[00:00:01]
BEGIN.REMEMBER TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE AS THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED FOR PUBLIC RECORD, PLEASE STAND BY.
WE ARE GOING ON AIR IN 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
UH, WE ARE AT THE OCTOBER 18TH FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE.
WE'RE HERE IN A GLOOMY WINDY DAY IN MIAMI BEACH.
UM, BUT HOPEFULLY, UH, WE, WE GET THROUGH A PRETTY SIMPLE AGENDA TODAY AND GET EVERYBODY ON WITH A VERY PLEASANT WEEKEND.
UM, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO OUR CFO IF YOU WANNA MAKE INTRODUCTIONS IN OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND WE CAN TAKE IT FROM THERE.
TODAY'S MEETING OF THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED IN A HYBRID FORMAT WITH A QUORUM OF THE COMMITTEE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AND REMAINING MEMBERS, STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC APPEARING EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM.
IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S MEETING, VIRTUALLY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY DIAL 1-888-475-FOUR 4 9 9 AND ENTER THE WEBINAR ID, WHICH IS 8 6 3 6 0 5 9 5 4 6 2 POUND, OR LOG INTO THE ZOOM APP AND ENTER THE WEBINAR ID, WHICH AGAIN IS 8 6 3 6 0 5 9 5 4 6 2.
ANY INDIVIDUAL WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM, MUST CLICK THE RAISE HAND ICON IF THEY ARE USING THE ZOOM APP OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING BY PHONE.
[NB 1. DISCUSS THE DESIREABILITY, FEASABILITY, AND COST OF CONSTUCTING A CHILDREN'S PARK AT THE EUCLID CIRCLE ON LINCOLN ROAD.]
[NB 7. A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF SUB-CONTRACTING SOME OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT'S PERMITTING FUNCTIONS FOR MAJOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S BUILDING DEPARTMENT; AND FURTHER, REFERRING THIS MATTER TO BE FULLY CONSIDERED AND DISCUSSED BY THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE.]
[NB 8. DISCUSS A PROPOSED RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING AS THE POLICY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH THAT MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS MEDICINE AND NOT AN ILLICIT RECREATIONAL DRUG; THAT EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY WHO ARE PRESCRIBED MEDICAL MARIJUANA BY A PROPERLY LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA LAW SHALL BE PERMITTED TO USE THIS PROPERLY PRESCRIBED MEDICATION DURING NONWORKING HOURS AND SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE OF ANY SCHEDULED WORK SHIFT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE EMPLOYEE IS NOT IMPAIRED BY THE USE OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA WHILE ON THE JOB; AND DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO DRAFT AND PROMULGATE WRITTEN DIRECTIVES EFFECTUATING THIS CITY POLICY]
[NB 13. COLLINS PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER NEXT STEPS]
UH, THANK YOU CHAIR.I HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS TO ANNOUNCE AS, UH, DEFERRAL AND TIME.
CERTAIN, UH, NNB SEVEN HAS BEEN DEFERRED TO THE FEBRUARY FERC NB EIGHT HAS BEEN DEFERRED TO THE NOVEMBER FERC NB 13 HAS BEEN DEFERRED TO NOVEMBER.
FERC THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TIME CERTAINS.
MB 14 HAS A 10:30 AM TIME CERTAIN MB 10 HAS AN 11:00 AM TIME CERTAIN, AND MB 12 HAS A 12 NOON TIME, CERTAIN HAS 11:00 AM COUNSELOR.
AND I'VE ALSO BEEN ASKED BY THE SPONSOR TO DEFER, UH, MB ONE, WE'LL NOTE MB ONE DEFERRED.
WHY DON'T WE GET STARTED WITH THE 10 30 TIME CERTAIN AND
[NB 14. DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF A PUBLIC SEATING SPONSORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM ON LINCOLN ROAD]
B 14 DISCUSS LINCOLN ROAD PUBLIC SEATING SPONSORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM.UH, MB 14 DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUBLIC SEATING SPONSORSHIP PILOT PROGRAM ON LINCOLN ROAD, MB 14.
THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I HAVE PLACED ON THE AGENDA TO HELP THE BUSINESSES ON LINCOLN ROAD.
AND WE'VE JOINED TOGETHER BOTH AS SPONSORS OF THIS ITEMS, BOTH YOU AND AND MYSELF THAT WERE SPONSORING THIS.
UM, WE NEED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES GOING INTO LINCOLN ROAD.
AND RIGHT NOW, UH, OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE TO PAY VERY HIGH FEES, UH, TO BE, TO, TO PLACE TABLES ON, ON THE RIGHT OF WAYS AT A TIME WHEN WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES FILLING UP EMPTY SPACES IN LINCOLN ROAD, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE VIBRANCY OF THIS PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR.
SO WE'VE ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION TO PUT TOGETHER IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT AS A CITY, A PUBLIC SEATING, UH, PILOT PROGRAM SO THAT THE CITY CAN COME IN, PROVIDE THE TABLES, UH, PERHAPS PARTNER WITH A BID ON THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE TABLES, AND SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO OPEN UP ON THIS IMPORTANT CORRIDOR.
IF YOU ALLOW ME, MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR STAFF, UH, TO GIVE US THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH THIS ITEM.
AND I APPRECIATE BRINGING THE ITEM FORWARD.
APPRECIATE, UH, THE BID SUPPORTING THIS.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MAGAZINE COMMISSIONER, FELLOW CHAIRS.
UM, JUST, I'M GONNA HAVE STAFF PROVIDE AN UPDATE TODAY ON, ON OUR, UH, EFFORTS, UH, ON THIS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH ANNABELLE AND THE BID, AND ALSO JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE PUT ALL TOGETHER A GOOD SCOPE AND CRITERIA THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THIS PROGRAM SO WE CAN ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE, UM, ARE LOOKING TO AND MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL PILOT PROJECT.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, I'M GONNA LET CHARLES ORTIZ FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT COME UP HERE AND PROVIDE THE LATEST UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT.
[00:05:03]
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.UH, SO, SO FAR WE'VE, UH, BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE BID IN REGARDS TO THE EXPECTATIONS, TIMELINES, AND DESIGN OF THE TABLES AND CHAIRS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE.
THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE SEATING IN A PUBLIC CAPACITY FOR LOCATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE INTERIOR SEATING, THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE OUTDOOR DINING PROGRAM.
SO USING, UH, BENCHES, PUBLIC CHAIRS THAT A ONE COULD USE FUNDED PRIVATELY BY THE BID.
AND, UH, THIS, UH, SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA GOING FORWARD.
SO, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.
UH, UNDER, UNDER WHAT HAS BEEN PRODUCED BY, UH, STAFF, UH, THIS WOULDN'T APPLY, LET'S SAY TO ALL, UH, ESTABLISHMENTS.
HOW, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UH, REALLY TARGETS THE SMALLER ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE STARTING UP THAT MIGHT NEED SUPPORT? RIGHT.
SO THE, HOW WE DIFFERENTIATE IS THE BTR CLASSIFICATIONS.
SO THE MANY RESTAURANTS ON LINCOLN ROAD ALREADY HAVE INTERIOR SEATING ASSIGNED TO THEM.
THIS WOULD BE FOR TAKEOUT ONLY ESTABLISHMENTS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY INTERIOR SEATING.
AND DO, ARE WE TYING THIS TO ANY SQUARE FOOTAGE? UH, NO.
UM, AND WHO WOULD BE MAINTAINING THE TABLES? THIS WOULD BE ALL DONE BY THE BID AND THE PRIVATE BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE PARTNERING WITH US.
UH, WHAT TYPE OF SEATING ARE WE GETTING AND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? UH, I GUESS WE HAVE TWO CHOICES.
WE COULD JUST BE MUNDANE AND PUT A BUNCH OF TABLES AND CHAIRS OUT THERE THAT ANY LAY PERSON WOULD HAVE ON THEIR BALCONY OR WE ALL ASPIRE TO BE GREATER.
AND, AND SO OFTEN WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO THE DESIGN DISTRICT AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND SAY, WOW, WHY CAN'T WE REPLICATE THINGS LIKE THAT? ONE, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT THEY HAVE GOING OVER THERE IS ESSENTIALLY ALMOST, UH, URBAN ART THAT DOUBLES AS FURNITURE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT 41ST AND 42ND STREET, THEY HAVE THOSE PINK CHAIRS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ESSENTIALLY SERVE, UH, FUNCTIONALITY FOR SEATING.
UH, BUT THEY ALSO ARE OUT OF THE BOX.
AND JUST ADD TO THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN STREET SCAPE.
HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT, UM, EVEN IF IT WOULD BE A MIXTURE OF THE TWO, JUST HAVING YOUR EVERYDAY PEDESTRIAN SEATING, UH, BUT THEN ALSO GETTING CREATIVE AND REALLY ASPIRING TO BE BETTER? YEAH, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO.
AS PART OF THE PILOT, THE CITY WILL BE DETERMINING AND REVIEWING THE DESIGN OF THE TABLES AND OR CHAIRS THAT WILL BE OUT THERE.
SO THE BID WILL PRESENT TO US WITH THEIR IDEAS.
WE'LL GO BACK AND FORTH AND ULTIMATELY WE WILL REVIEW AND APPROVE.
MR. CHAIR, I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, BECAUSE ON OUR ANALYSIS ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED, IT STATED, UM, IT'S STATED THAT THE PROGRAM WOULD, UH, PRIORITIZE SMALL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, POTENTIALLY THOSE THAT ARE ABOUT 2,500 SQUARE FEET OR LESS.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, SO WE ARE LIMITING THIS TO ESTABLISHMENTS OF A SMALLER SQUARE FOOTAGE.
AND GENERALLY THE ESTABLISHMENTS ON LINCOLN ROAD ARE LIMITED BY THEIR INTERIOR, UH, RETAIL AREA.
UM, WE'RE MAINLY TARGETING BY THE CLASSIFICATION ON THE BTR, SO THESE SHOULD ALL FALL UNDER THE 2,500 OR LESS.
UM, WELL, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, BECAUSE LIKE AN ESTABLISHMENT, A NATIONAL CHAIN LIKE CHEESECAKE FACTORY, THEY HAVE A HUGE FOOT, A RELATIVELY LARGE FOOTPRINT, THEY DON'T NEED THIS.
BUT A SMALLER MOM AND POP THAT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A LARGE FOOTPRINT WOULD NEED THIS.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE CREATING A, A PILOT PROGRAM, THAT WE REALLY DO FOCUS IT NOT JUST ON, YOU KNOW, ANY, BUT LIKE SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT HAVE A SMALLER SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT PERHAPS ARE THE ONES THAT NEED OUR HELP A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND UH, AND AGAIN, LIKE, UH, WE WON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH PLACES LIKE CHEESECAKE FACTORY 'CAUSE THEY HAVE INTERIOR SEATING ALLOCATED TO THEM, WHICH MAKES 'EM ELIGIBLE FOR THE OUTDOOR DINING CONCESSION PROGRAM.
UH, SO THESE WILL BE FOR, LIKE YOU SAID, LITTLE PLACES THAT, THAT AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.
AND HOW LONG WOULD WILL THE PILOT PROGRAM BEFORE, UH, THREE MONTH PERIOD TO START? RIGHT, IT'S SIX CORRECTION SIX MONTHS.
AND IS THERE ANY FUNDING REQUESTS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ITEM? UH, SO THE FURNITURE WILL BE FUNDED, UM, BY THE BID AND ITS PARTNERS PRIVATELY FUNDED.
UH, SO WE WILL NOT BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A POTENTIAL, UH, PERMIT FEE.
UH, IT WON'T BE ANY COST TO US.
[00:10:01]
OKAY.WELL, UM, MR. CHAIR, I, I, I THINK I, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
UH, ONCE WE GET MORE FEEDBACK FROM OUR COLLEAGUES, UM, RECOMMENDING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENT, UH, THIS PILOT PROGRAM, I THINK THIS, THIS COULD BE GREAT AS WE ARE TRYING TO COLLABORATE WITH BUSINESSES TO, TO, TO HELP THEM FILL EMPTY SPACES ON THE ROAD.
UM, SO IN, IN THE DOCUMENTATION IT SAYS SIX MONTHS.
SO IS IT SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR? MM-HMM,
SO THE, THE DOCUMENTATION IS OVERSIGHT.
SO DO WE KNOW HOW MANY POSSIBLE, UM, RETAILERS THIS WILL AFFECT? AND ALSO IF YOU'RE NOT LITERALLY DIRECTLY ON LINCOLN ROAD, BUT PART OF, UM, YOU KNOW, ON ONE OF THE SIDE STREETS, WOULD THAT, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO, UM, BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS PROGRAM AS WELL? LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, SALT AND STRAW IS AN ICE CREAM SHOP THAT IS THE TARGET BENEFICIARY OF THIS.
UM, THE FREE HAS JUST GOT SOLD.
WOULD THEY ALSO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS? UH, I BELIEVE ALL THIS WILL GO UNDER THE MASTER PERMIT FOR IF THEY ARE PART OF THE LINCOLN ROAD BID, THEY, THEY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.
SO AS LONG AS YOU'RE PART OF THE BID, YOU CAN BE CONSIDERED.
AND, UM, DO WE KNOW ROUGHLY HOW MANY, UM, BUSINESSES COULD BE A PART OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM? UH, AT THIS TIME WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO TO THREE TO START.
UM, THAT NUMBER COULD BE MORE OR LESS DEPENDING ON THE LOCATIONS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING.
UH, IT SHOULD START AS RELATIVELY MINOR FOOTPRINT AT FIRST.
I, I THINK YOU SEE THAT WE'RE EAGER TO MOVE THIS ALONG.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, GET OFF TANGENT HERE, BUT IT, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.
I'M NOT SURE WHO I'M DIRECTING THIS TO, BUT IF IT'S APPLICABLE TO ANYBODY, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE THIS ICE CREAM SHOP TO OPEN? UM, I KNOW COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ WAS A HUGE CHAMPION OF THIS, UH, MOVING THIS ALONG, BUT THIS WAS A PRETTY WELL RENOWNED ICE CREAM SHOP.
DID IT, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, YEARS TO OPEN.
AND WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT A NEW RESTAURANT OPENING ON LINCOLN ROAD, UH, IN THE COMING WEEKS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO OPEN, UH, ANOTHER TENANT, MR. NICE GUY.
UM, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS.
ANYBODY WANT TO COME UP AND SAY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I MEAN, TELL ME HOW AN ICE CREAM SHOP, HOW MANY SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM THEY'RE EXPECTED TO SELL, TO COVER RENT COSTS TO CONVERTING FOR A YEAR.
MAYBE MAYBE THESE ARE NORMAL TIMEFRAMES, BUT ANYBODY WANNA SPEAK ON THAT? AND ANYBODY
AND, AND NOT YOU PARTICULARLY, IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? IS IT NOT? ARE WE GONNA FIX IT? COME BACK AND FOLLOW UP NEXT MEETING? ANYBODY TAKERS? NO.
WELL, IT'S A GOOD MESSAGE FOR FUTURE ICE CREAM SHOPS LOOKING TO OPEN MR. CFO.
I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IF YOU WANTED, I MEAN, HAVE THE, I THINK I HAVE THE MOTION, BUT IF IT WAS TO GO BACK TO COMMISSION, BUT IF YOU ALSO WANTED TO RETAIN I THINK IT'S NO.
SO, SO THE MOTION IS FOR ONE YEAR.
SO WE'RE AMENDING THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE ITEM.
UH, SO IT'S, IT'S, SO IT'S ONE YEAR AND, AND, AND, UH, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE, YOU'RE, YOU ARE SO ON POINT, UH, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE SELF-AWARE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES IN OUR ECONOMY AND CHALLENGES IN A PEDESTRIAN MALL LIKE LINCOLN ROAD, A LOT OF IT IS, IS OUR OWN DOING.
AND WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AS A GOVERNMENT.
WE NEED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESSES, UH, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S IT'S CHALLENGES THAT ARE UNSUSTAINABLE.
AND I HOPE WITH A NEW CITY ADMINISTRATION THAT, UH, THAT IS RESONATING, THE NEW BUILDING DIRECTOR THAT'S COMING IN IS, WILL TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESSES, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO CONTINUE SUFFERING YEARS OF BEING EMPTY AND HAVING TO PAY RENT.
BUT SPEAKING OF RENT, YOU KNOW, THE SAME WAY THAT WE ARE SELF, SELF-AWARE THAT, THAT WE ARE A BIG PROBLEM IN THIS AS A GOVERNMENT, OUR BUREAUCRACY, OUR RED TAPE, OUR PROCESS.
LET'S LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL.
LANDLORDS NEED TO BE SELF-AWARE AS WELL.
LANDLORDS ARE PRICING OUT SMALL BUSINESSES FROM OUR CITY, LANDLORDS WHO ARE NOT, UH, OFFERING, UH, AN APPROPRIATE RENT ARE MAKING IT HARD TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO OUR CITY.
SO WE ARE SELF AWARE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE.
BUT GOING FORWARD, I WANT, I WANT TO, AND I WAS MAKING A POINT TO SAY THIS IN THIS MEETING MOVING FORWARD,
[00:15:02]
I'M GOING TO BE THINKING TWICE ABOUT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT COME FROM THESE, UM, BUSINESS DISTRICTS UNTIL I SEE WHAT THE LANDLORDS THEMSELVES ARE DOING TO CREATE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.HOW LONG HAS SPACES BEEN EMPTY? HOW MUCH MORE ARE THEY CHARGING COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS WHERE, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE VACANCY RATES AREN'T AS HIGH, AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING RECENTLY TO, TO IMPROVE THAT? BECAUSE ALL THAT I HEAR FROM, FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS THAT THE LANDLORDS ARE PUSHING THEM OUT.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS WELL AS ADDRESSING OUR OWN INTERNAL CHALLENGES WITH OUR RED TAPE AND OUR BUREAUCRACY COMMISSIONER, AS LONG AS WE'RE ALL JUST TALKING ABOUT WHATEVER WE WANT, I'M JUST GONNA BRING ABOUT ON LINCOLN ROAD.
UM, YESTERDAY I HAPPENED TO BE WITH ANOTHER BUSINESS OWNER.
AND JASON, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS, BUT I'M HOPING THAT IN THE MONTHS MOVING FORWARD, UM, WE WERE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOWER OR GIVE SOME RELIEF TO THE PRICES OF THE SIDEWALK CAFES.
UM, I KNOW OF ONE RESTAURANT, UM, WHO'S GONNA CLOSE HIS DOORS IF WE DON'T, HE SAID, I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE.
UH, AND I THINK I'VE THOUGHT SO MUCH ABOUT THIS, AND I THINK THE REASON THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IS BECAUSE THE DELANO, THE SHORE CLUB, THE SHELL BORNE THE RALEIGH, EVERY SINGLE HOTEL IS CLOSED RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE ALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S THE EMPTIEST I'VE EVER SEEN IT.
SO I'M, I'M NOT, IT'S NOT ON THIS AGENDA.
BUT JASON, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE ROLL BACK FEES, YOU CAN, I DO NOT.
I WANNA GIVE RELIEF TO, UH, AND, AND, AND WE JUST GAVE RELIEF TO 41ST STREET.
THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR SIDEWALK CAFES.
NOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT LINCOLN ROAD DOES NOT HAVE TO, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THAT WILL BE, BUT I AM GOING TO BRING AN ITEM MOVING FORWARD THAT THREE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, ESPECIALLY, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY WAS SHOWING ME THEIR SEATING YESTERDAY, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH, BUT THE FEES HAVE INCREASED SO EXPONENTIALLY THAT TO HAVE AN OUTDOOR CAFE AT THIS POINT IS $50,000 IN ADDITION TO THEIR RENT.
I THINK THAT THE, THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT, UM, THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW ON LINCOLN ROAD ARE ALSO ASKING US IN THE INTERIM, UNTIL THESE LARGE HOTELS MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THEIR CONSTRUCTIONS, THEY NEED RELIEF TOO.
AND, UM, AND I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T, I DO NOT WANNA INCREASE, UH, THEIR FEES.
IT, IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT INCREASE WILL BE, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS WILL CONSIDER THIS BECAUSE CAN YOU IMAGINE MORE RESTAURANTS CLOSING ON LINCOLN ROAD RIGHT NOW? IT CAN'T, WE CAN'T HAVE IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET THEM OPEN.
SO, BY THE WAY, THERE ARE NEW RESTAURANTS OPENING.
I SAID I WAS GONNA BE A CHEERLEADER.
YOU'VE GOT THE NEGRONI SUSHI OPENING AND ANDREAS CARNE DURES ALAN CAST SOMETHING CALLED ORDO THAT SOUNDS VERY COOL AND HIP.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME NEW STUFF OPENING, BUT IT IS TAKING TOO LONG.
BUT, AND, AND MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY, I'M SORRY BECAUSE COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ BRINGS UP A GREAT POINT, ESPECIALLY DURING SLOW SEASON.
WE NEED TO GIVE MAYBE A, A FEE, A FEE HOLIDAY, UH, TO, TO, TO THE SIDEWALK CAFES DURING SLOW SEASON.
BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS, AND I'M GLAD THAT THE BID IS HERE BECAUSE I WANT THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO HEAR ME WHEN I SAY THIS.
I WILL ONLY SUPPORT, AND I WOULD URGE US AS A COMMISSION TO ONLY SUPPORT A, UH, FEE HOLIDAY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LANDLORDS ARE WILLING TO OFFER A BREAK TO THEIR TENANTS DURING THOSE PERIODS OF TIMES.
BECAUSE THE, THE LANDLORDS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, PROFITING HERE LEFT AND RIGHT ON THIS.
THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY CHARGE PEOPLE MORE RENT BECAUSE OF THE FRONTAGE THAT THEY HAVE ON THE, ON THE SIDEWALK.
AND THEY'RE THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED TO OFFER A DISCOUNT ON THOSE FEES, BUT THE LANDLORDS NEED TO SHOW SKIN IN THE GAME AND COOPERATE WITH THIS BECAUSE WE ARE HELPING THEIR TENANTS.
DO YOU WANNA SPON THIS? I'LL BE HAPPY TO JOIN YOU.
SO JASON, WE'VE ALREADY GOT TWO VOTES FOR THIS.
WE NEED YOU TO ROLL IT BACK AND DISCOUNT IT SINCE I GUESS THIS IS JUST FESTIVUS AND WE'RE ALL AIRING OUR GRIEVANCES
UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, ONE KIND OF PIGGYBACKING ON MY POINT I MADE EARLIER ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES MIAMI BEACH TO OPEN A STORE.
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO DO CONSTRUCTION HERE? RIGHT? I, I THINK WE, WE NEED SOME ANSWERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY OUT THERE IN THE ABYSS THAT WANTS TO TAKE THIS ON AS A CHALLENGE OR A PROJECT, BUT WHY DOES IT TAKE THE RALEIGH SO LONG TO BUILD WHEN ENTIRE CITIES, QUITE LITERALLY ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE BAY HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO DO ONE BUILDING HERE? RIGHT.
IT, IT JUST DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE.
[00:20:01]
THESE ARE ALL GREAT PROJECTS THAT WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT, BUT THESE ARE YEARS IN THE MAKING.HOW LONG HAVE WE ALL SAT THERE AND BEEN LIKE, WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE, UH, RALEIGH COMING SO EXCITED ABOUT THE DELANO, WHEN, WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG IN THE CITY TO GET THINGS DONE? IT'S AN ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'LL SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID ABOUT THE ALL THE HOTELS BEING CLOSED AND THE NEED FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
BUT I'LL ALSO, YOU KNOW, PIGGYBACK AND SAY IT'S FULL-TIME RESIDENTS THAT WE LOST, THAT SUPPORTED A LOT OF THESE SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE OWNER OF THE ROCK WHO SAID IN THE MIAMI NEW TIMES WHEN THEY HAD TO CLOSE ON LINCOLN ROAD, HE SAID, WE USED TO HAVE A GREAT RESIDENTIAL HAPPY HOUR.
IF YOU LOOK AT YARD HOUSE, RIGHT, THAT IS A, THAT IS KIND OF A MOM AND POP LOCAL BUSINESS WITH OTHER LOCATIONS, BUT IT'S A PLACE THAT'S FREQUENTED BY RESIDENTS.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL POPULATION TO SUPPORT THAT.
IF YOU LOOK AT A PLACE LIKE BOOKS AND BOOKS, RIGHT, WHO'S GONNA GO TO BOOKS AND BOOKS, FULL-TIME RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE THAT ARE GONNA WALK OVER AT 10:00 AM TO GRAB THEIR MORNING COFFEE AND BREAKFAST.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE LOST AS WELL, NOT JUST THE HOTELS.
SO, UH, I THINK IN CONJUNCTION, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.
SO, UH, THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS, BUT, UH, I, I IMAGINE I'LL BE PROUD TO, UH, CO-SPONSOR THAT WITH YOU ALL AS WELL.
AND IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT POSSIBLY WHEN YOU'VE WAITED A YEAR OR TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS TO OPEN YOUR RESTAURANT, YOUR FIRST SIX MONTHS OF SIDEWALK CAFE PERMITTING FEES SHOULD BE ON US BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN US SO LONG TO GET IT OPEN.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT THEY'RE REALLY SUFFERING AND WE WANNA INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE.
SO, AND, AND THAT THAT'S NOT A BIG COST.
IT'S NO COST TO US, ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
I THINK WE WERE GONNA SAY, ONLY THE COMMISSIONERS CAN AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES.
NO, AND JUST IF YOU NEED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE HEAVIEST HIT AREAS, IN WHICH AREAS, UH, 'CAUSE ESSENTIALLY, I, I DO GET THAT, UH, COMPLAINT A LOT ABOUT THE FEES AND ALL THAT.
SO ANY INFORMATION YOU MIGHT NEED REGARDING THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO PASS ALONG.
YEAH, IF WE DON'T DO THIS RELIEF, WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE.
WE'RE GONNA SEE RESTAURANTS CLOSE.
AND BY THE WAY, I'M NOT GONNA OUT THE PERSON WHO TOLD ME, BUT IT'S A RESTAURANT, THE RESTAURANTS THAT, THAT RESIDENTS DO FREQUENT ON LINCOLN ROAD, AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR DECADES, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT GOING OUTTA BUSINESS IS SO SCARY TO ME THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN.
IF I COULD, UH, GET BACK TO THE MOTION.
I BELIEVE THE MOTION IS TO RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH THE LINCOLN ROAD BID TO ESTABLISH THE ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM AS PRESENTED.
WELL, LET, LET'S USE THAT AS THE LEEWAY.
[NB 5. DISCUSS THE CREATION OF LEASING INCENTIVES FOR OWNERS OF VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES]
LET'S MOVE TO NB FIVE.I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD, UH, UH, PIGGYBACKING, SORRY FOR USING THAT WORD FOR THE THIRD TIME, BY 11:00 AM UM, DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE CREATION OF INCENTIVES FOR OWNERS OF VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, THE LEAST VACANT SPACES.
I SHAW, I WAS SITTING BACK THERE SAYING, OH, THIS IS MY WHOLE POSITION.
UM, I THINK WE'VE HAD A BIG ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, UM, FOR, UH, THIS ITEM.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO SOME RESEARCH FOR ACTUALLY A LARGER ITEM THAT WE'RE BRINGING BACK IN JANUARY.
BUT, UM, WE DID SOME RESEARCH IN LOOKING AT THE DO THE BEST PRACTICES OF OTHER CITIES.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS HERE THAT, UM, WE ARE DOING TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES AND ALSO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE, UM, THESE VACANT STOREFRONT COVERS FOR THE, THE STORES THAT ARE GOING OUT.
