City Council - Regular Meeting

We are now calling this meeting to order. Today is Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The time is now 10.17 a.m. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Let's rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Okay, we have the invocation today led by Pastor Azucet from Vida con Vida.

Amen. Thank you, Pastor. Before we move into the agenda order of business, we have an absence from Councilwoman Cabral. There was no notification given or excuse. As per our code, I do need to ask if there is a motion to excuse the absence.

Is there a second? Being no second, the motion dies. The absence is not excused at this time. Okay, we'll now move into the agenda order of business.

Madam manager, do you have anything to remove from the agenda? Okay, Mr. City Attorney? No, Madam Mayor. Councilman Pinedo? Okay, Vice Mayor Porras? No. Councilman Reynoso? No. All right, I will be pulling items J and, I'm sorry, 6H and I for discussion.

We can go ahead and do that now. And we will hear item 6H and I after G, after 7G. I'm sorry, after 9G. Yep. Okay, anything else? Being none, all right, we will now move into public comments. The public comments portion of this meeting is now open. If you would like to speak on anything on this agenda or anything germane to this council, now would be your time for reasonable opportunity. Please approach the podium, state your name and address. For the record, please speak in a respectful manner towards this council. For right now, I have one comment card, Ms. Isabel Martin. Please approach the

Thank you, Ms. Martin. Any other public comments at this time? I only have one comment card. If anyone else would like to speak, now would be your opportunity. Being none, okay, public comments is now closed. Madam Clerk, let the record reflect, no one else has chosen to speak at this time. We will now move into the consent agenda. I will need Madam Clerk to please read the items into the consents, for the consent agenda.

All right, I need a motion on the consent agenda. Motion. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinero. Second. Second by Councilman Reynoso, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion is passed unanimously. We'll now move into the next item. Madam Clerk? Approval of minutes. We need a motion on the minutes. Motion to approve by Council Member Pinedo. Second. Second by Council Member Reynoso. All in favor say aye. Aye. Let the record reflect that the motion has passed. We'll now move into presentations. Item 8A, Keep Draw Beautiful Business Award. All right. Mr. Del Toro.

Welcome. Good to see you again. Would you like to approach the podium and say a couple words?

Thank you. We appreciate your investment in our city. Would you like to join us for a photo up here, please? Thank you.

All right, thank you very much. This is my item before I introduce the organizers for a brief presentation. I think most of us participated in the DIAF last year. This would be the third consecutive year. Each year it's grown and I think has brought a lot of recognition to culture and art in Doral. And they're gonna go ahead and give a little presentation of the results and the achievements over the last two years and what this has highlighted for the Doral community and then I'll talk a little bit about how we proceed moving forward.

Thank you, Nelson. Thank you, Jesus. The item is pretty straightforward. It's what we did last year, basically co-hosting the event. What I'd like to do also is to expand on it and give authority to the manager and the attorney to execute an agreement so that this becomes a city signature event co-hosted with the DF so that it doesn't have to come forward each year. They can immediately start planning and continue to grow. And I think this is a great initiative and event that has really enhanced Doral's art and culture and also really puts the Doral Cultural Arts Center to work for what it was

Yes. Thank you. I'm very impressed with the work that you guys have done in just two short years. And I have seen I attended the first one. And I've really seen the engagement from the community and the great work and the quality of work that you guys have done again in a short two years. So I'm supportive of it. And I'll just I'll make a motion.

Thank you very much. There's a motion to approve by Vice Mayor Porras. Second by Councilman Pinero. Any other comments or questions? I have a comment. Yes, Council Marinoso. Through the Mayor.

Yes. I think it's absolutely wonderful that this is your third year participating and adding to our culture. I think during the course of the next couple of years that I have sitting here as Council, I would love to help and also feed the culture and opportunities to enhance all the different uh backgrounds that they're out represents so i think it's great to see a combination of that during the event that you do program so thank you for your time and your effort and thank you to again to enhancing all card all cart culture thank you thank you very much all right madam clerk

All right. We look forward to enjoying the DF once again.

