Council - Regular Meeting

2026 January 14th council meeting. Mr. Clerk, call the role, please. Councilwoman Baskin, present. Council Leon, here. Councilwoman Pal, present. Councilwoman Julian, here. Councilwoman Wilson, I'm here. Vice Mayor Stevens here. Mayor Harris, I'm present. You have a quorum. Please stand for the invocation and pledge of allegiance.

God our father, we thank you for your grace, your mercy towards us. We thank you for the opportunity to come together as a community to discuss business that ultimately affect your people. It is in this moment that I pray that you continue to bless my colleague and I with your knowledge, your wisdom, and your understanding as we make the best decisions, the right decisions to move this city and keep it moving forward. Bless the residents, it stakeholders, business owners, and everyone that has something to do with this beautiful city that we call the city of Miami Gardens. Continue to open up the windows of heaven and pour out your many blessings upon our lives. And we promise we'll give you all the praise, honor, and glory that your precious name deserves. It is in your son name I do pray. Amen.

Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] [laughter] All right, we're on approval of minutes. Mr. Mayor, council, before you.

Mr. Mayor, council, before you have the December 10th, 2025 um city council meeting minutes for your approval. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposition? You you have opposition to the minutes? Yes. Okay. Okay. What you want to do?

No, we'll do it later. Yeah, we'll do it later. All in favor signify by saying I. I I Any opposition? Showing no opposition. Show the minutes approved. We're on order of business. Are there any items that need to be pulled, deleted, or withdrawn? Mr. Mayor? Yes. Um before the city council, I have addon item number one, supporting the Quanza celebration supported by Mayor um sponsored by Mayor Harris. Without objection, we ask that to be added to the agenda is item 12.1. 121. Yes.

Any objection? No. Any other items? Mr. Mayor, I'd like to table item 11.1 for a later date. 111.

M. Mr. Mayor. Yes. I'd like to um reschedu our 6.1 proclamation to our April session. All right.

Till April. Yes, sir.

All right. Any other items? Um I'd like to address the 11.2 on the consent agenda. Okay. 112. All right. Anything else? Mr. Mayor, for clarity, are we redrawing six? Uh, Councilwoman uh Pal is red with redrawing 6.1. She's withdrawing 6.1 and it'll come back later. She'll bring it back at a later date in April. Gotcha. Thank you.

All right. Anything else? That's it. All right. I need a motion on the agenda. Motion. Second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposition? Showing none. Show the agenda passes. We're on special presentations. No, there's no special. Oh, no special presentation. My bad. All right, we're on public comments. Are there any w uh written communication, Mr. Clerk? Um, there was one written communication received. It was forwarded to the mayor and city council. It'll be added to the minutes as an exhibit. All right, Mr. Clerk, can you read the back of the public comment card, please?

Yes, sir. Citizen participation is governed by section 2-60 of the city of Miami Gardens code. Public comments are limited matters within the scope of the jurisdiction of the city council. Each person other than members of the city staff who addresses the city council shall give their name, address, and whether the person speaking on his or her own behalf, a group of persons or a third party. When in the determination of the presiding officer, there are many persons wishing to speak on the same proposition. The presiding officer may direct that these persons designate a representative to address the city council rather than all members of such group. All speakers shall be limited to two minutes unless further time is given by the presiding officer. All remarks shall be addressed to the city council as a body and not to any one member. No person other than city council members and the persons having the floor shall be permitted to enter any discussion without the permissions of the presiding officer. No question shall be asked of the city council except through the presiding officer. Order shall be maintained if any person makes personally irrelevant, pertinent or slanderous remarks, becomes boisterous while addressing the city council or becomes too lengthy, abusive, obscene and or disruptive or otherwise fails to comply with the orders of the presiding officer and is declared out of order, the individual may be subject to removal by the sergeant-at-arms.

All right. Thank you. And council, may we govern ourselves accordingly as well. All right. We're on. First person up will be Dr. Cheryl. Dr. Cheryl, how you pronounce your last name? Waterman. Okay. And behind her would be Ria Hughes and Christine Malcolm. Hi. Good afternoon. Um, the concern that I have I actually spoke about a couple of times. What's your address for the record?

20340 Northwest 29 Court. And this is about the traffic on 29 Court which I myself had an accident coming out of my driveway. There's a substantial speed on that street. And when I spoke about it a couple of months ago last year, they said there's a tree lane. I'm wondering if stop signs can be put in there so people coming off of doing a racetrack, which is like a racetrack, can slow down. Is this the is this part I should go to the city of Miami or Miami Gardens because we have a issue with the the lights on 183rd and I understand that the roads may be belonging to the city of Miami. Can we clarify that? Excuse

me. Miss, can we check our phones please and put them on vibrate? Yeah, because someone is going to get hurt. I didn't think that my car was going to be hit in the middle lane because it's a winding street. It's not uh so you have to peep out and you have to actually go and put your neck out to make sure you don't get hit. So to call to stop some sort of big accident. Luckily I was hit by my wheel and I was a I'm okay even though a little sprain in my back but can you someone please look into it and if you can't do it should I go to the city of Miami to speak about that if they've they look after the roads? Well, it would it wouldn't be the city of Miami. It would be Miami Dade County, but we Miami Date County.

We'll look into Please. Somebody's going to be get hurt. All right. Thank you.

