Village Council - Regular Meeting

back there there's a lot of times i don't hear all right we're we're starting good evening welcome everybody in case you're wondering why there's a strange person sitting in the mayor's seat the mayor is uh is out of town this evening so um i am taking over his responsibilities so excuse me for any uh mishaps for my running my first meeting so i appreciate everyone's patience and uh Just to my luck, we have three different meetings, and we're going to juggle everything around. So we will call the meeting to order. The regular village council meeting first. We'll have a presentation. We'll clos

Okay, so now requests for additions, withdrawals, or deferrals?

Yeah, I'd like to add something to our discussion item, discussion of our plastics ordinance, please.

That's on already. We do have that. R9A. Perfect, thank you. You're on. Anything else? No. Okay, so we have a presentation, as usual, from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief, Ray Jadalia. And so we want to welcome you up to give your presentation. Nice to see you.

Chief, thank you for being here. Absolutely. I just want to acknowledge in front of everybody the amazing job that you do. Your staff is top of the range. I don't think there's anybody better than you guys. I personally have the opportunity to be in Station 2 as a student paramedic. And what I learned one day is beyond any school can teach me. So thank you for everything you do for all the residents, for us. for the community. Thank you.

The only question I have is if you guys have plans for a drone to start, the new people moving drones to beat all the traffic because the traffic doesn't seem to get better.

Anyway, thank you so much for being here. I appreciate your service to the community. Thank you. It's very well worth it, and we thank you for it. Appreciate it. Thank you, folks. Okay, so we are going to close the council meeting. Dwight, you ready?

Okay, we'll start with presentations and words. We're going to just modify a little bit the order, and we will start with our presentation of government affairs update by our wonderful and esteemed previous mayor, Gabe Roisman.

Are we grouping them together now or no?

The legislative priority? We will vote on it. He's going to present the priorities, and we'll vote on it, yeah.

Questions? Okay, thank you so much. We really appreciate it. What I'd like to suggest is put a true plan in place, sort of what Gabe was talking about, and I think that plan starts with getting Chip from Beach Raker back in here for our next meeting and see what else we can do beyond what we're already doing. I mean, he's definitely the expert. He's the guy that's out there, and... He really knows what he's doing when it comes to the Sargasso pickup. So I would suggest getting Chip back out here and see what kind of plan he wants to come up to because it's getting bad out there to what Gabe wa

So we have a month to basically have him come up with a plan based on Current circumstance.

I mean, I will throw my hat in the ring if you want to be the lead. Yeah. Okay.

I'd just like to have a coffee with you, Gabe. I don't accept sake.

Not for breakfast, anyway. That's right. Mr. Manager, do we want to have the other legislative update or go to R7A?

We don't churn in Bell Harbor. They actually take it, they pile it, and then trucks come and remove it. And I'm going to compare this to Michael Jordan. Like they used to say about Michael Jordan, you know, you can't guard him, you can only hope to contain him. And that's really what the sargassum issue is. You know, George always compares it to shaving. You shave and the next day it grows back. But we can't let it build up because then it becomes very unmanageable to what Patricia was saying. There has to be a point where we could just do the best we could do to remove as much as possible bef

Second? Okay. This is a voice vote. So all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Okay, I think also now we will have another legislative update. We're lucky to have the legislative aide to Fabian Basabi here, Mayor Wolfson. Yep, okay, so come on up.

Okay, we are going to move on to our last presentation of the evening, which is our freebie on-demand presentation.

What is the sweet spot before potential consideration of a second vehicle?

Yeah. Just to compound on what Jeffrey said, what are our peak times? Because we might not need a 12-hour second car. We might just need a five-hour second car that will just take care of the peak times. Do we have those statistics?

Did you have anything? The other only question I would ask is how do we know in other cities, how do you get data for the hours that we're not operating, like let's say the earlier morning hours? Is there any, I mean, where there's no car running? I mean, how do we know or get data that people, maybe there's a lot of riders that would use it earlier in the day, but we're not servicing those times?

collect data on people that are not using it. To that point, we cut it back. We had hourly data, and it used to start at 8 o'clock, and we were getting no rides from 8 to 10. So we used that data to move the hours from 10. So we did skew the hours based on that.

Good job. And I guess, Mr. Manager, if we can look at them potentially what the options are for another partial car based on peak hours.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Passes unanimously. Resolutions R7B. Mr. Clerk. No, no, no.

Oh, sorry, sorry. We just did them all. I figured we did them all.

Great. Any public comment? R5A, which we just discussed before. Okay. No public comment? Is there a motion?

Second. Okay. Roll call voice, Mr. Clerk.

Great, thank you. Any public comment? Okay, is there a motion? I'll take a motion. I'll second.

Based on the original. That's a very good question. Very good question. Is it going to be based on the original square footage or the updated square footage is the question?

So basically, to what he's saying, that allows me to basically cut out the ARB process. Yes, every time. I personally think it should be based on the original square footage.

So just to think about it. Okay, thank you. Thank you.