AND ACTUALLY, LINCOLN ROAD IS PROBABLY OUR, ONE OF THE LARGEST AREAS WHERE WE HAVE THE, UH, STOREFRONT COVERS.
AND LAST YEAR I THINK WE DID 62, WHICH IS A LOT.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THEM IS THAT WE ARE GOING BACK TO ALL OF THOSE, THOSE BUSINESSES AND SAYING, OKAY, WE, WE COVERED YOUR BUSINESS.
WE MADE IT PRETTY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ACTIVATE AND, AND, AND FIND TENANTS? AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT YOU AND HELP YOU NAVIGATE OR WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, TO HELP YOU, UM, NOT HAVE TO USE THESE STOREFRONT COVERS.
BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A FEW WHO'VE COME BACK AFTER A YEAR SAYING, UM, IF THEY'VE HAD SOME GRAFFITI OR WHAT HAVE YOU, UM, WANTING TO DO THEM AGAIN.
AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, WHAT DO, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN A YEAR TO GET TENANTS INTO YOUR SPACE? UM, WE ALSO HAVE, OBVIOUSLY OUR JCIP WAS A JOB CREATION PROGRAM, THAT'S AN INCENTIVE TO GET NEW BUSINESSES.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE EXPEDITED PLAN REVIEW, UM, WHICH IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF NEW BUSINESSES LIKE TO DO.
AND THAT, THAT PROGRAM ACTUALLY EXPEDITES THE WHOLE PROCESS OF GETTING PERMITS AND GETTING THEM OPEN.
FOR US, IT'S, IT'S LIMITED TO, UH, TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND, UM, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE BRINGING THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN.
BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES, UM, COME TO US AND SAY, HELP US WALK THROUGH.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND I KNOW LAR ON A LARGER SCALE, WE AS A CITY ARE LOOKING AT HOW, UM, UM, WITH OUR NEW BUILDING, UM, DIRECTOR, HOW WE CAN EXPEDITE THAT AS WELL FOR OTHER
[00:25:01]
BUSINESSES.BUT WHEN WE LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES, UM, TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO ENCOURAGE PROPERTY OWNERS TO, UM, GET NEW TENANTS, UM, A LOT OF THEM WERE DOING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE WERE DOING FACADE PROGRAMS, DOING, UM, SMALL GRANTS, UM, TO BUSINESSES.
UM, BUT SOME OF THE NEWER ONES ARE GIVING GRANTS, WHICH WE DON'T DO, GIVE GRANTS TO NEW BUSINESSES FOR STARTUPS OR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GIVE THEM MONEY TO HELP THEM IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF, UH, STAYING IN EXISTENCE.
THAT'S, IT'S KIND OF HARD AS, AS YOU ALL DISCUSSED A SECOND AGO, RENTS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH FOR MIAMI BEACH.
AND IF YOU ARE RENTING A SPACE AND THEN IT TAKES YOU SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR TO OPEN AND YOU'RE PAYING RENT, IF YOU PUT ASIDE SOME MONEY, YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA OPEN UP A LOT QUICKER AND NOW YOU'RE DEPLETED OF MONEY, AND THEN IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO SUCCEED AND YOU'RE TOO.
SO HOW WE CAN HELP THEM DO THAT.
UM, THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE, UM, UH, IN ADDITION TO GRANTS DOING ABATEMENTS, ABATING, UM, PERMIT, UM, COSTS, WHICH YOU ALL JUST DISCUSSED, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, UM, TAX ABATEMENTS, UM, THAT THEY HAVE AS WELL.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, CITIES THAT ARE DOING SIMILAR THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
AND, AND SOME OF THE THINGS JUST SEEM TO BE NATURAL THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY ENGAGE IN.
AND WE'LL GIVE THAT FULL REPORT TO YOU AFTER DOING ALL OF THIS.
BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH, UM, WHAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING THAT IT, THE CITY CAN COME UP WITH A LOT OF PROGRAMS AND HAVE A LOT OF MONEY ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE PROGRAMS, BUT IT ISN'T A ONE WAY STREET.
WE HAVE TO DO IT IN, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND OUR OWNERS.
THE OWNERS REALLY HAVE TO BE PART OF THIS.
UM, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE MORE AND MORE EMPTY SPACES AS MUCH AS WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR THEM, IF THE RENT KEEPS GOING UP AND OUR RENT FOR MIAMI BEACH IS, IS TYPICALLY HIGHER THAN THE MOST OF FLORIDA.
UM, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT PLACES LIKE WHAT, JUST DISCUSSING ON LINCOLN ROAD, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE RENTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, UPWARDS OF $300 SQUARE FOOT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR BUSINESSES TO COME IN OPEN, OPERATE, BUILD OUT, AND THEN SUCCEED.
UM, SO, UM, SO WE'RE GONNA COME BACK, BUT I, I WANTED TO ALSO JUST LET YOU KNOW THE RESEARCH THAT WE WERE DOING AND IF YOU HAD ANY OTHER DIRECTION THAT YOU WANTED US TO, TO TAKE, I, I APPRECIATE THAT HAW.
AND ONE THING I'D LIKE TO WORK, UH, WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAND IN HAND WITH OVER THE NEXT MONTH IS REALLY DOING AN ANALYSIS OF HOW OUR CITY IS GROWING.
BECAUSE THAT'S MY BIGGEST FEAR IS I BELIEVE WE'RE JUST OVER COMMERCIALIZED, RIGHT? WE HAVEN'T GROWN IN THE RIGHT WAYS.
IF YOU LOOK AT SOUTH OF FIFTH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PREEMINENT DINING DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD, RIGHT? WE'RE GONNA HAVE OVER A THOUSAND NEW RESTAURANT SEATS COMING ONLINE.
AND WE HAVE, LIKE I SAID, NO POPULATION GROWTH.
WHERE IS ALL THAT DEMAND GOING TO BE ABSORBED FROM? AND THIS IS COMING AT A TIME WHEN THERE'S MORE FORMIDABLE OPTIONS ACROSS THE BAY AS WELL, RIGHT? AND WE'VE SEEN THE, UH, RESORT TAXES AFTER COVID.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MIAMI BEACH, IT'S JUST THE CHANGE OF THE WORLD.
SO EXPECTING 2022 SPENDING TO BE OUR BASELINE IS JUST UNREALISTIC.
SO WE'RE ALREADY GONNA HAVE A DAMPENING IN SPENDING AND JUST IN THAT AREA, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A THOUSAND NEW RESTAURANT SEATS COMING ONLINE.
AS EXCITING AS WE ALL ARE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED, IF NOT A THOUSAND NEW RESTAURANT SEATS COMING ONLINE THERE.
WHO'S GOING TO BE EATING AT ALL THESE PLACES, RIGHT? YEAH.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY SOME OF THESE COMMERCIAL SPACES ARE VACANT.
IF YOU GO DOWN, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DO A CORRIDOR BY CORRIDOR ANALYSIS.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR, UM, ART DECO HISTORIC SHOPPING DISTRICT ON COLLINS AVENUE FROM FIFTH TO 13TH STREET, WHAT IS GOING ON? I'M NOT, I'M JUST ASKING.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT IS AN 80% VACANCY THERE.
WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT WASHINGTON AVENUE UNDER THE GOOD TIMES HOTEL AND THINGS LIKE THAT, 50% VACANCY, WE, WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT LONG AND HARD BECAUSE YES, THERE'S SOME THINGS LIKE RENT, HIGH, RENT THINGS, BUT IT'S ALSO AN ECOSYSTEM THAT I THINK WE MAY BE GETTING WRONG.
COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ, YOU ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE, SHOPLIFTING, THAT'S WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND ALL OF THESE BUSINESSES OPENED UP, I SAW, WHAT IS IT, LIKE A FOREVER 21 STYLE STORE OPEN ON EIGHTH AND COLLINS.
AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS SAID, OH, YOU KNOW, THE LONGTIME SOUTH BEACH PROPERTY OWNERS, THEY OPENED IT AND THERE WAS NO POLICE PRESENCE AND WE WERE, THEY WERE GETTING SHOPLIFTED LIKE CRAZY.
SO THEY CLOSED AND ONE AFTER ANOTHER BECAUSE WE WERE NOT POLICING THE AREA AND THERE WERE DRUG DEALERS GOING OUT ON THE STREETS.
AND AT ONE POINT, ACTUALLY DURING COVID THAT THERE WAS LIKE A STREET TAKEOVER ON COLLINS.
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? WHEN THE STREET WAS JUST TAKEN OVER.
SO YEAH, THEY, THEY LEFT, BUT NOW WE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE.
[00:30:01]
HERE, I THINK IS THE BIGGEST THING.YOU KNOW, WE DID SPRING BREAK LAST YEAR, DON'T COME.
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR, WHICH IS GONNA BE GREAT.
BUT WE'RE NOT SAYING COME BACK
SO YOU'RE SAYING DON'T COME, DON'T COME.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BREAKING.
AND I GET THAT GOOD MESSAGE, BUT YOU'RE NOT COUNTERBALANCING IT WITH A COUNTER CAMPAIGN.
I ACTUALLY HAVE AN ITEM COMING FORWARD SAYING, ALRIGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S SPEND THE 200,000 ON SPRING BREAK.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT SAVED US AND SAVED A CR THAT REALLY WAS A GAME CHANGER.
BUT NOW LET'S SPEND AN ADDITIONAL 200,000.
ONE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WE COULD DO, HEATHER, AND I THINK YOU NEED TO APPROACH DERM, IS GO INTO THESE SPACES.
LET THE PROPERTY OWNERS KNOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO DERM AND WE'RE GONNA SAY, IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING KITCHEN, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A TWO OR THREE YEAR ABATEMENT ON YOUR GREASE TRAP AND ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO UPGRADE SO THAT YOU CAN GO IN AND OPEN UP.
BECAUSE THE BIG FEAR AS PEOPLE COME IN, WHERE DO WE GET STUCK IN THE, WHERE DO WE GET STUCK IN THE PROCESS? THEY GET STUCK IN DURHAM.
IF YOU COULD GET US THIS ABATEMENT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, EVERY EXISTING KITCHEN ON MIAMI BEACH, GET THEM THAT TWO, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, LET'S SAY TWO YEARS.
THAT WAY THEY CAN OPEN UP AND THEN ONCE THEY START MAKING, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY, THEY CAN GET PAST THAT OBSTACLE AND THEN GO BACK AND UPDATE THEIR GREASE TRAPS.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A GAME CHANGER.
SO I, THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO INCENTIVIZE WOULD BE TO SEND OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE COUNTY AND ASK FOR INSTANT ABATEMENTS FOR ALL EXISTING RESTAURANT PROJECTS.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? YEAH, AND AND I, I LOVE THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN.
ACTUALLY, I HAVE AN ITEM ON THIS MONTH'S, UH, COMMISSION AGENDA FOR EXACTLY THAT.
AND MR. CITY ATTORNEY MAY EVEN BE IN THE EXACT AMOUNT.
I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN AS A PRIME SPONSOR.
I JUST TO, JUST TO INTERRUPT, I BELIEVE THAT THE, THE CITY DOES HAVE A NEW POSITIVE, UM, UM, CAMPAIGN THAT'S ON THAT CAME AFTER BREAKING UP WITH YOU.
I THINK IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS.
LIKE COME BACK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MORE MATURE.
WE WANT YOU THE MORE MATURE PERSON IT'S BEEN ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I, I DEFER TO COMMUNICATIONS TO, TO, TO, DID WE BLAST IT? LIKE HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND? IS IT INTERNATIONAL? I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT'S WORKING.
LIKE PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME AND WE KEEP SAYING, I ASKED FOR THE PROPERTY, I ASKED FOR THE TOURISM TAX NUMBERS FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, WHICH HAD JUST COME IN A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
BUT, UM, BUSINESS OWNERS ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY PAY, THEY'RE PAID THIS YEAR, 20% LESS TAXES.
I THINK THE RESTAURANTS ARE GETTING HIT HARDER THAN ANYONE ELSE.
SO WE'RE SEEING THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT WORKING, RIGHT? SO I HAVE WHATEVER THE CAMPAIGN IS, WE NEED MORE.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ABATEMENTS.
WE'RE DOING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCENTIVES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TABLES WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING AS A PILOT PROGRAM ON LINCOLN ROAD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ADVERTISING THAT POTENTIALLY WE COULD, UH, BE DOING.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE ALSO HAVE FIND YOUR WAVE AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.
THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH A-G-N-C-V-B MM-HMM
THAT'S A BIG CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE.
SO, BUT, SO THE CITY IS DOING STUFF AND WE'RE GONNA BE DOING MORE BECAUSE THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
THE BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE.
AND I GO BACK, WHO IS SOMEONE WE'RE NOT HEARING FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER? WHAT IS THE PROPERTY OWNER DOING? WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO HELP? WE'RE DOING AN ABATEMENT.
WHAT IS THE PROPERTY OWNER DOING TO HELP WITH THESE SITUATIONS? AND, AND, AND, AND I AGREE WITH ALL OF US.
THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE RED TAPE AND THE PROCESS AND DERMA THE COUNTY.
WE ARE VERY MUCH SELF-AWARE OF THAT.
BUT I REALLY DO THINK THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN, WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.
AND THAT IF WE ARE DOING ALL OF THIS AND WE'RE GIVING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY TO DO SUBSIDIES AND INCENTIVES, THAT DOESN'T GO TO THE POCKET OF THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
LET'S BE VERY CLEAR WHERE THAT GOES TO.
THAT GOES TO THE LARGE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE ASKING FOR THESE VERY OUT OF SCALE RENTS THAT HAVE PUSHED OUT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY FROM MIAMI BEACH.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO BALANCE OFF THE, UH, SCALE ON THIS? WE'RE GOING, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF SUB CITY, BUT THIS SCALE NEEDS TO BE BALANCED.
AND I WANNA SEE THAT WHILE WE ARE DOING A LOT AND BRINGING A LOT TO THE TABLE, I AM GOING TO BE SEEING, AND I'M GONNA NEED TO, TO SEE AS PART OF ANY OF THIS, WHAT IS, WHAT ARE
[00:35:01]
THE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS DOING? BECAUSE THOSE, THEY HAVE DEEPER POCKETS THAN WHAT THIS CITY OR OUR TAXPAYERS DO.UH, COMMISSIONER BOT AND COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.
FIRST OF ALL, JUST FROM A PRAGMATIC STANDPOINT, I, I APPRECIATE THE DIRECTION COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ'S, UM, TALKING ABOUT WITH THE DERM AND THE GREASE TRAPS FROM, BUT FROM A PRACTICAL OPERATIONS STANDPOINT, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, I I'VE NEVER HAD TO DO A GREASE TRAP ABATEMENT OR UPDATE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN EVEN BE DONE ONCE THE RESTAURANT IS OPEN IN TERMS OF LIKE, WOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO CLOSE THE RESTAURANT FOR A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? YEAH, SO, BUT BUT ALSO WITH DERM, AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT THE COMMISSIONER WAS SAYING, WHEN YOU'RE COMING IN AS A NEW BUSINESS, GETTING YOUR BTR, YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH DERM FIRST BEFORE YOU, YOU'LL EVEN GET A BTR, RIGHT? WE, WE WON'T ISSUE BTRS WITHOUT HAVING APPROVAL FROM DERM.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? UM, I'M SEEING THAT IF YOU'RE EXISTING AND YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE DERM PROCESS, WE WANT DERM TO GIVE YOU THE AUTOMATIC APPROVAL WITH AN ABATEMENT LIKE TWO YEARS LATER.
THEY BETTER BE IN COMPLIANCE BECAUSE WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY INCREASED REQUIREMENTS.
AND BY THE WAY, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY STAY HOME AND OPEN AND CHANGE A GREASE STRAP.
IT'S NOT EVEN INSIDE THE KITCHEN.
THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
YEAH, I MEAN, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, I'VE SEEN ABATEMENTS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED ONE, YOU CAN GO TO THE COUNTY IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY THERE AND EXPLAIN THE SITUATION AND, AND GET AN ABATEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT.
I JUST, I HAVEN'T HAD TO DO THAT YET IN MY LIFE.
SO, AND HOPEFULLY NEVER WILL HAVE TO DO THAT IN MY LIFE, RIGHT? THEY'RE KIND OF GROSS, BUT WE DEAL WITH DERM I GUESS, BEFORE THEY'RE STARTING AND THEN ALSO DERM.
SO A COUPLE OF OTHER POINTS THAT I JUST WANTED TO, UM, CLARIFY.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT, THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE HAVE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO RATHER LEAVE THEIR STORE, THEIR BUILDINGS VACANT THAN TAKE IN A TENANT BECAUSE THEY CAN TAKE A BIGGER TAX LOSS OR WHATEVER IT IS.
SO I KNOW NORTH BEACH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VACANCIES OF, OF, UH, STANDALONE BUILDINGS EVEN, UH, THAT HAVE JUST, NOBODY'S TOUCHING THEM.
NOBODY'S INTERESTED BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY PUT IT TO ME, UM, WHO'S ON THE INSIDE OF THIS.
THEY'RE WAITING TO GET AN OFFER FROM TARGET TO BUY OUT THEIR, THEIR LAND.
AND SO THEY'RE JUST SITTING ON, UH, AND NOT LITERALLY TARGET, BUT SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND BUY THEIR LAND.
SO THEY'RE SITTING ON WHAT COULD BE REALLY GREAT LAND COULD BE USED FOR IN, IN ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION WITH MODIFICATIONS.
YOU KNOW, OUR POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE HAS TO RENT SPACE IN NORTH BAY VILLAGE BECAUSE THE SPACE WHERE THEY USED TO DO THEIR KIDS' BOXING PROGRAM IS NOW, UM, SITTING VACANT AND DEFUNCT BECAUSE THE LANDLORD, THE, THE PROPERTY OWNER JUST RATHER KEEP IT VACANT.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S APPALLING TO ME.
AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW WE, WE LIVE IN A STATE THAT VALUES PROPERTY RIGHTS AND I DON'T BEGRUDGE ANYBODY, UM, YOU KNOW, SELLING THEIR PROPERTY, MAKING A KILLING.
I MEAN IT, EVERYBODY WHO CAN DO THAT IS GREAT.
BUT, UM, IN THE INTERIM, WHAT CAN WE DO? AND I GUESS IT'S MORE OF A LEGAL QUESTION FOR A FUTURE DISCUSSION OF WHAT CAN WE DO TO, UH, ENCOURAGE IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE WAY PEOPLE SITTING ON LAND, ON, ON PROPERTIES TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED OR, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN WOULD PAY RENT.
SO, UM, THAT'S A, A DEEP FRUSTRATION OF MINE.
UM, AND I DID HAVE A THIRD POINT, BUT IT HAS ESCAPED.
SO I'LL BOTHER YOU WHEN I COME BACK WITH IT.
I HAD A, A, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA AND I WORKED WITH RAQUEL FOR SIX MONTHS COMING UP WITH A PROPERTY REGISTRATION.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAX OR GIVE A VIOLATION TO ANY OWNER KEEPING THEIR PROPERTY VACANT.
THE BID WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS, BY THE WAY, WHEN WE PROPOSED THIS, BECAUSE WHAT WE WERE DOING WAS CREATING A VACANCY REGISTRATION.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS IF YOU'RE VACANT, WHAT, WHAT DID WE SAY, RAQUEL? OVER THREE MONTHS YOU HAVE TO REGISTER OKAY.
AND THEN WE START TO CHARGE YOU REGISTRATION FEES,
AND EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT SEE IT AS PUNITIVE AND THE BID OWNERS DID NOT LIKE IT.
I THINK IT IS THE ONLY WAY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE REASON THAT THOSE RENTS ARE SO HIGH AND THE REASON THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO BRING THE RENT DOWN.
AND SOMEBODY, PROPERTY OWNER EXPLAINED THIS TO ME YESTERDAY 'CAUSE I WOULD'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF IT LIKE THIS, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS BECAUSE THEY CAN GET MORE MONEY OUT OF A BANK.
THEY CAN GO TO THE BANK, RIGHT? RIGHT.
AND SAY, UH, WE'RE EXPECTING A MILLION DOLLARS IN RENT PER YEAR WITH THAT INFLATED PRICE THAT THEY HAVE ON THE MARKET, WHICH EVERYBODY KNOWS NOBODY'S GOING TO RENT SOMETHING AT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS, $350 PER SQUARE FOOT AND A THREE YEAR BUILDUP.
AND SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA LOWER THAT TO $500,000 PER YEAR BECAUSE THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO TAKE OUT LESS MONEY ON THEIR PROPERTY.
SO THEY'RE USING THESE VACANCIES AND THESE ELEVATED RENTS TO FINANCE
[00:40:01]
AND PULL OUT LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY.SO WE'RE SUFFERING AND THEY'RE JUST PLAYING AROUND WITH THE MONEY BECAUSE MAYBE THE PROPERTIES HAD BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS, WHICH IS WHY I CREATED THIS WITH RAQUEL, THIS VACANCY, WHAT DID WE CALL IT? VACANCY REGISTRATION? I, I THINK IT WAS A VACANCY REGISTRATION PROGRAM.
AND JUST, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I THINK YOU DETERMINED THAT YOU DIDN'T WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AT THAT TIME.
WE HADN'T, BUT WE HAVE IT AND WE WORKED ON IT AND IT WAS A LOT OF WORK.
AND IF WE SPONSOR IT, I THINK IT'S GOING TO, IN SOME WAYS ENCOURAGE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT HEAVY HANDED.
I MEAN, WHAT DID WE SAY? HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO BE VACANT BEFORE YOU JOIN THE CLUB? THE VACANCY LIST? WELL, I, I THINK IF I RECALL, THERE WERE CERTAIN EXCLUSIONS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF A VACANT PROPERTY WAS GOING THROUGH A PERMITTING PROCESS OR THERE WAS AN EXISTING LEASE ASSOCIATED WITH A FUTURE TENANT, THEN THAT PROPERTY WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED.
BUT I, I THINK IT WAS ANYWHERE BETWEEN THREE AND SIX MONTHS.
AND THEN WE CAN MAKE THE FEES, WHATEVER WE WANT.
AND THIS WAY IF, IF THERE IS THIS COMPONENT THEY WANT, THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY LEASE OUT THEIR PROPERTIES.
SO IF WE MADE THE FEES PUNISHING ENOUGH, SO I, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT A COPY OF IT, I'M SURE THAT RAQUEL CAN CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU.
AND IF YOU WANNA BRING IT BACK, I WOULD LOVE TO BRING THIS BACK BECAUSE I THINK YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE.
SO YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT ON THE PROBLEMS ABOUT IF YOU LOCK IN LOWER RENTS, YOU'RE ABLE TO PULL LESS MONEY OUT.
THEY COULD EVEN HAVE A MORTGAGE THAT THEY WOULD VIOLATE A COVENANT IF THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A LOWER RENT, UM, FOR THE PROP, UH, VACANCY TAX OR, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, SOME FORM OF IT.
INTUITIVELY IT SOUNDS LIKE A, A GOOD IDEA.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S SOME PRETTY CONCLUSIVE ACADEMIC RESEARCH AROUND THE, THE DOWNFALLS OF THAT I, I'M HAPPY TO EXPLORE.
BUT, UH, I THINK ESPECIALLY DOING IT JUST KIND OF OFF THE CUFF WOULD, WOULD BE A BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR ME.
I WOULD ENVISION I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD STUDY PRETTY EXTENSIVELY BECAUSE THIS WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST MUNICIPALITY TO TRY THAT.
SO I'D RATHER LOOK THE REAL WORLD EXAMPLES TO SEE IF THAT WORKED OR DID NOT WORK.
UM, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, UH, DO THAT AS WELL.
UM, 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO RECREATE THE WHEEL HERE.
WE, WE CAN LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS ALREADY DONE.
AND IF IT'S, IF IT WAS SUCCESSFUL AND I'M WRONG, COME BACK AND TELL ME, AND I'LL, I'LL ALTER MY VIEW.
BUT FROM ME FOLLOWING THIS FROM AFAR, I, I DO THINK THERE'S PRETTY CONCLUSIVE, UH, RESEARCH OUT THERE, MR. CHAIR.
WE CAN DEFINITELY COME BACK WITH THE DETAILS OF THE POTENTIAL PROGRAM.
I KNOW THAT AT THE TIME WE DID LOOK AT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO TAKE SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES.
WE EVEN CALLED MANY OF THEM AND GOT FEEDBACK.
AND SO WE'LL BE HAPPY TO BRING IT BACK FOR A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION.
AND, AND, AND MR. CHAIR, I, I GET THE POINT THAT IF, IF A LANDLORD OFFERS A REDUCED RENT, THEY MIGHT BE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR MORTGAGE.
BUT YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY TOO, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN STILL ENTER, ENTER INTO, INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT.
AND THE SAME WAY THAT THE CITY MIGHT OFFER A SUBSIDY OR MIGHT OFFER SOME SORT OF INCENTIVE, THEY TOO CAN OFFER A SUBSIDY OR THEY TOO CAN OFFER AN INCENTIVE, A MATCH, IF YOU WILL.
SO LIKE, I NEED TO SEE IF THE TAXPAYERS ARE, IS PUTTING MONEY ON THE TABLE, WHAT ARE THESE LANDLORDS MATCHING IT WITH? AND I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT 'CAUSE I GET YOUR POINT.
CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MORTGAGES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.
UH, AND, AND THIS IS, AND, AND WE CAN'T PUT PROPERTY OWNERS IN A, IN A POSITION OF VIOLATING THAT.
UM, BUT, BUT IF WE'RE, IF THE TAXPAYERS ARE PUTTING MONEY ON, ON THE TABLE, SO SHOULD THE PROPERTY OWNER AND MAYBE IN THE FORM OF A MATCH TO WHAT THE CITY IS DOING, SO THEY'RE NOT VIOLATING THE LEASE, BUT THEY'RE OFFERING AN INCENTIVE OR A SUBSIDY ALONGSIDE WITH THE CITY THAT WAY AT THIS POINT THEY HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME THE SAME WAY THAT THE, THAT THE TAXPAYER HAS SKIM IN THE GAME.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE THOSE THOUGHTS AND, UH, AGREE LARGELY WITH THEM.
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT MIAMI BEACH BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT NEIGHBORING CITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCING THAT SAME LEVEL OF VACANCY.
SO, UH, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY PLACE WITH EXPENSIVE RENT.
RIGHT? I I DON'T THINK, UH, BRICKELL CITY CENTER IS CHEAP AND THAT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT OCCUPIED.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S ONE SINGLE OWNER, BUT IF YOU GO TO MIDTOWN, UH, THEY JUST RELEASED, UH, THEIR OCCUPANCY RATE, UH, WELL INTO THE NINETIES.
UM, SO THERE'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS THAT YES, ARE UNIQUE TO MIAMI BEACH, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF IDIOSYNCRATIC THAT WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH AS WELL.
IF, IF I MAY, MR. CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS, WE DO HAVE SOME DATA ON THAT.
[00:45:01]
UM, FOR MIAMI BEACH, AS FAR AS Q2, THE Q3 NUMBERS HAVEN'T, UM, COME OUT YET, BUT OUR VACANCY RATE ON RETAIL IS 5.5% AS COMPARED TO BRICKELL DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS 2.3%.OUR AVERAGE RENT PER SQUARE FOOT, $103 BRICKELL DOWNTOWN $66 AND 38 CENTS.
CAN YOU SEND ME, THERE YOU GO.
