City Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to our October Council meeting. The time is now 10.06 a.m. and it is September 9th, 2024. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Porras.

Thank you very much. We have the invocation by Miss Pastor Tina Floyd from Dios Con Nosotro.

Amen. Thank you, Pastora. I'm also going to ask very quickly that we take a moment of silence in remembrance of October 7th. I know that we're a couple days after, but I did want to do a special remembrance. So if we can all rise and stand in a moment of silence. Okay, we move into the agenda order of business. Madam Clerk, do you want to go first? Yes, Madam Mayor.

Nothing? Okay, if there is nothing, then we will go ahead and move on to public comments. The public comments portion of this meeting is now open. If you have filled out a comment card, I will call you up to the podium. You have three minutes to speak in a respectful manner to this council. Please state your name and address for the record. We will start with Louie Mar Garza.

Next. Sorry. Oh, sorry. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else would like to speak in public comments? Please come up to the podium at this time. Being none. Okay, we will close the public comments portion and we'll go on to the consent agenda. I need it'll be all the items on section six. Perfect. I need a motion on the consent. Motion by Councilman Pinedo. Second by Vice Mayor Pui-Corvey. All in favor say aye. Okay. Let the record reflect that the consent agenda has passed. We'll now move on to the minutes of the meeting. Approval of the minutes, all of the items on section seven. Motion to approve by Vice Mayor Pui-Corvey. Second by Councilman Pinedo. All in favor say aye.

Let the record reflect that the minutes have passed. Madam Clerk.

All right, I think we have code compliance. Mr. Estrada.

OK, thank you very much. Congratulations. To Ratia Business Center.

Thank you, Mayor. Exportesano La Memoria, which is going to be the title, is a cultural movement that has been promoting and preserving Colombian handcraft tradition for 15 years already. And now for the first time, They're hosting their international edition here in the city of Doral from October 18th through the 20th. And to give you a little bit about the background, because I know we're going to have a presentation, I believe they're connected as well. And I want to welcome them as well. But support Colombian nutritionists by establishing local, national, international commercial connectio

Thank you, Mauro. Again, this is just to create the awareness that they're coming for us to hopefully participate, to be present on the 18th once they start. This is not costing anything to the city. They're taking care of all the expenses, and I thought it was going to be a good idea for us to tell everybody that they're coming, and at the same time for the city to, for us as elected officials to get involved somehow, either by promoting the event in our social medias, but at the same time to offer them their support. because once again, it's a very good organization. They have been doing thi

Thank you, Councilman Pinedo. Appreciate it. Anybody else have questions? I've been working with them for months, too. I think they're doing a great job, and hopefully the community will enjoy this event that's coming to Doral. We appreciate the organizers who actually some of them live here in Doral as well. So thank you very much. All right. Any other questions? We move on. All right. The advisory board.

Thank you, Michelle. All right. Do we have any questions from council? Would you like to hear from the applicant? Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Vice Mayor Pui-Corvey. There's no questions. No questions. We can call the roll.

Through the mayor. So this was the one that we approved last year too, right? Mm-hmm.

Motion to approve by Vice Mayor Puig Corbett. No, there's no public comments for this. Second by Councilman Pinedo. Any questions from the Council? For the applicants? Okay, Madam Chair, please call the roll.

Through the mayor. Yes. This is the continuation of my item that I introduced a couple months ago. And I did speak to the organizers. They're actually prepping for the storm or the hurricane, so they weren't able to make it today. So this is an FYI. So I'll do a motion to approve. Second.

Okay, motion to approve by Councilwoman Porras, seconded by Vice Mayor Puig Corby. Any other questions?

All right, before you move on, Michelle, let me just make a quick announcement because I didn't say it at the beginning of the meeting. Normally, our public hearings are in the afternoon. Because of the storm, we've consolidated our two meetings. Therefore, we'll be hearing the public hearings now, and there will be no 6 PM session. Should have mentioned that at the beginning of the meeting. I know there was a notice that went out, but just in case anyone watching, they understand why we're hearing public hearings now. Michelle. Thank you. Yes.

