Remarks by Alex Lama
76 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 4
- Play at 2:21:35
“Yeah, so basically, this is simple. I like to understand our process because I know that we put out there invitation to bids, request for proposal, and request for qualification. So in an effort, I think, to make sure that we do award contracts to the to the best contractor. So we are not saddled with either change orders or having to replace an elevator that was not put in correctly, et cetera, et cetera. I just wanted to make sure and understand that process and direct staff to see where are there perhaps some weak points that we could reinforce. So us as a body, including the commission,…”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:23:13
“Yeah. Yeah. All right. But it's everything.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:25:36
“So... Yeah, so from what I understand, so... As part of our discussions and what I learned is that an invitation to bid requires us to award the contract to the lowest and best, not best, but the bidder that obviously fills in all the parameters, right?”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:28:02
“Yeah, and that's one of my points. So it's South Florida again. So basically, when we have the ITB, we get a pool of qualified contractors or vendors, correct? And then from that pool... after we're well into the process is when we start talking about pricing.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:30:15
“No, no, I just want to do the... You just want to discuss it. I want to do the... research first, understand the process, and then see if perhaps we could make this process a little bit stronger if it needs to. I don't know. At this point, I'm just in an exploratory phase and trying to understand the process.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:30:35
“Yeah, and that's what I wanted to see if staff and perhaps we could understand the process a little bit better, identify perhaps some areas where we could make it stronger, and as much as possible try to avoid hiring contractor that sucks, basically.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:31:19
“building official to answer a lot of these questions that the residents have brought to the commissioner yeah this is more like a residential if they're remodeling there or building a house or something but you know we're doing something like a town hall but but to your point and for our like procurement process in general”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:34:06
“Well, you know what? This is something that I think it's not, you know, it happens to a lot of cities, to the county. I was just reading something about the county and, you know, the problems with the airport and everything. So I think it's something that perhaps even at a municipal level is something that we could discuss with other municipalities and even the county. I don't know, I'm just, you know, bringing up some ideas, but.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:43:39
“So, no, basically this has to do with the community center. Yes. We discussed this already. Sorry. One minute, please.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:44:04
“OK. So my point is I'm not that far ahead right now. My point is that if we're going to build a community center, there's been talk about doing repairs to Pelican right now. taking off the debt service or the bond in the budget, et cetera. I'm fine with that. But what I'm trying to say is that we all need to backtrack and we need to take a closer look at the different community centers that are in our neighboring cities. You have Doral at $150 million, then you have NMB at a 39. So there's like a disparity between prices. And I think that first we should have you know dive deeper look at some…”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:45:24
“No, not necessarily, but I think that we should or perhaps we each have conversation with staff and, you know, take a look at some of the pricing and our neighboring municipalities and see what they've spent and what are the components and some of these community centers. So. we could probably benchmark it differently or better. And obviously, I don't think, let's say we don't want a $200 million community center, then we look at what other options are there. Like I had mentioned previously, I always like to look at different option price points. So that's my point, basically.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:46:47
“No, no, but aside from that, I mean, like, for instance, I'll go to NMB and look at the community center. Perhaps that's, I think, at 30, 36 million. Perhaps that will suffice. That will be more than great for our city. Those are the questions that I'm having right now in my... It's better than empty land. Of course, we need a community center. So we got to see if we make, at what price point we want to decide to make it.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:47:35
“Like, in my mind, I'm going to go to NMB, I'm going to go to Doral, take a look at them, like, you know, live, and take it from there.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:48:27
“We would have to build a parking garage, which is very expensive. By the way, I think that price ballooned to like $30 or $30-something million right now. So yeah.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:48:42
“And it's become also a mess from what I've been able to research. The pricing has ballooned and it's become political, too.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:49:06
“That's why I want to do some research. Okay. Perhaps, you know, I would like to go to a community center and say, okay, you know what, maybe the Doral one is the one we want because this has got all the components. And, yeah, it will be $150 million. Or I go to Key Biscayne and say, you know what, for $70 million, you know, the Key Biscayne one, you know, it's comparable to, I think, what? COULD HAVE HERE.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:49:33
“LIKE SUSAN JUST SAID, WE NEED A PARKING GARAGE. NO, WE DO NEED A PARKING GARAGE, JERRY. YEAH. BUT I THINK ALSO TO BE FAIR, WE NEED TO GET CLEAR DIRECTION.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:49:47
“NO, BUT WE NEED TO GIVE CLEAR DIRECTION TO, I MEAN, WE'VE GIVEN DIRECTION TO THE STAFF BUT THEN WE CHANGE AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, YOU perhaps all of us have a conversation that's productive. And a parking garage is a moneymaker, besides.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 2:50:09
“Next steps is look at the different community centers out there and perhaps do another review. And we could individually sit down with staff, or we could have a workshop, or this could be an email.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 13:33
“Yeah, you can say yes. OK. For this item, yes.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 13:40
“I spoke with the owner, with the applicant.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 43:58
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 45:32
“Yeah, yeah, I just wanted to get some context. I didn't understand some of the comments, so that's why. Because I know from the city there was always a willingness to work with the Chabad.”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 1:16:53
“I just want to express and give kudos to our police department, the staff that is making this possible. Obviously, we've implemented the drones. Our police department got the accreditation. When it comes to technology, they've been implementing a lot of new technologies. And this is the latest example of it. And I think it's just for the good of the community. And you see the results. I mean, anytime something happens, we are quick to take action and to arrest whoever needs to be arrested, et cetera, et cetera. So I just want to express how happy I am that these things are just working and…”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 1:32:22
“Yeah, so I think that when it comes to software and systems, You know, it's a long-term commitment. I mean, that's why you see companies and you see governments, when they adopt some sort of software system on how to operate, it cannot be for a year or even two years. I think it's a long-term commitment. Obviously, it doesn't mean that, you know, 10 years down the road, you're, you know, revisiting everything and you got to see that system and the software that you have in place is still doing the job as intended. But yeah, when it comes to software integrations and systems, it's something…”
City Commission · Aug 20, 2026