Midtown Community Redevelopment Agency - Regular Meeting

C.R.A. meeting. Give you time to flip the tape.

Thank you.

I'm the vice chairman. Sorry, Commissioner, just one moment, sir. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon, everyone. I am calling to order the September 26, 2024 Midtown CRA meeting. I am the vice chair of the Midtown CRA. I wasn't aware, and I guess it's my fault for being involved in so many things at one time, that I had become the chairman by default. Because somehow we did not name a chairman. for the Midtown CRA, either last December, I think it was, or this January, whichever the time was. However, we did have an executive director. I never heard from him during that time. never came to me for anything, not even to say hi. And then the last meeting that we had, when I arrived, I had the CPA, the gentleman that is the CPA for a firm, that does the accounting for the Midtown CRA. He also does the accounting for the Omni and Southeast Overtown CRA, was waiting for me in my office to give me the budget that I was supposed to bring to my colleagues sitting as members of the Midtown CRA to approve. I'm not good at rubber stamping. And I looked at the budget and the first thing I saw was that I'm just giving big numbers without any explanation. So this is why I asked my colleagues to defer this item till today. so I could find out what was going on, and there's still some things that I haven't gotten to, but I've seen enough to have concerns. Karen, can you begin with the first one? This is a text that was sent to the, slow there, to the If you could move it down just a little bit. Okay, that's fine. This text was sent to the Executive Director of the Midtown CRA, Anthony Balsabry, as you see there, on Thursday, September 19, 2024, last week. That was sent from my Chief of Staff, Will Ortiz, on my behalf. And he says, Hi, Anthony. I hope you're doing well. Commissioner Corroyo would like to meet with you tomorrow in our district office, 1300 Southwest 12th Avenue at 1.30 p.m. in order to prepare for the Midtown CRA budget meeting. Please bring all relevant documentation to the meeting. Thank you. And if you all could see, that was sent at 10.38 a.m. on that date, 10.38 a.m. You can go to the next one. This email, at 10.44 a.m., six minutes later, only six minutes later, was sent by the executive director of the Midtown CRA, Anthony Bowser-Brie, to the city clerk, Todd Hannon, copying two other government employees. I was not copied there. And he says, good morning, Mr. Clerk. I'd like to make you aware, for your records, that this email shall serve as my resignation from the executive director position of the Midtown CRA, effective September 19, 2024, that same day. Thank you, Anthony Bousibri. Six minutes after I requested a meeting with him to go over the budget and what had transpired through that year. Maybe it just happened by chance. But to some people it might look a little funny. And I'm one of those that I'm starting to add two plus two and I'm not getting four. You go to the next one, please.

Chair, whenever you have a minute and you're done.

