district. And we have a food desert over there. We need to have two rest two grocery stores over there. And I'll give you some names. AI is looking for a location. Aies. BJ's is into BJ Markets now. And why don't we get a Walmart neighborhood market, the smaller one. And we need a we need a department store like like like Bed Coke Factory or Marshalls or TJ Maxx on 7th Avenue. Those people are workingass people. They've been over there since 45. The only thing that have changed is the skin color and everything. It's a workingass neighborhood. It's not a artist neighborhood or artist think should be here. We should focus on downtown North Miami and we should be for North Miami the whole city. Thank you.

Thank you. We did have just a point of privilege. I just wanted to get one clarification from the planning director. Just want to clarify that the that this district is up to Northwest 135th Street, right? The cultural arts overlay to 135th. 119th to 135th. Okay. Thanks. Along Northwest 7th Avenue. Along Northwest 7. Question. Oh, discussion up here. Councilman, you have the

question. Um, there's an item on here having to [clears throat] deal with a North Miami Convention Center located at 138th Street. Was it purposely left out of the overlay district or the this Northwest 7th Avenue district? The district was established by city council for um prior to that project coming in [music] online of the boundaries of the overlay district. [clears throat] Okay. Okay. Is that your only question? Yeah. All righty.

Question. Do I hear a motion on the item? So move. Second. I have a motion made by Councilwoman Estran to approve the item at Tab L. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Timothy. Vice Mayor Timothy, how do you vote? Yes. Councilwoman Eston Mayor Irvin, how do you vote? Yes. Councilman Burns, how do you vote? No. All right. Councilman Pier. Councilman Pier French Charles, how do you vote?

Uh, yes. The motion carries with a 3-1 vote. Tab M, a proposed second reading ordinance of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, providing for text amendments to chapter 29 of the city of North Miami code of ordinances entitled land development regulations by amending article 4 zoning districts, article 5 development standards, and article 7 definitions furthering the implementation of the Northwest 7th Avenue Cultural Arts and Innovation Overlay District providing for repeal conflict severability, correction of scrier's errors, and for an effective date tab M. Thank you, Madam Manager. This is the companion item for the last item. It is. Okay, no problem. Public hearing is open on tap M.

Since we have now a cultural district, here's my question. We spent so much money on Chinatown, okay? Including a Super Bowl party with Luke Campbell, if I remember, and I lived there. I lived in this district at 645 Northwest 132nd Street from 1972. I grew up there right next to I 95. So, if somebody's laughing about it, I know more about the city than most of you. But I want to say this. I want to say this. How much money are we going to spend on this one? How much are we spending? I want to know. Now, now I'm putting on my CFO hat and my fiscal responsible hat. Okay. This city has limited resources and we need to be spending our money on our water sewer system and get it up to Paul so we have the best drinking water in North Miami because that water saved my life in 2017 when they came to me and they said I had liver [clears throat] cancer. You got people out there that's struggling that are struggling to make the bills. Think about that. And things are going to get harder. We're we we're heading for a recession people and maybe a depression. The market is too high and and prices are too high out there. Think about that. People are getting laid off and we got AI coming around. So, we need to be fiscal prudent and be ready for that rainy day when it happens.

Thank you, Mr. Garrett. Move for approval. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Charles to approve the animate tab M seconded by Councilwoman Esteem Irvin. Councilman Burns, how do you vote? No. Councilwoman Estim Irvin, how do you vote? Yes. Councilman Charles, how do you vote? Yes. Vice Mayor Timothy, how do you vote? Yes. The motion carries with a 3-1 vote. Madam manager, this one has no fiscal implication. Does it? No. Okay. At that. Thank you.

Please be advised that the following items on the agenda are quasi judicial in nature. If you wish to speak in favor of, object to, or comment on an item, please complete a public speaker card indicating the agenda item number on which you would like to comment, you must be sworn before addressing the city council, and you may be subject to cross-examination. If you refuse to submit to cross-examination, the city council will not consider your comments in its final deliberation. Please also disclose any exparte communications you may have had with any members of city council, and city council members must do the same. Thank you. So once again, thank you.

I know you do. So good. Uh so there are public speakers cards out in the entrance of chamber. So if you plan to speak on tabs N or O, please complete a public speaker card and turn it in up here. Tab N, a proposed quasi judicial resolution of the mayor. Oh well, let me swear everyone in first. So, if you plan to speak on the item, please stand, raise your right hand so I can swear you in. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony that you are about to give in these proceedings are the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? If so, say aloud, I do. I do.

Thank you. Tab N. A proposed quasi judicial resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, approving an application for a site plan in substantially the attached form for a proposed hotel and convention center development consisting of a 20story building with 326 hotel units and an integrated parking garage with 528 parking spaces on five parcels of real property located at 13840 Northwest 6th Court, 13860 Northwest 6th Court, 13890 Northwest 6th Court, Court, 13910 Northwest 6 Court and 13950 Northwest 6 Court identified with Miami Date County Folio numbers 06-2124-002- 0770 06-2124-002-780 06-2124-002- 079 06-2124-002 2- 0800 0 and 06-2124-002-810 and totaling approximately 06 I'm just kidding approximately 0.75 acres 32,500 square ft in accordance with article 2 division 7 section 2-701 and article 3 division 2 sections 3-204 through 3-206 and article 3 division 3 section 3- 302 of the city of North Miami code of ordinances, chapter 29, entitled land development regulations providing for an effective date and all other purposes. Tab N. Thank you, Debbie. Good evening, Vice Mayor and Council. For the record, Debbie Love, development services, I'm sorry, community planning and development director. The item

before you is a site plan approval. as uh um Madame Clerk uh read very carefully all of the addresses. They're all on Northwest Six Court. You can see the location on your screen. Um the current uses uh consist of a warehouse on uh at at one of the locations and the remaining parcels are each developed with a single family home. It's zone C1 on the future land use map. It's a commercial office and it's also within the northwest 7th Avenue planned corridor development district which allows 200 ft height on the east side and 150 dwelling units per acre through a conditional unit conditional use permit. In this case, this is an as of right development that is before you this evening. Um they it is a 20story 352 unit hotel and convention center. Uh as the title said they have 528 um space parking garage. Um there is a typo on here. There is not a community benefits agreement proposed for this project. Um and it will be certified green building. The DRC approved this project in August of 2025 subject to the installation of uh a six foot wide sidewalk along the northwest 6th Avenue frontage. Uh all utilities must be uh underground and they need to apply for a building permit within 18 months of the site plan approval and the because there are so many parcels they will have to unify it into one unified development site. That is the end of my proposal. The applicant is here. They do have a brief proposal to share with you and they are here to answer any questions that you may have.

Is there a presentation from your PowerPoint? Does this work? Yes, it does. [laughter] Good evening. Hi. Um, happy to be here once again to present another project. Um, and um although it's a little different than the previous projects we were presenting, um, I'm very happy to continue to work. Name and address for the record, please.

Yes. Sorry. My um name is Arturo Grigo with G3 um and we're representing um the owners of this property who want to develop a hotel. Um it's uh I've had the privilege of working with these particular clients for over 20 years. I've known them very well. Um and um they're a second generation Miami real estate family who's arrived decades ago. And um I met them like I said about 20 years ago. and we built uh they've built a strong track record of working not only in real estate but also in hotels. They've operated hotels in Miami Beach. They've worked with flags and they they know the process pretty well at this point, all the ups and downs. Um so I understand they I I believe they understand hospitality inside and out and they know how to deliver projects with operational excellence. Tonight, we're proud to bring some of that proven experience to North Miami with the proposed hotel and convention center at 13860 Northwest 6th Court. It's a 21-story building as as Debbie mentioned with uh with 352 um hotel rooms. It's 14,000 ft of flexible multi-purpose space or banquet space and a small office component and a rooftop amenity deck. The total height is under the 200 foot um uh limit under the PCD and that includes the occupiable roof deck. So we actually worked with staff during the process to lower the building a little bit to make sure that everything was well below the the limitations. The site is uh 32,500 square f feet combined. We have over 500 parking spaces that um are all lined within the the podium which I'll get to in a little bit and discuss the project. and we have uh 58 EV chargers and 56 bicycle spaces. Um we're currently below the 80% maximum footprint and we're 20 and we're over the minimum um open space requirements. All setbacks are compliant as mentioned. It is uh as of right uh request and um