THE UNDERLYING DETAIL THERE, BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO TELL ME THAT WE HAVE A 5% VACANCY RATE FOR RETAIL IN MIAMI BEACH, I, I DON'T BELIEVE
UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE AREA WHERE YOU COULD GO NAME ME ONE CORRIDOR, RIGHT? THAT THERE'S A 5% VACANCY RATE.
I CAN NAME YOU CORRIDORS WHERE THERE'S ABOVE A 50% VACANCY RATE.
I DON'T THINK I COULD PICK A SINGLE CORRIDOR WHERE I WOULD SIT THERE AND LOOK AT IT ANECDOTALLY AND SAY, YES, THAT THERE'S A LESS THAN 5% VACANCY RATE.
PLEASE, ANNABEL, YOU DON'T WANNA BE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
ANNABELL YPI, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LINCOLN ROAD, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE NUMBERS COME, ESPECIALLY FROM BRICKELL WORKING IN A PRIVATE DEVELOPER.
I CAN'T IMAGINE BRICKELL CITY CENTER CHARGING THOSE SQUARE FOOTAGES.
JUST AGAIN, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND WE CAN'T REALLY BE COMPARED TO ONE PRIVATE DEVELOPER VERSUS A DISTRICT THAT'S PUBLIC AND YOU HAVE MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP.
NOW, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE OTHER DISTRICTS, I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO LINCOLN ROAD.
I WOULD SAY WE'RE PROBABLY CLOSE TO 90% LEASE.
YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OUT BECAUSE THERE'S LEASES ON THE TABLES OR LEASES BEING WORKED ON.
HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT THE, THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING ON LINCOLN ROAD, ASIDE FROM THESE AMAZING FMB THAT'S GOING UP, THAT ARE PAYING RENTS THAT ARE DOING FANTASTIC.
AND WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE THAT, NOT JUST ON LINCOLN ROAD, BUT FOR THE CITY.
I THINK THIS BRINGS A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF POSITIVE TO THE CITY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF MOM AND POPS ON LINCOLN ROAD, AND I THINK EVERYBODY FORGETS THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, TERRANOVA ALONE IS BRINGING SIX MOM AND POPS.
SO THERE IS A NICE MIX OF TENANT MIXES COMING TO LINCOLN ROAD.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH MOM AND POPS, THEY DON'T PAY HIGH RENTS.
THEY WORK WITH THEM, THEY WORK WITH THEM TO DEFER RENT UNTIL THEY OPEN.
BUT THAT SPEAKS TO THAT WHOLE QUARTER ON THE 800 BLOCK.
THOSE ARE ALL MAMA AND POPS THAT ARE COMING IN.
THAT'S WAS ONE OF THE ASK, IF YOU WILL, OF MANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS IS HOW DO WE BRING SOME OF THAT ECLECTIC RETAIL MIX BACK TO LINCOLN ROAD? WELL, IT'S HAPPENING.
SO I WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO COME AND DO A WALK WITH US, REALLY GET EDUCATED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING ON LINCOLN ROAD.
SO YOU UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, NOT JUST FROM THE RETAIL SIDE, WHICH IS AGAIN, PERMITTING, GOING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION, THEY'RE, I MEAN, I HAVE ONE THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO ANTHROPOLOGY.
SHE CAN'T GET OPEN, YOU KNOW, SO I REACH OUT TO HEATHER AND SHE'S TRYING TO HELP THEM THROUGH.
SO THEY ARE CHALLENGE, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS A MOM AND POP, THEY STARTED IN THE ANTIQUE MARKET AND NOW THEY CONVERTED TO AN INLINE TENANT.
AND SO THAT IS THE KIND OF ACTIVITY WE WANT TO SPUR ON LINCOLN ROAD.
WE WANNA SEE SOMEONE GROW INTO AN INLINE SPACE.
AND THIS IS A LOCAL PERSON WHO LIVES ON THE BEACH.
THE CHALLENGES WITH THE PERMITS, AND IT'S, LISTEN, IT'S NOT ALWAYS ON THE, THE, THE CITY OR THE PORT OR ALL THAT.
SOMETIMES THEY THEMSELVES DON'T KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS.
SO I'M VERY HAPPY FOR THE STAFF TO ALWAYS AT LEAST LEND A HELPING HAND TO WALK SOME OF THESE TENANTS THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS CHALLENGING.
SO ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE A MOM AND POP, WHEN YOU'RE A BIGGER, YOU KNOW, RETAILER, F AND B, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE EXPEDITERS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE TO HELP YOU THROUGH THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE A MOM AND POP, LITERALLY YOU LIVE ON THE BEACH, YOU WANNA OPEN UP A BUSINESS HERE.
AND THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
UH, MS. WILLIAMS. RAQUEL, YEAH.
SO FOR THAT PARTICULAR BUSINESS, I, I DON'T KNOW WHICH, UM, REGULATORY DEPARTMENTS THEY HAVE BEEN INTERFACING WITH OR WHAT THEIR NEEDS HAVE BEEN, BUT I KNOW THAT MULTIPLE BUSINESSES HAVE TO GO THROUGH, UH, PERMITTING AND MM-HMM.
I MEAN, THEY, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE A SMALL SPACE OR A BIG SPACE, THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
THE CHALLENGING PART IS THESE DON'T, THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE DEEP POCKETS.
SO IT BECOMES EVEN MORE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS IS SO WE CAN SIMPLIFY THIS PROCESS, RIGHT? MR. SEJA, WE HAVEN'T MET YET, BUT IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS, YOUR FIRST CHALLENGE RIGHT HERE, AND THEN IF I COULD HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE TAKE OWNERSHIP OF SAYING WHO'S KIND OF, UH, LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE 10,000 FOOT VIEW AND HOW DO WE MAKE THIS COLLECTIVE PROCESS EASIER, I WOULD LOVE SOMEBODY TO SIT THERE AND SAY, I'M GONNA OWN THAT.
I MEAN, SOMEBODY FROM CITY STAFF SAY, I'M GONNA OWN THAT, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BETTER PROCESS A YEAR FROM NOW.
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD JUST AT LEAST LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU GUYS TAKE AWAYS, COME TO LINKO, LET US WALK WITH YOU, LET US EDUCATE YOU WHAT IS COMING SO YOU
[00:50:01]
UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE.WHAT IS THE CURRENT ACTIVITY ON LINKER ROAD? SO, SO IF I MAY, THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I REMEMBER MY THIRD POINT, SO THANK YOU FOR TRIGGERING THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE, WE ARE, UM, PROVIDING EXTRA HELP TO THE LARGER, UH, BUSINESSES OR DEVELOPERS, UH, AT CITY HALL WHO ALREADY HAVE A STAFF AND A WELL TRAINED HOST OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO DO THIS IS COUNTERINTUITIVE.
AND WE NEED TO, AS SOON AS MR. SAAS GETS HERE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN SORT OF BEATING THE DRUM TO GET A, A, A SHERPA, IF YOU WILL.
LIKE, YOU HAVE ONE POINT OF CONTACT, UM, UH, ALONG THE, ALONG THE, UM, PERMITTING PROCESS.
SO EVEN IF THAT PERSON CAN'T GIVE YOU ALL THE ANSWERS, THAT PERSON CAN TELL YOU, YES, THIS IS WHERE IT IS.
THIS IS WHO YOU NEED TO TALK TO.
LET ME HELP YOU FIGURE THAT OUT.
BUT ASSIGNED A BUDDY IS A PART OF A BUDDY SYSTEM, AND THE FACT THAT THAT IS STILL NOT HAPPENING IS, IS, IS FRUSTRATING.
UM, IT'S THE SMALLER BUSINESSES WHO DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW.
I MEAN, THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO OPENED UP A BUSINESS IN NORTH BEACH WITH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY A ROUGH PLAN DRAWN OUT ON THE BACK OF A NAPKIN AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A CHANGE OF USE INVOLVED.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION TO OPEN UP A, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER SMALL BUSINESS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE LAND USE POLICIES ARE.
AND SO A CHANGE OF USE THING IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEVER, WOULD NEVER COME INTO SOMEBODY'S, UH, CONSCIOUSNESS.
AND SOME, UNLESS SOMEBODY'S AT SOME POINT BEFORE SAID, THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR BEFORE YOU START.
YOU KNOW, THE REALTOR SHOULD HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, THE SPACE WAS A BAKERY, YOU NOW WANNA MAKE IT A KNITTING SHOP.
THERE'S GONNA BE A CHANGE OF USE FOR THAT AND THEREFORE YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO GO THROUGH SOME EXTRA STEPS.
SO WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES.
THE OTHER THING IS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VACANT RETAIL QUARTERS, AND I KNOW LINCOLN ROAD IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR SO MANY OF US, FOR SO MANY REASONS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ENTIRE STRETCHES OF, OF BLOCKS IN NORTH BEACH THAT HAVE, UM, VACANCIES.
PART OF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE VILLE, THAT GAPING HOLE THAT SHOULD NEVER BE, SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO COME DOWN.
BUT HERE WE ARE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT, WE DON'T TAKE OUR EYES OFF THE PRIZE IN THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN, IN MIAMI BEACH.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE TOURIST DESTINATIONS, IT'S PLACES EVERYWHERE AROUND THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO DO BETTER BY OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND THAT IS ACTUALLY WHERE MANY OF THEM WILL FIND A, A BETTER, MORE WELCOMING FOOTING WHERE THERE WILL BE A BUILT IN MARKET WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS WHERE THE RATES, THE RENTAL RATES AREN'T NECESSARILY ASTRONOMICAL.
UM, SO, UM, AND AGAIN, I THOUGHT I FORGOT MY THIRD POINT.
SO
UM, I THINK THE AMOUNT OF TIME BETWEEN REVIEWS WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS OUR LARGEST ISSUE.
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU MIGHT BUILD OUT YOUR WHOLE RESTAURANT AND THE INSPECTOR COMES IN AND HE GOES, YOU HAVE TO MOVE THIS OUTLET FROM HERE TO THERE.
AND THEN THE CONTRACTOR AND THE ARCHITECT GOES, CRAP.
60 DAYS, 60 DAYS TO GET THEM TO COME BACK OUT AND CHANGE IT.
AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND WHO'S RENOVATING A CONDO RIGHT NOW IN MID BEACH.
SHE GOES, SHE WAS SO DEPRESSED, THEY CAME OUT,
THEY CHANGED ONE THING AND SHE GOES, MY CONTRACTOR LOOKED LIKE HE WANTED TO CRY BECAUSE HE WANTS TO MOVE ON.
AND NOW HE KNOWS HE'S STUCK IN THE SYSTEM FOR ANOTHER 60 DAYS WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO COME OUT.
NOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE LIKE, YOU GET THE FEEDBACK, YOU CAN CALL AS A CONTRACTOR, I CAN CALL MY ELECTRICIAN AND SAY, COME OUT, MOVE THE OUTLET, BUT I DON'T GET IT BECAUSE I USED TO RENOVATE MYSELF AND WE USED TO HAVE THIS CALL IN SYSTEM AND I COULD CALL, AND I KNEW THAT I COULD GET AN INSPECTOR THE NEXT DAY.
HOW DID WE GO FROM WHERE YOU COULD GET AN INSPECTOR COMING OUT THE NEXT DAY TO 60 DAYS? AND THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING.
IT'S THE FEEDBACK ONLINE, AND THEN IT'S THIS WAIT TIME BETWEEN THE FEEDBACK AND, AND THE FACT THAT EVERY SINGLE PROJECT ACROSS THE CITY HAS MULTIPLE INSPECTORS.
SO ONE INSPECTOR GOES IN AND SAYS, YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE OUTLET FROM HERE TO THERE.
AND THEN ANOTHER INSPECTOR COMES IN AND GOES, OKAY, THAT OUTLET'S FINE, BUT LOOK UP THERE AT THAT SOCKET.
AND YOU GO, WHAT? THE OTHER INSPECTOR SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
SO NOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER FEEDBACK.
AND GUESS WHAT? IT GETS EVEN IN THE LOOP FOR AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS.
SO YOU'RE ASKING WHY? THIS IS WHY THAT ACTUALLY HELPED ME VISUALIZE THAT.
WELL, I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN YOU.
WHY WOULD YOU, YOU ASKED WHY, AND I'M TELLING YOU NO, I, I AGREE.
AND IF ANYBODY'S, UH, OUT THERE LOOKING AT THIS AND SAYING, OH, WHAT A NEGATIVE TONE, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO.
RIGHT? WE WANT TO HELP, WE WANT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE MIAMI BEACH IS A CITY OF YES.
A CITY WHERE OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT PICKS UP THE PHONE AND SAYS, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? RIGHT.
NOT, HOW CAN I PUT UP ROADBLOCKS? WE WANT A PERMITTING
[00:55:01]
SYSTEM THAT IS YES.GOING THROUGH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND A CITY COMMISSION GOING, MAKING SURE ALL THE BOXES ARE CHECKED, BUT HELPING FACILITATE BUSINESS.
AND THAT, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BASH ANYBODY OR POINT FINGERS ARE SAY, THIS IS AN AWFUL PLACE.
WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE THIS PROCESS BETTER BECAUSE IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR SO LONG.
AND I, I THINK COLLECTIVELY YOU SEE SIX COMMISSIONERS AND A MAYOR THAT ARE UNWILLING TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.
UM, I'M THE INTERIM BUILDING DIRECTOR.
UM, AND YES, VINCE SEHA IS ARRIVING ON MONDAY.
IF YOU ALL WANNA MEET HIM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE MEET AND GREET, UM, IN THE MORNING.
UM, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
MS. LOPEZ IS PART OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, UM, WHICH HAS BEEN OVERSEEING A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, TWO, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY 65% OF ALL OF OUR PERMITS GET ISSUED IN TWO REVIEWS.
SO THAT'S AN ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF REVIEWS.
A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT, UH, WE DON'T GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED UPFRONT, AND WE'RE GONNA WORK HARD TO TRY TO, UM, IMPROVE THAT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT WE DO GET BETTER INFORMATION UPFRONT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE THAN 65%, HOPEFULLY 75%.
AND THEN WE ONLY DEAL WITH THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY DIFFICULT.
TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, UH, ROSEN GONZALEZ ABOUT THE INSPECTORS, UM, WE, WE GET THOUSANDS OF CALLS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLS, UM, A MONTH.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST RE RECENTLY DID 60 DAYS AGO IS THAT WE HAVE ALLOWED CUSTOMERS TO CALL THE, THE INSPECTORS DIRECTLY.
IT'S BEEN A GAME CHANGER WITH THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THAT WE GET INTO THE CALL CENTER.
WE'VE REDUCED CALLS IN 60 DAYS BY 742 CALLS
AND THAT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST THING WE DID.
AND WE JUST MOVED THE NEEDLE OVER THE LAST 60 DAYS JUST WITH THAT.
BUT WE'RE GONNA DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
THE, UM, THE ABILITY FOR INSPECTORS TO KEEP COMING BACK TO THE SAME PLACE HAS TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF INSPECTORS WE HAVE.
AND VINCE SAJA IS, UM, UH, VERY AWARE THAT WE NEED TO HIRE MORE INSPECTORS AND WE'RE GONNA BRING THEM BACK, UH, BECAUSE THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE DONE ALONG THE WAY THAT REMOVED INSPECTORS FROM HERE, AND HE'S GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
AND HE, UH, KNOWS A LOT OF INSPECTORS THAT HE CAN REACH OUT TO BECAUSE HE'S VERY CONNECTED IN THE ENTIRE, UH, BUILDING OFFICIAL WORLD IN DAY COUNTY.
SO ONCE WE HAVE MORE INSPECTORS, WE DON'T HAVE THE ISSUE OF IF AN INSPECTOR IS OUT AND HE'S THE ONE THAT DID THE ORIGINAL INSPECTION, AND YOU NEED AN INSPECTION DESPERATELY, YOU NEED TO BRING ANOTHER INSPECTOR, INSPECTOR IN.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA GO THROUGH A WHOLE TRAINING OF THESE INSPECTORS SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OTHER INSPECTORS ALREADY INSPECTED AND APPROVED SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THERE, IT'S COLD TURKEY, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS UP, YOU KNOW, UH, IS IS FOR YOU TO REVIEW ALL OVER AGAIN.
SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF TRAINING, HIRING, REALIGNING, DOING ALL OF THAT.
AND WHEN VINCE COMES IN ON MONDAY, HE'S GONNA TAKE OWNERSHIP OF EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE, AND I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT HE GETS ALL THE INFORMATION HE NEEDS SO HE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
SO WE'RE HOPING IT GETS A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS TODAY.
AND, AND, UH, COMMISSIONER ZA, GIMME LITERALLY ONE SECOND, BUT MR. CITY ATTORNEY, UM, MAYBE WE COULD PUT AN ITEM ON THE CITY COMMISSION AGENDA.
I'M GONNA GUESS THAT, UH, I'LL HAVE FOUR PEOPLE THAT'LL, UH, PRIME SPONSOR THIS.
LET'S HAVE A REFERRAL TO FERC, WHERE MR. SAAS COMES HERE, GIVES, UH, AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, THE PROCESSES, PROCEDURES, UH, WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT, AND WHAT IS CHANGING.
METRICS WE NEED TO GET TO A PLACE.
SO, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY PERMIT I HAVE FOUND
A LOT OF IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, BUT,
[01:00:01]
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT HERE TO, YOU KNOW, PUT BLAME ON THE INDUSTRY.I MEAN, THAT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
WE WANNA HELP THE INDUSTRY AND FACILITATE IT FOR THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITHIN THE CODE.
AND THAT'S WHAT VINCE IS GONNA FOCUS ON WHEN HE ARRIVES.
IF IT'S THINGS LIKE, THE CODE NEEDS TO BE SIMPLIFIED, RIGHT? PERHAPS, OKAY, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THESE BACK IN THERE, INCOMPLETE OR INACCURATE, PERHAPS THE INPUTS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ARE TOO COMPLEX, RIGHT? YES.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AS THE INTERIM, OF COURSE, DIRECTOR AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING A HELPING HAND IN HERE.
I WAS GONNA, I WANNA BRING FULL CIRCLE HERE.
I, I, I, I BELIEVE THE, THERE WAS A LOT OF, OF, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.
I BELIEVE THERE WAS A, THERE'S A REQUEST FOR THIS TO, I KNOW I CAN MAKE DEVELOPMENT GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE TOPIC, BUT TO RETURN TO FERC WITH AN UPDATE ON A VACANCY REGISTRATION PROGRAM, I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE MAIN, THE, THE, THE ACTION.
AND, AND MR. CHAIR, AS PART OF THAT, I WANNA ASK SPECIFICALLY, AND I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS AND I WANT, I WANT TO SEE THE, THAT VACANCY REGISTRATION PROGRAM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SEE THE INVENTORY OF VACANT SPACES ON LINCOLN ROAD.
THE PRICES OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE CHARGING FOR RENT, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THOSE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN VACANT, AS WELL AS A COMPARISON OF THOSE, UH, VACANCY RATES AND THE RENTS COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS, UH, OTHER AREAS AROUND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AND EVEN HERE, MIAMI BEACH.
UM, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH HIGHER IS IT? YOU CAN CERTAINLY COME BACK WITH THAT.
AND TO THE QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT THE SOURCE OF THE DATA, THAT WAS A COLLIER'S REPORT, WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DATA WHEN WE COME BACK FROM JLL CUSHMAN AND WAKEFIELD, UH, CBRE, JUST TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE RANGE OF THE DATA SOURCES.
YOU'LL HAVE ME TAKING MY SNEAKER EXPRESS DOWN COLLINS AVENUE AND SENDING YOU PICTURES, BUT THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ.
AND AS PART OF THAT MOTION, ARE WE ALSO MAKING A MOTION TO SEE BETWEEN THIS MONTH AND THE NEXT, IF YOU GUYS CAN REACH OUT TO DERM AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THE INSTANT ABATEMENT, INSTANT APPROVAL? IT'S PART OF IT.
I THINK THAT'S THE KEY COMPONENT.
AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE ALWAYS LIKE POOR BUILDING DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE ALWAYS GOING AFTER THEM.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU, PLANNING AND ZONING IS NOT EASY.
YOU GET STUCK IN PLANNING AND ZONING.
YOU CAN'T FIND ANYBODY TO CALL.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME AND I, YOU KNOW, I CAN GET THEM THEIR APPROVAL THE NEXT DAY, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE PUSHING SOMEBODY'S, YOU KNOW, NOT PUSHING THE, YOU KNOW, LIKE REACHING OUT AND SAYING, HEY, THEY CAN'T GET TO ANYBODY.
SO MAYBE WE JUST HEARD THAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS UNDERSTAFFED.
THANK GOODNESS THEY HAVE A GENEROUS ENTERPRISE BUDGET WHERE THEY CAN HIRE MORE PEOPLE.
THE QUESTION IS, WHY HAVEN'T THEY HIRED THE PEOPLE? AND PLANNING AND ZONING MIGHT BE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, LET'S HEAR FROM THEM IN, UM, AND BY THE WAY, OUR, OUR TECHNOLOGY, TYLER, IS NOT GOOD.
SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ALSO WHEN WE, WHEN WE'RE GETTING, UM, UPSET ABOUT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THEY ALSO WORK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW FIRE IS, HOW DOES, HOW DOES FIRE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE FIRE'S A PART OF THIS PROCESS TOO.
YOU HAVE TO GET FIRE APPROVALS, PLANNING APPROVALS, BUSINESS APPROVALS, AND UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU GET, YOU JUST GET STUCK.
I THINK, I, I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, AND IN GENERAL, IT'S A HOLISTIC PROCESS.
IT, IT, YOU KNOW, BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS THE RECEIVING END, BUT IT GOES THROUGH ALL OF THESE OTHER DESKS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AND SO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, PLANNING, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, FIRE, EVERYTHING THAT FALLS ON ON UNDER THAT.
AND HOPEFULLY THE VINCE, WHEN HE COMES IN, HE LOOKS AT THAT HOLISTICALLY.
HE'S ABLE TO COME FORWARD WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT HE CAN REPORT ON IN 90 DAYS.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT IDEAS.
WE WANT THE RESULTS, YOU KNOW? RIGHT.
AND I WANNA SEE CHANGES WITHIN THOSE 90 DAYS.
UM, IT'S 1142 AND YOU HAVE A BIG AGENDA.
BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE MORE RECOMMENDATION.
ONE MORE, ONE MORE RECOMMENDATION.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SIMPLIFICATION.
IT'S HARD TO SIMPLIFY BUILDING CODE BECAUSE THAT REALLY COMES OUTTA THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND IT'S GONNA GET WORSE AND WORSE.
BUT OUR PLANNING AND ZONING CODE, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT IT? IT IS INSANE.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS PART OF THIS MOTION.
YOU NEED TO GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT AND SAY, WHAT ARE THE TOP FIVE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T STUCK IN YOUR DEPARTMENT IN RED TAPE? 'CAUSE NOBODY'S EVEN ASKING THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE CONTROL AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE MADE COMPLEX.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF STUFF, BUT WHEN YOU ADD IN THE CS AND THE, WE HAVE ADDED SO MANY LAYERS THAT IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
SO WHEN YOU'RE DOING THESE PLANNING AND ZONING CHANGES, REMEMBER PEOPLE ARE GETTING STUCK THERE AND
[01:05:01]
WE ARE GONNA MOVE ON.IS THERE ONE A CM THAT ALL OF THESE PROCESSES ROLL UP TO? 'CAUSE AS, AS MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, UH, MENTIONED, WHEN WE SAY BUILDING DEPARTMENT, I THINK IT IS A THROWAWAY TERM WHERE WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE HOLISTIC PROCESS.
IS THERE ONE A CM OR IS IT REALLY UP TO THE CITY MANAGER THAT ALL OF THIS IS COMING TOGETHER? SEVERAL OF US MANAGE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
DAVID MARTINEZ HAS PUBLIC WORKS.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO, REMEMBER, THERE'S ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH IS MINE.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW IS MINE.
SO PLANNING, I THINK WE'RE JUST TOO SILENT.
AND PARKING ALSO, IF, IF ONLY OUR CITY MANAGER IS OVERSEEING ALL OF THOSE, WE NEED ONE PERSON.
NOT THAT ANY OF US HAVE FREE TIME, BUT HAS MORE TIME TO ESSENTIALLY CONSOLIDATE THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
AND LOOK AT ALYSSA, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT.
COMMISSIONER WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF THAT.
AND BY THE WAY, THE 60 DAYS, I MEAN THE, THE, THE, UM, 65% PERMITS, UH, INCLUDES EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, INCLUDES ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
UM, WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE IT BROADER.
THIS IS JUST ABOUT GETTING IT BETTER.
I'M JUST GONNA SUM, SUMMARIZE THE, IT, THE ITEMS TO RETURN WITH, UH, AN UPDATE ON THE VACANCY REGISTRATION PROGRAM TO, UH, TO ALSO BRING DATA ON RENTS AND VACANCY RATES AND TO REQUEST DERM ABOUT A GREASE TRAPP ABATEMENT PROGRAM.
I JUST WANNA ADD ONE THING IN.
EVERY TREE THAT I SEE HAS LIKE SOME WEIRD BOX BUILT AROUND IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SO I REACHED OUT AND I SAID, WHY ARE WE MANDATING THAT? I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITY.
THE COST TO BUILD SQUARES SQUARE WOODEN BOXES AROUND TREES IS EXORBITANT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING, HEY ERIC, HOW ARE YOU? WERE YOU WATCHING, OR DID YOU GET SUM? SO WAIT, I HAVE AN ITEM ON TO REMOVE THE TREE BOX BECAUSE WHY, WHY ARE WE DOING THAT TO PEOPLE? WHY ARE WE DOING THAT TO HOMEOWNERS? WHY ARE WE DOING THAT TO BUSINESS? NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THAT TREE, BUT YET IN MIAMI BEACH, YOU GOTTA BUILD A BOX.
SO WAIT, SO I WANT YOU TO SUPPORT IT AND, BUT LET'S TALK, I THINK YOU'RE HERE TO TALK HOLISTICALLY.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, UH, ERIC CARPENTER, CITY MANAGER, HAPPY TO BE HERE ON THIS LOVELY FRIDAY MORNING.
UM, JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF THE FOLKS ON THE TEAM THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS PROCESS A LOT MORE USER FRIENDLY.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED YOUR HELP ON.
OBVIOUSLY CHANGES TO THE ZONING CODE, THE PLANNING RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE A BIG PART OF THE PUZZLE.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER.
THE STATE BUILDING CODE, THE NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION CODE.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO WORK WITH, NOT AROUND, UM, BECAUSE WE CAN'T CHANGE THEM.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A TEAM THAT IS UNDERSTANDING AND FOCUSED ON HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT INTERFACE WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RELYING ON US TO HELP THEM GET TO THE FINISH LINE SO THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE FROM WHERE THEY STAND TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.
AND BE PROACTIVE ABOUT THE THINGS YOU NEED FROM US.
DON'T HAVE US TRYING TO SIT THERE AND YEAH.
AND PULL IN PRY AND, UH, WE'RE NOT THE EXPERTS.
AND AND YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, YOU'LL GET IT.
AND, AND, AND LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
OFTENTIMES WE GET MEMOS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS VERY VAGUE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
I ALMOST HAVE TO PULL TEETH SOMETIMES TO ASK ON A POLICY THAT'S COMING FORWARD.
WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION? SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT I'M HEARING WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE LAND USE CODE.
'CAUSE THIS, I I I, I HAVE NEVER HAD SOMEONE COME TO MY OFFICE AND TELL ME AS CHAIR OF THE LAND USE COMMITTEE, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE LAND USE CODE TO FACILITATE THIS.
I NEED TO HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WHAT THOSE ARE.