No, no, when I'm done, sir. Okay. You could speak all you want, and I'm not going to be like anyone else or like you with me to try to hold me to what I can say. I'm the chairman here, and I will give you all the time in the world the same time I'm going to allow to myself. The amount that was being paid to the executive director of the Midtown CRA was a salary of $40,000. FICA, $3,059 on that $40,000. $2,000 for employers' contribution to his pension, $2,400 for a cell phone allowance, $6,000 for a car allowance, $1,153 for guardian health insurance for himself and his whole family, another $5,623 for an APL health insurance for himself and his whole family. Another $25,867 for United Healthcare health insurance for himself and his whole family. For a total, stop there, of $86,102. We could go to the next one. His salary and benefits, as we have gone over, amounted to, based upon what I've been given, $86,102 as executive director for the Midtown CRA. Okay. But he also had a job, you would think a full-time job, as chief of staff for Commissioner Pardue, which I am told his salary is $150,000 there. I don't know what benefits, if any, goes along with his salary. I haven't been provided that yet. The total amount for both positions came to a total of $236,102. This is what we pay some of our assistant city managers. This is more than twice as much that we earn with benefits as commissioner. I think we're about $101,000 and change. The problem here is several. And frankly, I have to admit, I don't have all the answers, and I shouldn't. And I don't have the time to deal with something like this, so others are going to have to deal with it. The problem is that it's several-folded. and let's keep going in the presentation that I have before I get into what I see the problems there. This exhibit A here, please go up, this is part of the budget that was made for the Southeast Overtown CRA. If you could look at the areas that are in yellow, The CPA that did this, which is the same CPA that did our Midtown, included here clearly a line item for life and health insurance and another line item for retirement contribution. If you go to the next one. This other one is the OmniTax increment fund budget for the Omni CRA. If you see in the yellow lines, the CPA did a line item for life and health insurance for the employees, and another one for retirement contributions for the employees. That's the pension. You see them in yellow. If you go to the next one. But this is how it was done for the Midtown CRA. Right off the bat, you could see that it was different than it was done in the others. Because all the monies being given and paid for Mr. Bastabri's health, vision, dental insurance for him and his family, and the pension being given to him, was listed available for other administrative expenditures. That's not health insurance, vision, dental, or pensions. In fact, I thought originally that maybe they were gonna be hiring somebody else. Administrative expenditures. This is what was being asked of us to approve for this next fiscal year. But in fact, we got sucker into it the last fiscal year, the one before Mr. Russell left, that had the same wording. And one could very well feel that we did not approve a budget for health insurance, dental, vision insurance, for Mr. Basabri and his whole family, or a pension for him, because he did not say it here like you saw the other CRAs where we spell that. And you see here, that the pension contribution, the dental, eye, health insurance contributions total almost $35,000. That I don't believe the board of the Midtown CRA had approved before, nor if we would have approved this last meeting, like I was asked to present, we would have been approving that. Because he didn't spell it out. He talked about other administrative whatever. Now, let's go to the next one. This happened, this article here, was, I think, came out yesterday. Mr. Pardes is becoming a regular writer. Maybe this is a new gig, I don't know. In our local Miami Herald. I've already been scolded by them not to call them tabloid. They get mad. They could come after you if they get mad. And in this article yesterday, he said, I have been a champion for more transparency from our government. I have been a champion for more transparency from our government. It's what he said yesterday in the article, besides many other things that we might deal with at the next meeting. And I know that for quite some time now, he's been talking that he came here to fight corruption and so on. So I got to wonder. I have been a champion for more transparency from our government. Champ, how could you miss this? How could the champ miss this when the corruption was right under his feet? Because when I've asked, what does the Midtown CRA do to the administration? Oh, they're just a pass-through, just a pass-through. And what I've been shown is that Mr. Basselbree's involvement was in signing five, maybe, if anyone, in lumping together to the city, six checks the whole year. Now, I haven't seen any audited numbers. I haven't seen copies of her bank statements. But I'm going in what I've been given and what I've been told. How can anybody think that it is all right when all you're doing is being an executive director in a CRA that's a pass-through only, that there's no real work like in the others, that it's okay to be getting in salary and benefits. Can we go back to that? Karen, thank you. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going. Right there, okay. How can anyone think that it's okay to receive $86,102. You know, when Mr. Diaz-Liperty chaired the Omni CRA, and I found out, among other things, that there was a young lady there that was working, or should I say was employed by the CRA, the Omni, but was not showing up to work. And rightly so. People said that was a ghost employee. If I'm supposed to be the chair, I'm the vice chair, And I never have heard from the executive director. The mid-time CRA that I know doesn't have his own offices. I don't know if it even has a phone number. I guess you need office to have a phone number. Maybe it was the cell phone that we paid for Mr. Bouserby. I have to wonder, is this another Jenny, another ghost employee that we had? Now, I don't know if Mr. Bastabri violated any ethical provisions. or anything other than dual office holding. I don't know if there are any other provisions, but I do know this whole thing stinks. And when I found out about it, I asked to have a meeting with him. Within six minutes after I asked for that meeting, he's resigning. So what I am going to be doing today, out of the budget that was proposed, since everything I'm told is a pass-through, and so it seems like it is, the $134,363 that was being sent to the Omni CRA to pay because the Midtown didn't even pay itself. Even though it paid a CPA $26,000 a year or so. A little more. I'm going to be amending this budget so that amount would be placed in reserve. So the budget that I'm going to propose will be the pass-throughs as we have here, with the exception that this $134,363 would be placed in reserve. I am further going to be requesting of the city clerk to send a copy of this meeting with everything that we presented, and we have more that we could provide to both the Miami-Dade and the Broward State Attorney. I don't know who is going to want to look at this. You could even send it to Palm Beach in case it gets that far. I don't know. Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Ethics Commission Because the one thing I do know is that if this would have been Joe Carollo doing this, or one of my employees, the local Miami Herald, among others, would have been the one screaming the loudest, hang him, hang him, get the rope out. And they would have been asking for every investigation in the world against me, including sending the Boy Scouts to investigate me. Now, I will be extremely interested to hear if anybody can try to explain to me if the two plus two is actually four. and not another number that I looked at this. Maybe others didn't know about this, like I just recently found out, and I still don't have all the information. But for a city employee to be having two jobs like this, and particularly one job when there's nothing to do, to be paid over $86,000 a year in salary and benefits. And for nobody to have said anything about it, that's wrong. That's wrong because if they're making $150,000 from another city job, how can they make $86,000 plus from another one? I mean, Mr. City Attorney? Yes, sir. Can my chief of staff, I'm sure he'd be glad to do this work for $10,000 less than Mr. Basterby was making. Can he do it, or would he have a problem in doing it?

I don't know.

If he were to be your chief of staff as well as be the executive director of the CRA, I believe we have researched that and determined that he could. He would just have to fill out the outside employment forms and the extra source of income forms every year.

So the outside employment forms.

Correct.

That as of last night were not filled. Is that correct, Mr. Clerk?

Yes, sir.

When I inquired. So after all this time, after the fact, after somebody resigns, run to the hills and see how you could get some cover, even if they're right in what they're saying. Because some of the rumors that I've heard is that this was asked in the past and and not that long ago, to have gotten a legal opinion to give him cover, and it was not provided. So I will begin with Mr. Pardo, and then anybody else that from this body that would like to address this can address it.

Thank you very much, Commissioner.

You have all the time that you would like, Mr. Barter.

Can I go now?

Go ahead. Thank you. Don't put the clock all the time he wants.