and the parking is also fully code compliant. the location immediately adjacent to I95 in the plan corridor overlay um which is I think is created specifically for projects like this and buffered from the single family neighborhoods to the south and to the east in terms of the design language the ground the ground is dedicated uh to arrival fostering connections of the surrounding areas while primarily accessed by car but there's an ample um drop off and pickup area that we've incorporated into the building in addition to this we've incorporated a restaurant to encourage some neighborhood um some neighborhood activity and to have a connectivity at two scales because this building really is a big building and the highway is a big element right in front of it. Um 7th Avenue is a major corridor. Um so there's all these elements at a large scale but we we wanted to start to introduce sort of that pedestrian um along with the requirement of the sixoot sidewalk. We wanted to introduce that pedestrian friendliness to it. So, we do have some ground level activity happening there on the north side of the building. Um, so moving vertically up the building, the parking garage is screened with the high-end metal panel system that shields the interior components through its unique profile design, meaning that the the screen itself doesn't allow allows air and ventilation to pass through it, but it doesn't allow the components to be visible. Thank you. doesn't allow like the internal components of a typical parking garage to be visible at all, whether it's a pipe or whether it's lights or any of that other stuff. Um, now on the facade of the um uh the parking garage, um there is um I think there's a rendering so you can get to um there is um there is these dynamic lighting strips that you can see that we've put on the facade of the building. So that those are sort of indicative of movement, sort of reflective of the highway that we're we're up against. So that again you experience this building at different scales from a pedestrian all the way to

a vehicular to a to an occupant. Um above the garage are the typical hotel unit floors. They feature varied screening elements throughout the building's body. Those also represent this movement to us as designers. Um it's inspired by the expressway and the moving components of the neighborhood. Um it also provides guests with a sense of privacy on their individual units. So you go out to a balcony, there's a screening element. So you although you have these wonderful views both east and west you'll see the airports opa and the MIA as well as looking east you'll get water views for sure at the upper levels but you also want to have these elements of um these private moments where people can have within their own um hotel experiences. Um capping the top is is the glass storefront system that maximizes views from the multi-purpose space. Um, this multi-purpose space as mentioned is about 14 between 14 and 15,000 square feet. It can be broken up as a function would would need, but it also connects seamlessly to the rooftop terrace mentioned. There's a pool up there. There's a um there's u plenty of planters and other areas to make the space kind of really connect and allow for whatever the event may be from the the indoor space to expand itself to the upper level, including the elevators and stairs to have all of the proper requirements to to make those things function practically. Right now, we're taking a series of industrial warehouses or boxes basically and re replacing them with this contemporary high quality building that will create um not just construction jobs, you know, permanent hospitality positions, um tax revenue. Um I think the attorneys can speak better about that than I can. I'm the architect and uh and and and really we're expecting it to become a destination as the city continues to grow. I've been part of that. I've been very fortunate to witness what's been going on over the past four or five years and and it's it's pretty amazing to me and I think

this is kind of a natural component that needs to grow with all the residential and all the retail and all the commercial is to have a hotel that people don't just bypass North Miami on their way down to to South Beach or to Windwood or downtown or wherever they're going and they have an option in addition to everything else that Miami has to offer. Um, I think it's sort of lining up to be sort of a perfect storm for something like this to happen in this neighborhood. Um, uh, we respectfully request your approval. Um, as mentioned, it is as of right and we're working all within the exact rules of the code as it as it stands, not asking for any variances, um, or deviations. And I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have um, regarding the project. Thank you again for your time.

[clears throat] Mayor, I'll disclose that I didn't have exparte communications with about regarding these projects. I did not. We haven't done that yet. Oh, we Yes, please go ahead. Vice Mayor. No, I'm just saying. I'm disclosing. None. Council, the district commissioner. Madame Commissioner, no expert communications. And and you guys are the people, right? You guys are the the developers. We're the AR we're the architects. Okay. Representing the the Okay. Yeah, I haven't talked to them. Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. And it seems like we have one. Um, thank you. Thank you so much for Yes, sir. Do you want Yes. Go ahead.

How are you all? Um, good evening. My name is David Saxs. I'm the attorney for the applicant. Um, I also just wanted to add the external element. um the positive externalities not just of the project and what it brings which I think you all very well understand but this would be the first project that's really going to serve as a catalyst and for for further development improving the overall area and I think that that should not be lost because that's one intangible that I don't know if any economic study could bring to bear and I just wanted to just kindly remind everybody of that. It's, you know, it's something that is new and it's something that could bring a lot more than just the project that's before you today. Um, it's a good precedent setter. That's all I want to mention.

Thank you so much, Mr. Attorney. Um, thank you. With that being said, we will go to Mr. Jim Garrett. How you doing? Hey, we haven't seen you in a while. Look good. I feel good. Okay, good. Here, here's some factors we name and address. Oh, Jim Garrett, 247 Brittany F. I should be using that address. 12135 Northwest 7th Avenue, North Miami, Florida, 33167. You said what? Wait, wait, wait. Jim, go back. You say you you you live on 7. Wait, no, no. Oh, but one of my businesses is there. Oh, okay. Your Okay, go ahead.

Okay. Here's my here's my We have in a local area right now six convention centers. Out of those six convention centers, five are on waterfronts. One is interior that the Miami Expo Center on 72nd and and Dolphin Expressway 836. So the question is we have a second one. My question is have we done any studies on what the occupacy and demand is for interior things? Usually when you have convention centers in Florida, it's on the water or by the beach. Number two, the FDOT has bought land north of there up to 143rd Street on that side is did we check did the developer or the city or boat check with FDOC because they all taking land expanding expressway? Number three, when you have a hotel that says expressway that have 12 lanes and that is constantly backed up during rush hour day and night, the morning and afternoon and sometimes at 11:00. Was that considered? Number four, we have buildings on the other part of 7th Avenue, two major eyes shores that been in the city for the last 50 years. No, not 50, 60 years. Is that going to get redeveloped? Are we going to allow that to be next to the the AMO and the two major buildings in strip shopping center? Do we have a PUB plant? And number seven, do we have the water to do this? We're going to run our water capacity and we're going to have a building moratorum. This project should be on either district one with connectivity. You should have connectivity with the hospitality school and the coin center of FIU. They have a very good hospitality. or number two in district two along south of Bashual Drive. We need to think outside the box. The devil has a great project, but you have it at the long wrong location. You

need to look at what they doing up north. They taking they taking land. Thank you. Thank you, Jim. Thank you so much, sir. Um public well, it's not public hearing. Um thank you. So Oh, that's the attorney, Mr. David. Um, Sachs Ili previously. Yes. Okay. Well, this is there David Sachs. We don't do this, but is this Yeah. Uh, yes, that was me before. Okay. Oh, no, no, that's what we just wanted to verify. Um, we didn't miss any speakers or anything like that. No, there's me.

You good? No, we brought you good. Okay. Thank you, sir. Public. Um, well, this is closed. Um, go. Sir, [laughter] this is your area. I've lived there for 30 years. What's going on? I didn't even know about this. What's happening?

Uh, [laughter] thank you, mayor. And, um, thank you very much. Uh, this is like a very good um, great project as uh, uh, the attorney said, Mr. s. [clears throat] It would be a great first and um look forward to um um see that first s um that that um catalyst to our northwest 7th Avenue and see from there if we can expand and again um speaking of location that Northwest 7th Avenue just right right there by the um Golden Glades where you have transportation and also you have the stadium at Miami Gardens just right there. So, this is not a bad location. But my only uh my question um to um you sir is that did you have any um community um outreach on that on that project?

Um I I can't speak for the owner. I don't I know that I did not attend any um Is the owner here? No, the owners couldn't attend today. The the attorney Mr. Attorney, would you answer for the owner on this mic? Yes. Um um the my client uh unfortunately their mother is ill and I will say this um I had the same thing happen to me last week. Not looking for sympathy just is what it is. No, no, no. Our deepest um thoughts. The question the they're brothers. Our clients are brothers and

No, no, that's fine. the the question the district commissioner asked was which was my question um cuz I lived there for over almost 30 years. Have you all have done community outreach like the town hall or community meeting or something? I have not taken part in that but I also was recently retained for this project. Um, so having said that, I can't speak for any initial outreach by my clients. I'll let the district commissioner um speaks and then I think that would be a concern of us and and I know we have whatever the the right

isn't it in our LDRs to now they they're required to like have some type of meeting. But that's why I was going to say I I you know I think even what is it called the the what is it the right what what's the thing Mr. attorney the out whatever you um the new state law of right yeah of right which is good but the problem is that we are representing of the people so if if I you don't have to come to us but at least let them know who represent like this is something that they want it could be bring billions if they say no and the community know you know but but again that was one of the questions but go ahead commissioner no no that was uh that was my um question.