Thank you. Reughes, 3335 Northwest 180th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056. Happy new year to those I haven't seen. And I want to give kudos to the following departments this evening. Thank you Miami Gardens Police Department Executive Officer Gente and Acting Sergeant Diaz for enforcing closure of Myrtle Grove Park on the New Year's Day being in compliance with the closure signage posted on the gates by Parks and Recreation. Thank you Dr. Bispart, code enforcement and licensing director and staff for enforcing the towing of unauthorized vehicles within our communities. Thank you, Mr. Gunter, assisting public works director and staff for maintaining cleanliness and around along the canal on Northwest 32nd Avenue and 180th Street and for also reinstalling traffic signs within our jurisdiction. to the DARE. Your protocol manual states under item 4.4 workshops, no official action on city business is taken in workshops. For transparency purposes, my ask is discussions from the agenda items held by staff and the dees during city council meetings be on the record not in workshops or informal settings but in public eye. Thank you.

Thank you Miss Hughes. After Miss Malcolm, it'll be Margaret Kendrick and Ebony Johnson.

Christine Malcolm, 18910 Northwest 31st Avenue, Miami Gardens 33056. History is fragile in this country, in our community, and right here in Miami Gardens. The Enrico Farmhouse, the oldest home in this city at 100 years old, is now gone. The city filed paperwork to have it designated as historic in the county and 13 years later allowed it to be demolished. That contradiction speaks volumes about how the city treats our history. We were told the structure was unsound after a fire. Yet, it stood for years. If it could remain standing, it could have been saved. What failed here was not the building. It was the city's commitment to preservation. This is not just about one house. It shows how easily history can be erased when there's no will to protect it. Many speak about history, but when it matters, nothing was done to protect this home while it was still here. Consent agenda item 11.2 creates an Ardan public places grant program which is a positive step but to succeed it must be guided by an independent committee not by this council alone. There are proven models close to home such as Pemrook Pines uh uses independent structure so public arts decisions are not political. Hyo funds through county bond federal programs private sponsorships requirements that must be included. Miami Gardens can do the same. Agenda item 8.1 is a first reading proposing street names be named after living people. I oppose this change as a street name is permanent part of the map the neighborhood and how history remembers the city. Naming streets after living people invites politics, influence, and favoritism into a process that should be objective. History cannot always be measured in real time. A person's full legacy is only clear after time has passed. Reputations change, facts come out. What looks good today may not look good to tomorrow. The current rule requiring a person be deceased exists to protect the city, keeping street names tied to

lasting impact, not temporary power. I urge the council to think carefully. Miami Gardens should honor people whose lives and contributions stood the test of time. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening, Councilman. I'm My name is Margaret Kendrick, 2724 Northwest 199th Lane. I came here to say thank you to the two council men and women who came to my association meeting last month to address that the stadium was updating their fence on their side on 27th Avenue going down from 199th Street on down and that they have decided to beautify that area. So, they're going to replace our fence and upgrade our fence. Also, I understand once that's done, the city um is going to maintain landscaping and hedges after the installation of the new fence to make 199th going down 27th Avenue look beautified. So, I just came to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. On another note, I came here in reference to the clothes on the line in the back of the uh the houses. I was referred to Talia DBPR um to get a response that they do not do that. They only handle condominiums. I was told by a specialist in investigation specialist in Orlando that it is up to your representatives that would be you to put in an ordinance. So this can it is a Florida state law HB203. You can look it up under Governor De Sanchez to enforce this law because it looks tacky. It brings down our property value, etc., etc. So, I'm asking for that audience. And number two, he said, you can go to the courts. I look at myself as a melon person and I'm saying, why do I have to go to a white man to get this seller when I have my representative who's standing in front of me? I'm asking you please help us because it's bringing down our property value. You're doing a beautiful job with the fence.

Please help us get this ordinance through. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Miss Johnson and Phillip Cidleberg. Good evening, mayor and esteemed city of Miami uh city council of Miami Gardens. I am honored to share with you that the resource room is proudly celebrating 25 years of service right here in the great city of Miami Gardens. And I want to thank you for your continuing unwavering support even for the present and the past that have that are around. As we look ahead, we're continuing to empower the next generation through the Miami Day NAACP youth council. I am joined with me my second vice president uh Gabriel Allen and our new member Bryson. um as we prepare to present our youth at the day of service on Tallahassee on February 4th and on May 2nd we will be hosting the crown and legacy gayla where we honor the outstanding work of our youth and their community service as well as the Mr. and Miss NACP and honoring the Dr. Shirley Johnson memorial scholarship by giving scholarship to those graduating students. So we are grateful your for your support and continued blessing. Thank you again for letting me share tonight. Together we can make a positive impact for the youth and the future that we serve right here in Miami Gardens. So again, thank you for all that you do.

Thank you.

And then uh Pete Plaque and Harvey Martin. Uh hello council. My name is Philip Seidenberg, 7283 Northwest 116th Way, Parkland, Florida. I'm here to speak about the clean zone. Uh a name that's kind of derogatory just in its meaning, implying all the businesses that are banned during the clean zone are not clean and somehow dirty. Um I've been operating a bike taxi company for the last 20 years. We are licensed in four cities. We carry a $2 million insurance policy. We train our drivers. We have permits. uh we operate the right way. Um I think this is a very reactionary measure um that the city has taken to ban petty cabs, golf carts, things like that around the stadium. Modes of microtransit that people opt for. Uh currently in the market, uh you have drivers driving from all around the country, Chicago, New York, uh rogue operators that come in because the market demand is so high for our service type. We come down here from Orlando, but others come from literally 12-500 miles away. And I'm really not sure if the council understands the discrepancy between what enforcers are sharing with them out on the streets and what's actually happening in the market. So, you guys are, you know, the city is grossly out of step with the current standard. You'll be the only city to ban this type of transportation in an NFL uh stadium market. Um this type of transportation exists all over the country. The cities have ordinances, they have standards. The companies have to show proof of insurance. They have to train their drivers. Drivers get background tests, drug tests. Uh these types of standards exist. Uh Cowboys Stadium, Eagle Stadium, the Bears, all of these markets have standards for the way companies like ours operate. And really all you're doing you're doing

right now is you're punishing the operators who are willing to comply to those standards and you're punishing uh customers who go to these events who actually benefit and want to use our service. So if anyone would like to discuss creating a better standard, we would love to do that. All right. Thank you,

Pete. Then Harvey Martin.