Thank you. I appreciate that. First thing I want to say is I think it's apparent to most people that this is never the way something like this should be handled. you kind of proved my whole point of political theater and taking something which may all be very easily explained, very well explained, and creating a fiction around it to hurt someone, an employee of the city of Miami, who happens to be my chief of staff and does an amazing job. And I value highly and is one of the people who has helped every CRA and helped every person in the city. And I bet you can talk to most people through the offices and they're going to tell you the exact same thing. A resolution, and I'm sorry you didn't know you were the chairman of the CRA, but that's your job. You're the chair. You're the chairman of the CRA. September 2021.

I'm aware of that. You said I could speak, right?

So let me speak. Absolutely. So let me speak.

And I'm going to let you speak, but what I don't want you to do is try to confuse. That resolution, I'm aware of that. The city is aware of that. So let me read the resolution, please. But what I talked about was different, not the resolution.

I am going to read the resolution. A resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Midtown Community Development Agency, with attachments, appointing Anthony Balzebri as the Executive Director of the CRA, authorizing the Midtown CRA's Chairman to negotiate and execute any and all necessary agreements, setting the Executive Director's compensation and benefits, all in form acceptable to the Council and Midtown CRA for said purposes. The letter, which was March 2022, Dear Mr. Bowser, this will confirm the action of the Board of Commissioners of the Midtown Redevelopment Agency. By the way, you were the motioner on this. That is correct. Effective Monday, September 13, 2021, you will be employed as Executive Director of the CRA with a salary of $6,000. Benefits will include $500 vehicle allowance, $200 cell phone, I mean... You are defaming someone without them having an opportunity to stand up for themselves and give information. This should not be handled like this.

Bring him over. You have him there. He can speak.

This should not be handled like this, Commissioner. This is not the way that we should act as a city with each other or with the public. This is disingenuous and it's false. And we shouldn't be doing this at all. And even more. And by the way, we can go into Bayfront Park Trust. There's a million things that we have. Miguel Ferro and where he was employed. There's a million things. We shouldn't be doing this. We should simply get the information as appropriate and if their measures need to be taken, taken. But everything here was approved above board.

Sir, at no time did I say here that the salary... and the additional information that you read in that resolution was incorrect. I directed the attention to approximately 35,000 of health insurance and pension that was not approved based on what was given to this body in the past, or what was being asked for us to approve now. And it certainly seemed it was being hidden by the example that I gave with the other two CRAs, including yours, where it was very open. Now, let me explain to you the big difference on September 21st, or whatever the date is, September. It was 2021. Mr. Bastabri was now working as the chief of staff. Mr. Bastabri was only given that job. That is a major, major difference. He did not have dual jobs in the city of Miami. He was not making $236,000 plus in supposedly two jobs. Now, granted, and I'll clearly say it, even then, we should have looked at that even closer. And this is why I've stated many times I haven't wanted part of any of the CRAs, and I've wanted to see how I could get myself in not being a board member. But I'm told because of the way that they've been made, I have no choice but to be a board member. But for you to try to confuse by saying that this is all approved, no, sir. Part was approved, part was not, but the big difference was that he was only working then for the Midtown CRA.

All I have to go on are your statements made at this moment on the dais. There is no time to investigate this other than the texts that I've received, which he tells me he has his outside employment forms filed that I know of. He's an above board person that complies with everything. So he's not here. He's not here. I don't think, I think this is like bordering on defamation. This is an employee of the city.

He, It's not here because he doesn't want to be here. Let's go back to that September 2021. He wasn't there either. When this was supposed to be brought up to this commission, that I found out that I'm the guy that's supposed to be running the meeting and I'm being given stuff to rubber stamp it and to ask all of you to rubber stamp it. He wasn't here that day either at our last meeting because he didn't want to be around. He should be in your office. Call him out. I'll give him all the time that he wants.

I wouldn't do that to an employee in my office. And I wouldn't do that to any employee. What you're doing right now, I wouldn't do to anyone.

He's an employee in your office, but he's also a political operative. That's why you have him in your office. First and foremost, it's a political library. Secondly of all, it's unemployed. And the problem that you have is that no matter how you like to paint it, you can't justify what I just showed here. And furthermore, where's the copy, where's the date of when he filed all these public notices that you're telling me?

I'll go find them.

Okay. Okay. Very good. He was supposed to have filed according to what the...

I mean, you said you were chairing the meeting before, but you didn't know you were chairman now. So, I mean, I just don't know where this information... You've gathered, and I have nothing to...

I've gathered this between the last meeting and this meeting. Just why I said last meeting...

Listen, I've always been in favor of transparency. I'm in favor of full transparency, and I will commit to investigating all of this on our behalf and share it.

Mr. Pardo, you can investigate everything that you'd like. But if you didn't investigate it before, champ... I'm not the chairman of the McDonald's CRA, sir, you are. No, you are the one that hired him for $150,000. As my chief of staff, I'm very well aware of what he does. Were you aware that he had this other job for that amount of dollars?

Yeah, I knew he had a job under you.

How were you working out the hours for him?

I don't have a specific hour set for him as Chief of Staff or for your job as the Midtown CRA.

I see. But I do not get any money. I didn't even know this individual was doing this work. I have enough with what I do already than to be babysitting somebody.