All right, this was also my item. Council members, this is before you today in lieu of the item that was deferred from last month. I think that this is a more improved version of this item and gives members of this council who feel that they would like to voluntarily forfeit their stipend, being that there was a change to certain council members' stipend Salaries with the charter change not all of us had changes so this item is before us so that each person who has Decided how to use their stipend can do so in the best way forward and the best way that suits them moving forward Motion to appro

Thank you, Mayor. Well, first of all, as the only Venezuelan American part of this council, I felt certainly the obligation to bring this forward. Let's remind everyone that is here. First of all, let me say thank you to everyone that is here, because a lot of the people that are here are actually Venezuelans. And they are part of this community. They have been part of this community for a good number of years. And I guarantee you that some of you or a lot of you, like myself and part of the council too, at least know someone that is under a TPS or some type of immigration process right now fr

Thank you, Councilman. Any comments? Other comments? I have a comment.

Councilman Reynoso? Through the mayor? Yes. When my grandfather was alive, he would tell my husband, my Venezuelan husband, that what happened in Cuba will happen to Venezuela. But what is the difference? We have this and we have this. And as a community leader that represents a good majority of the Venezuelan community, I am here to support and stand up for those that do not have a voice and for those that need to be represented. I want to thank Councilman Pinedo for his steadfast leadership in the Venezuelan community. He is always the first one to stand out and support his nationality, his

Through the mayor. Yes. Thank you, Councilman Pinedo for bringing this very important item. Thank all of you guys for being here. I I can tell you that I'm very proud that this City Council Historically has always supported the Venezuelan community. We supported a resolution Recognizing the duly elected president of Venezuela, which is a mundo Gonzalez We have supported many other measures that have supported this community we supported my item that was to support a permanent solution to to the immigration statuses of a lot of Venezuelans here who are very productive members of our community,

Thank you, Vice Mayor. I'll defer to the Councilman on adding language. I have no problem with it. I do want to say a couple words as well. First, I'd like to also thank Councilman Pinedo for bringing this forward. As Councilman Reynoso said, as someone who's always stood up for not only the belief of democracy and freedom in his country of origin, but I think as a leader in this community has definitely stood strong on our message of support. I'd actually like to ask if I could be added as a co-sponsor to this item as well. I think probably something we'd all like to do.

And I think that this is, while symbolic and strong in sending a message, I think each of us have spoken up. I think Council Member Reynoso said it very eloquently, and so did Council Member Pinedo, this is not an opposition to a platform and a promise for safety and security law and order in our country, which I think all of us yearn for, but a stand to represent those who sometimes feel voiceless. I know the anxiousness that's felt throughout the community at this time. I've received the phone calls and the text messages. And it's definitely not something that we want within our community to

Yes, just for the record, the resolution reads, to work with Congress to find a permanent solution. However, when you get to the second page, Section 2, we're striking to find a long-term for a permanent solution as well.

No, and I was going to say that Keep in mind that certainly we're doing this now for the Venezuelan community, but I'm sure and confident that we will be doing the same thing for other communities, and especially our Cuban community here in South Florida, for the Nicaraguan community here as well, that they're all suffering the consequences of a regime. And on top of that... And I want to share what, and I concur with Secretary of State Marco Rubio when he made the statement that we have to work to remove the cost of the issue, which is Maduro. So I think that there is a commitment as well, no

Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso.

Motion passes. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor. following different discussions to, not only with our city manager's office, and I know that HR got involved as well, so thank you Maria Jose, and thank you to our city manager, deputy city manager, Lorenzo as well, everybody that got involved, and Fernando, obviously, right? I really want to thank, because this is something that, after having discussion with, actually I want to thank Mr. Peter Spinoza that is here, and I'm going to ask you to, actually say a few words as well, if you don't mind. As you know, the city of Doral has longstanding historical connection to veteran

Great job. So what I'm asking the council is three things, the recommendations. One is establishing a partnership with U.S. Southern Command Two, organizing the Veritans Application Workshop to assist veterans. And three, launching a social media marketing campaign led by the administration to raise awareness of the resources available to veterans, including a promotional video and maybe some type of interactive social media post as well.