Mayor Harris, members of the council, my name is Peter Plechek, 901 South Park Road, Hollywood, Florida 33021. I'm here on behalf of my business, Bird Witch, which operated in Miami Gardens. Yesterday, you received a letter from attorneys at the Institute for Justice regarding the city's illegal ban on food trucks. As the letter explains, food trucks are a proven way to boost local economies. But beyond the statistics, I want to share our story. My family and I invested our life savings into Bird Witch, a familyfriendly food trailer operating on private property under a sub lease of a significant local taxpayer. In the 12 days we were open, we received over 65-star reviews with customers returning and bringing friends and family. The community was embracing us until our operations were shut down illegally in violation of Florida statute 509.102 which expressly prohibits local food truck bans. I've provided the council with written materials explaining this supported by the letter from the Institute of Justice. I'm simply asking the city to withdraw the violation notice sent to our landlord and to stop enforcing an ordinance that is illegal under state law. Thank you.

Thank you,

Harvey Martin. All right. Are there any more public comments? Showing no more public comments. Public comments are now closed. All right, we're now to item eight. Item 8.1. Ordinances on for first reading. An ordinance of the city council city Miami Garden of Florida amending chapter 34 article 7 section 34-233 alternatives to renaming streets and PN of the code of ordinances provided for adoption representation repealing all ordinances in conflict providing serability clause providing for including the code provided for an effective date. And this is sponsored by Councilman Reggie Leon.

Councilman Leon. Good evening. [clears throat] So, this is an amendment and we have a new amendment as to this and our city attorney will read this. But the the purpose of this item and streets names are not forever. Any governing body, council, county commission can change those streets names. So, I just wanted to make sure that that was cleared up. I know someone said that these street names are forever, but they're not. they go based on the governing body if they see so fit or the state sees fit to change those street names. But what we're what I'm looking to do here is recognize Congresswoman Frederick Wilson on her 30 years of service. Uh we wanted to give her street right in front of her elementary school from 45th Avenue to 47th Avenue to five blocks in recognition for the work that she's done for this community and for this country overall with the 5,000 role model programs that's been in existence for over 20 years. Uh and just the the people that she's mentored uh elected officials that she's uh mentored, the items that she's passed, the money that she brought back to this community. And so that was my intentions with this item. Again, there was some amendments that we've changed it. So, madame city attorney, can you go over the change?

Um, yes. You asked me to change it so that we leave it we leave in there that the person has to be deceased at the time of the application. But then you wanted to add a provision go to name um Northwest 206th Street from 45th Avenue to 47th Avenue as Congresswoman Fedria S. Wilson Boulevard. So that's what would be added to the ordinance. So we would just be making an exception. Yeah. And we'll leave the ordinance as is and making an exception to the ordinance. It's we just changed it.

So it'll be on the second reading. Yeah. There need a motion? Yeah. A motion to amend it. I make a motion to amend the item. I second. It's been you guys We got a motion on the table. [laughter] We got a motion. There's a motion on the table. Yep. It's been moved and second. And it's been moved and seconded. [laughter] Mr. Clerk, [snorts] call the role on the motion. We can do vote. All right. All in favor signify by saying I. I.

Any opposition? Now we need a vote on it. Now we need a vote on it. So, Mr. Clerk, I need to make a motion for motion. It's been moved and seconded. Second. Mr. Clerk, call the role. All right. Councilwoman Baskin, yes. Councilman Leon, yes. Counciloman Pal, yes. Councilwoman Wilson, yes. Counciloman Julian, yes. Vice Mayor Stevens, yes. Mayor Harris, I vote yes. Motion passes 70. There are no ordinances on for second reading public hearing. No resolutions public hearing. We are now on to consent agenda. I need a motion on the consent agenda. Second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor of the consent agenda signify by saying I.

I. [clears throat] Any opposition? She pulled it. No, we we come to that. We We pulled it. You been gone too long. We we we already pulled it. So, you'll talk about it there. So, I need a motion on the consent agenda. Motion. Second. It's been moved and seconded. [snorts]

All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposition? Showing none, show the consent agenda pass. All right, we're now on to item 11.2, a resolution of city council, city, Miami Gardens, Florida, directing the city manager to create an arts and public places grant program providing for adoption repation providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by councilwoman Julian. I believe this is pulled by counciloman Wilson. Councilwoman Wilson. Yes. Uh just a couple of questions here. Um what's the funding source? Is it is it does it come totally and singularly from the city

or is it um going to include outside agencies? Well, at this time we don't have a through the mayor through the excuse me through the mayor. Uh through the mayor. At this time we don't have a funding source. We're trying to develop a process to put in place which would allow the manager to seek grants, to seek opportunities for us to get funding, and to do things as it relates to arts and public places.

Okay. Um, so what's what what's the launching pad of it is what I'm saying. And and let me let me be clear where I'm going with this. Like I thought that the um the art uh that was uh displayed at uh at our regional park that was absolutely beautiful right

and I know that we have a lot of funding sources well I don't know that we have a lot of funding sources but what I am saying is what's the the the the springboard for this to be either a part [snorts] of what we do when we have new buildings and existing buildings that we want to use the art and and and whether or not we are actually starting an art program that requires a line a line a budget line item. You follow what I'm I'm saying? No. Okay. So, the grant program, right, is a grant program funded by who?