Well, he has enough with what he does too.

And so do we all. Then you know what? Get for us... all the hours that he claimed that he put down in this CRA. But in the meantime, it's not for you, for I. Like I said, I don't have the time for this. Let somebody else, whether it's ethics or anybody else at one, figure out what he had to file and when he had to file it. Not that he ran out to file it today because he heard the clerk say, that as of last night, he had not filed anything pertaining to what the city attorney said.

Commissioner, I'm happy to work with you on this issue, and I suggest that we move on. We have pressing issues with our budget, and I think it would be better served for the city if we did that.

I've covered the areas that I needed to cover, but Mr. Basilbury, nor you, are victims in this at all, whatsoever.

No one's saying that.

Can I weigh in? How much is in reserve over there now?

Where are the people for the Midtown CRA here?

Aren't you the chair?

Hold on. You're going to be surprised at what he tells you because there's not much. Go ahead.

Good afternoon, everybody. I'm Miguel Valentin, Southeast Overtown Park West financial officer, and I work in the capacity of expert consultant for the Midtown CRA.

You're not an employee. You're outside the city. Yes. Just want to make that clear. Yes.

Well, just to answer your question, In the grand scheme of things, this Midtown CRA is a single-purpose CRA. This CRA is obligated to pay to contribute towards the debt service for the Midtown CDD, and also we put aside 1% for administration. The remaining balance then needs to be distributed between the taxing authorities, meaning 60% goes to the city and 40% goes to the county. We started distributing the remaining funds, I think, since last year as a result of an audit that we… But, Valentin, I'm sorry to interrupt you.

The board member, Commissioner Gabello, his question is… How much of a reserve? How much of a reserve do you have?

How much money have you got in liquid in a bank, wherever you keep it?

Well, remember, in a big town CRA, it's supposed to be zero at the end of the day.

So you don't have any reserves?

Right now, we have $4 million. $4 million that they are meant to be distributed to the city pertaining to fiscal year 2024, and those monies need to be distributed by early October.

And if I can add this to the commissioner... and all of them are informed, based upon what you told me, this will be the first time that monies that were available from the Midtown CRA are going to the city of Miami. Correct.

Okay, so you have $4 million in reserve because you— Almost $5 million. Almost five. Almost five.

This is without, excuse me, Commissioner Cabela, this is without including the portion corresponding to 2025. What is that? How much is that? This is another $5 million that the city will be getting.

Yeah, but you haven't collected that yet.

Yes, we're going to be collecting this by January 2025. January 2025.

You know, I look at this thing and these CRAs are starting to bother me. You know, A lot of funny business going on here. I'm not passing judgment one way or the other. I'm hearing what you're saying, Commissioner. I'm hearing what you said. But it seems to me that maybe we're just better off dissolving all CRAs and putting that money into a pool in the general fund and then distribute that money within the five districts and let's call it a day because I'm getting tired of this business, let me tell you. I suggest, sir, that while this is going on and we find out who's what and who's not, we freeze what's going on over there where you are, because apparently there's a lot of funny business going on here from what I'm hearing. And like I said, quite frankly, I'm getting tired of this, of this business going backwards and forwards and everything. How long have we been hearing about the CREs, problems in the CREs, with my predecessor, with the other one? You know what I mean? And it seems to me that maybe we should just abolish the CRAs when they come to set, and that's it. Let's call it a day, and let's take those funds, put it into general accounting, and then we distribute it within the five commissions. And the other thing is, you guys, it's always that business that, you know, what I don't like, oh, I need the money because if I don't get the money by next October, you know, something will happen. And there's always something happening. You know, with all due respect, Commissioner Baidu, the same thing with you guys. When I made the argument, hey, I need help over here, you know, in my quarter because I'm absorbing all of your problems as am I absorbing my problems. No, no, no, let's not do that because I've got to get things done, and there are projects that need to be done. And the funny one to me is, you know, and I voted for it, the one, I think it was $1.5 million to Kush, okay? And that's the restauranteur. I've got nothing against the restauranteur. He seems to be doing good. My wife knew him. I have no idea because I'm not a foodie in that way. But my wife knew of him. And my question is, so we take this money. We're supposed to be helping Blight, which I made that argument again and again and again We're supposed to be doing infrastructure, but in this case, we're helping a gentleman that has already been established to open a restaurant for $1.5 million.

Commissioner Gabela, that's not what was happening in that transaction. I don't know if you've seen the building, but it is a blighted building and it's 10 affordable housing units.

Mr. Pardo, please, to the chair. Okay, let him finish, and then you can speak.

Okay, so I'm sorry. So what you're saying is it's a building, and it went to refurbish the building?

It's a really dilapidated, falling apart building that runs that restaurant. The employees need to live there, and they're rehabbing. The top, I believe it was 10 units. If you come to the building and look at it, and you follow the resolution that was passed, you will feel very good about the project. It is not... And I'm a big proponent of CRAs, and I want to say that OmniCRA has adopted all of the state best practices, and you certainly know because you work with OmniCRA. And so we don't have these issues of, you know, what's happening. How do you feel about OmniCRA? Listen, in my capacity...