My questions, the one thing I can speak to is I know that he is um constantly in communication with all of his neighbors on that block because during the design process there was who's going to be in, who's going to be out, they acquired these properties and um all of the people on that block were part of that discussion. Now, you you may be speaking about a wider radius possibly that you and I know we've been part of these before and I know that I didn't attend uh one of these bigger and I know the immediate neighborhood knows because they were part of the process when we were putting together the properties and and doing the development

and you know I would have a few more questions but since this is my first time seeing the entire project and um I'll just um ask for uh that that is my my position I will get to um dive into it a little bit more and ask that you guys um um do a um community outreach and go out there and in district 4. So we need to uh go to the people and then they're going to have um questions. They're going to have their point of view and then and then we can um and uh go uh down into that line. Uh Mr. Mr. Atony uh Yeah. Yeah. No, no. quickly. Uh um so um to that point um I was um just going to about to ask that we um table this item and then uh move it to uh our next council

until able to have the meeting. If I may, um I I I don't know. I I I came in to some of the evidence that that I'm hearing and and we voting based on on on the facts, whatever that we we we we've heard. I didn't hear the the entire presentation. Um but you know um the I don't Mr. Attorney we need some guidance. I mean I'm ready to vote now on it but if the Can we since it's a quasi do we just vote on it or do we I don't know. I I just want to Yes. I'm not sure what No. My point Yeah. My point was that we um table it to our to our next meeting and then

Well, do you want to give them enough time? So maybe until they after they have the committee meeting. So maybe not to the next meeting. Oh, okay. Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, go ahead, sir. Um, question to the city attorney or to the uh building official or the manager um once the site plan is uh approved um and they know they can go forward, when do they have to come back to us or do they have to come back to us?

As was stated in the presentation, this is as of right. Um, just so if everyone remembers, I don't know if everyone remembers, the only reason this is before the council is because when we did the LDRs, um, there was a a change to the LDRs that required any projects over 5,000 square feet, I believe, what it was, would have to come to the council. 20 other I think it's 20 20 I'm sorry, 20,000 uh had to come to the council. That's the only reason. Otherwise, a project like this meets all the requirements of our code and would be done administratively. That's normally. So, okay. So, um, basically what I'm I'm going to be very frank with you. You all might have a great project.

Sorry. Can you repeat that? Yes. You guys done? Okay. Sorry.

You might have a great project, but one of the things that this council has for many, many years, it's not particularly your project, is that they want community buyin to go out, talk to the neighbors. Um, the fact that you didn't communicate with the your client did not communicate with the sitting council person and have a one-on-one with them is a is a an insult. And the fact that you didn't they did not reach out to some of the other council members, the ones more closer, at least the mayor and the the district representative. Um, I would find it very insulting if somebody wanted to put a major project in my district and didn't even consult with me. Regardless if it was by right, come by and say, "Hi, hello, go to hell. This is what we're building." Great. Go for it. But the the common courtesy and that's what you're the frustration you're feeling up here. Nobody at least I think the project's great. Good location. I think it meets the, you know, crosses its seas and dots its eye and you guys have the right to do it. I just think um you had to sell the sizzle a little bit and just uh go out there, introduce yourself, and then if the councilman had said, "Listen, I have a homeowners meetings coming up. Why don't you guys make a brief presentation?" Not a full-on thing, but give the council person for that district the ability to uh showcase it to the community because you want community buy in. Um you don't want to try and go alone. some some organizations now feel that they can just come through and just bypass and say I don't want to talk to anybody. Um we're up here representing the neighborhoods and district 4 is very very active. You just saw before you got here they we did an overlay district in that area. It's a very active area and the residents are very active.

Um I don't think you have opposition to this. we need a hotel and all that stuff. But again, the the the district council person should have been briefed on it, discussed on it, and then also the mayor. And then if you wanted to reach out to the others uh to count votes, then that that would have been a good thing to do also. Um but if the council person would like to um uh postpone it to the January 27th meeting, I'm supportive of that for him so that you all can um provide the courtesy to him and his community that um is required.

Yes, you'll get an opportunity, sir, to to to speak. Absolutely. And and I think eloquently Councilman Burns um shared that and and I think that at least that's my sentiment also coming in. I did hear about but I didn't really pay attention cuz I'm like usually if they are coming into my city to our city all of us here at least the courtesy I mean you could say you know hey the you know Tala has to give us the right to do whatever we do and that's what they done. However, if if that if if you didn't need nothing from us, I don't think you will be wasting your time here. So, what I always said, I said, fine. They could have if they have ez right, which is great cuz we don't want to be here, you know, debating, which which not something that we agreed with. I the the local elected official with Tallahassee, but it is the law. It is what it is and we'll follow the law. But that means that you don't need nothing from us. That mean that you're not coming here. So, once you subject to that, then we got to go by what the people do. And if the district commissioner I've lived there I don't know anything about it and and I think the the building nice so I I like it looks pretty pretty you know you know nice but I haven't looked I haven't been briefed so I I can't ask no question and based on what I saw it's okay but I think that's that's where I I am at least tonight and I'm in agreeing with commissioner to support the district um commissioner's desire to you know if you guys agree if if if not I don't know you know whatever you want to do legally it is your choice. Um, and you could do what you want to do. But yes, sir.

Uh, legal, it's not even about legally. I I see the clear will of the board as well stated by everybody on on board. Uh, council member Burns. Um, so yes, we hear what you're saying. Um and I just wanted to remember that you you all to know that this uh pro you know the entire project has I think it's taking place since 2017 precoid etc. The properties were initially Wait a minute. I'm just sharing you talking about 2017. Yeah. Isn't that the the the case?

No. Well, I'm not saying that that's inaccurate, but I know that we were at some point, Councilwoman, you remember we were trying to buy through our CRA. So, there have been so many different Okay. No, the the the deputy manage the former that was Yeah. I I haven't heard of that since elected in 2017. She was elected in 2017. I I was not. She was not even elected in 2017. So, that's even make it worse even if that was But I've been up here since 2015. I think we've been at this a while. It was a simple point. No. But we hear what you're saying. There's one clear message and we're taking it with us today and we'll arrange the appropriate meeting. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Thank you. So, we we defer we vote, Mr. Mayor. Um, Mr. Attorney, do we vote on the deferment of of the item? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Um, I think it was vote I made the motion second. It was second. Oh, go ahead. Yeah, I just made a motion to um defer the item to our next um council meeting. Okay. which will be on January 27th. Madame manager. Yes. Okay. January 27th and so that they can you know work on we have time to do you guys have

sir a question that the council woman brought up which is very interesting. Would you have enough time or would you want to push it back to do the the just to talk to us and the community? It's up to you guys. You guys the client. I would like to speak to my client because I do believe there was out previously. So perfect. Rather than reinvent the wheel, let's use time to our advantage because the tariffs could get us. But you mentioned that. Oh, we were trying to stay away from We had a good night tonight. So, but I understand. We'll do. Okay. Thank you. Sorry. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Good night. Good night. So, thank you so much. So, Oh, we Let's vote. Yes, madame clerk. I have a motion made by Councilman Charles to defer the item at tab end to the next council meeting on January 27th, 2026. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Estimate Irvin. Vice Mayor Timothy, how do you vote? Yes. Councilwoman Charles, how do you vote? Yes. Councilwoman Estimate Irvin, how do you vote? Yes. Mayor Desome, how do you vote? Yes. Councilman Burns, how do you vote? The motion carries with a 5-0 vote. Thank you. As of 8:07 p.m., the mayor has been present. Thank you, [snorts] ma'am.

Tab O. A proposed quasi judicial resolution of the mayor and city council of the city of North Miami, Florida, approving an application for a site plan in substantially the attached form for a proposed 29 unit two-story town home development with 58 parking spaces on six vacant parcels of real property generally located south of 250 Northeast 135th Street and 13290 Northeast Third Court, west of 13270 Northeast Third Court, 13250 Northeast Third Court, and 13151 Northeast Third Avenue north of 13210 and 13151 Northeast 3rd Avenue and specifically identified with Miami Date County Folio number 06-2230-0000-151 06-2230-0000-153 06-2230-0000-295 06-2230-0000-301 06 6-2230-0000-310 and 06-2230-0000-312 and totaling approximately 2.46 46 acres 107,65 ft in accordance with article 2 division 7 section 2-701 and article 3 division 2 sections 3-204 through 3-206 and article 3 division 3 section 3-302 of the city of North Miami code of ordinances chapter 29 entitled land development regulations providing for an effective date and all other purposes. This item was tabled from the November 25th meeting.

Thank you. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Um, and Miss Love, do we have a presentation? As always, very brief, sir. Sure. Uh, again, this is a site plan approval. The project name is North Miami Apartments. Uh, as the clerk, uh, Madame Clerk read, this is, uh, located adjacent to, um, third court. However, is actually the road is actually Third Avenue, Northeast Third Avenue, uh where the road dead ends. As you all Can you speak into the mic?

