City Council - Regular Meeting

Today is Wednesday, June 4th. The time is now 10.13 a.m. This is our regular scheduled council meeting. We're now calling this meeting to order. Please silence your phones if you have not already done so. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Thank you very much. All right, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Vice Mayor Porras.

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.

Today's invocation will be led by Pastor Steve Alessi. Welcome, Pastor Alessi. Thank you for joining us.

Thank you, Pastor. Okay, we're going to go into the agenda order of business at this time. Thank you. Madam City Manager, is there anything from your office that would be pulled today?

Yes, 6 as in B as in boy and 6C. Okay. Councilwoman Reynoso?

Okay, Councilwoman Cabral? No, I just want to confirm, you said six B like boy and C?

Councilwoman Cabral, you said nothing either? Okay, all right, I'm gonna go ahead and defer items nine C and nine D. You have to make a motion. We need a motion for deferral. Motion. Motion by Councilwoman Reynoso.

Nine, C. Nine, C. And nine, D. So deferring, what's the reason?

Sure, item 9D directly relates to a matter, in my opinion, that is subject to pending litigation by Vice Mayor Porras against the city of Doral, which has cost us now upwards of $10,000. I think it would be inappropriate to have a conversation regarding specifically the duties of the Vice Mayor outlined by the city charter. The memo was quite litigious in its preparation, and therefore I think it's inappropriate after speaking to the city attorney that we have this discussion on the dais. And 9c, I have serious concerns based on past patterns and conduct to turn this dais into a courtroom. I t

All right. We'll move now into public comments. If you would like to speak on anything on this agenda, excuse me, or germane to this council, now would be your opportunity. Please approach the podium. You have three minutes to speak in a professional manner. Please state your name and address when you are ready to come up. We will start with those who have filled out comment cards. We'll start with Mr. Richard Glitztat.

Thank you, Mr. Glutz. Okay, the next comic card we have is Mr. Martin Wass.

Thank you, Mr. Wasson. Through the manager's office, I'm sure Mr. Carlos Arroyo is right there and can address some of that, but I know that they are definitely on it. Thank you. All right, any other public comments at this time? This would be your moment for reasonable opportunity. Anyone else like to speak? Being none, public comments is now closed. Madam Clerk, we'll go on to the consent agenda.

We will hear 6B and 6C after 9-11, I think it is. I'm sorry, 9-11. 9E, yes, correct. All right. I need a motion on the consent agenda. Motion. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Reynoso, second by Councilman Pinedo. All in favor say aye. Aye. Madam Clerk, let the record reflect that the consent agenda has passed unanimously. All right, we'll move on to the next item. Madam Clerk. Item 7A, approval of minutes. I need a motion on the minutes if there's no motion. Motion. Motion by Councilwoman Reynoso, second by Councilman Pinedo. All in favor say aye. Aye. Madam Clerk, let the record reflect tha

All right, Mr. Edgar Estrada, good morning.

Thank you. Mr. Alvarez, would you like to say a few words? Seguro. Yeah, seguro. Well, come up for a picture. Thank you. Okay, we move on to the next item.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE QUESTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER REYNOSO.

THANK YOU, THROUGH THE MAYOR. DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES OBTAINING ANY FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS DURING THE STUDY OF YOUR REPORT?

Okay. Just to confirm, no issues on your knowledge with transparency, issues with obtaining financial documents, everything?

Any other questions? All right. Thank you very much. Your report was received and reviewed. And I think that the closeout letter was pretty clear that there was no findings. So we want to thank our staff for the hard work and for their diligence.

Thank you, Mayor. As you all know, the City of Doral CBO's grant program has been instrumental in supporting non-for-profit and grassroots organizations that deliver essential services and programming to our residents for so many years. However, the current structure present, in my humble opinion, challenges, especially when we talk about smaller or newer organizations. The once per year grant cycle and reimbursement only funding model certainly exclude organizations that lack sufficient liquidity to front expenses. As you know, this was modified, revised a couple of years ago. And I believe t

Okay. Thank you, Councilman. Any questions? Motion. Motion to approve by Councilman Reynoso. Second by Councilman Pinero. I do have a question. This isn't formalized in an ordinance or is it just a policy that we have? I do remember when the CBO grants changed from being upfront grants to being reimbursed. But I just want to make sure, does this have to come back to us or with this is enough to move forward and make the changes? Obviously in the budgeting we will do during the budget process. It will take effect next year. Do we know?