BECAUSE WHENEVER I HAVE A BRIEFING ON ZONING POLICY, THE RECOMMENDATION IS THE ADMINISTRATION REVIEWS THAT THE COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, ANALYZES AND ISSUE THE, THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY COMMISSION.
BUT I NEVER GET A REAL SOLID RECOMMENDATION.
SO FROM THIS POINT OF ON FORWARD, I AM GOING TO BE EXPECTING ON EACH ONE OF THESE MEMOS FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, A TRUE, SOLID RECOMMENDATION, FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE ON POLICY.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED THE CITY ADMINISTRATION FOR.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE SEEING IT FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE.
WE NEED YOU GUYS TO GIVE US YOUR EXPERT OPINION.
[01:10:01]
THE ADMINISTRATION ON ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN THESE ITEMS COME FORWARD, GIVE US A MORE ROBUST RECOMMENDATION RATHER THAN A MORE OPEN-ENDED RECOMMENDATION.I WANT A TRUE UP OR DOWN RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT'S BACKED WITH A REASONING AS TO WHY.
AND THAT IS THE, AND THAT IS THE CLEAR DIRECTION THAT I'VE GIVEN TO MY TEAM.
WE'RE HERE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU ALL.
YOU GET TO CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OR NOT FOLLOW THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT WE WILL BE MAKING THEM EXCELLENT.
UM, GREAT ITEM, GREAT DISCUSSION.
AND WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP, UH, EXTENSIVELY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
UM, CHAIR, CHAIR, IF I MAY, JUST, IF I CAN, GOING BACK TO THE PUBLIC SEATING ONE, NB 14, I HAD THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, BUT I DIDN'T MAKE A NOTE ON WHO THE SECOND WAS.
CAN I GET A SECOND ON THAT? OKAY.
WE ALSO HAD A TIME CERTAIN OF 11:00 AM YEP.
[NB 10. DISCUSS A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH BEACH BOX FOR THE INSTALLATION OF BEACH BOX KIOSKS AND/OR PORTABLE LOCK BOXES ON THE CITY’S BEACHES.]
10, UH, DISCUSS A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH BEACH BOX FOR THE INSTALLATION OF BEACH BOX KIOSKS AND OR PORTABLE LOCK BOXES ON THE CITY'S BEACHES AND B 10.UH, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, UM, MR. CFO AND MR. CITY ATTORNEY.
UH, I'M HERE AS A CONSULTANT TO BEACH BOX AND I'M HERE ALONG WITH ONE OF OUR MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS.
I'M PROUD TO SAY, UH, AUSTIN EUGENE, WHO I'LL BE INTRODUCING SHORTLY AND ASK HIM TO TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THE PRODUCT AND HOW HE CAME ABOUT TO DESIGN IT.
HE IS THE CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF BEACH BOX.
BUT I WANT TO JUST, YOU KNOW, PAINT THE PICTURE FOR THOSE THAT MAY BE WATCHING OR MAYBE HERE AS WELL.
'CAUSE WE'VE MET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
UM, THE, THE PRODUCT THAT, UH, IS, UH, BEING SPECIFIED AND AS BEACH BOX, AND YOU'LL SEE ABOUT IT IN A VIDEO AS WELL, IS DESIGNED TO ATTACK A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE THAT'S SOMEWHAT PERVASIVE IN TERMS OF THEFTS ON MIAMI BEACH.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND OR YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE.
UH, YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE IF, IF YOU WENT TO A CITY AND, AND WENT TO THEIR BEACHES AND HAD YOUR WALLET STOLEN, OR YOUR KEYS STOLEN, OR YOUR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, YOUR WATCH YOUR PHONE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE VERY, YOU KNOW, GOOD FEELINGS ABOUT THAT.
AND, AND A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, UH, YOU KNOW, I I CAME TO MIAMI BEACH AND, AND GOT RIPPED OFF AND THINGS WERE STOLEN IS NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST.
SO THE PRODUCT THAT WE'RE GONNA DEMONSTRATE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT ADDRESSES THAT.
AND WE HAVE POLICE STATISTICS TO SHOW WHERE MOST OF THIS THEFT TAKES PLACE.
AND, AND, AND AUSTIN WILL GO OVER THAT AS WELL.
UM, BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU TODAY, UH, IS TO MOVE THE PROCESS FORWARD.
WHAT WE'RE SEEKING IS PUBLIC APPROVAL FROM THE FULL COMMISSION TO INSTALL KIOSKS SO THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO RENT THESE BOXES.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR PERMISSION TO HAVE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS TO INSTALL AT OUR EXPENSE, THE KIOSKS.
SO WITH THAT, UH, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO AUSTIN.
UM, AND IF YOU WOULD PLEASE AUSTIN, GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, WHICH I THINK IS, IS UNIQUE TO THIS PRODUCT AS WELL, AND HOW IT CAME INTO BEING.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING.
I'M THE CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF BEACH BOX.
UH, BEACH BOX IS A PORTABLE SAFE FOR THE BEACH TO KEEP YOUR KEYS WALLET PHONE SAFE AT THE BEACH.
THE BOX HAS CAMERAS, GPS, AND ALARMS TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST THEFT.
THE BOX ALSO CHARGES YOUR PHONE AND PLAYS MUSIC.
MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND IS IN RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE.
I HAVE 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE MANAGING RISK FOR FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES.
UH, THE IDEA REALLY CAME ABOUT WHILE TRAVELING.
I WAS IN THAILAND WITH 20 FRIENDS AND WE ALL WANTED TO GET INTO THE WATER AT THE SAME TIME.
AND I SAW THAT EXISTED WITH FAMILIES, UH, WITH, UH, SOLO TRAVELERS AND WITH COUPLES.
AND I SAID, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING, THERE'S SOMETHING I COULD DO ABOUT THIS.
AND THIS IS WHY I SOLVED THE, UH, THE PROBLEM.
SO I'D LIKE TO JUST QUICKLY PLAY A VIDEO, UM, TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO, UM, ADD TO THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT THAT'S THE KIOSK BEFORE YOU SAW THE INDIVIDUAL BOX.
[01:15:12]
THANK YOU, AUSTIN.I BELIEVE YOU'RE A MIAMI BEACH RESIDENT, RIGHT? SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, LOCAL PEOPLE SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.
ONE, I'LL ASK YOU NEVER TO RUN FOR COMMISSIONER BECAUSE, UH, IT'S ALREADY GETTING CROWDED IN THE FITNESS COMMISSIONER COMPETITION, YOU KNOW, SO WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE, UH, CHALLENGERS THERE.
UM, LISTEN, I'LL, I'LL KICK IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES.
I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, I, IS MOVE THIS ALONG BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY A FINANCIAL IMPACT HERE.
UM, SO WHAT I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PUBLIC SAFETY WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING WHERE THIS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY WOULD BE.
UM, SO I THINK WE CAN MOVE IT ALONG FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY OKAY, WE'RE, WE'RE ALL IN SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE BUSINESS PLAN WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.
I THINK THERE'S MORE RELEVANT COMMITTEES WHERE THERE'S MORE NUANCE AND GRANULAR DISCUSSIONS, OR ARE BETTER SUITED TO HAVE.
UH, I HAVE A FEELING LIZ IS GONNA TELL ME HOW WRONG I AM.
UH, LIZ, YOU KNOW WHAT? BEFORE, UH MM-HMM,
COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, IF YOU HAD.
UM, IT'S A VERY UNIQUE CONCEPT AND I THINK IT COULD SERVE A VERY INTERESTING PURPOSE IN OUR CITY.
UM, CLEARLY BEACH STAFFS ARE CONCERN AND IT HARMS OUR REPUTATION AND IT HARMS THE EXPERIENCE THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE WHEN THEY GO, UH, WHEN THEY GO, WHEN THEY COME TO OUR CITY AND THEY GO TO THE BEACH.
AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YEARS FOR SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THIS.
UM, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
ON THE ITEM ITSELF, IT MENTIONS AN LED DISPLAY FOR ADVERTISING.
DOES THE KIOSK, UM, DOES THE KIOSK CONTAIN AN LED SCREEN? SO THE, UH, KIOSK IS GONNA BE DESIGNED ONCE, IF WE ARE, UH, AWARDED THE RIGHTS BY THE FULL CITY COMMISSION TO INSTALL KIOSK, WE'RE GONNA REDESIGN THE ENTIRE, UH, FACILITY AT A, AT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COST.
AND THE KIOSK WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF HAVING DIGITAL INFORMATION ON THE BACK.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY MIAMI BEACH THAT WE'RE GONNA BE GOING, WE'RE LOOKING TO TAKE THIS FAR AND WIDE.
SO IF YOU DON'T WANT IT TURNED ON IN MIAMI BEACH, THAT'S OKAY.
WE WEREN'T PLANNING TO DO ADVERTISING.
WE, WHEN WE MET WITH EACH OF YOU, WE TOLD YOU WE WERE GONNA DEDICATE THAT SPACE TO MIAMI BEACH.
THAT'S WHY YOU SAW PERHAPS SISTER CITIES OR SOMETHING ELSE.
IF THE CITY WANTS TO PROMOTE YOUR OWN EVENTS, TURN IT ON.
WE'RE NOT SELLING ADVERTISING.
WHERE WOULD THEY ACTUALLY BE LOCATED? WHERE, WHERE, I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S SPECIFIC STREETS THAT ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION.
I SAW SIXTH, EIGHTH, 10TH, 10TH AND 12TH.
BUT WHERE AT SIXTH, EIGHTH, 10TH, AND 12TH WOULD THIS BE LOCATED? I THINK YOU HAVE A SCREEN.
CAN WE GET THAT ON THE SCREEN? YES.
CAN WE, UH, PULL IT UP ON THE SCREEN? THERE WE GO.
SO THIS IS, UH, IN BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH STREET, UH, LOCATED CLOSE TO THE BATHROOMS. IT'S ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE BOARDWALK.
THIS IS AVE STREET, UH, ALSO LOCATED RIGHT BY THE SHOWERS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE BOARDWALK.
THIS IS 10TH STREET, UM, KIND OF IN THAT OPEN AREA WHERE YOU, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF CROWDS WALK TOWARD TOWARDS THE BEACH.
UM, VERY CLOSE TO THE, UH, SHOWERS.
I I WANT YOU TO KNOW THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THIS THAT I LIKE THE GPS TRACKING, THE BUILT-IN CAMERA, THE ALARM, THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
WE HAVE A SEPARATE PROBLEM IN OUR CITY PROLIFERATION OF ITEMS, UH, ON OUR RIGHT OF VOICE.
THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS VISUAL POLLUTION, PROLIFERATION OF VISUAL POLLUTION.
AND I HAVE TO BALANCE THAT OUT.
I WANNA BE ABLE TO GET TO A POINT THAT I CAN SUPPORT THIS.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE FOUND A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO SOMETHING THAT IS, THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE A BETTER PLACEMENT FOR THESE WHERE IT DOES NOT CREATE AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS ALONG THE BEACH WALK IS PUT IT AGAINST EXISTING BUILDINGS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PUBLIC BATHROOMS THAT'S ALREADY THERE, PUT IT AGAINST THAT SO THAT WE'RE NOT OBSTRUCTING RIGHT OF WAYS.
UM, NOT HAVING THE, NOT HAVING THE LED SIGNAGE.
[01:20:01]
I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF THIS ITEM WOULD COME BACK, WHEN IT COMES BACK, IF IT COMES REDONE, THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT TODAY.I CAN'T SUPPORT IT IN ITS CURRENT FORM, BUT I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS FEEDBACK SO THAT I CAN GET TO A PLACE WHERE I CAN SUPPORT THIS, WHERE IT'S NOT TAKING UP TOO MUCH PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
PUT IT AGAINST THE BATHROOMS WHERE IT'S NOT CONTRIBUTING TO VISUAL POLLUTION.
UM, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANY SOUND COMPONENT IN THIS.
ANY NOISE COMPONENT, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, IS LIMITED TO AN ALARM AND THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, NO MUSIC.
UH, SO I WANNA BE ABLE TO GET TO A PLACE THAT I CAN SUPPORT.
I, I OWE IT TO YOU TO OFFER YOU THAT FEEDBACK BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING GREAT, YOU'RE OFFERING AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION.
AND, UH, AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THIS FEEDBACK AS CONSTRUCTIVE, UH, BECAUSE I REALLY HOPE WE CAN GET TO A PLACE THAT, THAT, THAT I CAN ULTIMATELY VOTE FOR THIS.
BUT TODAY, IN ITS CURRENT FORM, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT.
AND, AND JERRY BEFORE, UH, COMMISSIONER BEFORE YOU GO, I, I THINK I LAND IN THAT CAMP AS WELL.
I, I WAS TALKING ABOUT MOVING ALONG FROM THE FINANCE PERSPECTIVE, BUT I, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMEWHAT, ALMOST LIKE A PILOT PROGRAM ON A BEACH, OR I'M SORRY, A STREET BEFORE WE WOULD SAY, OKAY, HERE'S FOUR OR FIVE STREETS IN OUR HIGHEST TRAFFICKED AREAS.
YOU KNOW, SO FROM WHERE I'M SITTING HERE, AND IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS, YOU KNOW, UH, MAYBE, MAYBE YOU'D BE SURPRISED.
YOU'RE LIKE, WAIT, COMMISSIONER MAGAZINE JUST SENT IT FORWARD FROM FINANCE.
BUT NOW PUBLIC SAFETY SAYING, WHY IS IT ON FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT STREETS? I'M PASSING ALONG TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A BIG FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.
UH, BUT LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, MY COMMENTS AT NEIGHBORHOOD AND PUBLIC SAFETY WOULD PROBABLY VERY MUCH ALIGN WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SAID.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A MORE KIND OF, UM, FINE TUNED APPROACH WHERE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE WERE ALL LIGHTS, YOU KNOW, GREEN ON THIS AND HANDING OVER FOUR OR FIVE CRITICAL PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY, MAYBE 10TH STREET, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EIGHTH STREET, UH, AGAINST THE BATHROOM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND, AND, AND MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY, JUST AS A FOLLOW UP, I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE A STANDARD, UH, RENT, UH, RENTAL OF 20 TO $30 PER DAY.
IS, IS, IS, IS THAT CORRECT? AND THERE'S A 25% FOR CITY RESIDENCE, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER THIS COMES BACK, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, IS THERE GONNA BE ANY REVENUE SHARING WITH THE CITY? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS UTILIZING, UH, PUBLIC AREAS.
AND SO, AND, AND SO I WOULD WANT TO KNOW, IS THERE ANY REVENUE SHARING WITH THE CITY? I KNOW THAT THE BOUCHER BROTHERS, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE A SIMILAR AMENITY.
UH, WHAT HAS BEEN THE DEMAND FOR THAT? UH, AND IF THERE'S ANY MARKET STUDY TO SUPPORT THIS 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THE MOMENT WE ALLOW SOMETHING TO GO INTO OUR RIGHT OF WAYS, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW SOMETHING TO BE IN OUR PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT REALLY DOES SERVE, IF WE'RE DOING SOMETHING IN OUR RIGHT OF WAYS, THAT'S GONNA BE AN, AND I HATE TO PUT IT THIS WAY, BUT IT'S GONNA BE AN ANOTHER OBSTACLE OR OBSTRUCTION THE RIGHT OF WAYS.
WELL, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA SUPPORT A DEMAND, WHETHER IT BE OF OUR RESIDENTS OR OUR, OR OUR VISITORS.
SO I WOULD WANNA KNOW, HOW ARE THE OTHER AMENITIES, LIKE THE AQUA VAULTS THAT BUSHER BROTHERS HAVE, HOW IS THAT PERFORMING? WHAT IS, WHAT DOES THE MARKET STUDIES TELL US ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTED DIFFERENTLY? WHAT WOULD BE, UH, WHAT WOULD BE THE REVENUE, THE REVENUE SHARE WITH OUR, WITH OUR COMMUNITY? SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT SINCE WE ARE IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, JUST TO BRING IT BACK INTO THAT PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
YEAH, I'M, I'M ALWAYS FOR GETTING REVENUE IN, UH, COMMISSIONER AND THEN LIZ.
SO JUST, YOU, YOU'RE, THERE'S A LOT WRAPPED INTO THAT
UH, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DIGITAL BACKSIDE, IF IT'S AGAINST THE BUILDING, IT WOULDN'T BE SEEN ANYWAY.
WE, AGAIN, THAT WAS REALLY FOR THE CITY.
SO IF YOU DON'T WANNA USE IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IF IT'S NOT VISIBLE, THE, THE STRUCTURE WILL HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.
'CAUSE IN OTHER CITIES IT WILL BE OKAY.
SO IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IN MIAMI BEACH, PUT IT AGAINST A BUILDING.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK, AND MAYBE YOU ALL THE STAFF WILL SHOW US.
I DON'T THINK THERE ARE BUILDINGS AT ALL.
THERE MAY BE A BATHROOM AT SIXTH AND AT 12TH.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING AT EIGHT OR 10TH.
AND I THINK WE HAD PREPARED FOR YOU TODAY, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE, UH, POLICE REPORT SHOWS THE HEAVIEST THEFT AREAS ARE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S, IT'S IN THERE SEVENTH AND NINTH, AND THAT'S WHAT WE THOUGHT GOING IN BETWEEN.
BUT IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY PLACES THAT YOU WOULD PUT THEM, I DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM FOR US.
SO THAT, THAT'S ONE ITEM IN TERMS OF THE AQUA VAULT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE SUCCESS OR LACK OF SUCCESS WITH THE SHAPE RAILS, THEY DON'T USE 'EM AT ALL.
AND THE REASON THEY DON'T IS BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW WHAT THE AQUA VAULT IS, THERE'S A LITTLE KIND OF POCKET, YOU KNOW, THING, HARDLY ANYTHING CAN FIT IN IT.
UH, AND IT WRAPS AND SECURES ITSELF ON THE BACK OF THE SEATS.
AND BECAUSE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO STACK THE CHAIRS EVERY NIGHT, IT DIDN'T WORK.
AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PRODUCT.
[01:25:01]
STEVEN BUSHER EVEN CALLED THIS MORNING AND SAID THAT WE CAN REPRESENT THAT HE'S GIVING, UH, BEACH BOX A, A TRIAL PERIOD OUT IN HIS EIGHTH STREET HUT.YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, UH, AUSTIN HAS BEEN GREAT AT LINING UP OUR HOTELS ON MIAMI BEACH.
I THINK THERE'S FIVE OR SIX MAJOR HOTELS THAT ACTUALLY ARE RENTING THE BOXES DIRECTLY FROM HIM, AND THEN EITHER GIVING THEM OR RESELLING THEM TO THEIR PATRONS.
AND THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR OUR BEACHES, BUT THE HOTELS ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THIS ON THEIR POOL DECKS.
YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, THEFT UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENS ON POOL DECKS TOO.
SO, BUT THAT'S WHERE, UH, UH, JERRY, YOU'VE, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE WAYS TO, TO, TO, TO, TO WORK THIS THROUGH SO THAT WE'RE NOT ADDING MORE ITEMS ON THE BEACH WALK OR BEACH ENTRIES OR RIGHT OF WAYS YOU JUST MENTIONED.
OKAY, SIXTH STREET AND 12TH STREET, WE HAVE PUBLIC BATHROOMS ALREADY CONSTRUCTED THERE THAT POTENTIALLY THIS COULD GO AGAINST THOSE BATHROOMS, YOU KNOW? RIGHT.
BUILT AGAINST THESE BATHROOMS. YOU'RE IMAGINING EIGHTH AND 10TH STREET, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE BATHROOMS, BUT, UH, UH, STEVE BOCHE REACHED OUT TO, TO YOU ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PLACING IT AT ONE OF HIS HUTS ON EIGHT STREET.
JUST THE PRODUCT, NOT, NOT THE, NOT THE, UH, KIOSK, JUST, JUST THE PRODUCT.
WELL, BUT, BUT, BUT WHAT MATTERS IS THE PRODUCT, NOT THE KIOSK.
THE PRODUCT IS WHAT KEEPS, IS WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE'S ITEMS SAFE, IS WHAT ACHIEVES THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF PREVENTING THE BEACH DUST.
SO, YOU KNOW, GET THIS FEEDBACK MM-HMM.
UH, AND, UH, AND I'D BE EXCITED TO SEE YOU GUYS COME WITH A REVISED, UH, PROPOSAL THAT INCORPORATES SOME OF THIS, UH, FEEDBACK.
AND HOW, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED? BECAUSE I, I LARGELY AGREE, RIGHT? I, I THINK THIS, I'M HAPPY TO KIND OF MOVE IT ALONG, BUT THAT, THAT'S NOT PLEDGING MY UN YOU KNOW, UNWAVERING SUPPORT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA BE SUPPORTIVE OF FOUR BLOCKS, RIGHT? I DON'T THINK IF YOU CAME TO ME AND SAID, WOW, LOOK, THIS DEMAND IS OFF THE CHARTS AND WE NEED THIS ACROSS FOUR BLOCKS, I'D BE OKAY.
THERE REALLY IS A NEED AND A DEMAND FOR THIS, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
UM, I, I THINK WE KIND OF TIPTOE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE KIND OF JUMP ALL IN.
AND BY THE WAY, THE ART DE WELCOME CENTER IS AT 10TH STREET.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE THE BATHROOM, THE, UH, IS AT, AT, UH, RIGHT BEHIND MDPL BUILDING.
SO THERE ARE LOCATIONS, THERE'S ALSO ONE AT SIXTH, IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH.
AND THERE'S A BATHROOM AT SIXTH STREET.
I, I FOLLOW, I'M GONNA FOLLOW THE CHAIR'S, UH, LEAD ON THAT, ON, ON, ON WHAT HE MENTIONED, BUT I, I JUST, I CAN'T SUPPORT THE WAY THAT IT'S PRESENTED TODAY.
SO I, UM, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND I, AND AS, UM, I SAID WHEN YOU SHOWED IT TO ME INITIALLY, I SHARE MY COLLEAGUES' CONCERNS.
AND THE CHALLENGE WILL BE TO COME BACK AND SORT OF REIMAGINE THE BUSINESS PLAN A LITTLE BIT AND THE LOCATIONS, AND MAYBE TYING IN WITH THE BOUCHER BROTHERS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR, LIZ, YOU CAME UP HERE AS IF THERE WAS A FINANCIAL IMPLICATION.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING BEFORE WE MOVE IT TO ANOTHER GROUP.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ELIZABETH MIRO, FACILITIES IN FLEET FOR THE RECORD.
UM, BASICALLY SOMEBODY STOLE MY THUNDER, BUT IT'S, EVERYTHING IS OUT THERE ALREADY, SO JUST CONSIDER THE MARKET STUDY, THE DEMAND FOR THIS, CONSIDER REVENUE SHARING.
ALL OF THOSE FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, UM, IS WHAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THE MEMO IN SO FAR AS IF THE CITY DOES DESIRE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EXPANDING, UM, AND PROVIDING THESE PORTABLE BOXES.
UM, WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION IS TO HAVE A FORMAL COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF LEADING TO MY NEXT QUESTION, SO THANK YOU.
SO IF, IF WE HAVE A, UM, A PILOT PROGRAM AT ONE LOCATION OR WHATEVER, I, WHAT I WON'T DON'T WANNA SEE IS HAVE 12 DIFFERENT VENDORS COME, YOU KNOW, HAVING THEIR OWN VERSION OF THIS UP AND DOWN ALONG THE BEACH.
SO, SO THERE WOULD BE A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION.
UH, LOOK, I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PRODUCT.
I DON'T LOVE THE DELIVERY VEHICLE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN FIGHTING SINCE 2015 TO KEEP KIOSKS OUT OF MIAMI BEACH IN ANY CONFIGURATION, AS MY COLLEAGUES WELL KNOW.
UM, UH, SO I, THE CHALLENGE IS TO FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S IT'S AGAINST A BUILDING OR THROUGH THE BOUCHER BROTHERS OR SOME OTHER PARTNERING KIND OF WAY OF DOING THIS.
UM, UH, AND BECAUSE I'M NOT ON THE, THE NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WITH A VOTE, I, I, UM, WANTED TO GET THIS ON THE RECORD HERE.
IF I, IF I MAY, IT, IT MAY SOUND LIKE IF THIS ITEM IS ALSO AT NEIGHBORHOODS, IS, UH, IS THE ITEM IS PRESENTED BY, BY THE VENDOR, THERE WAS FEEDBACK GIVEN, AND IF YOU WANTED TO CLOSE IT OUT HERE, AND THAT FEEDBACK WOULD THEN BE TAKEN TO NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THEM TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION YEAH.
ON WHETHER TO ENGAGE IN A FORMAL SOLICITATION.
[01:30:01]
YEAH.SO ARE WE ABLE TO ESSENTIALLY CLOSE IT OUT WITHOUT PROVIDING SOME SORT OF OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION AND JUST SAY, OKAY, WE HEARD, WE GAVE SOME FEEDBACK.
MOVE IT ALONG TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU BETTER INCORPORATE SOME OF IT, UH, BEFORE IT COMES TO THE FULL COMMISSION, BUT WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO IT NEGATIVELY OPINE AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MUDDY THOSE WATERS BEFORE YOU GO TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT SITTING HERE WANTING TO JUMP, UH, FULLY INTO THE POOL.
SO I'LL SHOW, SHOW THE RECORD THAT THE VENDOR PRESENTED THE ITEM AND THE COMMISSIONERS PROVIDED FEEDBACK AND THE ITEM WAS CLOSED IT FOR, AND THEN YOU'LL GO TO, IF, IF I MAY, HOWEVER, THERE IS THE REVENUE SHARE ASPECT OF IT AND THE MARKET STUDY ASPECT OF IT, THAT I DO THINK AT SOME POINT THOSE ELEMENTS DO NEED TO COME BACK, UH, TO, UM, TO FERC THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, GERMANE TO THE PURPOSE OF OUR COMMITTEE.
SO MAYBE WE, UH, KEEP IT HERE.
CLOSE IT OUT AND KEEP IT HERE.
ARE THOSE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE? THOSE, THOSE WOULD BE DIFFERENT THINGS.
UH, AND IT DOES GO DOWN THE PATH OF IT BEING A SOLICITATION THAT GOES OUT.
PERHAPS THE, THE SOLICITATION RESULTS COME TO FERC.
UH, I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY WANTS TO ASSIST HERE.
UM, DIFFERENT PATHS THAT CAN BE TAKEN HERE.
IF NEIGHBORHOODS MAKES A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION THAN THE COMMISSION CAN EITHER VOTE TO, UH, PROCEED WITHOUT A, A FORMAL COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION AND ENGAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR A PILOT PROGRAM, OR COMMISSION COULD DIRECT A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION.
IF THE COMMISSION PROCEEDS WITH A SOLICITATION, THEN EACH, UH, PROPOSER WILL PRESENT ITS TERMS. IF INSTEAD THE COMMISSION WANTS, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENGAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THIS PROPOSER, THEN I THINK THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO RETURN TO FERC, TO, UH, TO, TO WORK ON THE FINE POINTS OF, OF WHAT THE ECONOMICS OF THE DEAL LOOK LIKE.
AND IF I CAN, SO JUST, UH, DOVETAILING OFF THAT IS THEN IT WOULD BE AT THE COMMISSION'S DIRECTION ON HOW TO, IF THEY WANTED TO COMPLETELY HANDLE IT THEMSELVES OR THERE'S SOME ASPECT OF SENATE FERC.
BUT I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WOULD BE OKAY CLOSING THIS OUT WITH THE FEEDBACK TO GIVE IT TO THE VENDOR.