He's an employee of yours there. Well, let me rephrase that. His company is hired by you. What do you think he's going to say to you?

I don't think he's going to say anything.

Let me, if I may, I'm going to be asking. Listen, you don't have to answer that.

I would like him to answer it.

He's going to say what a wonderful thing it is. No, he's not. And particularly when Mr. Diaz-Pertilla came in to get rid of everybody there, one that was not gotten rid of because Mr., your chief of staff, protected him was him. No.

That is so not true. After Diaz-Lapartia left, there was a complete audit. There were implemented operations... That's not what I'm talking about at all.

I'm not talking about money. But I will say this. Your argument, it reminds me back of the argument that Diaz-Lapartia gave on good old Jenny when she was found that she wasn't working. The same argument. And... What happened with Jenny? Well, not what should have happened, but she at least got a $1,000 fine. Boy, $1,000 fine.

Commissioner, I would like to let him answer the question.

Just respectfully to all of you, I've been working as Southeast Overtown Park West Financial Officer since 2002. And when it comes to the Omni CRA and the Midtown CRA, I've been doing work for them, accounting work, since 2016. These transactions that we are talking about, they were audited and they were reviewed by the Auditor General as well.

It's only five or six transactions, right?

Only five or six. And you're right about that. But remember this, there was a very comprehensive audit conducted by the Auditor General as well as the CRA staff in which, honest to goodness, the Director was heavily involved because we needed to talk to too many parties. in order to resolve the issues at hand. And the problem was that the Midtown CDD at that time, they were not forthcoming at all. And that was a daunting task, honest to goodness. I understand what you're saying. I understand what you're saying as well. But when it comes to the CRAs, I've been here, For over 20 years, a knock on wood, I don't need to be ashamed of anything that I'm doing there.

Let me answer your question. Are you done? Yeah. Let me answer your question. That isn't the same tune that you were talking about four or five months ago when you and Isaiah Jones came to my office voluntarily, by the way. I never called you. I never knew what was going on in the Omni. Now we're talking about the Omni CRA. You seem to be now saying that everything is flowers and everything is beautiful. But let me explain. Then you can tell me if I remember correctly, Isaiah Jones and yourself came to our office about three different times. And in the first time, you wanted an investigation. You guys asked me to issue an investigation into the film studio business that we have a stupid deal with them, where I don't know who the hell made that deal, but that's the stupidest deal I've seen in my life as a business person. You know, where you... I'm going to let you... I'm sorry. I just got five more minutes. Where we subletted... Not subletted, we were the landlords... We rented for $3 a square foot, I believe it was, and then those guys were turning around and duplicating the money like 10 or 20 times. And they're still there, you know, and you guys walked into my office and you wanted an investigation on that. And then you also wanted an investigation on the security company, if I remember correctly. Yeah, we... Yeah, and then you came two, maybe two more times, I think you came for a total of three times. Then all of a sudden... When Isaiah Jones was appointed director of the Omni CRA, you guys never asked for anybody. You know, that went all the way. As a matter of fact, she was right over there. And when that happened, that I voted for her to appoint her, I think she's a good person. You know, I even said, hey. You're not interested anymore in what happened to the investigations, what happened that you wanted to, you know, and everybody silent. You know what I mean? So don't tell me you can't tell me one thing. You can't speak both sides of your mouth. You can't tell me that five months ago you were having a little problem. And then you told me also of the letter of the gentleman, I'm not going to mention his name, of the gentleman that was signing off stuff and not following procedure. Remember that? You don't remember that?

It doesn't ring a bell right now, but I rely on what you're saying.

You don't recall. But there was another gentleman that then quit because of this. Because I believe you guys said that the gentleman, my predecessor that was here before, made him do certain things that he didn't want to do and he was forced into it. That's what was said to me by you guys.

Remember that, Frank, that you were...

You were in that meeting, and what's amazing to me is that after you guys, she was appointed director, and again, I've got nothing but respect for Isaiah, okay? I treat her very well, and yourself, when you come into my office, and we've had long conversations, but what's amazing to me is, you know, that There was a problem back then. Now, all of a sudden, there's no problems. And apparently there is problems. And that's why I say, again, I'm tired of these CRA businesses, and you guys have this business. And the other thing is, I figured out, you know, CRAs, you know the Hispanic don't have one CRA in the city of Miami? I don't understand this. Everybody else does, but the Hispanic, there's not one Hispanic CRA in the city of Miami. My point is, don't tell me that CRAs are not problematic, some of them, okay? Because I haven't been hearing good things from these, especially the Omnis here, before your time, by the way, before your time. But now, the fact of the matter is, you guys are now there, okay? And like he needs to take responsibility, so do you guys. We did, though. What happened to the investigation? How come nobody's calling for an investigation? How come everything now is roses and, you know, it's what I want to know.

Commissioner Gabela, after the audit, all of those operational things were implemented, the new audit standards. You know that, Miguel, because you were part of that as well.

When do those audits happen? Five years from now, and then we say, oh, this is not going to happen again, and this and that, and then we move on, and then it happens again. Is that what we're talking about here? And then we spend $200,000 on a forensic audit, which anyway, I've been told by some that the second guy that comes, unless he sees a real red flag, a smoking gun, he's not going to make another decision. There's something wrong.