So, it depends, right? So there are opportunities like the Knight Foundation may put out, you know, um a call to artists or a call to municipalities or the Miami Foundation and that's where the city of Miami Gardens would go out and um apply for those grants or bid for a grant and then those funds would come to the city, the city manager and his design would have a process in place for us to start to create art in public places around the city. So it's just creating a mechanism for us to start to have that Any other questions or concerns?

Yes. Um, currently, what do we have in place to obtain dollars to fund um, art in public places? Is there anything um through the uh, mayor to the city manager? Is there anything in place currently, Mr. Clay?

Yeah. So there there are a number of places uh Councilman Julian mentioned one the Knight Foundation um Give Miami a lot of these organizations they do have grant programs that either municipalities can apply for the state has programs that we could apply for uh if we were to to do this. Our understanding of the item again is that Councilwoman Julian is asking us to establish a process for an arts and public places grant program. Within that process, uh, we would come up with a way for artists or individuals to apply as well as determine what funding sources might be available for that.

For clarification on question, do we have anything currently in place in Miami Gardens? We do. We do currently have an ordinance on the books uh that talks about art and public places that is very similar to the county's ordinance for uh art in public places. uh that process or that program um establishes parameters for uh art on new development, renovations, etc. Uh but currently we we would be adding to that through this program that councilwoman is asking for. I move the item. You would finish with your questions?

Yes, sir. Okay. You got another question? Yeah, because he in there it said that we were going to provide money for it for this particular program. Yes. It says that we would establish a process, but what it says is to identify a funding source, a recommended initial funding source for grant awards and program administration. We've not identified that source yet, but we plan to go after whatever grants may be available or anything like that.

But it implied in here or is clearly stated that the city was going to have put the money in the grant as initial startup. Right. Right. But it doesn't say where we would get that money from. we would go and get grants that might be available to then award those to artists or to individuals who would be doing art on these particular projects. I mean, excuse me, but I thought it did say that we would come out of our general revenue. No, it doesn't say general fun. It says identify what what fund does it?

It says identify a recommended initial funding source for grant awards and program administration. And it also says something in there. I I I don't I don't have it right here, [clears throat] but I thought for sure that I read in there that it said that we were going to have a startup as a as a part of the city budget. And in the in the fiscal impact statement, uh it says as examples, it says as examples from the region, municipalities via three different ways. They have here a percent different ways. They have here a percent for art allocation from capital projects,

dedicated grant pools supported by the general fund or special revenue or a hybrid with private sponsorships and partner contributions. So these are these are things that have been included in the cover memo as potential sources for funding for it. Okay. Our goal would be to find as many private sources and as many grants are available before tapping into any general fund revenue for this purpose. Mr. Mayor, yes.

So just for so for clar for clarification purposes, this item is creating uh a process essentially. So it's not necessarily right in the moment directing funds to come out of any pool or anything. This is just creating a process at which point administration will come back and say we have identified areas that we can advance I mean uh invest in arts and public spaces. Correct. We are not allocating any dollars through this item.

Gotcha. So, this item does create a process and this item is going to allow the city to intake funds for art and public places, but in the event that we needed to tap into city resources for art and public places, I don't see the problem. Art and public places has shown that it it's an economic driver and that it raises property taxes and it beautifi beautifies communities. But what this item is saying is that we are now formulating a process as a city that is 20some years old. We're now starting to see more arts in public places. It's drawing people into cities and we want to create a process through the mayor, excuse me, through the manager and through his design to start that process.

There is no fiscal impact in the item.

There's no fiscal impact in the item now. But when we're talking about art in public places and to give an example of what I'm saying, we have a whole new development that's coming over in that area, right? And so now, what are we going to do about the art over there? It's it it it states in here very very See, I want to make sure that we're not putting things on here that we are not intending to fund or not intending to put gas behind it so that in fact it doesn't it it happens. So, if we're really looking at building art in our city and we're really looking at looking at new buildings and new developments that's coming up, whether it comes in and or out of our our our budget, we need to have an engine that that pushes that program so that it can [clears throat] be successful. It it I mean,

and this is the start of that. I know, but but it he's telling me it's no money. He's telling me that what what you're basically saying is that we're doing in theory. So no, what he's saying is that and what the item is saying that is that there's a first time for everything. So now this is the root of future things to come. So as development projects come about, as development projects come about, they come before the city, they come for a vote, and as we go through a budget season, if we see a need to fund an art and public places project or whatever, that's a conversation that we would have legislatively, but we would look for grants and things like that first.

Yeah. Well, that's the whole idea. That's the whole idea is to look for grants because there are tons of funds out there with the Knight Foundation, with the National Arts Endowment, with the Miami Foundation. These monies are out there. And however, I'd like to see the city of Miami Gardens capitalize on those dollars. I mean, we are uniquely positioned for that as being a region where people are coming here for sports. People are more into the arts now. Um, people aren't just going to Winwood and and uh Miami Beach um you know in Midtown for arts. People are coming to Miami Gardens to enjoy art. And so I think that it's it's apppropo for us in this time in this moment for us to put a process in place which is the beginning so that we can formulate something greater.

Yeah. Mr. Mayor, she Yes. Is is there anything hindering us from doing that right now? No. We're already able to do that right now. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, what is the difference of what we what we're what we're able to do now and putting this in place?