JUST ONE COMMENT ON THE, UH, THE PROPOSED 25%, UH, REBATE, IF YOU WILL, IN HIS PROPOSAL, IF HE WOULD'VE GONE THROUGH HIS WHOLE PROPOSAL TODAY, YOU WOULD'VE SEEN THAT WAS DESIGNED TO GO TO THE CITY.
AND OUR EXPECTATION WAS THE CITY, BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT TALKING A LOT OF MONEY HERE, AND HE'S GOT HUGE EXPENSES.
WE'RE TALKING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT OF HIS POCKET.
AND TO RENT SOMETHING FOR 15 BUCKS, YOU KNOW, NOT, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOTTA MAKE A LIVING.
SO THE IDEA WAS TO GIVE 25% TO THE CITY, WHICH IN TURN, IF I WERE SITTING WHERE YOU WERE, I WOULD SAY, WELL, I WANT A DOLLAR OF THAT.
I WOULD GIVE IT ALL TO THE RESIDENTS.
AND THE WAY THE RESIDENT DISCOUNT WAS GONNA WORK WAS THEY WERE GONNA USE THEIR CREDIT CARD IN THE KIOSK.
AS OPPOSED TO WITH THE PACHE HUD, IT BECOMES VERY COMPLICATED TO START ON THE SAND TAKING CREDIT CARDS.
THEY REGISTER THEIR CREDIT CARD IN THE KIOSK, AND ONLY IF THEY HAVE THE CREDIT CARD REGISTERED TO A MIAMI BEACH ZIP CODE, IF THEY MAILING ADDRESS IS NOT AS, THEY DON'T GET THE DISCOUNT.
THAT'S HOW WE QUANTIFY THE BEACH RESIDENT DISCOUNT.
SO WHEN THERE WERE 3 3 1 3 9, 4 0 4 1, I'M NOT SURE IF THREE EIGHT IS ANYWHERE IN MIAMI BEACH, BUT THEY, UNLESS THEIR CARD WAS REGISTERED TO ONE OF THOSE ZIP CODES, THEY WOULDN'T GET IT.
SO IT WOULD REALLY BE UP TO THE COMMISSION TO ULTIMATELY DECIDE OUT OF $5 ON A $20 RENTAL, DO YOU WANT TWO 50 AND GIVE THE RESIDENTS TWO 50? WOULD YOU WANNA GIVE THE RESIDENTS ALL FIVE? IF IT WENT TO $25, IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SIX AND A QUARTER, SIX AND A HALF.
BUT YOU KNOW, MAN HAS TO COVER TREMENDOUS.
HE'S ALREADY SPENT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE DESIGN POINT THIS POINT, AND, AND I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF A SUCCESS.
UH, LITTLE GIRL OR BOY, YOU HAVE
OH, I THOUGHT, OH, COME ON JERRY.
THAT WAS A SELLING POINT THERE.
UH, IT'S NOT OUR JOB UP HERE, RIGHT.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SUCCESSFUL.
WE'RE TURNING OVER THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
AND WHAT WE RECEIVE IN RETURN CAN'T JUST BE, WELL, YOU GOTTA HELP HIM, YOU KNOW, MAKE A LIVING.
I'M SAYING YOU CAN DO WITH THAT REVENUE WHAT YOU WISH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ASKED, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM COMMISSIONER DOMINGUEZ, WOULD YOU CONSIDER A RESIDENT DISCOUNT? SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THE MONEY WE WOULD GIVE TO THE CITY.
AND, AND JUST TO CLARIFY ON THAT $20, IT WOULD BE $5 TO YOU GUYS IF THE PERSON WASN'T A RESIDENT.
UM, AND THEN IF THEY ARE A RESIDENT, WE WANNA PASS THAT FIVE TO THAT'S THEIR CALL.
YEAH, WE'D LIKE TO PASS IT AND, UH, QUESTION THIS IS BEING PROPOSED AS A PILOT WITH A FINITE END.
BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ISSUE SOME LONG DATED CONTRACT AND AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER YEAR ONE, UH, WE'RE GIVING UP A VERY, UM, ATTRACTIVE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND WE'RE GETTING A THOUSAND BUCKS OR SOMETHING
[01:35:01]
ALONG THOSE LINES.SO, YOU KNOW, SO ARE YOU IN? AND, BUT THAT PUTS YOU IN A DIFFICULT POSITION 'CAUSE YOU HAVE LARGE UPFRONT CAPEX AND YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE HARD TO COMMIT OVER JUST A SIX MONTH OR ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS.
IF YOU, THE COMMISSION IS INCLINED TO MOVE IT TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO NEGOTIATE, I THINK THAT HAS TO GET WORKED OUT.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S GONNA BE A HUGE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
UH, AND SO A SIX MONTH, IT WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE TO SPEND THE KIND OF MONEY THEY'D HAVE TO SPEND TO TRY SOMETHING FOR SIX MONTHS.
'CAUSE REMEMBER THERE'S ALSO A, A RAMP UP PERIOD FOR PEOPLE TO EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
NOW THEY GOTTA GO TO THE BATHROOM.
WELL, I WASN'T PLANNING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
I GOTTA GO LOOK FOR SOMETHING ON THE BATHROOM WALL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE A SELLING JOB TO GET PEOPLE TO EVEN UNDERSTAND IT.
SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANY RESPECTABLE RESULTS FOR THE FIRST YEAR UNTIL PEOPLE EVEN UNDERSTAND.
AS OPPOSED TO WHERE BOUCHER NOW HAS, HAS WORKED OUT IN AGREEMENT THAT AT LEAST FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I THINK IT'S A THREE MONTH TRIAL AT THE EIGHTH STREET HUT, WHICH THEY HAVE, UM, HE'S ALLOWED TO PUT BOXES OUT THERE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT AUSTIN HAS HAD A TEAM OUT THERE THAT'S BEEN RAINING A LOT, BUT AT OVER A THREE DAY PERIOD, HE RENTED AN AVERAGE OF 10 A DAY.
SO, UH, THE BOUCHER'S HAD ASKED IF WE COULD DEMONSTRATE OVER A TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEK PERIOD, AT LEAST $1,200 OF RENTALS, OKAY.
WHICH HE'S ALREADY ACHIEVING, UH, THAT THEY WOULD IN CONSIDER INVESTING OR CONSIDER EXPANDING IT TO OTHER AREAS.
AND THEN IF WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE REVENUE IN, IN THREE AREAS OF THEIRS, THEY WOULD LOOK TO, UH, POTENTIALLY INVEST.
AND, AND BY NO MEANS DO I WANNA SLOW DOWN A, A BUSINESS PLAN, BUT IN THE LONG RUN, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SAVING MONEY BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE KIND OF A MORE EXPANDED PILOT PROGRAM LIKE THAT.
SHOW US WHAT THE ACTUAL RESULTS ARE OVER THREE MONTHS AT THE EIGHTH STREET KIOSK.
I, I THINK IF YOU ASKED ME WHAT I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE, OKAY, UH, OUR BEACH CONTRACTOR THERE ON EIGHTH STREET ALLOWS YOU TO SET UP MM-HMM,
AND LET'S SEE WHAT THAT REVENUE IS OVER THE COURSE OF THREE MONTHS, RIGHT? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE VALUABLE FEEDBACK FOR YOU.
'CAUSE IF YOU GO AND SAY, WELL, I GOTTA EXPEND, UH, $200,000 TO CONSTRUCT A KIOSK, BUT I ONLY MADE $10,000, YOU KNOW, OVER THREE MONTHS MAY MAYBE, UH, YOU, YOU KIND OF CHANGED YOUR BUSINESS MODEL AND FOCUS MORE ON THE HOTELS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BEFORE MAKING THAT LARGE UPFRONT CAPEX.
UH, SO LET'S TRY AND REEL THIS IN LAND, THIS PLANE.
UM, I THINK THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO HEAR WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS WANTS TO GO WITH THE LOGISTICAL FACTOR.
UM, I I REALLY, BEFORE I WOULD VOTE ON THE FULL COMMISSION IN FAVOR, UH, WOULD REALLY NEED SOME OF THESE LOGISTICS KIND OF REWORKED.
I WOULDN'T BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE FOUR DIFFERENT STREETS.
I PREFER, YOU KNOW, A THREE MONTH PILOT PROGRAM ON EIGHTH STREET OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE, THOSE LINES.
YOU, YOU'LL HAVE THOSE STATISTICS 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO BE THE NEIGHBORHOODS UNTIL THE DECEMBER MEETING.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE BACK TO YOU UNTIL AT LEAST JANUARY, AT WHICH TIME HE WILL HAVE STATISTICS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON EIGHTH STREET.
SO I, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST MOVE IT TO NEIGHBORHOODS AS YOU'RE DOING, SEE WHERE THEY COME OUT.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE DATA AND WE'RE WILLING TO, TO, SO LET'S, LET'S CLOSE THIS OUT FROM FINANCE.
WE'LL HEAR IT AT NEIGHBORHOODS IN DECEMBER AND, UH, SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR CITY.
[NB 12. DISCUSS INSTALLING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR CHILDREN IN PRIDE PARK.]
TIME CERTAIN FOR INSTALL PLAYGROUND IN PRIDE PARK AND B12 COMMISSIONER ROSELAND GONZALEZ, DO YOU WANNA PRESENT? I HAVE SOME OF THE PALM VIEW RESIDENTS HERE, UM, WHO SPONSORED THE ITEM TO GIVE THE, UM, PRIDE PARK TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT? COMMISSIONER SUAREZ, THOSE.I KNOW THAT WE WERE UNANIMOUS IN THAT, UM, THE RESIDENTS AT PALM VIEW HAVE COME FORWARD AND SAID THEY WOULD LIKE SOME PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
UM, THE THING I LIKE ABOUT INSTALLING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IS THAT PARKS DOES THIS VERY WELL.
IT'S ONE OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAPPENS QUICKLY AND IT'S, WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, IT'S NOT THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
AND I KNOW THAT JASON CAN FIND THE FUNDING IF HE REALLY TRIES.
WE HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT COMING UP.
UM, WE HAVE SOME LIKE MUSCLY KIND OF EQUIPMENT AND WE THOUGHT THAT RIGHT ADJACENT TO IT.
UH, WE MET WITH JOHN FROM PARKS AND WE COULD ADD SOME ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE PRICE, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE CINDY HERE, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ARSENIC REMEDIATION AND DON'T PANIC BECAUSE IT'S NOT TOXIC ARSENIC.
IT WAS JUST THAT AT ONE TIME IT WAS A GOLF COURSE THAT KIND OF MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE.
UH, CINDY, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS TOO? SURE.
UH, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
CINDY CASANOVA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
[01:40:01]
UH, THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU, UH, IS A DUAL REFERRAL, UM, TO BE HEARD HERE AT FINANCE TODAY AND AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NEIGHBORHOODS QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE AS OUTLINED IN THE MEMO.AND AS, UM, COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ EXPLAINED, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRIDE PARK FOOTPRINT ALSO SERVES AS A TEMPORARY ACTIVATION AREA.
UM, FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, WE PROPOSE TO CONSIDER THE PLACEMENT OF A CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE PARK, WHICH IS CLOSE TO THE, UM, FITNESS EQUIPMENT IN THE PARK.
UM, WE IDENTIFIED THAT LOCATION IN THE MEMO.
WE WOULD FURTHER VET THIS LOCATION IF APPROVED WITH ANY EFFECTOR USER DEPARTMENT, UM, TO ENSURE THAT IT'S FEASIBLE.
UH, WE'VE TAKEN TO ACCOUNT USER SAFETY, UM, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO CONCERNS WITH THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL OR AGAIN, WITH ANY CONVENTION CENTER ACTIVATIONS.
THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET THAT WE PUT TOGETHER, UM, FOR THIS PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO RANGE ANYWHERE BETWEEN, IT'S EXPENSIVE, 1,000,140 6,000 TO 1,000,760 6,000.
AND THAT DEPENDS ON THE DESIGN.
THE BUDGET INCLUDES THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT ITSELF, FENCING, LANDSCAPING, THE SHADE STRUCTURE FORM, PLACE, SURFACE DRINKING FOUNTAINS, TRASH RECEPTACLES, UM, BENCHES AND TR AND, UH, I'M SORRY, AND LANDSCAPING AND ANY REMEDIATION THAT WOULD NEED TO GO INTO WHAT COMMISSIONER WAS ALLUDING TO FOR ANY ARSENIC REMEDIATION.
UM, THE RANGE IN THESE COSTS DOES FLUCTUATE AND IT REALLY DI IS REALLY BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF CONSIDERATION THAT WE WANNA PUT INTO THE DESIGN KNOWING THAT THIS PLAYGROUND WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL HUB FOR GLOBAL ACTIVATIONS SUCH AS ART BASEL.
SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT SOMETHING THERE THAT'S CATALOG PLAYGROUND.
WE WANT SOMETHING THERE THAT'S KIND OF NICE AND, AND HIGH END.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THESE COSTS ESTIMATES BEFORE YOU, UM, WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT.
UM, AND IF IT RECEIVES A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADD THIS, UM, FOR CONSIDERATION AS PART OF A PROPOSED ENHANCEMENT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, UM, FOR FUNDING.
MR. HERNANDEZ? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF PUTTING A, UM, UH, A PLAYGROUND AT AT PRIDE PARK.
UH, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD GIVEN THE COSTS, YOU KNOW, TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY WORTHY OF OUR CITY CENTER DISTRICT IS WORTHY OF THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND PALM VIEW AND JUST THE, THE VIBRANCY OF THIS AREA.
UH, IT IS WORTHY OF THIS INVESTMENT AND SHOULD BE PUT INTO OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
UM, WHAT I ALSO DO THINK IS WHEN I WAS A KID, THE PLAYGROUND I WAS PLAYING IN WAS, DIDN'T COST $1.7 MILLION.
I MEAN, IT WAS, IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, A SWING WITH A, UM, WHAT IS IT CALLED, A SEESAW? IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED? A SEESAW? AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE DO TAKING TWO ROUTES HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE BUDGETING FOR SOMETHING REALLY SPECTACULAR, UH, AS PART OF OUR, UH, CAPITAL PROGRAM.
BUT I THINK IN THE SHORT TERM, IN THE, IN THE INTERIM, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE AN, A PLAYGROUND THAT IS NOT A MILLION DOLLAR PLAYGROUND, UH, SO THAT WE DO SERVE THE FAMILIES THAT ARE THERE TODAY.
UH, AND THE PEOPLE THAT GO THERE, IT SHOULDN'T COST A MILLION DOLLARS TO GET A PLAYGROUND THERE.
UH, CYNTHIA, UH, THE ARSENIC REMEDIATION, UH, IS THAT WHAT IT IS? THE ARSENIC REMEDIATION, THAT'S COST, BUT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY GOING THERE.
LIKE, THIS IS WHAT I DON'T GET.
I MEAN, THIS, IT WAS, IT WAS A P LOT YES.
AND THEN WE DID THE CONVENTION CENTER CAMPUS AND WE CONVERTED IT FROM ASPHALT TO, UH, TO A PARK.
SO IT HASN'T BEEN A GOLF COURSE FOR AT LEAST 50 OR 60 YEARS, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IS THERE ARSENIC THERE? I MEAN, ALL OF THAT SOIL'S NEW SOIL THAT WE PUT THERE, UH, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER CAMPUS.
SO THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT, THAT I DON'T GET.
I, TO AS FAR AS THE, THE SOIL CONTAMINATION REMEDIATION, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THAT.
THAT WASN'T ACTUALLY PART OF THE COST THAT WE PUT TOGETHER FOR NO, FOR, UM, THE BUDGET ESTIMATES THAT WE JUST GAVE YOU.
UM, SO I DON'T GET THIS, WHERE, WHERE'S THIS ARSENIC COMING FROM? WE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE AS PART OF THE CONVENTION CENTER CAMPUS OF JUST ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO.
HOW IS THERE CONTAMINATION ON THIS? GOOD MORNING AGAIN, MARIA.
HELLO? UM, IT EXISTED FROM THE PAST.
SO YOU DO THAT WITH CLEAN SOIL WHEN IT WAS A PARKING LOT.
WHAT CAPPED IT WAS THE ASPHALT.
SO THAT CONTAMINATION WAS UNDERNEATH, NOW THAT IT'S A PARK AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ROLL AROUND IN THIS, IN THE GRASS
AND IT WAS A PROCESS THAT WAS APPROVED BY DERM.
[01:45:01]
NOW WHAT HAPPENS IS, ANY SINGLE TIME YOU DIG, WHETHER YOU PLANT A TREE, LIKE WHEN WE DID THE TWO BIG PHYLUMS, REMEMBER THAT WE DIG, WE DUG HUGE HOLES.BUT THERE'S UH, A PROCESS FOR HOW YOU REPLACE THAT SOIL AND HOW YOU INSPECT IT.
IT'S GOTTA FOLLOW THE PROTOCOLS OF DERM.
SO THERE IS A PROCESS FOR THAT.
SO AGAIN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW KIDS ARE PLAYING THERE NOW.
I SEE IT ALL THE TIME OUTSIDE MY OFFICE WINDOW.
SO WHY SO FOR US TO SET UP A TEMPORARY PLAYGROUND WHILE WE GOT A $1.7 MILLION FOR A FANCIER PLAYGROUND, WHY? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REMEDIATION THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
PEOPLE ARE PLAYING THERE NOW AS, AS IT IS.
I THINK, UM, CINDY WAS REFERRING TO THE PERMANENT PLAYGROUND WHERE YOU WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A PERMANENT PLAY DIGGING AND, AND DOING SOME KIND OF FOOTINGS OR FOUNDATIONS.
SO, SO, SO CAN WE, WHILE WE BUDGET, UH, THE, UH, THE, WHAT IS IT, 1.6, 5.4 TO 1.6, IT WAS ABOUT 1.5.
WHILE WE BUDGET FOR THE 1.5, CAN WE TEMPORARILY GET SOMETHING THERE WITHOUT HAVING TO DO, UH, ANY EXTENSIVE REMEDIATION BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE THERE NOW? WE CAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT.
AND I, AND I, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS.
THEY WANT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, AN AMENITY.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO PUT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I WOULD, I WOULD IMAGINE, UH, SO IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE CAPITAL PROGRAM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME YOU COULD GET SOMETHING THERE QUICKLY THAT'S NOT GONNA COST US OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WHILE WE BUDGET FOR SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND MORE PERMANENT IN NATURE, UH, THROUGH THE CAPITAL PROGRAM.
AND WE CAN ALSO, UM, SO MARIA JUST MENTIONED WE COULD ALSO DO SOME REALLY CREATIVE PROGRAMMING IN THE SPACE TOO, UM, FOR KIDS, FOR FAMILIES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS THAT WE COULD DO THERE.
I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M HERE AT JESSICA AND WE REPRESENT PALM VIEW AND A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT WANNA SEE THIS HAPPEN.
UM, RIGHT NOW THE KIDS ARE PLAYING ON THE GYM EQUIPMENT AND IT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS THAT THEY'RE PLAYING ON THAT.
UM, I MET JESSICA ACTUALLY 'CAUSE SHE AND HER CHILD WERE PLAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, LIKE WITH A LITTLE TOY.
THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO WALK TO TO GO TO A PLAYGROUND.
SO WE REALLY DO WANT TO SEE THIS.
WE DON'T, WE THINK IT'S GONNA BENEFIT US OBVIOUSLY, BUT ALL THE SURROUNDING AND INCLUDING THE NEW HOTEL, LIKE FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET AND PLAY IN THE PLAYGROUND.
SO, UH, AND WHAT, WHAT PARK DOESN'T HAVE A PLAYGROUND BESIDES, AND WE HAVE GYM EQUIPMENT, SO WE REALLY WANT TO SEE IT FIXED, WHETHER IT'S FANCY OR SIMPLE.
I MEAN OBVIOUSLY FANCY IS BETTER, BUT LIKE WHAT? TAKE SIMPLE AS WELL.
WELL THAT, THAT THING, THAT'S $1.7 MILLION FOR A FANCIER ONE.
IT'LL BE GREAT TO DO THAT, BUT THAT'S A MORE OF A LONG-TERM PROJECT THAT I THINK YOU CAN GET SOMETHING DONE PROBABLY RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
THAT IS NOT OF SUCH A HIGH PRICE TAG.
SO CINDY, WHAT CAN YOU GET US QUICKLY AND NOT SO EXPENSIVE? LET US GO BACK, SHARPEN OUR PENCILS AND COME BACK WITH A, WITH A CHEAPER OPTION.
AND WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UM, AND I'M GONNA ASK SOME QUESTIONS HERE, UH, FOR A 1.7 MILLION, AND I'M A FATHER AND I'M THE BIGGEST ADVOCATE FOR PARKS AND REC AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK, HEAR ME OUT AND TELL ME IF I'M RIGHT, WRONG, INDIFFERENT.
UH, WE DO SOMETHING SIMPLIFIED IN PRIDE PARK BECAUSE I LOOK AROUND THAT SURROUNDING AREA AND THERE'S JUST NOT THE POPULATION DENSITY TO SUPPORT A $2 MILLION PLAYGROUND.
BUT YOU'RE ALSO NOT A LONG WALK FROM LINCOLN ROAD.
I WOULD LOVE, AND THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT GOT DEFERRED ON HERE FOR A PLAYGROUND AT EUCLID CIRCLE ON LINCOLN ROAD, WHICH IS JUST A SHORT FIVE MINUTE WALK THERE THAT COULD BE ENJOYED BAR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE, AND COULD BE SUCH AN ATTRACTION TO LINCOLN ROAD.
INSTEAD OF HAVING $1.5 MILLION HERE, $1.5 MILLION HERE, I'D RATHER GO OUT AND BE LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S MAKE THE COOLEST PLAYGROUND IN THE ENTIRE CITY RIGHT THERE ON LINCOLN ROAD.
THAT IS JUST A SHORT WALK AWAY FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE, WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT THING.
BUT JUST ADDING ONTO THAT, THE GYM EQUIPMENT IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
SO ALSO TO HAVE IT LIKE MATCH IN A WAY WOULD BE MORE REASON FOR A SIMPLIFIED PLAYGROUND.
WE COULD LOOK AT THAT FOR SURE.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MONEY IS FINITE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO PUT THE BEST EVERYWHERE.
BUT I'D RATHER YOU'RE STILL A SHORT WALK AWAY.
HAVE SOMETHING RIGHT THERE IMMEDIATELY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CARE ABOUT LINCOLN ROAD, SO WE SUPPORT THAT
AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE WALKING DOWN LINCOLN ROAD, IN FACT, MAKE IT SO COOL WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO LINCOLN ROAD JUST USE THE PARKING LOT AND THEN THEY STUMBLED UPON, WELL, PLAYGROUND.
SO IF I MAY, UM, SO OBVIOUSLY, UM, THIS WOULD STILL ALLOW THE DESIGN MIAMI AND OTHER MAJOR ACTIVATIONS THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO, TO TAKE PLACE.
THAT'S WHY WE WERE LOOKING TO PUT IT AS FAR AWAY FROM THOSE ACTIVATIONS AS POSSIBLE.
SO MY VIEW IS, UM, BECAUSE IT IS A CONVENTION CENTER
[01:50:01]
AND, AND DESIGN DESTINATION, THE MORE UNDERSTATED AND SOPHISTICATED IT IS, THE BETTER IT WILL BE.I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAYOUT OF THE PARK, IT IS A VERY UNDERSTATED, SOPHISTICATED PARK.
AND SO TO HAVE THIS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BELLS AND WHISTLES KIND OF PLAYGROUND TO ME, DOESN'T FIT WHAT THE AESTHETIC IS ALREADY.
AND, AND THE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT IS YOU GUYS BROUGHT UP MM-HMM.
IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK OUT OF DATE SOON THAT, UM, IT APPEALS TO THE VERY SOPHISTICATED CONSUMERS WHO ARE COMING TO THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR, FOR PARTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND IT FITS INTO THE OVERALL AESTHETIC.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERRED WAY TO GO.
AND, UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE PART OF REVITALIZING LINCOLN ROAD IS BY MAKING IT A DESTINATION WITH KIDS WHO GET HUNGRY ON PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WHO THEN HAVE TO GO EAT AT RESTAURANTS
UM, SO I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL.
SO I I, I REALLY COMMEND, UH, COMMISSIONER ROSE GONZALEZ FOR, FOR THE SIGNUP PIECE.
IT REALLY, IT THINKS ABOUT OUR FAMILIES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I'D SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD WITH, WITH A, WITH A SIMPLIFIED VERSION, UH, THERE AT PRIDE PARK.
SO I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION OR IF YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, PUT A SIMPLIFIED VERSION.
UH, I THINK SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE, YOU KNOW, LESS REALLY IS, IS MORE, ESPECIALLY WITH TIME.
UM, AND THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY, LET'S TRY TO DO IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO THE WEST SIDE OF PRIDE PARK IS CLOSER TO WHERE THE HOMES ARE AT.
UH, IT TAKES IT AWAY FROM THE LARGER ACTIVATIONS.
UH, SO AS CLOSE TO, THERE'S AN AREA RIGHT NEXT TO THE GYM EQUIPMENT.
'CAUSE THEN THAT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO LIKE WORK OUT WHILE THEIR KIDS.
AND YOU'RE GONNA MOVE IT TO THE FULL COMMISSION.
AND I, AND, AND I THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO GET IT AS PART OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
IF IT'S, I MEAN, IT, IT, THIS SHOULDN'T BE A BIG TICKET ITEM, CINDY.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT SHOULDN'T BE THE $1.7 MILLION PLAYGROUND.
NOW, JUST SOME THE SCALE BACK.
IT'S DEFINITELY SOME SLINGS THAT SOME PLYWOOD TO SAND DOWN THE PLYWOOD EDGES.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE CADILLAC VERSION, BUT I, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK WITH A, WITH A CADILLAC, YOU KNOW, ON THE ECONOMY SIDE, UH, NOT TO OVERCOMPLICATE THINGS, BUT YOU'VE GOT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
MAYBE YOU CAN GET THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN DESIGNING SOMETHING THAT COMPLIMENTS THEM.
ANY, ANYTHING THAT WE DO THAT'S GONNA ELONGATE THE PROCESS, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND SIMPLY BECAUSE IT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF YOU WANNA ASK THEM FOR INPUT, IF THEY WANNA PLANT SOME STUFF WE COULD ALONG THE WAY AND WE COULD GIVE THAT DIRECTION.
BUT I WOULD JUST GO WITH GETTING SOME EQUIPMENT SO THAT YOU HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND YOUR KIDS CAN PLAY.
YOU KNOW, IF WE DID A SIMPLIFIED VERSION LIKE THIS, HOW SOON DO WE THINK THIS WOULD, WE'D HAVE TO GO AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE QUEUE AS FAR AS THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY.
UM, BUT IT, IT, IT SHOULDN'T FAIRLY, IT SHOULDN'T TAKE US THAT LONG.
IS THIS LIKE 20, 25? JUNE, MAY, MAYBE.
I MEAN, IT SHOULDN'T TAKE, I DON'T WANNA COMMIT TO A TIMELINE YET.
I GOTTA GO BACK, SHARPEN THE PENCIL, SEE WHAT WE CAN PUT IN THERE AND, AND TAKE IT FROM THERE.
BUT YOU'LL HAVE IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
I MEAN, I MEAN, IF, IF THIS WERE KEEP AND QUICKLY I GOT, I GOT IT.
IF THIS WAS STILL 1996, I'D SAY, LET'S GO TO SEARS AND JUST LIKE, LET'S GO BUY ONE AND LET'S JUST LIKE, WE CAN PROJECT AND PUT IT TOGETHER AND PUT IT THERE.