I mean, it's a good point. I think it's one that, you know, who's going to start building a house? First of all, today we have more of an issue. It's just everybody knocking down houses and building new. I think it's far-fetched that someone's going to build 1,000 feet, 1,000 feet, 1,000 feet.

It's our job to stop future loopholes. As a council. I think that's a big part of what we're elected to do is to get rid of gray areas and this could be a gray area of someone subordinating ARB by continually building 29% of what their existing home is. I think personally it should be off of original square footage. Just based on that.

Again, I just want to make sure there's no gray areas down the road. Any other thoughts or comments?

My initial comment is with you, that I'm hard pressed to do 29% and then another 29%. But I also respect the fact that we've been critical of things not being foreseen in the past.

So continuing my comment, I would also support going back to the original square footage prior to the first project.

Okay, thank you. Any other public comment? Nope.

Mr. Vice Mayor, one thing. First of all, thank you very much for taking public comment before we make a motion. This is one of the instances where it's been brought up in public comment that could really sort of sway our decision. So thank you very much for allowing public comment first.

I would say that... I think George kind of directed me what to do, so I won't take the credit for that. You're welcome. Okay, so do we want to amend this?

Second reading, can we not? Yes, you can. First reading. Yes. We can.

I just want to make a motion to amend to original square footage.

Okay. Is there a motion on the amended? I'll make the motion. Okay. Is there a second? I just want to make something.

Okay, so there was a motion and a second, and so there's a roll call vote, Mr. Clerk.

Okay, great. R5D, Mr. Clerk. We have you very busy today.

Any public comment? Seeing none, is there a motion on, so do we have to amend it again? Yeah, a motion as amended. A motion as amended.

I'll make a motion as amended by the LPA.

Okay, is there a second? I'll second it.

We're going to wonder if all 100 are here in the next meeting. There's been a motion and a second. Roll call vote, Mr. Clerk.

Excellent. Okay. R5E. Mr. Clerk. Mr. Clerk.

Thank you. Thank you. Any public comment on this? Yes. Nika.

Okay, seeing none, Mr. Manager, you want to?

I'm not clear on what the difference is. I mean, if you're going to, if, where are they measuring from and where are they putting in it? Is it sites in different places?

So in your expertise, expert opinion, how should it read? I think it should be the highest. I think it's the highest grade.

So just as we talk about it, it's the highest, not the average.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. Okay. Is there a motion?

Okay. It's been motion and second and roll call vote.

So can we go back and get a motion as amended? Motion as amended. The maker? Motion as amended. Second. Okay, roll call vote.

Excellent. Okay. It's been a night of ordinances. So we will now move on to resolutions R7B. Mr. Clerk?

Question, did they only have 40 or 30 out of their 100 rooms open anyway for the past year?

In fact... No, no, from an occupancy perspective, they were doing great. But I know that they had, they were down to like 40% of the rooms that they were using. So I don't think it's going to move the needle as much because we also got new restaurants and Bal Harbour shops that came online.

Yeah, that's the three matches after that.

Thank you. So you addressed several of them during the presentation, which was very well done. Can I assume that with the change to one ball from two that there's a change in the budget?

So clearly, and you anticipated this as well in your presentation, clearly I feel conflicted about the placement of the art in the shops being sponsored by the village. But I do recognize that it is resort tax funds that does come – largely or not largely, but to an extent from the restaurants and it's a support mechanism. So I think that that is fine. I find that argument compelling, but I'd want to be sure that Bell Harbor Village gets the credit and that that's crystal clear there as well. I'd be concerned about Founder Circle, even if it was finished, because it will definitely have an imp

I accept that. There's no doubt about the fact they can't be happy about the construction. And they're looking at this dispute regarding Live Local and everything else and wondering what their future might be with all of this construction around them as well. Yeah.

Thank you so much. A couple of quick questions. I know we're going to bring influencers down and it's going to be a big content moment. It doesn't say Bell Harbor anywhere except on the floor and no one takes a picture of the floor. So how can we sort of brand this a little bit the way a regular soccer ball is branded and So when someone does take a picture, we do get a bit of branding behind it. I'm not going to tell the artist to make it from red to, you know, Bell Harbor light blue. But, you know, that would be kind of cool, you know, to really incorporate more Bell Harbor into it as oppose

I appreciate that, but how do we know this is Bell Harbor? How do we know it's Bell Harbor? If we're going for a branding content moment, for people to take this picture and go, wow, that's Bell Harbor, it's just going to be a picture of a nine-foot red soccer ball.

I'm talking when it's in the shops. And why would we move it, considering we have things going on until the end of July... 18th is the third game. Are we compelled to move it out of the shops? We are. That's the reason for moving it. So if they're not playing ball with us, no pun intended, from the beginning, why are we even, you know?

There's going to be different people coming in all the time for this.

Sorry, if I could just comment based on what you said, because I was right there with you in terms of why do that, but I don't think, I think we have to be bigger than them and not allow the dispute with whatever you want to characterize the ownership as being to get in the way of the relationships with the restaurants and those other areas. I would move the thing if that's

Again, you know I'm a huge supporter of the restaurants there. We see each other. Again, I just want to see what kind of branding we can truly get out of it. That's fair. So that it becomes a true moment. Like I said, the branding on the floor, no instinct.