I think we need to bring Jenny back to the Omni CRA or maybe Midtown. We made a mistake, you know. We've got to treat everybody alike. But I do have a question for you.

Yes, sir.

Before we move on.

Yes, sir.

Since so much of the Omni CRA was brought out, the monies to pay you from the Midtown CRA to have paid Mr. Vassabry was given to the Omni CRA to handle, correct?

That has been done since 2010.

I just want to get that on the record. Yes, sir.

Since 2010.

Yes. Yeah. Just want to get it on the record. Last but not least, but since 2010, no one has made anywhere near close to $86,000 plus. I don't know that. They paid him $150,000 in the same city of Miami. And I don't know what benefits you give them there.

None.

How... I'm glad, because he's certainly gotten enough already. How much... And how are you paid? Do you have a firm that you're paid through or do you pay individually? No.

In the way that we're making payment is, we're making a transfer from... No, no, no.

I'm not saying that. You misheard me. You are paid through a firm that you have... Or individually?

Individually.

Okay, individually. Okay. You're an accountant and you're taking the money individually? It's causing you more instead of going through a corporation.

No.

It's up to you. How much are you paid for the Omni CRA yearly?

In the new budget?

In the new budget, $90,000.

How much? $90,000. $90,000.

Yeah. 90,000.

Is this going to be like a thing now?

I would want to keep that job too. Anyway, thank you. I think we've gotten all that we need from you. I appreciate it. Thank you, Miguel. As I stated, the pass-throughs that we were given before in the Midtown budget, we are making a change. that the $134,363, that was for the salary, FICA, and French benefits, plus a bailiff for other administrative expenditures, whatever they meant by that.

Mr. Vice Chair, I think you read the wrong column.

Well, no, I'm reading this has $134,363.

Yes, Vice Chairman, that is for the fiscal year 2024 adopted budget. If you look at the column over fiscal year 2025, the $139,000.

All right, so the one for 2024-25 is how much? It's $139,181. Okay, $139,181. Okay, you have there, Mr. Clerk? So the $139,181 will be put in the budget as a reserve. And depending on what it's needed for, it will be used for that. If not, a part of it, 60%, will go back to the city, and a 40% will go back to the county. That is the budget proposal. Is there a motion?

Motion.

Second. Is the motion there a second? Here, no further discussion. All in favor?

Before you vote, we need to have public comment. You have to open up public comment.

I'm sorry. Is there anyone from the public that would like to comment before we vote on this? Now, don't everybody rush for the job for executive director, please.

It's not open for applications for $135,000. I'll take it. And I work 24 hours, seven days a week. You're not going to do a Jenny and me, right? I believe that it's concerning. And I was a county employee for many, many decades ago. And to have two jobs is very disrupted because you have too many responsibilities. And this is supposedly very important jobs. we depend on you guys. Depending on your staff to answer the phone, actually make appointment when we want to make an appointment, and not be ignored. If your chief of staff have two jobs, I think it's something wrong. Because for a person who's a chief of staff or the commissioner, it's supposed to be the person to hear, answer the phone when the commissioner is busy. And we need to just eliminate all the CRAs. I'm sorry to say that, but there are too many problems, and they find a way how to manipulate the money from the people. And a restaurant is gonna get a million fine from me, then I'm gonna look for a property, and I'm gonna go to a CRA and get you guys to give me money. Because we have people in different areas of the city of Miami doesn't get a penny. But it's still paying taxes. Taxes of the business, taxes of the property appraisals, for our houses, for everything. And don't get me wrong, it's just sometimes the perception from us, from what you guys do, and it's not just one, it goes to all of you. Because even though you guys try to help in one sense, but if you make a mistake, as sad as it is, then all the good that you did went down. And we expect a lot from you guys, and sometimes maybe more than what we think. But we expect a lot from you, and really disappointed.

Okay. We're done with it. We don't need you for anything more. Go ahead, ma'am.

Kristen Browdy, 888 Biscayne Boulevard. We're here on the other budget item, but we care about all the money that this town spends. And Commissioner Gabela, I think you're on to something. I think you're onto something. If we're doing these pass-throughs, what for? Why add the administrative expense? Why do we need this? I appreciate your concern, and I appreciate your answer. We obviously haven't seen the documents that all of you have, and I hope you will be transparent with us, just as those in the DDA have to be transparent with us. But if we don't need these organizations, if all they're doing is passing through money, We can save the taxpayers' money, which is our money. All of us are paying these taxes. And if we don't have to, nobody wants to. You know, Florida's inflation rate is 40% higher than the rest of the nation's. Maybe we can do something about that by lowering some taxes right here.

Thank you, ma'am.

