Council - Special Meeting

Thank you.

That should be Brian. Oh, I forgot to tell JB to bring it down, yeah.

Excuse me, everyone, we're gonna get started.

Council, please take your seats. Members of the audience, also please take your seats. The time is 6.30. All right, Madam Clerk, I am calling this special call meeting of the Town Council to order at 6.31 p.m., which is the current time. Please call the roll.

Council Member Guadra Garcia.

Present.

Council Member Garcia.

Present.

Council Member Herzberg. Present. Council Member Fernandez is not present. Council Member Sanchez.

Present.

Vice Mayor Morera. Present. Mayor Diegues. Here. Mayor, you have quorum.

Thank you. Everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Colonel Bill Perez. allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all please remain standing for the invocation and a moment of silence to be led by councilmember garcia thank you mayor last week a patriarch of our town passed away councilwoman mary collins

She was vital to creating this town and her family as well. And I just want to say, wish God to just keep their family and everyone who knew her in her prayers and ask for a moment of silence in her honor. Thank you.

Thank you, everyone. You may be seated. Council, we're hearing a very specific item, but are there any last minute additions? Seeing none, all right, we are now in public comments. Madam Clerk?

Good evening and welcome to this special call meeting. If you're here for public comments, please, this is the moment to approach the podium and state your name and address for the record and we will give you three minutes. And I also welcome the residents that are participating online. And as I always state, if you wish to speak online, just click on the reactions icon and select raise hand and IT will allow you to speak for three minutes. And again, if you're calling in, in one of the several numbers that we provide, to listen to the meeting via phone, and you wanna participate as well in public comments, all you need to do is raise your hand by pressing hashtag number nine, and we will allow you to speak. Three minutes. So again, welcome, and this is the public comment section of the agenda.

Okay, so none in chambers, any online?

There is no participants online.

Excellent. All right, council, we are now on item 7A, proposed town committee budgets for fiscal year 2026, 2027. At the top, I wanna go ahead and set the tone for tonight's meeting. Again, at this juncture, we are only operating with our preliminary tax roll, right, our preliminary estimate, which will later be finalized at the end of the month. We also know that recently the state legislature went ahead and passed a constitutional amendment that would be voted on this November that would have a substantial impact on our budget. And as the council is aware and members of the public should be aware, our estimates right now for property taxes in terms of the tax base show a 4% increase, but yet again we are facing a substantial increase in the police budget. as a result, and because there's gonna be plenty of time between now and September to finalize these budgets, and right now what the staff and the manager are looking for is a specific recommendation as part of building the overall budget, my motion at this time would be to keep the committee budgets at the current level in this fiscal year prior to the mid-year budget amendment, and again, this can always be amended later. That is the motion. I'll second it for now. It's been seconded by the vice mayor. Any discussion? And again, we're going to give the committees a chance to explain, but I'll get into it further as to what I expect tonight. But Mr. Vice Mayor?

Sure. I mean, in terms of just discussion on the motion itself, I do agree with the rationale for it. We don't know. The future is extremely uncertain. I guess my question becomes, what is the effect of our vote here today? When you said it could be amended later, you're not referring to later tonight. You're referring later in the process.

Correct. Again, as many of the committees are aware, the way we operate is we have our preliminary millage vote in July. uh and then we have two public budget hearings in which we consider uh the budget in its entirety and amendments are made between first and second reading and the first and second budget hearing um in between that is also or rather at the end there there's also a vote on the final millage rate um so again this this is just to also make sure that we are not spinning our wheels tonight and over analyzing these budgets because of the uncertainty that exists so rather just to give direction to staff which is what they want this meeting for it's just to tell them to build out the the proposed budget with these committee levels flat right not a decrease not an increase I don't think we're in a position today to do either and so rather just to you know help them out and give them direction on what we're expecting for the time being just to build it out flat And so what that means for the committees presenting tonight is we still want you to go ahead and explain what your requests are. I would not spend too much time justifying every request. Again, there's going to be plenty of opportunity to do so between now and September. But that is my thought process as to why we should keep things flat. And also, I think also about setting the tone and making sure that we don't waste anybody's time, our time, staff's time, or our volunteers' time by doing too many mental gymnastics when it comes to the budget. Mr. Vice Mayor?

Yeah, just in terms of the way I see it, right, is if the committees want to come and say, hey, we want to reprioritize how within our existing funds and stuff like that, that I'm very interested in hearing. Yes. And then I did want to make a request. It's obviously your decision as chair. I did speak to the chair of the elderly affairs. She has another commitment. So if they could be brought up first, I would greatly appreciate it.

Sure, okay, so let's wrap up discussion and the vote on this motion, and then we'll open it up to the committees, and we'll start Elderly Affairs, and I think Public Safety wanted to go last, is that correct? Okay, so with that, is there any further discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, no. The ayes have it. And with that, Elderly Affairs, you are recognized first to present your budget, your budget request. Welcome.

This is tall.

Hello, how are you? Doing well, thank you. I'm Rosario Navarro, 6384 Milgrangan Lane. No, it's that it's tall. Okay. I am Rosario Navarro, the elderly affair committee from Miami Lakes. Thank you for allowing me to speak here. Went a little bit up in the budget, I don't know if you all see it, really, because we requested 36.5. We usually get around there anyway, but we're planning to bring back the Senior Olympics. So that takes a little bit of more money, and everything is pricier. And we have more people attending our bingos, our socials, and everything else. I mean, I want to keep it short, but it is what it is.

Councilman Sanchez. If I remember correctly, when you presented the committee report, this item came up. But I remember the 2,500 was going to be through sponsorships.

Yeah, we did. I don't know if you all have them, that we're supposed to get them. You requested how much sponsor money we get, and we're trying to get sponsors. Sometimes we get more, sometimes we get less, because really most of the nursing agencies and places like that now are struggling, too, because of their cutbacks as well. So did you get this paper with the sponsor monies?