Thank you, Michelle. OK. Is the applicant present? Do they want to make a presentation? No? I'm not sure. I see them back there. I just don't know of any representations here with them. Are they available online? Is there any questions for the applicant? How about that? No? OK. Then I need a motion.

Oh, I'm so sorry. You're right. Public hearing. Let me hope it up to the public at this time. Not used to public hearings in the morning. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium. This is item 24-5896. Being none, okay, we will close the public hearing. And if there's been any ex parte communication, that would be an opportunity to disclose. Okay, being none, Madam Clerk. Motion to approve motion to approve by councilman Pineda second by councilwoman Deana Cabral. I'm clear.

Before we open up to staff, let me go ahead and do expert day communications and public hearing. Any expert day communications on this item?

I've also been in contact with the applicant and it's not influencing my decision.

I've also been contacted by the applicant and it will not change my vote.

Okay, I also had a meeting with the applicant and it will not affect my decision. Okay, let's open up to public comments for this item. Public hearing is now open for item 24-5897. If you would like to speak, please come up to the podium.

Thank you very much. Any other public comments on this item? Being none, OK, we will close the public comments. And now we'll hear from staff.

Thank you, Michelle. Would we like to hear from the applicant now, please?

Okay, thank you very much. Any questions for the applicant? Yes, Councilman Pinedo.

Hi, Tracy. Good morning. I have a question. My concern, my main concern about this project is actually that you only have one entrance in XT, right, on 87th Avenue? Okay.

Thank you. And I made the comment because I know we go back to 2014, but the West neighborhood, the way that it was called before. And for me, that was a terrible approval. Anyway, I think that probably we all agree on that. And the way that was designed, everything. And we always keep hearing about approvals to the West of 87th Avenue or over development around the city of the round so in my main concern is certainly is traffic in that area that's why i voted no on the project on 87 and 41st on the resort project and this is on the other side and that will continue to be my main concern so i

I just want to make a comment, if I may.

Thank you so much for bringing that up and answering the question to Councilman Pinedo, because when I met with Michelle, that was one of my questions. She explained that in detail. And also she showed there the traffic, how the difference... of leaving it the way that it was and what is being now being amended. And I think that it will work much, much better for us, for our residents. And also we talk about the trolley stop too, to make sure that we have one that it's close by to the use of the residents that will be living in that area. So thank you for bringing that up. And I have motion to

Thank you. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Cabral. Is there a second? Second by Vice Mayor Puig Corbett. I do have some questions, Tracy, very quickly. The increase to the office use by 6,000 square feet, where was that being envisioned? Can you explain that as well? Because I don't...

Good more than what was actually required. You haven't built out all the retail at this point, right? Correct. 17,000 square feet, I think, that was left of retail to be built.

In other words, my point is it doesn't seem like you'll be maximizing all potential development rights because you really are out of space. Correct. Okay. I don't necessarily have the concern of what the changes are being proposed. It was always envisioned that that corner was going to have the residential component to be part of that downtown mixed use area. I know that a big portion of it has been built with the idea of that final phase coming through and the changes being made. The current parking garage that's there will be expanded. And we did have a discussion, and I want to publicly tha

Yeah, because they're there you're just a couple of blocks from Doral Central Park, so it's a There's plenty of parking there that could be used as overflow parking if there is a need at some point. So I thought it was a great offer that they made to say, you know, we're here to work with the community as much as possible. I appreciate you guys not only stepping up to the plate when we asked, but also offering to be good neighbors in the community. Obviously, that's an area that the residents will use very much, too. It's walking distance. So the residents that you'll have there and are curren

Okay, I'm going to open up to public hearing. The floor is now open to hear on Item 24-5905.

Any other public comments? Being none, okay, public hearing is now closed, and we will turn this over to Councilman Cabral, who I think is the sponsor. or the attorney.

I am, thank you. I just want to read on the memo. The city of Doral has a long benefit from the input of its advisory committees and board, one that I used to serve too. However, after reviewing the current framework, it has become evident that updates are necessary to reflect the involving needs of the city and its residents. The amendments in this ordinance are designed to improve operational clarity, accountability, and relevance to today's challenges while ensuring continuous citizen engagement and effective advisory support to the city council. The ordinance introduces several modificatio

I have a quick question. I like a lot of the changes, including the prohibition on allowing individuals with criminal history from serving, as well as from benefiting from their position. My question is, this is gonna apply prospectively, right? Because some of the provisions are with timelines and all that.

