Remarks by Alex J. Fernandez
292 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 12
- Play at 1:15:29
“Commissioner Fernandez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. When we adopted the resiliency code, we knew that through its implementation, there would have to be periodic updates and clarification. We're not changing the code. These are just clarifications and technical updates. So I'll just move the item.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 1:20:39
“And just so that I can understand, so this restores being able to see through the sideline, through the fencing?”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 1:25:09
“Welcome, Commissioner Lopez. Motion to convene as the RDA. Second.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 1:47:52
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to ask a question of our housing department because what I am hearing here, we have a population that's in need of housing. there were public dollars that were used for the creation or creation of the availability of housing and that housing has restrictive covenants that govern the population and the affordability levels that are allowed to be housed in that housing, whether it's 30% of AMI, or whether they're formerly homeless individuals. The challenge that I'm seeing here is not the individual that is being housed in the property. It's the lack of what I and…”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 1:50:27
“And who approved? That was the Homeless Trust that approved putting that, and then I guess the county assembly. When did the county do that? I guess a few years ago?”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 1:50:54
“on an annual basis, and when does that expire?”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 1:51:28
“Wait one second. Okay, so the city is getting dollars and...”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 1:52:47
“So I guess there's two parts here. In the meantime, we have a situation there where we have individuals today, and they're going to be there tomorrow, who don't have wraparound services that for as long as they are the tenants of those dwelling units, they do need wraparound services. Otherwise, we're going to end up with the challenges on the other end of after the issue happens. But then the other side to this is, okay, seeing, okay, where are we in that annual term? in that annual term with the homeless trust, where are we? When does that get renewed? And can we work through the county…”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 1:54:10
“Thank you. I would love to hear the response because it was a question I had. So I don't know if it's possible to get a response. Go for it.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 2:20:13
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I want to be sensitive of those concerns. I'm grateful to Sodexo, and I know Doug Connor is here as well. As we all know, they've agreed to discounts for our local residents. I think it's a 20% discount and certain discounts. certain donations for 501 s, making sure that the events are at cost to these organizations. Clearly, more can be done. For example, one of the things I know, like the kosher caters, Danziger, and Danziger can be a little bit expensive. And I know you've mentioned to me you might be willing to also add more options, perhaps up to three or four…”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 2:21:15
“All right, so I'll move the item to go to FERC. I'll second.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:05:48
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. John, so when we talk about selecting projects, So it's my understanding that there has been a prioritization list that over the years the city has. The city has a list of projects and those projects are numbered based on their critical nature and their importance to our city? Yes, sir. Okay, and that's how the projects have been identified? and the funding that the city needs has been identified based on that? Correct. Okay. So you gave us a presentation where you showed us different numbers and in that presentation you were comparing THE RESIDENT'S TOTAL MONTHLY COST,…”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:07:17
“All right. And the median that you established was about 300,000? 318,000, yes, sir. Okay. And for those properties, you showed an estimated monthly cost by 2035 of how much? Under the all-geo bond option?”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:08:09
“Okay. Hold on. What's that? Help me understand how Commissioner Magazine's proposal could be more beneficial to the city from your perspective. to the city, to the system, to the utility system. When I say to the city, I think to the people that are receiving the services, to the homeowners, to the condo owners, and to the people who ultimately need to pay. Because my goal is to be able to deliver the projects that are, as the commissioner mentioned, mission critical, but at the lowest rate possible, which is why we placed that moratorium on the water and sewer rate increases because it was…”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:10:24
“Yeah, so it shifts the burden based on the property value. The people that have a higher property value, in essence, are contributing more.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:10:39
“What? What's that, Commissioner Magazine?”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:12:18
“But I guess from what you were explaining, Placing more of the program on the utility rates shifts a greater relative burden, whatever the amount we end up borrowing through utility bonds onto residents in lower assessed homes and people of more moderate income, It puts more of a burden on them on a relative scale while placing more of it on the GEO bond asks owners of higher assessed properties to carry a larger share. Yes, sir.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:15:29
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:16:18
“It commands it commands the legislature to prescribe a uniform method through which any other taxing entity could eliminate those those property taxes. And in this case, it would be up to us whether whether we decide to do that. in which case, if this property tax reform passes, and in year two we're seeing an increase of $250,000, in essence, the bulk of people who are in the medium property range, or below Jason, If this passes, they probably then won't be affected by this general obligation bond impact because they would have a tax, their property tax exemption goes up.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:17:31
“Okay, so in essence, those individuals, probably a big chunk of those individuals who are in the median property value range of about 300 and how much was it? 318. 318. If this $250,000 property tax reform passes, probably a big chunk of those individuals won't be affected by the general obligation bond. IF IT WERE TO PASS IN THE BALLOT BOX.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:18:11
“SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE LOWEST INCOME RANGES WOULD BE PROTECTED. AND SO I JUST THINK THAT'S GOOD CLARITY TO HAVE HERE.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:29:13
“It was just to ask a question about that point. By that point, it will be gone.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:38:02
“Option one requires the combination of a rate increase. Yes, sir. All right, so that would require five votes.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:38:21
“And what about the moratorium? Oh, I'm sorry, the moratorium you were referring to. It would require five votes to overturn the moratorium.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026
- Play at 3:39:04
“You do need the five so that you can overcome the more time and then and then if the general obligation bond does not pass We would have to go back and increase the rates to Do I then I guess a second increase on the water and sewer rates to cover? the projects that were not adopted by the general.”
City Commission · Jul 22, 2026