Good afternoon. Through the chair, I've been listening to something all day today, and something hit home here, what Commissioner Gabela said. You've been fighting for your community on the Omni CRA and all these budgets and talking about transparency. And then we have to echo the same thing because we just went through the DDA's scenario. And I think it's important that you start looking at every Omni CRA and every component that is paid as a special interest here. Because it's not fair. I think, you know, by the chair turning around and saying that he's going to move the money here or there, that could have been your money for Alapato technically. or the expansion of the Omni CRA with the borders and all these other components, because it is tax dollars that are being hurt here. And the end result, if you're able to move that money, guess what? We get out of that blight that we've all been talking about. So we echo that. It may be time to start looking at all of these organizations as a whole. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Commissioners. It's really not fair for... the rest of the city of Miami been neglected because they don't have a CRA in their community to help out their community to be what the community needs. I'm part of that community, and I get none of that funding. I go out every week, and I get none of that help. I'm for eliminating all the CRAs. and distributing that money to all the commissioners. And they should be over that to distribute that money to their neighborhoods as they see it fit. Thank you. God bless.

Thank you. Anybody else that would like to address this Midtown CRA, sir?

My name is Ed Cook. I live 1717 North Bayshore Drive. We seem to be talking, and the papers have been talking lately about the CRA, especially they mentioned the Omni CRA and the millions and expanding and things like that. While you're at it with your millions of dollars, would you come along North Bay Shore Drive? immediately behind the Omni, the very street, needs to be repaired, potholes and everything. So we need somebody who is backing up these efforts. Mr.

Manager, do we have anybody from the administration here? Anybody from the city administration here? Mr. Manager, can you get from the clerk the gentleman's concerns in the address And if you could send somebody from Public Works tomorrow and have a look at it, if there are pud holes, we would be greatly appreciative if they could be repaired. And if the whole street needs to be repaired, then I'm sure that the commissioner of the district We'll sit with you and see when it could be done.

It's in the Omni-Sierra District. It also involves the county and Florida Department of Transportation.

Anybody else? Anybody else? Okay, last but not least, Mr. Valentine?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. So we're just going to close the public hearing, officially closing the public hearing.

The public hearing will be closed. I understand... that I think Monday is your last day? Yes. For this fiscal year. What I'd like for you to do tomorrow, if not, then do it on Monday, if you could bring a copy of the budget that we passed to the county, because I believe we have 10 days to get it to them.

Yeah, I need to... If you're asking me gladly, I will do it. But it's not only... Well, we paid you, so... No, and again, my duties are going to end by September. But what I wanted to tell you is... Maybe. It's not a matter of providing a copy to the county. There is some paperwork that needs to be prepared. You know, there is some work that needs to be done. And... Statutorily, there should be an executive director. Somebody needs to be doing some work that I was doing the accounting work, because in the only CRA that I am, the financial officer is over there. I was doing the accounting work, and there are some things that they need to be taken care of. There is an audit that needs to be complete. The audit needs to be submitted to the state. There is a transfer that is due to the city that somebody needs to approve it. That's why the executive director position is important.

Let me make that real clear. Yeah. The minute that we approve this new fiscal year's budget, I will place a motion to approve the transfer. I was under the impression that we included this transfer. in this budget.

That's what you had here. But someone needs to provide the journal entry to the finance department. Somebody needs to upload. There are some logistical work that needs to be done that somebody else needs to take over.

I understand that, but it seems to me you're making it like there's so much work. And it's that, I'm sorry. Well. It's that.

Okay.

So. Okay. Can you handle this tomorrow or not, between tomorrow and Monday?

Let's put it in this way. Since I want to do things correctly, I will do it. You don't need to pay me a dime. But honest to goodness, there are some things to be done. The auditors, they are calling me. This is something that I do outside my regular job. But I just want you to factor that in. Whoever is taking over, they need to understand this. If you want me, I will cooperate for a smooth transition. If you don't want me to do this, I understand that. But I just wanted to raise awareness.

We will be having another Midtown CRA meeting soon enough to deal with. I don't think the sky is going to fall.

Oh, it's okay.

I understand.

And if you need me, I will meet you and I will deliver everything to the person that you think.

But for the record, we have 10 days to provide that to the county.

Yes.

Will you do it or not? I just need to know.

If you're asking me, I will do it. Exactly what I'm asking you. There should be some paperwork that I need to do. It's not like that. It's not... That's the city attorney.

Could I sort of translate? I guess the issue is that the fact that you're zeroing out all the administrative function in the budget, and I'm not going to suggest an amount or anything like that. I understand what you're doing, but what they're saying is they need somebody there other than yourself, because right now, upon the conclusion of his contract, there'll be nobody other than the vice chair. So you should perhaps consider having a diminished amount in the budget so that you can have somebody sending the emails, providing the documentation, meeting with the auditor general, because there are going to be things that come up that you're probably not.

Is there something that's not going to be able to hold until we meet again October 18th?

Well, see, here's the problem. That's an excellent question. That was my question. Can we just change the budget?

What I've done with the budget, the amount of the $139,000 plus, it's been put in reserve. And I did that purposely so when we meet again, we could use... portion of that money for whatever we need. But the one thing that you will never get my vote is to get $86,000 plus to anybody and particularly somebody making $150,000 in another position in this city in an agency that's only a pass-through. Now I know that He wants to make this sound much more complicated than it is. I don't think it's that much more complicated. You're the city attorney that you guide all of us. You meet with me tomorrow and get whoever we need to in this city, because we should have at least one person somewhere that's qualified to sign those six checks and meet with an auditor. I mean, how many auditors do we need?