Sorry about that. If you as you all could see at the corner right here is where Northeast Third A ends and this begins the the project limits including the um the rest of the roadway. Here it is. uh [sighs] a little over two and a half acres um a total of six parcels there. All the parcels are currently vacant and zoned R4 which is um lowmedium residential. It allows 35 ft maximum height which is what all of the single family homes are allowed that's surrounding them go up to 35 ft 12 dwelling units per acre. um the site could accommodate based upon that uh 30 dwelling units. Again, this is another as of right development. The project is a two-story 29 unit town home development. It does have u excess [music] parking, which we appreciate. Uh it's only 46 were required based upon our code. They're providing 58 parking spaces. Uh and one thing that's important for staff as we are looking at these type of projects is the open space for absorption um green space uh cooling um and it's about 10,000 square ft uh additional open space than as required by the code. DRC approved this project on uh August 28th. Uh again, they have to install a 6' wide sidewalk um and provide proof of uh the LED as they are getting to the bill the LED the lead certification because they are promoting to be lead certified uh and

they will have to obtain certificate of use and business tax receipt. They will have to unify all these parcels prior to building permit. That is the end of my presentation. Thank you. It's um Is the applicant here? The applicant is here. Yes. Hi, sir.

Good evening. Good evening,

council, mayor, vice mayor, council, city attorney, city manager. Uh thank you for having us again. Um we were here on the last instance of this meeting and uh I I think u uh district number three miss the mayor Irvin wanted us to to do a little bit more communication on on the project with her office. So thank you for having us again and putting us before we take this resus and vacation. So my name is Jose Vikarondo. I'm one of the owners of the project. Um I'm here joined by my engineer and my architect which will give you a little bit detail more a little bit more detail than than Miss Love was able to give you. And so um I want to give you a little bit of brief history before we go into the project itself. So we purchased the the property back in November 2023. [music] We purchased it from a different developer. the developer has had some communications with some of the council members that were at the point elected and I think with Miss Love as well. Their proposal was uh asking for those density bonus units that you have around in the city. So they were proposing something that was 60 plus units of what they were doing when we purchased the property with the plans. We actually engaged with the community and we saw uh what was happening in third court particularly. So, uh, we decided to scrap the plans that they had originally and go with something that encompasses a little bit more and aligned more with the neighborhood itself. They were proposing something that was five stories. There was a a mix of apartments and town homes. It was a lot going on on the plans. So, what we decided to do was something that more it was more seamless with the neighborhood. understanding what the things that were happening in the neighborhood with the the situation that you have on the flooding on on on third court. We took those things into consideration to our plans. So, this is the work that has been passed since

November 23rd with your amazing staff that you have, Miss Love, with your staff. [snorts] And so, what I wanted to introduce is is uh as Miss Love said before is a asper right project. We lowered down the project from 60 plus units to a 29 town home project. We scrapped one of those units because we decided to give uh a clubhouse and a pool house and also we can expand the public space that was for that we were putting on the project. So I we think that this project aligns way more with the neighborhood and what the intents of the city are to some of the areas that are develop that are situated to be developed around the single family neighborhood. So this is a project that we we are very proud of and I hope by the end of this presentation we have answered all your questions. If you still have some we will definitely be here for for answer any of your questions. So, I want to introduce uh Daniel Martinez, our architect. He's going to give you a little bit more detail.

We have two mics just in the sake of time. Yes, if yes, you could get ready. And just while he's coming up, part communication from [snorts] um folks starting with you, vice mayor. Yes, I believe I met with someone. Yes, that was me. Okay. Yeah. So, oh, and I I'm going to infer on that point. So, I was able and now that you're saying that if we have some community engagement. So, hold on. Sorry, one second. Um, Councilman, I spoke to you. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Correct. Well, I don't know if I spoke to you or not. Your office. You My No, no, no, no. My office is me. So, who?

Yes. No. I You were You had to step out of out of the meeting and I was I met with uh I'm skipping the name of the person that that that I'm Okay. Probably Katherine. Correct. Yes. Okay. Yes. I had exparte communication with the um applicant's attorney. Okay. Yes. and at some point with myself earlier during the year as well. Councilman. No. Okay. Yeah. All right. So, go ahead. I'm sorry. Thank you,

Daniel. Danielle [clears throat] Martinez with Ramos Martinez Architects, 655 West Flagler Street. Um, it's rare that a client asks us to build less in the same uh in the same property. Uh, so we found ourselves in a position to improve the unit type. Uh, for example, twocar garage for every unit, which is not very common in town homes. Uh, twotory, ample bedrooms uh, in all the stories. How many bedroom? Between three and four, depending on the unit. Wow.

U, the what we were what we were challenged with was to create a very walkable small little enclave at the end of this road. Uh, and we had the ability to incorporate a pool house, a pool, an open space for a playground, and then each individual unit has their own backyard. So, it when finished, it'll look like your traditional pedestrian street, sidewalks on both sides, uh, street trees, driveways with leading to twocar garages, and every entrance, uh, leading out to the street. very traditional neighborhood that I think works well with uh the little pocket that we were given to work with and we're here to answer any questions.

So much thank you so much.

I'm sorry. Thank you so much, sir. Um before we going to let the the the commissioner of the district, Councilwoman, um Miss Mary, take the lead. Um I I have just one question before I do that. There was something when I heard about this project because it's different um folio numbers alto together and did the number of units that you guys are having does that constitute Mr. attorney um for a homeowner or or you know was that um part of this of the different um partial that they had to put together if the number of residents reach a number that we may you know um ask for association or HOA or is that

sale right is is that good or where well yes so I I think I think the question you're asking well I'm not sure if you're asking asking whether well I'm asking the question that you had proposed. So you don't remember this? Yeah. The qu I remember the question. The question we had was um if this was if this if these units were going to be for sale. Yes. Um we wanted to have a homeowners association. Um if it but my understanding and I'm not sure who I spoke to. I spoke to someone who said that these were rentals. But if they're not if they're for sale, if these are condominiums and we need a home that's what I was trying to ask. I'm asking that there's a homeowners association because if there's any issues, I don't want to have to deal with Yeah, it's for sale. I don't want to deal with 29 homeowners.

I'll I'll ask the question for you. Um, so so is it for for sale or is it for homeowners or So, currently with the market forces that we have, we're still pivoting on what we're going to if we're going to do for sale, ask for or rental on on during in our platform, we work with both.

And so currently, what we're going to do is build them. It's going to take us a year to finish with your building department the construction drawings give or take and it's going to take us another year to build them. So during the time I did have communication with with the vice mayor and she actually requested the homeowners I answered. Okay, that was the question that we get. So either way with a condition. Okay, that's fine. I'm sorry. Councilwoman, go ahead.

Right. So thank you um so much. Thank you for your presentation. Um, first of all, thank you for talking to the residents around that. I I you know, over and over and over, as simplistic as it sounds, some people just don't do it. Um, and and that was one of my first questions. So, Councilwoman, I am so sorry. Um, there is one person that I have and I I forgot about that. You already spoke. Um, do you want to speak on the item? Um, sir, since Yes, please. Um, sir, please let let Mr. Jim Garrett um the only person signed to speak on the item. I'm sorry. We

I think the I think the renderings are beautiful and I think it's in need in the neighborhood. My only against this is northeast third court where where we don't have no sidewalks, no street lamps, no drainage or we get impact fees from this project and it is being dedicated over to third court. So those people have sidewalks. We annex those people from the county and they are receiving the city taxes and that where the big grief is on that court. everyone on there and I went through there during the election campaign. Everybody is like and and Councilman Estein, you were very patient with these people cuz I know I know I've talked to them and everything. My other concern is do we have two exits because we have a in an incident with the fire department and everything. That's my second. The third is this and once again we need to look at how much water we can be pumping in this city and how much are we buying from wash out

water. We got water. We got water. Okay. You told me we got water. We got water. Okay. Because because my concern is a building moratorum. We're hot right now. We're hot. We're the last city. It's [clears throat] just opal in Florida city. So the so my question to you is are you paying impact fees to to improve the neighborhood? Ex ask us. You got to ask us and then we'll ask it if we Thank you, Jim. Thank you so much. Um, it's Go ahead. So, um, go ahead. Thank you, Mayor. I I can address questions. Councilwoman, I'm sorry. No, don't worry. Councilwoman, please go ahead.

Right. So, I was again thanking you for um doing your due diligence by talking to the residents and um um I too when I spoke with um um Pedro encourage really really want to encourage home ownership. Um, and so I'm I'm amable to the clauses that we want to add. I really would would, you know, obviously if if he could really consider that. I I just think it's it's I think it's good for that particular area especially that we're talking about. Um, other than that, I have no other uh questions. Um, how soon do you you you plan to how soon do you plan to start?

As soon as I can get your building department to work with me and we can pull the building permit. [laughter] That's a discussion for later. No talking about that building. Our plan is to I think our plans are developed enough to to to start to go in the in as the start of the year on Q3 on Q1 we're going to submit plans to building department and our intent is to break ground before the year is over. Right. So, so outside of the clubhouse, are there any other community benefits that you've mentioned that?

Yes. Yes, there are. Yes. So, so part of what we saw when you annexed this uh this portion of of Miami date unincorporated Miami date county is a lot of the houses that were along that road are still in septics. So, part of what we're doing is we're extending the sewer which goes all the way down to 133rd. So we're basically extending and we're leaving laterals for sort of futurep proofing all those single family homes when they want to disconnect from septic or that is something that the city wants to work with them. We're leaving laterals for them to connect to the sewer.