We did not get that, at least what I have in front of us.

I can give it to you. I mean, I only have one. You can share it. And then you also asked me who belongs to who.

If you want, you can give it to the clerk and they'll make copies and share with the council. Thank you. And I as far as the senior Olympics, I still remember volunteering when that occurred a couple of times. And it was always a great event. I remember we did a day Christian one time even utilizing their field, which unfortunately we do not have access to anymore since they sold they sold the land. um however a uh i i still believe that there are going to be plenty of places on our properties that we can utilize and i think that companies like ccms you know mario spino will be more than happy uh to to sponsor that at 2500 um it's not a lot of monies yeah in the grand scheme of things i think you know i mean i don't want to speak for mario but i think he's one example of of someone who would probably be more than happy to help

We used to start with like 100 people coming to our, just the bingos, not even talking about the movies and everything else we do. Now we get approximately 135. So it's more money every day.

And well, let me go first to the vice mayor and then to councilman Sanchez.

I actually want to ask a question to the budget director. Is this one of those types of items where we have to fund it in the budget as kind of like fronting, but then it doesn't actually get paid out by us because they get the donation? How does that work?

Oh, I'm sorry. No, thank you.

Good evening, Mayor, Council. I'm sorry, what is your question, sir?

Is this one of those items where we need to fund it because the item, right, the senior games needs funding, but we're simply fronting it, and then eventually when they get the donations made, we still don't pay it? We don't pay it?

Before I get to that, let me first address the exhibit that is attached to this agenda. There's an exhibit A and an exhibit B. Exhibit A is the actual budget proposal from the committee itself. That is exactly what was submitted to me through the liaison for each committee. In exhibit B, you have the historical for each committee. So for example, since we're talking about elderly affairs, it's page six of 11. And at the top, you will see a green highlighted area. That green highlighted area is what they have received for fiscal year 24, fiscal year 25, and whatever they may have received in the current fiscal year in donations.

Yeah, so both exhibits are here. But what is your question?

But for you, for the actual printout, it's page 21.

And then we'll go to you, Councilman Sanchez, because I know you wanted to speak.

Then I also see the addition that wasn't there last year of $3,000 for a health fair that we didn't fund in the current fiscal year.

here yes sorry yeah we did have the health care last year but this fiscal year the one that we're currently in right yeah yeah because we don't know how much funding so if you see when you look at the some of the items it went down from like 11 to 12 and then we moved some of that money to that health fair Look at it and see.

I'm looking at the bottom line number for 2526 your adopted budget was $30,500. And the one you're asking for this year is $36,500, a $6,000 difference. I was trying to see where the difference was.

One of them is that, and then the health care, the health fair. But the health fair, we usually make money. Okay.

Which helps us- And that money is put back into the committee.

We put it back into the committee. All the money's go back into the committee.

Cool, okay.

Councilman Herzberg. Thank you, Mayor. I'm trying to hold back. But you have a few good events here, and this is generally for all the committees. I mean, especially starting as we dig in deeper into these budgets, you gotta find sponsors.

We try, we do really well most of the time.

Right, but I guess the question is, historically, if you found a sponsor for the committee, And it's a question for the budget director as well. I mean, we can approve the event, but not approve a line item, right? If we know it's going to be paid by a sponsor. I'm getting at, there's a decent chance in a year there's not gonna be any money for any committees.

Well, if we vote that way, yeah, we're all going to be in bad news.

It won't be up to us at the end of the day.

Well, it depends how people vote. If people go out and vote, they don't realize that at the end, all these things that we're having, we won't be able to do.

But the question, when I see adopted budget and amended budget, when the amended budget has more money, is that donations coming in?

SO WE DO NOT BUDGET SPONSORSHIP AND DONATIONS. WE BUDGET THEM AS WE RECEIVE THEM. SO ONCE WE'VE RECEIVED THE ACTUAL SPONSORSHIP OR DONATION, THEN WE ALLOCATE IT IN OUR REVENUE AND OUR EXPENSE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WITH FISCAL YEAR 2026 USING LJDA AFFAIRS, THAT'S THE ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A 4700 UNDER THE REVISED BUDGET IN THE HIGHLIGHTED GREEN AREA. THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE COLLECTED TO DATE FOR SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS. for their meet and eat, they had 12,000 budgeted, but then it was revised to 13,700. That difference is part of that 4,700. So what they received there then was allocated to whatever line item.

And that goes across committees? all committees so 23 24 and this was 31 but then 24 20 oh no those are actually those are actuals never mind so yeah the amended is is as the donations come yes that is correct do we is there a way for when we look at the budgets and finalize for for you to provide us historical donations for each committee so we have an idea like you mean in detail who has given donations well this this sheet provided

THIS SHEET HAS THAT. IF YOU SEE 24, THEY RECEIVED 9,200 IN DONATIONS. IN 25, THEY RECEIVED 10,226 IN

Oh, the other?

The page 21 of the handout, and it's page six of the PDF.

Yeah, I got it.

Exhibit B. I'm just thinking about that to not necessarily approve a budget. We can't budget on donations, but to approve events, right?

There is a sheet that has the itemized who gave what.

Right, we have it, yes, thank you. Okay, that's all. That clears those up, thank you. Okay.

All right, any other questions to elderly affairs? All right, well, thank you.

That's it, thank you.

All right, next up, we'll go with, again, Public Safety wanted to go last, going in order of the sheets, Neighborhood Improvement, are they here? All right, we'll temporarily pass them up until they arrive or toward the end of the meeting. Economic Development? All right, we'll pass them up for now in case they show up later. Cultural Affairs? Welcome.

