City Council - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, June 9, 2026Official site

The Village Council approved a budget amendment, beach park renovation, and a beach renourishment contribution from the Ritz-Carlton. Key discussions included the potential impacts of state property tax reform and the upcoming ballot initiative for stormwater projects, alongside updates on Grand Bay Club renovations.

About this meeting

Government Body
City Council
Meeting Type
City Council
Location
Key Biscayne, FL
Meeting Date
June 9, 2026

Published excerpts

Only published remarks appear here. The full transcript is not published.

171 sections (from 179 segments)

0:33 – 0:45•Joe I. Rasco

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

3:41•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you, Reverend. That was Reverend Philippe Assis from Crossbridge Church in Key Biscayne.

3:55 – 5:57•Nancy Stoner

I have some comments and announcements. Go ahead. I would first like to thank Paddle PADL, and in particular, their proprietors, Andres Avello, Kaleo Corey, and Felipe Jauregui, three born and bred key rats, who answered the call when the disability board and Todd requested their help. In true Key Biscayne fashion, they agreed to help our community by storing the new beach wheelchair at their paddle site at the beach park. And they're going one step further To facilitate the ease of access to the wheelchair. They are devising a locking system So that the people who would like to use the chair

5:57•Joe I. Rasco

That's great news. Thank you. Councilwoman?

9:00 – 9:12•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you. Next speaker, Christine Biggers. CHRISTINE BIGGERS Hello.

14:49•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you for your input. Luis de la Cruz.

18:18•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you for your comment. Next speaker, Steve Olmore.

20:37 – 20:48•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you for your comments. Next speaker, Marcelo Radice.

25:51•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, Ceci Sanchez.

39:22 – 39:34•Fernando A. Vazquez

Thank you. Absolutely. Can we see you for a second, because you pointed it that way. I love to see the shirt. That's all right. We're looking that way. Then I'm good. Thank you.

39:37 – 39:48•Joe I. Rasco

Great job, as always. Thank you. Thank you, and to the whole committee, Michelle. All right, Madam Clerk.

39:55 – 41:02•Fernando A. Vazquez

I have an addition, a couple of additions. First, I'd like to have an addition, the item that was recently discussed about solid waste. I want to add a quick discussion item on that. I'd like to get from the administration the status and what the resident was concerned about specifically. I'd like to know, and also give an opportunity for Mike Bracken, who's the chair of that committee, to be in attendance as well and to hear him out. I also want to introduce an item for discussion, Key Biscayne and Miami regional growth impacts, especially specifically when it comes up to the massive, massive

41:02•Nancy Stoner

I have an addition item. I'd like to discuss a code of conduct for village activities, programs, and premises.

41:40•Joe I. Rasco

Okay, let's do it. Okay, Madam Clerk. Move as amended.

42:07 – 42:35•Joe I. Rasco

Before we do that, Mr. Bracken. Yeah. I just wanted to commend your zeal in being with us from Germany, is it? Portugal. Portugal. Portugal. Okay. Thank you so much for being with us from far away.

47:29•Joe I. Rasco

Okay, and you'll be also able to take care of all the sargassum, right?

48:37 – 49:00•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you. Any other questions? 95% of all this exists, so it's just moving things around, adding pools, and there's no, you're not asking for any variance, you're not asking for- No variances, everything is as of right, and there's a master consent with all of the tracks within the PUD, both towers,

49:46•Joe I. Rasco

Tell everybody what time it is there. 1230. All right. Dedication. Dedication.

49:59•Joe I. Rasco

Looking good, looking good. Thanks, guys, trying.

50:44 – 51:09•Joe I. Rasco

Public hearing is now open on Ordinance 9A. Seeing no one come forward, public hearing is now closed. Any questions on this one? I think we beat it up over the time, but... Madam Clerk.

51:56 – 52:09•Joe I. Rasco

Public hearing is now open on 9B. Yeah. Yes. Put your name and address for the record.

52:40 – 53:13•Joe I. Rasco

Yes, thank you. Thank you. We have been working on that and we'll have the manager address that. But yes, these renovations are for our beach park and yes, we do everything we can to maintain that. And this is part of what we've been talking about for the last, few years about maintaining what we have. So, Mr. Manager, you want to address that?

54:37 – 55:01•Nancy Stoner

We are working on the gate of the public access gate. I was going to ask later on for an update on that. We spoke about that briefly, where people are getting access... To the beach. By the sands, the public. So that wouldn't stop access during the day, but it would stop after hours access.