Wonderful. Any other questions from the council?

Thank you again, Councilman Pinedo, for bringing this item. I think it's a great initiative. Mr. Espinosa, thank you for your service, as well as all the veterans that are in here. And I'm supportive of it, of all three recommendations, and I'll make a motion. Motion to approve by Vice Mayor Borras.

Is there a second? Second, and I do have a comment.

Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. Councilwoman Reynoso, you have the floor.

Thank you, through the mayor. Again, thank you, Council Member Bineto for offering this item. The military community in our city is very important. During the course of my campaign, I met with several of them, and I'm really glad to see agenda items that are representative of our community. So it's one thing to listen, and then the second part of what our job is, is to act. So thank you. I'm 100% supportive, and I look forward to doing more for our military community. Mr. Espinosa, thank you for your service. And again, to all the other veterans that we have here in the audience, thank you for

Okay, I just want to say thank you as well to our veteran community that are here, to Peter Espinosa, thank you for Your commitment also to the veteran community with the breakfast you really taken on that role to kind of highlight and. and improve the quality of life of us veterans in our Community, and thank you for allowing us to be a part of that, along with bill Watts I know you guys work very well together so. Thank you, thank you, Councilman be natal for leading this initiative, I think it's wonderful we have self common our city so it's a great place to start. to see that transition wh

Thank you, Mayor. keeping continuing with our theme of bringing up items that directly affect our community i am super happy to bring this item i want to recognize our seniors that are in the club of the silver club that are in our audience thank you guys for coming um this item is brought forward because I have listened. I want to make sure that the time that I have in this office is here to help solve problems and bring solutions that are going to add to our quality of life. And I, for one, do not think there is any room to have our seniors be in any type of waiting list or have problems. se

Any comments? I do have one suggestion that I'd just like to add. When we read Bingo the other day, last year we had a listening session with the Silver Club and it was very successful and I know they all want to do it again. So if you can incorporate that into one of the items or something that we're going to do, I'd love to see that happen again because I think it was very fruitful. A lot of great recommendations came out of it. We all got to participate and the Silver Club loved it. So the other day when we were there, they asked for it again. And so I love that you're taking leadership on

absolutely through the mayor i think that is um an amendment that i'm willing to make for this agenda item and i think that it's beneficial to our community thank you thank you very much okay we need a motion oh councilman just a quick comment i want to thank uh councilman renoza for bringing these forward as well since i think since we got elected the silver club program has been getting better and better and they recognize that too so i want to thank the members of the silver club they're here today and now with the opening of Doral Central Park, it's gonna get even better. So I think it's t

Motion to approve by Council Member Pinero. Second. Second by Vice Mayor Porras. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Thank you mayor through. Careful consideration. And also there was a change to this agenda item. The person that I had originally selected has a conflict of interest. I do have a new name. If the council can approve me presenting this new person, this new appointee during this meeting, I would appreciate it.

Yeah. Do you have a name? Yes, I do. Hold on. Let me get it for you.

The name of my appointee is Bradley Ashton.

Just to make sure they meet all the qualifications, and everything. Yes. Okay. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinero. Second. Second by Vice Mayor Porras. Madam Clerk, please call.

Thank you, Guillermo. All right, we need a motion to approve unless anybody has any questions for the applicant. I think it was pretty straightforward. Motion to approve by Vice Mayor Porras. Thank you. Second by Councilman Pinero. Madam Clerk.

Yes. Mayor Fraga. Yes. Motion passes. All right, thank you very much. Great job. All right, Madam Clerk, the two items that were pulled.

Thank you. Mr. City Attorney, just for clarity, can we take both items up at the same time? My comments really have to do with both, or do we have to take two separate votes?

