Remarks by Christi Fraga
2,372 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 44 of 95
“Motion to approve by Councilman Pinero. Second. Second by Councilman Reynoso. I do have one comment because I do want to put this on the record. I'm not usually in favor of providing for penalties as an incentive. However, for many, many years, we have had no penalty. And what happens is businesses will go 5, 10, 12 years, we've seen, and they've never pulled a BTR. So to my understanding, this penalty is a one-time $250. So if you've had your business here for three years and you weren't caught, Basically, you pay the one time $250. It's not $250 for every year that you were operating,…”
“OK, so I do think that this is reasonable. And we should have something in our code to make sure that there is a penalty for those who don't comply. But I think more importantly, we need to start focusing on incentives that we provide additional resources to the businesses in our community that do apply for the BTR. They should have an incentive, right? You apply for a BTR, you're getting something in return. small, but some of that should go into business resources. So we are working on that. I just wanted to say that. We're working on it through the city manager's office. I've been working…”
“All right. If there's no additional comments or questions, please call the roll.”
“OK, I'm going to go ahead and open up public comments for item 21F, also known as 25-6319. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium. Being none, public hearing is closed. Madam Clerk, like the record, no one has chosen to speak at this time on this item. And this is my item. So this is basically what I brought last month, amending the Code of Ethics and Truth in Advertising Policy in line with our Citizen Bill of Rights, just basically codifying it, making sure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of ethics and transparency. If anybody has…”
“Or how does that work? We're not necessarily removing it. It's that the IG now oversees our code. So the ethics department does not oversee our charter or our code, necessarily. They oversee state statute or ethics violations that may be brought to their attention. But many times, they throw them out because they're not the responsible. and Lorenzo can speak to this matter, but they're not necessarily the enforcement agency over our direct code and ethics. It's our IG now, Inspector General.”
“Yeah, so I don't believe even if it's not stated in our code that we ever are precluding the ethics department, the Miami-Dade County Ethics Board to... impose any violations or penalties. They have the authority to oversee whatever falls within their ability, but many times things have been referred to them and it's been”
“All right, so we need a motion, if there's no more questions. A motion. Motion to approve by Councilwoman Reynoso.”
“Second by Councilman Pinedo. If there's no more questions, Madam Clerk, please call the vote.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Oh, I'm so sorry. This is 21G. I'm sorry. We're in 21G. I had the paper on the wrong one. Is there any other public hearing items for 21G25-6321? Being none, okay. Public hearing is now closed. And we will hear from Councilman Pinedo or from staff.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Thank you very much. Any other comments or questions? I do. Motion. A motion to approve by Vice Mayor Porras. And there's a question from Councilwoman Reynoso. Councilwoman Reynoso.”
“All right. I also just have some quick comments. I think this is also extremely necessary. We obviously have all heard the concerns about the micro mobility, especially with children or minors. I did get some questions from some people just making sure that this wasn't going to affect bicycles, which I think that was clearly stated that it's a motorized bicycle because it did say bicycle. So some people were worried that bicycles, some kids ride bicycles to school. So bicycles, normal bicycles are not impacted, but if they do have a motor, that's where it's impacted. But it also is very…”
“All right, I'm going to open up public hearing for item 21H- I'm sorry, 21H, also known as 25-6329. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium. Being none, public hearing is now closed. Madam Clerk, like the record, no one has chosen to speak at this time on this item. And this is also my item. I will also have the city attorney opine if need be. So council members, this item was brought forward for two reasons. One, the charter change that was implemented in 2024 required us to adopt some type of policy for reimbursable expenses. We do have the stipends, but this…”
“Yes, the other thing that stays the same is the per diem for travel. So if you travel, you get your per diem check, like always. Again, this just has an additional set of eyes for compliance, transparency, accountability, because there is a lot of reimbursable expenses being done. So you can see how I went ahead and had the clerk circulate. Those will come through the mayor's office now for approval for reimbursement. And that way we can also be accountable for what we're spending our tax dollars on.”
“That's correct. There also was not a codified policy or ordinance on the per diem for travel, and so we felt that that needed to be codified as well. Now, again, the events is the only one that is not here. If that is the desire of the council to also include that, we can, so that they all have to be done through PO. And if you do have to pay for it last minute, then that would have to be done through a reimbursement. But we didn't include it for the purpose that I do know that there is, from experience, last minute events sometimes that have to be paid through with the city clerk's credit…”
“Motion passes. All right. We move on now to item 21I.”
“Okay, I'm going to go ahead and open up the public hearing for item 21i, also known as 25-6330. Anyone who would like to speak on this item, please approach the podium. I do have a comment card for this one. I apologize. I thought you were here for micromobility. And this is Sabrina Green.”
“OK, thank you very much. Thank you. Any other public comments for item 21i, 25-6330? Being none, public hearing is now closed, and I believe this is Vice Mayor Porras' items.”
“We'll look that up. In the meantime, I do have some comments. I don't know if anyone else has some comments. OK, Councillor Mayeron also.”
“I'm sorry, we can't have a debate from this audience, okay? You had your public comments. Now it's the council's turn to debate. Okay, so thank you. Anyone else? Yes, Councilman Pinedo.”
“Yes, do you mind if I make my comments real quick too? Yeah, thank you. So I do want to comment on this as well too.”
“So I agree, I think that the problem with this is that when we modify it, it impacts the whole city. So it's not just your property. And I fully understand the situation you're having. And I empathize with it. And I want to help you guys. And so we will definitely have conversations about how we can help you. But making this change impacts everybody. And then what we're going to get is just emails from residents that are upset because they went there and they got booted. And that's not your fault either. You're protecting your business. But we want to protect the well-being of the entire city…”
“No. No, I think there's other solutions. I mean, I won't be in favor of deferring it because we're just giving the false hope that it's going to be reduced at another time. In my... Hold on. We can answer your questions after, but we don't take questions. It's not a debate between one and the other. Okay, I'm sorry. But then we set a bad precedent. So is there any other? I want to clarify a couple things. Okay. Vice Mayor Porras. Yes.”
“Okay, we have a motion to approve on the table by Vice Mayor Porras. Second. Second by Councilwoman Cabral. Any additional questions? OK, if there's no additional questions, I just want to say it again. I understand all the concerns. And again, there is. Absolutely correct. This is private property and people are parking illegally. That's why there's penalties The penalty is 30 minutes so that people can be booted and get off so there is Ways to to remedy this issue I again I don't think that by lowering this you're gonna get a solution and I think what you're gonna get is more upset…”