Yeah, I don't remember if it was something that had to come forward or not. Yes, it's not, right? Okay, so with this action, we can make the changes for the next cycle, and then clearly the funding aspect of it will be implemented during the budget process. Mm-hmm. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, we can call the roll.

On this item, I had a meeting with our city attorney through the chair, Mr. Attorney. Yes, ma'am. Would you agree that as you mentioned in the meeting that the item that was pulled was not, I mean, that was deferred was not within the city charter. It was a violation of the city charter on the citizen bill number seven. Is that correct?

Well, we're looking to item 9B on the discussion that we have on the violation of the Charter and the Citizens' Bill of Rights, number seven.

and you acknowledge that there was a violation, prior violation of my item. Or different items before that were deferred without giving any explanation.

Nobody had never asked a question before, but the question is being already brought up. So based on this, I'm bringing my item that was deferred on April 16th on the next agenda. Thank you.

Okay, any other comments? I have a comment. Yes, Councilwoman, I'm Advice Mayor Porras.

So looking at the procedures, I also want to point out one thing. I know that we're kind of pointing out different procedural things that we need to correct, right, and that we've maybe in the past done wrong. And as we get to them, I would like to see them corrected, and that's what we're doing now. One of them is when we are at a session, like for example in the morning session, I've noticed that we have changed some of the items that are in the evening session. I would say since we have two agenda orders of business, one during the morning and one during the evening, that we stick with just

I have a comment on that. Actually, I don't necessarily agree with that because there's been times where we've made a decision as a body to defer something earlier so that people don't have to come in the evening and waste their time because it's not going to be discussed because there was a change. For example, it's happened mostly with zoning items where there's been an objection or something has come up over the course of 24 hours. where if we have the ability to defer it in the morning so that the person doesn't have to come in the evening and waste their time, then they make the trip out

And I've seen that too. I agree. I think that it helps, but I've also had residents who do not watch the morning session Where we defer something in the evening and then they come to the evening session not knowing that it's been deferred So I would say look at two things one if we can reconcile that if we can do something where we are notifying Residents some way and two we have two different Agenda orders of business, right? Do we not yes we so I mean Is it procedurally correct to go into the agenda order of business for the evening during the morning agenda order of business? I guess that's

I mean, something like that would be helpful. I understand the attorneys having to save time, but again, residents that are seeing an agenda published with an item in the evening and not knowing that it's been deferred because they didn't watch the morning meeting is a problem.

I think that it needs to be left up to our discretion and we can take that into consideration and at the moment that we're going to defer an item in the morning a council member can put their statement on the record and say I don't think we should be deferring this because residents may not be watching and then the council will take that into consideration but observed and noted thank you for your comments we definitely will take it into consideration anything else Okay, I think that's it. So to my understanding, what Councilwoman Cabral is saying is that because an item was deferred without r

If I made a particular one, I even addressed that it was a violation that day, and I also talked to you about it on that day also, and I asked you, and you told me that you needed some time for clarification and to check on that, so that's why I'm bringing and I'm requesting that I'm not going to be bringing that item back based on that conversation that we had.

The question was never asked, and I asked particular because of that item. And if we go by that, then, I mean, let's put an example in science. People didn't know before that smoking was a harm. You give cancer. Now people know. So they had to put in the label. In this case, I asked particularly because of that item.

But I think that it's just fair for me to bring it back because the question raised rice on that particular item on that day. Not before it was on that day.

Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. I think the proper steps to take is moving forward. It will not happen again. Well, if we need a motion to make sure that it is corrected, that any item that's been deferred by this body would need to be brought back by the body.

I don't agree with the opinion of the city attorney because I raised the question at that time. And I think that it's just fair at the time that I was giving you to look into it and to see there was a violation of the charter because there was clearly a violation of the charter by the mayor by deferring my item on April 16 about Doge.

I go again, and I am not going to agree with you. I mean, we can spend the whole morning talking about this, but I don't agree with it because the question was never raised. I raise the question. I talk about it at the point that that happened.

Just to clarify, Mr. City Attorney, in your review of this matter, you reviewed several meetings from 2023, 2024, and beyond. Did the Councilwoman or anyone else at that time defer items without explanation from other members of this body?

Yes. Yes There was no knowledge Speaking at this time. Thank you very much. I appreciate respect from your from you. Yes, so There was at that time also a practice of deferrals with no with no notice there was okay, so Do you believe at this time a motion would be appropriate to make sure that there is clear understanding from the administration and your office that any items that have been deferred previously under that practice will not be brought back unless it's with direction from the body that deferred it? I just want to make sure it's clear on the record. Moving forward, we understand and it's been brought to our attention and we will absolutely clarify it.

So at this time, we would need a motion as such. Motion. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Reynoso. Second by Councilman Pinedo. If there's no other discussion, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. You understand the question? Any previous items deferred would only be brought back by the body that deferred it.

Okay. Is there any questions about the nominations? Otherwise, I would need a motion. Motion to approve by Councilman Reynoso. Second. Second by Councilman Pinedo. Quick question. Yes, Vice Mayor Porras.

These don't include the last ones, right, after you published the agenda? Correct, correct. Okay, so there'll be more. I still have more.

Titles and affect the date this was full of ice may report us okay face may report, yes, yes, I saw this one to get individual votes and of course in opposition so that's the only reason I pulled it.

Okay, do you have particular questions about the contract? All right, does anyone else have any questions on the contract? Motion. Yes, I do. Okay, we have a motion on the table by Councilman Reynoso, second by Councilman Pinero. Councilman Cabral, you have questions.

Okay, thank you. I have a few points. I on my meeting review with the agenda review with the city manager. I remember that you told me that he was going to be is agreed to pay 40 hours, but it doesn't specify on 3.1. The 40 hours is gonna be monthly, weekly, so I would like to see if that could be amended or clarified there.

Mr. City Attorney, or Madam Clerk, I mean Madam City Manager.

Okay, if that can be reflected. As well, I have another question when it comes to service to be performed on section 1.1b. This question is to Mr. Attorney. Do you know if the Inspector General has any legal education or official certification that qualifies him to review and interpret legal documents?

Okay, just wanted to clarify that. I don't know if there's any other language that can be used just to clarify, because he doesn't have any legal, like you confirmed.

Okay. And then under the... And also within the agreement, I would like to see there's a clause that usually happened. I mean, it is presented in different contracts where especially because of what has transpired about when it comes to for him to be partial and fair. There's some clause where he says that. That the agreement doesn't mention anything when it comes to fairness or impartial. And I have a concern with that, and I would like to see if you can add a clause that says that he will be...

There's a point of order on the floor. But I haven't finished. Yes, Councilman, but there is a point of order which takes precedence.

Councilwoman. There's a point of order. The point of order takes precedent. Let her explain the point of order, and then we'll go back. Council Member Reynoso.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. We discussed the bias situation last month during our last agenda. I don't think this agenda item is for this conversation, so I believe that we should not have this discussion at this time.

Point of order is maintained. If you have other questions, Councilwoman.

Yes, I do have. It has brought up that point and nothing has been done. So I think that that clause should be within his contract. As well, I would like to know who is going to evaluate his performance. I don't think that it should be partial in the sense that Neither the city manager or any body that has to do as an elected official will be the one evaluating. But my recommendation will be that it will be an outsider, like, for example, the ethics committee to evaluate his performance. So it will be more transparency within his his evaluation. So.

Thank you, Councilman Cabral. Mr. City Attorney, can you please clarify the oversight of an Inspector General for municipalities, counties, and other government agencies?

Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. Does that conclude your questions?

I was asking so it will be also reflected within the contract, but if you consider that it's not, but that was my suggestion to be reflected also within the contract.

Mr. Secretary, is there a termination clause in the contract?

And one of the things that we did talk to Mr. Valdez about was being accredited, which is a way of having oversight from an independent agency, correct? That is correct.

I do want to clarify also what was brought up on Section 1B. It is very clear. It says review of city agreements, contracts, and other legal instruments as deemed necessary in the Inspector General's discretion to detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, mismanagement, and misconduct. It's not to review the legal instrument for its validity of a legal document. It's to find fraud, misconduct, or mismanagement. So we're not asking to review documents as a legal document for our decision-making. Additionally, I want to just clarify some points that were brought up during public comments that this

While we reviewed the time that it would take to do normal emails, review council meetings, just general inquiries that may come into the office that may not lead to an investigation, just of its formal review, we felt that 40 hours was an appropriate time for the office to be able to actually do the service it's intended to do through the charter. I just wanted to put that on the record. Thank you. All right. So if there's no additional questions, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Porras. This was pulled by you, and I believe the city manager's office as well will address.