Well, I believe there's one external auditor that has done it for years, and that's a requirement.

Well, it's only six checks. My God.

Understood, but could I just have Mr. Alban explain the problem that would occur if you just put the money in the reserve?

So then what you are saying is that it's going to be $139,181 placed in reserve to be budgeted and appropriated at a future date for whatever administrative expenses occur at the time of the administrative expenses being incurred.

Let me be clear. I'm not saying that there's a blank check so we get a bill for whatever amount for my new work that's been done. before Midtown pays anybody, we want to see what we're going to be charged. So what I'm saying is that it was my intention to wait and meet with legal before the next meeting so we could resolve all these minor loose issues. But I know that this is part of government to try to make things much bigger than they ever are.

Mr. Chair? Yes, sir. Can I just say something real quick? Go ahead. In light of what everything, and I'll stop it there, but here's the thing. We go backwards and forwards, but at the end of the day, the series continue. You guys continue to do business. We continue, you know, investigations left and right, but the game continues. You know, meanwhile, I ask a simple question, you know, and October 7th, I believe we have a sunshine meeting. And then we have the October 12th meeting. I'd like from city manager, Waisong, the city attorney, I'd like an up or down vote. to get something done for my area, period, end of story. I don't want this business anymore of here and let's wait there and let's defer this and that. I'm asking you guys, please, okay, because I see what's going on here, you know, and, you know, we have problems, but your business continues, and you guys continue to build, and you guys can, and we talk and blah, blah, but it continues.

And they'll keep you here for the next four years, anyway.

That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. So I want a vote, a straight vote on what I'm asking. I'm the commissioner of the area. I proposed a map. I want to vote up or down on that map, okay? And I want it on October the 12th when we have the meeting. I don't want this business Here's what we're going to do for you, and I don't want other commissioners telling me what I need to do in my area, because I don't tell you guys what to do in your area. I appreciate your help, and I know you're trying to help me, but I know what's best in my area, just like I cannot know better than you, D-2. I cannot know better than you, D-3, sir. Same thing for Commissioner Reyes. I cannot know his area better than him or your area, Chairwoman. So what I ask, please, on October 12th, We have an up or down vote, and whatever the plan is going to be, that's going to be the plan. I am not going to continue this fight in limbo and limbo after hearing all this stuff that you guys got going on in Omni CRA and over there and over here. I want to get my things done. My people deserve it, and they're waiting for it. And I think I've made my case, so please, City Manager Waisong. I'd like an up or down vote on whatever it is we're going to do, and I'd like my proposal submitted, and I want an up or down vote if there's no other alternative. Period. End of story.

Thank you. Commissioner, thank you for those comments. I want to be very respectful to what you stated, and I think that's a position that I could understand where you're taking, but I don't think it matters. On how everything's moved, I think what's important is that you have sufficient dollars to do what you need to do in Allapattah and to make that the first Hispanic area where sufficient dollars are going to go through in the city, the Hispanic area in the city of Miami. that is in Moe's needs. So with that in mind, Mr. Manager, and the Commissioner can work out the areas that he wants to go into, and he showed a map. If he wants to keep that map extended or whatever, it's up to him. I want to have a spot saved for the next Commission meeting that I'm going to make a presentation where monies will be coming to what I think is going to solve a lot of the concerns that we have in Alapata and more in overtime next door. So save a spot for me because I'm going to be bringing a whole presentation. It will be backed up with solid numbers so that – Hopefully, we could do what Commissioner Gabela has stated.

Mr. Chair, if I may, I know we're trying to solve for a problem here in terms of whatever administrative responsibilities are required for the next, let's say, 30 days or so. I'm happy to volunteer someone from our staff to take care of that in an interim basis so that there aren't really any costs incurred. And then as you further meet and decide you're going to assign somebody or hire somebody, we can certainly do that. But we certainly can assign somebody to do that.

I don't want to throw money away. So what I would like us to be able to meet with the law department, with you. The first obligation that we have is that we have to get this budget to the county in whatever way they want it. I'm sure you've got people that know what to do. That's not a big deal in doing. And then I will ask for advice on how to proceed in placing someone as the executive director that will assign us five or six checks, and we don't have to pay 86,000 plus dollars a year in salaries and benefits. You know, maybe, let me leave that be. We have a, A motion to approve the budget with the amendment that was made on the reserve of the $139,000-plus. There was a motion. There was a second. Hearing no further discussion, all of you want to speak? No? No, you don't get to speak now. You're too late.

You're too late.

You're too late. That's what I'm saying. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. It passes unanimously. Chair, my apologies, Chair.

There are minutes to approve for the September 9, 2023 Midtown CRE meeting.

Motion. Of what year?

Second.

September 9, 2023.

September 9, 2023.

2023 and for 86 000 plus dollars they couldn't brought that to me to had a meeting to do before we have to wait a over a year later okay there's a motion there's a second all in favor signify by saying aye aye it passes unanimously anything else we have no sir okay well thank you everyone for being here today and this meeting is now adjourned Those who would like to apply for the executive director position, please send it to the city manager since the Midtown CRA does not have an address or a phone number.