I won't spoil it, and I'll figure out a way that... Do we know, because I know a lot of times when teams come in, they stay at the St. Regis. Have we spoken to the St. Regis to see any pre-bookings of what teams are staying here?

Unless there's other, we could talk about this interesting stuff. Unless there's other specific questions, I would like to move to public comment. Yeah, you want to do public comment. Alejandro, do you have anything specific?

I just cannot get my head around that we're going to put this, such a huge advertising on the Bal Harbour shop. I just cannot get myself around it. I'm all in support of the restaurants and all in support of the people who come and work here. But to make such a statement to them? Okay. All right, let's move to public comment.

I know this gentleman. Let's come back to council. Yeah, yeah, for sure.

All right, thank you. Any other public comment? No, I asked for any other public comment.

I just have one more question, one last question. So we're paying for this guy's kiosk for him to sell products out of? Yeah.

So basically we're providing this guy a kiosk, building it for him. He's selling the products, and we're getting nothing for it. It says here, kiosk rental, installation, materials, and we're paying for the products. And he keeps the money for it?

We're basically paying for this guy to make money off the kiosk.

Romero, another question. I'm sorry. I should have asked. I'm sorry. Romero, another question. If the decision were made just to put it on 96th Street, is that an option?

Mr. Mayor, I mean Mr. Vice Mayor. I remember when we had our meeting at the Seaview and people were saying, boycott the shops. At the end of the day, that doesn't hurt the landlord. It hurts the shopkeepers. It hurts the restaurateurs. So I think it's our job also to try and separate the two. You know, we're all in favor of the restaurants doing well because it makes us do well. Unfortunately, they're probably on a percent rent, which at the end of the day also benefits the landlord. But we really have to try and separate the two. These restaurants have been very good to a lot of us here. They

To that point, should we be entertaining this in one motion or should we be splitting it between cost and location?

Oh, well. Yeah, so my perspective is I hear everyone's thoughts, but I think we all agree, and just from Councilman Sklar and Councilman Freeman, what you just said, obviously we have to separate from the owners and landlords versus the shops. I think that... We spent a lot of time at the resort committee with consultants identifying and seeing how we can best get benefit from the dollars we are going to spend around the FIFA and how it will benefit the response to generate more resort tax dollars for ourselves. So, I mean, my inclination is I agree 100% with yours. It just has to be branded.

It says Village of Bell Harbor, not just Bell Harbor. Bell Harbor Village.

Okay, but even more so to Councilman Sklar's point of branding, so I think you're all... Yeah, you want to make a motion?

So I think that the motion would be to support the presentation subject to the inclusion of appropriate branding for Bal Harbor Village. And remove the second ball. And remove the second ball. That would be the motion. Is there a second?

A voice vote? A voice vote. All in favor of that motion? Aye. Aye. Any against? Any abstentions? Well, you've got to say something. You've got to say something.

Say no. I don't know. It's okay. Okay. You can say no.

It's your call. You don't have to. Yeah. Provided that we do branding, provided that we look at another location, provided that we support the restaurants and trying to advertise the restaurants, yes.

So you have to vote on the motion. Yes or no?

Vice Mayor, can I make one other comment? I want to compliment you because you stood your ground with us. You laid out your arguments cogently, and you were quite articulate in terms of how you put the arguments together to us because you convinced me I was a no. Okay.

coming into this um but you did a really good job and you stood your ground so i complimented for that can you present to us in an ltc what the pr plan around this is because having a great thing there without a plan behind it really doesn't matter like you'd like to say 100 yes sir thank you thank you very much thank you excellent

I'm going to keep this very, very short. I asked our legal over a month ago to get me information. I still have not received that information over a month later, so I'm going to roll this over to the next meeting until I get the required information that I asked for.

Very good. Is there any public comment? Yes. Okay. Patricia? You can make any public comment you want at this point. You can make any public comment you want.

You need better legs, right? Maybe. Okay, okay, okay. Are you getting a little slap happy at the late hour?

You have to sign up on an app and put all your information on an app to use it.

Great. Thank you very much. We'll have just one second. This gentleman in the back. You had your hand up? Yeah. You had your hand up? Okay. Whoever would like to go. Yeah. You're right.

Okay. Thank you, Nika. So to the chief, do you have anything you want to share?

Yeah, so while he's coming up, Alejandro, you got something?

Yes, I just wanted to remind you. But I hear what you're saying regarding the questions and opening and have an opportunity. But generally speaking, we have five council members here. Since it's an email, call us. You have our members. We are online. I understand. We can always go back. We can always go to the manager.

Let's appreciate your point. Chief, thank you.

No report, sir. Okay. Village clerk report. Your package. And village attorney report.

Okay, thank you very much. And thank you, everybody, for your patience in this long meeting. Meeting is adjourned. Have a good night.