55:05•Joe I. Rasco

And also, the chief does patrols, especially in the evening, right?

55:32 – 55:49•Nancy Stoner

Well, at least for parks and rec, they're going to be there during the day. Are they going to be asking for ID for people to get in? I'm not sure really. If you don't have a fob, if you've left your fob at home or you never got one or whatever, how are we going to try and manage that? I guess that really is what you need to address.

57:11•Nancy Stoner

It has been because I'm out there every night and I see the cars and I see the police and it's a lot quieter.

57:22•Joe I. Rasco

No, thank you. Thank you. All right. Madam Clark.

59:11 – 59:52•Joe I. Rasco

Right, and I want to preface, as much as we want to discuss everything about this, that tonight and what we have right in front of us is just really something that we've worked out with the Ocean Club, okay? And you will have a shot at looking at whether the generator goes there or doesn't go there, and everything else that goes with that, that's part of a FEMA grant that we're getting. So it's not today about all those details that will come before us.

59:52 – 1:00:52•Fernando A. Vazquez

As long as, I have no problem with that, as long as we have an opportunity to have a decision whether we want to have generators or not. And what I want to preface it with is the fact that, I mean, generators can work both ways. Obviously, they can help move the water out. The question is their futility in the sense that I think there's some very good points being brought up whether it's really necessary to have them there and have these artifacts all throughout our village. I strongly have an issue with that because in the past, we tried to do it as well on the beach. It was difficult. They'r

1:00:52 – 1:01:14•Nancy Stoner

To paraphrase, take the liberty of paraphrasing. what the mayor said. It is my understanding that all this agreement does is give us the authority to build this if we choose to do that. Absolutely. It's not obligating us. I'm just saying it for the public to understand what's happening tonight because we do get calls after the fact, what happened, what happened, and why did you agree to doing something.

1:01:14•Fernando A. Vazquez

And that's a very important point that you're saying because sometimes things do get confused when we talk up here.

1:01:19•Nancy Stoner

So this is just giving us a right to do that if we choose to go that path.

1:01:26 – 1:01:38•Fernando A. Vazquez

But I want to use this opportunity to talk about Generator City village wide. Here, there, anywhere. Let's understand because we're not an industrial facility here.

1:03:28•Oscar Sardiñas

I think exhibit A will show you a little bit better picture. Yeah, I don't know if we have that. It's page 11 of tab three, I think it is.

1:03:38 – 1:04:01•Oscar Sardiñas

That gives a very nice... to look at what we're talking about. No, not tab three. Tab, sorry. Tab five. Tab five, yeah. Page 11 of tab five. That's it. Yeah. You're looking at it there. Okay.

1:04:35•Joe I. Rasco

Move it. Second. Move it. Second. Mr. Myers, do you want to tell everyone what we're doing here?

1:07:19•Nancy Stoner

Does it get determined by how much we draw determined by how much they're going to benefit?

1:08:39 – 1:08:50•Nancy Stoner

And then if we, once we have an agreement about a project and we undertake a financial commitment They can't renege on that money. Once that money is there, that is ours.

1:09:21•Joe I. Rasco

All right. Good job, Mr. Manager. All right.

1:11:07•Joe I. Rasco

On this one, any questions? One down, three to go. All right.

1:13:25•Joe I. Rasco

Questions? Mike, you got a question? You're on mute. You're on mute.

1:13:52•Joe I. Rasco

I don't read hand signals. No, I think he's calling in.

1:14:48 – 1:15:08•Joe I. Rasco

Okay. Any other questions on this? This safety issue, we've got to take care of it. Is it... There are some other pieces that separate the playground from one area to the other. Those are... Those are not included in this.

1:17:08 – 1:17:27•Fernando A. Vazquez

I have a quick question. Sure. For my edification, the original, maybe, The original contract that we had with the school board, any extensions or expansions in Mast Academy, does that fall under a specific contract? Is this something new? Are we in an agreement with them?

1:17:39•Fernando A. Vazquez

So the question is, did that agreement say anything that we do is 50-50?

1:17:55•Joe I. Rasco

Like the basketball court, was that 50-50 also, or was it reimbursed?

1:18:33 – 1:18:54•Fernando A. Vazquez

No, no, and I'm not, I mean, we're done with it, right? But, but, but, I'm just trying to understand what the framework is of negotiation with the school board when we have incorporated additional facilities or we expand or we don't. Do we always have to pitch in? Is it just based on the usage? What drove the 50-50s?