Wait wait wait I didn't I'm sorry sir you saying it's a requirement that we trying to convert everything over from septic to sewer. So what you saying for the so they can be connected independently. I'm sorry. Okay. Thank you. Not a problem.

So, so we're doing that. And the other thing that we're doing as well is there's a on that on on that end uh with the street dead ends. There's not realistically it wasn't, you know, it's a vacant lot. So, it was a little disastrous how it it was ended up on at at that dead end. We're fixing it and we're dedicating a portion of our property that we carved out. We're going to dedicate it to create a little bit of a better of the street to turn in into the property. So, that's the other thing that we're doing in there. You're going to have to do that. It's not like you're doing us a favor. I mean, the way the project look, you're going to have to do that. But thank you, sir. Um, Councilwoman, go ahead. Right. So, so if I have any other questions, I'll

you'll come. I have one question, though, sir. And and Council Councilman Burns kind of alluded to this earlier. Where is the entrance of um the the property? Is it the the street after Third Court and and Third Avenue? No, Third Avenue. Okay. I just wanted to find out. So, okay, perfect. It's Third Avenue. Okay. I don't have any other questions.

One question, Mayor. Um, and it's about this. I don't know if maybe this is to you, madam manager, to your staff. Um, I've noticed in the past where a developer can come to us and we're approving, you know, North Miami condos and then later down the line, they're no longer doing condos and they're doing apartments. Um, I think that's a little bit misleading to the public. I think um I don't know what the process is right now because I know right now you don't know if you're going to you know sell or rent but I think that there should be a time where you know when this is coming it's either you're for rent or for sale so that we know um because that happened with the the apartments on 130th and 8th Avenue. They were advertised as North Miami condos for a very long time and then out of all of a sudden they became apartments. So there's nothing we can do about that one. I see you shaking your head. No, Mr. Attorney.

I don't know if there is. I know that they build it based on kind of the market. So, as the market changes whether or not it's going to make rental or whether it's going to make home ownership and it goes by the market. So, a lot of times they do try to convert them later or try to get them. So, I don't know. That's not a requirement. Oh, it's not a requirement. Yeah, that's not something we evaluate.

M vice mayor, if I can com make a comment for you. Sure. So, so, so as I mentioned on on the brief email and my response to you, it's like uh our platform on our on our company has rental apartments and has built condo condominium units. So, what we do is basically we are preparing and leaving everything. If the market calls for home ownership, we will have condominium docs created for the for sale product and the HOA. We already have documents already generated to create a an HOA. If it remains under our ownership, we are the point of contact and we are the we are the sole responsible for taking care of the upkeep of the property.

Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Yes. Go ahead, sir. Yes. Um thank you very much uh for the presentation. Very nice watching um looking at it. That's uh Thank you. It's very nice. Good job on that. Uh my only question is that uh parking do you by any chance look into like some extra uh spaces because I know we talking about 50 58 uh parking spaces but as you know you going to have um three um three bedroom and four bedroom and everything. So any u way that you can look into adding few more I don't know exactly is that possible from what you have. Boom. Just

so so our our requirement as per as per as per the code was 42 40 42 parking spaces. We're doing 58 for 29 town homes. Yeah. So So we're we're over exceeding for a good percentage. That's one of the things that we did take into consideration because we didn't want the parking from the visitors in here to intrude into the into the single family home. So we're controlling everything within the property and so so we have pretty a lot of access parking. Yeah. Yeah. It's just basically an addon. So if by any chance you see uh uh state feed or you have um you know because because you know that's going to be that's going to be a situation. So

yeah. No look the way we saw this is like uh we have the twocar garages. So like there is if if comes to the point where there's some more exits than those 12 parking delta that we we will have the there is parkings that are not designated as parking but a lot of it will operate a lot of how how we how we park outside on the swailes outside single families within our property. So everything would be contained because the twocar garage can be actually be parallel parked by a third car. So, we'll be able to add an additional 29 parking spaces if excess visitors come. It was just it was just an add-on. So, thank you and I appreciate the comment.

Thank you so much. Thank you, sir. Um, move for approval. Second. [clears throat and snorts] Madam clerk, I have a motion made by Councilwoman as the mayor to approve the item at tab O. The motion was seconded by Councilman Charles. Councilman Charles, how do you vote? Yes. Councilman Burns, how do you vote? Vice Mayor Timothy, how do you vote? Yes. Mayor Desme, how do you vote? No. Councilwoman as Mayor Evan, how do you vote? Yes. Motion carries with a 41 vote. Thank you. Congrats. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you for having us.

Awesome. And now we are a discussion regarding the AMI. Um, madame manager, it's I I kind of I don't know why I thought this was on the in the next one, but please clarify. Yes. Thank you. So there was a lot of discussion and we had oh

for the for AMI and um we had been trying to work through and negotiate a contract with the awarded um bidder on the AMI. Um there's a couple of you know issues to sort out in terms of uh financing cost and and that. So we're not at a final agreement and so weren't able to bring that on here. So, but did want to discuss with the with the council what direction you wanted to move forward in terms of that the AMI

if if I may without having your team giving us I don't know how unless any other members have any other thing that we could move forward my my question would be would it be enough time from the 20 to that next meeting to to have all of the numbers and the discussions um partake though this is just a discussion um in terms of you know this is a big undertake for us um would that be enough time or is there something that we need today huh there present yeah that I mean I yeah whatever that we want to do so I mean is it

I mean administration is willing to work through it which we're working through it with the um bidder but there there's not a guarantee, but but if we can get to some type of agreement, but there are some there are some major issues that we'll have to brief you all during the time frame in terms of that. So, I guess the question is, is that something that you'd want to for it to bring back or that we would try to continue to ne negotiate and and execute if we can come to an agreement in between that time frame? Okay. Go ahead, man. Um, go ahead. Madam manager, if we gave you the authority to continue to negotiate with them

um so they have an understanding of what to expect moving forward. I know there's a a briefing from you all and others that um because I uh was briefed by the uh manager but also the outside team am whatever they are whatever the team is um that financing um contingencies are out there and so forth. if we gave you the authority to um [music] work toward the end piece, but that we know we're all moving forward and then at the January 27th meeting um execute the agreement or as close to if that's when you feel that you can do it, but give you the authority because I believe originally um when we were briefed um you wanted the authority to continue forward, but you were going to bring it back to us the the final um document. Would [clears throat] that would that be helpful to keep this project moving forward with you and the the vendor?

Yeah, I'm good with how council that's exactly what I said. Um, but I think [laughter] you did okay. You said it nicer. So, yeah, I I think we we can't go I think Well, I know I was also briefed by um administration and the vendors. Well, I think it's PSI um regarding this. Okay. PSI. Um, and I believe that there was some documents that needed to be signed before the 31st, but we we can't just what I'm saying going. No, no, no. If I can finish, mayor. Um, and that would also that that was also tied to the public the community benefits piece. So, I'm I'm just

Okay. I I know I'm not listen this is too serious to even bring community benefit, whatever the case is. And I I don't think we need to. I think if we give the manager the the the thing to negotiate and get back with us and maybe on the 27th by that time we would know what's we don't I definitely think I definitely think we need to know what's going on and the manager needs to brief us but are we giving her we're not giving her authority to execute we're just No no no no negotiate

yes and bring back between us to talk with the vendor because I've spoken to folks from the vendor but my biggest responsibility is not from them I you know, I I don't work for them, I work for the people and the manager work for us. And my thing is if the manager come back and brief us and we get the numbers, we see what's going to be the impact on our residents on the whole, then I think I'm asking the manager would the 27th would be enough time to crunch the numbers and kind of do Yes. Let me ask a question and I understand the sentiment and I and I I understand that this is serious but madame manager do you think that you could come to some type of agreement by the 31st? Do you feel that that's enough time in order to

um is that enough time to execute if it gives you the authority to execute after you negotiate? Right. No, we would be executing, right? Not her. No, she would we would authorize her to execute. No, no, no, no, no. We would not I mean we would authorize her to negotiate and bring back to us but I'm not giving my I think that's what that's what you you're saying. No that's not what I'm saying yet. What are you saying? What I'm saying what I'm trying to gauge from the manager is December 31st.

I can't say the time I can't say comfortably with the time from the from that it came in. What I can say is I'm going to be pushing. I'm having the conversations. Um, but there's several issues to to to resolve. Um, some some that have to do with the with the um with the contractor and some that actually have to do internally with our cost and our financing. Okay. So, those are a concern. We've we have both of those issues. So, to the extent we can, that's what we're working through. I think we we've had good conversations with them. But those are two different two two issues separately. Can I can I make um

not Yes, sir. If No, no. Adding to um what you just said and um just want to make sure that um we have enough time to look at the numbers because there's a lot of numbers um from from what I understand it is a win-win for the city. But I want to see the No, no. I want to see the numbers. Mayor I want to see the numbers and I want to know um in year one what's going to happen. Year two what's going to happen and on and on and on. We need to have that progression. So we have to be I think we all that's why my question is there enough time underact you we don't want to title I'm out of time. Thought there was a presentation.