We'll talk about this one and then read the other one into the record real quick. I pulled this only because I have a serious concern with the code amendment that was made and the way it was written. I think it's not very clear. I think that there's a lot of discrepancies. It's duplicative. And I also don't agree with necessarily allowing businesses to be open till 3.30 in the morning in our city and selling alcohol to 2.30 in the morning. Nevertheless, I am going to be supportive of moving this forward while we work on bringing back this item. I have talked to Planning and Zoning about it. An

Motion to approve by Council Member Pinero. Second. Second by Council Member Reynoso.

Yes. Mayor Fraga? Yes. Motion passes. All right, can you read the next one into the record, please?

All right, I want to incorporate my same comments into this item.

Motion passes. Okay. We've exhausted our discussion items, and we will now go into the Mayor's Report. Mayor's Report. Thank you. Thank You madam clerk all right so very quickly just for the mayor's report for the month of February I want to remind everyone that next Tuesday February 18th the BCC the Board of County Commissioners will be taking up the item about the incinerator once again the city is going to be providing buses to transport people who need transportation they will be departing the city at 7 a.m. sharp to be able to arrive at the BCC Stefan P Clark building on with plenty of ti

I have a comment. Yes. Councilwoman Reynoso, you have the floor. Through the Mayor. Well, a lot of things were already discussed during this meeting. I think that is excellent to report. Second, I want to congratulate our Police Department on their aggressive driving unit. I think it's a great addition to the protections that we're trying to afford our community and the educational component of informing our residents and those visiting how we conduct ourselves in the city of Doral. I want to wish all of you a happy Valentine's Day. Oh, that's right. Friendship Day. And I'm glad too that we ha

Thank you very much. Councilwoman. Councilman Pinero.

Thank you, Mayor. I also want to wish everyone happy Valentine's Day on Friday. And thank you for being here, not only to our residents, our veterans community. Thank you for your service. I want to take this opportunity to also thank our administration, Parks Department, Police Department. We had a great Camping Under the Stars event last week. It was pretty amazing to see over 600 tents. First time that we have so many tents in our Camping Under the Stars event. So I want to thank everyone that was involved. Over 3,000 people, if I'm not mistaken. So it was nice. First Camping Under the Star

We'll make that challenge. But I'm sure we can do it. We can do it next year. Okay. We're going to do it next year. including the city manager is going to do it next year. So I want to really thank you everyone that was involved because it was a very, very nice, well-organized event. I also want to thank this opportunity to thank our police department for launching the aggressive driving unit, which I think is pretty cool. And people were asking for that. So now if you're driving the route or through the route, be careful because you can get a ticket if you're not doing what you're supposed to

I want to reiterate what my colleagues have said. Thank you all for the great work. I want to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day. I want to wish my husband a happy birthday, who had a birthday on the 6th, and also a happy anniversary, since it's our eighth wedding anniversary on the 18th of this month as well. So we'll be celebrating a lot this month, and I want to thank all of you guys for being here and actively participating as well. Thank you.

All right, thank you, Vice Mayor. So I do want to clarify the record, you were correct. The BCC meeting is the 19th, since the 17th is a holiday. They moved it from Tuesday to Wednesday, so we'll make sure to update public affairs. So just mark your calendars. The BCC meeting on the incinerator is Wednesday the 19th, 9 a.m. is the start of the meeting. So we'll make sure to update the information that's coming out from public affairs. Thank you very much. All right. Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. City Manager, your report. City Manager's report.

Thank you, Madam City Manager. City Attorney's report.

That's all. Thank you. Perfect. I think there was an email with times, right? Yes.

Awesome. Thank you very much. Madam City Clerk, any items for you? No, Mayor. All right. That exhausts our morning agenda. I need a motion to recess. Motion to recess by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. All in favor say aye. All right, the meeting is recessed till 5.30.

Good evening, everyone. We're now calling this meeting to order. This is our evening session for the February 12th council meeting. The time is now 6.14 p.m. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Mayor O'Connor. Thank you very much. Mr. City Attorney, do we need to take another vote on the absence of Councilman Cabral or the one from this morning's stance? Thank you very much. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Vice Mayor Porras.

