Remarks by Michael Hernandez
69 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 3
- Play at 2:43:20
“Okay. Okay. But to Commissioner Rodriguez's point, which maybe you need to restate it, Commissioner, but it's I think, who are you paying? Are you paying an individual, or are you paying a company? If Mike Hernandez, PA, is the building department, and Angelo Castillo is one of my employees, wouldn't that be amazing? I'd work for you. So let's just say he's one of my employees. He's not reporting to work that day. So Tom Good fills the slot. They meet the minimum requirements. Angelo is not being paid or is being paid at that moment by the city of Pembroke Pines. Because my question is, are…”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:47:50
“It sounds, and I could be wrong, it sounds like I could be the deciding vote. I've listened to both sides. I have spoken to administration extensively on this. And I've been with administration on almost every point. On this point, I'm going to be with Commissioner Good, because I do think there are changing dynamics in the industry.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:52:58
“it's happened to us already okay so my question to you assistant city manager stam if i were to support here's what i want bottom line yes the chief building official like mr pozillo who's in the back is specific to pembroke pines i don't want to change that now tell me what i'm voting on so c3 specifically was about them serving in yeah but i'm not on c3”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:55:45
“One second. Hold on. We were, so as long as my motion, which I seconded the motion. Yes, you don't have to vote just because you second. No, no, no. Follow me.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:55:57
“No, no one talks me out of my votes anyways. So the point here is, and I understand when we went to C3 and what we were discussing, why I have confusion, okay, C3 says yes, yes, yes, all of them. And I have indicated, I don't want a chief building official that does not work exclusively for the city. What I understood from my conversations, and this is why I also voted in the majority, because I can bring it right back up for reconsideration, Robert's Rules of Order. Therefore, what I am asking is, was I not just voting on anyone but the chief building official?”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:57:34
“It was blended. That's my confusion. I'm not referring to E. I wanted to vote on C. I looked at C and it said yes.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:57:47
“Correct. Because the motion was blended. It wasn't just on C. Here's what I want, and you have to explain it to me because I'm getting dizzy. I want the chief building official on these individuals to be specific to the city of Pembroke Pines. However, I am also sympathetic to what Commissioner Good has said because there are changes coming, whether we like it or not. regarding private provider and how we provide this service and with all due respect to everyone who's been here pembroke pines cannot continue to operate the way it has for the last several decades because outside of our control…”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:00:08
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:05:24
“I have a question. If the saying, yes, keep this, but I'm trying to land these planes here. So I'm sympathetic to what Commissioner Good is saying. I also understand what it is that you are trying to get at. However, there may need to be adaptation. And that's what we're trying to do.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:05:44
“That's why it says. That's what this does. So it will explicitly say that.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:06:02
“As long as it's also in the RFP and also followed and not just here for us.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:10:27
“Okay, so I purposely cover the names so that I don't see who wrote what, but I'm with whoever is in the third box providing that option that in the future workload of efficiency and managing that workload gets changed, the vendor would have the option to present a valid plan to reduce staffing.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:12:46
“I still didn't want to know who wrote what. But I just think setting a year with the dynamics of the industry and how everything changes, I wouldn't stick our feet in concrete at 365 days. So I wouldn't.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:15:38
“There you go. City business hours are not Fridays. 76. But I think what you're saying, Commissioner Rodriguez, is city business hours including Fridays.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:23:45
“I don't have an issue with it. I'd like to, at a later date, be briefed on liability issues. Regarding having that individual as an employee, but I don't have a problem because it sounds like there's consensus Probably less liability as an employee Hence why I wanted to understand later mayor before This is for option B is two positions It's the building official And option B was just to do”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:30:26
“OK. I'm with Commissioner Good for the record.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:34:41
“And for that reason, I'm good. But I think we need to define, if you're going to bring two from the outside, what they look like.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:35:03
“I sat on interview panels with municipalities in Miami-Dade County when I was the comms director for the county. I didn't tell them to stick it back in my day. Well, in your day, yes, sir. I appreciate that one. You were never in public relations, were you?”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:35:21
“Yeah, you never got a call, did you? I'm good with Commissioners Good and Rodriguez on it.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:37:26
“Number one, it happens all the time. Number two, I'm going to flip it on its head here because I'm going to say, well, we've had the same vendor for 17 years, and you haven't changed your evaluation process. Optics matter. So from my perspective, I do think it isn't unusual to have someone from the outside. Like I said, I sat on dozens of them in Dade County for municipalities. Doral had me come in to interview candidates for their chief communications officer, city of Miami, et cetera. So just because we haven't done it doesn't mean that it is bad form. It's routine.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:38:35
“The building department world is a very small world. It cannot be smaller than public relations. That's all I'm going to tell you.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:38:48
“Mike, I've been with like 90% of what you proposed on this one. I just think it's going to be difficult.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 3:39:01
“I thought you meant seven total members, five inside, two outside. Are you saying nine or seven?”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 4:21:05
“And I'll opine quickly. I want to first thank Chief Vargas, because whenever there's a concern with privacy in this city and anywhere else, law enforcement steps in. And I commend Chief Vargas. I know it wasn't an easy decision, and I know you and I have spoken multiple times. including this morning when I was on radio and I was being interviewed about your decision. So I appreciate that. And I forgot the captain's name, but I know Captain Wollard was involved, and he spoke with Al Left, but Al Salvey, who was here earlier multiple times. Oh, where is he? Sorry, Al, my bad. And when he…”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 4:27:45
“The whole point is that You all are paying the price for a decision that was not your decision. You were encouraged by the chief executive of our state government. And that's incredibly unfortunate. But on a good note, let's end positively. Thank you, Chief Vargas, for your decision. It's not easy being a police chief in a major city. I know it was difficult to make that decision. You have my support, as does your command staff. Thank you.”
City Commission · Sep 3, 2026