Yeah, thank you. Yeah, I just wanted to have the manager's office provide a brief overview of what the item is about for the public. Thank you. Madam City Manager.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Quintero. Madam Zanimaj.

Awesome. Thank you very much for the presentation. Vice Mayor Porras, any additional questions? Nope. Thank you. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. If there are no additional questions, Madam Clerk, please call.

Through the Chair, I have a question for the Madam Manager. Yes, ma'am. When we did our agenda review, I asked if there was a bidding process to select this company. You told me that there wasn't, that it was just through the list.

Why was that decision made, just to go through the list and not be a little more transparent and be able to have a bidding process? Because this is not $10,000, $20,000, or $50,000. We're talking over $370,000. And within the scope of work of what he was showing there, 8% to 15%. We're talking that maybe will be a project that will cost over four or six million dollars or so. Why is it that we didn't do or go through the bidding process or is within the list? It's just that we just that this is determined that nobody will do the bidding. We just choose whoever was next.

If you notice, Councilwoman, the resolution doesn't say that we've waived competitive bidding, because technically we have not. These vendors are pre-approved through a competitive bid process, and it's a pool of contractors that we use for these types of services.

So it's in compliance with our procurement process? Of course, absolutely.

Just wanted to clarify that for our residents. So if any question arise, they will know that there was no bid and this is the reason for.

There was a bid. It was. Yeah, the pool.

But what I mean is within the list. I mean, I understand that the list exists and all that, but it was based on that it's less than the $500,000, like he's explaining, our attorney, so for general knowledge.

All right. Mayor's report? Yes. Thank you very much. I have my mayor's report. Okay, so this month I want to remind everyone that the grand opening of the immersive play for La Paredes Ollant starts on the 14th of June. We will have our opening night for the city on June 13th. So I hope everyone will come and enjoy and able to purchase tickets. There is discount codes for those who need it, for Silver Club members. And there is a free night for students. So if you're a student, please make sure to come see it. It's absolutely beautiful. If you guys haven't walked over to see what they're build

Chief, can you tell us anything about Milkshake, the type of dog she is?

Thank you. And do we have the donor here today as well?

Thank you. Our gratitude goes beyond bounds, not just on our behalf, but from the entire community. Ginger has been a success. We know that Milkshake is going to live up to that standard as well. They already have. I just want to mention they've been going to the cancer treatment center next door, and it's been just incredible. I have a friend going through the treatment that's there, and I know that it's been something for them, just tremendous to see them, and now having a puppy come in was really heartwarming to them. So thank you, because what they do on a scale of emotional support, not j

We're going to come down for a picture with our milkshakes, too.

All right, the chief just told me that Sloan's has provided milkshakes for everyone, so as you exit, there will be milkshakes from milkshake and from Sloan's, so enjoy. All right, Madam City Manager, is that the end of your report?

We're going to have to get an emotional support dog for your office. Okay, if there's no other reports or any other comments, then I need a motion to recess. Motion to recess by Councilwoman Reynoso. Second by Councilman Pinedo. You're being out motioned lately, Councilman Pinedo. All in favor say aye. Aye. All right, this meeting is recessed till.

Okay, good afternoon, we are back. We are calling the 6 p.m. regular council meeting for June session to order. If you haven't silenced your phones, please do so. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Okay, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Pinedo.

OK. We have an absence, so I either need a motion to excuse the absence. Motion. Motion by Vice Mayor Porras. Is there a second? OK, no second. The evening session is unexcused. Okay, we'll move on now to public comments. I'm sorry, I have a mint. I thought we were gonna take longer. All right, we're opening up the public comments portion of this meeting. The public portion of this meeting is now open. If anyone would like to speak, please approach the podium. I have no comment cards being none. Public comments is now closed. We'll now move into the public hearings.

All right. Thank you very much. I'm going to go ahead and open up the public hearing for this item. Public hearing for item 19A is now open. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium. I have no comment cards. Public hearing is now closed. Madam Clerk, no one has chosen to speak at this time. And now we will hear from Finance.