We're putting a process in place so that when we have a call to artists, there's a formal process in place. So, when it comes to the arts, there's like certain processes that are in place that they put in place and certain artistes deliver on certain things. So, right now, just for instance, like development projects, right? When people want to come here and they want to develop a project, they go before the manager and his designates for the DDM PR whatever the who PPDR the PB PDDR. So this would be a similar process and they go before the city manager and his designates and they go through a process so that we can have arts in public places.

So what would be the difference in in establishing a commission for art in publica places? you know what what what what would be the difference between doing that if we have this this this allows us to really fund what we believe in it and to go to use a uh to say basically we're just we programmatically we haven't established anything but an ordinance that doesn't require or compel any movement on behalf of the city to get it done and so I'm saying that if we we want to drive art in public places that maybe a commission would be better than or more uh effective maybe at putting and putting um putting some steam behind it or um something but I I don't I I I don't get it. That's what I'm saying. I don't I don't I don't I'm not understanding how this formulates what I thought in my mind it was.

So, it it's a process and we're establishing the process like everything new just like this city needed to be established. It's a process. It's it's a work in progress. I've proven that I am very serious about arts and public places as we've seen at the Senator Oscar Brain Park at Roland Oaks and as we will see throughout the city. But, however, we want to make sure that our administrators are administrating the process. So, I move the item, Mr. Mayor. Gotcha. I need a second on the item. Second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposition? Me. Okay. So, show at 61.

Noted. All right. We're now on to item 12.1. A resolution of city council, city mgards, Florida, authorizing allocation of $857.75 from Mayor Rodney Harris's community benefit account for the sponsorship of food and refreshments for the Desperad Arts Coalition's annual 2025 Quanza Celebration event held on Friday, December 26, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex Auditorium nonpro Tump provided for adoption representation provided for an effective date and this is sponsored by Mayor Harris.

This is this item was item brought about because we had a Quanza celebration on December 26th. It turned out to be a really nice celebration and um if the residents of the community was involved and they really enjoyed it and we paid for uh refreshments and we're going to take that out of the community benefits account. So I need a I move this item second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any opposition?

Showing none. Show the item passes. All right, we're on to quazi judicial zoning hearings and Jenning disclosures. [snorts]

Good evening, mayor, council, director of planning and zoning, Reggie White. Welcome to the quasi judicial portion of the July 14, 2026 city council meeting. For those persons that will or may be speaking on an item on the agenda or commenting on any item, please stand up and be sworn in by the city clerk. For the applicants, your item will be called to order by agenda number and by title of your request. When your item is called, please approach the microphone and when addressed, please speak directly and clearly stating your name and address for the record and explain the reason for your request. Please note that all exhibits presented to the mayor and council will become part of public record.

Yes, sir. All right. Ordinance is on first reading public hearing. Item 13.1.1 North City Council City Mgard Florida authorizing operation of a certified recovery residence establishing procedures for the review and approval of a certified recovery residence providing a process for certified recovery residents to obtain reasonable accommodations from land use regulation amending chapter 34 article 9 section 34-287 use regulations generally of the code of ordinance amending chapter 34 article 9 section 34-288 use permitted with extra requirements of the code of ordinances amending chapter 34 article 19 section 34733 master use list and use definition of the code of ordinances provided for adoption representation for pulling all ordinances in conflict provided serability clause provided for inclusion code provided for an effective date and this is sponsored by the city manager and this is a public hearing

Mr. Man Mr. Clerk, you want to poll us for Jennings disclosure? Not on this one. Okay. All right. There's public comments on this item. Any public comments on this item? Showing no public comments on this item. Public comments closed. Mr. Manager.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, this item, mayor, establishes a procedure consistent with state law uh for the review and approval of what are known as certified recovery houses uh within the city of Miami Gardens. With that, I'll have uh planning director Reggie White uh answer any questions to give a brief overview of what exactly it is that we're doing with this item. Mr. White.

Yes. So, uh, as mentioned, uh, Senate Bill 954 has stated to, which is state statute, has stated that local municipalities have to develop an application process for recovery homes. With that being said, um, not all recovery homes will be uh, permitted. Uh, they have to go through a process, a review process. They have to be certified by agency with the state of Florida. Um they also have to comply with the distance separation requirement uh of a th000 ft between certified residences. Um if there's any certified residents that exceed six residents, it will then be a special exception. Well, we would do another thorough review and bring before council to review as well. And that's a brief summary of basically the Senate bill and how we should respond um as a city to to the recent bill.

So these houses will not be grandfathered in or anything like that? No, they will not. Okay, Mr. Mayor. Yes. Uh uh Reggie question. So just for a point of clarity where I know we're this ordinance is in alignment with the state uh stat the state law that was just put in place are what is our have we created a process yet from the city of Miami Gardens. Correct. So what this ordinance does is allows uh us as the staff members planning staff we can now create that process.

Um it will be very similar to how we do community residences or sober homes. uh we would do an internal review, verify the distance separation um and then ultimately approve them if they meet a list of criteria, list of standards. I have a question. You got a question? Go ahead. Um is there has there been any survey done on the number of recovery homes that are currently existing in the city of Miami Gardens? We we don't have a registry right now because currently recovery homes are not allowed in the city of Miami Gardens. So, do you have any idea of recovery homes that are not allowed but are existing?

We don't have a number currently right now because as it states, uh, Councilwoman, we don't have there was no registry in the past. It was not previously allowed.

Um, and in fact, sober homes are only allowed or recovery homes if they're certified. um through the state you can actually have a certified uh you can have a a sober home if it's not certified. However, the state is saying that local municipalities have to accept them if they're certified. So now it's opening up for us as a city to develop a registry to develop an application process so we can now keep track of uh recovery residences. Are are there any limitations by the state on where these recovery homes can or cannot be the size that they can or cannot be? And when [clears throat] we say recovery homes, are we tell the population?