No. Yes. But I I I totally so [clears throat] let me just if if if I may just I don't know if there's a rush. I mean obviously we need this. So I think maybe allow the manager to work. It may not be next meeting but it'll be thoroughly because this is an impact that we have to um you know we have to especially for and I'm going to keep it real folks going through election we got to be very careful um in terms of what we do um but this is a political body so please I my suggestion would be madam manager take your time if it's February if it's March we need to know if we're making decisions whatever I mean if it's the 27th that's preferred but if you need whatever the time we, you know, I think people need to let the public

and I think I think so I think so let me let me prefer prefer this. I think that we should give the manager um give her the right to go and discuss and and and negotiate and come back to us in January. Obviously if there's something No, no, no. I said I asked for December 31st. So now we meet again January 27th. Now obviously if there is a hiccup that it can't be on the 27th but let's at least have that date of the 27th January that it comes back to us so that we can execute whatever agreement and if there's not an agreement then in our woman be would be

I we're saying the same thing just listen I I I'm just saying because we know the manager that we have if she's not comfortable she's going to let us know and I'm okay with that I'm okay with that. Let let I think Well, let me let me ask this question. Madame manager, do you think that January 27 is enough time? No, I asked for the 31st at December 37th. I didn't even Now, I'm asking now for January 27th. That's what I'm asking. I'm asking that do you think that's enough time for you to be able to a reasonable time? Do you think

that so that we could just give you direction? That's that's what I'm asking. Is that a reasonable time for you? there there are some variables that are outside of my control in terms of like financing that I need to find out what our responses are going to be. So um that's so I don't I don't know I am going to work with them as quickly as I can to come up with a solution. So that's [music] the plan. The plan is I can do that work as quickly as I can and and if I if I may Mr. Mayor Yes sir. Um what I do I don't want to see is like for such a big project like that

we got the paperwork like two three days before the meeting. So I need to have everything in front of me at least two weeks so that we can look at the numbers and make sure that you understand analyze them and everything because

and and and based on how it's going and why we're here I may want to do some town hall meetings. So, we don't know. I think we need to slow down. Let let them come back cuz there's no rush cuz we also have a water plant we want to do. So, there's a lot that's at the table. Let them come back and um and say to us, um, we need this. So, it's not that we don't, but at the same time, we don't want to make any decision that the impact where it's not going to be, um, the developers will, you know, whoever is going to say whatever. But we I think professionally I need to hear from the management and then we could go down and see what what we do and how we do. Um that's my recommendation and and we could do what what else.

And can they also if if I think even if they're not ready um I think they should be they should present their presentation so that it's made you know like I know mayor mentioned um um having a town hall but at a council meeting as well because I thought yes no I agree because I know I got the presentation but

you have you have I don't Yeah. Were they coming to do I thought this was a discussion. So maybe the next meeting we could do we could ask the the you say PSI um if they could do a presentation to us for us in the public and then at least if that's you know to keep it moving and um I you know I I I agree and if if we need to move it maybe we could do a if it's special meeting I don't mind it could be a Zoom whatever I I really don't mind um the thing but we got to be careful um here and I don't think we need to say too as a discussion, you know, with with the project until at least Vice Mayor, we have the No, no, I understand. Yeah. Commissioner, you

can we um Mr. Mayor, yes. Can we plan on the 27th of January that the manager and the PSI folks will give a presentation? Um, and that's what I just said. I know you, [laughter] but why are you repeating? But that they and then at that point they tell us where they're at and No, this is No, no, no. This is it's not them. The the the administration said, Well, that's what I'm saying. She said she may not she may know, she may not not know. So, I think what vice mayor suggested and I I thought I I said it correctly. on the 27th we agreed that they will do a presentation for us in the community

and maybe the manager has the numbers by then maybe she don't but there's no you know the only commitment that we'll say is on the 27th we have a um a presentation from PSI um you know and and then we'll we'll and it's it's going quick right around the corner um so okay I think um I think we good on anything else on

I I actually have a discussion that's not on here manager if we can bring back um or I think we need to have a discuss well the manager wasn't here when we had that hour discussion around landscaping um we the item was on the agenda you know and we just kind of like paused. So, if you can review that and if are we I I would like to see it back on the 29th.

Yeah, I we've started well I went back to review the meetings because I've had a couple conversations about the overall landscape plan. So, I was planning to bring that back at the first meeting of February as a discussion item talk about the the landscaping. But yeah, but up here are we looking to or are you looking to put it out for bid again or are you looking that that would probably be with the additional services that you heard from the

one of the issues is basically though trying to to um clarify what are going to be service areas because part of it and what we can handle versus what someone from the outside should handle. And there's parts where we have them mixed. So we may do the frontage of one part and somebody else is doing another part. And so then there's a lot of confusion about how the city should look because of that. So we're putting all of that together so that we know so we would be prepared at that time for something if it was going to go out. Um but we also are going to look at what parts can be done within so that it's consolidate with our team and create a plan.

So we'll bring those in there. So but we're going to bring that to the board. And lastly, um not because well I guess because I'm going through it too, but I've heard from several residents um complaints regarding the building departments um and folks are calling upstairs on the second floor because they can't get folks to answer you know you know different offices in different departments. um you know I don't want to have to go back well I don't I don't think you should have to go back to that exercise but if we can make sure that departments are answering the phones because the amount of calls that the second floor gets because they cannot get someone on the phone is ridiculous and because our office are answering the phones they're calling mayor and counsel and granted that's fine like we want our residents to call us but most of the time they're looking for another department and our office can't transfer I spent at least 30 minutes answering the phones down here last week and it was ridiculous so If you can do something as it relates to folks answering their phones and making sure they're getting back to residents, I think that will provide some type of relief for residents who are calling looking for assistance. And secondly, the building department in terms of streamlining permitting process. Um, I know there was a a time where we were trying to get the building permit process online. I've heard from residents who were waiting for a building permit for over a year and literally it was stuck in someone's queue. And when I called that building permit for their window was released, I think it's ridiculous that folks have to wait that long for a building permit because it it it does cost them. Um, I'm going through it myself and I realize, yeah, it took me a year to get my building permits, but I think that there needs to be a way that we can speed this. I don't know if we need to do a business process review, but something needs to be done where folks aren't waiting a year for a a window permit or their construction permit because it's costing them. Um, we're going back on to put some of them online. When I was here originally the first time, we did put some of the permits online and I don't know if it was due to the cyber or the internet. They took that down. Um, so we

went back to full paper for the most part. We're going back to to go look through that. Um, the building department, um, however, is in the queue for the ERP, but not um, in the first queue because we had to do the finance. So, I am looking at an interim in between so that we can put stuff up in the interim, but it would be another year or two before they're up next on that system for the building. Um, but in terms of answering, we will check on those. Thank you. Anything else? Um, yes, go ahead.

Sorry. I did need to bring up just an issue and discussion on Centennial signs. Um, we did get we finally did get our um got estimates on the signs and that and in order to get some of the signs for the wayf fairing out in time, I'm going to uh need to move forward with uh purchasing and installation of signs up to $500,000 um during the break in order to have that up there. So, wanted to get direction from the council so that we can move forward on at least a portion of those signs um so that we can have them up for the for the uh centennial. Do Mr. Mayor, do we need to um I'm I'm sorry. Um

because of you asking all the all the question I meant, Mr. Attorney, do we need to take a a vote to to authorize her to to do that? Just um so ratification. Well, in our discussion, I we just so mentioned Yes. because we're going to be in hiatus. But you know what? I would I I I would and I like that but I would as if if we can just in case some of us a lot going on and then when we when she come back and we for I think maybe I think we all are in supportive of it but maybe we'll just take a a quick like we we did and then if you know just in case it would come back that's what I'm saying come back as no it always come back but sometime we like wait a minute and we had had that happen let's take a vote now yes exactly that's what I'm saying who's in favor of moving forward with the

at least that and and I'll make the motion for that. I'm not entrance signs, not the park signs, right? No, these Well, we're getting a mix, but these are for mainly the entrances into the city. The way fairing signs, the ones that's actually looking by Dollar Tree. Yes. Are those signs going to be placed on top of the frame that was existing and using the same infrastructure? Are you starting from scratch? No, we're starting from scratch. And why was that? Because they weren't really usable, most of them. the and they were put on some some some of them weren't usable. So whatever is usable we are but for the most part it wasn't and the way the signs were made also not made for longevity. Excuse me. Do you mean ugly?

Well, they also weren't made for longevity. So they that's why they've peeled off and so we had to change the type of sign. But but the structure and the foundation, the concrete, the the footings, you're not going to be able to use any of those of the existing what you know because they stand they just got faded in the material unifor $500,000 for some signs at the last second. I'm not comfortable on on $500,000 worth of signs just because it's a centennial. Um that's a lot of money and it's a big issue and so um

well I that was that was laid out in the budget that part that that it was for the infrastructure for the signs and that was that's the reason why there was a pretty large budget for the centennial and that was delineated in the in the budget that that part's for that the centennial take $500,000 out of the million dollar goes to the sign. So now all the other activities for the centennial only have $500,000 to play with for the next Yeah. Because the the the main part of the centennial was so that the city reflected the beautifification of what we wanted it to look like in the hundred year. And then what happens when the in two years, three years, you know, when the celebration's over with? Are we going to keep those signs?

We'll have beautiful wayfairing signs in, you know, to come into the city that you'll see that actually last. Okay. Um, may I I make a motion to authorize the state for um to authorize up to $500,000 for the signage of the entrance of the city? A second. Second, Madam Clerk. Motion made by Mayor Desome, seconded by Councilman Charles. All in favor? Any opposed? No. Motion Motion cares with a 4-1 vote.

Thank you. Thank you. I do have two discussion questions and and it does have something with you, Madam Clerk. I don't know. One of the um questions that we talked about was the um I know we talked about it um Councilwoman Irving here maybe two years ago um perhaps changing our election time frame from August and then have the primary in November versus and I don't really since I was one of the first people that went up um with Councilman Charge um Councilman Charles last time we know it was a good thing in the November but the November was a struggle between Thanksgiving Day parade and and the same thing I I just you know from city of Miami complaining when you have those years it's it's kind of a little bit um offsite. So that was one of the things if the appetite I don't I don't care. I'm with either one it is we could keep it the way it is or we could move it for the the November like I guess most of the cities November and then I guess August November. remember we talked about this was a couple years ago council woman if that it could stay but um so that will give us you know

by November it's done we're done with the election with the um presidential and that's a good turnout so that will serve as our Jim could you wait for me to finish so that will serve as our I guess runoff will be in November versus our Jim please stop because you're not a candidate and and trust me you might okay well I'm just telling you you won't like then so you go along with with with with what I'm saying. So that's that. But I don't know the time frame that might be something I don't know madam clerk is that and the other thing that I would I would I would propose and and I'm going to say it al this has I do not want to do this but this is something that I've um think that we probably need and I I I'm going to champion it. I think it needs a little bit more time and I'm putting my myself out. I do not want to to be as it would be going for to propose to the folks for the mayor's position to be a fouryear, but I would not be the person running it. I I don't want it even if I would allow I'm saying it right now. I will be done when I'm done. But whoever would be after me, I think should be a four-year mayor. Every other city we had it before um Mr. Garrett and you know why it did not pass but we the residents something that to be uniform with other cities. I think it's three cities and all of the cities their mayors always complain um about us being two-year. I think one of them is three-year. The uniform would be continuity for the city in terms of what's happening. Just like the council member, it will be the six two terms, but it'll be a referendum that I would champion for whoever is going to be the next mayor. Um would be a four-year mayor versus a two-year. So, I don't know the time frame if it'll be enough from January. We could absolutely um certain. But I know, Madam Clerk, there's certain things that if if we need to do, I [music] guess that's Mr. Attorney, the the the committees and then get it down to the election department and then if it's a referendum to be on the ballot for with us um whoever's running in in in this slate would be always in November. But I know that the the election department have

time frames. So that's why I'm just putting it out there. Um if we could do that. Yes, we'll get we'll get back to you, Mayor. Okay. Thank you. And that's basically it. report. Vice Mayor, how about Citizen Farm? Oh. Oh, well, Jim Jim spoke like 10 times. Come on, Jim. Come on up, Mike. Citizen Farm is open. If you limit my time, I might do some some what somebody else did to this city sue because of got

you not suing nobody. Jim Jim 121 37 Northwest 7th Avenue. Uh, first, Mr. Mayor, I propose the same thing as you four years. Okay. My oppose from the August to the November thing is we will have two months of musling in this in this community. Everybody else having no there are other cities that do no Miami Beach do November December and they complaining that it's a one month. No, no, no, no, no. What we saying is Let me get Let me get back to you while I'm coming down here for

the football stadium. What we doing about the football stadium? North Miami played 11 games on the road, including a playoff game where they got the beat butt beat 55 nothing. I went to it. [laughter] Okay. Number two, NB went to the state champs. They lost. Thank God. But 13 13 road games and ATM had 10 road games. When are we going to put bleachers out there? That number one. Number two, we need to have connectivity. That hotel needs to be next to FIU that with the conference center and the convention and with the hospitality. Number three, a bus system. We need to connect it. We need to connect it to the Golden Glaze one. And what are we doing with or or commuter rail station on 14th and 123rd? NB already has the 151st one and that

No, that's not No, no, no. What we doing? What we doing? Why is the plans? I don't hear no plans from North Miami. There's no vision in this city. You've You guys are working better now. I give you a B+ tonight. But we need to hold it. We need I'm moving back here and I'm not running. Oh god. You're moving back. Okay. Okay. Yeah. And so you Yeah. You know why? My mother's dying. Oh, Jim. No, she's in the hospital. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. And I have my grandmother dying, too. I'm going to be by myself. This city saved me. Okay. It saved me. I lived at 645 Northwest 132nd. This see I know what I did. Marco Lefredo senior

appointed me to the YOB. I worked in that office for four years. I don't know how it is when the when the garbage doesn't get picked up in Keystone and Susie or when when people are complaining about the building water zoo sewer people not answering the phones. One 30 seconds. Tell them about how your house went up when we did the Oh, you guys did good. Last thing I want to talk about you guys are Mary the North Miami Senior Citizen Foundation is great. I I'm I'm dealing with a mess and everything and when you guys resone my mom's house she made 70% more and you went out and you painted. So all of you have done a good job with city and you are the best city for city s in North Miami.

There you go. We like that. That's a rock. Mic drop. There you go. You guys might laugh. I have a lot of comments. Go ahead. There's one more. I'm sorry. Come on in. Come on. Yes, we have two mics. We didn't know if you was with him or Okay,

uh hello everyone. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak. My name is Julia Wester, 1870 Southwest 18th Street. So, I'm not from North Miami. I traveled up here tonight to be with you all. Uh I'm here representing Miami Watereper, which is a local nonprofit that is dedicated to clean water, resilient nature, and thriving communities. specifically here to speak about our green infrastructure accelerator project. This is a project that is funded by the EPA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The last several years we've been using that funding to do outreach across the county uh speaking to community members about where they want to see green infrastructure in their neighborhoods, specifically to address issues like heat and flooding. Uh with that outreach, we are selecting specific areas to do more extensive design work with a landscape architecture firm uh called local run by Walter Meyer who I know has done some work with your city in the past.

Yeah, used to be

so for uh for this project with that design work we are working with communities to vet those designs uh to the 60% design level so that you can go and take those designs to get more funding for implementation. And we want uh city of North Miami to be our sixth and final uh area for that design work. Uh for uh North Miami, we're hoping to help address the need to prepare communities for septic to sewer conversion. uh in the future while dealing with flooding and water quality issues that are happening right now. Our initial design concept would create pocket parks uh with a small decentralized water package plant on site that could handle the septic effluent for a cluster of four to eight blocks of homes. Uh for years this technology has been used in resorts in really environmentally sensitive areas to make sure that what is making its way into our waterways is at a very high quality. But the technology has come a really long way and it is now affordable for and cost-ffective for public settings like this. Uh importantly this would uh the lateral line infrastructure that would be put in

No, no, that's that's fine. Thank you so much. But what we what we would suggest um please get with with our manager and um start there and then she will disseminate the information to us and and we could you could come back and this is important because we love sustainability making sure what we do especially as a coastal city um in in in most of the districts one two and three. So definitely thank you so much% we just wanted to start this conversation introduce it to all yes we we all over this. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. God bless. Thank you. Yes. Um, anyone else on mic? Okay, every Okay, good. Public hearing is closed, vice mayor.

Oh, thank you, mayor. Um, I know this is our last meeting for the year, so wishing everyone a happy holidays. Um, happy new year. We look forward to seeing you in 2026. Um, this Saturday, I'll be hosting Breakfast with Santa at Alfred Besade Park from 10 to 2:00 p.m. Hope to see you all there. And I believe you want us there, huh? What time you want us there? 11. Well, and you're gonna be you got to be there at 10. Yes. Breakfast, maybe. Okay. At 10. Okay. Yeah. We have a lot of people. I'll be there before she she get there. You probably will.