Okay, agenda order of business. I do believe one item was deferred this morning for this evening's agenda.

Okay, thank you very much. And is there any other additions or deletions to this agenda? Being none, all right, we will move on to the public comments. The public comments portion of this meeting is now open. If you would like to speak on any item on this agenda or anything germane to this council, now is your reasonable opportunity. You have three minutes to speak in a respectful manner towards this council. Please state your name and address for the record when you approach the podium. I do have two comment cards, which I will go ahead and start with. I have Mr. Vicente Pena-Hamo.

Thank you, Mr. Hamm. All right, we have Adriana Rubio.

I'm gonna give you 20 seconds more, okay?

Thank you. All right. Is there anyone else for public comments at this time? I have no more comment cards. No more public comments? Okay, public comments will now close. Madam Clerk, let the record reflect. No one else has chosen to speak at this time, and we'll move on to the first reading items.

Thank you very much, Sol. I'm going to go ahead and open up public comments for this item. Public comments is now open for 25-6052. Anyone that would like to speak on this item and this item alone, please approach the podium. Being none, public comments is now closed. Madam Clerk, let the record reflect. No one has chosen to speak at this time. And I will need a motion for approval. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. Madam Clerk, if there's no more questions, please call the roll.

All right, I'm going to go ahead and open up public comments for this item as well. Public comments is now open for item 25-6056, Being no public comments. It is now close to madam clerk like the regular like no one shows and speak at this time Mister city attorney.

Okay. Thank you very much. Any questions for the city attorney?

I have a comment, Mayor. Yes, Vice Mayor Porras. So I have a bit of a concern with this proposed change. I think it's bad public policy to remove a prohibition on allowing family members of the city council, the charter officials, the manager, our legislative aides from doing business with the city. I mean, I don't think we're in a position to enrich ourselves from the council or enrich our family members. I think that it could really open the door to potential corruption. I'm not saying that's happening or it's going to happen, but that's my fear, that it's going to open the door to corruptio

Any other comments or questions? I do have a question for the city attorney. Mr. City Attorney, removing this section of the code and rolling back to the ethics code, which is what would govern here for Miami-Dade County, would this allow members or family members of council to have contracts for the city? Would this allow us to do business with the city?

Okay, so to my understanding, the only restriction that this code provided was for the processing of any type of permits. So basically, if someone's family member lives in the city, they would have to or be required to hire a contractor to come and process a permit because they themselves would not be able to process a permit if they're a family member of anybody working in the city of Doral. creating an undue burden on that family member. So this code when written was a stretch to my understanding, which is why we're reverting back to the Miami-Dade County Ethics Code, correct?

Right, and does this change affect, the next item we'll be talking about, giving us an additional authority that we didn't have before? Okay, just wanted to make sure, because I don't want to have a misperception to the public about what we're doing here. All right, if there's no other questions, then we'll go ahead and call the roll. I need a motion. Oh, I need a motion. Motion to approve. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo, second by Councilman Reynoso. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

All right, thank you very much. I believe that... Our city manager was going to present this item with Mr. Casamayor. However, I will open up to public comments first on this item. Opening up for public hearing on item 25-6060. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium at this time. Being none, we will now close public comments for 25-6060. Madam Clerk, let the record reflect. No one has chosen to speak at this time. Mr. Casamayor, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. Castaneda. Any questions from the council? I have some comments, ma'am.

Okay, ma'am. So I'm going to reiterate my comments. And again, I think that we're opening the door to really removing transparency And, you know, I understand why we would want to raise that purchasing power. And I'm not saying that there's any corruption that's going to happen. But I really do think that we need some sort of way to check these contracts that are up to $50,000 or at least, you know, some sort of notification about where they're going. Since if we raise this, we're not going to be able to hear it at the city council level. That's just my, you know, personal concerns with curren

Okay, thank you very much. Any other comments or questions? I do. Yes, Councilwoman Reynoso.

Through the mayor, question. Yes. Compared to other municipalities, where would this increase put us in?

So there are no other municipalities that are at the $30,000 range?