No, thank you very much. Any questions? Okay, being none, I need a motion to approve. Motion. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

All right, we're going to go ahead and open up the public hearing. Public hearing is now open for item 19B. Anyone who would like to speak, please approach the podium. I have no comment cards. Seeing none. Public hearing is now closed. Madam Clerk, the record reflect. No one has chosen to speak at this time. I'll also take export to communication at this time, if any. I'm done. Okay, being done, we'll turn it over now to planning and zoning.

I will defer to the city attorney. Otherwise, what we can do is you can do one presentation, and then we'll take each item, and we just won't hear the presentation for each of those. However... Okay, yeah, just because we have ex parte, and we also have to do public hearing for those, so we'll go ahead and hear this presentation, and then we'll just take up the items.

Thank you. Thank you. That's the applicant, right? No, I think that's the applicant. That's the applicant. You need to do a staff. Yeah, can we get staff's presentation? I'm like, no. One second. There we go. Thank you.

Thank you, Michelle. Mr. Diaz de la Portilla, would you like to give your presentation as well?

Would you like to give your presentation as well?

Thank you, Mr. Diaz de la Bordilla. Any questions for the applicant or for staff at this time?

Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. I do have just two questions for clarification, since we're going to take all three items independently, but very quickly back to back. One, is there a plan for redevelopment for this building at some point?

Okay, and then my second question is, in the current MDA, there is no contemplation for residential, correct? If residential was to be introduced in a future redevelopment, the MDA would need to come back to council.

Okay, just wanted to clarify those two points for the benefit of the public. All right, thank you very much. If there's no additional questions, then I think we can call the roll.

Okay we're going to go ahead and open up public comments for 19 C anyone would like to speak on this item please the first podium. Being none, public comments is now closed. I will take any ex parte communication at this time. No? Same for me. Okay, we'll go ahead and incorporate the two presentations we heard for the previous item into this item, and if there's no additional questions, then we'll take motion. Motion to approve by Council Member Reynoso. Do I have a second? Second by Councilman Pinero. Any questions? Then Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Okay, I'm going to go ahead and open up the public comments. Public comments is now open for item 19D. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium. All right, being none, public comments is now closed. Madam Clerk, let the record reflect. No one has chosen to speak at this time. And if there's no additional comments, we will go ahead and incorporate the presentation to the last item, the last two items into this item as well. And I will entertain a motion. Motion. Second by Councilman Reynoso. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

All right. Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, going into second reading items.

Okay, we're opening on public comments for item 19E. Anyone would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium at this time. Being none, public comments now close. Madam Clerk, Director Black, no one has chosen to speak at this time. If there is any presentation, I think the city attorney or the, no, yes, there's no changes, right, from first to second?

the council does not need any additional presentations or has any questions, then we will entertain a motion. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. If there's no additional questions, Madam Clerk, please call.

All right, public hearing is now open for item 19F. Anybody who would like to speak, please approach the podium. Being none, public comments is now closed. Similar to other items, this is second reading and I don't believe there's been any changes. No substantive changes between first and second. Okay, if there's no additional comments or presentations, we will now entertain a motion, sorry. Motion. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo, seconded by Councilwoman Reynoso. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Okay, public hearing is now open for item 19G. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium. ALL RIGHT. BEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW BEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW BEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. CLOSED. CLOSED. THIS IS ALSO A SECOND READING. THIS IS ALSO A SECOND READING. I BELIEVE THERE'S NO CHANGES. I BELIEVE THERE'S NO CHANGES. NO SUBSTANCE CHANGES BETWEEN NO SUBSTANCE CHANGES BETWEEN NO SUBSTANCE CHANGES BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND. FIRST AND SECOND. FIRST AND SECOND. PERFECT. PERFECT. PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Yes. Motion passes. All right. This concludes, we've exhausted our agenda, concludes our meeting for today. I need a motion to adjourn. Motion. Motion to adjourn by Councilwoman Reynoso, second by Councilman Pinedo. All in favor say aye. Aye. This meeting is adjourned. Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there. Enjoy your Father's Day and happy Fourth of July. Remember, we do not have a July council meeting. Bye, everybody. God bless. See you later.