WE DON'T WANNA DO A FISHER PRICE IN THERE.
CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION? WE DON'T HAVE ANY GEO BOND FUNDING MONEY FOR THIS, FOR PARKS THAT WE CAN PULL FROM TO DO THIS.
WE DO HAVE PLAYGROUND MONEY AND ARTISTIC PLAYGROUND MONEY, BUT I THINK IT'S ALL BEEN SPOKEN FOR.
UM, I'D HAVE TO CHECK WITH, UM, JOHN AND, AND TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS IN THE AMOUNT I'M THINKING HERE.
UH, ARE, ARE WE KIND OF ALIGNED? 250, $300,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT GETS US SOMETHING THAT IS OR LESS, YEAH.
AND ONE, THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH WONDERFUL ADVOCATES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT YOU TO GO AWAY, UH, FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS BECAUSE ONE, WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPEDITE IT, BUT TWO, YOU HAVE MY FULL COMMITMENT THAT I WOULD LOVE TO BRING A DESTINATION PLAYGROUND.
I'M, I'M OKAY WITH A DESTINATION PLAYGROUND AND THIS PLAYGROUND TOO.
WE GOT TWO, TWO PLAYGROUNDS INSTEAD OF ONE.
CUT YOU DOWN TO WHAT, 20% OF THE BUDGET.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, LISTEN, I'M, LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
MY 6-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WILL BE HAPPY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND ADVOCATING.
I, I BELIEVE THE, THE MOTION IS TO RETURN TO COMMISSIONER OF THE FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION, A DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO INSTALL, INSTALL A
[01:55:01]
SIMPLIFIED PLAYGROUND AT THE WESTERN SIDE OF PRIDE PARK AS PART OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.IF I CAN, UH, THE, WHO MADE THE MOTION TO SECOND IT? I MADE THE MOTION.
IS THAT, ARE THAT CFO? UH, YES.
AND I BELIEVE NUMBER 11, YOU SAID WE'LL DO NEXT, UH, I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER, BUT CANOPY CANOPY PARK.
[NB 11. DISCUSS INSTALLING SHADE ABOVE CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN CANOPY PARK]
INSTALLING SHADE ABOVE CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN CANOPY PARK.HOW MUCH I DIDN'T LOOK AT AT THE REC.
HOW MUCH IS IT? CINDY
AT CANOPY PARK, IT'S GROWING IN, BUT IN THE INTERIM, I'VE HAD SOME PARENTS COME UP TO ME AND ASK FOR A SHADED AREA.
IT'S JUST GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER.
AND, AND WHAT, HOW MUCH CAN WE, HOW CAN WE DO THIS? SO, SO YES.
UM, CINDY CASANOVA, AGAIN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO WHEN THE PARK, WHEN THE PLAYGROUND WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED, IT WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE THE MAHOGANY TREES THAT ARE THERE SHADED.
UM, OVER TIME, WE ALL KNOW TREES TAKE A WHILE TO GROW.
UM, AND AS IT IS, AS IT STANDS NOW, DEPENDING ON CERTAIN POINTS OF THE DAY, IT'S VERY HOT THERE.
UM, AND IT, IT IS, IT'S PROBLEMATIC.
UM, SO WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ITEM.
UM, SHADE STRUCTURES ARE NOT CHEAP.
UM, SO WE GAVE YOU TWO OPTIONS OF WHAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO THERE.
ONE IS, UM, IS PARTIAL SHADE THAT WE WOULD WORK ALONG THE EXISTING TREE CANOPY.
IT WOULDN'T SHADE THE ENTIRETY OF THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
IT WOULD SHADE SOME OF THE BIGGER ELEMENTS OF THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, LIKE THE ELEPHANT SLIDE.
UM, AND THAT CAME IN AT A PRICE TAG OF 265,000.
THE OTHER OPTION IS TO SHADE THE ENTIRETY OF THE PLAYGROUND, WHICH IS AT A HIGHER PRICE POINT, AND ALSO WOULD REQUIRE US RELOCATING A COUPLE OF THE TREES THAT ARE, ARE, THAT ARE THERE.
UM, AND THAT COMES IN AT A PRICE POINT OF 429,000.
CAN I ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS? SURE.
SO CANOPY PARK IS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH, UM, WITH THE, UM, FIVE PARK, FIVE ALTON, UM, WHO PAID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CANOPY PARK.
SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE GO BACK TO, TO THE DEVELOPER BECAUSE THIS IS EITHER ONE OF THESE PIECES OF, UH, YOU KNOW, EXPENSES OR CHUMP CHANGE, UM, TO THAT DEVELOPER.
AND IF THE PARK AS CONSTRUCTED DIDN'T ENVISION THE FACT THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TRADE CANOPY, UH, TREE CANOPIES TO PROVIDE SHADE, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTEMPLATED AT, AT TIME OF, OF DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT IN CONSTRUCTION.
AND SO THIS IS JUST A, A FIX, UM, IN MY VIEW.
AND I, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT RELOCATING TREES IS NOT SOMETHING I'D BE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT DOING.
UM, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THESE CANOPIES WOULD BE TEMPORARY WHILE WE WANT THE TREES TO GROW IN.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD BE, I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY FUNDING THIS.
I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CITY GOING TO THE DEVELOPER AND ASKING THEM TO, I AGREE.
OKAY, FIRST OF ALL, THEN THAT'S KILLING THE WHOLE IDEA.
AND NOW WE HAVE, BECAUSE YOU, HE'S NOT REOPENING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO PUT SOME SHADE IN.
AND NOW YOU HAVE A KIDS' PARK, AND IT COULD TAKE UP TO A DECADE TO GET PROPER CANOPY TO SHADE IT.
AND IT'S TOO HOT FOR THEM TO USE THE EQUIPMENT.
SO WE HAVE ALL THESE RESIDENTS THAT LOVE THE PARK, BUT IF YOU NOTICE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF, THERE ARE PEOPLE, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST HOT.
SO, I MEAN, WE COULD, FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, I, I SUPPOSE WE COULD APPROACH THEM, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE, I MEAN, WHY WOULD THEY, THEY'VE ALREADY SEEDED THE PARK TO THE CITY.
WHEN WE TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE PARK, THAT WAS THE MOMENT WHERE WE HAD TO PROBABLY SAY TO THEM, YOU KNOW, WE WANT A SHADED CANOPY.
SO IF, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THAT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THAT WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT EQUIPMENT, AND WE HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S NOT SHADED.
SO, AM I SUPPOSED TO GO BACK TO THESE PARENTS AND SAY, UM, WE DIDN'T WANNA GIVE YOU SHADE AND COMPLETE THE PARK BECAUSE, BECAUSE TO ME, HE'S NOT GONNA, WHY WOULD HE DO THAT IF HE DIDN'T HAVE TO? AND HE ALREADY SEATED THE PARK AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS FINISHED.
WHY? AND THE TOWERS, WHY FINISHED? WHY THE QUESTION AND WHY WOULDN'T WE NOT JUST FIRST ASK THE QUESTION WITHOUT REOPENING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT? IT IS AN INCONSEQUENTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND WHY WOULD WE NOT AT LEAST ASK, ASK.
WE DON'T HAVE TO REOPEN ANYTHING.
IT IS A, IT'S, IT'S A SMALL, YOU KNOW, $265,000 IS NOT A BIG DEAL.
[02:00:01]
SO I WOULD, I WOULD, UM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WOULD BE OUR FIRST COURSE OF ACTION.I THINK HIS RESPONSE WILL BE, UH, WELL, IF I BUILD MY BUILDING TALLER, IT'LL PROVIDE MORE.
BUT, UM, I'M FINE WITH GOING OUT AND ASKING THE QUESTION, BUT I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD, UH, NEIGHBOR, THINK OF A CONTINGENCY PLAN WHERE IF THE ANSWER IS NO, UH, OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WHERE WE SAY, YOU'RE DOING THIS, CAN WE GET A SHADE AS PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, IT DOESN'T HURT TO ASK.
UH, BUT THEN IT'S LIKE, WHERE DO WE PROCEED? THE ANSWER IS NO.
COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ CHAIR CHAIRMAN, YOU, UH, LIVE YOU'RE, YOU'RE A NEIGHBOR OF THE AREA.
I MEAN, WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE? I KNOW YOU'RE A DAD, SO WHAT VALUE YOUR INSIDE? UM, MY SENSE IS IN THE MORNINGS WHEN THE SUN IS COMING FROM THE EAST, IT'S NOT UNBEARABLY HOT.
AND WHEN IT GOES TO THE WEST SIDE, THE SUN AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR IS BLOCKED BY, UH, PARTIALLY BLOCKED IN THE EVENINGS FROM BENTLEY BAY AND THE FLORIDIAN.
UH, HOWEVER, THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE.
IF OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT, UH, THEY WANT A CANOPY, UM, PERHAPS I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR OF MOVING TREES EITHER.
SO PERHAPS THE THE BEST IS TO GO WITH THE SCALED DOWN VERSION.
I THINK WE ASKED THE DEVELOPER, UM, BOTH DEVELOPERS ACTUALLY.
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER ONE ACTUALLY HAS A PARTNER ON THE PROJECT, HAS SOME MORE ACTIVE PROJECTS IN FRONT OF THE CITY.
SO MAYBE HE'D BE, UH, MORE ENTICED TO HELP US OUT.
UM, BUT, UH, THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE IF THAT ANSWER IS, WELL THANKS, BUT NO THANKS, UH, HOW DO WE PROCEED? AND PERHAPS THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PUTTING FORWARD, UM, A REQUEST THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THE SCALED DOWN VERSION OF ISSUE.
THIS IS, THIS IS WHERE A WHILE BACK I HAD AN IDEA, I GOTTA PUT IT OUT HERE.
SINCE WE ARE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE SHOULD HAVE A WISHLIST IN OUR CITY'S WEBSITE.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF SUCH GREAT WEALTH, OF SO MANY RESOURCES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE SO WELL IN THEIR CAREERS AND COME AND RETIRE HERE.
AND I'M SURE THAT, LET'S SAY IT'S NOT THOSE DEVELOPERS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE THAT LIVE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THAT PARK THAT MIGHT HAVE THE VERY DEEP POCKETS AND THE DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE CITY IS LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE LIKE A WISHLIST OF PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY AT THE TOP OF THE PRIORITY.
AND PEOPLE MIGHT BE WILLING TO PUT THE MONEY FORWARD AND CONTRIBUTE TO A FUND FOR IT.
AND SO, I, I WANT TO WORK MR. ATTORNEY ON AN ITEM ABOUT THAT, UH, BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE'S THINGS THAT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE ICING ON THE CAKE TYPE OF, UH, TYPE OF A THING.
AND THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT, UH, AND GET IT AND GET IT DONE, UH, SO THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
AND SO I LIKE TO WORK ON, ON AN ITEM ON THAT, BUT I, I SUPPORT ONE, UM, A MOTION AS STATED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU, YOU WANNA GIVE DIRECTION? IS CINDY'S SUPPOSED TO REACH OUT? WHO'S REACHING OUT? WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT IS THE MOTION? IS IT IF I, IF IF I, AND IF THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL JUMP IN, IF I'M OFF HERE, BUT I THINK IT TO RETURN TO THE, TO THE COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO REQUEST A DONATION FROM THE FIVE PARK DEVELOPER FOR A PARTIAL, UH, SUNSHADE AT CANOPY PARK PLAYGROUND.
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THAT I'VE HEARD.
AND, AND IF THAT WOULD FAIL, UH, TO, TO THEN RETURN TO FERC FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
WELL, HOW ABOUT MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SCALED DOWN VERSION? WOULD THAT BE TO, TO IMPLEMENT OR TO MAKE A BUDGET PRIORITY DURING THE 2026 BUDGET PROCESS? 2026.
THIS, AND THIS MIGHT JUST BE OKAY.
A STRUCTURE, A STRUCTURE IS GONNA COST A SHADE STRUCTURE.
IT'S GONNA COST US ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2 65 AND 4 29.
HOW MUCH WOULD MATURE TREES COST US? OH, I, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
I WOULD WANNA KNOW HOW MUCH WOULD MATURE TREES, UH, COST US.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD RATHER SEE US, IF WE'RE GONNA BE SPENDING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, POTENTIALLY, WHETHER IT BE US OR A PRIVATE ENTITY, THE, THE GOAL IS SHADE.
AND IF WE CAN GET THE SHADE THROUGH CANOPY, THROUGH MATURE CANOPY, I'D MUCH RATHER SEE IT, WHETHER IT BE US OR WHETHER IT BE A PRIVATE PERSON, A PRIVATE ENTITY DOING IT.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER THAT.
CAN I, CAN I SAY ONE THING? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LIVE THE PEOPLE ON WEST AVENUE LIVE IN APARTMENTS, AND I HAVE TO SAY, WHEN YOU HAVE A TODDLER
[02:05:01]
WHO'S, WHAT IS THAT LIKE? BEING IN AN APARTMENT WITH A COUPLE TODDLERS, TWO, THREE YEARS OLD, THEY'RE RUNNING AROUND.THEY, YOU HAVE TO GET 'EM OUT.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? SO
YOU KNOW, IT'S A NECESSITY BECAUSE THEY WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY WHEN YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS.
YOU KNOW, AND YOU MIGHT WANT THAT PUPPY TO HAVE SOME SHADE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THAT LITTLE PUPPY'S PAWS TO GET BURNED IF HE WAS IN A PUPPY PARK, RIGHT? SO YOU DON'T WANT THESE LITTLE TODDLERS WHO ARE GONNA BE TODDLING ALONG AND GETTING SUNBURNED AND GETTING BURNED ON THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY CAN'T USE.
AND THEIR PARENTS ARE IN THEIR UNITS ON WEST AVENUE AND THEY'RE STRESSED OUT AND THEY NEED TO GET THE KIDS OUT.
I MEAN, HOW LONG ARE WE GONNA ELONGATE THIS PROCESS? IS IT IDEAL THAT WE HAVE TO PUT SHADE THERE? NO.
BUT IS IT A NECESSITY? AND SHOULD ALL PARKS MOVING FORWARD HAVE SOME SORT OF SHADE SO THAT KIDS CAN IMMEDIATELY USE THE EQUIPMENT? PROBABLY.
SO I WOULD ASK COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ THAT YOU WOULD, UM, REEVALUATE YOUR THAT REQUEST, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT WILL MAKE IT TAKE A LOT LONGER.
I MEAN, IF YOU COULD, AS WE MOVE THE PROCESS ALONG, FINE.
NOW WE'RE GIVING THREE DIRECTIONS TO ASK THE DEVELOPER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PARTIAL SHADE AND TO FIND OUT IF WE CAN BUY MATURE TREES.
IS THAT WHAT THIS DIRECTION, IS THAT WHAT THE MOTION IS? IS THAT WHAT MY MOTION IS? I JUST, I MEAN, HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE
UH, THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
UM, AND THEN COME BACK TO FERC TO, UM, I JUST KIND OF SHOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND COST.
AND, AND I JUST THINK, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AT PRIDE PARK.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, THIS, THIS MEANS WE NEED TO LOOK AT A MATTER OF JUST POLICY DESIGN POLICY.
WHEN WE PUT MONEY TOWARDS DESIGNING PLAYGROUNDS, I GUESS WE NOW NEED TO, WE'RE, WE'RE LEARNING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER SHADE AS PART OF PLAYGROUNDS BECAUSE IT IS GETTING HOTTER.
WE LISTEN, WE'RE SEEING IT WITH HURRICANES.
WHY ARE WE HAVING MORE HURRICANES? BECAUSE THE OCEANS ARE GETTING WARMER.
UH, AND SO WHY DO WE NEED SHADE STRUCTURES NOW WHERE PERHAPS WE DIDN'T NEED THEM BEFORE WITH, UH, CHILDREN'S PLAY, UH, PLAYGROUNDS.
BECAUSE IT IS GETTING, GETTING WARMER OUT THERE.
SO AS PART OF OUR POLICIES, WHEN WE DESIGN PLAYGROUNDS, NOW WE KNOW WE NEED TO INCORPORATE SHADE.
WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE US IS THAT WE CONSIDER, WHEN WE INCORPORATE THIS SHADE, LET'S NOT LOOK AT STRUCTURES FOR SHADE.
LET'S LOOK AT INCORPORATING PROPER SHADE TREES.
AND AS OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, DAVID MARTINEZ LIKES TO SAY, NOT A CHARLIE BROWN TREE, I DON'T WANNA SEE MORE CHARLIE BROWN TREES.
AND THAT'S MY FRUSTRATION WITH THE TREES THAT WE INSTALLED.
AND IT'S FRUSTRATING TO SEE THEIR RATE OF GROWTH.
THE COMMUNITY DESERVES, YOU KNOW, REAL TREES THAT HAVE REAL CANOPY.
AND SO, AND SO, I I I WOULD JUST SAY IN THIS CASE, TO REMOVE ANY TREE, TO PUT A STRUCTURE TO PROVIDE SHADE TAKES US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE US TO SEE, CAN WE JUST ADD MORE TREES THERE THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT SHADE, UH, SO THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING AWAY ANY OF THE EXISTING TREES.
I'M, I'M LOOKING AT A OVERVIEW NOW AND COME BACK WITH A, A COST ESTIMATE ON A MATURE TREE.
I THINK ONE MATURE TREE KIND OF SOLVES THIS ISSUE.
IF YOU WOULD PLACE IT ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE PARK, UM, COULD BE OFF.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT WOULD ONE MATURE SHADE TREE BE? I DON'T THINK WE NEED AN ENTIRE NEW FOREST HERE.
UH, IT'S GROWING IN, UH, THE TEMPLATE IS THERE.
AND LET, LET'S SEE WHAT THAT ANALYSIS IS WITH ONE GROWN TREE.
'CAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE FOREVER.
WE CAN, UM, PARKS CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH GREEN SPACE AND PUBLIC WORKS AND RETURN TO THE, UH, NEXT, NEXT FERC.
IT'S, IT'S A TIGHT TURNAROUND.
WE HAVE A, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A NOVEMBER 8TH, BUT WE'LL RETURN WITH, UH, THAT INFORMATION AS REQUESTED.
MAYBE THE FIRST STREET OAK TREES.
SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING THE SHADED STRUCTURES AT ALL? NO.
WE JUST WANT TO RETURN OF WHAT ONE MATURE SHADE TREE WOULD BE.
UM, I THINK THE HIGHER VERSION OF, UM, MOVING TREES WOULDN'T BE MY, UH, WHAT I'D BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT, BUT LET'S KIND OF BIFURCATE THIS, RIGHT? LET'S, UH, IF SOMEBODY COULD ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION
[02:10:01]
WITH THE DEVELOPER, UM, ABOUT THE SHADE STRUCTURE, AND THEN IF WE COULD HAVE, UH, RETURNED, UM, WHETHER IT BE A FINANCE OR TO THE FULL COMMISSION ABOUT THE COST OF, UH, A SINGLE LARGE MATURE TREE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PLAYGROUND THERE.BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA GIVE UP ON THE IDEA.
I THINK WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ONE OF THOSE TWO OPTIONS.
SO WE'LL RE WE WILL RETURN TO, UH, FERC WITH THE, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE FOR THE MATURE TREE.
AND THERE COULD BE A DISCUSSION.
UH, I'LL REACH OUT TO THE, THAT DEVELOPER TO SEE IF THERE'S INTEREST IN A A, IN PAYING FOR IT.
AND MAYBE SOMEONE, AND MAYBE SOMEONE WANTS TO DE, MAYBE SOMEONE WANTS TO, IF IT'S NOT THE DEVELOPER, MAYBE SOMEONE OUT THERE WANTS TO DEDICATE A TREE TO SOMEONE THAT DID SOMETHING SPECTACULAR.
YOU KNOW? AND HOW BEAUTIFUL WOULD THAT BE? YOU KNOW, IF I MIGHT FOR, FOR, UM, IN CENTRAL PARK, THERE'S A, I THINK THIS IS CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY THAT ALLOWS RESIDENTS OR ANYBODY TO GIFT A BENCH IN MEMORIUM.
UM, AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CONSIDER DOING IN MIAMI BEACH IS YEAH.
YOU REALIZE THAT I HAVE THAT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE PROGRAM PROGRAM.
YOU CAN BUY A BENCH RIGHT NOW FOR $10,000.
SOLD A GREAT, WE SOLD SEVERAL BENCHES AND THEN WE LIKE RAISED THE PRICE TO 20,000.
WE DIDN'T SELL ANY BENCHES, BUT WE DO HAVE THE PROGRAM.
SO MAYBE, MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM TO, YOU KNOW, BENCHES AND OTHER PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND TREES AND, YOU KNOW, SORT OF BROADEN SCOPE.
I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE ALSO FOR TREES, I BELIEVE.
I THINK THERE'S A COMMEMORATIVE TREE PROGRAM.
WE EVEN HAVE A COMMEMORATIVE BRICK.
WHAT, YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM, WE, YOU CAN EVEN BUY A COMMEMORATIVE BRICK ON THE BEACH WALK THAT I DID.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, LIKE, I'M NOT IN CHARGE OF MARKETING AND THE CITY DOESN'T NECESSARILY, I DON'T THINK WE, WE'VE MARKETED THAT MUCH.
SO THE PROGRAMS, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE ALL THERE.
WHY DON'T WE ASK, WHY DON'T WE ASK THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT THERE? DOES SOMEONE WANT TO SPONSOR, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S LEGAL, MR. ATTORNEY, BUT CAN WE ASK THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO ASK, YOU KNOW, DOES SOMEONE, DOES ANYONE WANT TO DEDICATE A TREE AT CANOPY PARK IN HONOR OF SOMEONE? AND, AND WE CAN GO AHEAD AND, AND PUT A TREE THERE.
THAT'S NOT A LIVING MEMORY TO SOMEONE'S AN HONOR TO SOMEONE'S CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND I, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IT MIGHT BEHOOVE US TO REEXAMINE THE PROGRAMS WE DO HAVE AND MAYBE ROLL THEM INTO ONE BIGGER PROGRAM THAT WE CAN, UM, REACH OUT AND, AND SORT OF REINTRODUCE THE COMMUNITY TO.
WELL, SO THAT, SO IT IS STILL THE SAME OFFERINGS, BUT IT'S, IT'S EXPANDED.
AND SO WHATEVER YOUR INTEREST IS, WHETHER IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, TREES OR, WELL, WE HAVE THEM.
BUT ROLL 'EM INTO ONE TOGETHER AND ANNOUNCE THEM, REANNOUNCE THEM TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW IT'S THERE.
SO THAT IT'S NOT LIKE, OH, I HAVE TO GO OVER HERE TO FIND A TREE OR, YOU KNOW, GEE, I WANNA DO SOMETHING NICE FOR MIAMI BEACH.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TWO MO TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS HERE.
ONE IS TO ASK THE DEVELOPER FOR A BIG TREE.
AND THE SECOND ONE,
WOULD THAT BE YOUR MOTION? YEP.
I WILL, UM, I GUESS, UH, SECOND THAT MOTION AND, UH, LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
SO IF I, IF I CAN'T, SO WE WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO FERC THEN WITH THE COST OF THE TREE.
IF SO, IF THERE'S A MOTION TO REQUEST A DONATION FROM THE DEVELOPER FOR A LARGE TREE, AND OBVIOUSLY, OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL RETURN THE COMMISSION AND THEN TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO AMEND THE, THE COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY HAS.
UH, AND TO REINVIGORATE THE, THE MARKETING OF SET CAMPAIGN.
BY THE WAY, THAT'S A MUCH EASIER ASK, ASKING THEM FOR ONE TREE RATHER THAN ASKING FOR THE, THE SHADE STRUCTURE.
AND, UM, AND LISTEN, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, MARKETING THESE IDEAS.
IT'S IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD ALWAYS.
LIKE, ALL THESE PROGRAMS EXIST AND WE HAVE A MARKET.
AND WHEN WE DID MARKET THEM, WE STARTED TO SELL THEM.
AND I WAS LIKE, MAYBE IT'S TOO CHEAP AT 10,000.
BUT WE FOLLOWED THE CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY MODEL WHEN WE CREATED THE PROGRAM.
I THINK THE COOLEST THING IS THE COMMEMORATIVE BRICK ON THE BEACH WALK, BECAUSE WE NEED, LIKE, IT WOULD RAISE SO MUCH MONEY AND IT'S LIKE NOTHING TO POP THE BRICKS IN AND OUT.
BUT I FEEL LIKE, I FEEL LIKE WHERE'S PUBLIC WORKS? WHERE ARE THERE, WHERE'S ERIC? ERIC WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT BRICK PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT THAT HARD, IS IT? TO CHANGE A BRICK? WE CAN DO WHATEVER YOU NEED.
SO I THINK WITH SOME MARKETING, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ACTUALLY RAISE A LOT OF MONEY WITH THESE PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY THE COMMEMORATIVE TREE PROGRAM AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO, AND BY THE WAY, COMMISSIONER, YOU, YOU HAVE AN EMAIL LIST WITH A GREAT CIRCULATION.
UM, 'CAUSE PEOPLE READ IT AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU YEAH.
PUT IT, PUT IT AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR EMAILS.
'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO READ YOUR EMAILS.
UH, AND THAT'S A ANOTHER AVENUE IN WHICH LOCAL
[02:15:01]
RESIDENTS CAN, UH, CAN FIND OUT ABOUT IT.UM, IF, IF I MAY, UM, LET MY OFFICE LOOK INTO THE PROPRIETY OF COMMISSIONERS, INCLUDING SOLICITATION FOR DONATIONS IN THEIR EMAILS, AND I WILL REPORT BACK.
THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION, IT'S JUST A SIMPLE ADVERTISEMENT BECAUSE I'M NOT RECEIVING ANYTHING AT ALL.
THEY ARE PURCHASING A BENCH FOR THEMSELVES.
IT'S NOT A, IT'S A CITY PROGRAM EXISTING.
IT'S A'S, AND THEY WERE NOT EASY TO GET PASSED.
I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE, YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER TO GET A BENCH BY, I UNDERSTAND.
BUT, ALRIGHT, I WILL LOOK INTO IT AND LET LET YOU KNOW.
AND JUST TO REITERATE, UH, THIS IS COMMISSION, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, UH, ROSA GONZALEZ RETURNED TO COMMISSION WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATIONS, RECOMME ADMINISTRATION TO REQUEST A DONATION FROM THE FIVE PARK DEVELOPER FOR A MATURE, UH, SHADE TREE.
AND TO COMBINE THE VARIOUS COMMEMORATIVE, UH, PROGRAMS AND TO RE REINVIGORATE THE MARKETING OF SAID PROGRAMS. YES.
WHO WAS THE SECOND? I'LL SECOND HER.
AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON, JUST WHILE WE'RE ON THIS TOPIC, I WAS GONNA BRING IT UP AT THE COMMISSION MEETING.
I'VE BEEN, UH, KICKING AROUND AN ITEM THAT I'LL INTRODUCE, BUT I WANT US ALL TO BE A PART OF IT AND ALL TO START THINKING ABOUT IT IS, I'VE TERMED IT THE MIAMI BEACH LEGACY PROJECT.
AND TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, BETWEEN FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SIX GENERATIONS AND NEW FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE, MIAMI BEACH HAS BENEFITED FROM SOME OF THE LARGEST WEALTH MIGRATION IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
I THINK ALONG THE LINES OF, IF ANYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH LITTLE ISLAND OFF OF THE WEST SIDE HIGHWAY IN NEW YORK CITY, IT WAS $125 MILLION.