Good evening. My name is Elsa Rios and I'm the Vice Chair for the Cultural Affairs Committee. I'm here. Felicia could not attend today, so I'm it. Let me tell you that we have an incredible group. We work really hard. We all get along super. And we are super excited with all the events that our committee is putting together, especially the 250th anniversary of our nation. We're really working very hard with the town staff to make this event want to remember. And as you know, last year we had over, what, 6,000 people or so attend, or even more. So right now I'm working on sponsors with the town. We have the band, which is not charging us. It's a military band. We have a lot of goodies that we're going to give to the children. We have the Kids Zone that the Special Needs is helping us with, the Sensory Zone, the Kids Zone. So as you can see, it's an event that is not only wonderful, but unfortunately it's expensive too. So for next... fiscal year, we're asking the possibility, if possible, to increase it about $12,000. Okay? So, we also have what we call Concert on the Fairway, has been, we would like to have it renamed Town Concerts, because these have been five concerts that we've had on Main Street, Main Street Live. Let me tell you, it has been an incredible success. A success for the town, a success for the Gramps, a success for the merchants. We're getting people, the word gets around, and we're getting more and more people to attend. And I would like to compliment Felicia, our chairperson, because she worked really hard to get all these bands, and she has developed a database of all the bands. So that one, we want to rename, if possible, instead of Concert on the Fairway, rename it Town Concerts.

Mr. Manager, do you need us to have a motion on this, or can you just do that administratively?

It's better if you do a motion.

Okay. Well, I'll move to go ahead and rename that line item to town Was it again town concerts? I'll second. It's been seconded all those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. No, the ayes have it and there you go

Thank you. Yes. The other thing is Hispanic heritage. In the past we've held it here and last year was at the Roberto Alonso Community Center. We have outgrown the space. So this year the committee chaired by Justin and Jerry from the committee has thought the idea of bringing it to the town. So we were able to get the Gramps to approve the property right there in front of Chellis, all that front area, because the other section of the main street is gonna be paved, so they're gonna close that street. So we're gonna bring it there, We're going to have two stages. We're going to have the live band. We're going to have dance studios from the community from Miami Lakes. And we're going to have vendors for food. So in other words, it's sabor fest. That's what we're calling it. And it's basically not one country. We're going to have countries from... all over Latin America participate. Look how beautiful the flyer is. Nice and colorful. So that one, of course, is expensive. So that's another one that we are requesting to raise the fund from $3,000 to $4,000 to cover all these additional expenses.

The other thing- And what is the $1,000 expected to cover extra?

The what, I'm sorry?

Actually, let me ask you a two-part question. Okay. Going back a little bit. What is the increase on the 4th of July going to cover, that 12,000 that you want extra? And then what is the $1,000 for the Hispanic Heritage Event, that additional 1,000, what is that going to cover?

Okay, so for the 4th of July, we have this stage. And the lighting and all of that is going to be more. We have an area that's just going to be like a bounce house and things for the children. That's an extra expense there. Plus everything that we're going to give away, because everybody loves it, whether we give the beach balls or whatever we give away, that's another additional expense that goes into it. And that's the reason that we're trying to work on it. We don't get involved with the fireworks. I know that's something that's done separately. For the Hispanic heritage, basically, you know, we have the music. We have two stages. We have the lighting. The sound technician, we don't know if we're gonna need to rent some chairs, you know, for people when they come. So there's a lot of extra things that go involved with it.

Yeah, and we haven't had two stages before, right? Traditionally, it's been a- No, it's been in-house. Yeah, okay. Yeah, that's what I wanted to confirm.

This is gonna be out. It's either was here or at the Roberto Alonso. So we didn't have to rent the stage. We didn't have to do any of that.

Understood.

Yeah. Okay. But I think this is going to be incredible. I think we're going to have more exposure. People are going to see this event happening. And let's see. I think it'll work much better than having everybody in a crowded room. It got too crowded last year.

Understood. Yes. Councilman Sanchez, you had a question?

So about 4th of July, I know you mentioned the upgraded stage, but if I'm not mistaken, we at the carry forward, some of the funds from that are specifically allocated just for the stage. I think it was $36,000. Yes, correct. Yeah, correct. So the $12,000, that would be more for like the bounce house and the beach balls and other items that we haven't had in the past?

That we haven't had in the past, correct.

Okay.

Yes.

Okay, and now, I'm overlooking the entire budget, and I see that the overall difference from this fiscal year to next fiscal year is $3,950. You mentioned $1,000 for the Subway Fest, which is, I hear and I think , and I'm very excited to see that happen. Yes, yes. But there's other items that have, for example, $1,000 difference for 4th of July. So it's not a $12,000 difference, it's a $1,000 difference. You're bringing it up to 12.

Correct, bringing it up to $12,000. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. Yes, I'm sorry.

Yes, you're right. Because the way you made it seem like you're having an additional $12,000. You're right, you're right. So you're bringing it up to a total of $12,000.

Right, it's an additional $1,000, bringing it up to a total of $12,000. Okay, that's very different.

Yeah, sorry. That's very different. Yeah, because $12,000 for a balance house and a beach house did not sound... Yes, thank you, thank you. No worries. Then also $700 for the Black History Month concert.

Okay, the Black History Month concert, that was something that I was going to ask the council because this past year we were not able to have it because it was conflicting, you know, with the time, the performer, and all of that. So it ended up we lost the time to have it. Now, that money is there, the $3,000, and we were thinking if that money could be used for the Hispanic heritage coming in October, if it's possible that we could use for that.

That would sound like more of an inter-fund transfer.

Right, transfer from one event to the other, correct.

Okay, you mean from one year to the next year? I'm sorry? No, no, no. Within the budget for what they're proposing for next year, to move money from that line item to the Hispanic Heritage line item. Okay.