Okay, motion to approve by Councilman Poirot, second by Vice Mayor Puig Corvie. Any other comments, questions? Okay, I do have a few. All right, so regarding the provision... under Section 2-166, which is compensation and eligibility. I do have a problem with C, E, and F. First of all, for C, asking them interested applicants to attend a minimum of two advisory board meetings before they're actually appointed to it, I think it's cumbersome. At the end of the day, these are volunteers from our community. Many times when there's a change in the governing body, those members tend to change. And s

So it could be a pending matter, and it wouldn't fall into this?

So if you weren't found guilty but had an arrest or had some type of issue in your background, it would not fall. It would not fall. It would not be subject to this provision.

We don't necessarily have that. So then that leads to my next question that I had regarding these requirements. Does this fall also for the Parks and Police for Kids advisory board?

So these requirements would not be extended to the Parks and Rec.

Well, I think, yes. If you're going to extend requirements beyond a scope for people who are serving in a volunteer capacity, I think consistency is consistency. to be fair across the board. So I think it would need to be required of all members of boards, which leads me to the last section, section 2-127, membership limitations. In section C, advisory board committee commissions members shall not have any identifying apparel, business cards, name tags, et cetera, as they are not otherwise official employees of the city and cannot officially represent the city. our parks and police advisory bo

Yes, would you like to accept some of my amendments?

No, I don't accept your amendments. First of all, I don't understand why they say that you're always against for us to make sure that the people that are related to the city have, we just wanted to make sure that they are not have any issues with the law. Oh, me too. No, no, no, it seems that you're not. So, because you just expressed it here and you're interrupting me too. So the other thing is that even the parent-teacher associations and the PTA, you have to go through that. You have to do a background check only for you to serve in the schools because we're around kids. So some of these bo

Okay, just a follow-up. So you're saying you are accepting my amendment to item B for section 2-132?

Only to add to the boards, even if it is a 501c3, like parking police for kids, to sign the affidavit.

But you just said that you don't mind that they bring up the items to us. Your changes to this ordinance...

For events, no, for events, they can have one event, and if they want any, then they will have to apply like everybody else.

That's not what this is saying. This is saying that they shall not request to organize more than one event in a given year.

They have the, so let's look into that, Mr. Attorney. So they can do one, I mean, they can do one event as a board, but if they want to do other events, they have to bring it to us to be approved. then this has to be struck.

Okay, since I'm the maker of the motion, I just wanted to come back to what I made, what I moved, and so one, I do agree, perhaps maybe reducing the attendance to one because they meet every four or every quarter. Quarter. Yeah. If they were meeting every month, I think it'd be different, but maybe if you're fine, reducing it to attending once before being able to serve. I do agree that people that want to run for office should be attending our council meetings. And in fact, we have a candidate that's been attending all of them since 2022 here. Two, I do believe that for our police citizens ac

If I may. Yes, Councilman Cabral. Oh, sorry. I'm sorry.

The reason that for them to attend to at least two of the meetings is for them to have an idea. And many people will come in, then they sit down, and then they realize, you know what, I didn't expect that this was like this, I don't want to be part of this, and then they don't get to get. I do understand, I mean, we can do one because But the reason of that is so they can have an idea and then they are not, they will not have quorum in order for them to keep moving.

Wait, I think we're talking about two different things, right? So the, I thought there were two.

That's the reason of them to attend to the meeting. Okay.

No, I'm sorry, just to clarify. So there's one section that says before you become a member to attend. So that's one. And then the other one is once you're a member, absolutely. I'm not changing that one. No, I'm not changing that one.

It's just the one before becoming a member.

The one before they become members to attend, one, instead of two. Does that make sense? Yeah, okay. Okay. I made a motion and I think it's seconded, so can we call the question?

Okay, I'm gonna open up to public hearing. We are now opening up the floor for item 24-5925. I do have one comment card. So we're gonna call this person up first, Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, former council member, welcome.