1:19:12 – 1:19:44•Fernando A. Vazquez

Okay. Well, I really appreciate this, and I think it's great. It's a great opportunity. I don't know if council gets, you know, if we get involved in understanding what these negotiations are because what I see today, is an agreement right here, 50-50. And I'm not saying we wouldn't agree to that, but I think that we should allow an opportunity. If there was there, my apologies, I may have missed it, but I don't remember. And I think that for something of this degree, we should be part of that, we should have that understanding. I think we should. Okay.

1:19:44•Joe I. Rasco

Frank, did you have something to do with the negotiating the joint use agreement? Slightly.

1:19:55•Joe I. Rasco

Fair enough. And that was, I'm sorry, that was in what, 2012? 2011. 2014.

1:20:33•Fernando A. Vazquez

Then it's something that has already been prearranged.

1:20:50 – 1:21:06•Fernando A. Vazquez

My question is, and again, this is set, it's good, but let's have, you know, this is something that I feel that we get it here and we have to agree on it or not. It's kind of a binary decision. I understand. Give us an opportunity.

1:21:06 – 1:21:22•Joe I. Rasco

Right, but we don't have to put the money in. It's not, they're not forcing us to put the money in. I know, I'm sure. But if you've seen the condition of that field, you say, right?

1:21:22•Fernando A. Vazquez

I understand, I understand. That's not my point, but I get it, I get it.

1:22:11 – 1:22:31•Fernando A. Vazquez

I understand, but it's a 50-50. The fact that we need to feel, I'm not questioning that. I'm not questioning anything of the needs that we have and that this thing has been discussed and all that. All that I'm questioning is that I'm sitting here today and all of a sudden I get a contract here where I have to agree to 50-50 and that's all I'm asking. Educate us beforehand. That's all I'm asking.

1:22:34 – 1:22:47•Fernando A. Vazquez

And was it 50-50 there? Always. Okay. Did everybody know about it? I knew about it. You knew about it. Okay. I wasn't here four years ago.

1:22:47 – 1:23:15•Nancy Stoner

Okay. This is a little bit off, but I did notice, and we did discuss this, but I just want to confirm that there was mention in here of a problem. Possible increase in cost which as you said is going to come up actually later Because the rock surface might be determined to be insufficiently permeable and might need To be replaced for drainage, but that additional cost would be covered in this contingency, right?

1:23:29•Fernando A. Vazquez

Apologies. I didn't mean to cut you off. I'm done, thank you. Who manages the construction?

1:23:43•Fernando A. Vazquez

We've done it in the past, and I imagine we would continue to do it again this time. So we're not leaving it in the hands of the school board?

1:26:54•Fernando A. Vazquez

Is this the issue where some of the parents were expressing some concerns about the hierarchies in playing?

1:27:04 – 1:27:15•Joe I. Rasco

Right. This agreement just adds to what's already existing. We probably will have a conversation at some other point in time.

1:28:42 – 1:29:25•Nancy Stoner

Yes. There were extensive, as Todd said, there were extensive input from the Athletic Advisory Board. There were public comments at the Advisory Board meetings. There were... comments from the general public that came in that were taken into consideration. So this is, and these amendments and the different provisions in them are directly a result of what input we got, which is what makes this different from the other sports. So yes, the advisory board is comfortable and advises to proceed with this amendment.

1:29:33•Nancy Stoner

Yes, he was present. He was present, I believe, at every meeting and participated fully.

1:32:04•Joe I. Rasco

So you're primarily maintaining the roads that we have? That is correct.

1:32:29•Joe I. Rasco

So the material pricing is from last year, which should be better than if we did it out today, right? Exactly. Okay.

1:32:39•Fernando A. Vazquez

There's a couple of questions. Are you guys looking at, have you had an opportunity to look at the subgrade of the sub-base in these roads?

1:33:08•Fernando A. Vazquez

Yes. Good. Thank you. And you're saying you're keeping it at grade?

1:33:37•Fernando A. Vazquez

So we're pitching the road, trying to get it to as best as we can to the catch basins, and we're also looking at the subgrade to see if we have any structural deficiencies. We'll fix them there. Correct.

1:33:49•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you. And this was in our capital improvement program?