Um and um again, we'll be at Winter Wonderland with the El Station with extended hands. So, looking forward to um providing goodies for the North Miami community. And I believe that is it for me, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you, Councilman. Just want to announce uh reannounce that the angel tree we're still collecting u toys for the names that are on the angel tree ornaments. Please collect them and then deposit here by uh Thursday the 11th. Um I have to say it's been overwhelming this year. the number of uh toys have been dropped off is some of the largest numbers that they've had. Uh they're telling me that people are picking up. So, please come up on the second floor because the tree was relocated up here while the bottom floor is uh uh being renovated and uh continue supporting that uh worthwhile program for these these children. One of the other things I want to announce is that the Arch Creek Trust pot luck party is still taking place on December 13th at the Arch Creek Park which is just

east of Enchanted Forest just east of the railroad tracks. Bring a [clears throat] potluck. Um it's on December 13th, Saturday from 11:30 to 2:00. Um madam manager s just had a question. any update on the uh roof repairs at the uh Enchanted Forest, how that's moving along. I haven't seen any activity out there yet, but hopefully before the end of the year there's it's funded and hopefully we have the vendor just hopefully it get through the holiday and people can start off the new year with a a nice new roof and the pavilion's back. So other than that, just to my colleagues, have a merry Christmas, happy holidays, um be safe out there. and see you in the new year.

Thank you. Thank you. And I did make a commitment. I told the second floor, we're going to make sure there's nothing left on the tree. Very good. Um this year, Kevin, um C um vice may um councilwoman Estran and then we'll do Councilman Charles.

Hello. Good evening, everyone. Just want to remind everyone that again that on December 19th, we'll have our winter wonderland. Please bring out the kids um so that they can meet Santa. Uh also want to remind you on again for Subju January 1st. It's going to be our seventh year and it's going to kick off the centennial. So please come out. It's going to be at Joe Cullison at 9:00. But more importantly, happy happy holiday. I know this is a time where even though a lot of us are happy, but this is a time where people are very depressed. I encourage each and every one of you to, you know, to speak to a neighbor that you know that's elderly or that is maybe doesn't have family around and to to spread some holiday um love. So, merry Christmas, Noel. Um um bonane cuz the next time I see you guys is going to be the the next year in this setting and and and wish you all the best. Thank you and have a good evening.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. I I was just praying that the mayor would have called me first. We were, but we were talking to John, not um um

just want to say um happy holidays to each and every one of us to um up here and um to our resident, everybody in attendance. Uh you know, this is the time that uh you need um to bless someone. So be a blessing to someone. That someone could be your significant other, um someone a stranger, but just be a blessing to someone. This is not the time that we go out there and make people mad. To that note, I would just say thank you to uh our um city manager and um administration and city attorney and everybody involved. Thank you for everything that you guys do for uh the great city of North Miami. Um, just keep up the great work. Let's keep on moving the city forward. And on a special note, I just want to say thank you, madam manager, for the renovation downstairs, the first floor. That was overdue. Well needed.

Just want to say um thank you for that.

And um just want to say thank you for um Thursday. Thursday night was a big night in um district 4, the state of the district address. You did um a great job. Um, I got I give a big shout out to uh to my um city attorney and uh every [laughter] um to um John uh just give a big shout out to you guys and um district for to our district 4 resident just want to say thank you. Thank you for your support and then uh work just started. We are going to keep on uh moving forward. So thank you to you all. Happy holidays. be safe and remember to be a blessing to someone. Thank you and have a great night. Thank

Thank you so much. Um um Councilman and I have a a few quick announcement and then we'll go to the administration. Last week in New Orleans, I was honored to present the 2025 Mayor of Courage Award. Um was selected among several um mayors from across the country. at least 200 mayors was in the room where we um North Miami was shine. This award has been given three times at that particular um slot. The city of New York got it. Mayor of New York got it the first year. I think um councilwoman um Esme Irving attended on my behalf three years ago in Fort Lauderdale. Okay. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. It was the anti-semitism um conference, the combat anti-semitism by CAM, which is an organization that works with local elected official on um eliminating um hate, discrimination, all of these things, bigotry against um all people um not only Jewish folks, but all people. Um, and I want to say I I was so proud to to be there and all of my local mayors were in attendance um doing doing that and com and and and I must say I wasn't going to say but um Councilman Burns said yes we must show we have history in the city of Miami where we have a new elected mayor um our colleague on the TPO and county commissioner Alen Higgins who won 60% of 40% um 60%

congratulations. Yes. Yes. of the of of of the vote and she I think she's the first female mayor the first female mayor of the city. Um so we we we want to wish her luck and we are looking forward to work with her I already told her a few weeks ago that we will be in um US conference of mayors in a couple of weeks. So she we want to say congratulation to her in the city of Miami. [snorts] Um and with that also next week um the Haitian-American elected officials in New York [snorts]

um teamed up with a organization called the Bridge um foundation in New York where they will also be honoring me for the work that we do in um against anti-semitism in Brooklyn. There's several events going on um to our city. the state of the district for district 2 where [snorts] the city of North Miami sits in the heart of district 2 commissioner Malinbassian is having the state of the district at Miami date and you could log on or reach out to her staff or our office for more information. It's going to be a great event on Thursday. I know the vice mayor mentioned the breakfast with Santa and and councilwoman mary Irving mentioned the the um winter wonderland as well as the subjumu. So several other events is going in the city. Please be safe. Um, have a wonderful, a healthy and prosperous new year. Um, it's going by so fast, people. Please take the time and please be joyful of anything. Don't complain because there's not much we can do when it comes to life. It is what it is. We take it. We pray and you continue. Be well and safe to your family. I want to thank the madam manager. Do we have all st all directors here? Some at most. Please, please um let let them know if they taking any um trip, at least be here during our our meeting. That's that's something that I look I look forward to. But I want to say thank you to the entire staff of the city of North Miami, especially the police department. Um and I know we always talk about the police department and because they know we love them, but every department and and the amazing work that we are doing as a city, every city um struggle, every city goes through ups and down and we know we we know different than that. But at the end of the day, we are resilient. We are one people and we here to do one thing to serve the people. And I am going to ask the manager. We did have something when I first came in and the community loved it. The community loved it where we put in um it was an administrative policy

that they are pushed where we had someone who ensure not only that um staff are responding to emails within a 48 hours. I think we negotiated and we came up with a with a number 48 hours. um just acknowledging because you may not have the answer if somebody do and I trying to do it myself. Um I haven't been so good lately, but I'm getting back back to it in terms of replying and responding within a um um a time that is reasonable, whatever that may be. But 48 hours we had said for any any anyone who called the city um reach out to the city. Um and I think you heard what the vice mayor said and it's not only the public works department, it's every department. And I'm not going to sit here and because I'm here a lot and I do hear the staff um and when they don't get it, they come to us. I always tell people if they don't call me, it's good. It's a good day in North Miami. But I'm here if they do need um we all are here if they need us. But it's always good if they don't call, meaning things are good. We don't know. People assume that us as elected official, we know what's happening in their own blocks. Sometime we don't even know what's happening in our own home. We are human too. Um a lot is going on. And so just please please be mindful of that. Again, have a healthy, safe, and wonderful new year. With that being said, I think do we go to Madame Clerk?

Just a reminder for folks that we are having a mobile DMV event. It's very quick,

seamless, as long as you get all the information. You can RSVP with the office of the city clerk. And that goes for employees as well. Feel free to also just stop by, walk in to have your license done quickly. It's been said a few times today, of course, we want to celebrate the holidays and I hope everyone has a great holiday season, but it has never been a more important time to check in on folks and to really be intentional about that. Uh, just recently we had kids who were found in the home after 2 days because their parents disappeared. So, you know, these are the things that are happening and there's multiple stories over, you know, the past month alone. So, I just really encourage us all to be intentional about checking on one another, checking on even folks that you're not too familiar with, but knock on a neighbor's door if you think something might be off. Because in these times especially, not just the holiday season, but with everything that's happening, people are in need and may not know the outlet to express that. So, I just encourage us all to continue being the compassionate people we are here in the city of North Miami. And that is all. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. And I'm sorry, I didn't know about the mobile um event, which is very important that um that you are having. I didn't mention. I'm sorry, Mr. Attorney. Uh yes, mayor. Um as far as the uh the charter item, we'll have that on for the next meeting. Oh, okay. Okay. We it's been prepared. It's been before you before, so we'll have it then. And uh happy holidays to everyone. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Madame manager. Happy holidays to everyone. Um you know, there will be the city holiday, so hopefully all of the council members will be there tomorrow. Um what's tomorrow? Yes, tomorrow.

Tomorrow. And the mayor is speaking at 1:00 p.m. So, the mayor is speaking at 1:00 p.m. Okay. 1 p.m. Okay. [laughter] I mean, um, and then a reminder to everyone as you depart the chambers this evening, just exit through the front sliding doors. The side door requiring key fob access is unavailable due to the ongoing installation. So, just go through the front sliding doors. Thank you. John, tell the people happy holidays. Is there a motion to adjurnn? No, no, no, no. John, I'm going to tell the people happy holidays. Happy holidays, everybody. Thank you. Move to adjourn. Thank you guys. Good night. The time is now 9:35