SO IF WE COULD GET 20 OF, YOU KNOW, THESE PROMINENT FAMILIES, THE BECKHAM'S JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE ON NORTH BAY ROAD FOR $90 MILLION, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT DONATIONS TO OUR CITY FOR A PROJECT THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME MM-HMM.
UM, I, I DON'T WANNA BE THE SOLE DECIDER OF WHAT THAT PROJECT IS.
I'D LOVE FOR US ALL TO, UH, COLLABORATE ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ALIGNED.
THERE IS MONEY IN THIS COMMUNITY AND NOT EVERYTHING.
THERE'S ICING ON THE CAKE PROJECTS.
AND I THINK THERE, THERE IS MONEY OUT THERE THAT IS CAPABLE OF AND WILLING TO SUPPORT IT IF THEY WERE TO BE ENGAGED, UH, AND ASKED.
AND SO I LOVE YOUR, I LOVE YOUR IDEA.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO BIG LEGACY PRODUCTS AND THEY CAN DO SMALL THINGS LIKE A TREE FOR SHADE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE IN DIFFERENT AMOUNTS.
AND I SEE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL NODDING HIS HEAD.
SO I HOPE THAT MEANS THAT IT'S
SO SPEAKING OF THAT, LET'S, UH, UM, SINCE YOU INVOKED HIS NAME, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, LET'S GO TO NMB NINE,
[NB 9. REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS POTENTIALLY ENACTING A RED FLAG ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO REVIEW CITY COMMISSION AGENDAS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING ALL AGENDA ITEMS THAT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN AN EXPENDITURE GREATER THAN $100,000.00.]
MB NINE MB NINE REFERRAL TO THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS POTENTIALLY ENACTING A RED FLAG ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO REVIEW CITY COMMISSION AGENDAS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING ALL AGENDA ITEMS THAT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN AN EXPENDITURE OF GREATER THAN $100,000 MB NINE.SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I PLACED ON THE AGENDA, UH, BECAUSE THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SERVES AN, AN IMPORTANT, UH, FUNCTION.
UH, AND, AND IT'S THERE TO, TO, TO AVOID FRAUD, RE REDUCE OUR RISKS OF FRAUD, WASTE, ABUSE, MISCONDUCT, UH, AND, AND, AND OTHER TYPES OF MISMANAGEMENT.
UM, WE OFTENTIMES END UP WITH, UH, WITH VERY LARGE, UH, TAGGED PRICE TAGS ON OUR AGENDA ITEM.
ITEMS THAT, UH, CAUSE A LOT OF MONEY OR ITEMS THAT ARE INSIGNIFICANCE ARE SIGNIFICANT IN NATURE.
AND WHAT THIS ITEM, UH, PROPOSES IS THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, UH, REVIEW ALL OF THESE, UH, ITEMS WITH AN EXPENDITURE GREATER THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND IN HIS REVIEW, UH, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WOULD PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO RAISE A RED FLAG, UM, IF IT IS DETERMINED BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, THAT ANY ACTION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE WOULD VIOLATE ANY OF THE CITY'S POLICIES, ANY OF THE CITY'S PROCEDURES, ANY ORDINANCES OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW.
IT WOULD ALSO RE, UH, REQUIRE THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO NOTIFY US IF THERE'S GONNA BE ANY SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT INVOLVING WASTE, INVOLVING FRAUD, INVOLVING INEFFICIENCY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CITY
[02:20:01]
PROGRAMS, WITH ANY PROJECTS IN ANY CONTRACTS OR, OR EXPEND EXPENDITURES.UM, IT WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND OUT ABOUT ANY CONCERNS LIKE THESE, THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL MAY HAVE BEFORE WE VOTE ON SOMETHING RATHER THAN AFTER THE FACT.
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR TAXPAYERS, IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT CREATED THIS OFFICE AND PLACED THIS TRUST IN THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS LOOKING AT OUR AGENDA THAT IS REVIEWING THESE, UH, BIG PRICE TAG ITEMS THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO VOTE ON.
AND IF HE DETECTS OR HAS REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THERE'S ANY, ANY ABUSE OR INEFFICIENCY OR VIOLATION OF POLICIES OR PROCEDURES OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF APPLICABLE LAW THAT HE NOW FEELS THAT HE HAS THE, THE OBLIGATION TO RAISE THAT RED FLAG AND HELP US MAKE THE RIGHT POLICY DECISION WHEN IT COMES TO THESE MATTERS.
THANK YOU, MR. INSPECTOR GENERAL, PLEASE.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN AND, AND COMMISSIONERS JOSEPH SANTINO, UH, INSPECTOR GENERAL.
UM, I, I APPRECIATED, UH, THE, THE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL IN ITS SENSE THAT HE WAS CHARLIE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF THE OFFICE.
UM, AND, UH, AND THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING IN THE ORDINANCE.
THE, THE, THE ENABLING ORDINANCE OF THE OFFICE THAT REALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVES ANY SENSE OF HOW THE OFFICE SHOULD INTERACT WITH, YOU KNOW, ON, UH, YOU KNOW, ON A LESS THAN FORMAL BASIS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WITH COMMISSIONERS AND SO FORTH.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PROCEDURES WHERE WE ARE OFTEN, YOU KNOW, TIED UP WITH, UH, WITH CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS.
UM, AND, UH, WHERE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE TRY TO PUT A LOT OF WORK IN INTO THE REPORTS THAT WE PUT OUT, WHETHER IT'S AN AUDIT OR INVESTIGATION.
OFTEN WE CAN'T REALLY COMMENT ON THINGS BECAUSE OF, OF CONFIDENTIALITY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I MEAN, THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE HAVE FELT COMPELLED TO, YOU KNOW, TO ADVISE THE ADMINISTRATION OR ADVISE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT, HEY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THIS, YOU REALLY SHOULD KNOW THIS.
AND SOMETIMES THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE, HAVE HAD TO BE CONFIDENTIAL, UH, JUST BY THE NATURE OF THEM.
SOMETIMES THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, TO SPEAK A LITTLE MORE, MORE OPENLY.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, WHAT, WHAT, I THINK WE WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ ON THIS AS WELL AS YOUR, YOUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, WHO I APPRECIATE HIS, HIS INPUT, UH, ON THIS TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A STRUCTURE THAT WOULD, WOULD MAXIMIZE THE, THE VALUE OF THE OFFICE THAT WOULD PROVIDE US WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO DECIDE HOW ARE WE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ON ANY GIVEN MATTER, HOW ARE WE GOING TO, UH, TO ENGAGE WITH EITHER THE ADMINISTRATION OR COMMISSIONERS WHEN WE THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO KNOW, UH, BEFORE A, A DECISION IS MADE BEFORE, UH, A VOTE IS TAKEN.
AT THE SAME TIME RESPECTING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE OFFICE BECAUSE, UM, UNDER THE CITY CHARTER, UNDER THE STANDARDS THAT WE OPERATE UNDER WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL, WE, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DECIDE WHAT ARE WE GONNA LOOK INTO? WHAT ARE WE GONNA SPEAK OUT ON? YOU KNOW, WHAT, HOW, WHAT FORM THAT'S GOING TO TAKE, WHAT THE CONTENT OF THAT IS GOING TO BE.
SO WE DID WORK ON, ON THIS, UH, THIS ORDINANCE SOMEWHAT, AND WE CAME UP WITH THE FOUR KIND OF PROVISIONS THAT WE HAVE REGARDING NOTIFICATION REGARDING VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW, ONLY IN, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WE CAN'T BE, I DON'T THINK WE CAN, WE SHOULD BE GIVING LEGAL OPINIONS WHETHER SOMETHING IS LEGAL OR NOT WITHOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S, UH, ADVICE.
UM, AND IT JUST, IT WOULD CREATE CHAOS, I THINK, IF, IF WE HAD IT ANY OTHER WAY.
UM, AND WE ALSO TO NOTIFY WHEN WE THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME PROBLEM THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE WE ARE IN A POSITION TO PUT OUT A PUBLIC REPORT, UH, THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF, THAT MAYBE THERE'S AN AUDIT GOING ON THAT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO, UH, TO, UH, UH, TO, TO ADOPT A, TO, TO RATIFY A CONTRACT OR EXTEND A CONTRACT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD KNOW, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU WANNA WAIT UNTIL THE AUDIT FINDINGS ARE OUT, THAT WOULD HELP HELP YOU.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL IN THE INFORMATION BUSINESS.
WE WE'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE INFORMATION WE GET AND THE INFORMATION WE'RE ABLE TO PUT OUT.
AND YOU'RE LARGELY IN THE SAME, IN THE SAME BUSINESS.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT REQUIRE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF, OF INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE TO ABSORB AND PROCESS AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO.
SO THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, WE CAN ADD TO THAT INFORMATION AND CLARIFY CERTAIN THINGS.
I THINK IT'S HELPFUL, UH, TO YOU.
AND ALSO IT HELPS, I THINK, UH, UH, MAXIMIZE THE ROLE THAT WE ARE, ARE SUPPOSED TO PLAY UNDER THE, UH, UNDER THE CITY, UH, THE CITY CHARTER.
SO I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S WORK ON THIS AS WELL AS THE, THE CITY ATTORNEYS.
I THINK WE CAME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, WE
[02:25:01]
CAN LIVE WITH.UH, AND IT SHOWS, IT GIVES US SOMEWHAT OF A, OF A STRUCTURE, UH, DURING, WHICH SHOWS HOW WE CAN AND SHOULD AT TIMES, UH, UH, INTERACT WITH THE, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND I, I ACTUALLY, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE IG AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I DON'T THINK HE WAS ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED WHEN I INITIALLY PROPOSED THIS BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST A LOT OF EXTRA RESPONSIBILITY, UH, TO THE OFFICE.
UM, BUT I DO THINK, UM, LISTEN, I BROUGHT AT TIMES ITEMS THAT, UH, MAYBE, UH, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THE SCOPE OF REVIEW OF THIS ITEM.
AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL COULD REVIEW IT AND HAVE CONCERNS WITH IT AND OR SAY IT'S A REDUNDANCY OF RESOURCES OR SAY THAT THERE'S MORE EFFICIENT WAYS TO DO THINGS.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, SO BE IT.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED THAT FEEDBACK.
WE NEED, UH, THAT WATCHDOG OVER OUR EXPENDITURES OVER OUR GOVERNMENT, I THINK IS A BIG REASON WHY OUR ELECTORATE CREATED, UH, THIS OFFICE.
AND I BELIEVE IN THE, IN THE PURPOSE OF THIS, OF THIS ITEM, I THINK, UH, I, I THINK WE NEED TO GOVERN IN THE PRESENT THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHO COULD BE SITTING IN THIS DAY ON THE FUTURE.
AND, UH, AND I THINK THAT THIS HELPS ENSURE, UM, TRUST, PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR EXPENDITURES AS AN ELECTED BODY.
SO IN MY EXPERIENCE, WE ALREADY HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT.
THEN WE HAVE TO GET THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION,
UM, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S LEGALLY SOUND.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE TO DISCLOSE IF WE WERE APPROACHED BY A LOBBYIST.
AND I'M GONNA ASK, HOW MANY MORE THINGS DO WE NEED TO PUT? HOW MANY CHECKS DO WE NEED? DO WE NEED 20 CHECKS? BECAUSE I THINK BETWEEN THE LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE, THE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT, GOING TO FINANCE COMMITTEE, ASSUMING THAT WE ALL HAVE A FIDUCIARY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST WRAPPING US IN RED TAPE.
YOU'RE JUST GONNA WRAP IT IN, WRAP IT, AND RAPID AND RAPID UNTIL NOBODY CAN MOVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ENOUGH.
AND BY THE WAY, HE'S CONDUCTING, HOW MANY AUDITS ARE YOU CONDUCTING RIGHT NOW? THERE ARE AUDITS, YES.
WE HAVE, WE'RE MEETING AFTER MEETING, AFTER MEETING, AFTER MEETING.
AND WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT IN ADDITION TO LOOKING AT OUR AGENDAS, THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK ON OTHER PROJECTS.
SO IF WE REALLY WANT THIS DEPARTMENT, UM, NOW THAT WE TOOK THE AUDITING FUNCTION AWAY FROM THE CITY MANAGER, AND THE AUDITING FUNCTION IS UNDER THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH CHECKS IN PLACE AND THAT THIS IS A MASSIVE JOB, AND THAT HE WOULD TAKE HIS JOB TREMENDOUSLY SERIOUSLY.
AND HE WOULD BE GOING THROUGH THIS ALL THE TIME.
AND WE WOULD HAVE BE PAYING ONE PERSON FOR A FIFTH CHECK ON SOMETHING THAT HAS SO MANY CHECKS ALREADY THAT I THINK THAT IT'S SUFFICIENT IN MY, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION.
AND I'LL, I'LL SAY THAT THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY ANOTHER ITEM ON THE, ON THE AGENDA.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT, THAT THIS ORDINANCE DOESN'T AMEND OUR AGENDA PROCEDURES OR WHAT AGENDA ITEMS SHOULD, SHOULD SHOW THIS AMENDS THE ENABLING ORDINANCE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, SO THAT HE NOTIFIES US, HE CAN CALL US, OR IF HE WANTS TO ISSUE A WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION AS TO SOMETHING THAT INVOLVES WA FRAUD ABUSE.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T, THERE'S NO WORD ASSESS THAT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE DOING THE ISSUE WITH THE WASTE HAULERS AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FELT THAT THERE WAS A VIOLATION OF PROCESS POTENTIALLY.
AND IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER WE CAST OUR VOTE ON THAT, THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CAME FORWARD AND TOLD US THAT.
AND I'M SORRY, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, IF I'M GONNA CAST A VOTE ON SOMETHING, SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA AFFECT OUR ELECTORATE OR OUR BUDGET, AND, UH, AND THE GOVERNING OF OUR CITY AND THE IEG, WHO IS THE WATCHDOG OF OUR GOVERNMENT HAS A CONCERN OVER THAT, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE IG IS EMPOWERED TO COME FORWARD AND TO RAISE THAT RED FLAG.
I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY PEOPLE CREATED THIS OFFICE.
AND SO, AND SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT I THINK I, I THINK THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FEELS COMFORTABLE IN HOW THIS HAS BEEN WRITTEN, NOT TO OVERBURDEN HIS OFFICE, NOT TO CREATE AN EXPECTATION THAT THE IG HAS TO, YOU KNOW, ISSUE A RECOMMENDATION ON EVERY SINGLE ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
UH, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT, UH, JOE, UH, YOU'RE WELCOME TO, WELL, THERE MAY BE A MIDDLE MISUNDERSTANDING.
THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW.
[02:30:01]
CHECKOFF ON, YOU KNOW, ITEMS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, THAT WAS MY INITIAL REQUEST.AND, AND NOT THAT THAT WASN'T WELL INTENTIONED, BUT THAT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE BEYOND OUR CAPACITY.
WE ARE A MINUSCULE PART, UH, OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT COMPARED TO THE ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WORKS ON ALL OF THESE ITEMS, YOU KNOW, EXTENSIVELY.
SO IT REALLY WASN'T REALISTIC FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, IN A, A WEEK OR TWO TO COME UP WITH A, AN OPINION ON THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE JUST DON'T OPERATE THAT WAY.
AND, AND, AND WE COULDN'T WITH, I THINK, BUT WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE, THE ORDINANCE THAT WE PROVIDED, WHICH IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT, WOULD, WOULD PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION.
IT WOULD, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE, IT WOULD, IT WOULD, IT'S GOING TO OBSTRUCT ANYTHING, FRANKLY.
UM, IT JUST PROVIDES YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN UTILIZE MAYBE IN MAKING A DECISION, AND YOU CAN IGNORE IT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT YOU NOT DO SOMETHING.
IT JUST GIVES YOU ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE.
SO I WOULD SAY IT JUST EMPOWERS YOU, UM, AND FACILITATES MAYBE SOME OF YOUR DECISION MAKING.
I DON'T SEE IT AS ANY KIND OF OBSTRUCTION WHATSOEVER.
JOE, PRACTICALLY, WALK ME THROUGH HOW THIS WORKS, HOW YOU'RE ENVISIONING THAT THIS WORKS.
SO WE ESSENTIALLY, UH, THE AGENDA GETS PRINTED THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE COMMISSION MEETING.
WHAT HAPPENS? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HOW ARE WE INTERACTING? THIS IS NOT TIED TO, TO ANY PARTICULAR AGENDA ACTION.
TH THIS IS JUST TH THIS, THIS PROVIDES SEVERAL MEANS FOR US TO COMMUNICATE WHEN WE CAN AND WHEN WE HAVE INFORMATION WE THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO A DECISION.
IT'S, IT'S OUR DISCRETION TO COME FORWARD WITH IT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BECOME ANY ON ALL, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING BY, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT BY REQUIREMENT.
BUT WE, WE HAVE TO RETAIN THAT INDEPENDENCE AND THE DISCRETION TO SAY, OKAY, WE, WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS.
AND IT, AND IT CAN COME IN DIFFERENT FORMS. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GONNA COME, I'M, IT'S NOT GONNA BE, IT MAY NOT BE PUBLIC.
I MAY MEET WITH THE, WITH THE CITY MANAGER OR WITH THE, THE MAYOR, OR WITH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WHO MIGHT PROPOSE SOMETHING AND SAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU GO AHEAD, YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW THIS.
THIS IS SOME INFORMATION THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE.
I, I KNOW I'M CATCH YOU OFF GUARD HERE, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLES OF PAST THINGS WHERE IF THIS, UH, LEGISLATION WAS IN PLACE, YOU'RE ABLE TO SIT HERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS WOULD'VE WENT DIFFERENTLY.
WE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS.
I, I HESITATE JUST TO, TO MENTION TOO MANY THINGS SPECIFICALLY, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S A, THERE'S A, THERE'S AN ITEM RIGHT NOW THAT'S, UH, GOING ON, I THINK I CAN SAY THIS MUCH PUBLICLY REGARDING THE, UH, THE MARINA.
THERE'S A PENDING AUDIT WE HAVE ON THE MARINA, AND I HAVE ADVISED THE ADMINISTRATION AND A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONERS I THINK KNOW ABOUT IT ALSO, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, OUR, OUR SUGGESTION IS BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION ON THAT, YOU, YOU, YOU SHOULD GET THE RESULTS OF THE, OF THE AUDIT.
ALRIGHT? AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO, TO KNOW WHAT THAT INFORMATION IS.
I'M GLAD WE DEFERRED IT TODAY.
BUT, BUT THEN IN THE PAST YOU'VE ALSO BEEN ACCUSED WHEN YOU'VE SPOKEN UP ON SOMETHING AND IT'S, WE WERE ACCUSED NO MATTER WHAT WE DO.
SO
IT, IT'S, IT'S PUT IT'S JEOPARDIZED THE OFFICE IN THE PAST.
THAT BECAUSE BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE SPOKEN UP AGAINST SOMETHING, THEN, THEN YOUR OFFICE BECOMES A TARGET OF POLITICAL RETRIBUTION WHEN THIS WOULD WOULD SAY LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW, HOW, HOW IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR US TO SAY THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL NOTIFY US OR THE ADMINISTRATION IF THERE'S A VIOLATION OF CITY POLICY, A PROCEDURE OF LAW.
LIKE, WOULDN'T WE WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A VIOLATION OF LAW BEFORE WE CAST OUR VOTE ON SOMETHING? I MEAN, WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO KNOW THAT.
AND THESE THINGS COULD HAPPEN AND FLY UNDER THE RADAR, UH, OR, OR, OR BE NOTIFIED IF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SUSPECTS THAT THERE OR, OR HAS DETERMINED CONCLUSIVELY, IN FACT, IT'S NOT EVEN SUSPECT HAS DETERMINED CONCLUSIVELY THAT ONE OF THE COMMITTEES OR THE COMMISSION IS ABOUT TO TAKE, TAKE A VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA NEGATIVELY IMPACT, YOU KNOW, WASTE THAT IS GONNA CREATE FRAUD THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE INEFFICIENCY IN OUR, IN OUR PROGRAMMING OR IN OUR CONTRACTS.
I, I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT THE OFFICE AT THE IG WAS, WAS CREATED FOR AND SHOULDN'T FEEL RETRIBUTION WHEN THEY SPEAK UP FOR IT.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE WANT THEM TO SPEAK UP BEFORE WE CAST A VOTE, TIE OUR NAME TO A VOTE, AND SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DOING THIS.
BECAUSE THEY DO SERVE THE PURPOSE.
THEY SHOULD SERVE THE PURPOSE TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY IN OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
[02:35:01]
THEM TO DO THAT.AND I CAN'T SAY HERE CONFIDENTLY THAT IN A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET OR A BUDGET THAT'S APPROACHING ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS, THAT I KNOW FOR SURE THAT IN MY OWN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF EACH ONE OF THESE ITEMS, THAT I KNOW THAT THERE'S NOT WASTE GOING ON OR POTENTIAL ABUSE OR A POTENTIAL INEFFICIENCY THAT'S A RESOURCE THAT WE, THAT THE IG CAN ASSIST US WITH.
SO, UM, I, I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF THIS FOR STARTERS.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UM, QUESTION FOR ME IS THAT THE, THE LEGAL CORRECTNESS OF AN ITEM, DOESN'T THAT GET HANDLED, MR. CITY ATTORNEY? NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT WOULDN'T THAT BE SOMETHING THAT GOES THROUGH YOUR SHOP AND PRESUMABLY WOULD BE CAUGHT? SURE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE, UH, UNIQUE POSITION THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS, HE MAY BE AWARE OF A SITUATION OR A MATTER THAT I OR MY OFFICE IS NOT AWARE OF.
AND SO THIS INTENDS, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY, AND HE, HE WOULD CONSULT WITH THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION OF LAW OR A VIOLATION OF LAW, BUT HE MAY BE AWARE OF SOMETHING THAT I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF.
SO THIS IS PROTECTIVE OF, OF THAT TYPE OF SITUATION.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ YOUR INTENT, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UM, THE OIG CAN DO THIS ANYHOW, BUT YOUR INTENT IS TO, UM, CODIFY IT SO THERE'S NO THREAT OF RETRIBUTION OR, UM, YEAH, IT'S SHENANIGANS THAT GET PLAYED BY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT YEAH.
LIKE TAKING FUNDING AWAY, TAKING STAFF AWAY, ELIMINATING THE OFFICE.
I MEAN, THIS, THIS SHOULD BE EXPRESSLY DEFINED AS PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE, OF THE, OF THE OIG.
UH, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EXPRESSLY DEFINED THAT, UH, THAT THAT, THAT THEY, THAT HE SHALL NOTIFY US OF THESE THINGS BEFORE WE CAST VOTES.
AND A GOVERNMENT THAT HANDLES SUCH LARGE HIGH PROFILE, OFTEN CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THAT ARE, I IMPORT IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC, AND NOT JUST IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC TRUST, WHICH IS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT AS, AS WELL.
UM, AND SO, BUT HOW WOULD IT, HOW WOULD IT WORK PRACTICALLY TO, I JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WOULD WORK.
SO THE COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM WOULD BE PUBLISHED THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE, AND THEN IN, IN THOSE INTERVENING DAYS, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHICH I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THAT TALKED ABOUT US RESPONDING TO CERTAIN ITEMS ON EVERY AGENDA.
THIS IS NOT THE, THE, THE ATTACHED TO MY MEMO IS THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS FOUR SECTIONS TO IT THAT WE WORKED ON WITH COMMISSIONER AND WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHICH JUST PROVIDES THE, THE STRUCTURE UNDER WHICH WE WOULD INTERACT WITH THE COMMISSION ON THINGS AND REGARD.
AND, AND IT, AND IT DEALS WITH THINGS LIKE, OH, ASKING US QUESTIONS.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE FEEL, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T INTERACT TOO MUCH WITH THEM.
WE'RE, WE'RE OPEN TO A COMMISSIONER, AND THEN SOME COMMISSIONERS HAVE DONE THIS CALLING US UP AND JUST, HEY, YOU KNOW, TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW, OR WHAT YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT THIS.
OR, YOU KNOW, JUST ASKING FOR AN OPINION.
AND THEN IT GIVES SOME FLEXIBILITY TO THE, TO THE PRO, TO THE PROCESS.
AND I THINK IT OPENS UP THE, THE, THE CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION.
AND, AND, AND, AND, AND LET ME, LET ME JUST ADD, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER THROUGH THE CHAIR.
JUST, I THINK SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND HERE, A LOT OF THIS IS AT THE DISCRETION AND JUDGMENT, SO THAT TO COMMUNICATE WITH US AT HIS DISCRETION AND JUDGMENT.
SO SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE WRITTEN IN PUBLIC AND OTHER TIME MIGHT BE COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH US, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HE IS AWARE OF AN AN AUDIT, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S NON-CONFIDENTIAL IN NATURE, THAT HE CAN SHARE WITH US, THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF SO THAT WE DON'T STEP ON THE, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE CAST OUR VOTE, YOU KNOW, WHICH WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT BECAUSE WHEN PE BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'RE GONNA BE IN POSITIONS OF LIKE, WELL, I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS BEFORE I VOTED ON SOMETHING.
AND IN THE PAST WHEN THE IG HAS DONE THAT, THE OFFICE HAS BEEN PLACED AT POLITICAL RISK.
I LIKE THE SPIRIT OF YOUR ITEM.
I'M GONNA REITERATE WHAT I INITIALLY SAID, THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A CODIFICATION, AND THIS IS PART OF YOUR ALREADY JOB DESCRIPTION.
ALSO, UM, THE SUBJECTIVE NATURE, YOU KNOW, I TRUST OUR CITY MANAGER.
UM, I TRUST OUR LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE.
I TRUST THE ADMINISTRATION THAT'S MAKING OUR FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO, AND I THINK THAT ALSO, UM, MR. CINO KNOWS THAT IF SOMETHING RED FLAGS,
[02:40:01]
HE, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE HEARS IT IN COMMITTEE, I THINK THAT HE'S ALREADY GOING TO DO THIS IN THE SPIRIT OF KEEPING OUR CODE SIMPLER.WE EXPAND AND EXPAND AND EXPAND OUR CODE WITH THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY BEING DONE.
AND IN MY OPINION, WHILE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A NICE GESTURE.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND ALSO THERE'S THE POLITICAL NATURE OF THIS.
YOU HAVE A CITY MANAGER WHO'S VOTED UPON, AND YOU HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL WHO'S VOTED UPON.
AND WHILE SOMETIMES YOU GUYS HAVE GOTTEN ALONG, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN ALONG.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED THIS, I MEAN, TO CODIFY IT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S HIS JOB ALREADY.
HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE, YOU KNOW, RED FLAGGING THESE THINGS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS
AND I JUST DON'T, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL NATURE AND MY INSTITUTIONAL AND HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS DOESN'T NEED A CODIFICATION.
I MEAN, OKAY, THAT'S, I'M GONNA BE A NO.
I MEAN, WELL, HERE'S THE THING.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA VOTE AGAINST SOMETHING THAT'S ETHICS, BUT I WANNA VOTE AGAINST COMPLICATE OVER, LIKE ADDING MORE PAGES TO OUR CODE THAT AREN'T GONNA MAKE ANY CHANGES IS MAY I, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THERE'S FOUR PARAGRAPHS THAT WE'RE ADDING TO THE CODE.
IT'S NOT PAGES, IT'S JUST FOUR PARAGRAPHS.
AND OUR CODE DOES, HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PAGES IS OUR CODE? MR. ATTORNEY? I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO HIM THERE.
IT'S FOUR PARAGRAPHS THAT WE'RE ADDING TO OUR, TO OUR CODE.
I JUST ADD AND ADD AND ADD AND ADD AND ADD.