Yeah, so you would need a motion to be able to do that. Yes. Yes. Yeah, I'm not. It's no longer black history month. So I would I would go ahead and move that.

Okay.

All right. Is there a second? I'll second. It's been seconded by Councilman Sanchez. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed no. The ayes have it. The motion carries. Any other questions?

Sorry, that would be for next fiscal year because Black History Month, I believe you said, is October, so that would actually fall. February.

No, it's in February. Black History Month is February.

No, but the Hispanic Heritage Month.

It's now in October.

Right, it's in the next fiscal year.

Yeah, but both of them, wait, so are you talking about moving the money from this year's Black History Month to that one?

correct yes that's what she said from the february to the motion i understand no she's saying it october is the following fiscal year but we had that problem with another committee where we have an event in october but people need to be paid before october correct people get paid before october correct yeah public safety with the car right so we can still Right now, they have this money for Black History Month. Black History Month, unfortunately, the time didn't work. So the motion is to let them use that for Hispanic Heritage Month, but I assume the money would be spent in September or before October? Correct. Before the end of the fiscal year. Correct.

Before the beginning of the new year.

But then we're increasing the value of the October Hispanic Heritage.

Of what it originally has. Yeah. So essentially what you're saying is you're gonna carry forward $3,000 from this current fiscal year into the next fiscal year. So you're gonna add additional funds to what is already budgeted to next year's Hispanic Heritage. So if you have budgeted $3,000 and you're carrying over an additional $3,000, that line item will now have $6,000 for Hispanic Heritage. I just want to make that very clear.

Well, I guess, you know, going back to our earlier motion to keep the committee budgets flat, you're saying then that this would actually not do that?

Correct.

Okay.

The thing is that there's a possibility that next February we can have a Black History event, you know? It just didn't work out this year.

no i if i may mayor yeah right we and we had the same exact problem with the public safety because they need the money in september to host an event in october so what happened with public safety is it wasn't so much about the funding it was them requesting any budgeted amount of money that they did not use to be carried forward which is not typically what WHAT HAPPENS. SO HE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT SHE'S REQUESTING.

SHE'S REQUESTING THAT THEY JUST DO AN INTER-TRANSFER RIGHT NOW, BUT THE MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR AN EVENT THAT'S HAPPENING NEXT OCTOBER. But in reality, they probably would spend money this year. You're saying no. How do we not spend money in September for an event in October?

If the event is for October, whatever is accompanied with that event will be allocated and expensed in that fiscal year.

Even when the checks are written in September because people have to be paid before the event?

Like for deposits?

In that aspect, I cannot speak to that as the finance department, but what I know is that if an event is for a specific month, all the expenses are to go with when that event is taking place.

Well, then I'll just go ahead and offer an interpretation of the vote we just took, which is just simply that to the extent that they need to pull money from the Black History Month line item from this fiscal year to prepay certain things for the event the next fiscal year, I guess we're just saying that that's okay. Make sense?

I mean, I get it. Accounting is confusing. Correct. That is exactly what I'm saying because we know, I assume, that checks and deposits will be made in September for a big event that happens in October. It's impossible to pay everyone in October. And I know they had that issue where the town couldn't pay them when people are just not going to show up for vendors, so I get it. There's this imaginary date line, right, that we can't write checks or something, but that is the motion. At least let them have the opportunity, and then everybody can figure it out. Finance and budgeting can figure it out.

Yeah, that does make them aware that all that payment, whatever they pay, has to be paid before October 1st.

yeah i i think i get with something like that yeah i i and i think that that was our intent that's why the motion i guess is still valid um you know but okay is what what other uh uh changes or do you want to walk us through in the budget or request no basically oh uh women of distinction um

They requested, the budget was $3,500 for women of distinction, the proposed amount, and we are requesting $4,000. So that's $500 more, basically because of the expense of the awards and the catering and all of that that goes up. So basically, that's the women of distinction, the Hispanic, a little more for the 4th of July. And then, of course, for the town concerts, our budget was $10,500, and we're asking $11,000. So that's about, what, $500 more because of the band and how much they charge us.

um that's about it and then the total will be around 42 450. excellent councilman cuadro garcia has a question thank you mr mayor uh mr mayor all these committees are very important and that's understandable i just want all my colleagues including yourself and town manager to understand that um at the end of when we balance our budget um that we consider the money that might not be coming in from the tax relief uh property tax funds that most likely will pass and will that won't that affect us for no not for this coming well yeah but uh regardless we're planning conservatively uh since we don't know what's going to happen and so we we already have stated that for now we're keeping the budgets flat

and they're just explaining what the requests are.

Just wanted to throw that in for food for thought.

Yes, thank you. Anyone else? Well, thank you very much.

Okay, thank you. Have a good evening.

Thank you, you too. Next up, I have the Educational Advisory Board. All right, we'll pass them up. Whatever you did, Elderly Affairs. Youth Activities. You're up, Haley.

Hi, everyone. My name is Hili Preto, chair of the Thick Cities Task Force Committee. I just want to take a moment to recognize my committee members that are here. We have our vice chair, Alexa Pla. We have our student members, Aline Sanchez, Carolina Cuba Perez, and then our adult member, Christina Gonzalez.

Crazy to think of her as an adult.

And we also have our community liaison, Ernie Soto.

Meanwhile, we have in the back there a baby that looks like an adult. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. All right, go ahead.