Thank you so much. Thank you, Councilwoman. Any other questions? Yes, Councilman Pinedo.

Thank you, Mayor. As I expressed to the city manager during our meeting, I was in favor of this last year. For me, it's common sense more than anything else. And the fact that we actually voted for, selected a new city manager less than 60 days ago, certainly entrusting your judgment as a city manager. And I know that we're going to keep things transparent. And if I have any questions about any of the agreements, I know that I can reach out and make that request. So I think that we don't have to get behind other cities if we want to continue to be the city that we keep preaching that we are an

Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. I'll reiterate my comments as well. I think this is about efficiency. I was going to read out the names of the cities of comparable size that also are at this limit, which I think is for that purpose, is for efficiency's sake. All of our documents are extremely transparent and available. As a matter of fact, every agenda has a finance report attached which shows all payments made out, contracts. So I think that as far as transparency goes, we have every tool mechanism available. I have full confidence as well in ou

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MADAM CLARK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

Yes. Vice Mayor Porras? No. Mayor Ferrer? Yes. Motion passes. All right. We'll move on to second readings.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm opening up public comments now for item 25-6004. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium at this time. Being none, public comments is now closed. And if there's no additional comments, I need a motion for approve. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinero. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. If there's some more comments, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Okay, opening up public comments for item 25-6014. Anyone would like to speak, please approach the podium at this time. Being none. Public comments is now closed. Members of the council, we bring this item before you today in an effort to consolidate some of our boards that seem to have duplicative roles. Also, this is quite a bit of work for staff. And so what we've done is, in an effort to be more efficient and give these boards real meaning and you know, really just be considered a time that the volunteers are giving and give them directive on tasks. We've consolidated a few of the boards.

Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Councilwoman Reynoso. If there are no questions, Madam Clerk.

Okay, we're opening up public comments for this item. Item 25-6023, public comments is now open. Anyone who would like to speak, please approach the podium. Being none, public comments is now closed. Madam Clerk, let the record reflect. No one has chosen to speak at this time. This is the second reading. Mr. City Attorney, do you have any additional comments?

Okay. If there's no additional comments, we will take a motion to approve. Motion to approve by Councilman Benito. Second. Second by Councilman Reynoso. Madam Clerk.

Okay, thank you, Madam City Clerk. This does not need public hearing. This is basically an item that appoints the members to the selection committee for the Inspector General. I believe each of us provided a name. We need a motion to approve if there's no questions. Motion to approve by Council Member Pinedo. Second. Second by Council Member Reynoso. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes. Council Member Reynoso. Yes. Vice Mayor Porras. Yes. Mayor Fraga. Yes. Motion passes. All right. Madam Clerk, you'll be reaching out to the members of the committee. Yes, to schedule a meeting shortly, because I do have a time frame. Yes. Perfect. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. We're opening up public comments for item 25-6024. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium at this time.

Public comments is now closed. Madam Clerk, the Rucker-Fleckman has chosen to speak at this time. I believe this is the second hearing. I have a second hearing for this item. Mr. City Attorney, I do believe there was one change.

All right. Thank you very much. Any questions on this item? I have some comments, Mayor.

Vice Mayor Porras. So my question concerns the certificates of recognition, and there's no language in this section on who presents the certificates. So either we get clarification on that, and this is something that I spoke to the attorney about. I was under the impression that the requesting council member would present the certificate along with the mayor, but it doesn't seem like that's the case because I requested certificates and I was told I wasn't going to present them. So I think we either need language in here clarifying who's going to present the certificates or I'm going to ask tha

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE AS IS. MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN PINEDO. SECOND.

Yes. Vice Mayor Porras? No. Mayor Fraga? Yes. Motion passes. All right. I think the City Attorney did provide a legal opinion to the Councilwoman on the item that was just asked. This exhausts our agenda for the day. If no one has any other comments, we wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day and we will see you all back here in our council meeting for March. I need a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn by Council Member Pinedo, second by Council Member Reynoso. All in favor say aye. Aye.