So in [clears throat] the process, so recovery homes is something very new right now in the state. Um what we did as a city to protect us, we have different levels. We have recovery homes up to six people. We have a number between six and 17. And when it exceeds that amount, then it becomes a special exception over six. Um, as far as the state agencies, they will determine uh if you have the proper unit size, if it's safe, if it's adequate, if the um the people staying there are in good condition, those type of things. Um, and that agency is called the Florida Association of Recovery Residencies. Um, so that's the agency that determines, hey, if it's safe or not, if it's adequate.

And so when we say recovery homes, what are we talking about? Sober homes, people that are recovering from substance abuse. And and those are would be housed by or ran by whom? Is it private residence or is it it will be ran by a certified administrator according to the Florida state statutes and they have to be certified by that same agency uh for the Florida Association of Recovery Residences.

And so one more time you might have said it is there a limit? There is no limit but there's a distance separation requirement right and when it exceeds six then we as a city and as a government body we can make that determination if we want this particular recovery residency so we can determine if we want the type of recovery residence that can be a part of our legis the number the number not necessarily so we can't we can't say we don't want drug addiction places we can't say we can't certify We cannot say okay all right we can't say it say that one more time

certified recovery residence so it has to be certified we cannot outlaw or we can not ban uh certified residences and this is not just the city of Miami Gardens this is all cities in the state of Florida

okay good all right need a motion on item motion Been moved and seconded. Mr. Clerk, call the role. Councilwoman Julian, yes. Vice Mayor Stevens, yes. Councilwoman Baskin, yes. Council Leon, Councilwoman Pow, yes. Councilwoman Wilson, no. Mayor Harris, I vote yes.

Motion passes 61. All [clears throat] right, we're now on to ordinances on for second reading and public hearing. Item 13.2.1, 2.1 [clears throat] ordinances [snorts] city council city Miami Gardens Florida amended the code of ordinances as outlined exhibit Attach two amending the city of Miami Gardens land development regulations article one general provisions article 9 general schedule of permitted uses uses permitted with extra requirements special exemption uses and prohibited uses article 10 accessory uses and structures article 11 development standards generalized table of development standards article 13 design standards article 14 minimum landscape and buffering requirements fences walls hedges trees Protection article 19 definition and rules of construction amending the city's zoning map to create a location for the gateway overlay GW and PN zoning district as attached in exhibit A provided for adoption representation repealing all ordinances in conflict providing seability clause providing for including the code provided for an effective date and this is co-sponsored by city manager and council Reggie Leon and this is the public hearing

councilman there are no changes public comments on this item are there any public comments on item Item 132.1. Showing no public comments. Public comments are closed. I need a motion on the item. Motion been moved and second is open for discussion by the deis. Any questions or concerns? Showing none. Vice Stevens. Yes. Councilwoman Vasin. Yes. Council Leon. Yes. Council Pow. Yes. Councilwoman Wilson. Yes. Counciloman Julian. Yes. Mayor Harris. I vote yes.

Motion passes. Sub zero. There are no resolutions on for public hearing. We're now on to the reports of the mayor and city council. Councilwoman Julian. Um I just want to welcome everyone back for 2026. I want to uh wish each and every one of you a a prosperous and uh peaceful and balanced 2026. to our staff, to our administrators, and to our elected leaders. Let's kick this year off with a bang and continue to pro improve Miami Gardens. And that's all I have. Mr. Mayor, thank you, Councilwoman Bask.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to um share that I'll be hosting a human trafficking awareness event on Saturday, January the 24th at Betty Ferguson from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is a family event for children and parents as well as nonprofit organizations that cater to our youth. I think it's very important for us to be aware of things that we can do to make sure uh we are all safe in the community and help to prevent human trafficking in our city because when families are informed, our entire community becomes safer, stronger, and more prepared to protect one another. So, this is open to all families. Also, I want to um celebrate a little bit about the wall, the repair of the wall on 27th Avenue. I understand that this has been a project that has been um we've been trying to get it done for quite a while. So, I'm so happy to um Thank you to my colleagues.

Thank you to Thank you to my colleagues that [laughter] that um um so graciously understood the importance of making sure that our city is beautiful as we are coming from Myar entering into Miami Garden. So the ugly wall across the street from Calder, don't say it, is going to be gone and it will be beautiful. So that's all, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Wilson.

Yes. Um, we just finished our first uh meet Monday of the year and uh we had a an excellent out outcome. I I mean excellent outpouring of our residents. um pastor, our my my very very good friend and vice mayor. Well, we were a part of his um visitations around the city and he brought uh dinner for many of our um residents who were present. So, it was very very good to see everybody um to we're excited about the University of Miami uh uh national championship orange bowl being played here. It was another exciting day in the city of Miami Gardens yesterday with the unveiling of the Walt Frasier Park Orange Bowl Park at um in in residential seat 4. We have just had a tremendous bang to the up um start of 2026 and it is our hope that we will continue to move uh in the way that we are moving. It's a very exciting place to live right now and I think that our city is uh shining very very brightly uh not only in our state, not only in our county but in this country and in large part that is due to you many of the hard workers here at our city, many of our residents who are working very very hard. And then I would also say so many of our children who have grown up right here, who has played at the University of Miami, who are also playing all across this nation in a very very powerful sport in our country. And so we are doing a wonderful job not only as a as a city but in raising very very successful people and um our goal is to continue to do that. you know, um Leslie Estates was one of my major projects when I became uh a council woman, and I'm pleased to announce that the final stage of that project to get the roads repaired and to to move in there and turn the streets

over so that the city can make that even another uh star in our cap that has finally been proved by approved by the state of Florida. That was a very, very difficult project to get done. It took us years and years to finally get that that finish. And I'm very very proud of um Mrs. Lacy for the hard work that she has done for my staff um uh Jamal Ingram and and folks who have worked on the ground to really get the flooding, get the roads, get the street signs up and running. Um we also closed the year with our prosperity baskets. And the prosperity baskets are a very meaningful thing to me because it mean the food that we put into those baskets had a lot to do what our ancestors did when the new year was changing and they would bring their hams and they would bring their food together and they would pray and and worship together with their families with their neighbors with their residents. So over 300 of those baskets were given to families here in the great city of Miami Gardens so that they could at the time of the holidays and at the time when families are gathering to remember that part of what we do here is rooted in what is in our hearts is rooted in our families. It's rooted in a sense of community. And so I was glad to be with the residents that day as I have been for the eight years that I have been uh serving you as your council woman. The Christmas toy drive was also another wonderful event we had at Rainbow Park. I was happy to give away uh toys to um o almost 200 children. And um I found out the other day that that school is going to be closing.

Yeah. Rainbow Park.

Yeah. Yeah. And so my point in saying that is how important it is to seize the moment. We think that things are going to remain the same, but it's changing right before us. Every moment that we have, we must seize it to love and enjoy and give. And I'm so glad that I have had the opportunity to serve with a lot of you all who were if there is nothing else that we can find a common denominator. We believe in giving. We believe in giving. We believe in loving. And we believe in taking care. I look at my I call him my line brother. He done gave out all the street names to the line brothers and sisters. But he and I came in and the moment we were elected, we were hit with the pandemic. And we had to get people shots and and take them to Broward County and to do a lot of things that we never thought that we would have to do as electives. And so I am saying to you in 2026, we need to prepare ourselves to do to get ready to do things that we never thought we were going to do. But because we are a community that rides together, we we we we stick and we stay, we will be able to get it done and we will continue to be able to rise despite the obstacles. Okay. Um my next and final um thing here is when I came on board here, I started something and that was um empowering women as a part of the women's exposition where we see ordinary women who every day do extraordinary things. You know, my grandmother was the oldest of 20 and somehow they found a way to feed all 20 kids. It was because they were ordinary people who did extraordinary things. When we take a look at the children yesterday at that park, those kids that came from Miami

Carol City, just ordinary kids who would do extraordinary things because they come from an extraordinary community. And so I we're going to have um that event in in in in uh in during uh women's history in March where we will once again honor extraordinary women who do extraordinary things. And I am encouraging you if you know one to submit their name so that they may be honored by this community for the things that they are doing that seem ordinary but have an extraordinary impact. That concludes my comments and I thank you and it's good to see the vast majority of you again and it's good to see all of you uh in this new year. May God bless and keep you. Thank you.

May God bless you as well. None of y'all. [laughter] I'm serious. May God bless you as well. Coun Councilwoman Pal. Go ahead. [laughter] Happy new year everyone. Are you happy? We made it.

You know, a lot of people didn't, you know, and um in [clears throat] in keeping with Councilwoman Wilson said, um it's glorious to be here in this new year in living in this amazing city of Miami Gardens. Um we are changing, but you're changing with us. You know, it's not we're doing this in isolation. we the we and one of the things I I said when I came into the seat was that um I'm on task I'm on mission and that was to put the Wii back in this community that we are doing this and although we change with the different things that occur in the city whether it's our sports or whether it's our streets we still have to remain with the consciousness of we and why do I say that um if you allow me a few moments to just um reflect. This weekend is Martin Luther King's um birthday celebration weekend. And sometimes we take this holiday and treat it like it's a holiday, right? We get to be off from work. We get to be off from school. We get to, you know, maybe go to a game and we forget that the reason for the day. And if you will walk with me, when I was in college, there was no Martin Luther King Day. My classmates at the time in the Black Student Union, we fought for this day. And why did we do that? because we knew how important it was the work that was done. So while we do spend time on Monday with our family and friends or what we do, please remember that we have to be on task. Freedom is not free.

If I can say it again, freedom is not free. Please remember the day and the reason that we celebrate. And I just I was it was not what I was going to say, but spirit moved me. And so I move in what spirit tells me to do, which is to just remember the reason for why we will have the holiday of Martin Luther King and that we should never forget the work that still needs to be done for freedom. And with that being said, thank you for tolerating what God has put in my heart to speak on. if you will just save the date for me. Um, next Tuesday is the day that I speak with residents, but this time I'm opening up to all residents in Miami Gardens because we have free transportation in Miami Gardens and sometimes we're not we do not utilize the services that we have. So, I'm hosting at my talk with the doc free transportation explained. We have the trolley and we also have freebie. And if you have any questions in whichever community you belong to, there'll be individuals there to understand how you can access free transportation. And we'll be getting the numbers. Um we will have our assistant manager um Craig explaining to us how well in just one month FreeB has been working and give historically how our free trolleys have helped us. And if you don't have information how to contact these free transportation services, it will be given at the um talk with the doc which will be held at the senior center and it will start at 6 to 8. So please if you will attend comingings another day to save. Last year we celebrated a famous and a an amazing woman called Bessie Stringfield

who was a first black female bike rider who who traveled all over every single state in the United States and we named a street for her. We'll be having a commemorative um motorbike ride again. It will be held on Saturday on the 21st. We will be starting at Bunch Park with breakfast. And if you have a um motorized bice bike and if you don't, you can still participate. And we'll be riding and ending at the Harley-David 72nd year in Miami Gardens. Okay. And finally, for those of you um who have ever thought about boxing, uh we're going to host the very first um boxing in the gardens. Starting on the 19th, we're going to have free um safety and boxing classes for families of all ages on Thursday from 6:30 until 8. And then the tournaments will begin on Friday um from from 6 and it'll go through Sunday. So if you ever even thought about being a spectator for a boxing tournaments, come on out on um March 20th and 21st. And if you want some skills, come out for the free class on the 19th. And I wouldn't be a doc if I didn't leave you a tip. Don't talk about good health. Let's be about making our health good. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Doc. Councilman.

Well, good evening again. First of all, I want to thank um our city manager, deputy city manager, uh Reggie White, his staff for uh creating um creating the um I can't think of the name of it. Creating the gateway district. uh when we went to when I went to them and talked about how important it is to have a district like this on 441 uh when you look at uh the development of 441 it's been the same flow rider and Freezy have started a project in which we found out that that plaza that they were working was from 1959 was the furthest north of Day County and a lot of those plazas over there is that same age. So changing the zoning uh for the gateway district allows us to do so much more, gives us so much more opportunity as a city. So I want to thank the council for supporting that that item unanimously. Also, this sat this Saturday I'll be having a um community service event, day of service for Martin Luther King. Uh we're going to clean the uh neighborhood in district in in district 4 actually in seat 4. We'll be cleaning the the school by Florida Memorial along that whole corridor from 42nd Avenue to 47th Avenue from 167th to 15 uh 155th. We have about 400 people signed up already. So, we should move pretty quickly through that neighborhood. And if you're interested, please show up. We're meeting at the Omega Center at 8:00 to uh start that process. And also um we have the Taste of the Culture coming back. Taste of the Culture is an opportunity for the community to come together and experience Taste of the Culture. We'll have some live performances, uh, vendors from out the city. So, and that'll be February 7th. So, if you're not doing anything, please save those dates. That that ends my report.

Thank you, Council Vice Mayor.

Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, first and foremost, happy New Year's to everyone. Thank you to our amazing staff uh that has worked diligently during the holiday season and uh to bring us into this new year uh very well. Um we've had so many events and initiatives since January one. So I feel like I've seen all of you already. Um but let me encourage you that the Miami Gardens fitness challenge is underway. Uh the kickoff celebration and health uh health fair took place at the Betty T. Ferguson complex on January se 3rd. Um, fitness classes will occur at the community center on Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays for everyone to participate from January 6 uh to February 26. Um, the fitness calendar can be found at the community center online and in the lobby. Uh, you may also contact my office for more information. And then as the count as councilwoman Wilson mentioned this past Monday we merged together uh meet me Monday and the vice mayor's impact tour uh to discuss ultimately business that affect our community. We had a lot of our community resources uh I mean our community departments that was present uh to provide information and resources to our residents. And yes, we did have um food from Southern Bell uh Southern Bell, a local uh uh restaurant catering company here in the city of Miami Gardens. Um the residents had a great time and a great conversation. Um, I'm happy to announce that the Miami Garden City University partnership is now recruiting from March 2026 cohort for the phabbotomy technician program at our BTF community center. This program would be a hands-on training program where residents will learn

uh their they'll learn all of their skill sets um in uh their clinicals. This is in con conjunction. Uh this this program is being led by the Miami Day College Medical Campus. I encourage everyone uh who has any interest um to go ahead and register, contact Mr. Sherman Gint at education miamgardensfl.gov uh to learn about the opportunities and the programs that uh we have in our city university partnership. This allows us to create accessible and affordable education for the residents and you don't have to travel downtown Miami, but you can take college classes right here at our community center. Okay. And uh my next edition for T uh office hours, open office hours is on February 3rd um which is the first Tuesday of each month. So, I'll see you all then to address any comments or cons uh uh concerns that you may have in our community. As always, may God bless and keep each of you as my prayers. Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. I'll make my report very short. Um 2026 is here. Happy New Year to everyone. It's a pleasure to be back before you guys continues to serve you. But this is a year of change. There's going to be some drastic changes that's going to take place. And I need all of you to be aware of what's going on in Tallahassee and throughout this entire nation, what's happening in Washington, what's happening in our state capital. And we have to continue to stay diligent on making sure we understand and know what laws are being passed and how it's going to affect this city and every city in the state of Florida. So, let's stay woke and keep our eyes open, keep our ears open, and then we'll talk about it more on later dates throughout our Meet me Mondays, our town hall meetings, our table talk Tuesdays, our tours of the cities. Uh because change is coming. Change is coming. This is an election year. It's going to be the first time that I'll lose two council members this year. So change is coming. So let us again stay diligent, pay attention. Councilwoman, you had something else you wanted to add.

I just um I'll I'll wait. Yes. Yes. All right, Mr. Clerk. I mean, Mr. Clay, I'm sorry I called you. No report. Madam Attorney,

um yes, Mr. Mayor, some of you may be aware that North Miami Beach has sued Miami Day County um to try to prevent them from implementing that requirement that they enter into agreements with those cities where they are charged a 25% sir charge. Um I plan to get involved in that on behalf of the city of Miami Gardens unless you guys object to it. I don't know at what stage we'll get involved but of course we are directly impacted so anything involving that and I've talked to the commissioner told him whenever we need to intervene we intend to intervene in that action so I just want to let you all know and I'll keep you posted of course well you have our permission to do so

thank you and it may require another joint meeting mayor you may recall some years ago because all the interested governments that's going to be a big meeting so you all will have to and everybody sits on equal standing so um once that happens I I'll keep you all posted. All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. No report goes. Yes. Let us all throw up the youth. I need a motion to adjourn. Second. Motion been moved and second to show this meeting adjourn.