So I just want to first off say we have an amazing team. Attendance has been great. I know this meeting's not about attendance, but we really, really have improved that. And I think that does come into effect when we're talking about money, because if you're not there to discuss it, you're not really doing anything. So we've been really great with that. Very, very committed set of individuals. NOW FOR THE BUDGET, WE ARE REQUESTING A TOTAL APPROVAL OF INCREASE OF $800. AND THAT WOULD BE, WE KIND OF SORT OF MOVE THINGS AROUND IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE GIVING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR WHAT. for example bike rodeo and safety day um we are planning to we're requesting one thousand dollars for that for the next physical year we are planning this year to do it as well without any sponsorship dollar without any you know taxpayer dollars um so we're moving forward with that um The difference between this next physical year and all the other physical years is we are bringing something new. We're not sticking with the same plans, hoping that it would work. We're bringing in new partnerships such as the Miami-Dade Transportation and Planning Organization. I've already been in the talks with them and a lot of different other sponsorships that we are confirming. I don't want to speak on anyone else since it's not fully confirmed, but we are in the works for that. And again, we're just experimenting and adding a new twist to it. Also, looking into really collaborating with the other committees as said in the committee chair meeting.

Questions Council.

Councilman Herzberg. Thank you. More maybe a question more for for finance, but the adopted budget for 2526 was 34 to in the committee request budget is 46. Now I get it. The minute budget was 45 to it is that including donations. because right now we're trying to figure out what the towns will give. So you're not asking for a little bit. You're asking for almost $12,000.

If you go to page 22, you will see that they have raised $11,000 in sponsorships.

Right. So I just want to make sure we're clear on what keeping the budget flat means in the proposed budgets goes, say, $34,200, correct? and keeping the budget flat yes right that's what i want okay so it's for you guys to understand okay you're the budgeting money from the town was 34.2 not 45 right because that that included the donation so your request right now is to us to give you an additional 12. i mean that's not gonna happen um and my only other thing is if you know the you guys do a great job your your program is great you want to keep that you have the youth speak and talk about what the financial significance of losing those tax dollars would mean uh you guys have a very loud voice in that okay thank you anyone else yeah through the chair i just want to say i i love the way you're you're iterating and and taking initiative

Trying to find sponsors, especially the Halloween haunted house, which is an amazing event. I know it's very difficult. It gets more expensive every year. But yet you guys are figuring out working with different partners and, you know, companies to bring. So that's great. The way of thinking of, you know, just getting more sponsors involved and just doing things efficiently is great. And I love it. Thank you so much for doing that.

Thank you, thank you.

Anyone else?

I just wanna say, since basically their whole committee's here and some of the other committees aren't, I say we just transfer their budgets over to them. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Thank you guys for being here and showing the dedication.

Well, thank you very much. Thank you. Next up, we have the Veteran Affairs Committee.

All right. Good evening, gentlemen. William Perez, 7280 Miami Lakeway South. I'm the chair of the Veterans Committee. We have a great group of veterans and non-veterans that support our committee. Basically, we are keeping our budget flat. We have moved some or requesting to move some money around. We want to move $500 from the care package line item to the Memorial Day event. actually that's not even funded so we would need to fund that and i think we moved about 120 bucks or so to the veterans committee for t-shirt uh the polo shirts otherwise there's no changes um we get most of our money if not all our money from sponsorship so when you see that huge amount it's all sponsorship uh i love that the last thing i got a note from isabella who tells me what to do she's yeah he's on um you guys need to approve the sixteen thousand nine hundred fifty dollars and fifty cents that we made at the reindeer run for the veterans monument um it was like they need a vote on it make a motion i guess to move it to the parks i guess i'm supposed is that what's needed yeah um budget director so that's just moving i think that that was already done wasn't it already done

I'm sorry, what was the question?

The 16,000 that they raised at the reindeer run, he's just asking us if we haven't already to formally move it to the memorial fund. For the monument. The monument.

We have money in the capital fund that was moved over, I think it was like 25,000, 35,000, something to that degree. I'll check and I'll give you the exact number. Yeah, I think that was last year's and then we added an additional 16. Yeah, and it's specifically just for the design. And then once the design is completed, then we can budget for the construction of it.

Yeah, that's more to do with just an internal change within your budget as opposed to the building of next year's budget, the creation of next year's budget. So I think that's the primary goal of tonight's meeting. That's all I have.

from the reindeer run um there's 28 000 that isn't allocated i'm not sure if that's what you're referring to and that you're wanting to move that to be able to um to send that to the capital fund and have it as well it's it should be just tagged for the monument the way we've been doing it i

I THOUGHT THAT THE LAST TIME YOU REPORTED, THERE WERE ALREADY THE PROCEEDS FROM THE RAIN DEER RUN. I THOUGHT SO, TOO.

THAT'S WHY I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED.

I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL TOOK ACTION ON YOUR REQUEST. OKAY. THEN WE'RE GOOD. WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK. IF NEED BE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK.

So that the council's aware and even the liaisons, whenever there is a motion done that the council approves, there is a form that needs to come to me where the liaison signs, and then that gives me the authority with the proper backup to then go ahead and do the actual transfer of funds. So if I haven't received that, then the action won't be completed.

That's probably, okay, that's my task, never mind.

a councilman herzberg yeah a question on that to the manager i mean why wouldn't we just and i guess question you as well like for the special needs advisory board they keep carrying over their funds just leave it there why wouldn't we just keep the funds in the committee until they have the funds You know, until we're raising enough funds to actually get somewhere or spend it. Why are we transferring it in and out? I guess that's the question. Or why the committee wouldn't want to just roll it over. That's what we do with special needs.

Well, we don't have a line item to put it in.

We can add the line. I guess, how does special needs work? Because I always see they have a bunch of money there.

So, special needs is... very different than all other committees because they get their funding from the mayor's gala what has happened in prior years which now moving forward will be different because the mayor's gala now falls within the same fiscal year the reason it's been carried forward is because the mayor's gala would fall in september which was at the very end of the fiscal year so once everything then was um accounted for then at the budget amendment we would transfer what happened in september to the new fiscal year however now the mayor's gala happens in november which is already in the current fiscal year so we won't necessarily be having to transfer or carry over those funds moving forward but although this year it'll be october 23rd i just want to put that out there still it'll be exactly but doesn't the money stay with the committee It stays with the committee. Right, that's what I'm saying. His funding stays with his committee. It doesn't go anywhere.

So do we need to do anything, I guess?

I don't see it on my budget, though.

If it had to be a time and reviews look into that I just want to make sure we don't get confused of how are you talking about surpluses at the end of the fiscal year that that not necessarily surplus but they have an amount of money that wants to be they want to be used to help build the memorial I think we're out some incentives might be able to help me out.

So I'm going to put a motion out there. I'm going to motion that any money that comes from sponsorships and events that was not paid for with taxpayer funds automatically gets rolled over into the next fiscal year.

You have that in a resolution already.

We do?

Yes, and because of that resolution that was approved by council, and I believe it was all of the council that's sitting currently.

But sponsorship money?

Yes, and I can actually read it for you, what it actually says.

Non-general fund money, sponsorship money.

That's okay, but you're saying that that's already in existence.

I guess what we lack is an actual line item to put that money in, in our actual veterans committee budget. So if you take a look at all the different line items we have, we have one for shirts, one for care package. We do not have a monument.

line item so there's nothing to hold it through the chair you have a monument line item in the parks um capital funds transfer to cpf for parks veterans monument

It's in the parks fund in a capital account. In the capital fund, in 301. It doesn't stay with the committee so then they see how much money there is.

It is just for the monument. The title of the account is Monument, Veterans Monument. Okay.

No, I get it. Okay. Yeah.

Other other lines are all operational lines. That's why the money goes into the capital account and it's dedicated for the monument and it's yours, but it's just not in the Veterans Committee budget for you to see. But whenever you need the balance or whatever we can easily get, that's easy.

It'll be great if we can have it every time. We're presenting with our budget. It'll be good if we could see it every single time.

Every meeting? Is that something you guys are trying to say? Yes. Okay.

It's actually because we have a goal we're trying to hit, and we're not sure how close we are and what we need. Yeah, I think that would be a good idea. That's all I have.

We'll make sure your liaison, every time you guys meet, has the latest and greatest snapshot of what the capital account contains. Thank you very much. I appreciate that, Town Manager.

And for the record, for the public that's listening, Resolution 252094 is where it gives the authority to carry over sponsorship dollars.

Perfect. All right, any other questions? Seeing none, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next up, Special Needs Advisory Board.

Good evening, Mayor, Council. My name is Vivian Levy. I'm the chair of the Special Needs Advisory Board. First, I want to thank the mayor because our funds all come from the Mayor's Gala, and I want to thank all the council for their support as well. So we're basically keeping all the programs that we have and all the events that we've done throughout the years. The only thing is, last night we had our meeting and we had a special young man, Miami Laker, Andrew Alejo. He has a sister with special needs and he came to present a pickleball clinic for special needs. And we made history last night at our meeting because we had the Collazo brothers show up to support the item at our meeting. That's the first time that ever happened. So it was really heartwarming to see that these young kids wanna get involved, wanna be inclusive. and so the board approved the item for we allocated $3,000. So now it's not on the report because it just happened last night. So I wanted to present that to you all and it would come out of our Social and recreation programs line item how much? 3,000. Okay.

Sorry. I missed that. Okay, I'll go ahead. I'll move that change It's been seconded by the vice mayor any discussion seeing none all those in favor say aye aye all opposed No, the ayes have it and motion carries event is approved and so is the transfer of funds online line items and I sense a future council member to among that duo there right Clara so I

Oh my gosh, didn't I say that last night? Yes.

Must run in the family. Anything else, Madam Chair?

No, everything, you know, we're going to continue the three programs we have, the dance program, the animation program, and the karate program, and all the events that we do throughout the years, the years that we've done the workshops. Our last new event was the game night, which was a great success. We had over 100 people come. So yeah, really the only new thing that hadn't been approved is this pickleball tournament, so.

Any questions to the chair? Seeing none, thank you.

All right, thank you so much.

All right, mental health, the mental health task force. Anyone here representing them? All right, we'll skip them. Blasting advisory board.

I'M THE CHAIR OF THE ADVISORY BOARD. PROMISE TO KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IT'S TWO ITEMS, VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS. IT'S HAVING BACKING FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING. AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAD AN AWARD CEREMONY LAST WEEK THAT CAME fantastic it was unbelievable the response um so much that the the sponsor is is is promoting himself to increase the award uh for next year to over 2500 in awards um so that's obviously cost us nothing to carry this event um but the influence that it had on on the on today's youth was was immeasurable um I was very pleased with the results and the turnout. We had 17 applicants, but the response of which they had, which they presented, it was unbelievable. So what we do is, as you're aware, through creativity, is use a very limited and conservative budget to get our awareness out. And it's a very dynamic field that we're doing. So this year's budget, it was limited, and I had gone to day-days, which it was unorthodox a bit for the campaigning that we do, but it was very successful. So at a minimum, I'm asking that we keep the budget flat, and we can continue doing creative events with that. Thank you.

you very much any questions through the chair hey councilman garcia i just want to say thank you again for for everything you do and i think what we do with the with with the kids is amazing because you're inspiring them to take something negative that's affecting the town and turning into something positive i just have to say that yesterday it was yesterday before i i felt the most the strongest blast i felt in years and twice And it really rocked me. I mean, I was like, what the? It's been so long. So it's, yeah, yeah, absolutely. The higher you are, yeah. And that took literally at least three or four seconds for the actual building to stop rocking. IT'S STILL HAPPENING. IT'S HAPPENING TO ALL OF US, TO THE TOWN AND OUR NEIGHBORS, AND WE STILL GOT TO, YOU KNOW, THIS COMMITTEE DOES IMPORTANT WORK.