1:34:54 – 1:35:10•Joe I. Rasco

Okay. One of the most important things we need to talk a little bit about right now is the property tax issue. So if I can get our CFO to come up and bring us up to date.

1:35:14 – 1:35:58•Joe I. Rasco

Which, by the way, this would impact... in the future, our capital improvement budget, it would impact potentially our debt, it would potentially impact our future revenues, and more importantly, what we can and can't do. So it would be another super preemption. And so, Let's talk about it at a little high level right now. We don't have all the answers yet, but we have started looking in depth at this. Mr. CFO.

1:36:05•Joe I. Rasco

Sure, so we've been obviously... Get the mic closer to you. We've been monitoring and updating this throughout the past

1:41:13 – 1:41:40•Nancy Stoner

Can I ask you a question? Sure. When you say non-homesteaded, then you list condos, second homes, rentals, shops. I think what you mean is commercial properties, residential properties, whether they're homes or condos that are owned by companies and that are not owned by individuals who have claimed homestead. Is that correct? Okay. Because people who have homesteaded as a primary residence, they're condos, are homesteaded properties.

1:46:00•Nancy Stoner

Isn't there some delay, though, that you can't start claiming some of this until you're in the property two years or four years or something?

1:47:15 – 1:47:48•Joe I. Rasco

So, I don't know, tell me if this is an appropriate example. Chris was just up talking about the $300,000 for road improvement The one possibility would come out of that is that you'd have to extend the period of time that you do those road improvements instead of doing it over whatever five years you got to do them over 20 years and and you would be restricted from. From being able to get that done in a faster, more prudent manner.

1:47:58 – 1:48:28•Fernando A. Vazquez

How are we going to, I guess, I don't understand looking at this. The expenditure reductions or any fee adjustments or millage changes, are you going to bring kind of like a matrix or show us how this thing will work out? Because right now we're looking at this, but. and we understand in concept, philosophically, it's going to be impacts, but I don't think we really have an understanding of the hard numbers. I hear you. We're going to go through the budget season, and this is going to be discussed. Are we going to have an option to?

1:48:59 – 1:49:30•Fernando A. Vazquez

Because at the end of the day, I mean, what we do in 2027 will definitely affect 2028. So what I'm trying to understand, Mr. Manager, is really more of what the numbers are going to be, where, I mean, I hope staff comes back with an understanding of where the highest pressure points would be, the impacts to the budget or to the overall services. Right now, I see revenue impacts and all that. Important to know right now, but we have a pending bill that's about to be approved.

1:50:17 – 1:50:35•Fernando A. Vazquez

I know every municipality, every agency is thinking about this throughout the whole state. Are you guys maybe in discussions with other entities, other agencies, other municipalities to try to understand if somebody out there is developing a model that works or not? Any ideas? Are you talking about this with our

1:51:11•Fernando A. Vazquez

But we still have to approve the millage rate before it passes through referendum. So what structure are you proposing for that?

1:51:24 – 1:51:43•Fernando A. Vazquez

I understand, but that's why I said what we do in 2027 is what is going to end up affecting 2028. So I don't think we are – with this looming out there, this bill looming out there, I think we can't just go like this and say, no, nothing's going to happen, or if it happens, it'll be somebody else's problem. No, we're not, and this is exactly why we're presenting it to you.

1:51:49•Fernando A. Vazquez

Yeah, but will there be another opportunity, or will there be maybe two scenarios to talk about, maybe if it doesn't pass or if it does pass?

1:52:20•Fernando A. Vazquez

Yeah, well, I know. I mean, there will be a first. Because this is a first. This whole thing is a first for everyone.

1:54:00 – 1:54:12•Nancy Stoner

Because we've been so careful to keep such a low millage rate that we really are in much more comfortable territory than some of the other municipalities?

1:54:21 – 1:54:59•Joe I. Rasco

Yeah, I want to add something. Fernando was talking about who we contacted I'm talking to a lot of different mayors and I know cities like West Miami Biscayne Park Cutler Bay There's serious serious problems for those folks, I mean serious serious problems We're in much better shape than than a lot of other cities, but I We have to look at also from that point of view. The county is probably going to be in big trouble also.

1:56:44•Nancy Stoner

The four-year waiting period is only for non-Florida residents who are now moving to Florida. It's not for people within the state moving elsewhere within the state who have residency and who are moving.

1:56:58•Joe I. Rasco

You probably see a flood of buyers at the end of the year if that were the case, right?

