Remarks by Luisa Santos
83 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 4
- Play at 2:33:08
“Thank you so much. Through the chair. I know here in this item we're presented with two finalists, let's say, and now we enter contract negotiations. I do see significant price differences and I understand we've got our processes to respect, but I really want to put on the record that as we finalize those contract negotiations for for our auditing services moving forward. It's gonna be really important as we have been discussing at Nauseam through these e-items that we are very fiscally conservative and do the right thing by the times that we're facing in our budget. And so I just wanted to…”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 2:39:29
“Thank you so much for that comment, Board Member Espino, because certainly, as you know, that was the premise of the item that I brought, that we need to increase that percentage, and I know there's been tremendous work between the food show and the new offerings, moving away from some of those, I know Board Member Alonso was very adamant, and I agreed on removing the plastic, reheating, and so I have seen some concrete improvements, I think there are also new things that will be rolling out, even, for example, related to this item, milk and dairy in bulk, and really moving into something…”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 2:41:45
“was incredibly difficult. And so we are going to maybe at some point hit a threshold where we're going to have to decide we might need to invest a little here. And I'm all open to that conversation, Board Member Espino. Thank you for bringing it up.”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 2:49:01
“Don't go too far, we're continuing the conversation. But on fresh produce, thank you again, Board Member Alonso for bringing your item on this. If Food and Nutrition could give us a quick update on our work with our Miami-Dade County Agricultural Manager. I know this item, my team looked and obviously has some products that aren't grown locally because we have to offer them. But can you talk about how we're going to incorporate that fresh local produce moving forward?”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 2:53:26
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 2:53:52
“That's totally fine, as long as it's included before our board meeting. Thank you.”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 3:00:02
“Thank you so much. I have a quick clarification question to staff on the publishing deadlines for staff follow ups. I know our agenda and our items obviously we get on Fridays, but staff follow ups over time have seemed to come later and later, some of them Monday, Tuesday. What is the accurate or needed timeline for publishing of staff follow ups that are on the agenda for a committee through the chair?”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 3:00:41
“Through the chair, so 48 hours before our meeting.”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 3:00:46
“Okay, thank you. You're definitely meeting that timeline, but would really appreciate if you could include them with the agendas on Friday so that we are not rushing to ask you questions an hour later at our committee briefing. Through the chair, thanks.”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · May 6, 2026
- Play at 6:08:24
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Facilities and Construction Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 6:11:52
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Facilities and Construction Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 6:13:48
“Thank you, through the chair, and how often is that process done?”
Facilities and Construction Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 6:14:10
“Thank you. And certainly the intent is not to over-enforce it, but to find a balance. And if something has changed, to make sure we address it. Thank you so much.”
Facilities and Construction Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 6:54:05
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Facilities and Construction Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 6:57:28
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Facilities and Construction Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 6:59:42
“Thank you so much for that thorough explanation and for making sure that principals and schools have the information they need to follow our policy. I will be sure to reiterate that these are policies and how people can be reminded of how they need to implement them. Thank you so much.”
Facilities and Construction Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 7:03:08
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Facilities and Construction Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 40:46
“Thank you so much. Sorry, I had a slight medical emergency, but all good now, so happy to be here. And Board Member Alonso, I believe the staff follow-up to the road.”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 40:58
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 56:22
“I certainly have questions on these slides, but since I reviewed the other slides too, I think I would like to wait for all of it to be done. You want to wait to the end?”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 1:32:23
“Thank you so much, and thank you to the team who I know has been working really, really hard because I proffered the item I have been checking in regularly and have had a chance to understand some of this data from your walkthrough. So I appreciate that time spent a lot. It's clear and it was clear from the item we presented that we have come a long way and we've got a really long way to go and there are real opportunities presented here in the recommendations. There was an analysis requested in the item to analyze mile radius reduction, let's say from two miles to 1.5 to one. That was one…”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 1:35:18
“10 to 12, correct. Okay. And so I'm losing my place in the slides, but I know it's over 80%. So clearly we have to do something about that. I know in the last few years, we've basically replaced 10% of our fleet with outside grants, which has been really helpful. It was all the federal dollars that were available at some point, some Florida Volkswagen settlement funds that we were able to utilize for that. That's still only 10% of our fleet. So there's a real question about how do we... And do we still need a fleet this large, right, as we... create efficiencies and is it accurate to say that…”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 1:38:56
“Okay, thank you. Through the chair. what are the options left in front of us other than this source of revenue, which, granted, in an ideal world, should eventually go down to very low or zero. I know that's, in Miami especially, gonna take some time. But what, so what are the options before us to be able to accomplish that more competitive pay? Because, I mean, the difference is stark when you put it side by side to our neighbors and our county, the pay difference is high. What is our next step possible there?”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 1:40:26
“Thank you. That's not an answer on a possible next step, but I know it's a priority. It's just a hard year to give concrete next steps. I just, having walked multiple depots now, it became very clear to me that on the mechanic side, especially, we're hitting, I think, an untenable sort of retention number. And on the driver's side, even after some efficiencies, routing, reconfiguration, there's probably a necessity at some point to actually change that reality. Thank you for that. I have a lot more questions here, but maybe I'll just go toward the end where you walked us through, the bus…”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Apr 15, 2026
- Play at 1:42:45
“Thank you. Through the chair, is that because we got GPS Plus? Is that how these systems communicate?”
Fiscal Accountability and Government Relations Committee · Apr 15, 2026