THE NEED IS STILL THERE. WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING THIS, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY MOVING THE NEEDLE. THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON THAT I SAW IN TALLAHASSEE, THEY KNOW ME AS THE BLASTING GUY. SO WE'RE KNOWN. AND SO THE NEEDLE IS MOVING.

Anyone else? All right, well, thank you very much. All right, before we go to public safety, I'm going to circle back just to see if anyone from the other committees we passed up have arrived. We have Nick, Neighborhood Improvement Committee. No, Economic Development Committee. All right, Mental Health Task Force one more time. All right, Public Safety, you're it. What was that?

Yes, I'm here, I just got a notification from Education Advisory Board. Has anyone arrived? Ms. Soto had a family emergency and she's asking to please be excused.

That's okay, yeah. What was that? I'm part of the committee, can I? Sure, yeah, come on up. Welcoming back Haley Prieto for this time, Education Advisory.

Hi everyone, I'm an adult member of Education Advisory Board. As Mrs. Inguanzo said, she unfortunately had a family emergency, so I'll be stepping in her place. As I'm seeing here, we're requesting the same amount as the previous budget year the only new proposed event that we are requesting is field day that would be held if approved at Roberto Alonzo Community Center and that would be bringing together kids and competitions as such like a chess chess competition and different aspects such as that so you just need permission from us sorry to use Roberto Alonzo for a field day for this would be a new event that's not part of our budget line.

Okay, I'll move the new event and I'll move for them to be able to use the Roberto Alonzo Center.

Second. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion carries.

Mayor, do you have a question?

Councilman Herzberg.

So the IC 1616, part of that is the imaginary library, which was a donation, right? Is that donation part of next year already? Or that's just, I don't understand. Is it an annual donation?

I'm hearing from the director that no, that it's not.

So that line item wouldn't be there. Okay, got it. So no, but no, it wouldn't be 15,000. The flat budget would be $1,000, just wanna be clear. I don't know why you guys didn't ask for the ap language and stem you know we did fund it in the carry forward should have been on there at least as i ask i'll i i do like it i will try to fund it in the next carry forward but we'll see what happens but yeah so the flat budget would be a thousand dollars just want to make that i assume finance knows that right well i do now right well and i'm budget but yes okay perfect all right that's all thank you i'll bring that to the committee chair our next meeting

Yeah, thank you.

Councilman Sanchez.

For town events, $1,000. Is that the spelling bee and the awards of excellence?

Yes, correct.

Okay. Do you do both with $1,000? What? Both events with $1,000?

Sponsorships.

We manage. Yeah, we get a lot of sponsors. You know, if you want to give us a little bit more, we wouldn't say no.

Okay.

All right, anyone else?

Seeing none, oh. Just best wishes to Ms. Soto and whatever she's going through.

Yes, yeah. Thank you. Well, thank you very much. All right, last but not least, Public Safety Committee. Going once, going twice.

Yes, please, we see you. We have, Chair Andres, we cannot hear you. You have to unmute yourself.

Okay, let's see, I thought I did.

Yeah, we can hear you now. Yes, we hear you now. And IT, if you can display his screen bigger so that the council can see him in the TV monitor, that would be helpful. Thank you.

Perfect, nothing much to look at, but nonetheless, thank you for the opportunity. And I apologize for not being there currently at end of the year activities for the family with school. Mayor, town council, management, thank you for the opportunity to having me. Essentially, you know why I'm here and why I feel it's so important to attend this meeting is because currently our budget is set at $2,200. That is what was voted on last year. And we historically have had a $4,800 budget Our actuals from 23 ending fiscal year, 24 fiscal year ending, you know, were $4,300 and $4,700 respectively. The reason why the 25-year fiscal year was lower was because we planned to do, you know, pay out the car show, Cars for Heroes expenses by end of the school year. School year. end of the the fiscal year and that couldn't happen right if not we would have been in par with the previous year so what the committee is requesting is essentially to go at slightly higher than our historical uh from 4 800 to 5 000 and that is comprised of several uh things two hundred dollars for our deputy environment of the year award $2,000 for our PSAs. You know, there's been, as you all know, a lot of traction with our PSAs. We're actually working on one. I'm just working on the skid right now with our major for the golf cart safety. And there's some conversations with the neighborhood improvements as well for, you know, the life rings as well. And there's many others that I've been communicated on by our residents that we want to work on for the future. So that's $2,000. $200 for our new logo. We did redesign our new logo, which I'll be presenting during a report to council next month. $2,000, which include three events. One event is Back to Nature, which we just had. It was the first time we ever did this with Neighborhood Improvement. Cars for Heroes is at zero. As we all know, we made a profit last year, and God willing, we'll make even more of a profit this year. Open House for the Station 64, which is $1,200. Now just to hone in on that $1,200 so you all understand what that is. That's essentially a crossing guard coffee or an acai vendor, sorry, an IC vendor groceries for a barbecue because we actually had last year, the folks at the fire station actually paid for the barbecue and we felt that that was not fair to them. So we would want to go ahead and put that forward for hosting this event for us. We have had a sponsor there last year, but which was game day and they were very, you know, happy to support the cause, but it was still very expensive to have a vendor. In fact, they actually had $1,100 that they paid to La Cafetera to come to that event. So we're hoping we can have a sponsor for that event, but this budget is considering if we do have, we don't get a sponsor, then $200 for our 9-11 Memorial event, and then $400 for shirts and hats with our new logo. Again, that will be presented next year. Now, just to kind of go through, and I'm following the organization that was given to us by our committee liaison, Cars for Heroes, we had 1,000 to 2,000 folks that attended that event. The open house at Station 64 had about 100 folks. Back to Nature was 20 individuals. It was our first event that we did, and I know that some of these events take some time to take off. I will tell you, the folks that did show up were very happy that we had this event, actually requested to have it even more. But, you know, the committee right now is planning to have that next year, and we hope to get the support from this council to have it again. And then there's something that, again, this is a TBD, swimming lessons. We felt, and again, I'm sure you all remember that I'm very big into competing with our local municipalities that surround us. We should have swimming lessons as well, like everybody else. And that's something that I'll be discussing next month during our council report to council on working with the Zero Drowning prevention program to hopefully open that up for Miami Lakes residents at PSN. So we don't know what that costs yet because we haven't even had those conversations. We have the key contacts at Miami-Dade County, but we haven't had those conversations yet. We're going to be asking for approval for that during a report to council. And then lastly, our 9-11 memorial event that brings about 30 folks. So that's what we're asking for. We're asking to get our budget back to where it used to be. Again, you know, there's a lot of ifs, right? If we do very well this year on Cars for Heroes, we could probably get there. But essentially, we don't know. So again, we're very important, you know, and when it comes to the committees, because we have, we're that extended arm to the fire department and to the police department. And we want to continue that relationship. There's a lot of things that are going on. So I'm available for any questions you all have.