1:57:28 – 1:57:59•Joe I. Rasco

Okay. We are still Going through the bill and understanding it there there may be Entities that will want to challenge some of the language and that's something that's going on As we speak so But in any case we got a we got to be ready for it You know a little bit about that chat as to so there

1:58:50 – 1:59:02•Fernando A. Vazquez

I mean, is the bill structure in a way that it doesn't clarify to the citizen itself that there are going to be impacts to basic services?

2:00:45 – 2:01:00•Fernando A. Vazquez

Is there an outreach set? I mean, is there somebody from the county or who's on point to deliver the message to the public, as the village attorney well expressed here, all the issues that this bill has?

2:01:00 – 2:01:19•Joe I. Rasco

Well, that's a big slogan. That's an excellent question, because by the same token, our hands are tied as to whether we can advocate freely against this. So you want to address that?

2:01:50 – 2:02:01•Fernando A. Vazquez

That sounds- Yeah, no, I wasn't talking so much advocacy, but more education. That's not really an objective approach to it. Nobody is- We want the residents to know.

2:02:36 – 2:02:52•Fernando A. Vazquez

But again, like Chad said, it's very clear. I mean, apart from hearing out there and hearing the different partisans positions, but aside from that, what is the real objective center of this? And how can people understand what they're, you know, what they're going on about?

2:04:06 – 2:04:34•Joe I. Rasco

Okay. Very good. Let's deal this issue about, I got Michael there, and talk about the solid waste contract. Mike, if my memory serves me, you wrote a letter asking for it to be delayed? Didn't we go through this already?

2:05:01 – 2:06:01•Fernando A. Vazquez

I agree with that. I had the opportunity to attend the sustainability committee and I sense that there is an opportunity for the residents in the committee specifically to take a look at this and us as well to understand what the framework of this contract is and what opportunities or what other alternatives are out there, if there are out there, but what other alternatives we have. we need more clarity, we need a little bit more of time. Because for all I know, we're gonna get into a contract and there's other stuff out there that could be more fair and equitable for our residents and other o

2:06:08•Fernando A. Vazquez

So perhaps Mr. Manager, just want to ask you, what can we do?

2:08:23 – 2:08:41•Joe I. Rasco

But what I what I heard Mike say and the manager say is yes, we will extend as needed okay we can solve it faster fine if we we need 2 months, which is what Mike said that would be the outside the right.

2:08:49 – 2:09:13•Joe I. Rasco

So if it's not enough we will we'll work with the rest of what's going on okay, thank you very much okay. To go Mister mayor way way way. You want to announce a little bit about the soil situation.

2:10:57•Nancy Stoner

Of my four, I only need to talk about one of my four.

2:11:03 – 2:11:17•Joe I. Rasco

Thanks, Jerry. Let's see. Status report from manager regarding installation of timed access. Okay.

2:11:17 – 2:11:29•Nancy Stoner

Yeah, I can put all those off because they were more in the idea of announcements. Number one, For me, number three for me, and number eight for me. The only one I'd like to discuss is my add-on.

2:11:41•Nancy Stoner

Nine. So the only one I would like to discuss at some point is my add-on.

2:11:57•Joe I. Rasco

Yes. We're jumping around a little bit, but yes. Go ahead. Okay. Go ahead.

2:12:05 – 2:14:09•Nancy Stoner

We have a very bare bones code of conduct, which only applies to participants in community center. And I think we really need to have a code of conduct for that applies to participants, visitors, parents in not only the community center, but the Village Green and in all village properties and assets. And I think it needs to be broad enough that it includes having the proper respect for other people. It needs to be very, very broad. And it needs to say, among other things, that if you have a problem, You don't take matters into your own hands. You report it to staff or to the manager or to coun

2:14:44•Nancy Stoner

the caretakers, the visitors, everybody.

2:15:26•Joe I. Rasco

Consensus of council. All right. So this one's done.

2:15:38•Joe I. Rasco

Let's go to Pelotons, a favorite topic of the item.

2:16:03 – 2:17:03•Fernando A. Vazquez

I brought this item because I wanted to Well, obviously, speak about the obvious. But the other day we saw a video, thanks, I think it was Carlos Mendia who posted it, and thanks to his civic stewardship, we're getting to see what these Pelotons are doing early in the morning. And they're getting worse by, at least that's the perception we're getting. Now they're taking the whole road. So I know you guys are working hard at trying to manage it. I'm not here to question what you guys are doing, but there has to be a stop to that. We all want the bicyclists to be out there. We all want them to r

2:19:33•Fernando A. Vazquez

Chief, can I ask you a question? These operations, are they, when you say recurrent, When do they take place?

2:20:01 – 2:20:13•Fernando A. Vazquez

My question was more, can we try to increase the frequency of it to kind of, shift the paradigm a little bit. Your presence there is going to make them behave, to make everybody behave.

2:21:15•Fernando A. Vazquez

And I agree, people should not be filming, but the problem is when you see something like that, you want everybody to be aware.

2:22:10•Fernando A. Vazquez

Right. And quick question on the cyclist side. Are there people out there that are sponsoring more safety? Do we have

2:22:46•Fernando A. Vazquez

All right, let's flank it from all ends. I mean, your end, their end, and let's really try to be safe out there. Yes, sir. It's a little crazy. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2:22:56 – 2:23:19•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you. Do you want to move to your items? Yes. Mr. Miranda, update on Harbor Drive. We're glad you asked. Come on now. I've only been asking for three years.

2:23:42•Joe I. Rasco

And like the conversation we had about masks, this is something we control, even though the majority of the money comes from the county.

2:24:06•Joe I. Rasco

And they're going to pay $1.9 million of it, and we're paying a couple hundred thousand?

2:24:41•Joe I. Rasco

All right. Mr. Attorney, other important matter that we had to discuss?

2:27:18•Nancy Stoner

We really don't have I mean we either you just have our stamp it or not right you just have to your discretion is in the ballot question.

2:28:05•Nancy Stoner

I'm not sure any project can get done in three years.

2:28:30 – 2:28:54•Joe I. Rasco

Okay, so we're meeting on June 30th for, hold on a second, hold on. It's the strategic workshop, no, the budget preview. OK so and then the next one is July 7th.

2:28:58•Joe I. Rasco

Yeah. I'm saying it so that all of you look at your calendars and make sure you're going to be there.

2:29:53 – 2:30:11•Fernando A. Vazquez

I have a quick question on projects of, let's say, Black Swan event, hurricane. There's no exception in here. All right. Well, that's something to consider, I guess. Well, we can't.

2:30:15 – 2:30:37•Fernando A. Vazquez

So let's say there's a hurricane. Let's say there is, because usually, you know, there is impacts. And... something needs to be done as a result of an emergency. FEMA comes in, says we have to fix, we have to take care of this drainage system, whatever. How's that gonna work out?

2:30:47•Fernando A. Vazquez

Question on what set the 50 million. Who set the 50 million?

2:30:58 – 2:31:17•Fernando A. Vazquez

So if there's a hurricane, or if there is a major flooding event, unless it doesn't have to be a hurricane, it can just be a major flooding event, and beyond, say, the 500-year storm, nothing can be done. Or it can be done, but it has to go through a political process.

2:31:33•Joe I. Rasco

Or $52 million, then you have to have an election over $2 million.

2:31:39•Fernando A. Vazquez

Here's where I go with the same thing as that slogan referendum that the governor is passing.

2:31:44•Joe I. Rasco

about, you mean government referendum from both sides we're getting here? We're getting hit with two slogans here.

2:31:51•Fernando A. Vazquez

Let me ask one question. Can I just finish, Matt?

2:32:00 – 2:32:30•Fernando A. Vazquez

Are the residents aware to the degree objectively, objectively of what they're voting for? Because there's one thing about basic services, water, sewer, flood protection, traffic, that putting that in the arena of politics, because let's face it, a referendum is a political process. And who's going to take the lead? and saying, we have to do this. So two things.

2:35:32•Oscar Sardiñas

So. Is there a way to direct that education to the people who actually signed the petition? To ensure that they signed it under factual stipulations? Sure.

2:35:54 – 2:36:39•Fernando A. Vazquez

I just, what I see, look, everybody, the electorate has the absolute right to issue a referendum. Yes, 100%. 100%, that's what we're here for. My only concern on this, and I've said this publicly as well, is on unprecedented conditions or unforeseen conditions that are not, that are done in the moment here, but we'll never go away. We cannot, flooding is not going to go away. You know, the unforgiving flooding waters are not gonna go away. So the question is, are we going to address, we cannot address that, that's fine, but can we address our charter in a way to protect it in the event that th

2:36:39•Nancy Stoner

I'm concerned about protecting the public. This doesn't apply to emergencies.

2:37:08•Fernando A. Vazquez

Well, I think life and limb are pretty important, right?

2:37:14•Joe I. Rasco

Tell me if this is incorrect. Hold on, hold on. Mike, we cut you off last time.

2:38:28 – 2:38:54•Fernando A. Vazquez

So my question is, should there be countermeasures in the charter to allow for emergency repairs? It could be repairs, as Council Member Bracken pretty well stated. It could be other things. We don't know. I have no idea how destructive a storm can be or anything. The question is, is that going to trigger

2:39:46•Oscar Sardiñas

Or an uncontrolled discharge into Biscayne Bay. How would that be addressed?

2:40:52 – 2:41:09•Fernando A. Vazquez

Everybody has a right to put a referendum there, and that's our God-given right. That's beautiful. That's great. I'm just looking for unintended consequences. direct impacts to the residents that may or may not feel, or they may not know. There's people out there that don't know.

2:41:09•Nancy Stoner

Well, we don't even know. We don't even know.

2:41:12•Fernando A. Vazquez

Somebody's just going to end up with a monkey in their back.

2:42:26•Joe I. Rasco

Okay, let's do the June 30th. We know where we're going to be.

2:42:43 – 2:43:00•Joe I. Rasco

See, that's why we defer. Okay. Okay, let's double check and make sure that everybody can be at the July 7th.

2:43:13 – 2:44:12•Joe I. Rasco

Okay, let's work on that. Okay. I have appointments. Village Athletic Advisory Board. Got great resumes. Thank you, everybody. I have two people, Manolo Suida and Tony Gambrizio to the athletic board, both long-term Key Biscayne residents, very much involved in athletics, have been coaches and So I think those two will be very good. And we had an opening on the Sustainability Advisory Board, and I'm going to name Carlos Mendia, who is also the president of the Condo Association, so that should be a good fit for seeing if we can get something done on the condo side.

2:44:18 – 2:44:29•Joe I. Rasco

Thank you. The strategic planning session, we've identified that as July 7th. Everybody's good to go.

2:44:29•Fernando A. Vazquez

I have one minor discussion item, Mr. Mayor.

2:44:34 – 2:45:14•Joe I. Rasco

Yeah, hold on a second. We had set a council meeting on November 10th, but the election is going to be on November 3rd. So more than likely the 10th or 11th will be the swearing in. So I want to put that on everyone's radar so that you plan accordingly and that you're here. So that's all I had. Anything else?

2:45:24 – 2:48:04•Fernando A. Vazquez

Yeah, I'm going to be brief on this one, but I think it's important that everybody is aware. that the airport right now is undergoing a significant capital improvement expansion, modernization, expansion of terminals. Currently, we're carrying about 52 million passengers in 2025, and they're going to increase it to 77 million passengers. I know we've had issues in the past about flight paths coming in through the north part of the Quay. I don't know what they're planning. I attended two, so far I've been at two aviation seaport county meetings, and it's pretty intense. I mean, and not only tha

2:48:20•Fernando A. Vazquez

Yeah, but I think we should be actively more involved. Before we know it, we're gonna have more planes flying over our heads, more ships on the horizon.

2:48:27 – 2:49:03•Joe I. Rasco

We do have, I appointed someone to be on the flight path. So yes, we do have in that case, and... through your commissioner, Raquel Regalado, you also have access to all that. I try to attend as many of these things as I possibly can, whether it's the Miami-Dade League of Cities or it's the Transportation Committee of the Chamber.

2:49:03 – 2:49:29•Fernando A. Vazquez

As well, and I think it's important that we have as much presence as we can because this growth is staggering. And we are already complaining about traffic and events that are happening. Imagine adding another 22 million passengers and folks that are coming in. We have to have a way of mitigating this or managing it in a proactive way.

2:49:29 – 2:50:00•Joe I. Rasco

Well, the port's going to run into another problem. They won't have any fuel, but that's a different story for a different day. All right concern also about the bay and there are things that I think we should Up the ante a little more city west is having the same conversation And I think that's why we also have a very proactive Sustainability Advisory Board that will get into a lot of these issues.

2:50:29 – 2:50:52•Fernando A. Vazquez

I just really want to encourage more presence, more visibility that they see Key Biscayne And we don't need to be in, obviously we are for growth, we are for healthy growth and responsible growth. And we wanna make sure that we mitigate any impacts that directly or indirectly result out of this massive expansion, massive expansion. Okay.

2:50:54•Joe I. Rasco

Mr. Manager, you got any more things? I think we've covered all of ours.

2:52:05•Fernando A. Vazquez

So on the progressive design build, what are you recommending the next steps would be?

2:55:47 – 2:56:11•Fernando A. Vazquez

I guess what I'm hearing you say, Craig, if we decided to entertain the CMAR delivery method, that would mean that GIT would design it to 30%? Is that what you're saying? Not necessarily. It would go out to bid. An engineer firm would design it. An engineering firm. Okay, so what's the difference between that and progressive design build then?

2:56:49 – 2:57:09•Fernando A. Vazquez

The progressive design build then would kind of have the engineer and the contractor working together. And then if the contractor and the engineer cannot agree to a price, then there is the off-ramp for the engineer, and then you capture the plans, and then you go out standard bid build. Well, really, it's us agreeing to the cost. If we don't.

2:57:19•Fernando A. Vazquez

But I thought the engineer would also have a venue with the client directly with us.

2:59:50 – 3:00:01•Nancy Stoner

I thought with GMP, it would tend to be a higher price because it is a guaranteed price, and so they're taking on the risk. Is that right?

3:00:24•Nancy Stoner

So they're doing value engineering or whatever it is as they go?

3:00:47 – 3:01:06•Joe I. Rasco

The staff will be happy to talk with you afterwards. Mike, you want to jump in here? That's what happens when you go on vacation.

3:01:30 – 3:01:44•Joe I. Rasco

Okay. Yeah. I, I mean, this presentation isn't meant for us to make any decisions. So it's just kind of giving us a preview of, you know, what decision forks are going to be going forward. Right.

3:02:40 – 3:02:57•Oscar Sardiñas

And progressive design-build has become an option because much of the risk has been mitigated from the work that's already been done by ACOM? Mike? Why haven't we spoken about progressive design-build in the past? Why is it becoming an option now? What's the difference?

3:03:01•Oscar Sardiñas

Not one that we've discussed, though, actively?

3:03:50 – 3:04:37•Fernando A. Vazquez

I mean, to me, the premise has always been to move forward with the project. We decided to select a different engineer, but I don't think we ever said that we would not continue. Remind me if we ever spoke about that. I don't think we ever did. So I would, I mean, unless council feels different, I sense that... We should continue. With the options now on the table, we have a project. They're proposing to move forward with it. They have an instrument to deliver it. What's, I don't know why.

3:05:29•Joe I. Rasco

Yeah, I was not ready to make that decision. I didn't think so. Didn't even know we were approaching that decision tonight.

3:05:36•Nancy Stoner

I thought we needed to wait for the CCTV to come back to really have a,

3:06:08 – 3:06:34•Oscar Sardiñas

It occurs to me that we don't really understand fully what either of these options mean or at least the difference or the delta between them. So we don't have to make that decision today, but I definitely think either we get a brief or we have a full understanding of what the pros and cons are for each. Because my understanding is I'm not quite sure why progressive design build is coming up now as a real conversation as opposed to early on when we were talking about ACOM years ago.

3:06:40•Nancy Stoner

Wasn't there also some issue with funding? You couldn't get federal funding?

3:06:49 – 3:07:02•Oscar Sardiñas

And I remember when we had the discussion around CMAR, it was a much more... detailed dive into each process, each procedure, let's call it, and we were fully understanding what it was that we wanted to do.

3:07:32 – 3:08:34•Joe I. Rasco

You're loading up my July 7th, aren't you? No. He just wants to enjoy his vacation. I'm sure we can find ways to accommodate, yes. All right. on a motion yeah yeah maybe maybe what I'm thinking here is make sure that when we get something on June 30th or before you'll have a performance and then and then if you know we might have a chance to discuss it on June 30th if we do fine if not then we we push it on and I wanna be convinced that we're doing the right thing here and we're just not, you know, moving because we made the decision, but let's make sure that we're in the right direction.

3:08:34 – 3:08:53•Fernando A. Vazquez

I agree, but I would expect that we would have a better understanding. I think we're on the same page. Yes. I just sense that, you know, stalling it, I don't think that's an option. We just have to understand exactly what we're proposing.

3:08:53•Joe I. Rasco

Oh, believe me, I'm not interested in stalling.

These excerpts are remarks by officials whose identity a person confirmed, from a transcript generated automatically from the official public meeting video and presented unedited. Accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.