Thank you. Any other public comments at this time regarding this item?

And sync. Anyone else like to speak on public comments regarding this item, please approach the podium at this time. Otherwise, the floor is now closed. Okay, Councilman Pinaroli, this is your item.

Thank you, Mayor. This ordinance is in support of human trafficking public awareness. First of all, I want to say thank you to former Councilwoman and former Vice Mayor Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera for being here and for being a champion in this matter. I do recall in 2014 when this ordinance was passed and it was thanks to you. So it was the first ordinance related to human trafficking in the City of Doral. So when we had this conversation, we thought that it was not only needed to to bring it back, to update it. But at the same time, I know we also have a brief discussion in the two months ago

Thank you, Councilman. Thank you. Any other questions for the mayor? Yes, Councilwoman Porras.

I think this is a great ordinance. Motion to approve.

Okay, we have a motion to approve by Councilwoman Porras. Second. Second by Councilwoman Cabral. Any other questions?

Yes, before I forget, I also want to thank our city attorney because he he has been the one working draft in this ordinance as well. So thank you so much.

All right. Mr. City Attorney, any changes from first to second reading? I don't think there was.

Okay. All right, any other questions? Let me open up to public hearing. The floor is now open for item 24-5859. Anyone would like to speak, please approach the podium. Okay, being none, we'll close the public hearing.

Do we want to add what we just discussed? Having anyone that wants to run for office attend a council meeting? Since we talked about it. No?

All right. Never mind, it may not be legal. Yeah, I don't think so. All right, motion to approve.

All right, motion to approve by Council Lamporta, second by Vice Mayor Puig-Corvey.

Mayor's report. Mayor's report. The only thing I have is, first, I do want to thank Public Works and Police Department for their work the last three days, as well as the manager's office. Very consistent updates coming out. Thank you very much. for keeping us informed, and they're also keeping the residents informed, public affairs as well, I should say, and of course the sandbag distributions, the sand for residents as well as businesses. Public Works has been very responsive, so thank you very much to you, Mr. Manager, Deputy City Manager, as well as the Assistant City Manager, and police, o

Purple, purple, pink, purple. Yes, all the same. You know, the shade. Okay, so if we could just look into that. I was here the other day at night and I didn't see it. So thank you very much for all your work. And we'll move on to council comments.

So I just want to also reiterate, I am very, very proud and grateful for the response and the preparation for the hurricane over the last couple of days. All of the departments, the administration, everyone, thank you so much. You have gone above and beyond your duties and I know that the residents are seeing it and they're extremely happy with that. So thank you, every department here. I also want to congratulate the police department on their accreditation. Congratulations. You guys are amazing. Keep up the great work. And also, you know, we just approved the COLA, the Reopener COLA, which i

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COUNCIL COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

say thanks to not only the administration, but our public works department, our police department for the last two, three days. As the city manager stated in one of the emails, I think that regardless of what happens, this, which, again, thanks God that we're certainly, we're going to feel the impact as our neighbors in Central Florida, which, by the way, let's keep it in our prayers because it's going to be very, very bad in that area. These certainly serve as a training of what we can do as a city when a storm or weather conditions like the one that potentially we will be facing can happen i

If I may, I also want to irradiate what Majority has said to the department. Thank you so much for everything that you've been doing during these days and hopefully we will not have to face nothing that what is being faced on the area of the Panhandle. I also wanted to share with you that unfortunately some of my members live in that area and one already have lost all her belongings, but we got together as a family and we're working helping her as well also to my cousin former mayor of Sarasota now Commissioner that I know that he's working overtime on making sure that his city is safe on that

Okay, next we move on to the manager's report.

City clerk, you for sure have something. I got nothing, the report is attached. It was worth a try. Everybody stay safe. All right. Sounds good. Well, thank you, everyone, for being here today. That concludes our council meeting for October 9th. Tomorrow is my 14th wedding anniversary. We'll be celebrating in the hurricane. I need a motion to adjourn. Motion. Motion to adjourn by Vice Mayor Pui Corve. Second by Councilman Pinedo. All in favor say aye. Aye. This meeting is adjourned.