questions through the chair councilman garcia uh less question and more a comment uh chairman i just want to thank you for everything you've done and your committee is amazing you've had people there for for for a long time like mama nance sitting there hi nance and uh and yourself who honestly the the events that you have put together the new events as well i mean it's very impressive very impressive what you're doing um i know the officers and first responders of the town appreciate what you do for them and so do we we are a public safety town and um i just wanted to give you give me give you my thanks for everything you've done and and your innovative ways of of of doing things and putting things together and bringing in again as many sponsors as possible. I know it's not an easy task, but you're leading the way in showing other committees how it's done as well, as well as youth activities and others that are starting to bring in a lot more sponsors. So thank you for everything you do every day.

Anyone else? Thank you, Councilman. And if I may, Mr. Mayor, we are right now through today, we're at $3,100 that we have spent. And what we have projected is another $1,700. So just so you have an idea, we're going to be at $4,866. That's our projection for this fiscal year. So again, this is where I'm kind of asking the council that we go back to our old budget of $4,800. We're asking a little more of $5,000, but just to give you all some perspective from year to date and projections.

Councilman Herzberg.

Thank you and thank you chair. When you say you're at 4856 or whatever number you gave me, does that mean you expect a balance in your budget based off what you spent and what you got received in donations?

So what's happening, yeah, and thank you, Councilman Herzberg. So right now what we have spent through today is 3,166. What we have projected to spend through the end of the fiscal year is an additional $1,700 to get us at 4,866. Now back to your question where you're asking, well, hold on a second, how are you spending more than the $2,200? It's because we had a carry forward that Councilman Sanchez, thank you again for your support, we were able to get. And then we had a profit that came out of our Cars for Heroes that is also helping as well.

Right, so it's more of a question for finance. I don't believe we typically carry forward committee budgets, do we?

Sponsorship dollars, yes. Sponsorship dollars, yes. Balances that are general fund dollars based on the resolution that I mentioned earlier, that prohibits that. So that would have to be a motion, which is what Councilman Sanchez did at our second budget hearing.

But these are...

if it sponsors your dollars and when you show us the budget come June August you'll show if your sponsor dollars left they'll show a carry forward for that committee yes whenever the budget amendment comes in April it's it specifically says these are the amounts for whatever committees are eligible to have funds carried over but now in the resolution it specifically specifies that

sponsorship dollars will be utilized first before any general fund dollars will be utilized so after that whatever is available in sponsorship dollars gets carried forward okay i guess uh we'll i'll talk to the manager i guess i just feel like committees i understand the general fund dollars should go back i just want to figure out how we can make sure committees that have sponsorships get to continue to use that money for their purposes that's all And where I get to that is I think to the chair, your car show I think was a great success for the first year. I'm sure the second year's gonna be even better. My goal is to have a zero dollar line item for this committee because I believe your committee can fund itself. I really do because you're doing a great job. So I know you don't wanna hear that necessarily, but you're doing a great job and we're going to have tough decisions on budgets every year. So that's all, thanks.

And if I may, Mr. Mayor, do you mind if I respond? Sure, go ahead. Okay, thank you, Mayor. So what ended up happening here, the reason why we were given the carry forward councilman was because when we went to go pay our vendors for the car show, we were essentially told that we couldn't because the services weren't rendered yet. So when we plan to spend on those funds by the end of the fiscal year, we weren't able to. So the request that we had as public safety at the end of that second budget hearing was, listen, we're being told we can't do this. Is there any way we can carry it forward? That way we can use those funds and not lose them. So we feel that was a one-time occasion, and we know and we want to make sure we abide by the resolution that the budget director is mentioning, but that's the back story behind it.

To be clear, in 2025, last fiscal year, the only sponsorship dollars that this committee raised was $207. So there was no sponsorship money to be carried forward. Everything that they've collected to date is $10,240 in this current fiscal year.

Councilman Sanchez. Yeah, I just a touch base on what he was mentioning in the last fiscal year. The money that was left over exactly what he just said was the more the money that was had I not done the motion and it would have been approved by by all of us that money will just would have gone in back to the general fund, but in order to keep the ball moving on the car show I motion to move it into the next fiscal year and that's what he means you moved I moved and then we we approved.

uh mr vice mayor just a quick question uh is there anything that you need us to approve or move around i see something here about swim lessons that it shows here as a new request he said he was going to present that the next okay so we don't have to worry about that now got it thank you thank you all right well thank you very much mr chair and uh with that ladies and gentlemen thank you all for your time thank you staff thank you to our volunteers there being no further business we are now adjourned at 7 36 p.m

Thank you