I, ADD, ADD, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE, LET'S SIMPLIFY IT, COMMISSIONER.
BUT, SO I, I THINK, UM, MAYBE A WAY TO, TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE HERE WOULD BE TO CODIFY THE PART ABOUT NO RETRIBUTION, MAYBE, UM, THAT, WELL, I, I, I THINK TANYA, IF, IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, YOU CAN VOTE AGAINST IT.
UH, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A SPLITTING A BAY BEYOND THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE EITHER WANT TO BE ABLE TO, FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN, IN, IN, YOU KNOW, HELPING US MAINTAIN A TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT THAT HAS HIGH LEVELS OF, OF INTEGRITY OR, OR, OR NOT.
AND, AND IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS AS IT'S WRITTEN.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T NO, I YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT.
NO, BUT MY POINT, BUT MY POINT IS THAT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ALREADY, THAT'S READY.
WHY ARE YOU FORCING VOTE? THAT'S, WE'RE NOT FORCING VOTE IT.
MY MY FEELING IS THAT'S ALREADY WHAT THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHOULD BE DOING.
AND IF MY CONCERN IS ABOUT, IS THERE ANY PRESSURE TO, UM, OF IN THE PAST, HISTORICALLY THERE BEING RETRIBUTION OR BAD BLOOD OR WHATEVER, DO WE PROTECT THAT? BUT I'M, I'M NOT SURE.
I JUST, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS, UM, GETS US MORE ETHICALLY CORRECT IF GIVEN WHAT I, I'M ALWAYS GOING TO SAY YES TO MORE ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS ACCOMPLISHES THAT.
IF IT'S ALREADY WHAT THE OFFICE IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND THAT'S MAYBE JUST 'CAUSE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING.
SO, MR. CENTRINO, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? WELL, YOU KNOW, I, LET ME JUST, I MEAN THERE'S, AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE NOW THAT'S, THAT, THAT LAYS OUT THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHOULD EVER TALK TO ANYBODY.
ALRIGHT? I MEAN, SO I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE FOREVER.
UH, THE NEXT PERSON IN THIS OFFICE MAY LOOK AT IT AND SAY, LOOK, WE'RE INDEPENDENT.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PUT OUT A REPORT, YOU GET THE REPORT.
OTHERWISE, THEY COULD DO THAT.
THAT'S NOT, IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
THIS DOES GIVE A, A PATHWAY FOR THAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION TO TAKE PLACE WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE AND IT ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN THAT OFTEN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I'VE SAID, I'VE STRUGGLED WITH THE IDEA OF SHOULD I SAY SOMETHING? SHOULD I NOT SAY SOMETHING? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PENDING INVESTIGATION.
WE HAVE A PENDING AUDIT, HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED.
YOU KNOW, CAN, CAN I SAY ANYTHING TO ANYBODY? AND YOU KNOW, I SOMETIMES HAVE SAID THINGS CONFIDENTIALLY TO PEOPLE FROM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND HELPED, UH, SOMEBODY.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I HAVEN'T.
SO THIS, THIS, THIS MAKES, THIS PUTS IT IN WRITING.
AND, AND SO THE NEXT PERSON IN THIS OFFICE SAYS, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT THEY EXPECT.
I I SHOULD MAKE SOMETHING OF SOME INFORMATION AVAILABLE WHEN I CAN WITHOUT DAMAGING AN INVESTIGATION, WITHOUT VIOLATING ANY CONFIDENTIALITY.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SO IT, IT, IT MEANS THAT THERE PROBABLY WILL BE MORE INFORMATION.
I DON'T SEE IT SO MUCH AS AN ETHICAL MATTER.
IT'S JUST INFORMATION THAT WILL, WILL GET TO PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.
UM, I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE HERE.
[02:45:01]
UH, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? SEE HOW, SEE WHERE THINGS LAND? SURE.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO SEND THIS TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
IT'S HARD TO VOTE AGAINST ANYTHING REGARDING ETHICS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RETRIBUTION CLAUSE.
THIS IS NOT ON THE ETHICS ORDINANCE.
JUST THIS IS, THIS IS ON THE ENABLING ORDINANCE OF THE OIGI COLLEAGUES.
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO VOTE AGAINST THIS, I DON'T HOLD A GRUDGE.
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO VOTE AGAINST SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN, YOU CAN VOTE, YOU CAN VOTE, YOU CAN VOTE WHAT YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO VOTE.
IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT.
WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT THERE'S NO RETRIBUTION FOR THE OIGI DON'T WHERE THAT, THAT'S NOT IN THE ORDINANCE.
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT RETRIBUTION IN THE ORDINANCE.
UH, I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE AN EXEMPTION OF ALL RETRIBUTION.
UM, AND I'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAY AT THE FULL COMMISSION.
AND I WOULD ASK THIS BODY, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT SIMPLIFICATION OF THE CODE CHAIR.
WE HAVE A, UH, A FIRST AND A SECOND.
WANNA TAKE THE VOTE? UH, ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
5,000 ARE COURT 20 TIMES THAT SEND CINDY CRAZY.
UH, I KNOW CITY, UH, ADMINISTRATION IS REQUESTING TO HEAR ITEM NUMBER
[OB 5. DISCUSS A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER TO AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2024-234-ND, FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR SEAWALLS AND LIVING SHORELINES; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH BCC ENGINEERING, LLC, AS THE PROPOSER DETERMINED TO BE THE BEST QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS THE PRIME/LEAD CONSULTANT FOR SEAWALLS; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH BCC ENGINEERING, LLC, AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH CUMMINS CEDERBERG, INC., AS THE PROPOSER DETERMINED TO BE THE SECOND BEST QUALIFIED CONSULTANT FOR SEAWALLS; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH CUMMINS CEDERBERG, INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH GHD SERVICES INC., AS THE PROPOSER DETERMINED TO BE THE THIRD BEST QUALIFIED CONSULTANT FOR SEAWALLS; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH CUMMINS CEDERBERG, INC., AS THE PROPOSER DETERMINED TO BE THE BEST QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS THE PRIME/LEAD CONSULTANT FOR LIVING SHORELINES; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH CUMMINS CEDERBERG, INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH MOFFATT & NICHOL, INC., AS THE PROPOSER DETERMINED TO BE THE SECOND BEST QUALIFIED CONSULTANT FOR LIVING SHORELINES; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH MOFFATT & NICHOL, INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH GHD SERVICES INC., AS THE PROPOSER DETERMINED TO BE THE THIRD BEST QUALIFIED CONSULTANT FOR LIVING SHORELINES; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT(S) UPON THE CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION. (PUBLIC WORKS)]
OB FIVE.AND I'LL SPARE US FROM READING THE ENTIRE TITLE, UH, BUT OB FIVE IS AN ITEM RELATED TO DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR LIVING, UH, LIVING SHORELINE AND SEA WALLS, OB FIVE.
CHRISTIE BALA, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER.
SO THIS ITEM WAS HERE AT THE SEPTEMBER 20TH, UM, FERC MEETING, AND IT WAS REFERRED TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO REVISIT THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION.
AND WE'RE BACK STILL SUPPORTING THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO COMMISSION ON THE JULY MEETING.
I'LL MOVE THE ITEM AS, UH, AS YOU KNOW, REAFFIRMED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO WE'LL GO BACK TO THE FULL COMMISSION.
SO WE'LL RETURN, UH, THE MOTION WILL BE RETURNED THE, UH, RETURNED TO COMMISSION WITH FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION ON THE ITEM.
UH, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ MOTIONED AND, UH, CHAIR MAGAZINE.
UH, COMMISSIONER ROSEN GONZALEZ, WE, UH, I THINK IT'S SUCH A CO, I, THE, UH, BARBARA ULA, NICKI ART, UH, DECO PASO COLORS.
WOULD WE LIKE TO HEAR THIS? AND WERE WE LOOKING TO STOP AT ONE 30 TODAY? UH, IF SO, WE CAN HEAR THIS, UH, LAST ITEM THEN.
[NB 4. DISCUSS ESTABLISHING A MATCH FUNDING PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE BUILDING OWNER PARTICIPATION IN THE HULANICKI ART DECO PASTEL COLORS INITIATIVE]
DISCUSS ESTABLISHING A MATCH FUNDING PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE BUILDING OWNER PARTICIPATION AND HE'LL, NICKI ART DECO PASTEL COLORS INITIATIVE AND B FOUR.I HAD A PROPERTY OWNER FROM WASHINGTON AVENUE IN MY OFFICE YESTERDAY WHO SAID THAT SHE'S HAD TO DECREASE HER RENT FROM $55 PER SQUARE FOOT TO $35, AND THAT SHE'S MAKING LESS MONEY NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.
AND THAT INSTEAD OF HER TENANTS PAYING THE RENT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, THEY'RE NOW TRYING AND STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR RENT AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
AND YOU KNOW HOW SHE PURCHASED HER PROPERTY AND RENOVATED ON WASHINGTON AVENUE IN THE EIGHTIES? SHE RECEIVED, AND THIS WAS IN THE EIGHTIES, A $15,000 GRANT FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH.
AND THAT IS HOW, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON SHE PURCHASED AND IMPROVED HER PROPERTY ON WASHINGTON AVENUE.
SO THIS IS AN ITEM TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO PAINT THEIR BUILDINGS, UM, AND NOT JUST COME TO US FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, BUT DO SOME SORT OF MATCHING AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT OFFERING THEM, IF YOU TOOK THE $15,000 THAT WE GAVE IN THE EIGHTIES WHEN WASHINGTON WAS STRUGGLING, RIGHT.
AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW ACROSS THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, UM, THIS IS PAINT.
NOW, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, AND SO IF A PROPERTY OWNER, UM, COMES FORWARD AND SAYS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH MS. HOI TO DESIGN OR REPAINT THEIR BUILDING, UM, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, HAVE A CONSULTATION WITH HER, THEN, YOU KNOW, GO GET AN ESTIMATE.
AND IT WOULD BE MATCHING PROPERTY OWNERS AND CITY MATCH THESE FUNDS, UM, TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING NEW AND INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL AND EXCITING AND EXPAND ON THIS PROJECT.
SO, UM, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE JUST, I I, YOU KNOW, I I, I MET WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR WHO SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA SUGGEST INFORMATIONAL AT A TIME WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE WANT, UH, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE PROPERTY OWNERS COME FORWARD WITH THEIR INVOICE.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IF THE CITY, THE
[02:50:01]
CITY CAN'T DO THE PAINTING, YOU'VE SEEN, WE JUST GOT QUOTED HOW MUCH FOR PLAY CUTI WOULD LIKE, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS TO GO MOVE FORWARD, UM, HAVE SOME SORT OF CONSULTATION WITH, YOU KNOW, HULA NICKY TO DECIDE ON SOME SORT OF COLOR PALETTE OR USE OUR EXISTING COLOR PALETTE AND THEN GIVE US AN INVOICE AND WE MATCH IT AND SEE IF WE GET ANY TAKERS, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE WE'LL SEE A REVITAL REVITALIZATION OF STUFF AND MAYBE WE'LL GET DONE SOONER.
WE STARTED WORKING ON THE COLONY THEATER PROJECT WITH BARBARA ICKY ALMOST A YEAR AGO, AND WE ARE STILL NOT THERE,
SO, YOU KNOW, UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, AND I'M, I'M THEY, AND THE CITY HAS BEEN WONDERFUL, AND WE'RE PICKING OUT AWNINGS AND WE'RE DOING STUFF, BUT IT'S A LENGTHY PROCESS, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS, BUT THESE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY, GRANT MONIES THAT WE WOULD HELP PRO, THAT WE WOULD DO MATCHING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND INCENTIVES TO BEAUTIFY AT A TIME WHERE I WALKED DOWN THE STREET AND IT DOESN'T LOOK SO GREAT, YOU KNOW, SO IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER STUFF, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A WIN-WIN.
UM, ARE YOU ENVISIONING, UH, COMMERCIAL AND MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS, AND ARE WE GOING TO CONSULT HER FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE? OR DO WE KIND OF SIMPLIFY IT AND HAVE HER PUT TOGETHER ALMOST LIKE A, UH, SAMPLE PALETTE OF WHAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE? OR IS IT GONNA BE HER CONSULTATION BUILDING BY BUILDING? I, I'M GONNA BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
UH, WOULD JUST LOVE TO LEARN SOME OF THE DETAILS.
MS. WILLIAMS, THANK YOU CHAIR.
RAQUEL WILLIAMS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
SO WE INCORPORATED A FEW OPTIONS, UH, THAT COULD BE LAYERED TOGETHER AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
UH, ONE OF THEM INCLUDES THE CITY PARTICIPATING FINANCIALLY IN HAVING THESE BUILDINGS PAINTED.
WE HAVEN'T RECOMMENDED A MATCH LEVEL.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE NORTH BEACH, CRA, WE HAVE A FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM WHERE WE DO A 70 30 MATCH ON THE CAP CAP OF $20,000.
OF COURSE, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING AND HOW MUCH PAINT IS REQUIRED, YOU KNOW, A A 50 50 MATCH COULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
AND SO WE WANNA BE EQUITABLE IF WE GO IN THE MATCH DIRECTION AND ALLOW FOR MULTIPLE BUILDINGS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE ALSO PROPOSE TO HAVE A EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT COULD, UH, INCORPORATE WHAT YOU JUST SUGGESTED.
MAYBE WE HAVE SOME TEMPLATE COLOR MIXES THAT WE SHOWCASE, AND PROPERTY OWNERS CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TO GIVE THEM SOME IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR WHAT THEY COULD DO FOR THEIR OWN PROPERTIES.
WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A, MAYBE A THIRD PARTY SPONSOR OR DONOR TO CONTRIBUTE TO A FUND THAT COULD ASSIST, UH, THE CITY AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITH THESE EXPENSES.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE, UH, THE COLONY THEATER AS MENTIONED BEFORE, AS WELL AS THE OCEAN RESCUE HEADQUARTER BUILDING THAT WE ARE GONNA BE, UH, PAINTING WITH THE BARBARA HULA NIKKI, UM, CONSULTATION IN THE LEONARD HOROWITZ COLOR PALETTE.
UH, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO, UH, PAY MS. HULA NIKKI FOR HER SERVICES.
UH, SO I'M NOT SURE TO THE EXTENT THAT SHE WOULD BE UTILIZED FOR EACH PARTICULAR BUILDING.
UH, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FUNDS ALLOCATED AT THIS MOMENT.
THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD IDEALLY TRY TO ESTABLISH FOR A FUTURE FISCAL YEAR, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A FUNDING MECHANISM AT THIS TIME.
SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH, UM, USING, WE ALREADY HAVE COLOR PALETTES THAT EVEN UC HAS TO GO THROUGH.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO, UM, USE BARBARA ON THESE PRIVATE BUILDINGS BECAUSE THAT WOULD GET TOO EXPENSIVE.
WE ARE USING HER ON THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS IF WE WANTED TO LOWER THE CONSULTATION FEE ON THE PRIVATE BUILDINGS AND HAVE THE OWNER DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT HE COULD WORK WITH HER OR NOT, BUT WE CONSIDER DOING THE MATCHING.
UM, ALSO WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE 70 30 SPLIT IN NORTH BEACH, IS THAT 70% THAT THE OWNER'S PAYING AND WE'RE PAYING 30%? OR WHAT IS THE SPLIT IN NORTH BEACH? SO FOR NORTH BEACH, WE'RE CONTRIBUTING UP TO $20,000.
AND SO THE OWNER NEEDS TO PUT IN 70%, AND WE'RE PUTTING IN 30%.
UM, I WAS ENVISIONING LIKE THE SMALLER BUILDINGS ALONG, YOU KNOW, WASHINGTON, I DIDN'T REALLY THINK ABOUT LIKE MASSIVE BUILDINGS.
UM, I DEFINITELY WANT US TO DO A MATCH.
I GUESS YOU CAN GO BACK AND FIGURE WE COULD DO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN NORTH BEACH.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT IN NORTH BEACH? SO WE HAVE SEVEN APPLICANTS TO DATE.
TWO OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE NORTH BEACH, CRA BOARD.
HAVE ANY BEEN COMPLETED YET? NOT COMPLETED YET, NO.
AND ONE OF, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDES THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS TO GET QUOTES FOR THE SERVICES.
SO THEY COULDN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, PICK SOMEONE TO DO THE, THE PAIN OR THE FACADE OR THE AWNING OR LIGHTING.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET QUOTES THAT WE WOULD THEN REVIEW, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
[02:55:01]
THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST PAY ANYBODY TO DO THE WORK AT A CRAZY PRICE.SO, SO WHY DON'T YOU FOLLOW THE NORTH BEACH MODEL? UM, YOU COULD DO THE 70 30 ALSO CAP IT AND, UM, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO GO AND SEE WHERE WE, WHERE WE GET THE FUNDING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AT, AT, I THINK THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT IS SO CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE VACANCIES.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, WHEN I WAS ON LINCOLN ROAD YESTERDAY, THEY GET, UM, REQUESTS FOR LIKE DIFFERENT, LIKE LARGE, UM, BUSINESSES AROUND THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, UM, SEND REQUESTS.
AND SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS HAVE NOT BEEN GOING TO LINCOLN ROAD.
THEY'VE BEEN GOING TO BRICKELL CITY CENTER AND OTHER PLACES.
I WANT RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS TOO, TO WALK AROUND AND SAY, OH, THERE'S SOMETHING COOL HAPPENING HERE.
AND THE REASON WE STARTED THIS WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT OF WYNWOOD AND THE WYNWOOD WALLS WITHOUT THE CITY CONTRIBUTING, AND THEY DID CONTRIBUTE TO THESE PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS TO CREATE THOSE MURALS.
NOBODY WOULD'VE EVER GONE TO WYNWOOD.
AND THOSE WALLS GOT SO MUCH PRESS AND THERE WAS SO MUCH BUZZ SURROUNDING THEM.
AND I ALMOST FEEL LIKE AT THIS POINT, WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THESE, THESE PROGRAMS ARE GONNA TAKE YEARS TO IMPLEMENT AND SEE ANYTHING.
DO YOU WANNA JUST COME BACK WITH IT? DO YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANNA BRING THIS TO THE COMMISSION OR DO WE HAVE TO COME BACK HERE? WELL, HOW WOULD YOU GUYS ENVISION THIS COME BACK? WHATEVER'S THE DESIRE OF THE, THE WHAT'S MOTION COMMITTEE? I THINK WE CAN COME BACK WITH GREATER DETAIL.
I HAD, IT COULD, IT COULD RETURN IF, IF THERE'S THAT DIRECTION TO COME BACK, UH, WITH A SPECIFIC PROGRAM, UH, WITH A, A BUDGET REQUEST OR A BUDGET AMOUNT WITH SPECIFICS.
LIKE YOU TALKING ABOUT LIKE A 70, 30, 60 40, AND THEN WHATEVER, A CAP LIKE THE, I SUPPOSE THAT, SUPPOSE IF IT COULD BE HEARD BY ON NOVEMBER 8TH.
I JUST DON'T WANT THIS TO BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, DECEMBER, JANUARY.
SO, AND IT GETS STUCK HERE IN COMMITTEE.
SO WHAT'S THE MOTION? THE MOTION IS TO USE THE NORTH BEACH MODEL THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON OUR FACADE PROGRAM, APPLY IT TO THE SOUTH BEACH MODEL, AND, UM, HAVE, MAKE SURE THAT THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS GET QUOTES AND THAT THEY CAP IT AT $20,000.
AND I, I WAS THINKING THAT IT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD CAP OUR CONTRIBUTION TO 20,000.
THERE'S SIX APPLICATIONS CURRENTLY IN NORTH BEACH.
NONE OF THEM HAVE, HAVE BEEN FINISHED YET.
BUT THIS MIGHT BE A WAY TO REALLY JUST BEAUTIFY AND HAVE PROPERTY OWNERS INCENTIVIZE TO GO MOVE FORWARD AND PAINT SOMETHING THAT THEY NORMALLY MIGHT NOT HAVE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S SEVEN IN NORTH BEACH SEVEN.
AND THAT'S EXCITING, BY THE WAY.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING ABOUT THIS FACADE PROGRAM.
AND THIS, AND, AND THIS WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ART DECO PASTEL COLORS, ART DECO WELL, BUILDINGS IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND THIS, AND, AND DOES THE ADMINISTRATION.
IT COULD BE FEEL THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO DO THIS IF IT STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO GENERATE THE GOOD PR.
UH, I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT WHEN YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS.
UM, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I WANNA SEE EVERY RETURN FOR OUR INVESTMENT, NOT ONLY ON THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, IMPROVING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AESTHETICALLY, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A RENAISSANCE, A RENAISSANCE OF CREATIVITY.
UH, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS TIED, YOU KNOW, TO OUR ABILITY TOY.
THE THING IS, WE OKAY, FOR WHAT WE DID SO FAR, YOU KNOW, WE PAID A FEE PER BUILDING, BUT THAT WILL GET, THAT WOULD, THAT'S TO THE FEE THAT WE HAVE BEEN PAYING HER WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE IF I COULD RENEGOTIATE THE FEE WITH HER OR HAVE HER COME UP WITH SOME COLOR PALETTES, LIKE YOU SAID, MAYBE.
SO MAYBE PART OF THE MOTION IS TO HAVE BARBARA HOKE COME UP WITH A FEW COLOR PALETTES THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, I, BUT THAT OTHER PROPERTIES PRESERVATION ISN'T GONNA LIKE THAT THOUGH BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS HOROWITZ COLOR PALETTE THAT'S LIKE THE BIBLE.
LIKE YOU CAN'T REALLY TOUCH THAT.
SO IF SHE COMES FORWARD, I DON'T REALLY SEE, WE ALREADY HAVE THE COLOR PALETTE.
UM, HOW COULD WE, WE COULD HAVE HER REVIEW, UM, OR RECOMMEND STUFF.
AND IF IT'S ALLOTTED, IF IF IT'S SEVEN APPLICATIONS, THEN WE COULD SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE FEE SO THAT SHE COULD BE INVOLVED IF YOU WANT TO, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE COOL, THE COOL PART.
I JUST, I, I'M TRYING TO KEEP EXPENSES LOW BECAUSE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE HAS TOLD US THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE BUCKS TO SPEND AND
I JUST DON'T WANNA, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO.
AND THEN HAVE YOU GUYS TELL ME, OH, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE TOO MUCH.
SO I GUESS THE MOTION COULD BE REACH OUT TO, UM, HULA NIKKI.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND FIND OUT WHAT HER POTENTIAL FEE COULD BE, HOW SHE COULD ENVISION THIS.
IF WE DO THIS WITH PRIVATE PROPERTIES TOO, COME UP, USE THE NORTH BEACH MODEL AND BRING IT BACK HERE, I SUPPOSE FOR NOVEMBER 8TH IF POSSIBLE.
THE CHAIR, IF I COULD JUST GET SOME CLARIFICATION.
UH, SO WE HAVE SEVERAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
ARE THERE ANY AREAS OF THE CITY THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON INITIALLY? IS THIS A, IS THIS A PILOT? ARE WE TRYING TO GO CITYWIDE? AND THEN NOT EVERY HISTORIC DISTRICT IS A ART DECO.
OH, I WOULD DO WASHINGTON COLLINS AND OCEAN DRIVE.
[03:00:01]
WOULD LIKE IT TO FOCUS RIGHT THERE WHERE I CAN FEEL LIKE THE LOVE FROM FIFTH TO 15TH STREET.AND, AND THEN TO THE EXTENT THAT ANYTHING MAY NEED TO BE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY OR BY THE HPV, UM, I KNOW THAT THAT CONCERN HAS COME UP BEFORE THAT, UM, CERTAIN COLORS OR SCHEMES OR UH, RENOVATIONS TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS MAY NEED TO BE REVIEWED INTERNALLY.
IT'S NOT THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER PAINTING PAINTING DOESN'T NEED TO BE REVIEWED BY HPV, AND NOBODY WANTS TO SPEND THE $3,500 TO GO IN FRONT OF THE H PB.
SO I, THIS IS, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE PRE-APPROVED COLOR PALETTES.
SO IF WE APPROVE THIS AND WE SPEAK TO ULA NIKKI ABOUT IT, SHE HAS TO WORK WITH THE ALREADY APPROVED COLOR PALETTES.
SO I DON'T WANT TO INVOLVE THE HPB IN THIS ONLY BRINGING IT UP BECAUSE OFTENTIMES BEFORE PAINT APPLICATION PROPERTIES NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO THE FACADE TO PREPARE IT FIRST.
SO, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT WITH ALL OF OUR, UM, RULES.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A PROBLEM.
I MEAN, AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING STRUCTURAL ON THE FACADE WE'RE PAINTING, IT'S PAINTING AND AWNING COLORS.
WHAT WE COULD HAVE HER DO IS WE HAVE THE HOROWITZ COLOR PALETTE.
BUT WHAT SHE HAS DONE WITH THE COLONY THAT'S BEEN VERY COOL IS PICK OUT THIS FUNKY AWNING THAT, BY THE WAY, I WOULD'VE NEVER PICKED WHAT SHE PICKED.
AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S BARBARA
SO MAYBE WE HAVE HER PICK OUT AN AWNING, AN AWNING, AWNING COLORS TO GO WITH THE PALETTE.
AND THAT'S HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? YEAH, I LIKE THAT ACTUALLY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UM, I REMEMBER BEING IN DISNEY WORLD AS A CHILD AND RUNNING INTO FRIENDS OF FAMILY FROM BRAZIL.
AND THEY WERE LIKE, THEY HAD JUST, IT WAS LIKE THEY'D SEEN, UM, I'VE BEEN HIT BY A TRAIN AND WE'RE LIKE, WHAT'S UP WITH YOU? WHAT'S GOING ON? THEY'RE LIKE, THERE ARE SO MANY FLAVORS OF ICE CREAM HERE.
AND SO I, I DON'T WANT US TO BE IN THAT, THAT SITUATION.
I MEAN, WE HAVE HISTORICALLY APPROVED BEAUTIFUL COLORS.
THE CREATIVITY IS IN USING THEM DIFFERENTLY THAN THE WAY YOU OR I MIGHT.
UM, AND THEN ADDING AN ELEMENT OF A COLOR POP OF AN UNUSUAL, UM, UH, UM, AWNING.
AWNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO GO TO SIMPLIFY THIS.
MY CONCERN IS THAT, UM, USUALLY ONCE YOU START TOUCHING PAINT, YOU DISCOVER THEY'RE SPING AND THERE'S, THERE'S SOME KIND OF STUFF THAT NEEDS WORK.
AND SO I DON'T WANT THIS TO GET BOGGED DOWN.
LIKE, I WANT US TO BE ABLE TO, LIKE, THEY NEED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS, THEY NEED TO FIX THE SPING, THEY NEED TO DO WHATEVER WATERPROOFING THEY NEED TO DO IT.
IT'S NOT JUST SLAPPING A COAT OF PAINT ON, IT'S, IT'S NOT STRUCTURAL RESTORATION, BUT, YOU KNOW, A MODERATE AMOUNT OF SPING AND WATERPROOFING SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY AS WELL.
THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
SO THEY'LL COME BACK WITH A PROGRAM THAT WE CAN APPROVE FOR HOPEFULLY THE NEXT MEETING IF WE CAN JUST, OKAY.
WE'LL COME BACK ON THE EIGHTH.
WE WELCOME SAMMY, TO BE EXPENSIVE.
SO, WELCOME SAMMY, TO THE FIRST FINANCE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING, SAMMY.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE STAFF AND, UH, PEOPLE THAT WERE TUNING IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD.